Amulya Patnaik & Team Were Mute Spectators to Bloody Violence

Former Top Cops React to Delhi Riots: Amulya Patnaik & Team Were Mute Spectators to Bloody Violence

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik speaks during his farewell ceremonial parade at Kingsway Camp in New Delhi, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Image: PTI)

Regarding the alleged delayed response time of the police in reaching the scenes of riots, former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh said, "Delhi Police acted like a rainbow. It appeared after the storm (riots) passed away."
IANS
LAST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 29, 2020, 10:29 PM IST
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New Delhi: India's celebrated top cops endorse the common view that Delhi Police were mute spectators to the violence which led to bloody communal riots in the national capital during US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India earlier this week.

Former Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma said, "Had I been the Commissioner, at any cost I would not have allowed the rioters to take the law into their hands, no matter if I was transferred or terminated by the government."

On Delhi Police' utter failure to control the riots, former Border Security Force (BSF) DGP Prakash Singh said, "The disgrace brought to the uniform by (Delhi Police Commissioner) Amulya Patnaik is unpardonable. I really feel pity for him."

Regarding the alleged delayed response time of the police in reaching the scenes of riots, former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh said, "Delhi Police acted like a rainbow. It appeared after the storm (riots) passed away."

On Amulya Patnaik's leadership role which is under heavy criticism, Vikram Singh quipped, "When Napoleon marched along with his force, he always marched ahead of the infantry. Here Patnaik and his key officials were missing (from the spot)."

On failing to take tough action against the rioters in the first 48 hours after the riots broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told IANS, "Seeing all sorts of weapons used in the violence, it appears to me that these riots were pre-planned. However, the police, despite having a robust security apparatus, was not at all prepared to take on the rioters. Yeh police ki nalayki hai."

When celebrated IPS officer B.S. Bedi (87), the former police chief of Jammu and Kashmir, was asked how a demonstration over CAA turned into ugly riots in the national capital, the octogenarian cop said, "A stitch in time saves nine. Had the police sorted out the Jafrabad controversy in time (relating to protest), the situation would not have slipped out of Patnaik's control. It looks as if the police could not assess the scale of violence, and its intelligence seems to have failed."

On asked about political pressure and interference in police work, Bedi said that it is a misnomer. "In any given law and order situation, the boss is the Commissioner, not the Minister. Political bosses never interfere in such grim situations," he said.

While speaking with former Delhi Police Commissioner T.R. Kakkar, IANS posed a question to him, "If you were the Commissioner, what action would you have taken in the given situation?"

"I would have taken the toughest action in the initial hours of the violence. Minimum use of force and inadequate deployment of jawans led to total chaos. The image of the police has taken a beating in the eyes of the world, as all bad things happened in the capital when the US President was on a state visit. The weapons and petrol bombs recovered from certain premises reveal that the violence was planned. The Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor reacted late."

When asked was the prolonged protest at Shaheen Bagh for weeks one of the reasons behind the simmering communal tension in the national capital, Ajai Raj Sharma said, "Had I been in place of the present Commissioner (Amulya Patnaik), I would have shifted the protesters to the adjoining park. The loose rope given to the protesters by the cops to block a busy road for such a long period was a wrong decision."

Prakash Singh and Vikram Singh also agreed that the police did not take the road blockade in Shaheen Bagh seriously, which subsequently became an Achilles heel for the administration.

UNHRC chief files intervention application on CAA in Supreme

UNHRC chief files intervention application on CAA in Supreme Court; MEA says ‘no foreign party has locus standi’ on contentious law
India Press Trust of India Mar 03, 2020 15:02:36 IST
   
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has filed an intervention in the Supreme Court on CAA
The MEA asserted that the CAA is an internal matter of India and concerns the sovereign right of the Indian Parliament to make laws
India is clear that the CAA is constitutionally valid and complies with all requirements of its constitutional values, the MEA said
New Delhi: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has filed an intervention in the Supreme Court on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and informed India's Permanent Mission in Geneva about it, the Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday.

 UNHRC chief files intervention application on CAA in Supreme Court; MEA says ‘no foreign party has locus standi’ on contentious law
Representational image. PTI
The MEA asserted that the CAA is an internal matter of India and concerns the sovereign right of the Indian Parliament to make laws.

"Our Permanent Mission in Geneva was informed yesterday evening by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (Michelle Bachelet) that her office had filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court of India in respect to the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "We strongly believe that no foreign party has any locus standi on issues pertaining to India's sovereignty," he said.

India is clear that the CAA is constitutionally valid and complies with all requirements of its constitutional values, Kumar said. "It is reflective of our long standing national commitment in respect of human rights issues arising from the tragedy of the Partition of India," he said.

"India is a democratic country governed by the rule of law. We all have utmost respect for and full trust in our independent judiciary. We are confident that our sound and legally sustainable position will be vindicated by the Supreme Court," he said.


UN human rights body moves Supreme Court over CAA, India hits back saying citizenship law internal matter
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has filed an intervention in the Supreme Court on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and informed India's Permanent Mission in Geneva about it, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
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Geeta Mohan 
New Delhi
March 3, 2020UPDATED: March 3, 2020 14:39 IST
UNHRC, CAA, supreme court
The UNHRC has moved an intervention application in the Supreme Court over the CAA. This means that the global human rights body wants to be made a party in the existing pleas filed against the CAA in the SC. (Photo: PTI)
As India continues to boil over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHRC) has moved the Indian Supreme Court over the legislation.

The UNHRC has moved an intervention application in the Supreme Court over the CAA. This means that the global human rights body wants to be made a party in the existing pleas filed against the CAA in the SC.

Reacting to the move, India maintained that the CAA is an "internal matter". The MEA asserted that the CAA is an internal matter of India and concerns the sovereign right of the Indian Parliament to make laws.

Releasing a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "MEA: Our Permanent Mission in Geneva was informed yesterday evening by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that her Office had filed an Intervention Application in the Supreme Court of India with respect to the Citizenship Amendment Act."

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We strongly believe that no foreign party has any locus standi on issues pertaining to India's sovereignty,".

India is clear that the CAA is constitutionally valid and complies with all requirements of its constitutional values, Kumar said.

"It is reflective of our long-standing national commitment in respect of human rights issues arising from the tragedy of the Partition of India," he said.

"India is a democratic country governed by the rule of law. We all have the utmost respect for and full trust in our independent judiciary. We are confident that our sound and legally sustainable position will be vindicated by the Supreme Court," he said.

Delhi shooter Shahrukh who pointed gun at cop in Jaffrabad arrested from Shamli

Delhi shooter Shahrukh who pointed gun at cop in Jaffrabad arrested from Shamli
Shahrukh had been absconding ever since the incident last week in which he threatened a police officer with a gun and even fired 8 rounds as rival groups pelted stones each other on the road. 
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India Today Web Desk
New Delhi
March 3, 2020UPDATED: March 3, 2020 13:24 IST
Delhi violence
Shahrukh who pointed a gun at police and also fired 8 rounds.
Mohammed Shahrukh, whose videos and images of waving a gun at Delhi Police personnel in the Jaffrabad-Maujpur area last Monday when violent clashes broke out, has been arrested.

Shahrukh had been absconding ever since the incident last week in which he threatened a police officer with a gun and even fired 8 rounds as rival groups pelted stones each other on the road.

Now, after a week, Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested Shahrukh from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier it was reported that Delhi Police had managed to arrest Shahrukh within days after he was caught on camera waving a gun at the Delhi Police officer. However, then the police said he was absconding.

Now the police have confirmed that Shahrukh has finally been arrested from Shamli.

Violence ravaged northeast Delhi for 3 days since February 23 and continued till February 25 night. Sporadic incidents were reported even a day later. Over 46 people have been killed while over 200 people have been injured in the violence.

Delhi Police constable Ratan Lal, IB official Ankit Sharma were also among the dead.

Who is Amulya Leona, the girl arrested in Karnataka for ‘pro-Pakistan’ slogans?

Explained: Who is Amulya Leona, the girl arrested in Karnataka for ‘pro-Pakistan’ slogans?
Amulya Leona used various social media platforms, including the dating app Tinder, to mobilise support for the anti-CAA protests in the state. She now faces sedition charges and mobs have targeted her home.



Written by Darshan Devaiah BP , Edited by Explained Desk | Bengaluru | Updated: February 23, 2020 2:28:14 pm
amulya leona, amulya pro pakistan slogan, who is amulya leona, Amulya leona jail, Owaisi event, indian express

Bengaluru Police personnel attempt to stop Amulya Leona as she was speaking during a protest against CAA, NRC and NPR, in Bengaluru. (PTI)
“I think she (Amulya Leona) wanted to talk about what she had written on Facebook, but unfortunately she started with ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, which she shouldn’t have done… ” said a friend of Amulya, the 19-year-old who raised “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans at a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Known as a firebrand student activist among her friends, Amulya participated in almost all the anti-CAA protests organised in Karnataka. A friend, who did not want to be named, told IndianExpress.com that Amulya is currently pursuing a journalism course in a prominent college in South Bengaluru.

“Originally from Koppa in Chikkamagaluru district, she was living with a group of friends in Bengaluru. Her parents in Chikkamagaluru are not supportive of her activism and anti-CAA stance,” her friend added.


Amulya, her fellow activists say, was one who missed no chance in spreading word about the Citizenship Act. She used various social media platforms, including the dating app—Tinder, to mobilise support for protests in the state.

On February 16, Amulya wrote a Facebook post in Kannada which her friends said was the actual speech she wanted to deliver at the protest rally on Thursday.

(Below is the speech in English)

Hindustan Zindabad

Pakistan Zindabad

Bangladesh Zindabaad

Srilanka Zindabad

Nepal Zindabaad

Afghanistan Zindabad

China zindabad

Bhutan zindabad

Whichever country it is – zindabad to all countries.

You teach the children that nation is it’s soil. We children are telling you – nation means it is its people. All people should get their basic facilities. All of them should be able to avail their fundamental rights. Governments should take care of the people of these countries. Zindabad to everyone who serve the people.

I don’t become a part of a different nation just because I say zindabad to that nation. As per law, I am an Indian citizen. It is my duty to respect my nation and work for the people of the country. I will do that. Let us see what these RSS guys will do.

The Sanghis will get annoyed by this. Start your series of comments. What I have to say I will say.

Amulya did her schooling in Manipal, Udupi and Koppa and completed her graduation from NMKRV College for Women, Jayanagara.

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Another activist, who was present at the protest on Thursday, said, “I think if she started with what she wrote on facebook then it wouldn’t have been a controversy. After she raised the slogan a few times, the organisers snatched the microphone from her. After that, without the microphone, she tried to say what she meant and also said ‘Hindustan Zindabad’, but police officials took her off the stage and arrested her.”

In the video footage, she is heard saying “please wait, let me continue,” to the others on the stage, but she is held back by a policeman. She somehow breaks free and tries to address the gathering without the microphone. “The difference between Pakistan zindabad and Hindustan zindabad is that Pakistan zindabad…,” she tries to continue before being cut off by the organisers and the police.

Amulya is not new to controversy. She was among a group of women who heckled Postcard News founder Mahesh Vikram Hegde at Mangaluru airport earlier this year. Amulya along with Karnataka Congress spokesperson Kavitha Reddy and student activist Najma Nazeer confronted Hegde and asked him to sing Vande Mataram.

On Friday, Amulya was charged with sedition, and sent in 14-day judicial custody. She was denied bail by a judicial magistrate.

B Ramesh, DCP Bengaluru (West) said, “We have registered a suo moto case against Amulya under Section 124A (sedition), 153A and B (promoting enmity between different groups and imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration).”

Read | Woman who chanted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ had links with Naxals: Yediyurappa

On Thursday night, miscreants vandalised her house in Koppa. Her father Oswald Noronha filed  a police complaint. Later that night, unidentified men were seen in a video demanding that Noronha chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai‘. He is heard saying: “Every single word my daughter said was wrong. I have tried to make her understand several times, however, she doesn’t pay heed to it. I have not spoken to my daughter for the past five days.” When asked if he will seek bail, Noronha says, “I will not approach lawyers for her bail.”

In Mysuru, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa claimed Amulya had links with Naxalites. “Amulya’s links with Naxalites have been proved in an investigation. She must be punished and action will be taken against the organisations behind it.”

Karnataka BJP leaders rally behind MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for calling freedom fighter HS Doreswamy a 'Pakistani agent'

Karnataka BJP leaders rally behind MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for calling freedom fighter HS Doreswamy a 'Pakistani agent'
India Press Trust of India Feb 29, 2020 19:39:58 IST
 
Karnataka BJP leaders have extended support to Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, days after he called centenarian freedom fighter HS Doreswamy a 'fake freedom fighter' who behaves like a 'Pakistani agent'
Yatnal made the comments at a press conference on 25 February while reacting to a query on a public meeting organised by the Congress titled 'Save the Constitution'
On Friday, another BJP Minister KS Eshwarappa slammed Doreswamy alleging that he had visited Amulya Leona's residence and was in good relationship with her family
Amulya had raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans at an anti-CAA event here on 21 February, taking everybody present by shock and dismay
Bengaluru: The BJP leaders in Karnataka rallied behind Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal amid a controversy over his remarks that centenarian freedom fighter HS Doreswamy was a "Pakistani agent".

The saffron party leaders have extended support to Yatnal, days after he called Doreswamy a "fake freedom fighter" who behaves like a "Pakistani agent".

Yatnal made the comments at a press conference on 25 February while reacting to a query on a public meeting organised by the Congress titled 'Save the Constitution'.

 Karnataka BJP leaders rally behind MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for calling freedom fighter HS Doreswamy a Pakistani agentFile Image of BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal. ANI
"There are many fake freedom fighters. There is one in Bengaluru. Now we have to say what Doreswamy is. Where is that old man? He behaves like a Pakistan agent," Patil had said.

"Doreswamy is an elderly person and senior to all. He had participated in various agitations. He should also see what to talk and who will be hurt with those statements.

We have all seen what he said about Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters in Kodagu on Saturday reacting to Yatnal's outburst against Doreswamy.

Noting that the statements were made in bitter taste, Kumar said, "If you speak unpleasant, you will hear unpleasant."

Bellary City MLA G Somashekara Reddy too backed Yatnal saying that the his statement was appropriate.

"There is nothing wrong in his statement. It is absolutey correct. I support him. It is not just okay to be a freedom fighter but he should be a 'Deshbhakt' (patriot) too, who respects the unity and integrity of the nation."

On Friday, another BJP Minister KS Eshwarappa slammed Doreswamy alleging that he had visited Amulya Leona's residence and was in good relationship with her family.

Amulya had raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans at an anti-CAA event here on 21 February, taking everybody present by shock and dismay.

"We respect Doreswamy but he dances to the tune of Congress and supports whatever their leaders say," Eshwarappa alleged.

Huge Row In Karnataka After BJP Leader Calls Freedom Fighter "Pak Agent"

Huge Row In Karnataka After BJP Leader Calls Freedom Fighter "Pak Agent"
Basavaraj Yatnal's comments against HS Doreswamy, calling him a "fake freedom fighter" and "Pakistani agent" have snowballed into a major a row amid the Karnataka Assembly's budget session which is expected to clear the state budget on Thursday.
KarnatakaWritten by Maya Sharma
Updated: March 03, 2020 09:57 am IST

HS Doreswamy has been a prominent figure at protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly was adjourned on Monday after heated arguments over comments made against 102-year-old freedom fighter HS Doreswamy by a BJP leader.

Mr Doreswamy has been a prominent figure at protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and has been openly critical of BJP-led central government's policies.

Former chief minister of the Congress, Siddaramaiah, raised the issue in the assembly, and in the noise that followed - the House was adjourned for the day.

Working president of the state Congress unit Eshwar Khandre told NDTV, "BJP leaders, especially Basavaraj Yatnal, has made very derogatory remarks against freedom fighters of this country. He has called Shri HS Doreswamy a Pakistani agent. Which is anti-national. We in the Assembly have demanded that the government take immediate action, book a case against him, expel him from legislatorship and uphold the honour and dignity of the House."

Opposition parties assembled at centre of the house, demanding that they be allowed to raise the matter and forcing repeated adjournments.

The ruling BJP opposed attempts by the Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah to raise the issue, without any prior notice.

Basavaraj Yatnal's comments against Mr Doreswamy, calling him a "fake freedom fighter" and "Pakistani agent" have snowballed into a major a row amid the Karnataka Assembly's budget session which is expected to clear the state budget on Thursday.

Congress leaders have said Mr Yatnal's comments are in violation of the constitution as by disrespecting a freedom fighter like Mr Doreswamy, he had disrespected the freedom movement, which is in "violation of our fundamental duties".

The BJP leader has made it clear that there was no question of withdrawing his statements against Mr Doreswamy and even went on to call him a "mouthpiece" in favour of the Janata Dal Secular (JD-S) and Congress.

Several BJP legislators have come out in defence of the Vijayapura city MLA, questioning the Congress and the freedom fighter for their alleged comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP icon VD Savarkar.

SC to hear on March 5 plea for Omar Abdullah’s release

SC to hear on March 5 plea for Omar Abdullah’s release

Krishnadas RajagopalNEW DELHI, MARCH 02, 2020 22:51 IST
UPDATED: MARCH 03, 2020 10:44 IST
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Sara Abdullah Pilot addresses the media. File
Sara Abdullah Pilot addresses the media. File   | Photo Credit: Bibek Chettri

“This is a matter of personal liberty," says Justice Arun Mishra
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed that a plea filed by Sara Abdullah Pilot against the continued detention of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah under the Public Safety Act (PSA) needs to be heard quickly as it concerns his personal liberty.

But the authorities told the court that Mr. Abdullah had been a “very vocal critic” of the abrogation of the special status of J&K under Article 370 even before it was actually repealed on August 5, 2019. They said his release now may prove prejudicial to the maintenance of public order in the new Union Territory geographically proximate to Pakistan. They reminded the court that 41,866 persons lost their lives in J&K in 71038 “incidents” since 1990. A detention order under the PSA was not based on any objective determination but rather on the “subjective satisfaction” of the detaining authority, they argued. The court cannot substitute its opinion for that of the detaining authority.

Also read: Omar Abdullah used politics to cover his radical ideology: Public Safety Act dossier

However, in a brief hearing on Monday, a Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra informed Ms. Abdullah's lawyers, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, that the case would indeed be heard on March 5.

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“This is a matter of personal liberty," Justice Mishra said. Justice Indira Banerjee, the other judge on the Bench, nodded in agreement.

Ms. Pilot has asked the apex court to direct the authorities to produce her brother in court and set him free immediately. She said she has had no information on his whereabouts.

Mr. Abdullah was first detained on August 5 last, when the President notified the abrogation of the special rights of the people of J&K. After detaining him for the maximum six months, a fresh detention order under the PSA was issued in February 2020.

District Magistrate of Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary informed the court in his affidavit that Mr. Abdullah “was and continues to be detained in conformity with the mandatory provisions of the PSA and is kept in Hari Niwas (former palace of the erstwhile King, located near the Dal Lake), which has been temporarily declared a subsidiary jail”.

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Mr. Chaudhary, represented by Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, justified that the continued detention under the PSA was based on material and documents showing that Mr. Abdullah’s “activities”, even before his first detention in August 2019, was “calculated to disturb public peace and tranquility”.

The Magistrate said the subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority, the grounds of detention and the dossier prepared for his detention under the PSA all clearly indicated a “live and proximate link” between the activities of Mr. Abdullah and the “events that occurred in the past”.

The affidavit said the previous activities of Mr. Abdullah, which are available in the public domain, indicated that even in future he may act in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order in J&K.

“The assertion that merely due to the efflux of time, due to detenu being in custody, there exists no material justifying the apprehension of public order being affected is ex-facie erroneous,” the affidavit said.

Mr. Venugopal argued that Ms. Abdullah had not explained why she came straight to the Supreme Court instead of the J&K High Court. “The High Court is fully functional. It has quashed 68 detention orders since August 2019 and confirmed 11,” he submitted.

The affidavit also claimed that Mr. Abdullah “purposefully failed” to make a representation before the Advisory Board constituted under the PSA or even the government against the detention. The Board is made up of a retired High Court judge and two principal judges.