15 January 2020

15 Jan. NEWS : Top US senator urges Mike Pompeo to press India for 'reversing' CAA, NRC/ Court Grants Bail to Bhim Army chief/Punjab ‘warriors’ land at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh to show solidarity/ UNSC meet on Kashmir tonight after China push


NEWS DIGEST, EVENING   
 15 Jan 2020: 19 Jamadi-1, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 108

*anti-citizenship act stir*
Top US senator urges Mike Pompeo to press India for 'reversing' CAA, NRC
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/us-senator-urges-pompeo-to-press-india-for-reversing-caa-nrc/cid/1736014?fbclid=IwAR2QbHIyTqX-POdiSGq9L_ks6nMFzwCTeQO_gKmow3fJ0QSquvWmxMGTdCM
 A top US senator has urged secretary of state Mike Pompeo to press the Indian government for a "swift reversal" of the CAA and the proposed NRC to ensure protection of human rights of all persons in the country regardless of their religion.In a letter to Pompeo, senator Bob Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern over the CAA and the potential for the establishment of a nationwide NRC in India.Asserting that US must remain steadfast in defending democratic values, freedoms and human rights, he said, "I urge the administration to engage the Indian government at the highest levels on these concerns, press for a swift reversal of these policies and practices, and ensure protection of the human rights of all persons in India regardless of their religion.""The law to grant citizenship based on religion violates India's international legal obligations and its constitution, which guarantees the rights to equality and non-discrimination," Menendez said. "The citizen registry has already disproportionately affected Muslims in India. These efforts threaten India's long history of secularism and democratic values," claimed Democrat leader who represents New Jersey, which has among the highest concentration of Indian-Americans in US."Despite govt's claims that the Citizenship Bill seeks to protect religious minorities, its failure to include Muslim groups facing persecution in neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan's Ahmadiyya and Burma's Rohingya, signal an anti-Muslim intent," wrote the Senator. Menendez also expressed concerns over reports of injuries and deaths of peaceful demonstrators protesting the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC.Referring to NRC, senator said in October last year, he had travelled to India during which he met with civil society activists who expressed deep concern about the "trajectory of these policies and its negative impact on the future of democracy in India".In his letter to Pompeo, senator Menendez also expressed concerns on the situation in Kashmir."The situation in Kashmir has also not normalised since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August. 5-month Internet shutdown in Kashmir is the longest ever in a democracy, and has left people's lives, jobs, and the economy in a more dire situation," he said.PTI
Anti-CAA protests prompt $453-billion investor Western Asset to shift to China
https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/anti-caa-protests-prompt-453-billion-investor-western-asset-to-shift-to-china-794865.html
Western Asset Management Co. is reducing its Indian govt bond holdings as tensions around a new citizenship law and Kashmir region cloud economic outlook.$453-billion investor, an affiliate of Legg Mason Inc., is diverting some of its funds into longer-dated Malaysian and Chinese debt, according to Desmond Soon, head of investment management for Asia ex-Japan. It has an overweight position in India bonds.The initial market euphoria from PM Narendra Modi’s re-election last year is wearing thin as economic growth stutters and policy making it harder for Muslim migrants to get citizenship stirs protests. Foreign holdings of Indian sovereign debt have dropped to near a 3-month low.“It certainly distracts PM Modi’s government from making the necessary economic policy and reform to focus on the economy,” Soon, a 30-year investment veteran, said in Singapore. “We are in process of reducing India somewhat.”Modi also stoked tension in Kashmir, nation’s only Muslim-majority state, when he ended seven decades of autonomy for the area in 2019.Bloomberg
NPR exercise on despite protests, pilot project started
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/national-population-register-exercise-on-despite-protests-pilot-project-started/story-7CYynzFaVBtKeyHmcH2NBN.html
New Delhi:Despite opposition against NPR - a biometric database of ordinary residents of India - preparations are on in full swing to update it. Enumerators are being trained to collect data and a “pre-test” or pilot project has already started. Unlike the Census database, which protects data released and is keep records up to block and Tehsils, NPR is household specific and data is not protected. NPR records data like name, age, address, along with linking biometric data like Aadhar, mobile phone and passport among others.The government had initially said that updation of NPR would be followed by a NRC wherein individuals are supposed to prove their citizenship either by birth or by naturalisation.Those left out of NRC would then have to appeal to Foreigners’ Tribunals to be regarded as citizens. There have been country-wide protests against NPR and NRC, some of which even turned violent.“We expect the protest and resistance to die down as people are made aware of why NPR is required,” a senior government official who didn’t want to be named said. HT
Govt to collect data on households headed by transgenders during census exercise
https://theprint.in/india/governance/govt-to-collect-data-on-households-headed-by-transgenders-during-census-exercise/350069/
New Delhi: In a first, the government will collect data on households headed by a transgender and members living in the family, Home Ministry officials said today. Census officers will be seeking specific information based on 31 questions from every household during the houselisting and housing census exercise scheduled from April 1 to Sept.30..PTI
Court Grants Bail to Bhim Army's Chandra Shekhar Aazad – But With Conditions
https://thewire.in/law/chandra-shekhar-aazad-bail-bhim-army
A Delhi court has granted conditional bail to Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad, who had been held since December 21 for organising protests against CAA at Daryaganj in Delhi .Several conditions accompany Aazad’s bail. The judge, citing Delhi assembly elections on February 8, has ordered that he should not be in Delhi for the next four weeks, reported LiveLaw.Further, not only does Aazad have to intimate police each time he needs to be in the city for treatment, he has to mark his presence with the station head officer in Saharanpur every Saturday for the next 4 weeks and then, after that, every last Saturday of every month till police file the chargesheet in the case.Aazad’s lawyer, Mehmood Pracha, arguing that he was not safe in Uttar Pradesh, requested that he be kept at the lawyer’s house. However, Judge Kamini Lau refused to let him stay at Shaheen Bagh, instead promising him security at Saharanpur.She, however, allowed Aazad to visit Jama Masjid (“we have absolutely no objection to him paying obeisance wherever he wants to while he’s here”) before being escorted away. Aazad had promised a visit to the mosque and protest site once he was released.Pracha in court and later Bhim Army’s leadership have been critical of court’s effort to keep Aazad from the Delhi elections.Bhim Army spokesperson Kush Ambedkarwadi has tweeted welcoming bail order, but has questioned whether the forceful distance being put between Aazad and the elections does not mean keeping Bahujan voices out of electoral process. thewire
Anti-CAA protests: Delhi court grants bail to 12 in Seelampur violence
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/anti-caa-protests-delhi-court-grants-bail-to-12-in-seelampur-violence/article30572604.ece?homepage=true
A Delhi court today granted bail to 12 people arrested in connection with violent protests against the CAA, in Seelampur.Additional Sessions Judge Lalit Kumar granted the relief on furnishing a bail bond of ₹15,000 each and a surety of the like amount.On December 18, the court had sent 11 people, arrested in connection with the protest at Seelampur area, to 14-day judicial custody. 3 people were arrested later in connection with the violence and two were granted bail earlier.PTI
CAA violence: 21 held, damages worth Rs 88 crore to be recovered from them, says Railway force
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-railway-damage-recovery-anti-caa-protests-up-govt-6217882/
New Delhi :Following the footsteps of the Uttar Pradesh government, RPF has identified and arrested 21 persons allegedly involved in vandalism and arson during anti-CAA protests in West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar, with a senior official stating that recoveries to the tune of Rs 87.99 crore would be made from them.Government Railway Police has registered 27 cases, RPF has filed 54 for arson, violence and damaging railway property during anti-CAA protests in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, PTI reported.“As of now 21 people have been arrested. Some have been arrested on the spot and some have been identified and traced through video footage,” a top official of RPF told PTI.indianexpress
Delhi Police vandalise Shaheen Bagh-like peaceful protest in East Delhi’s Khureji
https://www.newsclick.in/Delhi-Police-Vandalise-Shaheen-Bagh-like-Peaceful-Protest-East-Delhi-Khureji
Panic spread among the anti CAA-NPR-NRC protesters at East Delhi’s Khureji in the wee hours of January 14, after the police allegedly “switched off” the lights and vandalised the protest site. The protesters were local residents, mainly led by the women, who were inspired by the peaceful and organised protest at Shaheen Bagh and had gathered for an indefinite sit-in on Monday night.At 2.30 AM on Wednesday morning, the lights at the protest site went out. This was followed by the police personnel allegedly swinging their lathis to uproot the pegs of the shed and tearing apart the tent, protesters told NewsClick.“The police which first entered the protest site by telling us that they wanted to speak with the protesters, eventually destroyed our protest site,” said Sadaf Khan, one of the woman protesters. “The pegs were uprooted and our posters were burned. They were here to remove us,” she said.However, that couldn’t be achieved because soon after the lights turned off, calls were given and messages over social media started circulating, recording tension that surrounded the protesters. As a result, around 200 women, who stay near the protest venue, marched towards the site, forcing the police to make a retreat.“Women from all lanes came out to save the protest site and show a solidarity with the protesters who were facing vandalism caused by the police,” said Bilal Saifi, a social worker, also among the protesters. “With this act, the police have actually strengthened our unity,”he added.The protesters at Khureji are now determined to stay put as the crowd swelled by hundreds soon after the arrival of the police early in the morning.At around 7 PM on Tuesday, too, police made an attempt to disperse the protesting men, “not allowing” them to form a human chain allegedly over fears of a clash with a bike rally of RSS.NewsClick
After Shaheen Bagh, anti-CAA, NRC protests rage in East Delhi's Khureji
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/after-shaheen-bagh-anti-caa-nrc-protests-rage-in-east-delhi-s-khureji-1636895-2020-01-15
Punjab ‘warriors’ land at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh to show solidarity
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/punjab-warriors-land-at-delhis-shaheen-bagh-to-show-solidarity
A large group consisting of men, women and children from various towns in Punjab today arrived at Shaheen Bagh to show solidarity with the protesters and take part in the protest against CAA and NRC.The people from Punjab, who arrived in buses and trains, have also brought provisions for “langar”, or the community kitchen, at the protest site. The food items like flour, sugar, rice and vegetables were donated by the villagers in large quantities. The ration is meant to last several days.A large number of men and women – both young and elderly -- and children have come from Punjab towns of Bathinda,Mansa, Sangroor, Faridkot and Moga. Harinder Bindu, a woman leader, said that Punjab’s women are standing like a rock behind the women of Shaheen Bagh who have been protesting against the discriminatory CAA for over a month now.“We have come to Delhi to show solidarity with our sisters who are braving cold and other hardships during their protest,” Bindu said.“Tum Bagh me hum Punjab me,” Malan Kaur, an elderly woman from village Kotha Guru of Bathinda, raised the slogan. Kaur has spent 13 days in Faridkot jail and 19 days in Bathinda jail on different occasions for taking parts in protests against various issues.Amandeep Kaur, a class 12 student from village Lehra Dhoorkot said that she wants to show solidarity with JNU students. She was accompanied by several other students. Kaur had staged a sit in protest in front of Rampura police station to get justice for her father in suicide case.The march to Delhi has been organised by Bharatiya Kisan Union, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union and Naujawan Bharat Sabha. They arranged for buses through donations from the common people. People who could not get a place in the buses travelled by trains.nationalheraldindia
Sikh Farmers From Punjab Come To Cheer Shaheen Bagh Women, Cook Langar
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sikh-farmers-from-punjab-come-to-cheer-shaheen-bagh-women-cook-langar-2164508?fb&fbclid=IwAR1Gen2LlnACyyv7XaVxdgbsiUqoY5DKyXgtEvwwPJ0mfV081nLuuZauWs4
Protest enters 32nd day: At Shaheen Bagh protest, roza, with Gandhi
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/protest-enters-32nd-day-at-shaheen-bagh-protest-roza-with-gandhi/?fbclid=IwAR2cnthHaB23bpY9LGsA5ry45lbJnjNXQWYVDaLqLsPXschDrIGRmBtUSAI
Arfa woke up around 4 am last Thursday on one of the coldest mornings this winter in Delhi. The rest of her family — husband, two sons and daughter — were sleeping as she had a cup of milk and some biscuits. That was her sehri (pre-dawn meal) ahead of the roza she would keep that day. After her morning prayers, she caught a couple of hours of more sleep. These days Arfa’s daily routine includes not just chores at home. As the protest in South East Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh against CAA and NRC enters its second month, she is among the hundreds of women gathering there to lend support. Roza is part of a “collective” fast. Arfa is using a practice associated with Islam’s holiest days to register her protest against the “kala qanoon (black law)”.The organisers of another ‘çollective’ roza at Jamia Millia Islamia nearby, where participants have been keeping roza too, say there is another reason they chose fasting to make their voice heard.Shabnam Jahan (55), who has kept 5 rozas so far, adds, “I fast for future generation… so that the government takes back NRC and CAA. Allah is the one who will fulfill our wishes).”indianexpress
Meet 75-year-old 'front row' protester at Jamia Millia
http://www.millenniumpost.in/amp/delhi/meet-75-year-old-front-row-protester-at-jamia-millia-islamia-university-395767?utm_source=mobile-social-share&utm_partner=mpost&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR3YTvJGGHUmK05chztN3PPXsCE4ZYY2GO3B2FlxMjPzYqB30glDGrlI2WE
JNUSU head slams Police for disrupting 'peaceful' protest, accuses cops of vandalising mosque
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/jnusu-president-slams-delhi-police-for-disrupting-peaceful-protest-accuses-cops-of-vandalising-mosque/540637
New Delhi:After Congress motormouth Mani Shankar Aiyar, JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh arrived at Shaheen Bagh in support of protesters who have blocked Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch against CAA demanding its rollback.Calling the women of Shaheen Bagh an inspiration, JNUSU president slammed the Delhi Police for disrupting peaceful protests and also accused the cops of vandalizing the mosque located in the varsity.She further saluted the spirit of the women of Shaheen Bagh for awakening the nation and thanked them for standing up to protect the Constitution from “communal forces dividing the country.”Aishe’s visit comes after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, visited the area and addressed the women protesting against the CAA. The senior Congress leader courted controversy by calling BJP 'kaatil' (killer) and accused the Modi-led NDA government of dividing the country and "trying to create a disturbance within the Muslim community"."I am ready for whatever sacrifices have to be made. We have got to see whose hands – ours or of killers – are stronger)," Aiyar had said.
Mani Shankar Aiyar at Shaheen Bagh: ‘Ab dekhein ki kiska haath mazboot hai, hamara ya uss qaatil ka’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mani-shankar-aiyars-qatil-remark-at-shaheen-bagh-protest-stokes-controversy-6217386/
Shaheen Bagh protesters pledge to fight, seek rollback of CAA law:aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/shaheen-bagh-protesters-vow-fight-seek-rollback-caa-law-200115032939000.html
'Shaheen Bagh stir inconveniencing lakhs': Delhi BJP chief issues appeal
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/15/shaheen-bagh-stir-inconveniencing-lakhs-delhi-bjp-chief-issues-appeal.html
Delhi BJP unit president Manoj Tiwari today released a video to appeal to hundreds of people staging protests against the CAA in the Shaheen Bagh area of Delhi for a month to call off their agitation.Tiwari, a MP from Delhi, claimed protest in Shaheen Bagh, being staged by hundreds of women and children, had put to inconvenience "lakhs of commuters". At the start of the video, Tiwari claimed he was "distressed". theweek
‘How can Kota women be behind?’ say protesters after launching Shaheen Bagh-like protest in city
https://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/how-can-kota-women-be-behind-say-protesters-after-launching-shaheen-bagh-like-protest-in-city/story-vgy6BhajL1KkwKGVhkf8eL.html
Kota:After Kolkata and Prayagraj, New Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh protest against the CAA and a proposed pan-India NRC inspired a similar sit-in in Kota.More than a hundred Muslim women from different localities of the city began the sit-in outside the Eidgah grounds, calling it the Shaheen Bagh of Kota, on Tuesday night.“When the women of the country are organising protests against the CAA and the proposed NRC, how could women of Kota be behind? The new law is a black law against the spirit of Constitution,” said 28-year-old Shifa Khalid, convenor of the sit-in.“Women in Kota got inspired by the protesters of Shaheen Bagh. Our sit-in is also indefinite,” she added.Khalid said women in the sit-in are getting food and blankets from neighbourhood because most of the women are from Kishorepura locality, close to the venue of the sit-in. HT
Replica Of Shaheen Bagh: Thousands Of Women Stage Protest In Prayagraj Against CAA
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-replica-of-shaheen-bagh-thousands-of-women-stage-protest-in-prayagraj-against-caa/345723
The protests in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, led by women from last one month, have found a reflection in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Uttar Pradesh saw massive and violent anti-Cittizenship Act protests and the subsequent police crackdown in Dec.But with thousands of women, who are staging a sit-in at the Mansoor Ali Khan Park to voice their dissent against the citizenship law, the protets are witnessing a massive shift.The change, protesters say, was inspired by Shaheen Bagh that has emerged as face of peaceful protests against the new legislation.The women in Prayagraj had earlier decided to hold the sit-in for a day, but taking a cue from Shaheen Bagh, they have not budged for last 4 days. There are more than 5,000 women, men and children are camping at park, braving the freezing temperatures -- a replica of Shaheen Bagh where people of all ages and professions have been staging sit-in round the clock."We have been inspired by Shaheen Bagh. If our sisters can protest there, we can do it here too," says a protester, Renu Varma, a mother of three.outlookindia
Women from different faiths don hijabs during sit-in at Jantar Mantar to protest attacks on Muslim women during anti-CAA stir
https://www.firstpost.com/india/women-from-different-faiths-don-hijabs-during-sit-in-at-jantar-mantar-to-protest-attacks-on-muslim-women-during-anti-caa-stir-7907971.html
New Delhi: Women following different faiths wore Hijab and took part in a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday against what they claimed was "singling out of Muslim women" by police during recent protests against the citizenship law in the national capital.The demonstration - 'Azad women for Azadi' - saw the women coming together to express solidarity with the protesters.Iqra Raza, a Delhi University student, who organised the protest, said, "My cousin was singled out by police during a citizens' march last week. A policeman punched her in the chest. We are protesting against the targeting of Muslim women by forces. It constitutes a hate crime."  Her cousin, Zikra Mojibi, said she was singled out during a protest by JNU students, and she got panic attack after the police personnel manhandled her and punched her in the chest.The protesters were holding banners with messages like 'We want rights, not riots', 'Crying culture claims new democracy' while slogans against 'Islamophobia' and 'Inquilab Zindabad' rent the air.PTI
In a first, Bengal govt enforces Section 144 to stop BJP’s pro-CAA rallies
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-a-first-bengal-govt-enforces-section-144-to-stop-bjp-s-pro-caa-rallies/story-iW10NOySFiGTunexIyDf4K.html?fbclid=IwAR1aLAE3gnq1X8ribx9m44e7tTVRUQmeG2LumROZiFzClmFShFXs7pmn81E
Kolkata: In a first since CAA triggered a series of protest, including a few violent ones, the state police have enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC to stop BJP from holding two back-to-back rallies since Sunday.Cases have also been registered against BJP leaders for violating the orders. Both incidents have taken place in the north Bengal region where BJP wrested all Lok Sabha seats from ruling TMC in 2019, taking the party’s tally from two seats in Bengal to 18. Of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats, TMC won 22, mostly in south Bengal.On January 12, BJP Bengal unit general secretary Sayantan Basu and the party’s Cooch Behar district unit president Malati Rava Ray were stopped on their way to district’s Sitalkuchi where they were scheduled to hold a pro-CAA rally that BJP had christened Abhinandan Yatra.On Monday,while preparations were on for another Abhinandan Yatra in Malgalpur area of adjacent South Dinajpur district, Basu and Bengal BJP Yuva Morcha  president Debjit Sarkar were stopped by police and told that people were not allowed to assemble as Section 144 was in force.A case was registered against Basu and Sarkar when they blocked a road and held a meeting at another location close to the district administration’s office. BJP is not the only party to be shackled by prohibitory orders. CPI(M) has run into the same obstacle.HT
Lawyer sends notice to historian Irfan Habib for asking Amit Shah to remove 'Persian' last name, blaming Savarkar for dividing nation
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/notice-served-to-historian-irfan-habib-over-remarks-targeting-pm-modi-amit-shah20200114162302/
Aligarh Civil Court Advocate has sent a notice to historian Irfan Habib for allegedly taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a speech at AMU here.In a notice to Habib, lawyer Sandeep Kumar Gupta said that a speech delivered by the historian at AMU on Monday was "against the unity and diversity of India and it also challenges sovereignty".Pointing out at Habib's speech, Gupta in the notice said: "You advised Amit Shah to remove Shah from his name as it is a Persian word, you said RSS was formed to attack Muslims, you blamed Hindutva idealogue Veer Savarkar of dividing the nation despite the fact that two-nation theory was propounded by Jinnah, you ridiculed the use of Gandhi's spectacles in govt's Swwacchta Abhiyan."He sought a reply from Habib within 7 days and asked him to publish an apology, warning him of strict legal action if not done so.The historian's alleged remarks come in the wake of the controversy over the new citizenship law, which has come into force last week. ANI
Anti-CAA protests: Cases start falling in Muzaffarnagar as 19 of 107 freed after police say no evidence
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cases-start-falling-in-muzaffarnagar-19-of-107-freed-after-police-say-no-evidence-6216925/
Muzaffarnagar :Less than a month after police in UP’s Muzaffarnagar accused 107 people of rioting and attempt to murder in connection with anti-CAA protests, they are struggling to make the charges stick. So far, 19 people have been released on bail, either by police or the court, due to lack of evidence or after charges of grievous offences were dropped.In the case of five accused, the police themselves granted bail under section 169 of the CrPC, which is invoked when “evidence is deficient”.10 other accused were released by the sessions court after police were only able to prove that they had prima facie violated prohibitory orders, and were not involved in rioting or attempt to murder. These facts find mention in a bail order passed Monday by Sessions Judge Sanjay Kumar Pachauri who ordered release of an accused, Shaliheen, a hotel management student of Jamia Milia Islamia. Shaliheen’s father Mohammed Farooque, who was also named as an accused, was released earlier by police under section 169 of CrPC. On Tuesday, the court ordered the release on bail of four more accused — Ummaid, Shaukeen, Salman and Israr. While ordering Shaliheen’s release, Judge Pachauri observed: “The counsel for the accused has argued that, according to FIR, with respect to accused Jabad Ali, Mohammed Ali, Abbas Raja, Milhal and Mohammed Farooque — the police has filed a report under section 169 CrPC before the competent authority. They were earlier taken under judicial custody on December 21.”indianexpress
‘No NRC, no NPR, no CAA’: Protests reach Wankhede during India-Australia match
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/students-from-tiss-mumbai-university-and-iit-bombay-protest-against-caa-nrc-npr-inside-wankhede-stadium-during-india-australia-match/279019/?fbclid=IwAR0YItZDzgVt6p-84LUVA6XzBL20TvPIEOZ77dY_GVRncj0WwbRP3huFKl4
The protests against CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC reached Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, with a group of spectators seen wearing T-shirts that read “No NRC, No NPR, No CAA” during the first ODI between India and Australia. Despite alleged measures to ensure spectators don’t display signs of protest, a group of college students from TISS, Mumbai University and IIT Bombay entered the venue with T-shirts protesting against CAA and NRC — 2 issues that have triggered widespread protests and violence in the country, leaving 26 dead.“25 students from various colleges took part in the protest,” said Arish Qamar, a research scholar from International Institute for Population Sciences in Mumbai.Qamar said the students removed their outer clothing between 15th and the 20th over of Indian innings to reveal the slogan.indianexpress
‘No NRC in Telangana’: Home Minister Mahmood Ali
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/no-nrc-in-telangana-home-minister-mahmood-ali-6218270/
Hyderabad :NRC will not be allowed in Telangana, said state Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali. The minister is the first from the state government and the ruling TRS to make a public statement on NRC though TRS party MPs had earlier opposed CAB in Parliament. Ali, while addressing a gathering at Makthal on Tuesday, said, “I promise you that don’t even think about NRC, we will live in peace.”Despite mounting pressure from TRS’ ally Asaduddin Owaisi-led-AIMIM, neither Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao nor any senior party functionaries have commented to NRC so far. indianexpress
Mangaluru: Anti-CAA protests - Over 100 boats loaded with protesters reach Adyar Kannur
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=663616&fbclid=IwAR1AofcZJkmw-Iujd4ZfVu2e1peb29xDYQfkokKylJadAIgHBoy2MPb-L5A
Mangaluru:A procession of 100 boats was taken out from Kotepura in Ullal to Adyar Kannur as a part of the anti-CAA protest rally planned by Muslim central committees of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, that is going to take place on Wednesday.People were seen in large numbers on two wheelers holding national flags and going towards the venue.Daijiworld
Gujarat HC asks police to take 'timely call' on protests
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/hc-to-cops-take-timely-call-on-caa-protest-permission/articleshow/73235216.cms?from=mdr
Those wanting to protest against the CAA in Ahmedabad on Monday approached the Gujarat high court saying that the police did not grant them permission to protest peacefully. According to TOI, Justice A.Y. Kogje said that the police should take a decision on the application in time.The petitioners, Mudita Vidrohi and Mujahid Nafees, said that while the administration has granted permission to 62 programmes held by the BJP to support the CAA, it has been denying permission to those wanting to protest it. Denial of permission to protest peacefully is in violation of people’s fundamental rights. Petitioners said they had applied for permission on January 5 to stage a protest on Jan.19 in Jamalpur area. They said the police have not granted or denied permission and sought the high court’s intervention.TOI
Yogi in Bihar claims Muslim population increased due to privileges given to them, contradicts data
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/yogi-in-bihar-claims-muslim-population-increased-in-india-due-to-privileges-given-to-them-contradicts-data
Addressing a rally in Gaya, Bihar organised by BJP in support of CAA, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said defending the newly amended citizenship law that the Muslim community was given special rights since the partition in India. That is the reason Muslim population has increased manifold in the country.He criticised Pakistan for the alleged ‘ill-treatment’ towards minorities and claimed that unlike Pakistan Muslims are getting better facilities in India and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should be ‘honoured’ and not attacked for bringing CAA.Adityanath said, “Muslim population in India has increased manifold since 1947, it has gone up by seven to eight times. No one has any objection. If they, as citizens of the country, work for development, they are welcome. Their population has increased because they have been given special rights and facilities. All possible steps were taken to ensure their growth. But what happened in Pakistan?” But the UP CM statement contradicts 2011 census data which shows the fact that growth in the Muslim population is actually falling faster than Hindu population growth rate. Muslim population stands at 17.22 crore or 14.22% of India’s total population.nationalheraldindia
Gave complaint for FIR against cops: AMU V-C; police deny receiving it
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gave-complaint-for-fir-against-cops-amu-v-c-police-deny-receiving-it-6216863/
AMU V-C Tariq Mansoor said the varsity had given a written complaint against the police Tuesday, demanding an FIR against police personnel for entering a university hostel on December 15 last year.In a statement by the university, Mansoor claimed that the university administration had only given the police permission to bring “the situation to normalcy and restore public order and to clear the main road and that they were not supposed to enter any residential hostel”.Civil Lines SHO Amit Kumar denied receiving any such complaint on Tuesday. “We did not receive any such complaint from AMU,” Kumar said.indianexpress
Jamia to move against Delhi Police, seeks registration of December 15 FIR
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-to-move-against-delhi-police-seeks-registration-of-december-15-fir-1637158-2020-01-15
:Jamia Milia Islamia officials have announced that they will move court over the non-filing of an FIR by the Delhi Police in the violence that took place in the university on December 15.JMI will move court for registration of FIR against the Delhi Police, university officials have said.The decision to move court was taken at an emergent Executive Council meeting.According to the officials, the varsity will move court seeking it to direct police to register FIR in connection with the police action on campus on December 15.Akhtar also met MHRD officials on Tuesday and reiterated her demand for an enquiry into the police action and raised the issue of an FIR not being registered in the matter yet.indiatoday
State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh’s latest: West Bengal is now hub of anti-nationals
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dilip-ghoshs-latest-west-bengal-is-now-hub-of-anti-nationals-6217115/
Kolkata: 2 days after saying that BJP “govts” in Assam, UP and Karnataka have “shot” those protesting against CAA  “like dogs, dragged them away and even slapped cases”, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh courted a fresh controversy Tuesday by saying that the state has become a hub of anti-nationals. “West Bengal is a place, which gave the country slogans like Vande Mataram and Jai Hind. Now, if someone here says Pakistan zindabad or Hindustan tere tukde honge (India will be Balkanised) Inshallah Inshallah, then it is apparent that this place has become a hub of anti-nationals. People who live in the land of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna  have no courage to say go back to infiltrators or Rohingyas, but stage protest on the streets and ask Prime Minister to go back. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is backing those people,”Ghosh said during chai pe charcha in Kharagpur on Tuesday.  indianexpress
CAA protests: Lawyer Mohammad Shoaib granted bail by Lucknow court
https://scroll.in/latest/949995/caa-protests-lawyer-mohammad-shoaib-granted-bail-by-lucknow-court
A court in Lucknow on Wednesday granted bail to lawyer and president of Rihai Manch, Mohammad Shoaib, The Hindu reported, citing his wife. He was put under house arrest in Lucknow on December 19 during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The next day, he was detained at an unidentified location.Shoaib was reportedly among over 1,240 people arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with protests against the amended citizenship law in the state.76-year-old advocate, whose organisation offers legal aid to marginal communities, was put under house arrest ahead of a scheduled demonstration against CAA in Lucknow’s Parivartan Chowk.scroll
‘Free Kashmir’ placard: Mysuru lawyers’ body refuses to appear for protestor charged with sedition
https://scroll.in/latest/949964/free-kashmir-placard-mysuru-lawyers-body-refuses-to-appear-for-protestor-charged-with-sedition
Mysore Bar Association on Tuesday said its lawyers would not appear for a woman who was booked for holding a “Free Kashmir” placard at a protest in Mysuru last week, News18 reported. The police had booked Nalini Balakumar for sedition days after she was seen holding the placard on January 8 during a protest against the mob attack on JNU.“Some members of our bar association wrote to us saying we must not represent the person who was involved in an anti-national activity,” Anand Kumar, president of the Mysore Bar Association said.On January 10, Balakumar released a video apologising for “creating confusion”. She said she was only highlighting the internet shutdown in Kashmir, and would cooperate with the police. Balakumar was granted interim conditional bail the same day by a local court.scroll
Mayawati urges Centre to withdraw CAA, introduce new law after reaching consensus with Opposition
https://www.firstpost.com/india/mayawati-urges-centre-to-withdraw-caa-and-introduce-new-law-after-reaching-consensus-with-opposition-7910941.html
Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati has urged the Centre to withdraw CAA and seek consensus to bring in a new one, even as she lashed out at both BJP and Congress for being “two sides of the same coin”.She accused BJP-led government at Centre of not taking others into confidence before bringing in the CAB in Parliament. PTI
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
UNSC meet on Kashmir tonight after China push
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/un-security-council-to-hold-closed-door-meeting-on-kashmir-in-new-york-tonight-after-china-pushes-fo-2164500
UNSC will hold a second closed-door meeting on Kashmir tonight in New York, sources told NDTV. The meeting, sources said, comes after push from China, the all-weather ally of Pakistan, which called for such meetings earlier as well.A similar gathering was held in August, called by China after the government scrapped the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two union territories.Except for China, all the other four permanent members of the UNSC - France, Russia, US and UK -- have consistently backed New Delhi's position that disputes between India and Pakistan are bilateral matters.French diplomatic sources told NDTV that the position of France has not changed and is very clear -- that the Kashmir issue must be settled bilaterally. "As we have stated on several occasions and will continue to reiterate to our partners on the United Nations Security Council," a source said.While many other countries have also backed India's position that this is an internal matter and a bilateral one, there have been concerns expressed about the detentions of political leaders and the internet restrictions. These concerns have been expressed by US again last week.India and Pakistan will not attend the closed-door meeting, since these are open only to permanent members of the Security Council. There will also be no statement, since such meetings are informal in nature.NDTV
UNSC to meet on Kashmir tonight on China's request
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-unsc-to-hold-meeting-on-kashmir-tonight-on-chinas-request/345735
Union ministers to visit J&K, nearly 6 months after abrogation of Article 370
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/union-council-of-ministers-to-visit-jammu-and-kashmir-to-spread-word-about-govt-policies-6218102/
Srinagar :Members of Union Council of Ministers will visit Jammu and Kashmir later this week in order to spread word about government policies “particularly in the last 5 months after the abrogation of Article 370”.This is the first visit by union ministers since the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status.The ministers have been requested to “educate people about schemes/projects being implemented/to be implemented by their ministry in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”In a letter sent to state Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Krishan Reddy said, “Hon’ble Minister Shri Amit Shah ji has desired that all members of the Union Council of Minister pay a visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with the objective of disseminating information about the importance of the Government policies with regard to the overall development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and its people along with the steps taken by the government of India in this direction particularly in the last 5 months.”Union ministers will visit different districts in both the divisions of the UT starting January 18 to January 24 over the period of a week.indianexpress
Broadband services back in J&K institutions, call on lifting curbs for public after Jan 26
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/broadband-back-in-jk-institutions-call-on-lifting-curbs-for-public-after-jan-26-6216902/
 J&K administration has decided to restore broadband services in all government offices, institutions offering essential services such as hospitals and banks, and tourism-linked establishments, amid indications that facility may be extended to the “general public” after Republic Day celebrations on Jan26.indianexpress
Internet Ban 'Needed to Check Fake News', Communication Blockade on Kashmiris to Continue
https://thewire.in/rights/internet-ban-needed-to-check-fake-news-communication-blockade-on-kashmiris-to-continue
Srinagar: 5 days after the Supreme Court asked the government to review the internet blockade imposed on the people of J&K since last August, J&K administration has decided not to fully restore the service, stating that the ban on ordinary people using the internet to communicate was required in order to prevent “anti-national elements who are attempting to aid and incite people by transmission of fake news and targeted messages …propagate terrorism, indulge in rumour-mongering, support fallacious proxy wars, spread propaganda/ideologies, and cause disaffection and discontent.”An order passed late Tuesday by J&K govt’s home department cites “security of the state” and “maintaining public order” as the reasons to not lift the longest internet shutdown in history, which it said was “absolutely necessary…in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India”.With 160 days already over and counting, Jan is sixth straight month of the curbs. thewire
Terrorists using encrypted mobile communications to reactivate cadre in Kashmir: Govt
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/terrorists-using-encrypted-mobile-communications-to-reactivate-cadre-in-kashmir-govt-6218394/

Army Chief Lauds Centre's Article 370 Move, Says it Disrupted Pakistan's 'Plans'
https://thewire.in/security/army-chief-naravane-article-370
New Delhi: Army chief General M.M. Naravane on Wednesday hailed the reading down of provisions of Article 370 as a “historic step” and said the move has disrupted plans of the “western neighbour and its proxies”.The armed forces have “zero tolerance against terrorism”, he said at 72nd Army Day function in the Cariappa Parade Ground here.“We have many options to counter those who promote terrorism and we will not hesitate to use them,” he said.PTI
Omar Abdullah to be shifted, will remain under detention: Sources
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/detained-jammu-and-kashmir-ex-chief-minister-omar-abdullah-to-be-shifted-will-remain-under-detention-2164570?pfrom=home-topscroll
Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has been under detention since August, will be shifted to a bungalow near his official residence in Srinagar this week. He will continue to remain under detention. Sources said the move came after the government made several considerations - including a scheduled visit of US President Donald Trump to India in Feb.NDTV
Sold ornaments to pay one lakh rupees to Davinder Singh: Afzal Guru's wife
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/sold-ornaments-to-pay-one-lakh-rupees-to-davinder-singh-afzal-gurus-wife/videoshow/73263893.cms
Now Afzal Guru's wife claimed that she sold ornaments to give Rs one lakh to DSP Davinder Singh. Relevantly, in early 2000s, Afzal Guru -- a surrendered terrorist who was convicted and later hanged for the 2001 Indian Parliament attack -- wrote a letter to his lawyer. In his letter, Guru briefly touched upon how a Jammu and Kashmir police officer had tortured him. More shockingly, Guru made a claim that bordered on accusing the police officer of being linked to the conspiracy to attack the Indian Parliament. Earlier DSP Davinder Singh has told his interrogators that he had received Rs 12 lakh from the terrorists to ferry them to Jammu and then Chandigarh for their onward journey to New Delhi.
We put petrol in Afzal Guru's a***, I had reputation for torture: Davinder Singh
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/14/we-put-petrol-in-afzal-guru-as-i-had-reputation-for-torture-davinder-singh.html?fbclid=IwAR0_mGX99I0sFrjpoSPOTZEfVxkkNDepNlf7tqQDx4lyd6OKNaAc7mkZA2c
The arrest of Jammu and Kashmir DSP Davinder Singh is continuing to make headlines.The opposition Congress asked whether Singh had a role in 2001 attack on Parliament and the attack at Pulwama that killed over 40 CRPF jawans in 2019. Congress alleged Davinder Singh was being used as a “pawn”.Media reports about Singh have highlighted his links to Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru, who was executed in 2013.In a letter to a Supreme Court lawyer in 2004, Guru mentions he met Singh at Humhama STF camp when he was arrested in 1998-2000. Guru, a surrendered militant, claimed he had been arrested by police for not working with STF. Guru had claimed Davinder had directed him to take one man, Mohammad, a co-accused in the Parliament attack case, to Delhi in 2001 and to purchase a car.Davinder himself admitted to meeting Guru and even torturing him, but denied claims of sending him to Delhi. In an interview with journalist Parvaiz Bukhari in 2006, Davinder Singh, shockingly, gave details of how Guru was tortured. Davinder told Bukhari, "I did interrogate and torture him at my camp for several days... we did pour petrol in his arse and gave him electric shocks. But I could not break him. He did not reveal anything to me despite our hardest possible interrogation."Davinder Singh boasted that he had a reputation for "torture, interrogation and breaking suspects". In his letter, written in 2004, Guru gave details of the torture he was subjected to by Singh and others.theweek
Davinder Singh suspended, have recommended his sacking: J&K Police Chief
https://www.news18.com/news/india/davinder-singh-suspended-have-recommended-his-sacking-says-jk-police-chief-2459221.html
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday said it has recommended to the government that disgraced J&K DSP Davinder Singh be sacked from duty."He has been suspended, we are recommending his sacking to the government," ANI quoted DGP Dilbag Singh as saying. "We cannot share right now what has been revealed during the interrogation."news18
India, China Have no Choice but to Find Equilibrium: Jaishankar
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/india-china-ties-jaishankar-raisina-dialogue
New Delhi: India and China have no choice but to find an equilibrium with both countries rising at the same time in close geographical proximity, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday.“Neither country can get this relationship wrong,” Jaishankar said on day two of Raisina Dialogue, in the session titled ‘The India Way: Preparing for a Century of Growth and Contest’.He asserted that one of the reasons for the two Asian giants to work together is that “we are neighbours”.“It is vital for neighbours to reach an understanding,” said Jaishankar. He admitted that as neighbours, both countries do have “issues”, but expressed the feeling that those could be managed.India and China have a long-running boundary dispute, over which they have even fought a war. But, both countries have applied various mechanisms to manage the ground situation at the border, which has ensured that not a single bullet has been fired between them in last half of a century.Jaishankar noted that India-china relationship has an unique characteristic that no two powers in close geographical proximity have “gone up in the international order at the same time”. thewire
*ECONOMY & POLITICS*
Modi govt tweaked rules to favour Adani in submarine project worth ₹45,000 crore:Congress
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/modi-govt-tweaked-rules-to-favour-adani-in-submarine-project-worth-indian-rupee45000-crore-alleges-congress
Adani Defence JV — a defence company owned by PM Modi’s close friend, Gautam Adani with zero experience in submarine manufacturing JV — has been allowed to participate in a ₹45,000 crore submarine project, the Congress has alleged.In a sensational revelation, Congress has accused Modi government of tweaking rules in favour of Adani. Congress also alleged that Modi government has flouted clauses of Defence Procurement Procedure - 2016 (DPP) in order to include Adani in the bidding.Addressing a press conference in Delhi, head of the Congress media cell, Randeep Surjewala said Modi government and PMO overruled suggestions made by the empowered committee, set up by the Indian Navy. Although the deal has not been finalised yet,  he further alleged:nationalheraldindia
Many states not keen to take imported onions as taste is different from homegrown ones, Centre “worried”
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/many-states-not-keen-to-take-imported-onions-as-taste-is-different-from-homegrown-ones-centre-worried
Centre is "worried" about disposing of imported onions as not many states are interested to take it despite the key kitchen stable is being offered to them at an average landed cost of ₹ 55 per kg and bearing the transportation cost, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said.Retail onion prices, which were ruling over ₹100 per kg in most cities since the past two months, have started softening now on arrival of imported onions and new Kharif crop. However, prices have still not fallen to the normal levels."So far, we have contracted 36,000 tonnes of onion. Of which, 18,500 tonnes of shipment has reached India, and states have been able to take only 2,000 tonnes after much persuasion. We are worried about its disposal because it is a perishable commodity," Paswan said.Sources said the taste of imported onions is different from the homegrown ones and consumers are not buying it in the retail markets when domestic onion is available at the same rate.PTI
Lakshmi on banknotes may improve condition of Indian currency: Subramanian Swamy
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/lakshmi-on-banknotes-may-improve-condition-of-indian-currency-subramanian-swamy/cid/1736073?fbclid=IwAR0gJiFWd9PXF27eZhoriAnMnefn-u7FRxDyVnwfpShgeIRVvZBevnHZCSs
BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has said he was in favour of inscribing the image of deity Lakshmi on banknotes which could "improve the condition of the Indian currency".Swamy was speaking to reporters on Tuesday night after addressing a lecture series titled 'Swami Vivekananda Vyakhyanmala' in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district.PTI
FASTag mandatory from today: Here’s what happens if you still do not have it
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/techook/fastag-mandatory-from-today-heres-what-happens-if-you-still-do-not-have-it-6217802/
New Delhi :The last date to comply with the new FASTag rule is today.  If you still do not have a FASTag for your car, you will be penalised. This deadline was extended twice already.Users without a FASTag will have to pay double the fees at toll plazas across national highways in the country. But what if the FASTag on your car is not working? The government says that vehicles are allowed to travel toll-free if FASTag machines installed at toll plaza lanes fail to scan it.indianexpress
BJP received maximum donation through electoral bonds : ADR
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-received-maximum-donation-through-electoral-bond-adr-1637160-2020-01-15
Only 3 of the 6 national parties have declared donations received through electoral bonds in 2018-19, with BJP getting the maximum Rs 1,450.89 crore through debt instrument, according to election watchdog Association For Democratic Reforms (ADR).During the financial year 2018-19, out of the six national parties, only the BJP, Congress and Trinamool Congress "have declared receiving an income from contribution through electoral bonds, a total of Rs 1931.43 crore", according to an ADR analysis released on Wednesday.PTI
*OTHERS*
In first challenge to NIA Act, Chhattisgarh moves Supreme Court: ‘Violative of Constitution’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-govt-moves-sc-seeks-declaration-of-2008-nia-act-as-unconstitutional-6217561/
Congress-led Chhattisgarh government today moved the Supreme Court against 2008 National Investigative Agency (NIA) Act, stating that it is violative of the Constitution.  In its civil suit, the government told the court that the NIA should have no power over state policing matters.“NIA Act takes away the power of conducting probe by state, confers discretionary and arbitrary powers on Centre. NIA Act is against the idea of state sovereignty as envisaged under the Constitution,” Chhattisgarh government has stated in its petition.With this, Chhattisgarh is the first state to file a civil suit against the NIA in the SC. According to Advocate General Satish Verma, “selective picking of cases of political interest” by NIA led them to file the case.The Act makes NIA the only truly federal agency in the country, along the lines of FBI in US, and more powerful than CBI.indianexpress
2012 gangrape case: Convicts can’t be hanged on Jan 22 as mercy plea pending before President, Delhi govt tells HC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2012-gangrape-case-convicts-not-be-hanged-on-january-22-as-mercy-plea-pending-delhi-govt-tells-hc-6217736/
Delhi High Court today refused to set aside the trial court’s order issuing death warrants to the convicts in 2012 Delhi gangrape case.Delhi govnt had informed the High Court that 4 death row convicts cannot be hanged on January 22 as one of convicts has filed a mercy plea, which is pending before President Ram Nath Kovind for consideration. The court has asked Mukesh’s counsel to approach trial court and apprise it about the pending mercy plea.Mukesh had approached the High Court for quashing of the death warrant. The petition, filed through advocate Vrinda Grover, sought setting aside of the trial court’s order issuing the warrant of execution and direction to authorities to “scrupulously follow timeframes as prescribed by law, rules, and the Supreme Court”. The HC expressed displeasure over the manner in which the convicts exploited the government machinery and filed the mercy petition only when a death warrant was issued against them.indianexpress
Delhi HC dismisses gangrape convict Mukesh Singh's plea challenging death warrant; execution of all 4 can't happen on 22 Jan, says state govt
https://www.firstpost.com/india/delhi-hc-dismisses-2012-gangrape-convict-mukesh-singhs-plea-challenging-death-warrant-execution-of-all-four-cant-happen-on-22-jan-says-state-govt-7910301.html
At ‘lightning speed’, Delhi asks Centre to reject gang rape convict’s mercy plea
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-mercy-delhi-govt-to-centre-on-2012-gang-rape-convict-s-plea-to-prez/story-HPXmI6sH0WOhwnJz2gIqUM.html
Delhi Government has recommended rejecting the mercy petition filed by Mukesh Singh, one of the four men sentenced to death for 2012 gangrape, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia announced today.Delhi govt’s recommendation to Home Ministry comes less than 24 hours after Mukesh Singh appealed to Rashtrapati Bhavan to spare him from the gallows. Sisodia said the government had worked at lightning speed to make sure there was no delay by the city government.HT
Unnao rape case: Kuldeep Sengar moves Delhi HC challenging conviction, life term
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jan/15/unnao-rape-case-kuldeep-sengar-moves-delhi-hc-challenging-conviction-life-term-2089918.html
New Delhi: Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar today moved Delhi High Court challenging his conviction and life term for raping a minor girl in Unnao in 2017. Sengar challenged the December 20 verdict of a trial court here which had sentenced him to life imprisonment and had imposed an exemplary fine of Rs 25 lakh in the case. The court had convicted Sengar for rape under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act for offence by a public servant committing penetrative sexual assault against a child after holding the victim to be a minor.PTI
Unnao rape case: Now doctor who treated rape survivor's father dies mysteriously
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jan/13/unnao-rape-case-now-doctor-who-treated-rape-survivors-father-dies-mysteriously-2089058.html
Unnao: Doctor who treated the father of Unnao rape victim has died in mysterious circumstances here on Monday. Prashant Upadhyaya had treated Unnao rape victim's father in April 2018 after he had been brutally thrashed in police custody. The doctor was posted in the emergency ward of the district hospital. He had discharged the rape victim's father after first aid and the latter died in custody a few hours later.Upadhaya was later suspended during CBI inquiry into the matter. He had later been reinstated and was presently posted in Fatehpur.The case related to the murder of the rape victim's father is scheduled to come up in court on Tuesday. According to his family, Upadhaya complained of difficulty in breathing on Monday morning but refused to go to the hospital. Later when he was taken to the hospital, the doctors declared him brought dead. The family members said that he was a diabetic patient.IANS
JNU Attack: Delhi Police Confirm Masked Woman Is ABVP Member Komal Sharma
https://thewire.in/government/jnu-masked-woman-komal-sharma-abvp-delhi-police-confirm
Delhi police have identified the masked woman seen in videos of attack on JNU students and faculty members as Komal Sharma, a Delhi University student affiliated to the ABVP. This confirms the reports, revealing masked woman’s identity correctly. According to the Indian Express, Delhi Police said Sharma is a student of Daulat Ram College and is a member of RSS-affiliated ABVP. Many students and faculty members who were attacked on January 5 alleged that the ‘masked goons’ were ABVP members. In videos that went viral, Sharma is seen wearing a checked shirt, covering her face with a light blue scarf. She is carrying a stick and can be heard threatening students along with two other men – who are also masked and armed – inside the Sabarmati hostel, where many students were beaten up and rooms were vandalised.The police have served a notice to Sharma and two others, Akshat Awasthi and Rohit Shah, under IPC Section 160, punishment for committing affray [an instance of group fighting in a public place that disturbs peace]. Police claimed they are yet to be traced and that their phones have been switched off. Awasthi and Shah were caught in an India Today sting and admitted they were ABVP members and that they participated in January 5 attack. ABVP Delhi state secretary Sidharth Yadav, speaking to Indian Express, acknowledged that Sharma is a member of the student body. “…we have been unable to reach out to her. The last information I received was that she is with her family. I have not been able to contact her to ask if she has received summons from police,” he said.However, the student organisation claims that Rohit Shah is not affiliated to it. It had earlier denied that Awasthi was a member of the ABVP, but an investigation by Alt News proved otherwise.thewire
Come clean on Zakir Naik claim of trade-off offer, Digvijaya tells Modi, Shah
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/01/15/come-clean-on-zakir-naik-claim-of-trade-off-offer-digvijaya-tells-modi-shah.html
Controversy has erupted after Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh tweeted asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to come clean on recent allegations made by Zakir Naik. Naik had released a video last week claiming Modi and Shah had, through an emissary, offered him safe passage to India in exchange for supporting the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.Singh posted a series of tweets on Wednesday, sharing the video of Naik making the allegations against Modi and Shah. Congress leader commented that Modi and Shah were involved in “trading” with Zakir Naik, whom they themselves called a deshdrohi (traitor). “What is their strategy?” Singh asked, referring to Modi and Shah.Digvijaya Singh then went on to tweet that the prime minister and the home minister should issue a legal clarification on the allegations of Naik and if they do not do so, it would be considered that the allegations made by Naik were true.theweek
Centre drops Christian hymn from Beating the Retreat tunes
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-drops-christian-hymn-from-beating-the-retreat-tunes/article30569643.ece?homepage=true
NEW DELHI:Defence Ministry has dropped Abide with Me, a traditional Christian hymn that is believed to have been a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, from the list of tunes for this year’s Beating the Retreat ceremony. The tune had been played at the annual ceremony every year since 1950.“The tune has been dropped this year,” a defence ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Tuesday. “There is a review of tunes every year. There is an effort to introduce new tunes and an emphasis to add more Indian tunes,” the official added.Vande Mataram song was also a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, the official said, adding that it could find a place this year. “There are few other new tunes as well including some Indian ones this time,” he added. There are about 30-35 tunes played at the ceremony another defence official said, stating that the sequence of these tunes was reviewed every time, with new ones being added. A third unnamed official said there had been an increased emphasis in the last few years on replacing western tunes with Indian tunes as also the addition of traditional Indian instruments.thehindu
Sikhs to be counted as separate ethnic group in US census for first time
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/sikhs-to-be-counted-as-separate-ethnic-group-in-us-census-for-first-time-6217941/
New Delhi :In a first, Sikhs in US would be counted as a separate ethnic group in the upcoming 2020 census, the US Census Bureau has said. This comes after several Sikh organisations in US held meetings with the Census Bureau. “It’s clear that a separate code is needed to ensure an accurate count of Sikhs in US, recognising a unique identity,” PTI quoted US Census Deputy Director Ron Jarmin as saying.“Working with United Sikhs, we understand how this change affects the national Sikh community, leading us to add this code for 2020 Census,” Shagufta Ahmed with the Census Bureau and Office of Management Budget said.The community hailed the decision, calling it a “milestone”.indianexpress
Javad Zarif meets NSA Doval, talks how india can play a role in de-escalating tensions in Gulf
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/javad-zarif-meets-nsa-doval-talks-how-india-can-play-a-role-in-de-escalating-tensions-in-gulf
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif today met NSA Ajit Doval and gave him a firsthand account of the situation prevailing in the Gulf region and said India can play a role in de-escalating tensions in the Gulf region as New Delhi is an important player.His remarks come amid tensions between US and Iran over the killing of Iranian general Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani.India has been maintaining that it would like the situation to de-escalate as soon as possible and the country has been in touch with key players, including Iran, UAE, Oman and Qatar, as it has important interests in the region."India can play a role in de-escalating tensions in the Gulf region as New Delhi is an important player," Zarif told PTI.PTI
New Delhi Planning to Open Peace Negotiations With Hardline Bodo Insurgent Group
https://www.news18.com/news/india/new-delhi-planning-to-open-peace-negotiations-with-hardline-bodo-insurgent-group-2459281.html
Government of India is planning to open peace negotiations with National Democratic Front of Bodoland cadre who returned to India from jungle bases last week, a senior Ministry of Home Affairs official told News 18.The talks could give new life to resolve one of Assam’s most intractable ethnic conflicts, which exploded into large-scale violence between Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims in 2012 and 2014.B Saoraigwra, the president of NDFB faction, returned to India through Tamu border on January 11, along with 25 other cadre, including key officials, carrying automatic weapons and communications equipment. The group also included members of Saoraigwra’s family.News 18
Terror alert: Cops ask heads of madrasas, mosques in Karnataka border town to install CCTVs
https://www.news18.com/news/india/terror-alert-cops-ask-heads-of-madrasas-mosques-in-ktaka-border-town-to-install-cctvs-on-premises-2458229.html
Karnataka Police has mandated madrasas and mosques in the border town of Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district to install CCTV cameras on all their premises within a week.The directive comes in wake of alleged terrorists being harboured in one of the madrasas in the town’s Hosur Layout last week."On January 11, a joint action of the district police and Central Crime Branch had questioned Moulvi Sadahatullah and Ayub Khan of this mosque for briefly sheltering some suspects. Sadahaullah was even taken to Bengaluru for further interrogation before being sent back. Since Gundlupet is at the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, there is a possibility that terror suspects could freely use this town en route for any kind of terror activities or to disturb peace," the police directive said.The mosque heads and clerics were also asked to attend a meeting held at the police station on Tuesday and told that if they have any information on movement of suspicious persons in their madrasas or mosques and around the localities, they must inform the local police immediately.news18
Tea outing trauma: Bengaluru Police ask Kerala youths are you from Pakistan, thrash 3
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/cops-ask-youths-out-for-tea-if-theyre-from-pak-drag-3-to-station/articleshow/73257830.cms
When 18-year-old Ikram (name changed) and his 2 friends stepped out of their flat in SG Palya, east Bengaluru, for tea past midnight on Monday, little did they know that they’d be in the soup.While Ikram and his 2 friends left the flat at 1am for tea at a nearby stall, teen’s elder brother, Saif (name changed) and two others stayed back as they were getting ready to hit the sack. All 6 are students of various city colleges and hail from Kerala. Within a few minutes, Saif heard commotion downstairs and looked out of the balcony to see Ikram calling for help. Ikram and his friends had been stopped by 2 patrol police, who wanted to know what they were doing on the road so late and where they lived. Saif, 21, approached the policemen, wanting to know what the issue was. Cops asked them for their names and ID cards. On learning that Saif was a Muslim, one of them asked him if he was a Pakistani. Though Saif was taken aback, he again asked what the problem was. Cops then asked the youngsters to give them their mobile phones.One of Saif’s friends, meanwhile, began filming the incident on his phone and a policeman asked him to stop. A video clip shared with TOI shows the cop angrily asking the student to stop filming, while the person shooting the video is heard, saying:“Sir, it is a public place. I can record.” Around 1.30am, they were taken to SG Palya police station.“3 cops took turns to beat us until my local guardian came to the police station at 3.30am,” Saif recalled.Before releasing them, the cops made them give an undertaking declaring they won’t step out late at night and slapped petty cases against them (causing nuisance) and a fine of Rs 500 per person.TOI
Hyderabad: Bhainsa remains tense, 59 arrested
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/bhainsa-remains-tense-59-arrested/articleshow/73258696.cms
HYDERABAD: 2 days after the communal clash, Bhainsa continued to remain under strict police vigil. Around 1,000 police personnel, including two companies of RAF, have been deployed in the Korva Galli and surrounding areas where the clashes took place. So far, 59 persons have been arrested in the six cases registered pertaining to the clashes.Apart from one incident wherein a parked auto was set ablaze, the law and order remained peaceful on Tuesday. “Prohibitory orders are in place with imposition of section 144 of CrPC. We are not allowing any outsiders, including political leaders, to enter the communally sensitive areas,” inspector general (IG) Y Nagi Reddy said.
1984 anti-Sikh riots: Accepted SIT recommendations, will take action, Centre tells SC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/1984-anti-sikh-riots-accepted-sit-recommendations-will-take-action-centre-tells-sc-6218352/
Centre today told the Supreme Court they have accepted the recommendations of a SIT, headed by retired Delhi High Court judge Justice S N Dhingra which has probed 186 cases of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and they will take appropriate action as per the laws.A bench headed by CJI S A Bobde was informed by senior advocate R S Suri, appearing for the petitioner, that the report of the SIT is damning for police officials and they would file an application seeking action against the cops who were allegedly involved in the ghastly crime.PTI
Calculated bid to exhaust 1984 riot victims’ hopes for justice: SC-appointed panel
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/calculated-bid-to-exhaust-1984-riot-victims-hopes-for-justice-sc-panel/article30572888.ece?homepage=true
5 Muslims and 8 women in AAP’s list of 70 candidates for Delhi assembly polls
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/aap-releases-list-of-70-candidates-for-delhi-assembly-polls-15-sitting-mlas-replaced-9-seats-go-to-new-candidates/278982/
AAP has released the list of 70 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls. According to Manish Sisodia, 46 sitting MLAs have been given the tickets, while the AAP has dropped 15 MLAs who won the elections in 2015. 9 seats that fell vacant have gone to new candidates.The list has 5 Muslim and 8 women candidates. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will contest from New Delhi seat, while Manish Sisodia is the candidate from Patparganj once again. Satyendra Jain will contest from Shakur Basti, Jitendra Tomar from Tri Nagar, Jarnail Singh from Tilak Nagar, Atishi Marlena from Kalkaji and SK Bagga from Krishna Nagar seats. jantakareporter
Christian girls are targeted by ‘love jihad’, claims Kerala church;many insiders say it has been raised to divert attention
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/christian-girls-are-targeted-by-love-jihad-says-kerala-church/story-FX0OwjtSwoowz5pG5ltsdO.html
Syro-Malabar Church, largest Christian denomination in Kerala, today said Christian girls are being targeted and killed after being forced into marriages and blamed the police for not taking effective measures to curb the menace. In an official communiqué, the church expressed serious concern over the issue and exhorted believers to be alert. It also said such practices were posing a serious threat to secular fabric of the state and cited many incidents to buttress its claim.Last year, vice-president of National Minority Commission, George Kurian, had also sent a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a detailed probe by a central agency into such cases. Many reformist groups in the church, meanwhile, said that the issue has been raised “at a wrong time and was intended to divert attention from some of the burning issues afflicting church”. “Property disputes, capitation fee kickbacks and alleged sexual abuse charges against some priests church is mired in many issues. It seems this issue was raised all of a sudden to divert attention from them,” said Kochi-based activist P Thankachhan.HT
Kerala Christian Body Raises 'Love Jihad' Concern, Minister Denies Claim
https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/love-jihad-kerala-christian-body-raises-love-jihad-concern-minister-denies-claim-2164554?pfrom=home-topscroll
In effort to end gender bias, women to be encouraged not to wear ‘ghoonghat’ to cast vote in Rajasthan: officials
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/in-effort-to-end-gender-bias-women-to-be-encouraged-not-to-wear-ghoonghat-to-cast-vote-in-rajasthan
Rural women will be encouraged to not wear "ghoonghat" when they go to cast their vote during the Panchayat elections being held in Rajasthan this month, an official said.The idea is a part of an awareness campaign that has been introduced by the Women and Child Development Department after CM Ashok Gehlot's call for eradicating custom of "ghoonghat" or veil.Various activities with involvement of district administration officials, grassroots workers, public representatives, social workers have been planned under the campaign, a senior official said."We have introduced the campaign against the practice of 'ghoonghat' in all the districts. CM has stated that the practice should be eradicated and therefore we have recently launched the campaign," PC Pawan, director (women empowerment) of department, told PTI.PTI
50 Students From Jamia Millia's Coaching Academy Clear Civil Services Main
https://www.ndtv.com/jobs/upsc-mains-result-50-students-from-jamia-millias-coching-academy-clear-upsc-main-2164563?fb&fbclid=IwAR1FLy8Drvf82m_32lD4NtncCpfXSWf8wCpvrAbIaFffc7peegTN7XAezmA
New Delhi: 50 students who were given coaching and training by Residential Coaching Academy (RCA), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have cleared Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. These candidates will now appear for interview which will be held in February. Last year, 44 candidates cleared UPSC Civil Services examination including third rank holder Junaid Ahmad.UPSC which conducts Civil Services examination for selection to IAS, IFS, IPS and other Central Services (Group 'A' and Group 'B'), released the Main results on Tuesday.NDTV
Annual Status of Education Report flags poor learning outcomes in schools
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/aser-flags-poor-learning-outcomes-in-schools/article30569671.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi :Only 16% of children in Class 1 in 26 surveyed rural districts can read text at the prescribed level, while almost 40% cannot even recognise letters, according to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2019, released by NGO Pratham on Tuesday. Only 41% of these children could recognise two digit numbers. However, ASER found that the solution is not to spend longer hours teaching children 3Rs.Counter-intuitively, the report argues that a focus on cognitive skills rather than subject learning in the early years can make a big difference to basic literacy and numeracy abilities.ASER surveyors visited almost 37,000 children between 4 and 8 years in 26 rural districts across 24 States.thehindu
“Prove, deny or apologise” IMA asks PM Modi on statement that doctors are bribed by pharma companies
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/prove-deny-or-apologise-ima-asks-pm-modi-on-statement-that-doctors-are-bribed-by-pharma-companies
India’s largest association of doctors, the Indian Medical Association has taken a strong exception to the statement allegedly made by prime minister Narendra Modi that big pharmaceutical companies bribe doctors. In a meeting with the top pharmaceutical companies like Zydus Cadila, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Wockhardt, in New Delhi on January 2 PM Modi had allegedly asked them not to bribe doctors with women, gadgets or foreign tours, news website The Print reported.This meeting was organised after a non-governmental organisation Support for Advocacy and Training to Health said in a report that medical representatives of pharma companies use immoral means to win favours from the doctors and these means include offering women, state of the art appliances and even foreign trips. “PM told drug-makers that their non-compliance with marketing practices is pushing the government to create a strict law,”The Print reported, quoting an official in PMO who attended the meeting.nationalheraldindia
UP police stops Magsaysay winner Sandeep Pandey, three others from travelling to Ayodhya
https://scroll.in/latest/949993/up-police-stops-magsaysay-winner-sandeep-pandey-three-others-from-travelling-to-ayodhya
Magsaysay Award-winning activist Sandeep Pandey and 3 others were prevented by Uttar Pradesh police from travelling to Ayodhya from Lucknow today, a member of group said. Sunita Vishwanath, a member of a US organisation called Hindus for Human Rights, said that the police cited a law banning the gathering of more than four people when stopping them.“ Police invoked Section 144, which gives them the authority to restrict our movements because of apprehended danger or disturbance,” she said.scroll
India drops to 84 in Passport Index, Asian countries lead
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/jan/13/india-drops-to-84-in-passport-index-asian-countries-lead-2089075.html?fbclid=IwAR3uFQ4oZdpLoB5GHyYcWLd1uwAWBIgohADPdVvJp1qds7dnjRm8FX0CoTk
India has dropped 10 places to 84 in the latest update of Henley Passport Index, sharing the spot with tiny countries like Mauritania and Tajikistan.India's ranking fell from a decade-high ranking of 74 to a low of 84 in 2020. Henley Passport Index is the ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. IANS
*WORLD*
Russian govt quits after Putin calls for constitutional shake-up
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/russian-govt-quits-putin-calls-constitutional-shake-200115110750948.html
The entire Russian government resigned on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin said a raft of constitutional changes were needed.Putin, in his annual address to the Russian parliament, proposed a referendum on amending Russia's constitution to increase the powers of parliament - while maintaining a strong presidential system. "I consider it necessary to conduct a vote by the country's citizens on an entire package of proposed amendments to the country's constitution," Putin said, without specifying any date for a vote.Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who tendered his resignation to Putin, will be appointed the new deputy head of Russia's influential Security Council. "This is to show that Putin trusts Medvedev, who has been at his side for many years now," said Aleksandra Godfroid, a journalist in Moscow.Putin's comments, at Russian equivalent of the US State of Union address, came as observers watched for clues as to how he might reform the political system before 2024, when his current presidential term ends and the constitution requires him to step down. He will be aged 71 at that time.He called for a boost to the powers of parliament, making lawmakers responsible for choosing the prime minister and senior cabinet members.In resigning, "Medvedev said that, in view of the significant changes that will take place, he feels the president should be given the opportunity to go through with these changes through with the type of government that he chooses," Godfroid told Al Jazeera.The current government will have to continue its work until Putin hand-picks a new one to oversee the constitutional changes to Russia's systems and structures of power.The latest constitutional changes could herald Putin's intention to shift into a new position to stay at the helm after his term expires. aljazeera
UN urged to publish database of Israel settlement-complicit businesses
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200115-un-urged-to-publish-database-of-israel-settlement-complicit-businesses/
Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq has renewed its call for UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to publish its database of businesses complicity in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).Al-Haq issued its “call for action” ahead of what will be the three-year anniversary in March of the UNHRC adopting a resolution that mandated the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to research, compile and publish such a database.Since then, however, the work has been plagued by delays, with the postponing of publication of the database widely seen as a result of political pressure on the body by Israel and US.middleeastmonitor
Amnesty demands Israel prevent NSO from exporting spyware to rights abusers
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200115-amnesty-demands-israel-prevent-nso-from-exporting-spyware-to-rights-abusers/
Amnesty International has urged Israeli authorities to prevent notorious tech company NSO Group from exporting spyware products to human rights abusers, ahead of a court case starting tomorrow.A judge at Tel Aviv District Court will tomorrow begin hearing arguments as to why Israeli government should restrict the activities of NSO Group.As noted by Amnesty, “the firm’s Pegasus software has been used to target journalists and activists across the globe – including in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and UAE.”MEMO
Rouhani warns foreign forces in Middle East 'may be in danger'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/rouhani-warns-foreign-forces-middle-east-danger-200115090254001.html
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has told foreign powers to withdraw their forces from the Middle East, warning that they "may be in danger" if they remain in the region."Today,American soldier is in danger, tomorrow European soldier could be in danger," Hassan Rouhani said today.The comments came a day after UK, France and Germany challenged Tehran over breaking limits of a major nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and 6 world powers.aljazeera
Israeli jets attacked airbase in Homs: Syrian army
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/syrian-army-israeli-jets-attack-airbase-homs-200115070917600.html
Israeli jets have attacked the main T4 airbase in Homs province, the Syrian army said, adding that its air defences downed several missiles in an attack that caused material damage.An army spokesman told state media on Tuesday that 4 Israeli missiles did reach the base but said air defences intercepted and destroyed several others.There were no casualties in the attack which occurred at about 10pm , according to state news agency SANA.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Some Questions for Mr Doval About Kashmir Police Officer Davinder Singh's Terror Link:Siddharth Varadarajan
https://thewire.in/security/ajit-doval-davinder-singh-terrorism
Notification of CAA before SC hearing unjustified; Modi-Shah showing scant respect for national protests:Arun Srivastava/IPA
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/notification-of-caa-before-sc-hearing-unjustified-modi-shah-showing-scant-respect-for-national-protests
Shaheen Bagh inspires a women-led CAA protest in Kolkata’s Park Circus:CHANDNI DOULATRAMANI
https://caravanmagazine.in/politics/kolkata-caa-protest-park-circus-women?fbclid=IwAR0QPUPb-smibOHfddWzmpdx9wBsO-TImqhoOILV8ZAsaqCtg3-HMCwUVvg
Job Growth Data Shows Even 5,000 Years Not Enough to Structurally Transform Indian Economy:Deepankar Basu, thewire
https://thewire.in/economy/india-employment-structural-transformation
Poor Medical Care for Prisoners Explains Why Number of Custodial Deaths Is Only Rising:Sukanya Shantha
https://thewire.in/rights/prison-custodial-death-medical-care
US-Iran crisis is pushing India to clarify its stand. But ambiguity may be a more comfortable position:Christophe Jaffrelot
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/threes-a-crowd-iran-us-relations-mike-pompeo-troops-in-iraq-airstrikes-6216705/
Internet shutdown in Kashmir: Ball still in govt's court; only solution is to declare internet access as fundamental right under Article 19
https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/kashmir-internet-shutdown-ball-is-still-in-govts-hand-only-solution-is-to-declare-internet-access-as-a-fundamental-right-under-article-19-7908831.html
At Kolkata's Park Circus, Another Women's Sit-In Protest Keeps the Struggle Going:thewire
https://thewire.in/rights/kolkata-park-circus-anti-caa-protest-women
Dr Tharoor, Asserting Muslim Identity Won’t Make Protests Communal:HIBA BÉG
https://www.thequint.com/neon/hot-take/shashi-tharoor-muslims-arent-making-these-protests-communal
The idea of Shaheen Bagh: Muslim women across India are coming out to protest new citizenship law:Ipsita Chakravarty
https://scroll.in/article/949917/the-idea-of-shaheen-bagh-muslim-women-across-india-are-coming-out-to-protest-new-citizenship-law
Protesting against CAA-NRC is a fight for Muslim dignity and identity, covering it under cloak of 'fight for Constitution' will be misleading:Qudratullah Faraz
https://www.firstpost.com/india/protesting-against-caa-nrc-is-a-fight-for-muslim-dignity-and-identity-covering-it-under-cloak-of-fight-for-constitution-will-be-misleading-7904341.html
In India, a firebrand's anti-Modi mantra resonates at nationwide protests:Reuters
https://in.reuters.com/article/uk-india-citizenship-protests-kanhaiyaku/in-india-a-firebrands-anti-modi-mantra-resonates-at-nationwide-protests-idINKBN1ZE0LK
 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:28 PM).   

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