New Delhi: Confessional statements of an accused which are not in the public domain cannot be accessed and published, observed the Delhi High Court which on Monday questioned a news channel over the broadcast of an alleged confession of an accused in a case related to communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in February.

It also said that journalists do not have the right to take out the case diary and publish it.

The high court directed media house, Zee News Media Corporation Ltd, to file an affidavit disclosing the name of the source from whom the concerned journalist got the documents of an alleged confession statement of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) university student.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru declined the request of the media house that it should be allowed to disclose the name of the concerned journalist in a sealed cover as revealing his name openly would risk his life and his family.

The judge asked the news channel to file a separate affidavit while listing the matter for further hearing on October 23.

Police have already initiated a vigilance inquiry into the matter. You (Zee News) have got access to documents which even the accused does not have. You file the counter reply disclosing the source from where you got the document, the judge said.

The high court was hearing a plea by JMI student Asif Iqbal Tanha alleging misconduct by police officials in leaking his disclosure statement, recorded by the probe agency during the investigation, to the media.

While the police have claimed that the disclosure statement was not leaked by any of its officials, the counsel for the news channel said the journalist has requested that he should not be pressed to disclose his source of information in view of the fact that the truthfulness of Tanha’s confessional statement has not been disputed by him in the petition.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, representing Zee News, argued that pressing for disclosure of source would amount to interfering with the freedom of the press as guaranteed under the Constitution, and in a situation where the source of information is not protected or safeguarded, the freedom of press will be severely jeopardized or interfered with.

The high court, however, said it does not think that it’s a journalist’s right to take out the case diary and publish it and that the news report cannot be based on documents that are not in the public domain.

These are documents that you cannot take out and publish. There is no doubt about it, the judge said.

Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, appearing for Tanha, said he was not concerned with the internal arrangement of the media house and before putting out news on a national TV, they should verify the details.

One has to determine where the document is coming. Accused were not being given copies of remand applications in which there are details about their case but journalists are given everything, he argued.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (special cell) in an affidavit, had said that Delhi Police was also aggrieved by the newspaper report in which the alleged confessional statement of JMI student Asif Iqbal Tanha was leaked out.

The police affidavit, through advocates Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair, also stated that none of its officials indulged in the investigation of the case leaked out the information to the media.

The high court had asked two media houses and two social media platforms to respond to the plea which also sought a direction to take down the sensitive/ confidential information leaked to them by the officials of Delhi Police.

The high court had also refused to pass an ex-parte order directing the media houses, Zee News and OpIndia and social networking platforms Facebook and YouTube to remove the content and had said that it will pass necessary orders after hearing all the parties.

Tanha, in his petition, said he was aggrieved by various publications reporting that he has confessed to orchestrating the Delhi riots and alleged that he was coerced to sign certain papers in the effective custody of the police.

It said this information does not have any evidentiary value and alleged that the Delhi Police officials, with malafide intention, leaked the statements to the media to prejudice his case.

Tanha, who was arrested in May, is currently lodged in judicial custody in the Delhi riots case.

Tanha, a third-year student of BA in the Persian language, was earlier arrested in connection with the violence in the Jamia area during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December last year.

The police had said that Tanha, a resident of Abul Fazal Enclave in Shaheen Bagh, was a member of the Students Islamic Organization and was part of the Jamia Coordination Committee which spearheaded protests against the new citizenship law.

“Tanha is a key member of the Jamia Coordination Committee and played an active role in organizing protests and riots in Jamia in December 2019. He is a close associate of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider, and Safoora Zargar who had been key organizers of anti-CAA protests and subsequent riots,” the police had said.

On December 15 last year, protesters had turned violent, torching four public buses and two police vehicles and pelting stones at the police and civilians, near JMI. At least 40 people including students, policemen, and firefighters were injured in the incident.

This is not the first time that hunger has become newsworthy in India. In post-independent India, though all governments launched a war against hunger, each time hunger won the war. Right from Indira Gandhi’s ‘Garibi Hatao’ to Vajpayee’s ‘Roti Aur Kapda’, political parties have used the promise of hunger eradication for electoral gains. Realizing that it is difficult to mobilize votes around the issue of hunger, the BJP used other emotional issues to reap electoral gains. With political parties understanding that it is easy to win elections by spreading hate instead of distributing food, ‘hunger’ moved to the bottom of the list of priorities of manifestos of political parties. With those claiming to have distributed food to the poor at low prices losing elections and those citing ‘Ram Mandir, Pakistan, Patel statue’ winning elections, governments progressively started reducing funds allocated to the poor. 

As a result, the world’s tallest statue has raised its head in the country. Speedy projects are being planned for bullet trains. The foundation stone has been laid to build the Ram Mandir. Preparations are now on to bring to the forefront the controversy around the Krishna temple. All this is being done using the media to make people believe that the country is moving towards becoming a world leader. At the same time, India has performed poorly in the Global Hunger Index (GHI). Last year if India was ranked 102nd in the GHI, this year it has improved its position to the 94th rank. Ironically, neighboring Pakistan is in the 88nd rank. The increase in the number of the hungry  people in India has surpassed that in Pakistan. The report has also shown that India’s performance is worse than Bangladesh’s. During the UPA administration, malnutrition rates in India had crossed 45 per cent. Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hunger continues its unstoppable victory march.

The moment India’s poor performance in GHI was announced, several experts started criticizing the government’s neglect towards malnutrition. And as usual, the government is blaming ‘Coronavirus’ for its failures. But the truth is beyond that. For the last ten years, all government programmes have focused on the rich. With the belief that the prosperity of the corporate sector translates to the prosperity of the country, the government has forgotten that the  poor are part of the country’s development. This government has adopted global attention and investments in mega projects as its development criterion. The massive Patel statue and bullet train projects are a part of this agenda to attract global attention. Demonetization, GST, and lockdown have weakened the foundation of the Indian economy. The government’s wrong decisions destroyed rural industries, medium sized industries, and the retail economy.  Digitization and Aaadhar card deprived the poor of the welfare benefits provided by the government and it became impossible for some of them  even to avail themselves of the Public Distribution System (PDS) food grains. The stories of those who died having been deprived of rationed food as they had no Aadhar card were splashed on the front pages of newspapers. With a faulty and inefficient PDS, the government’s new rules directly affected the poor. 

Now, the government is citing the excuse of ‘Coronavirus’ for everything. The government is hiding the fact that hunger has been drastically increasing right from the days of demonetization. Natural calamities and epidemics are not new to the world. If the country had cared for its poor, designed the PDS efficiently, prioritized eradication of hunger, the nation need not have feared the Coronavirus. Even when the country was in a state of shock due to the hunger caused by the lockdown, the food grains in godowns were diverted for the purpose of producing sanitizers instead of reducing hunger. Experts have warned that hunger can trigger other diseases even if the Coronavirus disappears from our midst. 

Doctors have already said that the Coronavirus is a disease that can spread to others quickly but it is not a deadly virus. If tuberculosis and Coronavirus diseases are compared, a country like India must fear tuberculosis more. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the Coronavirus can destroy the country’s progress in the eradication of tuberculosis in the country. The WHO has expressed anguish that countries like India and South Africa that are most impacted by tuberculosis are diverting the funds allocated for tuberculosis for its battle against the Coronavirus. Even if Coronavirus ceases to exist, India’s health problems will not end. In the future, tuberculosis could become a huge problem due to two reasons. One, with the funds allocated for tuberculosis getting diverted to other services, accessing medicines and treatment would become increasingly difficult for those with tuberculosis. Two, with malnutrition the most important contributing factor for tuberculosis, increasing hunger could aggravate the problem of tuberculosis. 

In such a situation, the government should change its dual stand with regard to the consumption of beef that has the benefit of offering maximum proteins. People affected due to the lack of food and suffering hunger pangs should have easy access to beef.  The rest can be exported. The government’s acceptance of the consumption of beef as an integral part of the food system can lead to the reduction in malnutrition. The criterion for the identification of the poor should change. Comprehensive changes should be made in the distribution of food grains to make sure that food grains reach eligible families instead of letting them rot and consumed by worms in depots. The government should immediately understand that diseases can be won by winning over hunger. Otherwise, forget becoming a world leader, India might become a problem to the world due to the continued spread of diseases such as tuberculosis.  

New Delhi: A Corporal of Chinese People’s Liberation Army was apprehended in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh on Monday after he had strayed across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian Army said.

The Chinese soldier has been identified as Wang Ya Long and he has been provided with required medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clothes, it said.

Both Indian and Chinese armies have deployed over 50,000 troops each along the LAC in eastern Ladakh including in the Demchok sector following escalation of the five-month-long military standoff that began in early May.

The Army said the PLA soldier will be returned after completion of all the formalities.

“A PLA soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh on October 19 after he had strayed across the LAC,” the Army said in a statement.

“The PLA soldier has been provided medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clothes to protect him from the vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions,” it added.

The statement said a request has also been received from the PLA about the whereabouts of the missing soldier.

“As per established protocols, he will be returned back to Chinese officials at the Chushul Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities,” the Army said.

Sources said the PLA soldier was interrogated on how he crossed over to the Indian side.

Palakkad: Three people were found dead at a Tribal colony at Kanjikode near here and nine, including three women, hospitalised, allegedly after consuming spurious liquor,police said on Monday.

Residents of the colony, Ayyappan and Raman, both above 52 years, died yesterday and were buried, they said.

“Today morning, the residents found Sivan (37) dead in front of his house and alerted us.We are filing three FIRs.

Police said nine, including three women, are under treatment at the district hospital here and all had consumed liquor the previous day.

“We don’t know whether what they consumed was liquor or not.The survivors say it was whitish in colour and got some smells similar to phenyl.We are probing in all directions,” Palakkad SPG Siva Vikram told the media.

Police are awaiting the post-mortem report of the deceased in order to confirm the cause of death. They suspect spirit or sanitiser was added to the liquor.

Police also said that the two bodies will be exhumed.

AGAR MALWA: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Kamal Nath after a clarification was issued by him over his ‘item’ remark.

The MP CM was attending an election rally on Monday where he issued the remarks on the Congress leader.

“What happened to you former CM Kamal Nath. You are 74-yr-old and I can’t repeat what you said about BJP’s Imarti Devi…When we objected, he shamelessly called everyone an item including himself…If anyone willl call their mother and sister ‘item’, will you tolerate it?” Chouhan said.

Earlier, Kamal Nath had written to Chouhan stating he had not said anything disrespectful against BJP candidate, Imarti Devi, claiming that the word could be used in many different contexts.

Earlier, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a detailed report from Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) over the Congress leader Kamal Nath’s “item remark” at an election rally made against BJP leader Imarti Devi.

This came after the National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) over the ‘derogatory remarks’ made by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on a woman minister.

In the run-up to Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly by-polls, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath referred to Imarti Devi as an “item”, sparking a controversy.

“Suresh Raje ji hamare ummeedvar hai…yeh uske jaise nah hai…kya hai uska naam … main kya uska naam lun? …apko toh mujhe pehle savdhan karna chahiye tha … yeh kya item hai… (Our candidate is not like her… what’s her name? You know her better and should have warned me earlier… What an item!), Kamal Nath said in Hindi while the crowd called out Imarti Devi’s name.

The former CM was addressing a campaign rally in Dabra for Congress candidate Suresh Raje. Imarti Devi is also contesting on the BJP ticket from Dabra.

All the three accused have been arrested and sent to jail after medical examination, a senior police officer said.

KISHANGANJ: A 19-year-old woman has been gang-raped at knifepoint allegedly by three brothers in Bihar’s Kishanganj district, police said on Monday.

All the three accused have been arrested and sent to jail after medical examination, a senior police officer said.

The incident took place in the Town police station area on Sunday when the trio, known to the survivor, allegedly dragged her into an SUV while she was cutting grass in a field, took her to a secluded place and took turns to rape her at knifepoint, Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish said.

The medical examination of the survivor, who is being treated at Kishanganj Sadar Hospital, confirmed rape, he said.

Based on an FIR lodged with the Women’s police station on the basis of the survivor’s statement, the trio was arrested, he said.

A speedy trial will be conducted to ensure conviction in the case, the officer added.

She asked West Bengal Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim to arrange for an idol inside the premises of Navanir the old age home for women – so that the residents can offer their pujas.

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged residents of an old age home in the southern part of the city’s Chetla area to stay indoors during the Durga Puja to combat the COVID-19 contagion.

She asked West Bengal Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim to arrange for an idol inside the premises of Navanir the old age home for women – so that the residents can offer their pujas.

Banerjee, who is a regular to the old age home every year before the Durga Puja, urged the residents to watch the pujas on the television.

“You see the pujas on the television this year because your staying healthy is very important for me,” Banerjee told the residents of the old age home.

She also expressed her hesitancy to visit the old age home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know you all. I was initially scared that my coming might create a crowd which might increase the chance of infection and then I thought of keeping all of you inside the room so that I can see you all and speak to you. I love to come here but this year is different and so stay safe and keep others safe,” she said.

Mumbai: TV viewership rating agency BARC India has charged Republic TV of misrepresenting its private and confidential communication, saying it has not commented on the ongoing investigation into the alleged manipulation of ratings.

In a statement, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) said it was cooperating with the law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigation in the Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation case.

Responding to claims by Republic TV that an email from BARC gives proof of the channel not being involved in any alleged malpractices, the agency said it was “highly disappointed” with the broadcaster’s actions.

“BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same.

“BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, it expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network,” it said.

Mumbai police, on a BARC complaint, is investigating allegations of manipulation of TRP ratings. Republic TV is one of the four channels being investigated.

The BARC statement came after Republic TV disclosed what it said was an email conversation between the agency’s CEO Sunil Lulla and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani.

As per the TV network’s website, Khanchandani wrote an email to BARC on October 16, to “confirm in public domain” that the body has found no infringement by Republic.

“In response to Khanchandani’s email, BARC responded on October 17, by thanking the network for their ‘faith in the internal mechanisms of BARC’ and said that ‘if there was any disciplinary action initiated against ARG Outlier Media (Republic’s owner), then BARC India would have communicated the same to you along with necessary documents for your response”,” the website said.

“Thus, this e-mail proves that BARC did not allege any malpractice against the Republic Media Network,” it added.

Reacting to BARC’s statement, Republic TV owner Arnab Goswami told PTI, that the email of BARC confirms that the police commissioner lied. (Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh) should immediately quit, Goswami said.

BARC did not elaborate on the exact parts of the email which makes it feel that the communication was “misrepresented”.

Six people have been arrested by the police in the scam, which allegedly involves inducing homes which form the sample set whose TV viewing is monitored to ensure that certain channels get higher ratings. The ratings are a key influencer of advertiser preferences while placing commercials. The police claim this is a “multi-crore” scam.