New Delhi: Eight eminent personalities, including former Supreme Court judge J Chelameswar and ex-Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, have appealed to people to “introspect and audit” the working of the Constitution ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Republic.

“Is the Constitution a mere administrative manual which enables the elected governments to claim legitimacy for abuse of power, and allows the citizens to convert liberty into license disregarding rights of others? Is it simply another text penned by ink, or a sacred text written in the blood of innumerable martyrs who transcended the barriers of caste, religion, region, ethnicity and language?” they asked in an open letter.

Their appeal has come at a time when there have been protests, some of them violent, against the new citizenship law, which critics say discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution.

Stressing that peaceful reconciliation of conflicting interests, healthy public discourse, and respect for dissenting views are at the heart of democracy, they urged people to “introspect whether truth and non-violence the two values held very dear to the heart of the Father of the Nation continue to inform our actions in the public sphere.”

Under the title ’70 years of Indian Constitution-A Defining Moment’, the signatories of the letter said 70 years of the working of the Constitution provided an “opportunity to celebrate our successes, and also to introspect and resolve to overcome our shortcomings”.

“We appeal to all citizens to utilise this solemn occasion to celebrate our success, reflect on our current concerns, particularly about our plural, secular society, and resolve to fulfil the Constitutional goals envisaged by Dr Ambedkar and our forefathers as summed up in the Preamble,” they said.

Apart from Quraishi and Chelameswar, the letter has been signed by film personality Sharmila Tagore, former Army Commander Lt Gen Harcharanjit Singh Panag, filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Carnatic musician and creative personality T M Krishna, former chairman of UGC and ICSSR Sukhdeo Thorat and former member of the Planning Commission Syeda Hameed.

The open letter was released exactly an year after four senior judges of the Supreme Court, including Chelameswar, had mounted a virtual revolt against the then chief justice, listing a litany of problems that they said were afflicting the country’s highest court and warned could destroy Indian democracy.

The unprecedented move at a joint news conference had left the judiciary and observers stunned, leaving uncertain how this open dissension in the hallowed institution would be resolved.

On Monday, the eminent personalities said each generation has a “solemn duty to constantly introspect and audit the working of the Constitution”.

“The 70th anniversary of the Republic is an appropriate moment to celebrate and introspect by peacefully observing the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (January 23), foundation day of the Election Commission celebrated as the National Voters Day (January 25), the Republic Day (January 26) and the martyrdom of the Father of the Nation (January 30),” they said.

The citizenship law, notified on January 10, grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to India till December 31, 2014, because of religious persecution in their countries.

However, the government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has defended the law, saying the minority groups from the three countries have no other option but to come to India when they face religious persecution there.

New Delhi: Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not talking to his critics, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday urged him to select five critics and have a televised question and answer session on CAA so that people can reach their own conclusions on the amended citizenship law. The Congress leader said he hoped that the prime minister would respond favourably to his suggestion.

“PM says that CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) is meant to give citizenship, not take it away. Many of us believe that CAA (in conjunction with NPR or NRC) will declare many persons as ‘non-citizens’ and take away citizenship,” the former home minister said.

“PM talks from high platforms to silent audiences and does not take questions. We talk through the media and are willing to take questions from media persons,” he added.

The prime minister is not talking to his critics and they do not have an opportunity to talk to him, Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.

“The only way out is for the PM to select five of his most articulate critics and have a televised Q and A session with them. Let the people listen to the discussion and reach their conclusions on CAA,” he said.

Chidambaram’s suggestion comes after Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday termed the CAA a “discriminatory and divisive” law whose “sinister” purpose was to divide people on religious lines, and asserted that the NPR (National Population Register) in form and content was “disguised NRC (National Register of Citizens)”.

Stones were hurled at the rally brought out by BJP workers from six assembly constituencies of the district, at Padam Chowk in Giridih town on Sunday.

GIRIDIH: Two persons have been arrested for allegedly hurling stones at a pro-CAA rally organised by the BJP here, police said on Monday.

Stones were hurled at the rally brought out by BJP workers from six assembly constituencies of the district, at Padam Chowk in Giridih town on Sunday, prompting police to lob teargas shells to control the situation, officials said.

“Two persons were arrested on Sunday night after they were identified from a video footage in which they were seen hurling stones at the rally,” Giridih Nagar police station in-charge Adikant Mahato said.

He said four policemen were injured in the incident.

District Superintendent of Police Surendra Jha said the situation is under control and prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been clamped in Giridih town.

Thousands in Mumbai join protests against CAA, JNU violence

Former Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) general secretary Fahad Ahmed told the media that they assembled under the aegis of ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’ in Millat Nagar area.

MUMBAI: Thousands of citizens on Sunday congregated in Mumbai’s suburban Jogeshwari to oppose the new citizenship law, the proposed NRC and NPR.

They also condemned last Sunday’s violence on the JNU campus in Delhi, where masked men ran riot and attacked students.

Leftist organisations had claimed RSS-affiliated ABVP’s role in the attack, a charge denied by the students’ body.

Former Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) general secretary Fahad Ahmed told PTI that they assembled under the aegis of ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’ in Millat Nagar area.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should call 56 students from across the country to debate on the CAA, NRC and NPR,” Ahmed said in an apparent jibe at Modi’s “56-inch chest” remark, which the latter had made ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

“Why the PM is not talking to us? Why is he not communicating? Even the Britishers used to talk to Indians whom they ruled, but our PM is not talking to poor people,” he alleged.

Bollywood actor Sushasht Singh also spoke on the occasion.

“We are people of this country and such acts (CAA) are tarnishing the image of our country,” he said.

At the gathering, people waved banners with slogans like “I Am From Gujarat, My Documents Burned in 2002”, “No CAA, Boycott NRC, Stop Dividing India, Don’t Divide us”, “Save Constitution”, written on them.

A large number of police personnel were present at the venue.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was notified on January 10, grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, following persecution over their faith.

Massive protests were witnessed against the CAA, mainly by the student community, since its passage by Parliament in December last year.

Opposition parties have been dubbing the CAA an “anti-Muslim” legislation, a charge being debunked by the government.

The Congress and other parties like the TMC have also opposed the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the government won’t rest until persecuted refugees are granted Indian citizenship.

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The contract for HAL-manufactured 83 LCA Tejas Mark 1 A advanced fighter jets are in the final stages, Ajay Kumar said.

KOLKATA: The government is in the process of acquiring around 200 aircraft to cope with the depleting aerial inventories of the Indian Air Force, defence secretary Ajay Kumar said here on Sunday.

The contract for HAL-manufactured 83 LCA Tejas Mark 1 A advanced fighter jets are in the final stages, he said.

Apart from these, Expression of Interest (EOI) has been floated for another 110 aircraft, based on which Request for Proposal (RFP) will be floated, Kumar said.

“Roughly (for) 200 aircrafts, the acquisition is in process,” he said.

“We are in the process of finalising the contract for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1 A, which are advanced fighters to meet the urgent needs of India,” the defence secretary told reporters on the sidelines of commissioning Indian Coast Guard vessels here.

Kumar said that the contract for the LCAs will be signed “definitely this year”.

“We want to do it as soon as possible,” the defence secretary said when asked whether a time frame has been finalised by which the new aircraft are to be acquired.

Kumar said that with the design having been finalised, state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be ramping up production of the LCA Mark 1 A jets from 8 to 16 per year.

“If required, through outsourcing, we can further enhance it,” he said.

The Air Force has Sukhoi 30 MKIs, Mirage 2000s, Mig 29s and the ageing Jaguars and Mig 21 Bisons in its inventory of fighter jets at present.

The last fleet of seven swing-wing MiG-27 fighters, which played an important role during the 1999 Kargil war, was decommissioned on December 27.

Forex traders said easing crude prices, weakening of the American currency and foreign fund inflows strengthened investor sentiments.

MUMBAI: The rupee appreciated by 12 paise to 70.82 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday tracking positive global cues and higher opening in domestic equities. Forex traders said easing crude prices, weakening of the American currency and foreign fund inflows strengthened investor sentiments.

At the interbank foreign exchange the rupee opened at 70.82 against the US dollar, registering a rise of 12 paise over its previous close. On Friday, rupee had settled for the day at 70.94 against the US dollar. Traders said the appreciation in the rupee was largely on the back of positive global cues.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said the phase one of the trade deal with China includes them buying USD 200 billion worth of additional products from the US. “It is USD 200 billion of additional products across the board over the next two years, and, specifically, in agriculture, USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion,” Mnuchin told ABC News, days ahead of the signing of the first phase of the deal.

Besides, Iran has agreed that de-escalation ‘only solution’ to solve crisis with US. In a meeting between Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and the visiting emir of Qatar, both sides agreed de-escalation is the “only solution” to the regional crisis, the emirate’s ruler said.

Meanwhile, domestic bourses opened on a positive note on Monday with benchmark indices Sensex trading 241.10 points higher at 41,840.82 and Nifty up by 66 points at 12,322.80. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell by 0.02 per cent to 97.33.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers in the capital market, as they purchased shares worth Rs 578.28 crore on Friday, according to provisional exchange data. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.08 per cent to trade at USD 64.93 per barrel. The 10-year government bond yield was at 6.60 per cent in morning trade.

The minister said this on Sunday while addressing a rally in Aligarh to muster support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.

ALIGARH: Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Singh has courted a major controversy when he said that people who raise slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath “would be buried alive”.

The minister said this on Sunday while addressing a rally in Aligarh to muster support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.

“If you raise slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, I will bury you alive,” he threatened.

He was apparently referring to protests held by students of Aligarh Muslim University against the CAA during which they allegedly raised slogans against the Prime Minister and the chief minister.

The minister further said: “These one per cent people are opposing the CAA. They stay in India, eat up our taxes and then raise ‘murdabad’ slogans against the leaders. This country belongs to people of all faiths, but the slogan shouting against the Prime Minister or chief minister is unacceptable.”

He also launched an attack on India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. “What was Nehru’s caste? He did not have a ‘khaandan’,” he claimed.

Raghuraj Singh is the minister of state in the labour ministry in Uttar Pradesh.

The move was aimed at sending out a message of solidarity to Padukone, who faced a backlash from certain sections of society for visiting the JNU campus.

MEERUT: Meghna Gulzar’s much talked about film ‘Chhapaak’ is emerging as a rallying point for opposition parties.

After the Samajwadi Party organized a special show for its party workers in Lucknow, and the Congress distributed free tickets of the film, it is now the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) that booked a show of ‘Chhapaak’ in Meerut on Sunday.

RLD vice-president Jayant Chaudhary organized a special screening of the Deepika Padukone starrer for his family and supporters in Meerut on Sunday.

The move was aimed at sending out a message of solidarity to Padukone, who faced a backlash from certain sections of society for visiting the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus to meet the protesting students.

Earlier, Jayant Chaudhary, through a tweet, had also offered 50 tickets of the film for free to those reaching out to him on first come first serve basis.

“Chhapaak’ is a good movie. It has a message. Only people with cruel mentality can oppose a movie like this,” Chaudhary said after watching the movie.

A day before its commercial release across the country, the Congress-ruled states of Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh declared the film tax-free in their respective states.

NRC authorities said there was no legacy data of the former Chief Minister available with them.

The name of Assam’s lone woman Chief Minister Syeda Anowara Taimur, who is residing in Australia, is missing from the National Register of Citizens, and she plans to return home to initiate the process of enlisting herself and her family in the register of citizens of the State.

“It is sad that my name is not there in the list. I will return to Assam in the last week of August and then initiate the process to get mine and my family’s name enlisted in the National Register of Citizens (NRC),” the octogenarian told a television channel.

Ms. Taimur headed the State government from December 6, 1980 to June 30, 1981. She has been ailing for some years and is living with her son in Australia.Advertising

The former Assam Chief Minister said she had “requested a relative to submit the application for the family’s inclusion in the NRC, but maybe it could not be done due to some reasons”.

The NRC authorities in Guwahati, however, said there was no legacy data of the former Chief Minister available with them and as such it was not possible for them to ascertain whether she and her family members had applied for inclusion of their names in the draft NRC.

Ms. Taimur had served as a Rajya Sabha member in 1988. She was elected as a member of the State Assembly in 1972, 1978, 1983 and 1991. She left the Congress to join the AIUDF in 2011.

AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam on August 3 that they, too, had heard from media reports about her name not being in the list.

“We have come to know from media reports that our party member and Assam’s first woman Chief Minister’s name does not figure in the list. There are others like former President Fakhruddin Ali’s nephew whose names do not figure in the NRC. This is a serious matter,” he said.

“The NRC is full of errors and we will soon meet NRC State coordinator Prateek Hajela and then chalk out our future course of action,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Taimur’s Guwahati residence near the Rajdhani Masjid in Dispur is lying vacant.

The complete draft of the NRC released on July 30 included the names of 2.89 crore people, out of the 3.29 applicants, with the names of over 40 lakh people excluded.

Kolkata: The Railways claimed to have suffered losses of properties worth Rs 84 crore in violence related to protests against CAA and NRC in West Bengal from December 13 to 15, according to reports filed by it before the Calcutta High Court.

The Eastern Railway said in an affidavit before a division bench comprising Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice A Banerjee on Friday that it suffered the brunt of the protests with losses amounting to Rs 72.2 crore, with the maximum being in the Sealdah division, which suffered damages worth Rs 46 crore.

The Malda division of ER suffered losses worth nearly Rs 24.5 crore, while the Howrah division’s losses were more than Rs one crore, it said in an affidavit before the court on Friday in connection with a PIL seeking compensation to people and the railways for losses suffered in violence during the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests.

The South Eastern Railway, in a separate affidavit, said that it suffered losses to its properties worth Rs 12.75 crore, including to trains, stations and tracks.

The matter will be taken up for hearing again four weeks hence, the court directed.