Newsletter 29 Jan

Top 5 of the Day

1- European Parliament schedules anti-CAA resolution for discussion todays’ night around 10:30 pm IST
2- CAA protest again gained peak today
3- Developed nations not acting on reducing carbon emissions
4- Union Cabinet has approved 2 important bill.
5- SAD will fight Delhi Election with BJP

Tweet of the Day..

National

European Parliament schedules anti-CAA resolution for discussion todays’ night around 10:30 pm IST

Close to 600 lawmakers in the 751-member European Parliament (EP) moved 6 resolutions against the CAA. The six draft resolutions moved by several groups have merged into a single joint motion resolution. The resolution can go through by a simple majority of those present and voting.

Ahead of the resolution, India is ramping up diplomacy in Brussels and Strasbourg to counter the move.

Even the resolution by European Conservatives and Reformists Group, seen as favorable to India because it recognized that India was free to be the sole determinant of its law on citizenship, called upon India to extend the scope of this law.

The Strasbourg-based European Parliament is an independent body and one of the seven institutions of the EU but its resolutions are not legally binding on the EU and the EC.

India Countered

The government’s view has been that the entire process would be allowed to run the course of popular and judicial scrutiny. For the European Parliament to be passing resolutions on something that is undergoing scrutiny in India would be disingenuous.

MEA: India has been consistently supportive of Palestinian cause. India has also called for a 2-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. We reiterate our view that final status issues should be resolved through direct negotiations between the two and be acceptable to both.

We urge the parties to engage with each other, including on the recent proposals put forward by the US, and find an acceptable 2-State solution for peaceful coexistence.

CAA Row…

Today, CAA protest again gained peak, and turned violent in 5 states, WB, Bih, Guj, Mah and

Ready for talks with PM on CAA, but the Centre has to withdraw the act first: Mamata Banerjee

Delhi: Shahid Aboobakar, trustee Rehab India Foundation & Popular Front of India (PFI) Delhi President, Muhammad Pervez Ahmad arrive at Enforcement Directorate (ED) office after being summoned by the agency.

Advocate KC Nazeer we are here (ED office) to seek time of 2 months. Our Chairman is suffering from cancer and he is unable to come due to health issues.

Delhi Police: Mohammad Luqmaan (owner of the gun that was brandished at Shaheen Bagh yesterday) has been called for questioning today. A case has been registered in the matter & investigation is underway.

A sum of 11 accused have been arrested out of 70, a list provided by Delhi Police, JMI violence.

Sherjeel Imam brought to Delhi on transit remand. He has been arrested yesterday on charge of multiple sections of IPC and CrPC. He has been produced before judge at his residence. He is also supported by Kanhiya Kumar, former JNU president.

Shaheen Bagh protesters to march to Jantar Mantar today; JNU, Jamia students also joined the protest. What started as anti-CAA protest is now taking different dimensions. They’ve gone to the extent of equating Indian Army with Pak Army, as both armies kill own people.

Bihar: A clash broke out between two groups – one protesting against CAA & NRC and the other supporting it, in Sitamarhi today. 15 people were injured in the clash. Police personnel have now been deployed in the area.

WB: Two dead in clashes between pro and anti CAA/ NRC protesters in Murshidabad yesterday. The two deceased have been identified as Anirudh Biswas and Maqbool Sheikh

Guv expresses reservation but reads out anti-CAA portion in Budget address to honor Kerala CM's wish

Addressing the budget session of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on today, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan read out a portion against the CAA in his policy address stating that he was doing so to “honor the wish” of CM Pinrayi Vijayan.

Before his address to the House, the Assembly witnessed high voltage drama with Opposition MLAs chanting “go back governor” and displaying anti-CAA posters and banners against Khan as soon as he arrived in the House for his address.

Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of Opposition in Kerala assembly: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan is ridiculing the Kerala assembly for passing a resolution requesting central government to withdraw CAA. He is acting as the state president of BJP, as a tool in the hands of RSS & BJP.

There is secret understanding between CPM & Governor that is evident because CM is involved in Lavalin corruption case which is coming up for hearing this week in Supreme Court. He wants the help of central government.

Union Cabinet has approved

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, Cabinet amended the MTP Act, 1971. The Bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament.
In a significant move ensuring reproductive rights to women, Govt increases limit on termination of pregnancy from 20 to 24 weeks; move aimed at discouraging informal termination of pregnancies and reducing the maternal mortality rate. The allocation of 30% of the North-Eastern Council’s allocation for new projects for focused development of deprived areas, neglected sections of society and emerging priority sectors.

Developed nations not acting on reducing carbon emissions: Javadekar

New Delhi, Jan 29 (PTI) Union Environment Min Prakash Javadekar said it is the responsibility of developed nations to reduce annual carbon emissions first but no action is being taken by them.

Speaking at the 20th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) held here, the minister said since 1990, “the world has reduced annual carbon emissions only by half per cent and a lot needs to be done.”

WSDS 2020 is a 3-day flagship event organized by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute), being held at the India Habitat Centre from Ja 29-31 that will focus on 2030 sustainable development goals. PTI AG CK

Fact Sheet

Global average temperatures have increased by more than 1℃ since pre-industrial.
CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are now well over 400ppm – their highest levels in over 800,000 years.
Globally we emit over 36 billion tons of CO2 per year – this continues to increase.
There are large differences – more than 100-fold – in per capita CO2 emissions between countries.
Today, China is the world’s largest CO2 emitter – accounting for more than one-quarter of emissions. This is followed by the USA (15%); EU-28 (10%); India (7%); and Russia (5%).
The USA has contributed most to global CO2 emissions to date, accounting for 25% of cumulative emissions. This is followed by the EU-28 (22%); China (13%); Russia (6%) and Japan (4%).
A large amount of CO2 is embedded in traded goods – this means some countries’ emissions increase while others decrease when we look at emissions based on consumption rather than production.
There are large inequalities in CO2 emissions: the worlds poorest have contribute less than 1% of emissions, but will be the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The world is not on-track to meet its agreed target of limiting warming to 2℃. Under current policies, expected warming will be in the range 3.1-3.7℃.

CBI Registers Case Against AAP Legislator Amanatullah Khan In Waqf Board 'Scam'

CBI sources said the complaint received from the Delhi government which has been converted into an FIR by it also mentions alleged role of CM Arvind Kejriwal and Dy CM Manish Sisodia.

However, the CBI FIR has been registered against Khan and unknown persons under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act related to criminal misconduct and corruption.

International

US House passes bill on sanctions against Chinese officials for meddling in Dalai Lama's succession

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorizes sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of selecting the successor to the Dalai Lama. The bill, if passed by the Senate, will also prohibit China from opening any new consulate in the US until Beijing allows Washington to open its diplomatic station in Lhasa.

Addressing the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said “It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders. We are supporting the Tibetan people’s right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing as US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including a future 15^th Dalai Lama.”

Two rockets fired from Afghanistan land in Pakistan, no casualty reported

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Wednesday that two rockets fired from the Afghan side of border landed in Pakistan’s area today, however, no casualty or damage was reported, ARY News reported.

Coronavirus outbreak: Mapping its spread

Officials have confirmed besides Wuhan, multiple deaths elsewhere, including the first in the capital Beijing. Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed 6 cases. In Hong Kong, 8 people are known to have the disease. Of those, 6 arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal that connects the city to the mainland.

As per Global Times, among the confirmed 6,078 patients, 132 have died, 115 have been discharged from hospitals after recovery: official data

Political

Modi and his dream team of economic advisors have turned economy around: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wed attacked the government over the state of the economy, saying PM

Modi and FM N Sitharaman have no idea what to do next.

The former Congress president’s attack on the government comes just days ahead of the budget. FM Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for the financial year 2020-21 on Feb 1^st.

Finally, Prashant Kishor, and Pawan Kumar Verma senior party leaders have been expelled from JD (U).

Differences between Prashant Kishore, (PK) and JDU Chief, Nitish Kumar seems deepening. As yesterday Kumar told media and he took PK on recommendation of Amit Shah. However, it’s interesting that PK Joined JDU from BJP.

Few days back, Verma also written a letter to CM Nitish Kumar not directly to him but in media, which labile him to this action.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh says his party has asked EC to impose 48-hour campaigning ban on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly tweeting ‘fake’ video on Delhi govt schools.

BJP President JP Nadda met Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal today, over Delhi Elections. Shiromani Akali Dal had earlier decided not to contest Delhi Elections over their differences with BJP regarding their stand on CAA.

Badminton Player Saina Nehwal, along with her sister Chandranshu joined BJP in the presence of Party’s National Gen Secy Arun Singh.

Saina is an Indian professional badminton singles player. A former world no. 1, she has won over 24 international titles, which includes eleven Super series titles. It was only in 2015 that she was able to attain the world no. 1 ranking.

Election Commission asked BJP to remove the name of Min Anurag Thakur and MP Pravesh Verma from the list of star campaigners.

EC issued notice to Verma for prima facie violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC). EC has given him time till 12 noon on 30th Jan to provide an explanation, failing which EC will take a decision on the matter.