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The chief minister said his government has been working to protect the masses and instill a sense of safety among them
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The cumulative number of anti-Covid vaccine doses administered in the country so far has crossed 165.70 crore
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It was on Jan 30, 2020 when a medical student from Wuhan university tested positive for coronavirus, becoming India’s first COVID patient
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The cumulative number of anti-Covid vaccine doses administered in the country so far has crossed 165.70 crore
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The social security benefits will be provided to around 7,453 employees for whom contributions have been filed by Air India with EPFO
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PM Modi to open Uttar Pradesh election campaign today
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In Muzaffarnagar, 62 people were killed and scores others were injured during the riots between Muslims and Jats
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Owing to the developments on these two days, there shall be no Zero and Question Hour for both Houses
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This is the first public meeting in the state to be addressed by any star campaigner of the BJP since the EC announced the Assembly polls
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As per the rules and regulations, members must not do anything that brings disrepute to the Parliament and affects their credibility
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Earlier, women candidates with up to six months of pregnancy were allowed to join the bank subject to various conditions
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The daily positivity rate was recorded at 13.39 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was 16.89 per cent
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Channi termed the Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as a ‘venal leader’
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The court lifted the year-long suspension of 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Assembly, quashing the July 5, 2021, Assembly resolution
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The party dropped co-operative affairs minister Mukut Bihari Verma, whose son Gaurav will be contesting from his Kaiserganj seat in Bahraich
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The contract is to supply shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missiles to the Philippines’ Navy, the military officials noted
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The trials will be done at 9 different sites, with sources adding that the intranasal vaccine is likely to be launched by March
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A three-judge bench said states are obligated to collect data on inadequacy of representation of SCs/STs
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Traders in Delhi had suffered huge losses in the last 25 days, to the tune of almost 70 per cent
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The death toll has climbed to 4,92,327 with 627 fatalities reported during the 24-hour period
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On 26 January 2022 four major NGOs made a strong joint statement on India:
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, are deeply concerned about the ongoing harassment of 18 human rights defenders under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in reprisal for their advocacy work against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019. Thirteen of those arrested under the UAPA are currently in Rohini, Tihar, and Mandoli jails, New Delhi. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all the human rights defenders arrested, and the dismissal of all charges against them.
The CAA has been widely criticized by activists, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, students and the international community for being openly sectarian and discriminatory against Muslims. After the CAA’s adoption, protesters across the country took the street to voice their concerns against the legislation, which goes against India’s Constitutional principles of secularism and equality. Police authorities responded by arresting human rights defenders and activists who spoke up against the CAA. Most of them were student activists and human rights defenders from the minority Muslim community.
The arrests of human rights defenders began in February 2020 and are still ongoing. Many of them had multiple First Information Reports (FIR) registered against them and were charged with serious offenses, including under UAPA. Of those arrested, only five human rights defenders – Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and Md. Faizan Khan – were released on bail. Thirteen others – Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, Tahir Hussain, Saleem Malik, Mohd. Saleem Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, and women human rights defenders Ishrat Jahan and Gulfisha Fatima– remain in jail. Despite prolonged incarceration, the trial for their case has not commenced yet.
See also: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2020/06/01/eu-human-rights-committee-condemns-indias-arrest-of-human-rights-defenders/ and https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2020/06/27/un-experts-address-3-big-ones-usa-china-and-india/
On 24 January 2022, a Delhi court framed charges against human rights defender Sharjeel Imam while rejecting his application for bail. The charges include Sections 124A (“sedition”), 153A (“promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 153B (“imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration”), 505 (“statements conducing to public mischief”), along with Section 13 (“punishment for unlawful activities”) of the UAPA.
Khalid Saifi, Ishrat Jahan, and Gulfisha Fatima have reported custodial violence and torture by the Delhi police. There has been no effective investigations into these allegations or responsibility taken for their treatment. Shifa Ur Rehman, who has been in detention since 26 April 2020, suffers from severe kidney disease and has been denied access to adequate medical care in prison.
We express our deep concern over the harassment and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders that appear to be in retaliation to their peaceful activism and the legitimate expression of dissent against a discriminatory law. Despite the risks, human rights defenders have raised their voice for those oppressed by the CAA and in support of the Constitutional values that represent India.
We call on the Indian authorities to protect those defending human rights values and principles enshrined in national laws and to uphold international human rights commitments. We stand in solidarity with those who cannot speak out due to their incarceration, threats by Indian authorities, or due to a prevailing sense of fear. The treatment of these human rights defenders highlights a pattern of perpetrated abuse and violence, which is also exerted through legal mechanisms. This is especially concerning given India’s membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council and its pledge to preserve and protect human rights.
We urge the relevant authorities in India to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders arrested for protesting against the CAA, dismiss all charges, and cease all forms of harassment against them.
2. Guarantee under all circumstances that the arrested human rights defenders are not subjected to any form of torture and other ill-treatment while in police custody, and guarantee their access to adequate medical care and treatment.
3. Initiate a thorough judicial review of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in genuine consultation with independent civil society organizations and human rights defenders, with a view to aligning these laws with India’s obligations under international human rights law.
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions—including police and judicial harassment.Please inform us of any actions that may be taken with regard to the above case.
-FIDH
· Civicus:
· Front Line Defenders
· World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)This post was originally published on Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards.
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Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have remained by and large shut
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India will also establish an ‘India-Central Asia Centre’ in New Delhi that will act as the secretariat for the India-Central Asia Summit
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During his visit to the state, Mr Shah will also address BJP workers of six Assembly constituencies virtually
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The two Covid-19 vaccines can be purchased by hospitals and clinics, but will not be available at pharmacies and drug stores
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This was informed by union law minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju
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Tensions cropped up along the disputed area amid allegations and counter-allegations of police action and firing by locals from Arunachal
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Ratan Tata vows to restore image of airline
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It is also conducting court martial proceedings against 14 more personnel on different charges in the same zone presently
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The Congress has announced 109 candidates for the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls
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