13 OCT. NEWS DIGEST

 *INDIA*

 

Ladakh Union Territory Illegally Set Up By India claims China Amid Standoff: NDTV

New Delhi: After 44 new bridges near the borders were opened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, China, in a sharp reaction, said today that it "does not recognize the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by India" and opposes infrastructure building in the region. Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, also called border infrastructure development "the root cause for the tension between the two sides" and said neither side should take action that might escalate tension.Zhao was asked to react to the series of bridges inaugurated in India, including 8 in Ladakh and 8 in Arunachal Pradesh."First I want to make it clear that China does not recognise the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by the Indian side and the Arunachal. We stand against the development of infrastructure facilities aimed at military contention along the border area," said the Chinese spokesperson."Based on consensus, neither should take actions along the border that might escalate the situation that is to avoid undermining the efforts by the two sides to ease the situation."The new bridges will facilitate faster movement of troops and weapons closer to the border, officials said. News of the bridges emerged as senior military officials of India and China met on Monday for the seventh time to restore calm after several recent confrontations.NDTV

LINK: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-says-it-doesnt-recognise-ladakh-union-territory-illegally-set-up-by-india-amid-standoff-2309494?pfrom=home-topscroll

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-after-india-opens-44-border-bridges-root-cause-of-tension-2309500?pfrom=home-topstories

 

Parliament panel to visit Ladakh on Oct. 28-29 amid India-China standoff

A group of parliamentarians is set to visit Ladakh sector to get first-hand insights into aspects related to high-altitude clothing for soldiers, housing and rations at a time when India and China are locked in a border row and efforts to reduce friction have made no headway, officials familiar with the developments said Tuesday. The members of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), headed by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, are likely to visit Leh on October 28-29, the officials said. HT

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/parliament-panel-to-visit-ladakh-on-october-28-29-amid-india-china-standoff/story-DmxN35t5yORO9iqiFbw2MJ.html

 

US diplomat takes note of China's military muscle-flexing in Ladakh, warns India of 'elephant in the room'

New Delhi: A top US envoy speaking in New Delhi has called China "an elephant in the room" and said Washington is keen to advance India's interests across the Indo-Pacific region.Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said the US was exploring ways to empower India without altering what he called New Delhi's "strong and proud tradition of strategic autonomy."Biegun spoke Monday in New Delhi at the opening session of the India-US Forum as his 3-day visit to India kicked off."India has a strong and proud tradition of strategic autonomy, and we respect that. We do not seek to change India's traditions," he said. "Rather we want to explore how to empower them and India's ability to defend its own sovereignty and democracy and to advance Indian interests, across the Indo-Pacific region."

https://www.firstpost.com/india/us-diplomat-takes-note-of-chinas-military-muscle-flexing-in-ladakh-warns-india-of-elephant-in-the-room-8907711.html

 

Early resolution unlikely as around 1 lakh Indian & Chinese troops remain deployed along LAC: times now news

New Delhi:In an attempt to defuse simmering tensions along LAC, Corps commander-level talks between India and China were held on Oct.2. It is being learnt that the Indian side focussed on the complete disengagement of Chinese troops from the banks of Pangong Tso lake and other friction points in Ladakh and insisted on the restoration of status quo ante of April.The meeting of the top Indian and Chinese military representatives lasted for more than 11 hours. Both the delegation met began in Chushul on Indian side of LAC in eastern Ladakh. Meanwhile, chances of early resolution to Ladakh standoff appeared dim as around 1,00,000 Indian and Chinese tropps remain stationed in the region.The Indian side was led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of External Affairs, Navin Srivastava will also attend. Ahead of the meeting, China Study Group(CSG) comprising Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane, IAF Chief Kumar Singh Bhadauria and Indian Navy Chief Karambir Singh finalised India's strategy for military talks on Oct. 9.

LINK: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/ladakh-standoff-india-china-corps-commander-level-talks/666299

 

Imran Khan's NSA Says India Expressed 'Desire for Conversation', Pak to Insist Kashmiris Be a Party: The Wire

New Delhi: In the first interview to Indian media by any Pakistani official after the constitutional changes in J&K in Aug.2019, the advisor on national security and strategic policy planning to PM Imran Khan has revealed that India has sent a message expressing a desire for talks.“We have got a message for a desire for conversation” said Moeed Yusuf, but refused to divulge further details. However, he insisted that Kashmiris must be a third party at these talks – a non-starter for the Indian side. He also made it clear that Pakistan is willing to discuss terror. In a wide range interview to The Wire that was often quarrelsome and aggressive and even, at times, no holds barred, Yusuf told Karan Thapar “we must sit down like adults”. He said there are two issues, Kashmir and terror, and added “I want to talk about both”. He said Pakistan “stands for peace and we want to move forward”. However, in the interview Yusuf repeatedly seemed to suggest that Kashmiris would have to be a third party in the talks and, second, that another two pre-conditions were that India must reverse what he called the “military siege” in Kashmir and roll back the new domicile law.

LINK: https://thewire.in/south-asia/imran-khans-nsa-says-india-expressed-desire-for-conversation-pak-to-insist-kashmiris-be-a-party

 

Farooq Abdullah never said Article 370 would be restored with China’s help, BJP twisting his remarks: NC

National Conference has denied that its President Farooq Abdullah had said Article 370 would be restored with the help of China and accused the BJP of "completely twisting" his remarks made during a TV interview.The party affirmed that Abdullah never justified China's expansionist mindset or its aggression during his interview on Sunday as claimed by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a presser in New Delhi earlier in the day.PTI

LINK: https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/farooq-abdullah-never-said-article-370-would-be-restored-with-chinas-help-bjp-twisting-his-remarks-nc

 

J&K cops: 3 teachers of religious school held under PSA

Srinagar :3 teachers of a school in Shopian in south Kashmir have been detained under PSA and more are under surveillance, one year after the institute came on the police radar when one of its alumni was found involved in Pulwama blast, police said.“The name of the school is Siraj-ul-Uloom,” said IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar when asked about the school. They are Abdul Ahad Bhat, Abdul Rouf Bhat and Mohammad Yousuf Wani. Answering another query, he said, “Around five to six other teachers of the school are under surveillance. One of the biggest seminaries in south Kashmir, Siraj-ul-Uloom runs a senior secondary school that imparts religious and modern education and is recognised by JK Board of School Education. While some of the members of the school are affiliated to Jamaat-e-Islami J&K, it is run by a separate body under the Siraj-ul-Uloom Educational Trust.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-cops-three-school-teachers-held-under-psa-6722656/

 

Army introduces compulsory psychological training for all soldiers in J&K

Khrew: In a first, the Army has introduced a compulsory psychological training module for all soldiers posted in Jammu and Kashmir where they are heavily involved in anti-terrorism and anti-infiltration operations. According to Army sources, the module has been introduced at the elite 15 Corps Battle School (CBS) in Khrew in Awantipora area of Pulwama district. The institute trains all soldiers — irrespective of the rank — under a reorientation programme after they are posted to LoC and in Jammu and Kashmir.

LINK:          https://theprint.in/defence/army-introduces-compulsory-psychological-training-for-all-soldiers-in-jammu-and-kashmir/522598/

 

Why no statutory mechanism to regulate TV media like Press Council for print, Bombay HC asks Centre

Bombay High Court has asked the Centre why it does not have a statutory mechanism for content generated on electronic media similar to Press Council of India, which regulates the print media in the country.Referring to absence of action over media trial, the court said, “There are so many orders passed by the Supreme Court. Nobody cares.” The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni asked the Centre: “Is there a statutory mechanism for broadcasters? When you have a Press Council of India for print media, why do not you have a similar mechanism for electronic media? Why should they have an open hand?” Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the government, told the court, “It is not as if the government is not doing anything. It does take action on complaints received against channels. There are other mechanisms. It is to ensure that the media remains independent. But ultimately, the govt cannot control everything. The press has freedom and its rights.”

Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/why-no-statutory-mechanism-to-regulate-tv-media-like-press-council-for-print-bombay-hc-asks-centre-6722557/

 

Prashant Bhushan contempt case: Media Trying to Influence Judges, Outcome of Cases Amounts to Contempt, Attorney General Tells SC

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to examine how sensitive details of sub judice cases (cases pending in court) made their way to the media and were published on penultimate days of court hearings, threatening to injure the rights of parties. “When a bail application is coming up, there are conversations on TV very damaging to the accused... On the day Rafale [case] is argued, an article with documents is published. The issue of sub judice has to be contended,” Venugopal told a Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar. Venugopal strongly commented upon the state of media at present and urged the court to step in and examine the role of media."Print and electronic media are freely commenting on pending cases in an attempt to influence outcome of such matters. It amounts to contempt of court," said the AG. The submission was made while hearing a contempt case against civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan for comments he made about SC judges in an interview to Tehelka magazine in 2009. But senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, for  Bhushan, mildly quoted his Shakespeare at Venugopal’s views.“When Shylock’s case is going on, can we tell the Press not to talk about it?” Dhavan said.  On his part, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tarun Tejpal who was the editor of Tehelka magazine when the contentious statements by Bhushan on judiciary were published in it, agreed that the law of contempt should be seen in the light of the new communication system. The bench then adjourned the hearing to Nov.4, requesting AG to reformulate the issues in consultation with the other lawyers.the hindu/NEWS18

 

LINK:          https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prashant-bhushan-contempt-case-attorney-general-asks-sc-to-look-into-media-publishing-material-pivotal-to-sub-judice-cases/article32842052.ece?homepage=true

https://www.news18.com/news/india/media-trying-to-influence-judges-outcome-of-cases-amounts-to-contempt-attorney-general-tells-sc-2958473.html

 

 

TRP ‘scam’: ‘Key accused’ arrested from Uttar Pradesh

Mumbai :UMBAI crime branch on Monday said they arrested Vinay Tripathi, a former Hansa Research employee, alleging that he played a key role in what the Mumbai police is terming “TRP scam”. Police believe that Tripathi, arrested from Mirzapur in UP, was the one who paid 21-year-old Vishal Bhandari — who was first arrest in the case — for fudging TRP’s.The police also recorded the statements of two senior Hansa officials in connection with the scam. Hansa is the agency that measures TRP of various channels for BARC that determines advertisement revenues for TV channels.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/trp-scam-key-accused-arrested-from-uttar-pradesh-6722560/

 

Right to speech ‘eroded, mauled’, is affecting those who speak up: Former SC judge Madan Lokur

Former Supreme Court Justice Madan Lokur on Monday said that the right to freedom of speech and expression in India was being “eroded and mauled” through the misuse of laws, leading to the gradual destruction of a citizen’s right to dissent and protest, The Wire reported. He called this a “lethal cocktail,” which is adversely impacting the liberty “of those who dare to speak up”. Lokur was delivering BG Verghese Memorial Lecture on Preserving and Protecting our Fundamental Rights Freedom of Speech, Expression and the Right to Protest. He retired from the top court in Dec.2018 after a tenure that lasted over six years. The former judge said that one of the worst forms of curtailment of the freedom of speech is charging a person with sedition. “It is extremely important for distinguishing between free speech and sedition, but unfortunately the distinction is being lost sight of by the establishment,” he said.

LINK: https://scroll.in/latest/975638/right-to-speech-eroded-mauled-affecting-those-speaking-up-former-sc-judge-madan-lokur

 

Hathras Family Wants Case Transferred To Delhi Or Mumbai: Lawyer

Lucknow: The family of a young woman who died last month after her torture and alleged gang rape at a village in Hathras has asked for the case to be moved out of the state. According to the family's lawyer, this was among the three demands placed before Allahabad High Court, which heard the case on Monday."The family wants the case to be transferred to Delhi or Mumbai," lawyer Seema Kushwaha told reporters, according to PTI.She also said the family had urged the court to stop reports of the investigation being made public.The case will be heard again on November 2. The family told reporters later that they would not immerse the woman's ashes until they got justice. In court yesterday, they asked for more security, alleging they felt unsafe.The court questioned whether the case would have been treated differently had the woman, instead of belonging to a poor family, came from a rich one."The court asked DM- 'What if it was a girl from a rich family? Would you have cremated her the same way?" Seema Kushwaha told NDTV.

LINK: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hathras-womans-family-wants-case-transferred-to-delhi-or-mumbai-says-lawyer-seema-kushwaha-2309301

 

Received Intel that Bhim Army Was Funded by PFI to Disturb Harmony in Hathras: DM Tells HC

Hathras DM Praveen Kumar Lakshkar on Monday appeared before Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court and pleaded that the gangrape victim was cremated at midnight to avoid violence and maintain law and order in the district. He further stated that there was strong evidence of the involvement of organisations like PFI and some journalists in provoking the family of the victim.

LINK: https://www.news18.com/news/india/received-intelligence-that-bhim-army-funded-by-pfi-to-disturb-harmony-in-hathras-dm-tells-hc-2956703.html

 

UP: Minor Dalit Girl Dies by Suicide after Alleged Rape by 3 Men in Chitrakoot

LUCKNOW:Amid mounting anger over the Hathras case, another incident surfaced from Chitrakoot district in UP on Tuesday where a minor Dalit girl was allegedly kidnapped by three men and raped for several hours. The girl was then left at a nursery with her hands and legs tied. The family said the girl died by suicide on Tuesday. The incident occurred in Kaumraha Ka Purva village which falls under the jurisdiction of Kotwali area of Chitrakoot. Family members alleged that the girl had gone to the fields to relieve herself on Oct.8 when 3 men abducted her. They added that three men from their village first kidnapped their daughter and then raped her for several hours, before finally leaving her in a nearby nursery with her hands and legs tied.

LINK: https://www.news18.com/news/india/minor-dalit-girl-dies-by-suicide-after-alleged-rape-by-three-men-in-chitrakoot-2959037.html

 

3 Dalit sisters, all minors, attacked with acid in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow ; 3 Dalit sisters, all of them minors, were attacked with acid while they were asleep inside their residence in Gonda district, the police said on Tuesday. The oldest of the three, aged 17, has 35 per cent burn injuries, while the other two, aged 12 and 8, escaped with 25 per cent and 5 per cent burn injuries, respectively. They have been admitted to a hospital and are currently stable, police officials said. The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday while they were sleeping on the terrace. An FIR has been registered against unknown persons, police said.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-dalit-sisters-acid-uttar-pradesh-gonda-6723380/

 

Dalit man thrashed, forced to drink urine in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi :A 65-year-old Dalit man was allegedly assaulted and forced to drink urine in Roda village in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur by a man against whom he had filed a police complaint.The accused, Sonu Yadav, allegedly attacked the victim’s son a few days ago with an axe. After the father and son approached police, Yadav has been allegedly forcing them to settle the matter and withdraw their complaint.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-dalit-man-beaten-forced-to-drink-urine-6723158/

 

‘We fight for their rights even today’: Dalit, Sikh groups gather at Golden Temple to observe 100th anniv

Amritsar :Dalit and Sikh organisations observed the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Dalit rights to offer Krah Parshad at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday.This moment in history had played a key role in mobilisation of Sikhs and formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).On October 12, 1920, Sikhs had managed to restore the rights of Dalit Sikhs to offer ‘Krah Prasad’ at Golden Temple and Akal Takht.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/we-fight-for-their-rights-even-today-dalit-sikh-groups-gather-at-golden-temple-to-observe-100th-anniv-6722751/

 

Tamil Nadu: 7 caste Hindus booked for forcing Dalit man to prostrate

 Kayathar police on Monday booked 6 men and one woman from a caste Hindu community under provisions of SC/ST Act for allegedly forcing a 60-year-old Dalit man to prostrate himself before one of them. The accused also shot a video of the man, A Palraj of Olaikulam, apologising, and allegedly circulated it on social media to humiliate him.However, once the video went viral, it shocked members of the public and drew the attention of the police. Based on the complaint given by Palraj, Kayathar police booked S Sivasangu Thevar, Sankilipandi, S Udayammal, S Periyamari, S Veeraiah, P Mahendran, and S Maharajan.

LINK:          https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/oct/12/tamil-nadu-seven-caste-hindusbooked-for-forcingdalit-man-to-prostrate-2209349.html

 

Tablighi Jamaat: SC to hear petitions against blacklisting of foreign nationals on Thursday

The Supreme Court has adjourned till Thursday, its hearing of the petitions of 34 foreign nationals blacklisted for attending the Tablighi Jamaat event, Bar and Bench reported. Advocate Menaka Guruswamy told the top court that 8 foreign nationals had been discharged in the case but the lookout notices against them had not been withdrawn, due to which they were unable to leave the country.

LINK: https://scroll.in/latest/975660/tablighi-jamaat-sc-to-hear-petitions-against-blacklisting-of-foreign-nationals-on-thursday

 

Delhi HC grants bail to 2 accused in Delhi riots case

Delhi High Court on Monday granted bail to 2 men accused of rioting and vandalism during Delhi riots, their lawyer said. The accused, one Arshad Qayyum alias Monu and Mohd Rehan alias Arshad Pradhan, besides rioting, have been booked by the police. Appearing before a Single Judge Bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, lawyer Dinesh Tiwari, representing both the accused, questioned the logic behind the time between the date of the incident, i.e., February 25 and that of filing of the complaint, on March 4. The court took note of this while granting bail to both of them, he added. "There is also no CCTV footage or video recording that has been placed by the prosecution on record which makes the case against them even weaker," Tiwari claimed.millenniumpost

Link: http://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/delhi-hc-grants-bail-to-two-accused-in-delhi-riots-case-420937

 

Bengaluru riots case: Ex-mayor Sampath Raj named as accused in chargesheet, links Congress; it claims witch-hunt by BJP

Bengalur: Trouble mounts for Congress as Ex-mayor Sampath Raj has been accused in the case. Ex-mayor's name has been mentioned in the chargesheet. Congress 'link' to Bengaluru violence case has surfaced. He has been questioned once in the case. He will be questioned yet again the Crime Branch of Bengaluru.  Times Now's Deepak says suspicion of the Congress link in the violence case has been confirmed. Sources reveal that a large number of calls have been exchanged between Ex-mayor Sampath Raj and the other accused in the case. Congress Neta has been summoned by the Crime Branch of Bengaluru. Congress is now claiming a witch hunt, whereas BJP demands action. Times Now's

LNIK: https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/bengaluru-riots-case-ex-mayor-sampath-raj-named-as-accused-in-chargesheet-congress-link-surfaces/77576

 

Vedic hymns at event marking amid Muslim Union minister Rasheed Masood’s death stir row, unsettle some clerics

Meerut: A ceremony, held amid chants of Vedic mantras and Hindu rituals, marking the anointment of former Union minister Rasheed Masood’s son as head of the family in UP’s Saharanpur has perplexed many and irked some hardline clerics. Rasheed, ex Congress minister at the Centre and 5-term Lok Sabha MP from Saharanpur, died in Roorkee on Oct.5, just days after recovering from Covid-19.  And almost a week later, the ‘Rasam Pagdi’ event was organised.One of them, Asad Qasmi, said, “The ‘Pagdi’ ceremony was done according to the Hindu rituals. Some sadhus are also seen sitting there chanting Vedic mantras. Tying Pagri and choosing an elder in the family is a good tradition but it should have happened according to Islamic tradition.” The video of the event which was posted on social media platforms also invited several sharp reactions.

LINK: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/vedic-hymns-at-event-marking-muslim-union-mins-death-stir-row-unsettle-some-clerics/articleshow/78624548.cms

 

25 convicted for lynching Assam doctor

A court in eastern Assam’s Jorhat convicted 25 people for lynching a 73-year-old doctor more than a year ago. A mob had assaulted and killed Deben Dutta, senior medical officer of a dispensary in Teok Tea Estate on August 31, 2019, for allegedly delaying the treatment of a plantation worker named Somra Majhi.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-court-convicts-25-people-for-lynching-elderly-doctor-in-2019/article32840288.ece?homepage=true

 

Plea against halal meat: Supreme Court says it cannot dictate food habits

New Delhi:The courts cannot interfere with the food habits of people, the Supreme Court said on Monday, rejecting a plea seeking ban on the Halal method employed by the Muslim community to slaughter animals for meat.A bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul questioned the bona fide of the petitioner, stating it was a “mischievous” plea and cannot be entertained.“Courts cannot determine who can be a vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Those who want to eat Halal meat can eat Halal meat. Those who want to eat Jhatka meat can eat Jhatka meat,” the bench, which also comprised justice Dinesh Maheshwari, said. The petition was filed by Akhand Bharat Morcha, challenging Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

LINK: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/plea-against-halal-meat-supreme-court-says-it-cannot-dictate-food-habits/story-bGhO8oNi90Oj85l89M4ThK.html

 

Rightwing Vigilantes Create Huge Rukus to Oppose Serving Beef to Animals in Guwahati Zoo

GUWAHATI:Raising their opposition to cow slaughter, a large number of right-wing activists on Monday agitated against serving beef as part of diet to tigers and other carnivores in the Guwahati Zoo.Creating a huge ruckus in front of Assam State Zoo, located in Guwahati, the activists blocked the vehicles carrying meat items meant for tigers and other carnivores housed in the zoo.The activists blocked the roads leading to zoo for several hours before allowing the authorities to take the food stuff inside.Reacting to the demand, Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that the animals are being fed beef as it is “essential” for them as per the traditional practice and nutritious needs.“In some states beef is banned. These states feed buffalo meat to the animals. But Assam does not have sufficient stock of buffalo meat,” the minister told the media.

LINK: https://clarionindia.net/rightwing-vigilantes-create-huge-rukus-to-oppose-serving-beef-to-animals-in-guwahati-zoo/

 

Aadhaar not mandatory for birth, death registration, clarifies Registrar General of India

The provision of Aadhaar is not mandatory for the registration of births and deaths, Registrar General of India (RGI) has clarified in a recent reply to an RTI request. If Aadhaar is provided voluntarily, it must not be printed on any document or stored in any database of births and deaths in full form, according to an RGI circular cited in the RTI response.

LINK: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/aadhaar-not-mandatory-for-birth-death-registration-clarifies-registrar-general-of-india/article32841915.ece?homepage=true

 

Gujarat Govt has not Properly Complied with SC Order, Bilkis Bano Tells Top Court

 Gujarat government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has complied with its order and paid Rs 50 Lakh and also provided a job to Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped during 2002 riots in the state.Bano has moved an application in the top court expressing her dissatisfaction with the compliance of the order in connection with the provision of accommodation and job offer provided by the state government. Bano, in the application through advocate Shobha Gupta, cited that the state government has not properly complied with the top court order. After a brief hearing in the matter, the bench said the court would hear the matter after one week. Citing issues with the accommodation, Bano said the government has only given 50 square metre land, which is recorded as garden area zone and she has been offered a job of peon in irrigation department on contract basis.IANS

LINK: https://clarionindia.net/gujarat-govt-has-not-properly-complied-with-sc-order-bilkis-bano-tells-top-court/

 

 

Sexual violence against transgenders: SC notice to Centre on plea for changes in law

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking changes in the criminal law to protect transgender people from sexual violence. “This is a good petition,” CJI S A Bobde remarked as the plea by Advocate Reepak Kansal came up before the three-judge bench. The petition cited the absence of any provision in the Indian Penal Code that deals with sexual assault by any male, female or transgender on a transgender. It said that Section 354 of the IPC dealing with offence of sexual assault does not extend to transgenders.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sexual-violence-against-transgenders-sc-notice-to-centre-on-plea-for-changes-in-law-6722761/

 

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind to Telangana Govt : Don’t impose excessive tax

HYDERABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Telangana on Monday urged the state government to not impose excessive tax burden on the poor and middle-class. “The intention of the government seems to be increasing the revenue of state exchequer,” said Maulana Hamid Mohammed Khan, JIH Telangana president. Further, in view of people’s concerns over Dharani portal details, a committee was constituted by the body to review the survey. “The panel concluded that there are no concerns with the questions being asked,” said Khan.

LINK: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/jih-dont-impose-excessive-tax/articleshow/78629038.cms

 

Disturbed Areas Act amendment in Gujarat gets Presidential assent: minsiter

Gandhinagar :President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Bill amending the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, passed by the Gujarat Assembly in 2019, stated an official release from Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja, on Monday. The amended Act will help prohibit the transfer of immovable property in disturbed areas and protect tenants from vacating the properties, the release added. The ruling BJP had brought the amendment Bill to plug the loopholes in the Act and check polarisation of different areas in the state. Under the Act, the transfer of any immovable property in disturbed areas cannot be done without permission of the collector concerned.

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/disturbed-areas-act-amendment-in-gujarat-gets-presidential-assent-pradeepsinh-jadeja-6722663/

 

BJP’s ‘damage control’ after Bihar opinion poll — 9 rebels contesting on LJP ticket suspended

Patna: Almost a week after BJP and JD(U) formally announced their seat-sharing deal for the Bihar assembly elections, the national party has finally cracked the whip on its rebels contesting on LJP tickets in the first phase of the polls. On Monday evening, state unit president Sanjay Jaiswal issued a letter suspending nine senior BJP leaders — Ramashray Chaurasia, Usha Vidyarthi, Ravindra Yadav, Rajendar Singh, Ajay Pratap Singh, Shweta Singh, Mrinal Shekhar, Indu Shekhar and Anil Kumar — for 6 years after all of them bagged LJP tickets. In his letter, Jaiswal said the nine had maligned NDA and the party’s image by their actions. “This time we are serious about six years. They will not be taken back after the polls,” Jaiswal said. The issue has caused massive friction between the alliance partners as it was seen as an attempt by BJP to undercut Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This was primarily due to the fact that LJP is not fielding any candidate against BJP. “One thing had to be made very clear — the LJP is not a part of NDA,” Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told ThePrint.

https://theprint.in/politics/bjps-damage-control-after-bihar-opinion-poll-9-rebels-contesting-on-ljp-ticket-suspended/522743/

 

MP Bypolls, Congress Faces Uphill Task, but BJP's Scindia and Chouhan Need Strong Showing: The Wire

Bhopal: Though the by-elections in Madhya Pradesh have not received as much attention as the assembly elections in Bihar, they are just as important. There are 28 constituencies heading for premature elections on November 3, the largest ever in the state, which will decide whether Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who came to power through the back door, will remain in the saddle.The bypolls were necessitated after Congress govt in the state fell when 22 of its MLAs walked away with Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigning their assembly seats and joining the BJP.Scindia’s rebellion happened just as the coronavirus outbreak was worsening in India in mid-March. It was clear that the personal enmity between then chief minister Kamal Nath and Scindia was the reason for the latter quitting the Congress.

LINK: https://thewire.in/politics/madhya-pradesh-bypolls-congress-bjp-scindia-shivraj-chouhan-kamal-nath

 

 

Polls to 11 Rajya Sabha seats in UP, Uttarakhand on Nov 9

New Delhi :Election Commission Tuesday announced that elections for 11 Rajya Sabha seats – 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand – will be held on November 9. The counting will also be held on November 9.In the last Parliament session, Rajya Sabha bid farewell to 11 of its members who are due to retire in November this year. They include Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP’s Veer Singh and Raj Babbar of Congress. Others who will retire are: Javed Ali Khan (SP), P L Punia (Congress), Rajaram (BSP), Neeraj Shekhar (BJP), Arun Singh (BJP), Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) and Chandrapal Singh Yadav (SP).

LINK: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajya-sabha-elections-uttar-pradesh-uttarakhand-november-9-6723101/

 

 

Stubble burning: Delhi air quality worsens as farm fires rage, farmers blame govts for no solution

It is that time of the year again. Farm fires are back and on the rise. The air quality of Delhi is deteriorating every day and residents are struggling to breathe.Delhi recorded its worst air quality since February on October 12 as the concentration of fine particulate matters PM2.5 and PM10 increased to their highest recorded levels this season.With no relief in sight, stubble burning is back in all its raging ferocity ahead of the harvesting season. Satellite images from Nasa have shown that farmers are burning the crop residue in parts of Punjab and Haryana.Amritsar

LINK: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/stubble-burning-delhi-air-quality-farm-fires-farmers-blame-govt-solution-1731109-2020-10-13

 

'You Are Everything Because of Him': SC Asks Sons to Work Out Sufficient Maintenance Money for Father

The Supreme Court has lashed out at two men for resisting monetary maintenance to their father, who has been forced to fend for himself in the twilight of his life. A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar told their lawyer that the sons cannot treat their father like this, and that giving him adequate maintenance is a duty cast on them under the law too. "You are not doing any favour to him. He is your father. It has been submitted before us that both of you are working in MNCs. Don't forget that you are everything because of him," the judge told the sons.The bench's ire came after the father's counsel pointed out that the duo was also in possession of ancestral property and was getting rental income from it."Even this property has come to you because of your father. How can you two now enjoy it without giving him his monetary share at least?" questioned the bench.The case related to a family in Delhi. While the 2 sons lived with their wife and children in the ancestral house in Karol Bagh area, the father was forced to move out.A maintenance tribunal had last year asked the sons to pay him Rs 7,000 towards subsistence but the sons appealed against this order. They challenged it. The top court also opined that Rs 7,000 per month is not sufficient and asked the sons to come up with a better number.NEWS18

LINK: https://www.news18.com/news/india/you-are-everything-because-of-him-sc-asks-sons-to-work-out-sufficient-maintenance-money-for-father-2957657.html

 

Payal Tadvi Suicide Case: Protests Outside Mumbai Hospital as Accused Doctors Return to College

New Delhi: 3 doctors, who had allegedly mentally tortured and discriminated against medical doctor Payal Tadvi, returned to their college BYL Nair Hospital on Monday, escorted by police vehicles, as Tadvi’s mother and several organisations protested against their return outside the institute.The development comes a Supreme Court order on Oct.8 allowed the doctors – Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Mehare and Ankita Khandelwal – to resume their studies which had come to a halt after Payal ended her life on May 22. Payal’s mother, Abeda Tadvi, has written to Maharashtra chief minister, Governor and the dean of Hospital, questioning the inaction against the 3 accused. Several organisations, including DYFI, JASS, Forum Against Oppression of Women and Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana protested outside the hospital.

LINK:          https://thewire.in/rights/payal-tadvi-case-protests-byl-nair-hospital

 

Tanishq takes down Hindu-Muslim wedding ad after #BoycottTanishq trends

Tanishq has removed its new advertisement from social media after certain sections, mostly Right Wing, accused the jewellery brand of promoting what they called 'Love Jihad' through the commercial video. #BoycottTanishq trended furiously on Twitter all throughout Monday after the advertisement of their new jewellery line, titled Ekatvam, was released to celebrate "unity in oneness".indiatoday

LINK: https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/tanishq-takes-down-ad-after-right-wing-trolls-cry-love-jihad-1731054-2020-10-13

 

Cow Dung "Chip" Will Reduce Radiation From Mobile Phones, Claims Official

New Delhi: Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria unveiled a ''chip'' made of cow dung and claimed that it reduces radiation from mobile handsets and it will be a safeguard against diseases.Speaking at the launch of a nationwide campaign ''Kamdhenu Deepawali Abhiyan'', which is aimed at promoting cow dung products, Vallabhbhai Kathiria said: "Cow dung will protect everyone, it is anti-radiation... It is scientifically proven...This is a radiation chip that can be used in mobile phones to reduce radiation. It will be safeguarded against diseases."

LNIK: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rashtriya-kamdhenu-aayog-chairman-vallabhbhai-kathiria-says-chip-made-of-cow-dung-claims-to-reduce-mobile-phone-radiation-2309276?pfrom=home-topstories

 

*CORONAVIRUS-LOCKDOWN*

 

India's COVID Count is 7 Million But UP Screening Form Still Obsessed With Tablighi Jamaat

Lucknow: A 70-year-old woman, suffering from severe abdominal pain because of a kidney problem, was rushed to RMLIMS in Lucknow on Oct.8. But to her surprise, instead of giving her medical attention she needed, the institute was more concerned about her Tablighi Jamaat connection. RMLIMS is a super-specialty autonomous medical teaching institute in Lucknow established by the state govt. Amana Begum of Faridi Nagar complained to her family about pain around 10:30 pm, after which her son Shakir Ali took her to RMLIMS. Before Begum was treated, her son was sent to the clerical division to complete the formalities and admit her to the hospital. A clerical staffer started questioning him about the patient’s symptoms as part of COVID screening, which is a mandatory protocol. Ali said that while his mother was writhing in pain, a clerk asked him whether she or anyone else from her family had attended a Tablighi Jamaat congregation. Along with 8 other questions, COVID screening form from the institute also asks whether the patient or anyone in their family has attended events organised by the Tablighi Jamaat.

LINK: https://thewire.in/communalism/uttar-pradesh-covid-19-screening-form-tablighi-jamaat

 

 

Govt issues guidelines for co-infections of coronavirus with dengue, flu, other seasonal diseases

As India continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, govt has issued guidelines on prevention and treatment of co-infections of Covid-19 with other seasonal epidemic-prone diseases like dengue, malaria, seasonal influenza, and chikungunya, observed every year during this time.The government has also said that the co-infections can not only present as a diagnostic dilemma but may co-exist in coronavirus cases. Health ministry said that while a coronavirus case may present with (i) Acute onset of fever and cough and (ii) Acute onset of any 3 or more of the following signs or symptoms: fever, cough, general weakness/ fatigue, headache, myalgia, sore throat, coryza, dyspnoea, anorexia/ nausea/ vomiting, diarrhea, altered mental status, according to WHO, the "case definition is not very specific". Begum, Ali said, has a stone in her kidney. On the question about the Tablighi Jamaat column in COVID-19 screening form, RMLIMS spokesperson replied everything is decided by the governments, and RMLIMS administration has nothing to do with it.

LINK: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/govt-issues-guidelines-for-co-infections-of-coronavirus-with-dengue-flu-other-seasonal-diseases-1731087-2020-10-13

 

Don't need Hindutva certificate: Uddhav on Maharashtra Guv's letter asking him to open places of worship

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday responded strongly to a letter sent to him by state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The governor requested Uddhav Thackeray to reopen religious places of worship in the state in his letter.Koshyari wrote: “You have been a strong votary of Hindutva. You had publicly expressed your devotion for Lord Ram. You had visited, Vitthal Rukmani Temple on Ashadi Ekadashi.”“I request you to announce forthwith the reopening of all the places of worship with necessary Covid-19 precautions,” Koshyari added. In response, Uddhav said, “I don't need a certificate from you about my Hindutva.”

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uddhav-thackeray-response-bhagat-singh-koshyari-letter-hindutva-reopen-religious-place-of-worship-1731125-2020-10-13

 

 

Coronavirus vaccine expected in early 2021 from more than one source: Govt

New Delhi:Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday that India is expecting to receive coronavirus vaccine from more than one source in early 2021. Harsh Vardhan said that the expert groups are formulating strategies to plan the distribution of coronavirus vaccine in the country.Harsh Vardhan, at a Group of Ministers meeting, said, "We're expecting that early next year we should have the vaccine in the country from maybe more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country."

LINK: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-vaccine-in-india-early-2021-govt-1731064-2020-10-13

 

AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson: 2 major Covid-19 vaccine trial halts the world witnessed

An advanced stage study of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine candidate was put on hold on Monday after it reportedly had an adverse effect on a participant. The participant’s “unexplained illness” is being investigated by the company and a statement was issued in this regard. Accidents and other so-called adverse events “are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies,” the company said, adding that its physicians and a safety monitoring panel would try to determine the reason behind the illness, reported AP. This is the second such instance in which trials for a late-stage study have been halted.

 LINK: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/astrazeneca-and-johnson-johnson-2-major-covid-19-vaccine-trial-halts-the-world-witnessed/story-XDq7DuLwITz8D7ejoCBvNL.html

 

 

China announces new rules for Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for Haj

China has released new regulations for Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for annual Haj stipulating that pilgrimage should be organised only by the country's Islamic Association and pilgrims should follow Chinese laws and oppose religious extremism. There are 20 million Muslims in China, mostly Uyghurs - an ethnic group of Turkic origin - and Hui Muslims, who are of Chinese ethnic origin. Both Uyghurs and Hui Muslims have a population of about 10 million each, according to an official white paper. About 10,000 Chinese Muslims perform Haj every year.PTI

LINK: https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/china-announces-new-rules-for-muslims-visiting-saudi-arabia-for-haj-656377

 

*WORLD*

 

Trump asks UAE to encourage others to build ties with Israel

US President Donald Trump asked UAE Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Zayed to encourage other countries in the region to build ties with Israel, Arab48 reported. In a statement, Arab48 reported White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere saying that Trump and Bin Zayed discussed the latest updates about the Middle East on the telephone.Trump, according to Deere, asked Bin Zayed to encourage other countries in the region to follow in the footsteps of UAE regarding the normalisation of ties with Israel.Bin Zayed, Deere said, congratulated Trump on his recovery from COVID-19, while Trump thanked him for his “leadership” during the Abraham Accords, the agreement which marked the normalisation of ties between the Emirates and the occupation state of Israel.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201013-trump-asks-uae-to-encourage-others-to-build-ties-with-israel/

 

Long-time foes Lebanon, Israel to hold talks on disputed maritime border

Lebanon and Israel, formally still at war after decades of conflict, will launch talks on Wednesday to address a long-running dispute over their maritime border running through potentially gas-rich Mediterranean waters.The talks follow three years of intensive pushing by Washington and were announced less than a month after the United States stepped up pressure on political allies of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.AFP

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/long-time-foes-lebanon-israel-to-hold-talks-on-disputed-maritime-border

 

Egypt will not host Palestinian factions until after US election

Egyptian MP Samir Ghattas has declared that Cairo will not host meetings for Palestinian factions without a detailed reconciliation or election plan.Speaking to Al-Watan Voice, Ghattas said: “The indicators from Moscow come stronger than anywhere else.”He added: “Hamas is currently busy in its internal elections and I am thinking that all sides are waiting until after 3 November or the outcomes of the American elections.”

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201013-egypt-will-not-host-palestinian-factions-until-after-us-election/

 

‘Morocco police visited Israel in secret, agreed to hand over fugitives’

Israeli media revealed that police officers from Morocco made a secret visit to Israel and agreed to establish a cooperation and hand over fleeing criminals.Israeli Channel 12 reported that Moroccan officers visited Israel over the past few months and agreed to hand over two fugitives Golan Avitan and Chiko (Moshe) Beit Adah, using Spain as an intermediary as the two countries do not have official ties with one another.Channel 12 stated that the high-ranking Moroccan security delegation stayed in Israel for a week in a down-town hotel and agreed with the Israelis on a series of cooperation understandings after holding several meetings with senior police officers.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201013-morocco-police-visited-israel-in-secret-agreed-to-hand-over-fugitives/

 

Israel punishes 32 Palestinian hunger strikers

Jerusalem:Israeli prison authorities punished dozens of Palestinian prisoners, who went on a hunger strike in solidarity with a striking inmate, according to the prison service on Tuesday.32prisoners at the Ofer Prison have begun an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with Maher al-Ahras, who is hospitalized at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.  According to Israeli rights group B’Tselem, al-Akhras has been on hunger strike for nearly 80 days since his arrest by Israel in late July and is “on the verge of death”.Israeli prison service said the hunger strike by the detainees “was a violation of disciplinary rules”.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-punishes-32-palestinian-hunger-strikers/2004675

 

Palestinian on hunger strike in Israeli jail ‘on verge of death’

A Palestinian man on a hunger strike for nearly 80 days since his arrest by Israel in late July is “on the verge of death”, Israeli rights group B’Tselem said on Monday. Maher al-Akhras, 49, was arrested near Nablus and placed in “administrative detention”, a policy Israel uses to hold suspected fighters without charge. The married father of six launched his hunger strike to protest the policy. He has been arrested several times previously by Israel, which accuses him of having ties to the Islamic Jihad armed group.

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/12/palestinian-on-hunger-strike-in-israeli-jail-on-verge-of-death

 

Cyprus abolishes citizenship through investment programme

Cyprus has announced it will abolish a controversial passport scheme following the release of an investigation by Al Jazeera that implicated high-ranking politicians who were willing to issue passports to convicted criminals.The Ministries of Interior and Finance said in a statement posted in Greek on Twitter that the citizenship through investment programme in its current form will be abolished from Nov.1.

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/13/cyprus-abolishes-citizenship-through-investment-programme

 

 

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim meets king in challenge for leadership

Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim met the Southeast Asian nation’s king on Tuesday morning and said he passed over documents proving he had the parliamentary support needed to become prime minister and urged incumbent Muhyiddin Yassin to resign. At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur after the hour-long meeting, Anwar said he had shown the king evidence of his “formidable, convincing majority among parliamentarians”, and that the monarch would now meet party leaders and consider the situation.

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/13/malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-to-meet-king-in-challenge-for-leadership

 

China, Russia, Saudi set to join UN Human Rights Council

China, Saudi Arabia and Russia are poised to join the United Nations Human Rights Council, raising alarm among rights groups who say the countries are among the world’s “worst rights violators”.UN General Assembly is expected to hold elections on Tuesday for 15 seats in the 47-nation council, with the new members serving for three years from January 2021. “Electing these dictatorships as UN judges on human rights is like making a gang of arsonists into the fire brigade,” Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch said .

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/13/saudi-arabia-poised-to-take-un-human-rights-council-seat

 

US air raids target Taliban fighters advancing on key Afghan city

US military in Afghanistan has said its forces launched air raids against the Taliban in order to support Afghan government forces amid heavy fighting in the southern Helmand province.Fierce battles broke out in recent days after Taliban attacked several security outposts on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. Some 1,500 families are reported to have fled the continuing fighting.

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/12/us-hit-taliban-fighters-advancing-on-key-afghan-city

 

Facebook to ban content that denies Holocaust: Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday that the social media platform was updating its policy to ban content that denies the Holocaust, the mass genocide event carried out between 1941-’45 that led to the killing of about six million Jews. “We’ve long taken down posts that praise hate crimes or mass murder, including the Holocaust,” Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post.

LINK: https://scroll.in/latest/975671/facebook-to-ban-content-that-denies-holocaust-says-mark-zuckerberg

 

OP-ED

 

·        Charge of sedition to silence critics & the difference in context between ‘maro’ and ‘goli maro’:Justice (Rtd) Madan Lokur

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/charge-of-sedition-to-silence-critics-and-the-difference-in-context-between-maro-and-goli-maro

 

·        Instead of focusing on fixing opponents, government should borrow and spend money wisely: Yashwant Sinha

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/yashwant-sinha-indian-economy-modi-govt-spending-coronavirus-6722496/

 

·        Modi-Shah’s BJP needs a new ‘enemy’ for Bihar election. Pakistan and Sushant won’t work:Ruhi Tewari, the print

https://theprint.in/opinion/politricks/modi-shahs-bjp-needs-a-new-enemy-for-bihar-election-pakistan-and-sushant-wont-work/522358/

 

·        TRP Manipulation and TV Channels Propagating Hate Are Two Different Problems: Jawhar Sircar

https://thewire.in/media/trp-manipulation-tv-hate-propaganda

 

·        Remembering the Centenary of the Re-Entry of Dalits into the Golden Temple of Amritsar:Pritam Singh and Rajkumar Hans

https://thewire.in/caste/celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-re-entry-of-dalits-into-the-golden-temple-of-amritsar

 

·        Uttar Pradesh CM becoming a political liability but BJP cannot dare replace him : AJ Prabal

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/uttar-pradesh-cm-becoming-a-political-liability-but-bjp-cannot-dare-replace-him

 

·        Assam’s anti-CAA stir has birthed new parties. Can they be the promised political alternative?Arunabh Saikia

https://scroll.in/article/975194/assams-anti-caa-stir-has-birthed-new-parties-can-they-be-the-promised-political-alternative

 

·        US elections: Indian, Jewish diaspora cultivating bipartisan support:Iftikhar Gilani , Anadolu Agency

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-elections-indian-jewish-diaspora-cultivating-bipartisan-support/2004436

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq