MASKED MEN AND WOMEN ATTACK STUDENTS, TEACHERS IN JNUViolence broke out at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Sunday evening asmasked men armed with sticks attacked students and teachers and damagedproperty on the campus, prompting the administration to call in police whichconducted a flag march.At least 18 people, including JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh,were injured as chaos reigned on the campus for nearly two hours.Senior Union ministers and JNU alumni S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharamanswiftly condemned the incident. Sitharaman asserted that the governmentwants universities to be safe spaces for all students.The JNU administration said "masked miscreants armed with sticks wereroaming around, damaging property and attacking people" and that police hadbeen called in to maintain law and order.The students alleged that the attackers entered hostels and assaultedstudents and teachers. Video footage aired by some TV channels showed agroup of men, who were brandishing hockey sticks, moving around a building.Delhi Police said it conducted a flag march and the situation was broughtunder control after it got a written request from the JNU administration.The police waited outside the gates till they received permission.The students' union alleged that its members, including Ghosh, were injuredin stone pelting by ABVP members.But the RSS-backed students' organisation alleged that its members werebrutally attacked by Left-affiliated student outfits and 25 of them wereinjured, while 11 were missing. Among the injured was the secretary of itsJNU unit.The violence occurred while a public meeting by the JNU Teachers'Association was being held.Taking cognisance of the matter, Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to DelhiPolice Commissioner and has enquired about the situation.OPPOSITION EXPRESSES ANGER OVER JNU VIOLENCEDelhi CM Arvind Kejriwal expressed shock at the JNU violence. "I am soshocked to know abt the violence at JNU. Students attacked brutally. Policeshud immediately stop violence and restore peace. How will the countryprogress if our students will not be safe inside univ campus?" he tweeted.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the "fascists" in control of our nationare afraid of the voices of our brave students. "The brutal attack on JNUstudents & teachers by masked thugs, that has left many seriously injured,is shocking."Congress leader P Chidambaram said, "What we are seeing on Live TV isshocking and horrifying. Masked men enter JNU hostels and attack students.What is the Police doing? Where is the Police Commissioner?" "If it ishappening on live TV, it is an act of impunity and can only happen with thesupport of the government. This is beyond belief," he added.Shashi Tharoor likened the incident to the tactics used by Nazi Germany."This is unbelievable. These are tactics from Germany in the 1930s, notIndia in 2020. I implore the authorities to stop this. They are destroyingIndian democracy as well as what remains of our nation's image in thedemocratic world," he tweeted.Tweeting a video of JNU violence, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said,"Masked attackers entered JNU while law enforcers stood by. This video iswhat RSS/BJP want to convert India to. They will not be allowed to succeed."Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, who reached JNU following the violence,was manhandled outside the campus gates as he tried to enter the university.Slogans like, "Desh me gaddaron ko goli maari saalon ko." Lal SalaamMuradabad and Bharat Mata Ki Jai were chanted at the JNU gate.JAISHANKAR DIALS MIKE POMPEO AND IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTERAs Iran-USA tensions escalate over the killing of Iranian military commanderMaj. Gen Qassem Soleimani, India's External Affairs Minister S JaishankarSunday spoke to his counterpart in Tehran, Javad Zarif, and US Secretary ofState Mike Pompeo."Just concluded a conversation with FM @JZarif of Iran. Noted thatdevelopments have taken a very serious turn. India remains deeply concernedabout the levels of tension. We agreed to remain in touch," Jaishankartweeted.A few hours later, the foreign minister tweeted about his conversation withPompeo. "Had a telephonic discussion with Secretary of State @SecPompeo onthe evolving situation in the Gulf region. Highlighted India's stakes andconcerns."After his discussion with Jaishankar, Pompeo in a tweet said, "S Jaishankarand I spoke just now regarding Iran's continued threats and provocations.The Trump administration won't hesitate to act to keep American lives, andthose of our friends and allies, safe".IMRAN KHAN CONDEMNS NANKANA SAHIB INCIDENT, TAKES A SWIPE AGAINST PM MODIPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the recent incidentof vandalism at the Nankana Sahib, saying it goes against his "vision" andthe government will show "zero tolerance" against those involved in it.According to media reports, a violent mob had attacked the Gurdwara andpelted it with stones on Friday. A team of police had to intervene brisklyto control the situation.Breaking his silence on the incident, Khan said that there is a "majordifference between the condemnable Nankana incident and the ongoing attacksacross India on Muslims and other minorities"."The former is against my vision & will find zero tolerance & protectionfrom the govt incl police & judiciary (sic)," he tweeted, referring to theNankana Sahib incident.Khan claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision supports minoritiesoppression and the targeted attacks against Muslims."On Saturday, Indian leaders cutting across party lines and various outfitscondemned the mob attack on the historic Gurdwara, terming it as "cowardly"and "shameful".IRAQI PARLIAMENT PASSES RESOLUTION TO END FOREIGN TROOP PRESENCEThe Iraqi parliament called on the government on Sunday to work to end allforeign troop presence as a backlash grew after the killing of a top Iranianmilitary commander and an Iraqi militia leader in a U.S. strike in Baghdad.A resolution passed by a special session of parliament said the governmentshould cancel its request for assistance from a U.S.-led coalition.Parliament resolutions, unlike laws, are non-binding to the government. Butthis one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earliercalled on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible."Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, itremains best for Iraq on principle and practically," Abdul Mahdi said.Abdul Mahdi, who holds the post in a caretaker role after resigning inNovember amid street protests, called on Friday for parliament to convenethe extraordinary session to take legislative steps to protect Iraq'ssovereignty.US president was quick to respond. He said that Iraq would be treated likefoe Iran, whose economy has been devastated by US-led sanctions, if thetroops were made to exit on unfavorable terms."If they do ask us to leave -- if we don't do it in a very friendly basis --we will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before," Trump said."It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame."Trump said the US base in Iraq was "very extraordinarily expensive." "We'renot leaving unless they pay us back for it," he said.IRAN STEPS BACK FURTHER FROM NUCLEAR DEAL, SAYS NO LIMITS ON ENRICHMENTIran said on Sunday it would further roll back its commitments to a 2015nuclear deal with six major powers, by enriching uranium withoutrestrictions, but Tehran will continue to cooperate with the U.N. nuclearwatchdog.State television said Iran would not respect any limits set down in the pacton the country's nuclear work: whether the limit on its number of uraniumenrichment centrifuges to its enrichment capacity, the level to whichuranium could be enriched, or Iran's nuclear Research and Developmentactivities.Iran has steadily overstepped the deal's limits on its nuclear activities inresponse to the United States' withdrawal from the accord in 2018 andWashington's reimposition of sanctions that have crippled Iran's oil trade.Tehran says it can quickly undo those breaches if those sanctions areremoved.AFTER AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN SAYS IT WILL NOT ALLOW ITS SOIL TO BE USEDAGAINST ANYONEPakistan said on Sunday that it will not allow its soil to be used againstanyone, amidst raging tensions between Iran and the US after the killing oftop Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strikein Iraq."We will not allow our soil to be used against anyone," Army spokesman MajGen Asif Ghafoor was quoted as saying by the ARY News."Pakistan will not be party to anyone or anything but will be a partner ofpeace and peace alone," he said quoting Prime Minister Imran Khan.His remarks came two days after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday saidthat Afghanistan's soil will not be used against any nations as per aBilateral Security Agreement signed between Washington and Kabul in 2014.Both Pakistan and Afghanistan share border with Iran, which has vowed toavenge the killing of its top general. US President Donald Trump has warnedIran that he has identified 52 possible targets in the country and will hitit harder than ever before if Tehran carries out any attack against Americato avenge the killing of Soleimani.ANTI-CAA STIR: SHAH ACCUSES RAHUL, PRIYANKA OF INSTIGATING RIOTSBJP president Amit Shah on Sunday accused Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi andPriyanka Gandhi Vadra of instigating "riots" by "misleading" people on theCitizenship (Amendment) Act and sought to reassure Muslims, saying the lawhas no provision about taking away citizenship of minorities.Addressing a meeting of Delhi BJP workers, Shah, also the Union HomeMinister, attacked Pakistan for "terrorising" Sikhs as he referred to arecent attack on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib by a violent mob in Pakistan andasked Opposition leaders to open their eyes to atrocities against minoritiesin the neighbouring country."This is an answer to all those opposing the CAA. Tell me if these Sikhs whowere attacked the other day in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib will not come toIndia, then where they will go?" he asked.Opposition leaders were spreading a pack of lies over the CAA, he said,asking BJP workers to carry out an intensive campaign to inform the massesabout its features.Its beneficiaries are largely Dalits and poor and those opposing the law areagainst these people, Shah said, calling Delhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal and Gandhis "anti-Dalits" for questioning it.The opposition was inciting minorities against the CAA by alleging that theywill lose their citizenship, he said. "I want to tell brothers and sistersfrom the minority that none of them can lose their citizenship because theCAA has no provision about taking it away," Shah said.The BJP leader also claimed that Congress general secretary Priyanka GandhiVadra had extended her support to rioters by saying that she will visithouses of those who carried out riots.GOVT HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITHOUT WAITING FOR BUDGET:SITHARAMANFinance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the Centre has takensteps to address the challenges faced by various sectors without waiting forthe Budget.She also said that GST collection, which crossed Rs 1 lakh crore per monthmark during the last two months, will remain "good" in coming days."The government has been regularly taking steps to help sectors which arefacing challenges. Without waiting for the Budget, we are taking the steps,"the minister said at a press conference here.Stating that the Centre does not differentiate between BJP-ruled states andnon-BJP-ruled states, she said that dues of states were not being held backby the Centre, and funds were being given as per the recommendation of 14thFinance Commission.THE CASES COMING UP IN SUPREME COURTWith the reopening of the Supreme Court on Monday after winter vacation, alleyes will be on the adjudication of contentious issues, includingcontroversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and abrogation of provisions ofArticle 370 of the Constitution.The year 2020 will also witness the apex court constituting a seven-judgeConstitution bench to examine the issue of entry of women of all ages intothe hill shrine of historic Sabarimala temple, which was referred by afive-judge Bench for fixing parameters to deal with alleged discriminationagainst Muslim and Parsi women.The first working day of the new year is also likely to have a mention ofthe petition filed by Tata Sons Private Limited (TSPL) challenging theDecember 18 decision of NCLAT restoring Cyrus Mistry as the executivechairman of the group and saying the verdict had "undermined corporatedemocracy" and the "rights" of its board of directors.The top court will also take up the contentious issue of whether the creamylayer concept should apply to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes whilegiving them reservation in promotions. In December 2019, the Centre hadurged the Supreme Court to refer its 2018 verdict excluding the creamy layerwithin the SC/ST community from reservation benefits to a 7-judge bench fora review.The apex court will keep an eye on air pollution matter in which the courthas been passing slew of directions from time to time.On January 21, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justices N V Ramanais likely to resume hearing on a batch of petitions challenging Centre'sAugust last year decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370.CYRUS MISTRY SAYS 'NOT INTERESTED' IN RETURNING TO TATA GROUPCyrus Mistry on Sunday said he is "not interested" in returning to the TataGroup in any capacity at all, ahead of the Supreme Court's hearing on anurgent petition seeking to set aside the NCLAT order reinstalling him as thegroup Chairman and also in the board of group companies.Mistry, the ousted Tata Sons Chairman, in a public statement on late Sundayevening said he has taken the decision in the overall interest of the TataGroup, whose interests are far more important than those of any individual."To dispel the misinformation campaign being conducted, I intend to make itclear that despite the NCLAT order in my favour, I will not be pursuing theexecutive chairmanship of Tata Sons or directorship of TCS, TataTeleservices, Tata Industries. I will, however, vigorously pursue alloptions to protect our rights as a minority shareholder including a seat onthe board," he said.INCOME TAX RETURN FORMS FOR AY 2020-21The Income Tax Department on Sunday notified two income-tax returns forassessment year 2020-21 three months in advance, bringing more individualsinto the mandatory return filing net.The department notified ITR 1-Sahaj and ITR 4-Sugam in January against theusual practice of notifying returns in April, with disclosure requirementsrelated to cash deposits, spending on foreign travel, and electricity.ITR 1-Sahaj is for individuals having an annual income of up to Rs 5 millionfrom salaries, a house, interest income, family pension income, etc. Theform will require passport details.ITR 4-Sugam is for individuals who have an annual income of up to Rs 5million, but have a house, deposited more than Rs 1 crore in a bank accountor incurred Rs 200,000 on foreign travel or Rs 100,000 on electricity, saidNaveen Wadhwa, deputy general manager, Taxmann.Wadhwa said an individual taxpayer could not file returns either in ITR-1 orITR-4 if he was a joint-owner of a house.The notification of the returns followed Budget announcements makingincome-tax return filing mandatory for certain persons even if their incomewas below the taxable limit. These include people depositing Rs 1 crore andabove in current accounts, spending at least Rs 200,000 on foreign travel,incurring electricity bills of Rs 100,000 or more, etc.Earlier, an individual was required to file a tax return only if his incomeexceeded the minimum threshold.BOLLYWOOD MEETS BJP LEADERS, OVER CAA, NRCSeveral Bollywood celebrities descended at Grand Hyatt in Santacruz, Mumbaion Sunday for a meeting with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and BJP vicepresident Baijayant Jay Panda. Anu Malik, Ramesh Taurani, Rahul Rawail,Shaan, Prasoon Joshi, Kunal Kohli, Roop Kumar Rathod, Bhushan Kumar, RanvirShorey, Abhishek Kapoor, Kailash Kher, Shashi Ranjan and Anu Ranjan amongothers were seen entering the venue of the meeting.Ranvir Shorey, one of the attendees, said that he was happy with thediscussion, and the meeting's agenda was to clear the "misinformation" aboutCitizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "We were mostly clearing the air aroundCAA. The fact how it's not about taking the citizenship away but granting itto refugees from neighbouring Islamic countries. The government feels thereis a lot of misinterpretation regarding the CAA, because of which there areprotests still going on," the actor said.Ranvir Shorey said he was assured otherwise when he pointed out in themeeting that people were concerned CAA and NRC together would affect thecountry's minorities."CAA is something which I already support and stand behind. But it waspointed out to me that there could be some problems with CAA and NRC as acombination. That it could be troublesome for some Indians, especiallyminorities. I did bring that up and was given assurances. I was also toldthe Home Minister and Prime Minister themselves have given assurances thatthe NRC or any exercise will legally be conducted in a way where no Indiancitizen will be affected," he said.RAIN FORCES ABANDONMENT OF SERIES OPENER IN GUWAHATIIndia won the toss and chose to bowl first, but that's as far as the weatherallowed the first T20I to progress in Guwahati. Rain had fallen through muchof the afternoon, and arrived again soon after the toss to delay the start.Although the showers lasted less than an hour, they caused too much damageto the ground - only the square and the bowlers' run-ups were protected bycovers.Once the rain stopped, ground staff worked for almost two hours on thefield. Super soppers worked non-stop, and even steam irons and hairdryerswere used on the pitch. The umpires also made repeated inspections, but allthis eventually came to nothing. The match was abandoned shortly before10pm.