Dhaka, Mar 3,2020: India on Monday assured Bangladesh that the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which shares its border with Bangladesh is entirely internal to the country and will have no implications for the government and people of Bangladesh.
Speaking at Bangladesh Institute for International Studies (BIISS) here, Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla said that as the closest of neighbours and with so many shared cultural trait, it is also inevitable that events in each other’s countries create ripples across the border — irrespective of irrespective of whether there is real justification for this.
“One recent example is the process of updating the NRC in Assam, which has taken place entirely at the direction and under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. Let me clearly state here what our leadership has repeatedly confirmed at the highest level to the Government of Bangladesh: this is a process that is entirely internal to India. Therefore there will be no implications for the Government and people of Bangladesh. You have our assurance on that count,’ he said.
Mr Shringla is in Dhaka on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to prepare the ground for the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this mid-month to attend the inauguration of the birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had led the country’s liberation war. It will be Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary dwelt upon a range of subjects in his elaborate address ranging from the thorny issue of sharing of river waters to trade and connectivity, energy ties, infrastructure and culture.
Referring to the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State of Myanmar, and its impact upon Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary said that India is deeply appreciative of the spirit of humanism that motivated Bangladesh to offer shelter to nearly one million displaced people.
“And we fully recognize and sympathize with the enormous burden that you are facing. As the only country that is an actual neighbour of both Bangladesh and Myanmar, we are committed to offering the fullest support for any mutually-acceptable solution that will enable the earliest possible return of displaced persons to their homes in Rakhine State and to a life of dignity. This should be done in a manner that is safe, secure and sustainable,’ he said.
Mr. Shringla pointed out that India has provided five tranches of aid to the camps in Cox’s Bazar area through the Government of Bangladesh, and is prepared to do more. India is also investing in the socio-economic development of the Rakhine area, including housing, so that there is an incentive not only for people to return, but for all communities to focus on cooperative solutions for economic development, rather than compete for limited resources, he said.
He stressed that there is no difference between India and Bangladesh on the way forward in addressing this major humanitarian problem. He suggested that diverse stakeholders should be encouraged to lower the rhetoric and find practical and pragmatic solutions, bearing in mind that the priority is finding a fair and dignified humanitarian outcome.
Recalling his long association with Bangladesh and his tenure as India’s High Commissioner in Dhaka, Mr. Shringla said India was looking forward to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Dhaka because of the priority the Prime Minister attaches to this relationship, and even more so, because Bangabandhu is just so iconic – as a globally-recognized statesman and iconic symbol of liberation for Bangladesh and for our subcontinent.
Describing Bangabandhu as “a man of letters, a man of action, courage and conviction, and most of all, a true hero,’ who brought forth a nation, Mr. Shringla said that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is India’s national hero too. “We are honoured to be part of the celebrations, including through the joint production of a special feature film on the life of Bangabandhu,’ he said.
Chandigarh , Mar 3: Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday passed a unanimous resolution to make the Punjabi language mandatory in all state government institutions.
The resolution was moved by Cabinet Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and appealed to the Speaker to make the Punjabi language mandatory in all state government institutions and the functioning of the courts should also be ensured in Punjabi.
Channi also appealed to the Speaker to ensure all proceedings and working of Punjab Vidhan Sabha in Punjabi.
He had also proposed that necessary steps should be taken to make the Punjabi language a compulsory subject in all government and private schools up-to tenth standard.
In addition, he proposed that the State Government should make necessary arrangements, including the laws, to prevent any person or institution from working against the Punjabi language.
Speaking in the House, Channi had said that Punjabi is spoken in 150 countries across the globe and referring to the UNO report, he said that Punjabi ranks 12th out of 7000 languages worldwide. But as per this report, there is a threat to 2000 languages which would extinct in the next 50 years and Punjabi is one of them.
Channi said that his department technical education has taken a lead to provide a syllabus for all the technical education courses in Punjabi. He said that the decision in this regard has already been taken to translate all the books in Punjabi.
The Cabinet Minister also advocated making joint efforts to make Punjabi a second language in the neighboring states Haryana, Himachal, and Rajasthan.
He also informed the house that the state government would organise a first Punjabi Film Festival on 17-18 March 2020 to promote the Punjabi language.
NEW DELHI,Feb29,2020: Life slowly returned to normalcy in northeast Delhi localities on Saturday, after violence claimed the lives of at least 42 people earlier this week.
Several shops resumed business and customers can be seen buying groceries, fruits and other items of daily needs. The Delhi government has started a helpline number to report hate speeches and promised cash incentive to people who have lost their houses in the violence.
Here is a look at the developments from the violence-affected regions —
Delhi govt to issue a WhatsApp number to report hate speeches
People can complain about hate messages being circulated on the instant messaging app on these numbers. The government will make an appeal to people to not forward any such message because forwarding any material which causes enmity amongst communities is a crime. The move is aimed at dealing with rumours on social media.
Flag marches, identification of rioters
Security personnel have been conducting flag marches and holding regular consultations with locals to assuage their fears. They are also urging residents to not pay attention to rumours on social media and report them to the police. The police and Intelligence Bureau have marked the rioters’ houses and are preparing a list of rioters who were involved through face recognition technology.
148 cases, 630 arrests, 13 gunshot victims
A total of 148 cases have been registered out of which 25 FIRs are under the Arms Act. “A total of 630 people have been arrested/detained and Special Investigation Team has started a probe into the matter. The police also identified the cause of death of 35 victims of communal violence. 22 died due to fatal injuries from stone-pelting or physical assault, while 13 due to gunshot injuries.
₹25k as immediate relief: CM
Delhi government would start distributing Rs 25,000 in cash as immediate relief from Saturday to people whose houses were burned in the riots in northeast Delhi, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said. “The balance cheque will be provided to them after a proper assessment is done by PWD. Any NGO, social organizations and individual donors who would like to contribute to our relief and rehabilitation activities can contact the office of DM North East,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi govt sets up 9 shelters for victims
The government has also set up nine shelters for the riot-affected people. On Friday, it started distributing food there.
Some shops reopen
On Saturday morning, a couple of stores selling daily needs goods like groceries, sweets and medicines opened after a gap of five days.
Police deployed in the area are convincing shopkeepers to open their shops.
Search for missing continues
Relatives of victims continued to wait outside the mortuary at GTB Hospital to receive bodies. Five days after riots broke out in several parts of northeast Delhi, several families are still searching for their missing members. Most of them have already checked the hospitals, assuming they would find their near and dear ones either in the emergency block or at least in the mortuary, but to no avail.
At least 42 people, including a police Head Constable and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, have died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence in northeast Delhi. The violence was reported from Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar, Bhajan Pura, Yamuna Vihar areas of northeast Delhi
Two Special Investigation Teams have been constituted under the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch to investigate the violence.
Feb 21, 2020: Bengaluru: Amulya, who allegedly raised the ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan at an anti-CAA rally in Bengaluru, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
She was earlier denied bail by a judicial magistrate here.
Amulya raised ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogan at an anti-CAA rally organised by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi here on Thursday. A case has been registered under Section 124A (Offence of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code against her.
“We have registered a suo moto case under Section 124A (sedition), 153A and B (promoting enmity between different groups and imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). Once formalities are completed, we will produce Amulya before a judicial magistrate,” B Ramesh, DCP Bengaluru (West) said.
Lucknow, Feb 18,2020: In a bid to provide timely and hassle-free service to the consumers, the Yogi Adityanath led government in Uttar Pradesh has enforced Performance Regulation Act 2019 for the power department.
The consumers would now get financial compensation for delay in solving their complaints by the department. Around 2 crore 87 lakh people are likely to be benefitted from the new law.
According to the notification issued by the government, the consumer would get Rs 50 per day if there is a delay in repairing the defective meter and also non-response by call centre.
In case of delay in repairing underground cable breakdown, the consumer would get Rs 100 per day.
The Uttar Pradesh government is set to present its annual budget for 2020-21 in the state legislature today. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna will present the budget in the presence of the Chief Minister.
The budget is likely to focus on the allocation of funds for various infrastructure projects like Poorvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Ganga Expressway.