20 Feb. 2020: 25 Jamadi-2, 1441: Vol: 12, No: 137
*anti-CAA,NRC-NPR stir*
CAA will adversely impact Muslims in India: US Panel
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/caa-will-adversely-impact-muslims-in-india-says-uscirf/article30868490.ece
NEW DELHI:The new citizenship law of India will adversely impact the Muslim community of the country, a legislative report in US has declared. US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said CAA and NRC were based on the Hindutva ideoglogy of BJP and expressed concern that Muslims may become stateless in India.“With CAA in place, Muslims would primarily bear the punitive consequences of exclusion from the NRC which could include statelessness, deportation, or prolonged detention,’ said a new factsheet on CAA produced by USCIRF. The report also highlighted comments from various members of the BJP, who expressed plans to exclude Muslims from India.The observations are significant as they come 3 days before the arrival of President Donald Trump and are amplified by similar concerns that were conveyed to the government by US Congressmen Ami Bera and George Holding, who met Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla on Wednesday.“Hindutva political rhetoric questions the legitimacy of Muslims’ Indian citizenship and perpetuates the further marginalization of this faith community. BJP Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, for example, promised in 2005 to cleanse India of other religions, calling this the ‘century of Hindutva’,” said USCIRF.The document also cited extensively from concerns expressed by UN reports and observations that have described the controversial CAA as biased against the minority Muslim community of India.thehindu
CAA "Could Lead To Widespread Disenfranchisement Of Muslims": US Panel
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caa-citizenship-amendment-act-could-lead-to-widespread-disenfranchisement-of-muslims-us-panel-2183056
Jamia students move SC on December 15 police brutality
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jamia-students-move-sc-on-december-15-police-brutality/cid/1746803
Students and staff of Jamia Millia Islamia filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking its intervention so that police register FIRs pertaining to last year's brutal campus crackdown in which several students were injured, including a law student who has since lost an eye.More than 90 students and staff are behind the petition against an interim order of Delhi High Court wherein it declined to direct police to register FIRs against police personnel who had entered campus and university library on 15 December, following a student protest against the controversial CAA and NRC."The matter was argued at length (in the High Court). We showed them photographs, including ones where men in civil dress were beating up students. There is evidence of police assault and testimonies of injured students. But the high court didn’t take any cognisance and adjourned the matter for seven weeks,” said Nabila Hasan, a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), and a petitioner in the case.According to the petition, “all the 93 complaints made to the police are lying with Delhi police, who are refusing to register FIR/FIRs.” While it has claimed in the high court that an investigation is underway, students allege that “the investigation is biased as it is based only on an FIR filed by the police against students”.A former Delhi police commissioner told The Telegraph Online that the police can’t refuse to file an FIR, and it would be illegal to do so. telegraphindia
Jamia Violence: Delhi Police Serves Notices to 10 Students, Asks Them to Appear for Questioning
https://thewire.in/government/jamia-violence-delhi-police-students
New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday served notices on 10 Jamia Millia Islamia students asking them to appear before it for questioning in connection with the December 15 violence during an anti-CAA protest and alleged police crackdown at the university subsequently.A team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch visited the university campus on Wednesday and handed over the notices to the students, a senior police officer said.The students who have been called for questioning included some of those detained on the night of the incident, some identified through CCTV video clips that surfaced recently, and some of those suffering injuries on that day, the officer said.PTI
Jamia footage out, probe team calls for duty roster of policemen
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jamia-footage-out-probe-team-calls-for-duty-roster-of-policemen-6276769/
New Delhi :In the first indication that Delhi Police is looking into the role of its own personnel in connection with the December 15 violence at Jamia Millia Islamia, a SIT is learnt to have asked SHOs of police stations in the South East district for duty rosters of that day.The move comes against the backdrop of several videos emerging over the past few days showing police assaulting people inside the Jamia library and breaking a CCTV camera and furniture. The university estimates police action caused damage to the tune of Rs 2.66 crore.Police have maintained that some of the video footage appeared edited and that they had entered the campus in hot pursuit of “rioters”. On Monday, Special Commissioner of Police Praveer Ranjan said SIT probing Dec.15 violence will analyse all clips to establish the sequence of events. “Once the sequence is established, we will identify all those involved in the violence and action as per law will be taken,” he said.Though the inter-state cell of the Crime Branch received the footage days after the case was transferred to them in December, the recent move appears to have been prompted by the footage being leaked.Sources said that personnel from two police stations in South East district were approached by the Crime Branch on Wednesday and asked to provide details of where they were stationed when police personnel entered the college premises as well as the library.indianexpress
Jamaat Islami Hind demands early release of Maulana Tahir Madani, CAA protestors arrested in UP
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jih-demands-early-release-of-madani-caa-protestors/1738784
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) National Secretary Malik Mohtasim Khan, here on Wednesday, accused the UP Police of being vindictive against the anti-CAA/NRC agitators and demanded that all cases against protestors lodged in UP jails be dropped immediately. Khan said this after visiting Maulana Tahir Madani, General Secretary, Rashtriya Ulema Council, and 18 others with a delegation of Muslim leaders in the Azamgarh jail on Monday."We found that some of those in jail were students and mere bystanders. Even Madani had gone to the protest site to talk to the women agitators to diffuse the tension and prevent any untoward incident. But UP Police arrested Madani and slapped serious charges on him," Khan said.Pointing out that the police detain protestors for few hours to prevent possible deterioration of the law and order, the JIH office-bearers accused UP Police of acting in a strange manner by imprisoning them and slapping cases on them.The JIH condemned UP Police''s action in Bilariyaganj town, Azamgarh, where the women protestors were subjected to baton charge and tear gas shells.A dedicated legal team is trying to secure early release of Madani and others. The JIH has demanded that the police drop all charges by Feb.25. IANS
Anti-CAA protests: Sadaf, Darapuri among 28 told to pay Rs 63 lakh as damage to property
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anti-caa-protests-sadaf-darapuri-among-28-told-to-pay-rs-63-lakh-as-damage-to-property-6276661/
Lucknow :Congress leader and social activist Sadaf Jafar (44), retired IPS officer SR Darapuri (77) and activist Mohammad Shoaib (73) are among 28 people who have been asked to pay over Rs 63 lakh as recovery for damage to public and government properties during anti-CAA protests at Parivartan crossing in Hazratganj area of Lucknow on Dec.19.While Shoaib and Darapuri claim they were under house arrest when the violence took place and that the recovery order is “baseless”, Sadaf and other activists had earlier said there was “no evidence” linking them to the violence.On Monday, Lucknow ADM(East) KP Singh issued an order for recovery of the amount within 30 days, failing which the administration will initiate legal procedure to attach their properties.A total of 46 people were booked in connection with violence at Parivartan crossing.Shoaib said, “I was under house arrest when the violence occurred. Policemen took me from the house and later booked me in the case. If the district administration still moves to attach my properties, I will move the High Court.”Darapuri said, “I filed a reply against earlier notice informing that I was under house arrest when the incident took place so I could not have been involved in the violence. The district administration has so far not informed me what final order on recovery has been passed.”Sadaf Jafar said she will approach the court.indianexpress
After NPR remark, Uddhav Thackeray gets a coalition reminder from Congress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-npr-remark-uddhav-gets-a-coalition-reminder-from-congress-6276591/
New Delhi :Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s statement that he has no problems with the exercise of updating NPR in the state could lead to a face-off between the Shiv Sena and its alliance partners, the Congress and NCP. The Congress high command on Wednesday expressed its displeasure over Thackeray’s statement and reminded him that he is leading a coalition government.“Our stand is very clear. We will not implement NPR… What he is saying is his stand… We will tell him (Thackeray) that decisions should be taken by the three parties together. Because this is a decision of tiranga…not saffron alone. Till the three parties meet and take a decision, he should not allow NPR in the state,” AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra, Mallikarjun Kharge, said.Sources in the Sena said that Chief Minister Thackeray had taken a well-considered position on the NPR and there was no question of any reversal. At the same time, the sources maintained that there was no threat to the coalition government on account of their differences over NPR and Bhima Koregaon issues.indianexpress
SC mediators to meet Shaheen Bagh protesters again this afternoon
https://news.abplive.com/videos/news/sc-mediators-to-meet-shaheen-bagh-protesters-again-this-afternoon-1162636
After the Supreme Court's order, a panel was formed to talk to the Shaheen Bagh protesters, in which senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, lawyer Sadhana Ramachandran and former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah were appointed as negotiators. The mediators are going to meet Shaheen Bagh protesters again this afternoon. More details in this news report. abplive
Shaheen Bagh: Women stand their ground on not vacating protest site
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/women-stand-their-ground-on-not-vacating-protest-site/article30865303.ece?homepage=true
Shaheen Bagh: Government didn’t care for us till now. Will it, if we shift?
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/shaheen-bagh-government-didnt-care-for-us-till-now-will-it-if-we-shift/cid/1746820
The interlocutors sent by the Supreme Court were welcomed at Shaheen Bagh on Wednesday with a standing ovation from the longest running women-led agitation against the new citizenship matrix.The open discussions that followed suggested little room for negotiations as the protesters conveyed their well-known concern that they had no hope of the government repealing CAA if they moved the vigil elsewhere.Woman after woman, both Muslim and Hindu, took the mic, some of them breaking down, and repeated: “If the government does not care for us when we sit on the road, will they care for us if we protest elsewhere?”Bilkis Bano, an 82-year-old grandmother, summed up their mood: “The (home) minister says he won’t move an inch back on the law (CAA). We also won’t harm a hair on anyone’s head, but we won’t move until the law is removed…. Hamne Angrezon ko bhagaya tha, tum kya cheez ho (We chased the British away, what are you)?”She added: “You say it is our responsibility to open the road. I ask you, who is responsible for beating up children in Jamia? Who is responsible when firing happens here? Amit Shah or Modi?”telegraphindia
Khanqahs of Bihar take a stand against CAA, appeal to Nitish govt to not implement it
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/khanqahs-of-bihar-take-a-stand-against-caa-appeal-to-nitish-govt-to-not-implement-it
Protests continue against the CAA, NRC and NPR across the country. People have been taking to streets against this law in many places. Social and religious institutions have also started raising their voices against the contentious laws. Khanqahs of Bihar too took a significant step in this regard and held a meeting on February 19. During the meeting, it was unanimously decided that all the Khanqahs will raise their voice against this law.A Khanqah is almost like a dargah, a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation.The meeting was held at Khanqahs Diwan Shah Arzan Dargah Road, Patna. In which members of about 14 Khanqahs participated. After the meeting, a statement was issued in which an appeal was made to Nitish government to not implement CAA. It said that CAA, NRC and NPR are discriminatory and demanded that the constitutional structure of the country should not be tampered with. “We reject this law completely,” the statement said.nationalheraldindia
Know Constitution like the scriptures: Ranchi's protesting women
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/know-constitution-like-the-scriptures-ranchi-s-protesting-women/cid/1746708
Ranchi:“We must know the Constitution as well as we know the kalmas,” said a middle-aged lady at the state capital’s “Shaheen Bagh” at Kadru, which turned one month old on Wednesday. “Or shlokas and mantras.”The protest by Ranchi women against the new citizenship matrix, which started on January 20, completed a month on Wednesday. Like the Shaheen Bagh demonstration in Delhi, which got going on December 14 with a handful of women starting a peaceful sit-in and has now grown into a huge protest, the Kadru sit-in near Haj House also started small but is now a protest with over 500 women coming to the site every day to protest against what they term “black” citizenship laws. When The Telegraph went there in the afternoon, around 200 women were present, many more had gone home “for lunch or to feed their families”.“They’ll be back soon,” smiled a middle-aged woman who identified herself as Nussi apa. “Apa means elder sister,” she said. “Here, Muslim or non-Muslim, they all call me by this name,” said the woman who also runs a general store at Ashok Nagar.telegraphindia
Several organisations protest against CAA, NPR and NRC in Coimbatore
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/several-organisations-protest-against-caa-npr-and-nrc-in-coimbatore20200219190752/
Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India]:Several organisations on Wednesday held 'Road Roko' protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens here.Earlier today in Chennai, members of various Muslim outfits took out a massive protest march against CAA, NPR and NRC.Madras High Court had on Tuesday ordered an interim stay on the blockade without the proper sanction of the enforcement authorities. It had also ordered Muslim outfits not to go ahead with its proposed agitation 'to lay siege at the Secretariat and the District Collector's office'.ANI
People slam state govt for not passing resolution against CAA
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/people-slam-state-govt-for-not-passing-resolution-against-caa/articleshow/74216222.cms
Trichy: Muslim outfits under the banner of Jamaath Ul Ulama staged a protest near the Trichy collectorate here on Wednesday demanding the state government to pass a resolution against CAA, NRC and NPR.After police denied permission to the Jamaath Ul Ulama to lay siege, which was organized as part of a state-wide call, the agitators staged the protest on the road adjacent to the collector’s office.More than 1,500 people including women joined the protest that started around 10am. Besides criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah for pushing CAA, the Ulama leaders hit out at chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for not passing a resolution against the Act in the assembly.Though the BJP-led central government won’t budge to the states’ opposition, Tamil Nadu government should register the opposition of the people to the central government by moving a resolution in the on-going assembly session, the leaders said.Protests were held in 18 places in Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts in the central region. SDPI, PFI, Muslim Jamaath, All Jamath Federation, and Iykkia Jamath Saba also participated in the agitations.TOI
Aadhaar notice to Hyderabad Muslims sparks NRC fears
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/aadhaar-notice-sparks-nrc-fears/article30863240.ece?homepage=true
HYDERABAD:Mohd Sattar Khan, the recipient of the notice from Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) directing him to prove his Indian citizenship, is living in fear. He is unwilling to talk, but after much prodding, he agrees to speak for a couple of minutes.“I do whatever work I get. I drive an auto, and now I do videography,” he says with trembling voice. He confirms that his father worked in Hyderabad Allwyn Limited, once a public sector company. He is encouraged to speak by Muzaffar Ullah Khan, a lawyer who is providing him legal aid, but words fail the recipient of the notice. Two others, one also from Talabkatta, and another from Santosh Nagar, who have received similar notices are afraid to speak. They refuse to reveal their names.thehindu
'They've Proved Their Citizenship': Mumbai Court Acquits Muslim Couple Accused of Being 'Bangladeshi Infiltrators'
https://www.news18.com/news/india/theyve-proved-their-citizenship-mumbai-court-acquits-muslim-couple-accused-of-being-bangladeshi-infiltrators-2508343.html
A couple who were accused by Mumbai police of being "Bangladeshi infiltrators" residing illegally in Mumbai were acquitted by an Additional Chief Magistrate of the Esplanade court in Mumbai.The court held that both the accused were in possession of election cards which were sufficient to prove their Indian citizenship. The 45-year-old Abbas Shaikh and his wife, Rabiyakhatun Shaikh,40, were charge-sheeted in 2017 after a Mumbai police squad conducted a raid at their residence in Ray Road, Mumbai after they received an information that Bangladeshi infiltrators were living in the area.The duo were charged for breach of condition, of Rule 3 punishable under Rule 6 of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, and under Para 3(1) of the Foreigners Order, 1948 punishable under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.The prosecution witness had stated that the the accused entered India through an unauthorised route, without valid documents of entry. The reasons for the move were stated to be "poverty and starvation" in Bangladesh.News18
*J&K AND S. ASIA*
Expressed concern on detention of J&K leaders: US Congressman
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/expressed-concern-on-detention-of-jk-leaders-us-congressman-6276719/
New Delhi :VISITING US Congressman Ami Bera, who is Chairman of House Foreign Affairs sub-committee on Asia-Pacific in US Congress, on Wednesday said it is their desire and interest to see a resolution and return to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, and that he expressed his “concerns” on “continued detention of political leaders in Kashmir” during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.Bera and US Congressman George Holding, who is member of House Ways and Means Committee and co-chairs the India Caucus, are on a two-day visit and met Shringla.“I express(ed) some of my concerns about continued detention of political leaders in Kashmir, and again expressed that the quicker India can return to normalcy in Kashmir, we feel it’s in their interest,” Bera said.On his concerns, Amerish Babulal “Ami” Bera, a Democrat Congressman who traces his roots from Gujarat, said New Delhi has cited “security concerns” on the continued detention of Kashmiri leaders.He said India is a “valuable partner” of US, and that partnership is rooted in shared values of democracy, free market opportunities, and “protecting minority rights”.Holding said he is “heartened to hear that they are going to roll out an economic development plan” in Kashmir, and “provide economic incentives for their investment infrastructure investment there, which obviously raise prospects and prosperity”.Bera also said India’s founding as a secular democracy, where “800 million Hindus can live with 200-plus million Muslims and other religious minorities, and somehow work”, is its strength. “And we don’t want to see India lose that secular democracy, (as) that’s what sets it apart from other countries in the region,” he said.On protests against CAA, Bera said this is “democracy in action”, and the “tools of democracy in India are vibrant”, as it has an “independent judiciary”.Bera, when asked about External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s refusal to meet with US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, said he has had “private conversation” with the minister, but it is “important to keep lines of communication open on Kashmir and CAA as we do believe in the secular strength of India’s democracy”. He said the fact that Democrats criticised India means that “they care for India…that’s what friends are for — friends are honest.”indianexpress
Will act against those spreading rumours on social media through VPN: J&K top cop
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/will-act-against-those-spreading-rumours-on-social-media-through-vpn-jk-top-cop-6276714/
Srinagar : 2 days after J&K Police invoked UAPA to register a case against people using social media through proxy servers, police on Wednesday said their priority is to take action against those spreading rumours and instigating people by accessing social media through VPN.“My first priority [to take action] is against those spreading rumours, instigating (people), and who are facilitating militants,” IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said at a press meet where DGP Dilbag Singh was also present. IGP added, “On January 14, there was an order by the Home Department in which social media was banned. Despite that, many people are using social media through VPN. Among them, some miscreants are spreading rumours, instigating people; some are facilitating militants….We have proof. We have lodged a general FIR, and whoever is found involved will be arrested.”indianexpress
China joins India, US to set new deadline for Pakistan
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-joins-india-us-to-set-new-deadline-for-pakistan-6276740/
New Delhi :In a significant development, China and Saudi Arabia are learnt to have joined India, US and European countries to send a stern message to Pakistan to complete its commitments on action against terrorist financing and money laundering given to FATF before the plenary session in June, including “conviction and prosecution of top leaders of all terrorist organisations”.Diplomatic sources said Turkey was the only country which held out in the end. This marks a major shift in China’s position, which has always backed Pakistan at the FATF.Sources said it is now final that Pakistan will remain on the FATF grey list, and will face consequences if it doesn’t take appropriate action by June this year. An official announcement is likely to be made today.indianexpress
'Violated Territorial Sovereignty': China On Amit Shah's Visit To Arunachal Pradesh
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-violated-territorial-sovereignty-china-on-amit-shahs-visit-to-arunachal-pradesh/347589
China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet, has objected to Home Minister Amit Shah's visit there to attend the statehood day on Thursday, saying it is "firmly opposed" to his trip as it violated Beijing's "territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust".Shah is in Arunachal to attend the 34th Statehood Day function and launch a number of projects related to industry and roads, officials said.China routinely objects to Indian leaders' visits to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh to highlight its claims over it."China's position on the eastern sector of the China-India boundary, or the southern part of China's Tibet region, is consistent and clear," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told online media briefing here on Thursday while replying to a question."The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' and is firmly opposed to the Indian politician's visit to the southern part of China's Tibet region as it violated China's territorial sovereignty, undermined stability of the border area, sabotaged political mutual trust, and violated relevant bilateral agreement," he said.PTI
India "Bigger Problem" Than China: Michael Bloomberg On Carbon Emissions
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/climate-change-india-bigger-problem-than-china-michael-bloomberg-on-carbon-emissions-2183021?pfrom=home-topscroll
Washington: India poses a bigger problem than China when it comes to fighting climate change, particularly on reducing carbon emissions, Democratic presidential aspirant and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has said.
During his maiden appearance on a Democratic presidential primary debate in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Bloomberg said it was "ridiculous" of the Trump administration to take the US out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, as he outlined his approach to tackling climate change."In all fairness, the Chinese have slowed down. It is India that is an even bigger problem, but it is an enormous problem. Nobody is doing anything about it," Mr Bloomberg said in response to a question on climate change.He was asked about his business which is heavily invested in China, the number one producer of carbon emissions in the world, and how far would he go to force Beijing to reduce those emissions and tackle the climate crisis.PTI
*OTHERS*
Pawar demands trust for mosque in Ayodhya
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/pawar-demands-trust-for-mosque-in-ayodhya20200220031151/
Lucknow: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday demanded the Centre to form a trust for building a mosque in Ayodhya similar to the trust to oversee the construction of Ram temple.Speaking at an event here, Pawar said: "You can form a trust for a temple then why can't you set up a trust for the mosque. The country belongs to everyone".ANI
BJP playing politics, not pursuing Mosque construction in Ayodhya: Nawab Malik
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/bjp-playing-politics-not-pursuing-mosque-construction-in-ayodhya-nawab-malik20200220134508/
Mumbai:Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday said that BJP is playing politics in the name of Lord Ram hence they are not pursuing or announcing the construction of the mosque in Ayodhya.Malik's statement came a day after, NCP chief Sharad Pawar demanded the Centre to form a trust for building a mosque in Ayodhya similar to the trust to oversee the construction of Ram temple."It is true that the Supreme Court has given a direction to the Centre to form a trust and reconstruct the Ram Mandir but simultaneously the court has given an order to alot another piece of land for the mosque. Some of the Muslims are divided on whether to accept the land or not," Malik told ANI."Its the responsibility of the State that everyone should feel justice has been done to them. But BJP is playing politics in the name of Ram and hence they are not issuing any kind of announcement for construction of the mosque in Ayodhya," he added.Malik further condemned Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statement where he had on Wednesday said that if someone is coming to die, how can they stay alive? (If someone is coming to die, how can he stay alive?), in connection with the anti-CAA protests.ANI
Salwa Judum: Two months after NHRC order, villagers yet to get Rs 5 lakh
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/salwa-judum-two-months-after-nhrc-order-villagers-yet-to-get-rs-5-lakh-6276682/
Sukma:AROUND 500 km from the Chhattisgarh state capital, and past several CRPF camps, lies Kondasawali, a village in Sukma district fringed by the Bailadila hills, home to high-grade minerals and thus conflict. It’s here that seven people were killed in 2009, allegedly by Special Police Officers of the Salwa Judum, a government-backed militia formed in 2007 to take on the Maoists. Eleven years after the incident and six years after the first complaints in the case were filed, NHRC in December ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each of the families of those killed. But 2 months after NHRC order, the villagers are yet to get the compensation money.indianexpress
National Museum bars non-vegetarian dishes from Harappan menu in event on premises
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/national-museum-bars-non-veg-from-harappan-menu-in-event-on-premises-6276787/
New Delhi:In a last-minute decision, National Museum has barred non-vegetarian dishes from being served at Historical Gastronomica, a weeklong exhibition-cum-event on culinary history that offers “the Indus dining experience” through an “ethno-archaeological kitchen of the Harappan culture” on the museum lawn from Feb.19 to 25.Organised jointly by the National Museum, the Ministry of Culture and One Station Million Stories (OSMS), a private firm, the event’s menu with vegetarian and non-veg dishes, along with an invitation for online booking, was showcased on the museum website and also on social media by the government.On Tuesday, however, the museum cited unspecified rules and asked OSMS to not serve non-vegetarian food during the event.indianexpress
33-year-old Muslim to head Lingayat mutt in Karnataka
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/muslim-to-head-lingayat-math-in-karnataka/articleshow/74217296.cms
HUBBALLI: Striking out on a less-trodden path, a Lingayat mutt in Gadag district of north Karnataka is set to make a Muslim youth its pontiff. Diwan Sharief Rahimansab Mulla, 33, who will be incepted on February 26, said he was influenced by the teachings of 12th -century reformer Basavanna since childhood and would work towards his ideals of social justice and harmony.Sharief will become pontiff of the Murugharajendra Koraneshwara Shantidhama mutt in Asuti village, which is linked to the 350-year-old Koraneshwara Sansthan mutt in Khajuri village in Kalaburagi. They rank among the 361 mutts of Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra mutt of Chitradurga, which draw lakhs of followers from across Karnataka and Maharashtra, besides other parts of the country.“Basava’s philosophies are universal and we embrace followers irrespective of caste and religion. He had dreamed of social justice and harmony in the 12th century and following his teachings, the mutt has opened its doors to all,” said Murugharajendra Koraneshwar Shivayogi, pontiff of Khajuri mutt.Influenced by Shivayogi’s discourses in Asuti, Sharief’s father, the late Rahimansab Mulla, donated two acres to set up a mutt in the village. Shivayogi said the Asuti mutt has been functioning for 2-3 years now and construction of the premises was on.
2 Dalits Thrashed, Tortured On Suspicion Of Theft In Rajasthan; 5 Arrested
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-2-dalits-thrashed-tortured-on-suspicion-of-theft-in-rajasthan-5-arrested/347574
Rajasthan police arrested five persons on Wednesday in connection with the case wherein two Dalit youths were beaten and tortured by a group, Nagaur SP Vikas Pathak said.A video of the incident, which occurred on February 16 in Karnu village of Nagaur’s Panchaudi area, went viral on the Internet and evoked public outrage.The video showed the perpetrators dousing a screwdriver with petrol and inserting it in the rectum of the victim. The former alleged that the duo had tried to steal money from the cashbox at a motorcycle showroom, the SP added.The five persons arrested are Hanuman Singh, Aidan Singh, Raghuvir Singh, Chhail Singh and Rehmatullah. While Hanuman is the owner, others are workers at the agency.The accused have been charged under sections of SC/ST Act, for body offences, voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful confinement among other charges. The police officer also said that some more arrests are expected today.The vicitms have been identified as Bisa Ram (25) and Panna Lal (18) and are residents of Bhojas village, some 20 km away from Karnu where the violence occurred.Reacting to the incident, lawyer and Dalit rights activist PL Mimroth said that it’s shocking that violence of such nature continues to happen in independent India.outlookindia
2 Dalit Brothers, Accused Of Theft, Stripped And Tortured In Rajasthan
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-dalit-men-accused-of-theft-beaten-up-in-rajasthan-2182832
Goa: Hindutva Group Objects to Textbook's 'Distorted History' of Shivaji's Raids
https://thewire.in/politics/goa-chhatrapati-shivaji-history-hindu-janajagruti-samiti
New Delhi: The right-wing Hindutva outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a Class XI textbook, which it alleges depicts Chhatrapati Shivaji in poor light.The Hindutva outfit, which, as per its website, was founded with the aim of establishing a Hindu rashtra, has said that the content on Chhatrapati Shivaji published in the textbook by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) was “totally false”According to IANS, the class XI World History textbook claims that when Maratha king Shivaji attacked Goa in the late 1600s, his forces not only plundered the countryside, but also killed prisoners, including men, women and children as well as Catholic priests. Another section in the book describes Shivaji’s son, Sambhaji, as a plunderer, who ravaged the Goan countryside.In a statement issued on Wednesday, HJS convener Manoj Solanki said, “A supplement added to the textbook- ‘History of Goa’- says that Chhatrapati Shivaji attacked Bardesh tehsil in Goa for three consecutive days, looted villages, burnt them and killed some children and women.”thewire
UK's 'Erratic and Hostile' Immigration Rules Put Indian Students in Bind
https://thewire.in/world/uk-immigration-rules-indian-students-asiya-islam
London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that his government would put “people before passports”, as he rolls out a lower wage threshold and re-hauls visa policies to attract the best talent from across the world. Yet there are fears that the erratic and hostile attitude of the Home Office towards migrants is damaging Britain’s reputation as a welcoming nation.The rejection of Cambridge scholar Asiya Islam's application to secure permanent residency in the UK is symptomatic of the problems students face.Islam applied for an indefinite leave period to remain in Britan in September 2019 and paid an additional £800 for super priority next-day visa processing but received a response only after five weeks. Much to her shock, she was refused on the grounds that she was out of the country for more than 540 days over the course of the decade.With just a few days to appeal against this decision, Islam engaged legal help, adding to her costs. “The entire process cost me more than £3500, a huge amount for someone who has just completed her PhD,” says Islam.Islam’s case is not an isolated one. A post-doctoral engineering scholar from India at the University of Oxford, who chose not to give his name, has to apply for his visa extension every year for his three-year position at the university. This means, additional costs of premium visa processing service, bringing it to £1200.“Let’s not also forget that those with an Indian passport need a Schengen visa to travel to conferences in Europe, which is an important part of scientific and academic work. But that application is also constrained by your UK visa,” he told The Wire.thewire
First time in Delhi elections, BJP uses Deepfake on WhatsApp, a synthetic media widely used in pornography
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/first-time-in-delhi-elections-bjp-uses-deepfake-on-whatsapp-a-synthetic-media-widely-used-in-pornography
Amid the news reports about the BJP using fake news on line creating an uproar on social media, another shocking revelation by news website Vice has come to the fore which proves that the world’s largest party BJP used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create two fake videos of Delhi state chief Manoj Tiwari. Using the ‘deepfake’ technology, which is widely used in pornography, hoaxes and financial frauds, Tiwari has been morphed realistically in these videos to show him talking in two different languages to appeal to different voter groups during Delhi assembly election in February.By using AI, Deepfake creates morphed videos which look very real. It can even synchronise lip movements so that a person can be seen speaking different languages or we can simply say that words can be literally put in the mouth of another person.A thorough analysis by Vice news website of Tiwari's 44-second monologue led to the discovery of the use of ‘Deepfake’ by Bharatiya Janta Party.nationalheraldindia
1 Lakh People For Ahmedabad Roadshow: Official After Trump's 70 Lakh Talk
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/1-lakh-people-for-roadshow-ahmedabad-official-after-donald-trumps-70-lakh-claim-2182974?pfrom=home-topstories
New Delhi: Around one lakh people, not seven million as claimed by US President Donald Trump, are expected to turn up to see the American President along a 22-km-long road in Ahmedabad after he lands in India, the city's Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said today, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump will travel on this road on February 24.ndtv
19 Dead After Container Comes Off Truck, Hits Passenger Bus In Tamil Nadu
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/18-dead-after-container-comes-off-truck-hits-passenger-bus-in-tamil-nadus-coimbatore-2182836?pfrom=home-topscroll
Tamil Nadu: Over 19 people were killed and a few are feared trapped in debris after the bus in which they were travelling in was hit by a container that had come off a truck coming from the opposite side on a highway in Tamil Nadu's Tirupur, the police said. Twenty-three were injured. They have been taken to different hospitals.Kerala government-run Volvo bus that can seat over 50 people was going to Ernakulam from Bengaluru in Karnataka, state Transport Minister AK Saseendran told reporters.The police said the number of dead is likely to rise.ndtv
*WORLD*
Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE : 2 Japan Ship Patients Dead; 2 Iranians Die in First Middle East Casualty
https://www.news18.com/news/india/coronavirus-outbreak-live-updates-china-wuhan-diamond-princess-nikkei-index-iran-2508071.html
Two passengers from coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess, which is moored near Tokyo, have died, public broadcaster NHK said today, as a second group of passengers began disembarking after two-weeks quarantined onboard.More than 620 of the passengers on the Diamond Princess liner have been infected on the ship, which has been quarantined since February 3, initially with about 3,700 people on board.NHK, citing a government source, said the passengers were a man and woman in their 80s.Meanwhile, two people have died in Iran after testing positive on Wednesday for the new coronavirus, the health ministry said, in the Islamic republic's first cases of the disease.According to YJC news agency, a branch of state television, the pair who died were Iranian citizens and residents of the holy city of Qom.They are also the first deaths from the COVID-19 virus in the Middle East and only the seventh and eighth outside China, where the outbreak has killed more than 2,000 people.State news agency IRNA quoted Kianoush Jahanpour, a ministry spokesman, as saying the virus was detected in two elderly people with immunity problems in Qom, south of the Iranian capital."Following the recent cases of chronic respiratory diseases in Qom, two of the patients tested positive in preliminary tests," it quoted him as saying.news18
Tunisia names new government in last bid to avoid early election
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/tunisia-names-government-bid-avoid-early-election-200220063438849.html
Tunisia's prime minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh has announced the formation of a new coalition government after coming to an agreement with Ennahda, the biggest party in parliament, in a deal that will potentially end a months-long political crisis.With this latest agreement, the proposed government will likely win a confidence vote in parliament in coming days, likely avoiding an early election.Fakhfakh proposed the line-up of a new government on Saturday and then said negotiations would continue after Islamist Ennahda party sought some changes.With 53 seats in the 217-member parliament, Ennahda said it would only join a unity government that brings together parties from across Tunisia's political spectrum.President Kais Saied said on Monday he would dissolve parliament and call for an early election if the new government failed to win a parliamentary confidence vote.aljazeera
Hanau shooting: Nine dead in attacks at shisha lounges in Germany
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/dead-shooting-german-city-hanau-report-200219232214276.html
At least nine people were killed at two shisha lounges in a German city on Wednesday evening, an assault that federal prosecutors are investigating as a possible far-right attack.The suspect was later found dead at his home early on Thursday after the shootings in Hanau, 25km (12 miles) east of Frankfurt. Another body was found at the suspect's home.There are indications that the suspect had a far-right motive, German federal prosecutors said.aljazeera
*views, Articles, FEATURES*
Protests are not just against CAA-NRIC-NPR trinity. They have already succeeded in numerous ways:Harsh Mander
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/caa-protests-nrc-npr-amit-shah-shaheen-bagh-narendra-modi-6276507/
'Narendra Modi and Amit Shah can't help out in Assembly elections': RSS blames 'same old formula' by BJP for Delhi poll rout:Debobrat Ghose
https://www.firstpost.com/politics/narendra-modi-and-amit-shah-cant-help-out-in-assembly-elections-rss-blames-same-old-formula-by-bjp-for-delhi-poll-rout-8062141.html
Shaheen Bagh Effect: Base of Anti-CAA Protests Is Slowly Expanding
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/shaheen-bagh-protest-muslims-sikhs-dalits-mumbai-bengal-chennai
Those opposing CAA-NRC are doing disservice to Gandhiji’s worldview: Shrikrishna Kulkarni, Mahatma Gandhi’s great grandson
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mahatma-gandhi-caa-nrc-protests-citizenship-6276492/
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mahatma-gandhi-caa-nrc-protests-citizenship-6276492/
'Kambalchor Sarkar': Why UP's Crackdown on Protesters Is Unparalleled:Nayanika Mathur
https://thewire.in/rights/uttar-pradesh-caa-protest-crackdown-kambalchor-sarkar
UIDAI Has No Authority to Verify Indian Citizenship:Divij Joshi
https://thewire.in/law/aadhaar-citizenship-verify-uidai-supreme-court
Vodafone Idea exit is bad news for telecom business, will affect FDI too:Herald View
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/vodafone-idea-exit-is-bad-news-for-telecom-business-will-affect-fdi-too
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 1:39 PM).
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