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Archives for April 2018

Kailash Satyarthi to release CHRI report on trafficking

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Nobel Peace Prize Winner Kailash Satyarthi, along with the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery will launch a report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) aimed at eliminating forced labour, human trafficking, modern slavery and child labour.

“This is one of a series of five public events relating to key themes of human rights and good governance that CHRI is running on the sidelines of the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here,” CHRI Director Sanjoy Hazarika said in a statement.

“Our events highlight the need to not just challenge stakeholders to uphold the law but the need for civil society groups to develop strong partnerships with media, academia and other groups and engage with governments to ensure that the changes sought are sustainable and aren’t pushed under the carpet,” he said.

The SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 8.7 report — ‘Creating an Effective Coalition to Achieve SDG 8.7’ — that makes specific recommendations to heads of governments will be launched on April 13 at the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place here.

CHRI will convene a panel discussion after the release.

Experts in the panel include Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC, Roy Walmsley from World Prison Brief, Jago Russell from Fair Trials, Martin Schönteich from OSJI and Catherine Heard from the Institute of Criminal Policy Research.

Alison Hannah from Penal Reform International, Anika Holterhof from UNODC, Sanjoy Hazarika, International Director of CHRI and Madhurima Dhanuka, Programme Coordinator, Prison Reforms,

TN presents Modi with memo on Cauvery

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Amidst statewide protests, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately set up the Cauvery Management Board.

He presented a memorandum to Modi, who was on a whirlwind visit to inaugurate the DefExpo and a function at the Cancer Institute. Widespread protests in Chennai and several parts of the state greeted the Prime Minister after the Centre failed to set up the CMB despite being told to do so by the Supreme Court.

In the memorandum, Palaniswami recalled the February 16 Supreme Court verdict that said that a scheme be formulated by the Central government within six weeks to “implement the notified final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by its judgment”.

On April 9, the apex court clearly stated that the final order of the CWDT had “merged with the judgment of the Supreme Court”, he said.

It said that, therefore, constitution of the Cauvery Management Board had become an “integral part of the Supreme Court’s judgment”.

Delta areas are dependent on Cauvery water for irrigation and they were fervently hoping that the implementation machinery would be constituted by the Centre to enable them to commence the agricultural operations in the next irrigation season which starts on June 1, the memorandum said.

Modi was urged to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee “vested with all powers to effectively implement the orders of the Tribunal and the Supreme Court”.

(IANS)

Kamal Haasan said that to MR Modi “People are more important than elections”

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Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Thursday recorded an open message for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking for justice to Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery water dispute.

Taking to his Twitter handle, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief said, “Sir, I am sure you are aware of the crisis that is gripping Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery water. I believe, from your past experience, you could easily deliver justice in the case of Narmada River Water Board.”
Haasan further said, people of the state believe that there is a delay in Cauvery water issue because of the upcoming elections in Karnataka that are scheduled to take place on May 12.

“I want this belief to be dispelled. People are more important than elections,” he added.

Haasan asked Modi to follow the Supreme Court judgement, and also posted an open letter to the Prime minister, in which he wrote “I am sure you will fulfill your duty towards the people and farmers of Tamil Nadu by constituting the Cauvery water Management Board immediately.”

On February 16, the court had ordered the Central government to set up the Cauvery water Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) within six weeks, in regards to the Cauvery River water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Centre’s failure to constitute CMB led to various protests in Tamil Nadu. Earlier on Thursday, opposition parties held a black flag protest against the Prime Minister’s visit to the city without constituting the CMB.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties – Kar nataka

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Popular Front of India (P FI) is an organization of citizens of India. Members of PFI are
guaranteed their right to freedom of expression and association under constitution of India. PFI has units in all states. The state and central governments have the responsibility to protect their rights and respond to their demands, rather than silencing their voices. Unfortunately, in a complete abdication of its duty to protect and uphold fundamental rights of all citizens, Jharkhand state government has banned P FI, alleging some of its members influenced by ISIS. It is an unfortunate development and unconstitutional action, and there is no evidence suggesting that PFI itself identifies with or con dones the activities of ISIS in any manner whatsoever. PUCL Karna taka condemns banning state Jharkhand PFI unit.

The state should have identified such members associated with ISIS and initiated legal action against them, instead of banning P FI as an organization. It is evident that the banning of the organization is entirely communally and politically motivated and biased. PFI has been a large organization with thousands of members from minorities and other weaker sections of the society. They have been engaged in mobilizing and educating communities on their rights and entitlements, promoting literacy, education and demanding their share of resources in health services, education, employment, welfare and social security as a matter of right guaranteed by the constitution of India.

PFI has in recent times been particularly active in seeking justice for communal atrocities through legal interventions. This begs the question of whether there is anything wrong with highlighting lynchings that took place in Jamt ara, Latehar, Ramgarh and Seraikela. What is wrong in filing case against police atrocities? What is wrong in demanding justice and compensation to the victim families? The impunity of the majority community in cases of lynching is supported by the police, and P FI has been working tirelessly to expose this nexus. P FI has been raising such issues as a human rights violation and demanding action through rallies and protests without any violence. Any action against PFI reeks of state high ‐handedness, and its tacit support for perpetrators of communal violence. Hence, the ban on Jharkhand d PFI is illegal, unconstitutional, and constitutes the violation of freedom of expression and freedom of association. It is an organized attempt by the ruling BJP government to misuse the constitutional systems and structures.

Therefore, it is time for Governor as constitutional head of the state of Jharkhand to protect the fundamental rights and democratic rights of minorities living in the state. Thus PUCL – Karnataka urges the Honorable Governor of the Jharkhand to revoke the ban on PFI in the state.

Kremlin to Trump: We don’t engage in Twitter diplomacy

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Kremlin said that Moscow supports serious initiatives on the Syrian crisis and other international issues [File: Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

A Kremlin spokesperson has said that Russia does not engage in Twitter diplomacy after US President Donald Trump used the social media platform to warn Moscow of imminent military action in Syria, the Interfax news agency reported.

“We do not participate in Twitter diplomacy,” Dimitri Peskov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

“We support serious approaches. We continue to believe that it is important not to take steps that could harm an already fragile situation.”

Trump told Russia in an early morning tweet on Wednesday to prepare for “nice and new and ‘smart!'” missile attacks in Syria after an alleged chemical attack on the last rebel stronghold in the country.

In response to Trump’s tweet, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “Smart missiles should fly towards terrorists, not [Syria’s] lawful government, which has spent several years fighting against international terrorism on its territory.”

Peskov said his country, which has been involved in the Syrian conflict since 2015 and an ally to President Bashar al-Assad, is convinced that the allegations of the use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta’s city of Douma is false and cannot be used as a pretext to undertake any military steps against Syria.

Peskov also expressed Moscow’s support for serious initiatives on the Syrian crisis and other international issues.

UK discusses options

In London, British Prime Minister Theresa May summoned her senior ministers to a special cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss options for joining the United States in possible military action against Syria.

May is prepared to take action against the Assad government in Syria without first seeking parliamentary consent, sources have told the BBC.

May recalled the ministers from their Easter holiday for a special cabinet meeting in Downing Street later on Thursday to discuss Britain’s response to what she has cast as a barbaric attack that cannot go unchallenged.

“The chemical weapons attack that took place on Saturday in Douma in Syria was a shocking and barbaric act,” May told reporters on Wednesday. “All the indications are that the Syrian regime was responsible.”

The Daily Telegraph newspaper said May had ordered British submarines to move within missile range of Syria in readiness for strikes against the Syrian military.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council rejected rival draft resolutions by the US and Russia to set up a new expert body to probe chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

The US proposal called for establishing an independent investigative mechanism to conduct on-site inspections to find out who used chemical weapons, while Russia proposed its own plan to send investigators to the site of the alleged attack.

Domestic goods worth Rs 6 lakh seized

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Election officials team, led by Returning Officer of Bhadravathi M Dase Gowda, seized household merchandise, including cookers and hot boxes worth Rs 6 lakh at Baranduru check post in the taluk on Wednesday.

As per Dase Gowda, the officials halted a mini lorry and checked the products. At the point when the driver neglected to produce records and give a fitting reaction to their inquiries, they grabbed the vehicle alongside products. The enquiry is in progress.

FIR filed against BJP MLA in Unnao gangrape case, case to be handed to CBI

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Police in Uttar Pradesh today registered an FIR against ruling BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in connection with the alleged gangrape of a minor girl in Unnao, hours after the government said it would hand over investigation into the case to the CBI.

Till the premier investigating agency takes over, the local police will continue with the probe, Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar said. The letter for handing over the probe to the CBI for maintaining total transparency in the case will be sent today, he told reporters.

The decision on whether to arrest the accused MLA will be taken by the CBI on the merits of the case after investigations, he said. The Unnao police this morning registered the case against Sengar under various sections of IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in the Makhi police station area. The FIR has been registered under sections 376 (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage,), 363 (kidnapping) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

“An FIR be lodged under appropriate sections considering the allegations of rape levied on MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others and the investigation be handed over to CBI,” the Principal Secretary (Information) said in an statement late last night.

Addressing a press conference, the principal secretary home and state Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh said the MLA had not been named in the FIR till now as the girl had not mentioned his name in the statement given before the magistrate earlier.

The case was registered now that she and her family had told the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which visited them yesterday, that they had not done so because of fear, they said. Refusing allegations that police was trying to shield the MLA, the officials said it was because of this that the probe was being handed over to the CBI. Besides, the government has also decided to extend security to the family of the 17-year-old girl, they said.

The officials assured that no one found guilty will be spared and added that action has already been taken against some policemen and doctors for laxity and negligence. The teen rape survivor, who had tried to immolate herself outside the chief minister’s house just a day before her 50-year-old father died on Monday, has alleged that she was confined to a hotel room by the district administration, leaving her “without a phone or water and guards at every corner”.

Modi arrives in TN amid Cauvery row

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Thursday amid growing political turmoil over the Cauvery water issue and black flag protests by Opposition parties.

Modi, who arrived by a special aircraft from New Delhi, was received at the airport by Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister E. Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan.

After a brief reception, he left for Mamallapuram, about 55 km from here, from where he would reach the temple town of Tiruvidanthai to formally inaugurate the Defence Expo-2018, which began here on Wednesday.

Later, he would unveil the diamond jubilee plaque at the Adyar Cancer Institute.

Earlier, a press conference was planned with the Prime Minister at the IIT-Madras, adjacent to the Cancer Institute, but it failed to materialise.

The police have made tight security arrangements in view of the visit.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, inclduing the DMK, various fringe outfits and Tamil organisations greeted the Prime Minister with black flag protests to condemn the Centre for its failure to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) as directed by the Supreme Court.

The six-week deadline set by the Apex Court ended on March 29 and the Centre, keeping the next month’s Assembly elections in Karnataka in mind, filed a clarification plea in the Court at the last minute and sought three months time to implement its order, by which time the polling process in the neighbouring state would have been concluded.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin, along with his party cadres, protested in Sirkazhi, Nagapattinam district, by wearing black shirts.

The DMK has appealed to the people to hoist black flags atop their houses and stage demonstrations against the Prime Minister.

Activsits of fringe parties including the Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) led by T. Velmurugan, Tamil Nationalist Movement headed by P. Nedumaran also staged demonstration in front of the Alandur Metro station in Chennai.

MLAs Tamimum Ansari and Thaniarasi along with SDPI members were arrested in Tirisoolam near the airport.

Similarly, members of the newly-formed Tamilaga Kalai Illakiya Panpattu Maiyam by noted filmmakers Bharathiraaja, Ameeer, Gouthaman and Thangarbachan, were also arrested as they staged a black flag protest at the airport.

As the political atmosphere in the state remained tense and surcharged following unending protests on the Cauvery issue, the remaining six IPL matches of the Chennai Super Kings were shifted to Pune.

BJP MPs stage hunger strike

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All seven Delhi BJP MPs staged a hunger strike here on Thursday against the washout of the second part of Parliament’s budget session due to continuous disruptions, which the party blamed it on the Congress.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who represents the Chandani Chowk constituency, East Delhi MP Maheish Girri, New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi, West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma, North West Delhi MP Udit Raj, South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari participated in the day-long strike that will conclude at 4 p.m.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu would also visit and meet the fasting Delhi MPs and party workers.

Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari said that he will continue his “indefinite hunger strike” to protest against the continuous biased neglect of development work in North East Delhi by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fast while on a day-long visit to Tamil Nadu.

BJP President Amit Shah will observe a hunger strike in Hubli in poll-bound Karnataka, while party MPs will fast in their constituencies.

The BJP’s fast comes days after Congress President Rahul Gandhi led the party’s day-long hunger strike at the Rajghat here on Monday over alleged increasing atrocities on Dalits, adivasis, and minorities.

(IANS)

Will take all steps to protect people, territory: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is ready to take all steps to equip the armed forces to protect her people and territory. He said his government has streamlined defence manufacturing and procurement processes.

“India has sent one of the largest numbers of UN peacekeepers all over the word. Our commitment to peace is just as strong as our commitment to protecting our people and our territory,” Modi said after formally inaugurating the Defence Expo 2018 here.

“For this, we are ready to take all necessary measures to equip our armed forces, including through the establishment of a strategically independent defence industrial complex.”

The country’s history of thousands of years shows India never desired anyone else’s territory, Modi added.

On the defence front, he said his government has taken steps to strengthen and improve manufacturing licenses, exports clearances, Foreign Direct Investment and reforming procurement.

“In all these areas, our regulations, processes and procedures have been made more industry-friendly, more transparent, more predictable, more outcome-oriented,” he added.

Modi said the Defence Procurement Procedure has been revised with many specific provisions for stimulating growth of the domestic defence industry.

“We have also de-notified some items earlier made exclusively by Ordnance Factories, so that the private sector, especially, the MSMEs can enter this space,” he said.

(IANS)

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