Newsletter 14 March

Top 5 News

1. Delhi Riots: Investigation Update and Govt’s Response in House
2. Corona lockdown: causalities reached 2 total 83
3. Government issues orders revoking detention of Farooq Abdullah
4. Syed Altaf Bukhari, former PDP leader in Srinagar formally announced about his new Party “Apni Party” on Sun and met PM and HM
5. Yes Bank: Moratorium to Be Lifted 3 Days After Scheme Notified
6. NIA files charge sheet against 9 ‘pro-Khalistan’ youths for their alleged involvement in last year’s Tarn Taran blast
7. Roshni Act: Petitioner says HC order proves bid to alter J&K Demography

State

Total Indian

Total Foreign

Cured

Death

Under  Indian Treatment

Delhi

7

0

1

1

5

Haryana

0

14

0

0

0

Kerala

19

0

3

0

16

Rajasthan

1

2

0

0

1

Telangana

1

0

0

0

1

Uttar Pradesh

11

1

5

0

6

UT Laddakh

3

0

0

0

3

Tamil Nadu

1

0

0

0

1

UT JnK

1

0

0

0

1

Punjab

1

0

0

0

1

Karnataka

6

0

0

1

5

Maharashtra

15

0

0

0

15

Andhra Pradesh

1

0

0

0

1

Total

67

17

9

2

56+17 (eternal)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Total number of positive Coronavirus cases in India is 83

With over 1,32,536 confirmed cases, the virus has reported more than 5,000 deaths worldwide.

  • A delegation of the newly formed Jammu & Kashmir Apni party led by its President Altaf Bukhari to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today.
  • Director-General, WHO: Europe has now become epicenter of COVID19 pandemic, with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. More cases are now being reported every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic. Our message to countries continues to be: you must take a comprehensive approach. Not testing alone. Not contact tracing alone. Not quarantine alone. Not social distancing alone. Do it all
  • BJP leaders Gopal Bhargava, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Narottam Mishra and Bhupendra Singh met Governor Lalji Tandon today, in Bhopal.
    • The BJP delegation gave a letter to Governor Lalji Tandon today, requesting him to hold an Assembly Session before 16th March and conduct floor test. They have also requested the Governor for videography of the floor test.
  • Uttar Pradesh cabinet has passed Recovery of Damage to Public Properties ordinance for recovery of damage during violent protests.
  • Maharashtra Assembly today unanimously passed a proposal to rename Aurangabad airport as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport and Mumbai Central station as Nana Shankarseth Terminus. The proposal will now be sent to the Central government for the final approval.
  • MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar: A complaint was registered against Eric Bellman by a person on govt’s online grievance redressal platform. Referring complaints to the related office is a routine matter as per standard procedure. No such decision on deportation has been taken by MEA.
    • Priviously it is tweeted by official handl of tweeter: “MEA today asked the Indian Embassy in the US to look into the request for immediate deportation of The Wall Street Journal’s South Asia Deputy Bureau Chief Eric Bellman, who is based in India, for “anti-India behaviour”
    • UP Cabinet nod to ‘Recovery of Damage to Public Properties Ordinance’
      • UP government approves law to recover damage during mob violence
      • This comes after Supreme Court refused to stay Allahabad HC’s order
      • Allahabad HC ordered removal of posters put up by Yogi government
      • In a major decision, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved “Recovery of Damage to Public Properties Ordinance”. Under the law, damages will be recovered from those found guilty of vandalism and destruction of property during mob violence in the state.
      • This comes after the Supreme Court said there’s no law to back UP government’s ‘name and shame’ posters of the accused persons allegedly involved in vandalism during the CAA protests in the state.
      • NIA raids Ghulam Mohammad Mir’s residence in Baramulla
        • National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sat morning conducted fresh raids on at the residence of Ghulam Mohammad Mir at Nilah in Pattan of Baramulla district. More details are awaited
      • Benjamin Netanyahu requested PM Modi to allow export of masks, pharmaceuticals to Israel
        • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, did not share any specific details of his discussions with his Indian counterpart during the press conference.
      • Big setback for terror-accused Yasin Malik, TADA court says enough prima facie evidence for prosecution
        • Jammu TADA court on Sat said there is enough prima facie evidence to prosecute Malik in the case pertaining to the killing of unarmed Air Force officers in Kashmir in 1990. The court will give sanctions for framing of charges against the leader of banned terror outfit Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
      • In 5 years, 5 lakh Indians gave up citizenship44% of the requests to renounce Indian citizenship came from those living in the US, while Australia and Canada together accounted for 33%.

Delhi Riots: Investigation Update and Govt’s Response in Houses
Home Minister Replied over Delhi Riot in RS Yesterday

  • There were social media accounts only to spread hatred during Delhi Violence: Shah
  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thurs said that some social media accounts during the Delhi violence were operated only to spread hatred.
  • Till yesterday 1,170 faces were recognized, 1,922 faces recognized till Thursday’s afternoon.
  • 336 are from U.P. Border was sealed on 24 Feb area densely populated, not possible to seal state borders in democracies. Vehicle numbers were noted, now they are being matched with driving licenses.
  • All perpetrators involved in the killing of IB official Ankit Sharma and HC Ratan Lal have been arrested. We have the video of people who stabbed Sharma and opened fire at Ratan Lal. The probe into the conspiracy is still on.
  • “There were some social media accounts that started 2 days before violence and were deactivated on 25th.
  • These accounts only functioned to spread hatred. Their owners must be thinking that they are safe but this is the digital age, we will find them and present them before the law,” Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha.
  • “Somebody lost his life, somebody was paralyzed, somebody’s home was burnt and what are you talking of privacy.
  • Police should have the right to bring those involved in a riot before the court and give the strictest punishment.
  • In answer of D O’ Brien, who questioned about privacy of citizen? We have not violated any privacy (Kisi ki jaan chali gai, koi apaahij ho gaya, kisi ka ghar jal gaya, aur kya nijita ki baat karte ho? Police ko yeh adhikaar hona chaiye ki jisne danga kiya hai usko court ke saamne khada kare, aur kathor se kathor saza di jaye. Humne nijita ka koi bhang nahi kiya hai).”
  • At least 53 persons died, including IB officer Ankit Sharma and Constable Rattan Lal in the violence that took place in North-East Delhi last month.
  • “CM, Arvind Kejriwal said on Feb 27th that military should be called. There was no meaning to it because riots were controlled by then.
  • But I understand his emotions because several items have been recovered from the home of his councilor, he had to suspend him”.
    • In a question he asked the members by especially naming Kapil Sibbal, (Sr Advocate and Congress leader in RS) “tell me one line of CAA which take away the citizenship of any Indian?
      • Then, Sibbal stated “No it won’t going to take away any citizenship of India but, during the NPR if officers put ‘D’ (doubt), then that fellow may have to proof their citizenship?
    • Then he assured the house there won’t be any “D” Colum during NPR.

    Remember, all such Anti –CAA protest since Both houses have passed it on Dec 12, including recent violence, which loudness even heard outside India too, is now seems baseless.

    • Meanwhile, even after clearance from HM, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai moves resolution in the Assembly against the implementation of the process of NPR enumeration in Delhi.

    Home Minister in Lok Sabha for Recent Delhi Riot

    “Delhi last month, in which over 50 people were killed, was a pre-planned conspiracy, for which a case has been registered by the Delhi Police”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed the Lok Sabha y’day, during a discussion on the clashes. Praising efforts of the Delhi Police, the Home Minister also said they managed to contain the riots within 36 hours.

    What He Stated in House

    • I would like to place on record that after 11 pm, Feb 25, no incident of rioting took place in northeast Delhi.
    • There have been attempts to politicize these riots.
    • Questions have been asked about what the Delhi Police was doing.
      • Police were on the ground then, they will also probe and submit a report in coming days.
      • These violent incidents which have spread so much
      • The police also need some time to investigate it to the core.
      • They need time to find the reasons behind it.
    • I did not go there myself as I didn’t want the police to divert resources towards my security arrangements.
    • US President’s program was pre-scheduled, it was in my constituency, and my visit there was also pre-scheduled. The next day, when the US President visited Delhi, I wasn’t present at any event.
    • The whole time I was sitting with Police officers.
    • I only requested the NSA to visit the area.
    • We wanted discussion on Delhi violence after Holi to avoid communal flare up during the festival time.
    • From Feb 27 till today, around 700 FIRs have been registered. All those who caused the violence will not be able to escape the law.
    • We are ensuring that no action is taken against any innocent person. 49 cases of Arms Act have been registered and 153 arms have been recovered. Over 650 meeting of peace committee meetings have taken place since Feb 25.
    The spread of riots on such a big scale in such a short time is not possible without a conspiracy. We have registered a case
    • of conspiracy to probe this angle. Three people have been arrested for financing the violence in northeast Delhi.
    • Around 60 social media accounts were created on Feb 22 and were closed down on Feb 26. Police will find those behind them as social media was used to incite hate.
    • We did not take the riots casually. Prima facie, I believe that the riots were pre-planned. I assure families of the riot victims that the culprits will not be spared no matter which religion, caste or political party they belong to.

    Did INC India stage a walk-out during HM Shah’s response because he exposed the Lutyens Lobby’s ‘Hindutva pogrom’ lies?’

    However, in media the 9-page postmortem reports surfaced on IB Staff Ankit Sharma, who was murdered during the Northeast Delhi communal riots last month revealed that he sustained 51 injuries in total. He was stabbed 12 times and had 33 blunt injuries. Relevantly, the IB staffer’s body was found in a drain on 26 Feb in the Chand Bagh area of Delhi. Previously, it has been said that he sustained 400 injuries. However, some media reduced it to 12 only.

    Sunday, AAP (a state based party) MLA, Amanatullah Khan blamed the police investigations are going against Muslim community only, which may leads to more riots nationwide. However, no official statement on it came so far.

    IS-linked, couple using anti-CAA protests to incite terror attack held from Jamia Nagar: Cops

    • A Delhi Court sends the couple to police custody till 17th Mar.
    • According to a senior official, the couple had been in touch with senior Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP) members in Afghanistan to exploit the ongoing agitation against the amended citizenship law to incite Muslim youth to carry out terror strikes.
    • The couple “Jahanzaib Sami and wife Hina Bashir Beigh, a couple from Srinagar, Kashmir have been detained by the police from south Delhi’s Jamia Nagar on Sun morning, people familiar with the development said.
    • ISKP is Afghanistan-based affiliate of IS. It appears that he intended to carry out terror strikes including a suicide attack and had also been attempting to procure weapons for this purpose.
    • Kashmiri couple living in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar detained by police
    • Police have accused the couple of links with subcontinental branch of IS
    • Couple exploiting anti-CAA sentiment to sign up people for terror activities: Cop
    • Indian agencies point to Pak link in anti-CAA protests
      • HT learnt that Indian intelligence agencies have picked up cross-country electronic chatter where people believed to be Pakistani operatives are berating their sources for not organizing enough crowds for anti-CAA protests on Mar 3-4 despite the funding at their disposal.
      • The government has specific evidence that Pakistan’s deep state played a part in amplifying anti CAA protests all over country through funding and direction, even as Islamabad has made an all-out effort to equate Delhi riots with 2002 Gujarat riots at the ongoing meeting of UN Human Rights Council at Geneva.
        • However, on SM such equating tweet first come @Ranayyub name handler.
        • As per media (HT), Jahanzaib Sami had also been in touch with Huzaifa al-Bakistani, the Pakistani commander of the ISKP, who played a key role in efforts to radicalize Kashmiri youngsters to join the terror group.
        • Al-Bakistani, a Pakistani national who first joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba before upgrading to the IS, was a well-known online recruiter for IS.
        • Al-Bakistani was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan. His death was confirmed in July last year by the media channel of IS which claimed he had given “sleepless nights to Indian agencies.
          • Jahanzaib Sami was also active on pro-IS handles on social media and facilitated in spotting what the group considered ‘talent’ for its terror activities, a Delhi Police officer said.
          • In his initial questioning, Jahanzaib Sami is alleged to have told a group of interrogators about his role in publishing and publicizing the Feb edition of the IS digital magazine Sawt al Hind (Voice of India).
          • In this edition of the, the Islamic State’s subcontinental branch had called on Indian Muslims angered by the Citizenship Amendment Act to abandon political protest, and instead turn to jihadist violence. It added “Democracy is not going to save you”.
          • “It is assessed that the magazine, which also ridiculed mainstream Muslim leaders for what it considered deceiving the community’s interests, may have influenced a section of society, particularly Muslim youth”, an intelligence official familiar with investigations against Jahanzaib, said.
          • As per media, Sami had also spoken about the role of some other people in connection with the magazine that had attempted to provoke the youth to join ‘jihadi violence’.

        The effort to identify these alleged associates – including one who he has identified as ‘Al Hind’ – is still on.

        On Mon, Delhi violence: Congress fact-finding committee submits report to Sonia Gandhi.

        • Congress President Sonia Gandhi had formed a team to look into violence in northeast Delhi.
        • A fact-finding committee of the Congress on Mon submitted a report on the Delhi violence to party President Sonia Gandhi.
        • The committee included Mukul Wasnik, Tariq Anwar, Sushmita Dev, Shaktisinh Gohil and Kumari Selja.

        The Delhi government has maintained that 53 people were killed and over 200 injured in the communal violence that broke out in northeast areas of the city last month.

        The areas worst affected in the violence included Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chand Bagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura.

        Mukul Wasnik, Congress in PC, we demand that an FIR be registered against Union Minister Anurag Thakur, BJP leaders Kapil Mishra and Parvesh Verma (for their speeches during Delhi polls). We also demand judicial inquiry in supervision of a sitting judge of High Court or Supreme Court.

Investigations So Far

Five more people have been arrested in connection with IB official Ankit Sharma’s murder during Delhi violence last month. They have been identified as Firoz, Javed, Gulfam, Shoyaib, Anas.

One Salman was arrested on Thurs. and is in police custody.

A Delhi court today sent three accused Sumit, Ankit and Prince, to 12-day judicial custody, in connection with violence in north-east district of Delhi.

On Friday:

  • Delhi Court has sent one accused Salman to 4 days police custody. He was apprehended yesterday, in connection with the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma. He was arrested y’day.
  • A Delhi court allows a student to appear for his Class 10th board examination while sending him to judicial custody, in connection with case related to violence in North East area. The court said that everyone has a right to education.
  • Delhi Police Crime Branch: Two more accused, Tanveer and Gulfam, have been arrested, in connection with Delhi Violence. Several mobile phones recovered from them and have been sent for forensic investigation.
  • Delhi court sends Shah Alam (brother of suspended AAP councilor Tahir Hussain who is accused in Intelligence Bureau official Ankit Sharma murder case) and three others to judicial custody for 14 days in this connection.

On Thursday

Delhi Police informed to Press

Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa on Delhi violence:

  • 7 people have been arrested, in connection with the death of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal during clashes over CAA in North East district of Delhi.
  • 2 people arrested in Akbari Begum Murder case; 4 people arrested in connection with bodies of 4 people recovered from a drain in North East Delhi.
  • Right now, the law and order situation in Delhi is completely normal. Senior officers are continuously monitoring the situation.
  • Till now, we have registered 712 FIRs.
  • More than 200 accused have been arrested.
  • We have received a lot of videos that will help us in the investigation.
  • We are doing an analysis of all footage; face recognition technology is being used to identify people.
  • Many people have come forward to record their statements.
  • SIT and Loc police are conducting the probe

Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Delhi Popular Front of India (PFI) President Parvez and Secretary Illiyas, in connection with the alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link. Later, A Delhi Court sent Parvez and Illiyas to 7 days remand in connection with the alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link.

Delhi Police Special Cell: One more accused has been apprehended in connection with the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma.

Lt Governor Anil Baijal orders transfer of six senior DCP-level officers of Delhi Police on Wed’s night.

In the first transfer after S N Shrivastava took over as the Delhi Police commissioner on Feb 29 (during NE Delhi riot):

The 2008-batch IPS officer, Chinmoy Biswal, has been posted as dy commissioner of police. According to order issued by the LG office, 2015-batch IPS officer Manjeet, who is in Delhi on an inter-cadre deputation from Bihar, has been posted as DCP (Metro). DCP (Land & Building) Mohammad Akhtar Rizvi has been posed as additional DCP of North East Delhi. Jitendra Mani, who was the Anti-Riots Cells DCP, has been made the DCP (Land & Building) while DCP (Metro) Vikram Porwal has been given the charge of special officer to the Delhi Police commissioner. Nishant Gupta, who was looking after the work of Additional DCP SWAT, has become the Additional DCP of recruitment cell.

On Tuesday

  • Delhi Police, Crime Branch has apprehended Irshad, Abid and Shahdab. All are residents of Mustafabad. They were with the suspended AAP Councilor Tahir Hussain (accused in Intelligence Bureau Officer Ankit Sharma murder case) on 24th Feb and are said to be very close to him.
  • Delhi violence: ED files money laundering case against suspended AAP councilor Tahir Hussain
  • The case against Hussain has been filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Similar charges have been slapped on the Popular Front of India, which is already facing a separate investigation. The ED is also investigating links between Hussain and the PFI, the Hindustan Times reported.
  • Officials said that the probe agency has taken cognizance of a bunch of FIRs filed by the Delhi Police over alleged money laundering and routing of funds by Hussain and PFI to sponsor the violence in the Capital.
  • Last week, a court in Delhi sent Hussain to seven-day police custody in connection with Sharma’s killing during the violence in North East Delhi that broke out between the supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act and those opposed to it between February 23 and 26. The police had charged him with murder, rioting and arson. Hussain’s brother was also arrested in connection with the clashes.
    • Delhi’s Patiala House Court sends to 4 days of police remand. According to Delhi Police, he is a member of PFI (Popular Front of India).
    • He is claimed to be a regular visitor of Shaheen Bagh protest site. His linked to foreign funding is also been claimed, especially Dubai.
      • “Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Danish, a member of PFI (Popular Front of India), for spreading false propaganda during anti-CAA protests.”
    • Today, Main Opposition party, Congress, also expressed distrust over investigations going on by SIT and demanded that probe should made a sitting Judge of HC or SC.
    • Delhi Police Crime Branch has detained Shah Alam, brother of the suspended AAP Councilor Tahir Hussain (accused in Intelligence Bureau Officer Ankit Sharma murder case).A Delhi Court has remanded
      • Mohammad Shahnawaz to 14 days judicial custody, in connection with the murder case of a man in Gokulpuri, whose body was found in mutilated condition in Brijpuri area on Feb 26th following violence in Delhi.
      • Delhi violence: Police custody of Mohammad Shahnawaz extended on Mar 9th till toady which extended further.
      • According to police, the riot had taken place near Shiv Vihar Tiraha on Feb 24th in which accused Shahnawaz and several other persons pelted stones, ransacked and torched several shops there.
      • The police claimed that accused Shahnawaz entered into a book store and a sweet shop godown at Chaman Park, Shiv Vihar and torched both the places along with other rioters.
      • Two days later, the body of Dilbar was found from the said shop. The eyewitness present at the spot had identified accused Shahnawaz as the main aggressor, who was leading the mob.

      On Monday

    • A Delhi Court sends Riyasat Ali to 3-day police custody and Liaqat to 14-day judicial custody, in connection with Delhi Violence.

Corona lockdown: causalities reached 2 total 84
Nation seems to put hold at least Mar 31st, Corona Virus

More than 4000 people who had come in contact with 84 positive cases are under surveillance: Health Ministry

Today, Ministry of Home Affairs announced “The government has decided to treat COVID19 as a notified disaster for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 4 lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the family of the person who will lose their life due to COVID-19, including those involved in relief operations or associated in response activities.

Health Ministry: Govt has brought 42,296 passengers under community surveillance, out of which 2,559 were symptomatic and 522 hospitalized including 17 foreign nationals.

Just because someone who had the COVID-19 is feeling better does not mean they can’t spread the disease, according to the US’s top infectious disease doctor.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Bagh’s Protestors, amid COVID-19, demanded screening, masks, sanitizers from government. Shaheen Bagh protestors will hold a press conference on Delhi riots and will touch upon the issue of COVID-19.

  • Rubina Ali, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation: Air India would be taking flight to Milan (Italy) to bring back Indians stranded there. The flight would take off tomorrow afternoon and would be landing on Sunday morning at Delhi Airport.
    • Dammu Ravi, MEA: Around 220 students are in and around Milan, Italy, our priority is to bring them back. If any other students are left behind they can contact our missions, and we will see what next we can do.
  • Indo-Bangladesh cross border passenger trains and buses to remain suspended till April 15, or earlier if so decided: officials
  • The movement of people and commodities from Pakistan at the joint check post (JCP) at Attari near Amritsar in Punjab was suspended indefinitely on Friday as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, officials said.
  • Jaishankar, MEA, Second batch of 44 Indian pilgrims has arrived today from Iran. Our efforts to bring back the others continue. Indian Embassy in Iran and our medical team – keep up the good work. Appreciate the support of Iranian authorities and their airlines.
    • An Iran Air flight carrying Indians stranded in COVID-19-hit Iran, landed at the airport here on Friday afternoon, according to an official. Iran is one of the worst-affected countries by the COVID-19 outbreak and the government has been working on plans to bring back Indians stranded there.
    • 44 Indian citizens have been evacuated from Iran and shifted to Indian Navy quarantine facility at Ghatkopar in Mumbai.
  • Indian Army: At the Indian Army’s Manesar quarantine facility, one male individual who had returned from Italy on Mar 11 has been tested positive. He was employed in one of the restaurants in Italy for the last 14 years.
    • All recruitment rallies have been postponed for one month. For Army personnel, travel to be restricted to essential duties only and they have been asked to do maximum utilization of video conference facilities.
  • Air India cancels flights to Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Korea and Sri Lanka till Apr 30: Airline official.
  • JnK, Sher-I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences cancels all leaves of employees, in order to provide uninterrupted medical services.
  • All 112 Wuhan evacuees test Negative for COVID-19
  • Union Cabinet Sources: Joint Secretaries of all five ministries, including Ministry of External Affairs, Health, Civil Aviation, Finance and Commerce will address a press conference every day.
  • The Indian rupee dropped to a record low on Fri, weighed down by worries over the COVID-19 pandemic that has prompted investors to dump riskier assets and move towards safe havens.
    • Principal Economic Advisor Sanjeev Sanyal on stock market situation:It’s because of prevailing environment of fear due to COVID-19.There are some effects on the economy but we have been taking measures since the beginning to contain its spread and minimize the impact
  • Schools and Higher Educational institutes, Malls Cinema Halls or any places where public gathering is possible are closed till further order in almost all states and UTs.
    • Delhi Govt: No person/institution/organization shall issue any information regarding COVID-19 in print or electronic media without the permission of the Ministry of Health, Delhi govt. If any person/ org is found to be doing this, it will be considered a punishable offense.
      • Delhi Lt Governor Issued ‘Delhi Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020’ which aims at containing its spread. It reads, “Action will be taken against any suspect/ confirmed case if they refuse to take measures for prevention/ treatment”.
      • ‘Anti-Corona racket’ busted in West Bengal
        • Police raids a camp where 4 individuals were allegedly found distributing ‘anti-Coronavirus dose’ to locals. Reportedly, they gave this dosage to nearly 600 individuals.
      • India puts restrictions on International Land Borders. All types of passenger movements through all Immigration Land Check Posts located at Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar Borders suspended due to Coronavirus Pandemic except designated posts.

      Amid COVID-19, PM Modi Proposed the SAARC Countries offered to work together against Corona Virus 

      PM Modi: Our planet is battling the #COVID19 Novel COVID-19. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it. South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population should leave no stone unturned to ensure our people are healthy.

      He added, “I would like to propose that the leadership of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight COVID-19. We could discuss, via video conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy.”

      • “This is what we call leadership. As members of this region, we must come together in such times. Smaller economies are hit harder, so we must coordinate. With your leadership, I have no doubt we will see immediate and impactful outcome. Looking forward to the video conference.” Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering Tweeted
      • Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli also welcomed the idea advanced by PM Modi ji for chalking out a strong strategy by the leadership of the SAARC nations to fight COVID-19. My government is ready to work closely with SAARC Member States to protect our citizens from this deadly disease.
      • Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa too said “Thank you for the great initiative PM Modi, Sri Lanka is ready to join the discussion and share our learnings & best practices & to learn from other SAARC members. Let’s unite in solidarity during these trying times and keep our citizens safe.”
      • President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih: Thank you PM Narendra Modi for taking the initiative on this important endeavor. #COVID19 requires collective effort to defeat it. Maldives welcomes this proposal and would fully support such a regional effort.
      • Bangladesh accepts PM Modi’s proposal on joint SAARC strategy on fighting COVID-19. Bangladeshi FM, in response to WIONews’s question said, “This is a good proposal”. Later, PM Sheikh Hasina also welcomed the move of PM.
      • Afghanistan, also welcomed and express its consent to attend the conference.
      Pakistan responded by saying that it will attend the video conference on the Novel Coronavirus or Covid-19.

Government issues orders revoking detention of Farooq Abdullah

Senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition in RS, Ghulam Nabi Azad: It is a matter of great happiness for me. I met him (National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah) after over 7 months. He was detained for all these months, the reason for his detention is not yet known to me.

Azad on Sat said that if JnK has to progress, then all political leaders under detention in Srinagar must be released. Azad, who spoke to media persons in the presence of Farooq Abdullah here, said: “If Jammu and Kashmir has to progress, then all political leaders under detention in Srinagar must be released.”

“The political process must begin in JnK. Elections must be conducted in JnK, following proper procedure,” said Azad.

Srinagar: NC leader Farooq Abdullah today met his son and party leader Omar Abdullah at the place where the latter has been detained in Srinagar, under Public Safety Act (PSA).

J&K’s proximity to Pakistan, links to past events: The J&K administration defended the prolonged detention of Omar Abdullah saying the action was a result of the leader’s “live and proximate link” to past events, said on Mar 2nd in SC.

Yesterday Govt has issued orders to revoke detention of National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, who was detained under Public Safety Act following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, said Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning in the Union Territory.

The 3-term CM of the erstwhile JnK state was under house arrest for months.

Several mainstream leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including Farooq’s son Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti have been also put under house arrest following the abrogation of Article 370 in Aug 5 that granted special powers to the region.

Earlier, the NC chief wrote a letter to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, expressing discontent over being kept under watch and said that he was not a ‘criminal’. He could not attend two sessions of Parliament due to the detention, with several leaders from Opposition parties demanding the MP be allowed to attend the Parliament.

National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah: I’m grateful to people of the State and all leaders and people in the rest of the country who spoke for our freedom. This freedom will be complete when all leaders are released. I hope GoI will take action to release everyone.

NC leader Davinder Rana in Jammu, Imposing Public Safety Act (PSA) on Dr Farooq Abdullah was a wrong decision. I welcome the decision to revoke it. All other political detainees should also be released so that the voice of Jammu and Kashmir can reach everywhere.

Syed Altaf Bukhari, former PDP leader in Srinagar formally announced about his new Party “Apni Party” on Sun and met PM and HM

First ever political development in valley since abrogation of Art 370

A delegation of the newly formed Jammu & Kashmir Apni party led by its President Altaf Bukhari to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today. But no detail so far could be come out.

What all he said: (outline of Party’s Regulation and vision)

  • It puts a lot of responsibility on us as the expectations and challenges are huge.
  • I assure people of Jammu & Kashmir that my will is strong.
  • A family does not float my party and there will be total restriction that no anybody who becomes President of party can be elected more than 2 times. It is by the commoners, for the commoners, of the commoners.
  • Party will seek to preserve the self-respect and dignity of people of the state, dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits, empowerment of youth and women.
  • We are not here to sell dreams and fantasies but will always be pragmatic, honest & fair in our approach. We have resolved to create a political platform where people are real stakeholders of the political process.

Ghulam Hassan Mir, Former Minister,& Chairman Democratic Party Nationalist, Former MLAs of PDP-Dilawar Mir, Noor Mohd Sheikh, Ashraf Mir and Former Congress MLAs- Farooq Andrabi, Irfan Naqib and others to join Syed Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party today.

Yes Bank: Moratorium to Be Lifted 3 Days After Scheme Notified

Yes Bank: Moratorium to Be Lifted 3 Days After Scheme Notified

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said today, that the Yes Bank moratorium will end at 1800 hours on the third working day after notification of the impending reconstruction scheme for the embattled bank.

  • Sitharaman added that a new board, having at least two directors of SBI, will take over within seven days of the issuance of notification.
  • A PMLA court in Mumbai on Wed, 11 Mar, extended till 16 Mar the ED custody of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor. The hearing was being held at the end of Kapoor’s three-day ED custody. Kapoor had been arrested by ED on Saturday night.
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday that the moratorium on Yes Bank is in place for next 30 days only.

Finance Minister on Yes Bank reconstruction plan:

SBI to invest up to 49% of equity. Other investors also being invited. There will be 3 years lock-in period for SBI for up to 26% of their investment. For others, there will be a lock-in period of 3 yrs of 75% of their investment. She added Authorized capital has been raised from Rs 1100 crores to Rs 6200 crores of Yes Bank to accommodate immediate and subsequent raising of capital requirements.

  • RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that there would be swift action from the RBI to put in place a scheme to revive the bank
    • FM Sitharaman has blamed the UPA, hinting bad loans allotted in the UPA regime put pressure on corporates.
    • CBI has named in the FIR five companies, seven individuals, including Kapoor, his wife and three daughters, and unidentified people, as per PTI
    Union Cabinet Sources: Union Cabinet approves 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and pensioners.

Roshni Act: Petitioner says HC order proves bid to alter J&K Demography

  • A day after the JnK HC expressed shock over how encroachers had become owners of large tracts of public land under the erstwhile Roshni Act, the advocate who filed a petition against the law said the court’s observation substantiated his claim that it was aimed at bringing about a demographic change in Hindu-majority Jammu by triggering a “land jihad.”
  • The court’s observation came after the J&K government filed a status report on the beneficiaries of the Roshni Act, which was scrapped in Nov 2018 by then governor Satya Pal Malik, whose administration found the law to be an attempt to change the demographics of the entire region.
  • “It is a big development. The Court observation has proved that there was a demographic change.
  • 30,000 cases of land transfer were reported in the state government order, out of which over 25,000 cases were from Jammu and only 4,500 from Kashmir,” lawyer Ankur Sharma said.
  • Aimed at conferring 20.55 lakh kanals of state land to its occupants, the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, popularly known as Roshni Act, was implemented in 2001 by Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then CM of the erstwhile state, which was divided into two Union territories, JnK and Ladakh on Oct 31, 2019.
    • The Act, the then government claimed, was aimed at generating resources for power projects and to confer proprietary rights to occupants of state land subject to payment of the land cost fixed by the government. Governor Malik’s administration scrapped the law citing its failure “to realize the desired objectives and there were also reports of misuse of some its provisions.’
    • “It was a big physical assault on Jammu,” advocate Sharma said. “Our allegation that state land was given to Muslims to change the demographic of Jammu has been substantiated by the records produced before the high court”.
  • Advocate Sharma said that 1 million to 1.5 million kanals of forest land was given to the encroachers under the Act in Jammu and that 85-90% of the beneficiaries were likely to be Muslims, who were given proprietary rights under the Act.
  • “They are politicians, bureaucrats and other influential people. Their names will be shared later,” he added.
  • He said the division bench of the high court (comprising CJ Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Rabstan) had said the case is likely to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), most likely on the next date of hearing, today.
  • The division bench on Thursday directed the J&K government to file an affidavit affirming the authenticity of the list of beneficiaries of Roshni Act and also confirm that it was complete in all respects. The bench gave the government one week time to file the affidavit.
  • During the course of hearing, advocate Sharma submitted, “The list of persons who have been benefitted by the Roshni scheme includes the names of several public figures and government officials.”

He called for a CBI inquiry into the matter, citing a Comptroller and Auditor General of India finding that implementation of the Roshni Scheme resulted in a loss of over Rs 25,000 crores to the exchequer.

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