Newsletter 28 Jan

Top 5 of the Day

1. Anti-CAA resolutions in EU Parliament does not reflect official stand.
2. CAA brought to correct historical injustice: Modi slams Congress to defend CAA law.
3. Avast antivirus sold users’ data to Google, Microsoft
4. No case Corona Virus have been reported in the country.
5. Rahul Gandhi addressed a Rally in Jaipur

Tweet of the Day..

National

Anti-CAA resolutions in EU Parliament does not reflect official stand: EU spokesperson

The Commission’s remark comes even as India and EU are preparing to hold their annual summit in Brussels in March

Strong support for the Indian government came from France with a person familiar with the developments on the French side in New Delhi saying that the CAA is India’s internal matter.

As per sources: Indian Mission in Brussels is in active talks with major political parties in the EU Parliament over the anti-CAA resolution. Also, India has told the EU that ‘citizenship is an internal matter’.

The delegation of the European Commission in India on Monday seemed to distance itself from a clutch of resolutions by members of the European Parliament seeking to debate India’s CAA, that describe it as a “dangerous shift” in the way citizenship will be determined in India and possibly create a major statelessness crisis.

The resolutions have evoked strong reactions from the Modi government, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Speakers who have said a foreign legislature has no business commenting on India’s internal matters.

EU spokesperson has said, “As per its regular procedures, the European Parliament published the draft resolutions. It is important to recall that these texts are only drafts tabled by various political groups in the European Parliament. Let me also remind you that the opinions expressed by the European Parliament and its members do not represent the official position of the European Union.”

CAA brought to correct historical injustice: Modi slams Congress to defend citizenship law

PM Modi on national NCC day, those who are fearmongering on CAA refuse to see the persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. Shouldn’t we help the persecuted? Some time back a Pakistan Army advert came out in which it was clearly written that only Non-Muslims apply for sanitation workers post.

He further added, some in opposition are spreading propaganda that the decisions taken by our govt is hurting Modi’s image. Let them not waste their time, I am here not to work on my image but to work for the nation. There is work to be done to end problems plaguing India since independence.

PM Modi attacked the Mufti and Abdullah families that have ruled the state for decades. He said the problem in JnK persisted since Independence and some families and political parties kept issues in the region “alive”, as a result of which terrorism thrived there.

CAA Row…

Defense Min. Raj Nath Singh addressed a rally in Delhi in support of CAA.
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma: In Guwahati at least, Popular Front of India (PFI) has actively associated themselves with the movement (anti CAA protests). We have seized certain documents from PFI’s office that use symbolic language, we are trying to decode it.
A TV Channel showed few videos claimed that the protests against CAA goes worldwide. [NDTV]
Meanwhile, some students from JNU and JMI University, came in support of Sharjeel Imam, a PhD, student form JNU. [Aajtak] He has been arrested from Jahanabad Bihar.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on JNU student Sharjeel Imam arrests, “Nobody should do anything that is not in the interest of the nation. The accusations and the arrest, court will decide on the matter.”
Just after arrests, Manoj Sinha (BJP) leader tweeted, to Delhi CM Kejriwal, challenged to arrest Imam and we have done it now it’s his turn to go Shaheen Bagh and revoke the protests.
As per claim, a sting video exposes propaganda behind Shaheen Bagh protests, organizer Sharjeel Imam from JNU confesses protest was carried out to attract ‘Western media’.
However, case of sedition has been filed on him and 6 batches of polices are searching him.
A polio vaccination team was thrashed and held hostage allegedly after locals mistook it for National Population Register (NPR) enumerators in Meerut. The team was rescued by police later.
The Congress veteran said several issues have led to confrontation between the Centre and states, though he avoided any specific mention. His remarks came against the backdrop of some states ruled by the Congress and other parties opposing implementation of the CAA.

Avast antivirus sold users’ data to Google, Microsoft: as per media report.

The Avast antivirus program was installed on a person’s computer which collected the data, and Jump shot repackaged it into various different products which were sold to big companies.

An investigation on Monday claimed that the popular Avast antivirus, installed on nearly 435 million Windows, Mac and mobile devices globally, harvested users’ data via browser plugins and then sold it to third parties, including Microsoft and Google, Yelp, McKinsey, Pepsi, Sephora, Home Depot, Conde Nast, Intuit, and many others,” the report claimed.

The joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag that relied on leaked user data and other company documents found that “the sale of this data is both highly sensitive and is, in many cases, supposed to remain confidential between the company selling the data and the clients purchasing it”.

In a statement, Avast said it has stopped providing browsing data collected by the extensions to Jumpshot.

PM Modi addressed via video-conferencing at 3rd Global Potato Conclave 2020, in Gandhinagar

It’s good that Potato Conclave is being held out of Delhi. It’s being held in Gujarat and this is important because this is the leading state in India, as far as potato production is concerned.

He said work on scientific and technological approach is being done for irrigation. Working on the mantra of ‘per drop more crop’, micro irrigation is being focused upon. India total production 46,402,650 tons as per last yr statistics.

Corona Virus Row…..

Of the 17 cases, 14 samples were tested and they have come negative for the coronavirus so far; suspected cases kept in isolation at Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Patna, says senior official.

“No positive case of novel coronavirus has been detected in India though we have suspected cases in isolation at Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Patna.

Health Min Dr.Harsh Vardhan told to media that there is nothing to panic, coronavirus has not come to India. We have taken all precautionary measures. All hospitals have been asked to make isolation wards, we have launched a helpline number.

Air India Boeing 747 on standby to evacuate Indians from Wuhan amid coronavirus outbreak.

SC judge, Justice S Ravindra Bhat, offers to recuse himself from hearing Centre’s curative plea seeking Rs7,844 Cr as an additional fund from successor firms of US-based Union Carbide Corp, now owned by Dow Chemicals, for giving compensation to victims of 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy.

The Bhopal gas tragedy, was a gas leak incident on the night of 2–3 Dec 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, MP,. It is considered to be the world’s worst industrial disaster. Over 500,000 people were exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. The highly toxic substance made its way into and around the small towns located near the plant.

Punjab Chief Minister’s Office: On attacks on crops by locusts in neighboring areas of south Punjab bordering Rajasthan, CM urged PM Modi to direct External Affairs Ministry and Indian High Commission to immediately take up issue with Pakistan from where the pests were emanating.

The surveillance by scientists of Punjab Agricultural University at Abohar revealed the presence of locust hoppers in small numbers or groups (5 to 20) in Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda districts, they said.

MP CM Office: CM Kamal Nath has said that a grand temple of Goddess Sita will be built in Sri Lanka.

He issued directions to complete the design of the temple and make funds available for the temple in this financial year itself.

He said that “We have the proposal of building a temple of Sita ji in Sri Lanka. I held a meeting for the same in Bhopal, with swami ji from Sri Lanka. A design for the temple is being worked upon, so that the construction work begins soon.

The same INC, in an affidavit submitted to SC, on Ramjnmbhoomi, said “Ram is imaginal character”.

A Delhi Court refused Enforcement Directorate’s plea to send businessman CC Thampi to 4 days ED remand and instead sent him to judicial custody till Feb 7. Thampi was arrested in connection with a money laundering case probe related to Robert Vadra, 4 days back.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation is related to a case of acquisition of alleged illegal assets abroad.

U.S. Supreme Court allows stricter ‘public charge’ rule to go through.

It permits the continuation of a Department of Homeland Security policy that makes it more likely that poorer immigrants would be denied green cards.

plea to send businessman CC Thampi to 4 days ED remand and instead sent him to judicial custody till Feb 7. Thampi was arrested in connection with a money laundering case probe related to Robert Vadra, 4 days back.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation is related to a case of acquisition of alleged illegal assets abroad.

As per radio Pak, 8608 prisoners released from overseas jails due to efforts of PM.

Two thousand and twenty prisoners were released from Saudi Arabia, three thousand and twenty three from United Arab Emirates, fifteen hundred from Malaysia, six hundred and sixty eight from Iraq, one hundred and six from Qatar and one hundred and thirteen were released from Kuwait.

Political

Rahul Gandhi in Jaipur: PM Modi had promised 2 crore jobs, but last year our youth lost 1 crore jobs. Wherever PM goes he talks of CAA, NRC but the biggest issue of unemployment is not mentioned, PM doesn’t even speak a word on it.
Rahul Gandhi also attacked Modi Govt and said that PM never talk about unemployment. He talks about everything like CAA
News came in media that Raj Govt issued a letter to colleges and asked them to instruct the students to attend the rally.

Chief Election Commissioner seek report from local official about the disputed videos of 2 BJP leaders, Prevesh Verma and union min Anurag Thakur, on complaint of INC of two rallies at different places, from Delhi.

BJP MP Parvesh Verma: What happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi also. Lakhs of people gather at Shaheen Bagh, they could enter houses, rape and kill your sisters and daughters. The people need to decide now.

States

UP

Unnao: A girl allegedly threw acid on a boy, in BhawaniGanj area y’day. ASP Unnao says “We’ve come to know that they had been in contact since several months and were neighbors. Boy was sent to hospital, girl is being questioned. Action will be taken as soon as we receive complaint”.

Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: Protests continue against Andhra Pradesh Govt’s decision of decentralization (three capitals). People in Rayapudi protested in Krishna River against the Govt decision.