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“We do not have anything against any religion”, Muslim youth holding hands to protect a temple amid Bengaluru violence

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“We do not have anything against any religion”, Muslim youth holding hands to protect a temple amid Bengaluru violence

Amidst the disappointing news from unrest Bengaluru, a viral video showing Muslim youth forming a human chain to guard a temple during the violence poses hope of brotherhood in the city.

The video shows young men holding hands and ensuring that rioters didn’t attack the temple located in Pulakeshinagar. In the video, one can hear people appealing to the protesters and saying — “For God’s sake… Please stay away from here.”

Two areas, D.J. Halli and K.G. Halli, in the Pulakeshinagar limits of Bengaluru saw widespread violence as an angry mob went on a rampage to protest against a Facebook post, allegedly put up by P. Naveen, kin of Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy of the Congress.

Three people were killed and as many grievously injured after the Bengaluru Police opened fire to control the rioting mob.

“We have formed this chain to show how we are here for all, but again we do not accept those who are trying to force RSS ideologies on people,” said one of the men who formed the human chain.

“We all live as brothers and sisters. We do not have anything against any religion. We are not fighting against any individual or any caste or community. We are only seeking justice as the nephew of MLA Srinivas Murthy has insulted our Nabi (Prophet Mohammed). We can not tolerate that.

“This has happened several times earlier. We respect this temple, we respect Hindus. But we are fighting against those who have extremist views against us,” he added.

A local vendor, Yasir, whose family has been running a grocery store for three generations in the D.J. Halli area, said: “It (the post) hurt our sentiments, but we condemn those who resorted to burning vehicles and attacking others.”

Meanwhile, police said Naveen has been arrested. This apart, 160 people have been arrested for indulging in arson. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted that the rioters should not be equated with an entire community. “Those who incited and perpetrated the #bangaloreriots must be found, arrested & given exemplary punishment. But they are not to be equated with an entire community any more than thugs & vigilantes represent all Hindus. This also happened in Bangalore.”

Karnataka Govt. orders magisterial level probe into the Bengaluru unrest

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Karnataka Govt. orders magisterial level probe into the Bengaluru unrest

The Karnataka government on Wednesday ordered a magisterial enquiry into the violent clashes that broke out in the eastern part of Bengaluru late Tuesday night, over a derogatory social media post uploaded by a Congress legislator’s relative. At least three people and over 50 police personnel were injured. The incident took place between DJ Halli and KG Halli areas after a mob started pelting stones and torching vehicles.

After a high-level meeting with CM Yediyurappa, state Home Minister Bommai said: “Losses caused for damaged property during the incident will be recovered from perpetrators identified by the police.”

Confirming the deaths, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Kamal Pant told media, “We have learned that three people have died during the incident. However, we are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind these deaths.”

Mob attacks ‘The Caravan’ journalists in North East Delhi’s Bhajanpura

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Mob attacks ‘The Caravan’ journalists in North East Delhi’s Bhajanpura

Three journalists from ‘The Caravan’ magazine were attacked by a mob in Northeast Delhi on Tuesday, 11 August, while reporting on a story related to the pogroms that broke out in North East Delhi in February.

Journalists Shahid Tantray, Prabhjit Singh and another female journalist, who wished to remain anonymous, were in Northeast Delhi’s Bhajanpura, one of the worst-hit areas during the communal riots, to report a story related to the violence when they were allegedly surrounded by a mob and physically assaulted. The Caravan has been exposing many stories of communal violence and confessions of rioters in North East Delhi riots.

Tantray later told media: “We had gone to the area to report on a story related to the Delhi riots. We were taking some photographs of the area when a saffron-clad man approached us and asked us to stop clicking photos and hand over the memory card.”

“He kept forcing us but when we refused to hand over our cameras, he made some calls and soon a huge mob surrounded us and started accosting us. The mob even physically assaulted me and my colleague,” added Tantray.

Lebanese PM Hassan Diab resigns; Says ‘the system of corruption is bigger than the state’

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Lebanese PM Hassan Diab resigns; Says ‘the system of corruption is bigger than the state’

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab has announced his resignation almost a week after the massive explosion that devastated the capital, Beirut, killing some 200 people and wounding 6,000 others. Lebanese President Michel Aoun has accepted the resignation of the prime minister’s government, following last week’s devastating explosion in Beirut port and asked it to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed, a televised announcement said. Diab is reported to have said that “the system of corruption is bigger than the state.”

Protests strengthen

Enraged over a massive blast in Beirut last week, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital on Saturday to call for accountability and the downfall of the country’s ruling class.

A large number of protesters threw stones and other projectiles. They faced tear gas, rubber bullets, and birdshot fired from shotguns.

UN warns Beirut will run out bread in two weeks

The head of the UN food agency said he’s “very, very concerned” Lebanon could run out of bread in about 2 and a half weeks because 85 percent of the country’s grain comes through Beirut’s devastated port – but he believes an area of the port can be made operational this month.

David Beasley, who is in Beirut assessing damage and recovery prospects, told a virtual UN briefing on the humanitarian situation following last week’s explosion in the Lebanese capital that “at the devastated site, we found a footprint that we can operate on a temporary basis.”

International pressure for stability in governance

France has called for the “rapid formation” of a new government in Lebanon shortly after premier Hassan Diab stepped down over the deadly Beirut port blast.     

“The aspirations expressed by the Lebanese in terms of reforms and governance must be heard,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.

“The priority must be the rapid formation of a government that can live up to the expectations of the people, whose mission will be to meet the main challenges of the country, especially the reconstruction of Beirut and reforms without which the country will plunge into economic, social and political chaos,” he said.

Sachin’s meets with Rahul and Priyanka hints end of the ‘revolt’

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Sachin’s meets with Rahul and Priyanka hints end of the ‘revolt’

Sachin Pilot met with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today for the first time since he launched his revolt a month ago, calling a truce to end the Rajasthan Congress government’s survival crisis. A panel to hear Sachin Pilot’s grievances was among the terms for his “homecoming”, discussed in the meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s home, after which the Congress put out a statement confirming the breakthrough.

The panel, featuring Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal, got to work almost immediately, meeting rebel MLAs.

Sachin Pilot “expressed his grievances in detail” to the Gandhis and they had a “frank, open and conclusive discussion,” said Mr Venugopal in a statement.

“Sachin Pilot has committed to working in the interest of the Congress party and the Congress government in Rajasthan,” he said.

The rapprochement came to pass just four days before a special session of the Rajasthan assembly, where Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was expected to push for a trust vote to prove his majority and outmanoeuvre Mr Pilot, whom he had accused of collaborating with the BJP to topple his government.

“I had maintained from Day One that I would never join the BJP. I stand vindicated today,” Mr Pilot told NDTV.

It is unclear whether Mr Pilot, who was sacked from his two posts in Rajasthan – Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief – will be reinstated as part of the “ghar-wapsi” formula. Congress sources indicated he may be “adjusted outside Rajasthan”.

Removing Mr Gehlot as Chief Minister, which Mr Pilot has demanded all along, is also “out of the question”, leaders said.

The talks with the Gandhis, which lasted for about two-three hours, were described as “a meeting of minds” by Team Pilot.

Mr Pilot has reportedly been in touch with the Congress leadership over the past few days. Last night, he reportedly told a senior leader he was ready to meet with the Gandhis, who, singed by the Jyotiraditya Scindia exit, had been proactively chasing a resolution.

When Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress in March, taking down the Madhya Pradesh government, he had revealed that he had been denied a meeting with Rahul Gandhi for nearly a year.

Sources say to enable the turnaround, Priyanka Gandhi met with Sachin Pilot two weeks back on neutral grounds in Delhi, after which talks were held at various levels.

Priyanka Gandhi’s previous attempts at mollifying Mr Pilot had not delivered results; last month, the rebel allegedly refused to even consider her offer of a meeting unless Ashok Gehlot was removed.

In its truce attempts, the Congress leadership in Delhi may face a push-back from Rajasthan, where Congress MLAs hit out at Team Pilot’s “betrayal” in a meeting last night. A Congress Legislature Party meeting was held at a hotel in Jaisalmer where Mr Gehlot is guarding his flock after the Governor agreed to an assembly session from August 14. The 19 rebels should not be allowed any homecoming, the Congress MLAs reportedly said.

Mr Gehlot has been firmly against any outreach to the rebels, mainly Mr Pilot. But sources say the party’s top leadership spoke to him this morning.

The Chief Minister has launched multiple and sharp attacks on his 42-year-old sacked deputy, accusing him of bribing MLAs to switch to the BJP and even labelling him “nikamma” (useless).

Since the Congress won Rajasthan in 2018, its top two in the state never got along but their relationship hit rock-bottom when Mr Pilot was summoned by the Special Operations Group, which reports to Mr Gehlot, to answer questions on the alleged bribing of MLAs.

NFIW report says at least 45 students were sexually assaulted by police in Jamia

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NFIW report says at least 45 students were sexually assaulted by police in Jamia

At least 45 students were sexually assaulted by policemen in the attack on Jamia Millia Islamia University on February 10, stated a fact-finding report by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW). The students and residents were brutally attacked by the police, even as they were protesting peacefully against the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register.

The report points that about 15 women and 30 men were assaulted in their private parts. “Women were molested by male policemen, who attempted to tear their clothes, punched their breasts or stomped on them with their boots, as well as tried to insert their batons into their vaginas. At least 15 women were stomped on in their private parts, and they suffered injuries in their vaginas,” states the report.

The pain, pus and blood rendered them bedridden for weeks after the assault. Women as young as 16 and as old as 60 were sexually assaulted. A woman who had previously been operated for a caesarean delivery kept pleading for the beatings to stop, but the assault continued till the cop was pulled back.

The sexual assault on men was equally severe. The attack on their groins and rectum resulted in severe injuries.

The report states that they could not access the MLCs, hence they have relied on the information given to them by the survivors of the assault.

The testimonies of students and teachers of the University have highlighted the role of both the police as well as those in plain or fake uniforms in the targeted attack. The students and teachers of Jamia have underscored the use of chemical gas on peaceful protestors and targeted sexual violence on women in the report.

“As was seen in previous campus attacks in JNU and Jamia itself, there were police personnel without name plates and badges. Also, some of the attackers wore jeans, non-police helmets and vests over their civilian clothes. The vehemence and sense of vindictiveness of the attackers was extra-ordinary,” said Aruna Roy, NFIW President.

Eyewitnesses told NFIW that at about 6:30 pm on Feb 10, a misty substance was sprayed into the air. While no one complained of tears or irritation to the eyes, the protestors experienced immediate immobility, drowsiness and severe headaches. They also experienced choking and muscle pain. Most were unable to stand for hours after being sprayed on.

“During our investigations we also discovered that the complaints of choking, vomiting and limited mobility continued for over a week after the attack. Patients were checking in with symptoms of palpitations, muscle atrophy and spasms at different medical centres and hospitals in the vicinity,” said Annie Raja, NFIW General Secretary.

The attack varied according to gender. Men were hit on their knees and when they fell on the ground, they were sprayed on with a mild liquid that rendered them immobile. They were also attacked on their genitals. Many were unable to speak, and the choking and headaches also rendered them unconscious.

The attack on women was different. They were sprayed on first, and as they collapsed, they were beaten, stated the report. The attacks were made using blunt objects, so there were no sharp injuries.

When teachers, activists and students asked about the police about this toxic gas, the police declined to give any clear answer. The police categorically denied using any chemical gas or torture techniques on the students. They claimed it to be mosquito fumigation spray that had drifted to the barricades from Holy Family Hospital, stated the report. However, the hospital authorities informed the students and teachers that no such fumigation activity was carried out by the hospital.

In the report, NFIW stressed that no FIR was filed regarding the injuries suffered by the unarmed protestors. NFIW has demanded that the Home Ministry put out a white paper on the events of February 10 and the government institute a special judicial enquiry to investigate the heinous nature of the crimes perpetrated by the men in uniform. The women’s body has demanded compensation for those injured in the attack.

(Inputs from NH)

“I have experienced similar taunts” Chidambaram on Kanimozhi’s ‘Hindi imposition’ issue

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“I have experienced similar taunts” Chidambaram on Kanimozhi’s ‘Hindi imposition’ issue

Hours after DMK leader Kanimozhi asked on Twitter if “being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi” as an experience that she shared along with the tweet triggered a huge row, Congress leader P Chidambaram this morning said: “The unpleasant experience of DMK MP Kanimozhi at Chennai airport is not unusual.”

“I have experienced similar taunts from government officers and ordinary citizens who insisted that I speak in Hindi during telephone conversations and sometimes face to face,” Mr Chidambarad shared. 

On Sunday, Kanimozhi, daughter of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and veteran leader Karunanidhi, said she was asked at the Chennai airport by an officer of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) “if ‘I am an Indian’ when I asked her to speak to me in tamil or English as I did not know Hindi.”

“I would like to know from when being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi,” the 53-year-old MP from Thoothukudi further wrote.

In a series of tweets, P Chidambaram today suggested that the government “must insist” that its employees are “bilingual in Hindi and English”.

“If the Central government is genuinely committed to both Hindi and English being the official languages of India, it must insist that all central government employees are bilingual in Hindi and English,” the 74-year-old former Union Minister wrote.

“Non-Hindi speaking recruits to central government posts quickly learn functional, spoken Hindi. Why cannot Hindi speaking recruits to central government posts learn functional, spoken English?” he posted in another tweet.

Kanimozhi’s tweet on Sunday afternoon sparked a fresh debate over politics over regional languages, days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami vowed not to implement the centre’s new education policy as he called the three-language formula in the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is “painful and saddening”. The ruling party in Tamil Nadu- AIADMK – is an ally of the BJP.

Congress MP and P Chidambaram’s son, Karti Chidambaram reacting to the DMK MP’s post said the “lingustic test” was “outright ridiculous”.

Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy today made critical remarks against politics over regional languages and said he too has been at receiving end. 

BJP leader BL Santosh, however, took a shot at the DMK over the tweet and linked it to the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu. “Assembly elections are 8 months away … Campaign starts,” he tweeted.

Hours after Ms Kanimozhi’s tweet, however, the CISF responded: “The CISF has ordered an Enquiry into the matter. It is not the policy of CISF to insist upon any particular language.”

Kanimozhi MP says “Asked if I was Indian for not knowing Hindi at airport”

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Kanimozhi MP says “Asked if I was Indian for not knowing Hindi at airport”

The smoldering politics over language, fanned by the debate over the new education policy, found a new flashpoint on Sunday when DMK MP Kanimozhi shared a recent unpleasant experience at the airport. The Tuticorin MP said a security officer at the airport asked her if she was “an Indian” because she said she didn’t know Hindi and asked the officer to speak in Tamil or English.

She ended her tweet asking, “I would like to know from when being Indian is equal to knowing Hindi.” A hashtag of “Hindi imposition” followed.

And CISF did respond soon after.

They asked for Ms Kanimozhi’s journey details – name of airport, location, date, and time of the incident to take action against this. They also apologised.

Language politics has always been a sensitive and emotive issue in Tamil Nadu where the new education policy has been stirring up a controversy. Calling it imposition of Hindi, the Tamil Nadu government has rejected centre’s proposed implementation of a three-language formula in schools – two of which should be native.

In the 1960s, there was a massive anti-Hindi agitation in the state when the then Congress government attempted to make Hindi the official language. This had catapulted the DMK to power in Tamil Nadu. The present day is no different.

The MK Stalin-led DMK and many opposition parties in Tamil Nadu has opposed the new education policy and want a review of the sweeping reforms it has proposed.

Ms Kanimozhi too has always been strictly against imposition of Hindi or Sanskrit in her state where the two languages taught at school are Tamil and English. Hindi however is taught as an optional subject in some schools.

Remembering Phoolan Devi: A Bahujan revolutionary of relentless fights for dignity

Shadhiya Rahman
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Remembering Phoolan Devi: A Bahujan revolutionary of relentless fights for dignity

“Before I was married, I thought the sound of bangles jangling on my forearms would be delightful. I looked forward to being able to wear bells around my ankles and silver necklaces around my neck, but not any more, not since I had learned what they represented for the man who gave them. A necklace was no prettier than a piece of rope that ties a goat to a tree, depriving it of freedom.”
– Phoolan Devi 

Phoolan Devi, known as the Bandit Queen, the Bahujan revolutionary and Former member of Parliament was popular for her bravery. She became legendary for the ruthless revenge on her abusers and her fight for the oppressed castes in her village. Today, August 10th Marks the 57th birth anniversary of Phoolan Devi, literally flower goddess.

Phoolan Devi was married at the age of eleven to a ruthless man in exchange for a cow. She escaped after several years of the marriage and joined a gang of bandits. At 18, she was gang-raped by the Thakur men in Behmai for two weeks and left barren. Later she retaliated by killing 22 Thakur men. This provoked the entire country.  She was charged with many cases and a massive police manhunt started but she couldn’t be located or captured.

In 1983, two years after the massacre, Phoolan Devi chose to surrender and she remained in prison 11 years. 

In 1995, one year after her release, Phoolan stood for election to the 11th Lok Sabha from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. She contested the election as a member of the Samajwadi Party and won the election and served as an MP during the term of the 11th Lok Sabha.

In 2001, when she was only 37 year old, Phoolan Devi, the Bandit Queen was assassinated in revenge for the Thakur-Men she killed in Behmai Massacre. But Phoolan Devi inspires people as a firebrand who chose to fight against all odds. 

“Sing of my deeds
Tell of my combats
How I fought the treacherous demons
Forgive my failings
And bestow on me peace”  

Remembering Phoolan Devi, on her 57th birth anniversary. 

Rahul Gandhi continues attack on Modi Govt on EIA 2020 Draft, saying ‘Rules for suit-boot friends, loot nation’

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Rahul Gandhi continues attack on Modi Govt on EIA 2020 Draft, saying ‘Rules for suit-boot friends, loot nation’

In a tweet replete with jibes at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for withdrawal of the new Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 draft to stop “LootOfTheNation”. A day earlier he had said the draft provisions are “dangerous” and if notified, the long term consequences will be “catastrophic”.

The draft EIA notification, which involves procedure of issuing environmental clearances to various projects, was issued by the Environment Ministry in March this year and public suggestions were invited.

Using PM Modi’s catchphrase “Mitron”, Mr Gandhi’s Hindi tweet said the draft was yet another example of the lengths to which the BJP government would go for its “suit-boot” friends – a reference often employed by the Congress to criticise BJP-led Central government decisions seen as anti-poor and meant to safeguard interests of industrialists.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged people to protest the EIA 2020 draft.

In a Facebook post using the hashtag “WithdrawEIA2020”, Mr Gandhi said the idea that Environment Impact Assessment can be given post facto could “unleash widespread environmental destruction and mayhem across India”.

“That is, EIA can be done, after a project has already destroyed the environment,” the former Congress chief said.

“Consider this: according to our “Swachh Bharat” (Clean India) propagating government, if labelled strategic, highly polluting industries such as coal mining and other mineral mining will no longer require Environmental Impact Assessment,” Mr Gandhi said referring to the government auction of 40 coal blocks to make the country “self-reliant” in the face of economic slowdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This will result in the massive hacking down of trees, leading to the destruction of habitats of thousands of endangered species… I urge every Indian to rise up and protest against it. A fight to protect our environment cuts across political and ideological beliefs. If nothing else, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how fragile human life is,” he said.

Mr Gandhi’s criticism of the draft EIA notification came days after Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said it does not relax the process of public hearing, but aims to make it more meaningful.

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