*11 Jan 2020: 15
Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 104
*JNU VIOLENCE*
India Today unmasks ABVP attackers in a big sting: its activist Komal Sharma, masked woman in
viral video of JNU violence
India Today TV's special investigation team that has created massive
ripples across the country with its sting operation on JNU violence on Sunday,
has exposed the masked woman seen in one of the viral videos of the violence which
was unleashed inside the JNU campus on January 5.India Today's JNU Tapes Part 2
has found that the woman is Komal Sharma, an ABVP activist and a student of
Delhi University's Daulat Ram College.The identity of Komal Sharma was revealed
by one of her seniors on Instagram. In the audio uploaded by this person, Komal
Sharma is heard requesting her not to expose her identity as her photos have
gone viral after JNU violence on Sunday."Please do not tell anyone as my
photos are going viral...please don't tell anyone that you had seen me,"
Komal Sharma is heard in audiotape released by her senior. Speaking to India
Today TV, Komal's senior revealed that the masked woman was Komal Sharma, her
junior in Daulat Ram College of Delhi University and is an activist of the
ABVP. She said she personally spoke with her.To reveal the masked woman's
identity, India Today investigated further. Her identity was also revealed by
Akshat Awasthi, a first-year JNU and an ABVP activist, who was caught on camera
confessing to mobilising the mob during the JNU attack and even participating
in it. India Today had exposed his role in detail in Part 1 of JNU
tapes."Komal Sharma was there in the mess. What happened in Sabarmati
[hostel] was that when the crowd approached, Komal Sharma was secretly trying
to enter the mess. When I entered the mess, Komal was scared... she thought
that even I was from the Left told her...I am from your side," Akshat
Awasthi was heard saying in the India Today's JNU Tapes.In Part 1 of JNU Tapes,
India Today TV exposed three student activists who accepted they were involved
in the violence and vandalism in JNU on January 5 and prior to it.Two of the
three activists said they are members of ABVP while the third said she is
affiliated to AISA and is a former JNUSU president.The first ABVP activist
exposed in JNU Tapes is Akshat Awasthi. He is a first-year student of the
French degree program at JNU. He identified himself in one of the videos of
Sunday's attack and said he is ABVP activist.In the said video he is seen armed
with a stick, his face covered with a helmet, and rushing through a hostel
corridor in maddening rage and knocking anything and anyone that came his
way.Akshat Awasthi also tells in detail how he planned and mobilised other ABVP
activists for the attack. The second ABVP activist caught in JNU Tapes is Rohit
Shah, another first-year student of the French language program. He too
testified to his involvement in the criminal assault on January 5.Rohit Shah
confessed that he gave his helmet to Akshat Awasthi before he set out on the
raid. "It [a helmet] is a must for safety when you smash glass,"
Rohit Shah said on the tape.He said the mobs spared an ABVP room in the hostel
after he informed them about the affiliation of its residents.The third student
activists exposed in India Today TV's JNU Tapes is Geeta Kumari, ex JNUSU
president and affiliated to AISA.In the tapes, Geeta admits to her role in the
vandalism at the university's server room.Soon after India Today TV's JNU Tapes
were released, ABVP distanced itself from the two students and claimed they
were not its members.indiatoday
‘He Looked Like a Kashmiri... I Beat Him Up’: India Today 'Unmasks' JNU
Attackers
JNU violence: 37 of 60-member ‘Unity Against Left’ WhatsApp group
identified, says police
Delhi Police has reportedly claimed to have identified 37 of the 60
individuals of a WhatsApp group called ‘Unity Against Left’, which is believed
to be linked to the mob attack on JNU students and teachers on January 5.
According to the police, the group was created against the Left parties on
January 5, the day when violence broke out in JNU premises as several masked
individuals, both male and female, thrashed students, including girls, and
teachers inside the campus with wooden and metal rods, injuring at least 34
people. According to a report in NDTV, Around 10 of those identified are
believed to outsiders, i.e, they are not students of the university.thestatesman
JNU violence: 3 professors move High Court to preserve data, retrieve
CCTV footage
3 JNU professors on Friday asked the Delhi High Court to issue
directions to police and government to preserve data and other evidence related
to mob attack on campus, reported PTI. They also sought a direction to Delhi
Police to retrieve all CCTV footage from varsity.Professors Ameet Parameswaran,
Atul Sood and Shukla Vinayak Sawant said directions should be issued to
preserve and retrieve all material and evidence available with WhatsApp, Google
and Apple including messages, pictures, videos and phone numbers of members of
different WhatsApp groups.scroll
JNUSU claims police ignored messages about mob's presence in varsity on
Jan 5
New Delhi:JNU Students' Union today alleged that the police were
informed about a mob's presence on the campus much before the violence on
January 5 but they ignored the messages."They were informed at 3 pm and
the messages were read at 3.07 pm but the messages were ignored," JNUSU
claimed at a press conference here. It also alleged that RSS-affiliated ABVP
was involved in attacking women students and JNUSU office-bearers last week.The
students' union said ABVP members hit women students even on January 4 and when
JNUSU general secretary Satish Chandra Yadav intervened, they attacked him as
well.PTI
‘Entire country with JNUSU in fight for justice’: Kerala CM to Aishe
Ghosh
New Delhi :A day after Delhi Police released the name of 9 suspects,
including JNUSU President Aishe Ghosh, for their alleged involvement in the
violence in the campus, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday met
Ghosh at Kerala House in New Delhi and said the whole country was with them in
their protest against the fee hike in the institution and CAA.indianexpress
No doubt that Delhi Police connived with JNU admin and the ABVP: former
IPS officer VN Rai
Vibhuti Narain Rai, a retired UP cadre IPS officer, was posted as SSP,
Meerut in 1987 when the Hashimpura massacre took place. He later wrote a book
exposing the complicity of police then and how communally charged the police
were.In an interview, he said, "I have no doubt in my mind that the police
acted in connivance with JNU administration and ABVP goons in letting the
latter unleash violence in the campus against their perceived opponents, to the
extent of letting them get away after they had achieved their aim of
terrorising them."nationalheraldindia
Arvind Subramanian writes on JNU, Jamia: ‘Jobs fewer, violence on
students only adds hopelessness’
Former Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian on Saturday warned that
recent actions against university students could “triply undermine” the
government’s motto of inclusive development as they can block the creation of
human capital, social peace and strong institutions.In an opinion article in
Indian Express, Subramanian said the fears of students who oppose the
Citizenship Amendment Act must be heard and addressed. “Are their fears
exaggerated or misplaced? Regardless, they must be heard,” he said. “How else
will we be able to understand and address their concerns? And to be clear,
address them we must.”scroll
*anti-citizenship act stir*
CWC passes resolution asking govt to stop NPR, withdraw amended
Citizenship Act
Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday passed a resolution
demanding a rollback of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was notified by
the Home Ministry, and stopping the process of updating the NPR. The meeting
was attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan
Singh, and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi among other members.The CWC,
the party’s highest decision-making body, said ill-conceived Citizenship
Amendment Act had led to spontaneous nationwide protests and the Centre used
brute power to suppress the voice of students and youth.indianexpress
CAA discriminatory and divisive law; NPR is disguised NRC: Sonia Gandhi
:Congress president Sonia Gandhi today termed the CAA a
"discriminatory and divisive" law whose "" purpose was to
divide people on religious lines, and asserted that NPR in form and content was
"disguised NRC".Addressing CWC meeting in New Delhi, Sonia Gandhi
said that thousands of young men and women, especially students have realised
the "grave harm" that implementation of the CAA will cause.They have
taken to streets braving the cold as well as police brutalities, Sonia
said."We demand that a comprehensive high-powered commission be
constituted to enquire into the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests
and give justice to the affected persons," Sonia said."The situation
in some states is alarming, turning the states into police states, notably in UP
and Union Territory of Delhi," Sonia said.Coming down hard on NPR, Sonia told
the Congress top brass not to be under any illusion that it was a "benign
exercise"."In form and content, NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC," she
said.India Today
Rahul Gandhi and Co. behind storm of misinformation on CAA: Amit Shah
New Delhi :Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged Saturday that the
opposition parties led by ‘Rahul baba and company’ are behind the ‘storm of
misinformation’ on the amended Citizenship Act (CAA). Shah also challenged
‘Rahul Baba and company, Mamata Bannerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Communists’ to
hold a discussion on whether the CAA has the provision for snatching
citizenship or giving it.Speaking at a Gujarat Police event in Gandhinagar,
Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced CAA to provide
citizenship to “crores of people”. “Narendra Modi turned CAB into CAA in order
to provide citizenship to crores of people. In this regard, total
opposition….Rahul Baba and Company, Mamata, Kejriwal, Communists..have created a
storm of misinformation. They have spread the lie that through this act,
citizenship of minority, Muslims, is being snatched. Today, I from this dais
challenge them to hold a discussion on whether the CAA has the provision to
provide citizenship or snatch it,” said the Home Minister.However, Shah
refrained from mentioning the NRC exercise in his 30 minutes-long speech at the
Mahatma Mandir convention hall on the occasion of launch of multiple
Cybersafety initiatives of Gujarat Police .Shah continued his attack on the
opposition, claiming that a sense of mistrust has seeped through in India and
urged workers of BJP to conduct a “door to door” campaign on CAA.Home Minister
also said that the issue of CAA began due to partition of India and 1971
Indo-Pak war during which Bangladesh was created.indianexpress
Amid protests, CAA comes into effect from Jan 10, Home Ministry issues
notification
New Delhi:Even as the country boils over the Citizenship Amendment Act
(CAA), Centre on Friday night announced that the law has come into effect from
January 10. In a gazette notification, the Union Home Ministry said the act
under which non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will
be granted Indian citizenship, will come into force from January 10.“In exercise
of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act, 2019 (47 of 2019), the Central Government hereby appoints the
10th day of January 2020, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act
shall come into force,” the notification said.Meanwhile,BJP has launched a
door-to-door campaign to make people understand the provisions of new
legislation.thestatesman
Will wait for Supreme Court's decision on CAA before implementing: MP
Govt
Bhopal: CAA came into force, across the country, but there still lingers
apprehension of its implementation in the Congress-ruled state of Madhya
Pradesh. MP Law Minister PC Sharma said, "MP government's stand on
Citizenship Amendment Act is clear from day one. The chief minister of MP[Kamal
Nath] has already confirmed the stand of the government. When on March 25 there
was a march carried out, he put forth his views." Sharma said,
"Though the notification has been issued but it is yet to be seen what the
Supreme Court has to say. The discussions are still pending in the SC."
indiatoday
CAA Notification: Modi, Shah Effigies burnt by varsity students, AJYCP protesters
detained in assam
Guwahati: As Centre in a gazette notification announced that the CAA
comes into force, students of the premier Cotton University here came out at
11.30 p.m to protest against it and burnt effigies of the Prime Minister, Union
Home Minister and Assam Chief Minister shouting slogans against them and that
people of Assam will not accept CAA.On Saturday, activists of Asom Jatiyatabadi
Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) marching to gherao the Assam state secretariat
here to protest the new citizenship law were arrested on Saturday as a
preventive measure, officials said.Slogan shouting AJYCP activists from
Tinsukia in Upper Assam marching towards the state secretariat were stopped at
Khanapara area ahead of secretariat in Dispur, officials said. AJYCP
demonstrators were arrested and taken in buses to the temporary jail in 4 Assam
Police battalion headquarters at Kahilipara area before they were released
later, officials added.PTI
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking removal of anti-CAA protesters at
Shaheen Bagh
Delhi High Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition seeking
removal of police barricades from New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area, where
anti-CAA-NRC protests are underway, as it is causing traffic congestion on the
DND flyover, ANI has reported. Petition also sought shifting of protesters
elsewhere.The handwritten application was mentioned before a bench of Chief
Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar. The letter, written by Tushar
Sehdev and Raman Kalra, mentioned that the Delhi-UP, Delhi-Uttarakhand routes
and the stretches from Delhi to Noida hospitals, Ashram and Badarpur are
unavailable as the roads around Shaheen Bagh are blocked and vehicles are being
diverted to DND flyover due to the protests. Lakhs of people, including those
facing emergencies are suffering because of road blockade, the letter said.The
protest is affecting several lakh vehicles which are forced to avoid the route,
the plea said, claiming that protesters have put barricades and heavy stones on
the sides of the roads and are not even allowing pedestrians to pass. The
perition also alleged that the protesters have also damaged road dividers and
other public properties installed on the roads causing loss to the government
exchequer. For more than 25 days now, women residents of Shaheen Bagh have been
staging a sit-in on Kalindi Kunj Road to protest against the Citizenship
Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens. indianexpress
Delhi HC Refuses To Entertain Plea Seeking Shifting Of Shaheen Bagh
Protests To Other Area
Prominent Muslim groups call for revocation of CAA, judicial inquiry
into JNU violence
New Delhi: Prominent Muslim organisations on Friday demanded the
revocation of the CAA, a judicial inquiry into violence in JNU and compensation
for those killed and injured in "police firing" during protests
against the controversial citizenship law.The organizations, after a meeting,
also expressed concern over the proposed NRC and NPR, asserting that either NPR
should either be withdrawn or its additional clauses removed.The meeting of
Muslim organisations, held under chairmanship of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president
Maulana Arshad Madani, was attended by Darul Uloom Deoband vice chancellor,
representatives of Jamaat Islami Hind, Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees,Milli
Council, Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, and prominent leaders from other parts of
the country.The meeting took stock of the situation prevailing in the country
and deliberated upon the CAA, while reviewing the "ongoing movement and
struggle" against the controversial law in detail, a statement issued by
Jamiat said.Resolutions were also passed at the meeting, including against the
CAA, NPR and proposed NRC."The amended citizenship law is not only
anti-Constitutional but it also violates the pluralistic character of the
country. This law discriminates against people on the basis of their religion
and directly contradicts fundamental rights enshrined in the Articles, 14, 15
and 21 in the Constitution," a resolution said. The CAA also contradicts
the Preamble of the Constitution of India, it said.The organizations said the NRC
has created turmoil in Assam and citizens were excluded from the NRC simply
because there were errors in their name''s spelling and documents. NPR that has
been brought in by the government is actually the first step towards NRC
exercise, and that the new NPR demands more details as compared with the old
NPR of 2010, it claimed. The religious discrimination clause from the CAA
should be removed and NPR should either be withdrawn or its additional clauses
removed, the statement said.They also
said the new citizenship law will also affect India''s friendly relations with
neighbouring countries, especially Bangladesh.The organizations also extended
moral support to the protest launched by students of Jamia Millia, AMU and
other youths against these laws.They condemned in strongest possible terms the
police action on the students of various universities.They demanded initiation
of judicial inquiry into the violence in JNU and the strict action against
those police personnel found guilty in action against protests.Muslim
organizations also condemned police brutalities and excesses on peaceful
demonstrations in BJP-ruled states.Maulana Arshad Madani, Maulana Mufti Abul
Qasim Nomani, Maulana Wali Rahmani, Professor Akhtar al-Wase, Dr Qasim Rasool
Elyas and Naved Hamid among other prominent Muslim scholars and clerics
attended the meeting. PTI
Maharashtra: 100 organisations form ‘national alliance’ against CAA, NRC
Mumbai :Over 100 social and Muslims organisations, including 13 youth
bodies, Friday came together to form a “national alliance” in Maharashtra
against CAA, NRC and NPR.Maharashtra is the fourth state where such an alliance
has been formed after AP, Telangana, and Gujarat. Maharashtra convener of the
alliance, Justice (retd) Kolse Patil, said the aim of alliance is to facilitate
future protests as well as hold candlelight vigils and awareness sessions on
CAA, NCR and NPR. “We are hoping the judiciary will step in to stop the
discriminatory CAA. This movement will continue until we reach a logical end…
by withdrawal of the Act,” he told mediapersons. Mujtaba Farooq, national
co-convener of the alliance, said that in the coming days, awareness sessions
will be held in villages and rural Maharashtra to raise awareness about CAA,
NCR and NPR. “NPR is aimed at robbing the citizenship of the poor, Dalits and
Muslims. In coming days, such alliances will be formed in four more states,” he
added.The alliance will also work on providing legal aid to youth and activists
who are being booked by the police for protesting.indianexpress
Amidst protest over CAA, Centre to defer banning PFI: Deccan Chronicle report
Hyderabad: Now officials in Union home ministry have pieced together a
fresh dossier listing out the “operational capabilities” of PFI in the wake of
violent protests against the CAA, the decision on banning the outfit is likely
to be deferred, at least for now.At a time when Muslims across the country are
up in arms against the CAA, a move to ban the PFI, which has a massive support
base across the country, will be perceived as yet another anti-Muslim move and
could invite further trouble.Well informed sources told Deccan Chronicle that
during a recent high-level meeting in the Union home ministry to assess the
internal security situation in the wake of the CAA protests, the “operational
capabilities” of the PFI and their other activities came up for discussion.When
it was mentioned that since its inception in 2006, PFI has been expanding its
support base rapidly across the length and breadth of the country and has a fan
base not only within the country but outside as well, one of the views that
emerged was that banning the outfit at this juncture could lead to more
protests. “It would be seen as anti-Muslim,” it was felt. Already, CAA and the
fears of implementation of the NRC have branded Modi govt as anti-Muslim.
Arundhati Roy targets govt: Maybe one day they will be in detention
centres, we will be azad
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/arundhati-roy-at-jamia-on-detention-centres-1635994-2020-01-11
New Delhi:For Arundhati Roy, it seems, the next controversy is always
just around the corner. When the Booker-winning author turned up at Jamia
Millia Islamia today to express solidarity with students there, she brought up
the issue of detention centres -- and her comments are sure to kick up a
storm."If we all get together, there won't be a detention centre big
enough for us," she said."Maybe there will be a day when this
government will be in a detention centre, and all of us azad [free]. We won't
back down," she added.The government's clarifications on the CAA haven't
stopped protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh from demonstrating for weeks at a
stretch. By the way, that's where Arundhati Roy was headed after her appearance
at Jamia Millia Islamia.indiatoday
Delhi: Shaheen Bagh juniors draw attention to CAA
New Delhi: Australia’s raging wildfires, actor Deepika Padukone’s
portraits, Spiderman and Disney’s princesses: these were the subjects of
painting for the many children of Shaheen Bagh on Thursday. The kids, aged
between 5 and 15, have been accompanying their mothers as they sit under a
canopy on Kalindi Kunj road in south-east Delhi to protest against the new
citizenship law.The nearly half-a-kilometre stretch they occupy is blockaded by
police at both ends, but the yellow barricades also bear signs of their protests.
“No to NRC, no to CAA”have been spray-painted across barricades in bold
letters. Bedsheets have been painted with images of resistance and words from
Preamble and the tricolor are hoisted at several places.When TOI visited, many
children sat in a group, independent of their mothers. Most of them had
tricolor painted on both their cheeks, and they listened intently to the
speakers on stage. They carried posters against CAA and lent their voices to
Inquilab slogans. Some even took charge of the mike and chanted “Hum kagaz
nahin dikhayenge”.The children have made new friends and found new hobbies over
the last few weeks, especially after Usama, a young Jamia research scholar set
up a makeshift library opposite the protest site. Today, he is both a companion
and teacher to these kids. TOI
CAA-NRC: Gaya’s Shanti Bagh Turns Into Mini Shaheen Bagh
Bihar: On a cold January afternoon, Dulari Devi and Shaziya Perween, sit
under the open sky, singing national songs and Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poems. In
between, they also join slogans raised by others at the sit-in protest against
CAA-NRC, turning the site into a mini Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, where a sit-in
protest, mainly by women, has been going on for over 25 days.The protest in
Shanti Bagh in Gaya, where hundreds of people, mainly women and students, have
gathered, has been going on 24×7 since December 29, but has hardly drawn any
media attention so far. But, undeterred, the sit-in protest is continuing with
overwhelming support from the common people in Gaya town, widely known as the
holy land where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment.newsclick
CAA protests: 12 get bail in Delhi on condition they meet police to
‘have doubts removed’
A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to 12 people arrested during
protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Seemapuri area of the city
last month, PTI reported. However, the bail was granted with a caveat.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar Malhotra granted the accused bail on a
personal bond of Rs 20,000 each and a surety of the same amount. Judge Malhotra
also said that the accused shall appear at the Seemapuri Police Station on
January 19, where the officer present shall try to “remove the doubts of the
applicants in respect of CAA”.scroll
Arrested over CAA protests activist Akhil Gogoi remanded to judicial
custody for 14 days once again
Guwahati: A special NIA court on Friday remanded RTI activist and
peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, arrested under the stringent UAPA following his
participation in protests against the amended Citizenship Act last month, to 14
days of judicial custody once again.Gogoi, chief adviser of KMSS, had been
remanded to 14 days of judicial custody on December 26 by the NIA court.PTI
PM Meets Mamata, Bengal CM Asks Him to Withdraw CAA, NRC and NPR
Kolkata: On a 2-day visit to West Bengal, PM Narendra Modi met CM Mamata
Banerjee at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata even as protests continue against the
CAA."I told the PM that people in Bengal are not accepting NRC and CAA. You should reconsider it. He has
said I am here for other programmes so he asked me to come to Delhi for meeting,"
she said after the meeting.The meeting assumes significance as the new
citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with
Banerjee's TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and BJP
pressing for its implementation. After the meeting with PM Modi in which Mamata
urged a rollback on the amendment to the citizenship law, West Bengal CM said,
"We are against CAA and NRC and NPR. It should be ensured that no one
leaves the country. There should not be atrocities on anyone. The government
should re-consider NRC and CAA." Banerjee said that during the meeting she
also asked for the Rs 28,000 crore flood package that the state is yet to
receive from the Centre following Cyclone Bulbul. "He has assured that he
would look into the papers and take the necessary steps," she said.The
ruling Trinamool Congress students wing and Left Front activists are staging
demonstrations across West Bengal. Left Front activists, carrying placards with
'Go Back Modi' written on it, took out rallies at Dum Dum area – which is just
1.5 kilometres from the airport, where PM will land upon his arrival in the
city. "We will continue our protest unless and until the Act is withdrawn.
We don't want Modi to come to Kolkata as it will vitiate the atmosphere of our
state," a protester said. Several organisations, both political and civil,
have planned protest rallies across the city against the CAA and NRC. TMC has
also decided to make human chains at various parts of the South Kolkata against
CAA and NRC.news18
Kerala government puts up front-page newspaper ads opposing CAA, says
‘we are one, first’
Kerala government has advertised its decision to oppose the Citizenship
Amendment Act on the front pages of at least three national dailies.The
advertisements were put up on the front pages of Delhi editions of Indian
Express, the flaps on HT, and TOI. “We are one, first” reads the advertisement.
“The state is leading the efforts to protests constitutional values. Kerala
Legislative Assembly became the first in Union to pass a unanimous resolution
against discriminatory CAA.”scroll
Kerala Fishermen Embark on Special 'Water March' on Boats to Protest
Against CAA
The anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests that have proliferated ever
since the passing of the contentious Act have dominated news headlines for over
almost a month. And yet, more and more protesters are joining the fight against
BJP's move to grant citizenship to religious and persecuted minorities (except
Muslims) in neighboring nations. The latest to join the protests are fishermen
of Kerala, who took out rallies on boats (yes!) as part of their anti-CAA
protests. The "water march" was held in Kozhikode's Chaliyam area on
Jan.9. Fishermen sailed don boats from the Chaliyam Jankar Jetty to Feroke
bridge and back with protesters carrying banners, placards and the Indian flag
as props.Images and videos of the novel protest instantly went viral on Twitter
and other social media platforms. Many lauded fishermen for their
ingenuity.news18
Kerala: Congress throws CAA papers into sea
Railway losses ₹84 crore in anti-CAA, NRC protests in Bengal
Railways claimed to have suffered
losses of properties worth ₹84 crore in violence related to protests against
CAA and NRC in West Bengal from December 13 to 15, according to reports filed
by it before the Calcutta High Court.The Eastern Railway said in an affidavit
before a division bench comprising Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice
A Banerjee on Friday that it suffered the brunt of the protests with losses
amounting to ₹72.2 crore, with the maximum being in the Sealdah division, which
suffered damages worth ₹46 crore.PTI
Investments hit by CAA stir: Assam Minister Patowary
Guwahati: Assam industry minister Chandra Mohan Patowary has said that
anti-CAA protesters should note that Rs 42,78,228 crore investment in the oil
and gas sector alone could be affected by the agitation. He said several
foreign investors had shelved their plans following the stir.“We are making a
proposal to augment the capacity of Bongaigaon RefineryNSE 0.00 % &
Petrochemicals Limited from a refining capacity of 3 million metric tonnes per
annum to 6 mmtpa, with a provision to augment it to 9 mmpta in future. Together
with capacity addition of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, gas grids and other
projects in hydrocarbon sector, the Centre is investing close to Rs 42,782,28
crore in the state. For exploration of gas and oil in 100 places in Assam, Centre
has sanctioned Rs 3,600 crore,” he said.economictimes
Kolkata: Citizens join Jamia girl in anti-CAA rally
Kolkata: Ayesha Renna , who emerged as the face of anti-CAA protests
after saving a friend from police batons at the Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi,
joined thousands of protesters in Kolkata on Friday. Ayesha won hearts with her
speech that was partially in Bengali. She made an instant connect with the
students who turned up in large numbers. “They do not have jobs for us. They do
not have any plans for us. They just want to divide us,” said Ayesha. Rafia
Khatoon, one of the participants, was like any other ordinary homemaker going
about her domestic chores and looking after her family. But the CAA and NRC made her realize that she was also a
citizen of the country and it was her responsibility to step out and assert her
identity as an individual. “I am a mother, a wife and a daughter. But I also
have an identity as a citizen of this country which somebody is trying to
snatch from me. I will not let the Constitution to be subverted,” said the
resident of Collin Lane near Free School Street who left her two kids at home
to walk in the rally on Friday afternoon. Rafia was not alone. People from
other communities turned up in large number to assure their support. Neena
Ghosh, a medical practitioner, waited near Tipu Sultan Mosque for the Friday
prayers to get over before the start of the march. She took time off from her
busy schedule to “register protest” against something which threatens to divide
her country. “I love my country for its diversity. I don’t want a monolithic
identity to be imposed on it. India belongs to all its citizens,” said Ghosh.
The protest organised by Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity saw more than
5,000 people march from Esplanade to Gandhi statue on Mayo Road. “This is
Gandhi’s country. But there are powers which are trying to change Constitution
to target specific communities. But there is no place for communalism and
hatred here,” said Abdul Aziz, secretary of the forum.TOI
Thousands gather once again in Hyderabad to protest against CAA/NRC
A massive rally, in which thousands of people once again gathered in
protests to protest agains the CAA) and NRC, was held in Hyderabad’s Old City
on Friday afternoon. A sea of people participate in a rally which culminated
into a public meeting, which was organised by United Muslim Action Committee,
which is led by AIMIM.‘Tiranga’ rally drew thousands of people, especially
Muslims, from across the city, who turned up in large numbers. The rally was
held from the Mir Alam Eidgah to the Shastripurm grounds, where AIMIM chief and
member of Lok Sabha from the Hyderabad seat Asaduddin Owaisi addressed the
meeting. The scene was similar to the ‘Million march’, which was held earlier
this month, wherein thousands of people had come to to protest against the CAA
and NRC.Participants of the rally, with the tri-colour in their hands, also
carried a very long version of the national flag. Owaisi and other Muslim
leaders addressed the public meeting after the rally.livemint
Bhopal: CAA an attempt of Centre to hide failure on economic front, says
Congress leader Ramesh
Bhopal: Slamming Centre government, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh
said that to distract people and hide their failure on economic front, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were playing the drama of
CAA and NRC. The former union environment and forests minister was addressing
the members at Seva Dal training camp here. freepressjournal
CAA: Pakistan should also pass such a law, says BJP MLA, our ‘aggrieved
Muslims’ can go there
Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Vikram Saini has suggested that Pakistan should
also implement a law like CAA to take in “aggrieved Muslims” from India. Saini
represents Khatauli seat, ANI reported. “Adla badli kar lo [swap],” Saini told
reporters. “Those who are persecuted in Pakistan can come to India and those
who have trouble here can go to Pakistan, who is stopping them?”scroll
Gujarat Speaker tells Cong MLA he is not in Pak House over CAA, sparks
ruckus
Gandhinagar : Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi on Friday told a
Congress MLA who displayed a banner against the new citizenship law — written
in his own blood — that he was not “sitting in Pakistan Parliament”, inviting
strong objections from the Opposition and leading to the adjournment of
Assembly proceedings for 15 minutes.The House had met for a day when a resolution
to support the CAA was moved by Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja.
The resolution was passed by the majority amid opposition from Congress.Congress
MLA from Jamalpur constituency, Imran Khedawala, displayed the banner that
said, “Boycott CAA, NRC, NPR”, to which the Speaker reacted with the comment
that was strongly objected to by senior Congress MLA and party state party
chief Amit Chavda and other party MLAs. Khedawala displayed the banner from his
seat when BJP MLA Naresh Patel was speaking during the discussion on the
resolution. On seeing the banner, the Speaker said, “Respected Imranbhai, we
are not in Pakistan.”The comment invited agitated reactions from Congress MLAs
led by Leader of the Opposition Paresh Dhanani. indianexpress
AMU students continue anti-CAA protests despite administration's warning
Aligarh:Students of AMU have resolved to continue their sit-in protest
against the CAA, despite a stern warning from the varsity administration.The
administration has put up notices on the campus, stating that all concerned
were requested to comply with orders of the high court, which direct Aligarh DM
and SSP to ensure that no person was allowed to "convene, hold, attend,
address or take part in procession or join any kind of dharna, demonstration or
rally, either at the main gate of the administrative block of AMU or within a
100-metre radius of the block and VC's lodge inside campus".The student
leaders claimed they had measured the distance at which they have set up their
protest site, and it was more than the distance suggested by the high
court.IANS
Over 100 Retired civil servants condemn India's new citizenship law
More than 100 retired senior civil servants, including three former
ministers, have written an open letter to the Indian public condemning
government policies they called “morally untenable”, “wasteful” and certain to
cause hardship to millions.The letter specifically criticised a controversial
new citizenship law widely seen as anti-Muslim and the government’s proposed
national register of citizens. Critics allege that, when combined, the law and
the register could lead to millions of Muslims being declared illegal
migrants.The signatories included exforeign secretaries Shyam Saran,
Shivshankar Menon and Sujatha Singh. The letter urged the government to repeal
the citizenship law, passed last month, and desist from setting up detention
centres for Indians who do not qualify as citizens.“We are apprehensive that
the vast powers to include or exclude a person from the Local Register of
Indian Citizens that is going to be vested in the bureaucracy at a fairly
junior level has the scope to be employed in an arbitrary and discriminatory
manner, subject to local pressures and to meet specific political objectives,”
they said in the letter.theguardian
Rift in BJP over citizenship issue? Muslim leaders of minority cell in MP
are now anti-CAA-NRC
BJP is facing brewing discontent within its ranks of minority
politicians regarding the recent fiasco over the citizenship issue. According
to sources, some members of BJP's minority cell in Madhya Pradesh have recently
come out openly in protest against the CAA and NRC. While some Muslim leaders
have publicly let known their opposition to CAA-NRC, a few others cut their
ties off with the saffron camp and resigned.Perhaps the most prominent of these
names are Adil Khan, Bhopal District President of BJP's minority wing, and
Javed Baig, the cell's media in-charge. Earlier this month, state secretary of
BJP's minority cell Akram Khan resigned due to “indecent comments on a
class-specific community”. Along with him, Abdul Hakim Qureshi, former chairman
of the Masjid Committee and member of MP Madarsa Board, has also resigned from
the BJP's primary membership. Qureshi, who had been with the saffron camp for
over 25 years and was a close aide of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan, said that people from within the party had been passing
community-specific remarks and treating Muslims like outsiders even if they had
served the party for a long time.dnaindia
CAA: Aaditya Thackeray castigates BJP for campaigning in a school, says
it is unacceptable
Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray today lashed
out at the Modi government for campaigning about the Citizenship Amendment Act
in a school.Thackeray tweeted a day after BJP workers visited a school in
Mumbai’s Matunga suburb to “spread awareness and correct misinformation” about
the law. The Bharatiya Janata Party had organised a programme at the Dayanand
Balak Vidyalaya on Bhimani street from 10 am to 11 am on Friday.scroll
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Kashmir: Indefinite Suspension of Internet Not Permissible, Review
Orders in a Week, Says SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday stated that the Internet ban in
Jammu and Kashmir without limiting it to a particular duration is not only
violation of the telecom rules, but also of the freedom of speech and
expression granted by Constitution. 3-judge bench comprising justices N.V.
Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai, after hearing a clasp of petitions
challenging the constitutionality of the Centre’s decision to lockdown Jammu
and Kashmir following reading down of Article 370 since August last year,
pointed out that freedom of speech and expression includes the right to recieve
and disseminate information.The apex court asked the J&K administration to
review all restrictive orders imposed within a week.Internet has been suspended
for more than 150 days in Kashmir, making it the longest blackout in any
democracy.thewire
J&K: SC verdict a ‘big jolt’ to Modi govt’s ‘illegal activities’,
says Congress
Congress has said the Supreme Court’s judgement in the petitions against
the restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir was “a big jolt” to Narendra Modi
government’s “illegal activities”.“SC [Supreme Court] delivers first big jolt
of 2020 to illegal activities of Modi govt [government] by stating importance
of internet as a fundamental right,” Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala said in
a tweet. “Double shock for Modi-Shah that dissent cannot be oppressed by
imposing Section 144. Modiji reminded that nation bows before Constitution and
not him!” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was one of the petitioners,
said this time the Supreme Court did not come under any pressure.“We welcome
this judgement,” he said, according to PTI. “This is the first time the SC has
talked about how people of J-K feel. I would like to thank the SC for a very
historic decision and the people from across the country were waiting for it,
specially the people of JK. The government of India has misled the entire
country. This time the SC was forthright and they didn’t come under any
pressure.”Former Union minister P Chidambaram said the court’s order was a
“rebuff to unconstitutional, arrogant stance of the Centre and J&K
administration on restrictions imposed in the region”, PTI reported. scroll
Supreme Court disappoints, say editorial comments while pulling up the
Govt on Kashmir lockdown
While welcoming the principles laid down by the Supreme Court on Friday
on restrictions on freedom imposed by the state in J & K, in editorial
comments, virtually all English newspapers in India expressed both surprise and
disappointment at the court’s failure to strike down the restrictions as
unconstitutional.Pointing out that for liberal democracy, suspending internet
access in a region it considers to be an integral part is not ‘ great
advertisement’ for either liberal democracy or governance, most of the comments
lamented at the Supreme Court falling short of remedying a wrong. However, the
broad principles laid down by the court were welcomed. The court not only ruled
that Internet access was a fundamental right but also declared that the right
to information also included the right to know why restrictions are imposed. It
laid down that all orders imposing restrictions must spell out the immediate provocation,
and not apprehension, and that such restrictions needed to be reviewed every
week. Restrictions, it underlined, could not be indefinite or
disproportionate.nationalheraldindia
'If We Get Orders, We Will Act': Army Chief Naravane On Reclaiming PoK
Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday said that if Indian
Army gets an order, it will take appropriate action to reclaim Pakistan
occupied Kashmir (PoK).He pointed out that a Parliamentary resolution states
that the entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of India."There is a
Parliamentary resolution, that entire Jammu and Kashmir region is a part of
India. If Parliament wants it, then that area (PoK) also should belong to us.
If we get orders to that effect, we will take appropriate action," the
Army chief said while speaking to the media in Delhi.General Naravane took over
as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff on December 30, succeeding General Bipin
Rawat who has become India's first Chief of Defence Staff. Naravane previously
served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.PTI11
SC asks Centre to reply to UN official’s plea on Rohingya
NEW DELHI:The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to respond to an
application made by a United Nations Special Rapporteur to intervene in a batch
of petitions filed by the Rohingya community against the government’s move to
conduct their mass deportation from India.A Bench led by CJI Sharad A. Bobde
took note of the plea made by E. Tendayi Achiume, who is a UN Special
Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance, to assist the court on India’s human rights
obligations to racial equality and non-discrimination in the light of the
international conventions signed and ratified by it. It said the move by the
Union Home Ministry would be ‘incompatible’ with India's human rights
obligations.thehindu
Bangladesh Junior Foreign Minister Cancels India Visit
New Delhi: Bangladesh’s junior foreign minister M. Shahriar Alam has
reportedly cancelled his participation in next week’s Raisina Dialogue. This
marks the third such cancellation of a ministerial visit within a
month.Minister of state for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam was listed as a
speaker at the Raisina Dialogue which begins next week. The Raisina Dialogue is
an annual platform, backed by the Indian ministry of external affairs, for a 3-day
discussion on global issues, attended by foreign ministers, diplomats and
experts. Diplomatic sources confirmed that while his visit had been on schedule
till a day earlier, but it has now been changed. According to Bangladeshi
embassy officials, Alam would be travelling with Bangladesh prime minister
Sheikh Hasina to Abu Dhabi. He would also attend a meeting of Bangladeshi heads
of missions in the region.There has been no response from the Indian ministry
of external affairs, so far.thewire
*OTHERS*
Law ministry did not consult any ministry, department on Triple Talaq
Bill: report
New Delhi: Union Ministry of Law and Justice gave its approval to the
Triple Talaq Bill last year without consulting concerned ministries,
departments or any state government on it, documents obtained by The Wire in
response to a RTI request have revealed. Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
had claimed that the bill was introduced after interactions with several
“victims”. Documents obtained show that the law ministry had neither consulted
with nor discussed the bill with any concerned ministries, departments or state
governments. It is significant to note that the ministry had argued that the
concerned ministries were not consulted keeping in mind the urgent need to stop
the unfair practice of triple talaq. A file note bearing Prasad’s signature
reads, “A note for the Cabinet along with a Bill, namely, Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 was circulated to the concerned
Ministries/Departments of Central Government and also sought the comments of
the State Governments on the said Bill before the same was introduced in the
16th Lok Sabha.”However, the note
further adds, “In view of the urgency to prevent the unreasonable practice of
triple talaq, the Inter-Ministerial consultations have been dispensed
with.”This step by the law ministry contradicts the earlier legislative
consultation policy issued by it in 2014, which states that any bill should
first be sent to concerned ministry or department and their comments should be
included in the cabinet note.In a meeting of the committee of secretaries (CoS)
chaired by the cabinet secretary in 2014,
it was also decided that if any department or ministry thinks that
pre-legislative consultation is not possible, they should give a reason for
it.However, no such reason is mentioned in the confidential cabinet note on the
Triple Talaq Bill obtained by The Wire. It reiterates that in view of the
urgent need to stop the unfair practice of triple talaq, inter-ministerial
consultations have been omitted.Former Lok Sabha secretary general P.D.T.
Acharya called it an example of a practice which is against the rules.thewire
Presence of Govt Employee at Rally Does Not Entail Participation in
Political Activity: Tripura HC
New Delhi: Tripura high court has said that the mere presence of a
government employee at a political rally cannot be termed as participation in
political activity in violation of service conduct rules.A petition had been
filed by Lipika Paul, who was suspended five days before her retirement from
state government’s fisheries department, in April 2018. The grounds for her
suspension were “taking part in a political rally organised by a particular
party at Agartala” on Dec31, 2017.The department had claimed that this was in
violation of Rule 5 of Tripura Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1988.The
petitioner, an upper-division clerk, had pointed out that even if allegations
in the charge sheet were true, there could be no misconduct.thewire
Boeing Staff Called Indian Regulator DGCA 'Fools', ‘Stupid’, Reveal
Documents
New Delhi: During the approval process for 737Max planes in India in
2017, Boeing executives used terms such as "fools" and
"stupid" for the Indian aviation regulator DGCA, according to
internal documents released by the company.In early 2019, regulators across the
world banned flying 737Max planes after two fatal accidents involving the
aircraft that killed 346 people. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
also ordered grounding of these planes in March last year.The latest batch of
internal Boeing documents were provided to the US aviation regulator FAA
(Federal Aviation Administration) and US Congress last month and released on
Thursday.In one of the conversations, a Boeing executive is recorded as
stating, "DCGA in India is apparently even stupider, if that's a word. I
am drinking obviously."In another conversation, a Boeing executive says
the following about DGCA: "I just Jedi mind tricked this (these)
fools."SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier having 737Max aircraft in its
fleet. The budget airline grounded 13 such planes in March last year.news18
Chhattisgarh: Congress gets mayor post in all 10 municipal corporations
The ruling Congress on Friday captured the mayoral posts in all 10
municipal corporations in Chhattisgarh. Elections for 151 urban bodies,
comprising 10 municipal corporations, 38 municipal councils and 103 nagar
panchayats, were held on December 21, and the Congress had managed to win 1283
of 2834 wards. The BJP had won 1131 wards.Of the 10 municipal corporations, the
Congress had got a majority in Jagdalpur, Chirmiri and Ambikapur.In seven
others, namely Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg , Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, Dhamtari, Korba,
the Congress managed to install its mayor after garnering support from
Independents.PTI
Delhi HC orders removal of name of Abdul Wahid, wrongly mentioned in
SIMI list
Delhi High Court on Friday ordered to expunge name of Abdul Wahid Deen
Mohammad, 42, from an order imposing a ban on SIMI.Mohammad was the only one of
the 13 accused to be acquitted in the 7/11 train blast case. To his shock, his
name was in the order imposing ban on SIMI by a tribunal of Delhi High Court in
July 2019 as a convict in 7/11 train blast case.In his petition, Shaikh, he
then filed a writ petition in Delhi HC demanding his name to be expunged from
the Gazette. Mohammad said that in the order, tribunal has wrongly recorded
that he is one of the ten of twelve accused convicted of being SIMI members by
a Special Judge in Mumbai.He further stated that "it is worth pointing out
that the petitioner was the only accused in the case who was acquitted of all
charges" and that no appeal was filed by the state against the
acquittal.The tribunal order had been published by the Centre in a Gazette of
India notification on August 27, 2019.Mentioning that the Delhi HC ruled in
their favour, Mohammad's advocate Sridevi Panikkar said, "Union of India
filed an affidavit accepting that Wahid has been acquitted and that it was
wrongly mentioned that he has been convicted of being a member of SIMI. Court
has ordered for Wahid's name to be expunged from the order and a corrigendum be
published in the Gazette."indiatoday
IAF wing commander arrested for posing as Amit Shah
STF of Madhya Pradesh Police has arrested a serving Air Force Wing
Commander for impersonating as Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and
asking Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon to appoint a friend as
vice-chancellor of a university, Additional DGP Ashok Awasthi said.Wing
Commander Kuldeep Vaghela who is reported to have worked in Raj Bhawan earlier
got his friend Chandresh Kumar Shukla, a known Dental Surgeon, to pose as Amit
Shah's personal assistant and called the governor over phone.IANS
‘UP police abused & thrashed us’, alleges family of dead gangrape
victim in Muzaffarnagar
New Delhi: The family of the victim in the Muzaffarnagar gangrape case
has now accused Uttar Pradesh police of physical torture and abuse, three
months after the 21-year-old allegedly committed suicide.The case surfaced in
October last year, when woman killed herself and named four of her relatives
for traumatising her sexually and mentally. No arrests have been made so far.
This came four years after she was raped by three boys of her Badhiwala village
in August 2015 — all out on bail.Now, the victim’s family has accused the UP
police of beating them up inside the Chhapar police station, located 10 km from
the village, Thursday.“In the police station they abused us like anything. They
have been bribed by the accused family (his relatives). So while abusing us
they said we allow our girls to get raped in lieu of money. They also used
several cuss words that I can’t even mention to you,”victim’s father told
ThePrint.The family showed pictures of the victim’s sister with swollen
cheeks.The father said the police had called on his family on 28 December to
visit the police station to make a statement.
MHA says 34 lakh Overseas Citizen of India cards issued, declines to
detail cancellations
NEW DELHI:Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that more than 34
lakh Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registrations had been done but declined
to divulge information relating to the number of persons whose OCI cards had
been cancelled, citing non availability in a “consolidated form.”Responding to
a RTI application filed by The Hindu, the ministry said that the information
sought remained outside the “mandate and scope of the RTI Act, 2005.”On
November 7, in an unprecedented move, the ministry had announced on Twitter
that it would revoke the OCI card to author and journalist Aatish Taseer over
what it claimed was his attempt to “conceal information” that his father,
Salman Taseer, was of Pakistani origin.thehindu
20 Feared Dead, Several Injured As Bus Catches Fire In Uttar Pradesh
Around 2O people were feared killed on Friday in a massive fire that
broke out following a collision between a private sleeper bus and a truck near
Chiloi village under Chhibramau police station area in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj,
police said.Around 20 people are feared to have died in the incident while 21
have been rushed to hospital, Kannauj Superintendent of Police Amrendra Prasad
singh said.10 to 12 among the injured 21 jumped from the burning bus to save their
lives, SP said, adding the exact number of casualties will be known only
later.There were around 45 passengers in the bus which was on its way to Jaipur
from Farrukhabad at the time of incident, police said.PTI
Veteran broadcaster, academic-poet Obaid Siddiqui passes away
New Delhi:Veteran broadcaster, poet and academician Obaid Siddiqui
passed away in a Ghaziabad hospital due to health related problems.Siddiqui,
63, was quite unwell due to multiple ailments and was undergoing treatment at a
hospital in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, for the past one week where he breathed his
last on Thursday, said Qurban Ali, his former colleague.His burial will be held
at Jamia Qabaristan after Friday prayers at 2 PM, Ali said. iddiqui is survived
by a daughter and two brothers.Born in Meerut in 1957, Siddiqui received higher
education AMU joined the All India Radio at Srinagar station in 1988, Ali
said.PTI
Vadodara: 8 dead in blast at medical gas manufacturing plant, forensic
team arrives
Vadodara :8 workers were killed Saturday and at least 8 others
critically injured in a high-intensity explosion in Aims Oxygen Private
Limited, a company bottling oxygen for hospital and industrial use, located in
Padra in Vadodara District, about 30 kilometers from Vadodara city. FSL team
has arrived at the spot to assist the investigation.According to the police, the
incident occurred at around 11 am on Saturday with a loud explosion inside the
oxygen gas plant of the company. As many as five workers were killed on the
spot and three others succumbed to their injuries at a private hospital, where
10 other injured were rushed for treatment.indianexpress
Crimes against women: Uttar Pradesh again tops list, Madhya Pradesh
reported most rapes in 2018
National Crime Records Bureau has revealed that Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh – two of the major states in the Hindi heartland – fare the worst when
it comes to security for women. The bureau said 3.78 lakh cases of crime
against women were reported in 2018, with Uttar Pradesh registering 59,445
cases – the most. The state had topped the list in 2017 too. The maximum number
of rapes – 5,450, or almost 15 a day – were reported in Madhya Pradesh.scroll
*WORLD*
Iran says it 'unintentionally' shot down Ukrainian plane
After initially denying reports suggesting it had caused the crash of a
Ukrainian airliner, Iran has acknowledged that it "unintentionally"
shot down the plane.The announcement on Saturday came a day after officials
from the US, Canada and the United Kingdom said they believed the plane was
accidentally brought down by an Iranian missile. The Ukraine International
Airlines flight PS752 bound for Kyiv crashed minutes after takeoff from the
Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176
people on board.The crash happened hours after Iran launched missile attacks on
US forces in Iraq in retaliation for US assassination of top Iranian commander
Qassem Soleimani. Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to the United Kingdom,
issued an apology after denying reports that his country might have been behind
the passenger jet's downing. "In my statement yesterday to the UK media, I
conveyed the official findings of responsible authorities in my country that
missile could not be fired and hit the Ukrainian plane at that period of
time," Baeidinejad said in a tweet. "I appologise and regret for
conveying such wrong findings."Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a
senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said the
Iranian missile operator who shot down the passenger jet opened fire
independently because of communications "jamming". The operator had
mistaken the Boeing 737 for a "cruise missile" and only had 10
seconds to decide whether or not to open fire, said Hajizadeh, the Guards'
aerospace commander, in televised remarks.aljazeera
Ukraine wants punishment, compensation from Iran for downed plane
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he expects a full
investigation, a full admission of guilt and compensation from Iran after the
downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane."Iran has pleaded guilty to
crashing the Ukrainian plane. But we insist on a full admission of guilt,"
Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook."We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness
for a full and open investigation, bringing those responsible to justice, the
return of the bodies of the dead, the payment of compensation, official
apologies through diplomatic channels," he said."Our 45 experts must
get full access and cooperation to establish justice," he added.aljazeera
Qassem Soleimani killing sparks concerns, deepens divide in Iraq
Baghdad:In the late hours of a crisp winter's night, Ahmed al-Rikabi and
others are huddled under blankets in a tent in Baghdad's Tahrir Square.For
these men, most of whom did not know each other before coming to the square but
have now formed strong friendships, this tent has been home for almost three
months. They are but few of thousands of young Iraqis who have taken to the
streets in an effort to change Iraq's political system - a system which, since
2003, has been dominated and defined by foreign powers and corruption.Across
the Tigris River, in the capital's Green Zone, momentum has been building for
an effort by pro-Iranian politicians to expel United States forces from the
country in the wake of last week's US assassination of Iranian commander Qassem
Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad's
airport.aljazeera
Oman's Sultan Qaboos dies, cousin Haitham bin Tariq sworn in as new
sultan
Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman has died, according to an announcement by
Omani state tv and the state news agency early on Saturday. A 3-day period of
mourning has been declared in Oman and the country's flag will be flown at
half-mast for 40 days. Qaboos's funeral procession began in the capital,
Muscat, as thousands gathered in the streets leading up to the Sultan Qaboos
Grand Mosque where prayers were held before noon, ahead of his burial. Later today, Oman has named Haitham bin Tariq
Al Said as the country's new ruler following the death of his cousin Sultan
Qaboos bin Said Al Said, state television announced. The former culture
minister was sworn in before the ruling family council on Saturday morning,
just hours after the announcement of Sultan Qaboos' death. State TV said
authorities had opened a letter by Sultan Qaboos naming his successor, without
elaborating, before announcing Haitham bin Tariq as the new ruler."Haitham
bin Tariq was sworn in as the new sultan of the country ... after a meeting of
the family which decided to appoint the one who was chosen by the sultan,"
govt said in a Twitter post.In his first address to the nation, Sultan Haitham
bin Tariq pledged to maintain the Gulf state's foreign policy, which he said
was built on peaceful coexistence and maintaining friendly ties with all
nations. Sultan Qaboos, one of the Middle East's longest-serving rulers who
maintained the country's neutrality in the region, had been ill for some time
and was believed to have been suffering from colon cancer. 79-year-old ruled
Oman since overthrowing his father in a bloodless coup in 1970.He had no
children and had not publicly appointed a successor to rule the nation's 4.5
million people.Oman observers had said the sultan's 3 cousins - including
Haitham - stood the best chance.Haitham bin Tariq's appointment as sultan comes
at a time when the Gulf Cooperation Council has become deeply divided following
the Saudi Arabia-led blockade against Qatar.AL JAZEERA
Sultan Qaboos was a true friend to India:PM Modi mourns his death
New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise
of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said. He said Qaboos’s strong leadership had built
a vibrant strategic partnership between India and Oman and that he was a true
“friend to India”.Taking to Twitter, Modi said, “Sultan Qaboos was a true
friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a vibrant
strategic partnership between India and Oman. I will always cherish the warmth
and affection I received from him. May his soul rest in peace.”indianexpress
Oman’s deceased Sultan Qaboos shared special bonds and connect with
India
‘Pakistan lost a trusted friend’: PM Imran Khan condoles death of Oman’s
Sultan Qaboos
Pakistan PM Imran Khan expressed his deepest condolences to the people
of Oman on the demise of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said.The prime
minister took to his Twitter handle on Saturday and wrote that His Majesty was
a visionary who transformed Oman into a vibrant and modern state.“Oman has lost
a beloved leader and Pakistan a close, trusted friend. May his soul rest in
eternal peace," he added.brecorder
Tel Aviv calls for Gulf States to unite with Israel against Iran
Former Israeli communication minister, Ayoob Kara, has called for Gulf
States to form a security and economic “union” with Israel, to stand against
Iran at all level, Shehab news agency reported.Kara, who is very close to the
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, posted on Twitter that the goal of
this “union” is to be a “strong front in the face of Iranian evil.”The tweet
came after the Iranian declaration that Iran would turn its hostile arms
against Haifa and Dubai. In his tweet, Kara announces: “It is time that the
States of the Arab Gulf come together with Israel in a security and economic
union to stand against Iran’s threats in the Middle East.”
Tunisia parliament rejects gov't of PM-designate Habib Jemli
Tunisia's parliament has rejected a govt proposed by Prime
Minister-designate Habib Jemli after months of negotiations between political
parties to fill positions. During a heated day-long parliamentary session on
Friday, only 72 of the 213 legislators present voted in favour of Jemli's
cabinet.Jemli, an agricultural engineer by training, had in early January
announced the formation of a cabinet made up of independent technocrats, a move
that came a month after being nominated by the moderate Islamist Ennahdha party
to head a new government.Ennahdha emerged as the most powerful party after
winning the most seats in the country's October parliamentary election. But the
self-described Muslim Democratic party's 52 of a total 217 seats available for
grabs meant that it still needed to win the backing of other parties.Tunisian
President Kais Saied, who was also elected in October, now has 10 days to
designate a new prime minister. If Saied's appointee fails to form a
government, parliament is dissolved and a new election will be called.aljazeera
Regime airstrikes kill 17 civilians in Syria’s Idlib
At least 17 civilians were killed in airstrikes Saturday by the Bashar
al-Assad regime in northwestern Syria, said a local civil defense agency,
Anadolu reports.Regime warplanes have targeted Idlib’s city center, Maarrat
al-Numan and Saraqib districts and 11 villages in the morning hours, said the
White Helmets.At least seven people were killed in the city center, six in the
village of Binnish, four in the village of Al-Nerab, including two children
while 50 others were injured.Following the airstrikes, civil defense teams
launched search and rescue efforts.middleeastmonitor
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
India’s moment of turbulent revolution is here, and it's going to be
long and bloody, writes Justice Markandey Katju
Rough Edges: Police Double Standards, JNU and a Most Dubious Press
Conference;Monobina Gupta
JNU mayhem was Modi show:Zafar Agha
Time to address Muslim anxieties | Vivek Katju, HT
Aided by a pliant police, BJP workers turned Sambhal’s CAA protests into
communal stone pelting:KAUSHAL SHROFF, caravanmagazine
To subject the youth to violence adds to their sense of hopelessness
about the future:Arvind Subramanian, indianexpress
SC order on J&K makes right noises but leaves matters of relief to future:Raman
Jit Singh Chima,indianexpress
‘Main Cereal’ eaten among 31 questions to be asked in
Census-2021:Rajnish Singh/IANS
The SC Must Go Further and Recognise Access to Internet as a
Comprehensive Right:Sumeysh Srivastava
Salar Jung and Nizam of Hyderabad kept waiting for a gift for supporting
British in 1857:BAKHTIAR K. DADABHOY
Human rights are not solely an ‘internal matter’:Ravindran Daniel
* Compiled
and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:56 PM).*
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