Tag: Latest Affairs

NATIONAL NEWS

Diversity is the identity of our strong democracy, says Modi at U.N. General Assembly

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he represents a country which is proud to be known as the mother of democracy and said , democracy can deliver, newswire PTI reported. Modi said: We have had a great tradition of democracy that goes back to thousands of years. I represent a country that is proud to be known as the mother of democracy. On 15th of August this year, India entered into the 75th year of its independence, he said. The Prime Minister said the strength of India’s democracy is in its diversity. It is a country that has dozens of languages, hundreds of dialects, different lifestyles and cuisines. This is the best example of a vibrant democracy, the Prime Minister said. I will soon have spent 20 years serving my countrymen as head of government. First, as the longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as the Prime Minister for the last seven years, Mr. Modi said, adding that democracy has delivered. Modi said that countries with regressive thinking that are using terrorism as a political tool must understand that it is an equally big threat for them also, in a veiled attack on Pakistan which is often accused by its neighbours of providing safe havens to terrorists. Prime Minister also said that in order to strengthen the rules-based world order, the international community must speak in unison, in an apparent reference to China which is flexing its military muscles in the Indo-Pacific. Noting that the world is facing an increased threat of regressive thinking and extremism,  Modi said countries that are using terrorism as a political tool have to understand that terrorism is an equally big threat to them. It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan’s territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities, he said. We also need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests. Pakistan’s neighbours, including Afghanistan and India, and the U.S. have long accused Islamabad of providing safe haven and support to militants, a charge denied by it. Modi said that oceans are also a shared heritage. Our oceans are also the lifeline of international trade. We must protect them from the race for expansion. The international community must speak in one voice to strengthen a rule-based world order, he added.

Cyclone Gulab to make landfall on Sunday evening

The Odisha government has sounded a warning for Cyclone Gulab, which is expected to cross the coast between its southern districts and north Andhra Pradesh at 75-85 kmph wind speed on September 26 evening. Though the wind speed predicted for the cyclonic storm may not prove much destructive, the associated heavy rain is likely to cause landslide and flood situation in some of southern districts. Director-General of India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting Chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba that the cyclone would mostly likely affect Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vishakhapatnam districts of in Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam and Gajapati of Odisha. The deep depression over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards with a speed of 7 kmph in last 6 hours, intensified into Cyclonic Storm ‘Gulab’ (pronounced as Gul-Aab) and lay centered over northwest and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, about 370 km east-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 440 km east of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), says an IMD Bulletin. The system is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur around evening of September 26 (Sunday), it said. As many as 42 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, 24 National Disaster Response Force and about 100 fire service teams have been instructed to move immediately towards southern districts, Mr. Jena said. Back in 2018, Cyclone Titli, which had hit the same region of Odisha, had left many people dead in the subsequent heavy flooding and landslides. This time, seven districts Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Kandhamal have been asked to stay alert. The Odisha government is also keeping a close watch on flood situation in rivers such as Rushikulya, Vansadhara and Nagabaali flowing in southern districts.

Congress to join Bharat Bandh on Monday

The Congress has decided to lend more than its arm to the ongoing farmer’s protest which has been going on for the last one year. The party will  join the September 27 Bharat Bandh called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha to mark the first anniversary of passing of the three controversial farm laws in Parliament, the party announced on Saturday. Party spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said the Narendra Modi government has systematically assaulted the agriculture sector in past seven years. At the very onset in 2014, the Modi government came up with the Land Acquisition Ordinance to usurp farm lands in the name of strategic sectors but the government had to drop this bill, he said. In 2015,  Vallabh said, the government in an affidavit to the Supreme Court submitted that the markets will get distorted if MSP is decided according to the formula laid down by the Swaminathan Commission. Meanwhile, the government found a way to divert the agri-budget to private insurance companies by bringing in PM Kisan Bima Yojana, Vallabh alleged. It was the Modi government, which for the first time imposed a tax on the major farm implements, tractors, pesticides and seeds, the Congress spokesperson said. As per one study, in the last seven years, per hectare cost of farming has increased by ₹25,000 because of the indirect taxes imposed on agriculture, he added. The Modi government had promised to double farm incomes by February 2022 but today, the farmer’s income has hit an all-time low, he added. Quoting government data, Vallabh said that in 2012-13 on an average each farmer had a debt of ₹47,000. By 2018-19 this has increased to ₹74,000. The Modi government is responsible for all round ruin of the farm sector. And now they are turning a blind eye towards the farmers who have protesting for nine months braving the elements at the Delhi border. 600 farmers have died in this agitation but the government still insists on not talking about the farm laws,  Vallabh added. The Congress supports the demand of the farmers asking for withdrawal of the laws and giving MSP legal backing, he said. I am surprised why Prime Minister Modi is opposed to Chief Minister Modi? During UPA-2 then Gujarat Chief Minister demanded that the MSP should be made part of the law, Vallabh pointed out.

RJD demands caste census

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav has written to 33 senior political leaders to press the demand for a caste census. Led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar whose party JD(U) has been a ruling ally of BJP, the Opposition party leaders in Bihar, had earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put forth their demand for caste based census. The demand for caste based census needs to be seen as an essential step in nation building. The caste census once conducted would actually bring to the forefront the pressing concerns that a country like India must attend to with a sense of urgency. This is a historic opportunity before us to push for an agenda that is essential for making this country more just and egalitarian. It would play a pivotal role in ensuring social harmony and social cohesion, Mr. Yadav wrote in letter to the leaders.  Yadav’s letter is addressed to  Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, National Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo Mayawati, Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik, CPI leader D Raja, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, formerJ&K CM Farooq Abdullah, Tamil Nadu CM and DMK leader M.K.Stalin, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and others. I’m sure you will agree with me that we need to join our hands and push the government of the day to see this absolutely crucial need to set the priorities of the socio-economic development of our country. I am open to suggestions and inputs from you so that we immediately prepare our plan of action in this regard without any further delay, Yadav wrote in the letter conclusively. Earlier on September 24, he had said that he would wait for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s response on Central government’s decision that conducting caste based census would not be feasible in the country.  Yadav’s father and the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Lalu Prasad  too had wondered why the BJP/RSS had so much hatred against backward class people. Yadav had also called for boycott of BJP ministers sand party MPs belonging to Other and Extremely Backward Class.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

First in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit begins in Washington

The much-anticipated first in-person meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or Quad, of India, the United States, Australia and Japan), began on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the Quad leaders meeting along with leaders of the US, Japan, and Australia in Washington. US President Joe Biden is hosting all the leaders at the White House. According to sources and official announcements, today’s summit will touch upon a variety of subjects like 5G technology, climate change, critical infrastructure, supply chains and regional security. Earlier today, PM Modi and US President Biden held their first bilateral meeting since the latter assumed office and discussed bilateral relations including trade, COVID-19, climate challenges, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. PM Modi, who met Biden at the White House, said in his opening remarks that the bilateral summit was important and seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said PM Modi and Biden, along with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and their Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga will review the Quad Vaccine initiative which was announced in March this year, as part of their ongoing efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The leaders will review progress made since their first virtual summit on March 12, 2021, and discuss regional issues of shared interest. They will also exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change, and education. The Summit on Friday would provide a valuable opportunity for dialogue and interactions among the leaders, anchored in their shared vision of ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. A US official has said that hosting the Quad fundamentally is a demonstration of the priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations designed to focus on 21st-century challenges. On Thursday, PM Modi met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and held meetings with five global CEOs for potential investment in India. Earlier in March, the first-ever Quad virtual summit had stressed a free, open, and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington on Wednesday for his much-touted US visit. PM Modi is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and senior officials.

 

PM Modi concludes US visit; brings home 157 artefacts, antiquities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for India after concluding his visit to the US during which the prime minister said he had productive bilateral and multilateral engagements and expressed confidence that the India-US relationship will grow even stronger in the years to come. During his three-day visit, Prime Minister Modi addressed the 76th session of the United Nations Security Council, attended the first in-person Quad summit and held bilateral and multilateral engagements, including with US President Biden, US Vice President Harris and his counterparts from Australia Scott Morrison and from Japan Yoshihide Suga. PM Narendra Modi also brought home 157 artefacts and antiquities, which were handed over to India by the US during his visit, with both he and President Joe Biden expressing commitment to strengthening efforts to combat theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects. While nearly half of the artefacts (71) are cultural, the other half consists of figurines related to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9), an official statement said on Saturday. Modi conveyed his deep appreciation for the repatriation of antiquities to India by the United States. The list of 157 artefacts includes a diverse set of items ranging from the one-and-a-half metre bas relief panel of Revanta in sandstone of the 10th CE to the 8.5 cm tall, exquisite bronze Nataraja from the 12th CE. This continues the efforts by the Modi government to bring back India’s antiquities and artefacts from across the world, it said. Government sources said that only 13 antiquities were retrieved by India from different countries between 1976 and 2013. However, between 2014, when Modi came to power, and 2021, over 200 antiquities have either returned or are in the process of being returned, they added. Between 2004 and 2014, only one ancient antiquity returned to India, the sources said. The Modi government has brought back more ancient Indian treasures than the four decades before it, they claimed. Referring to the items handed over to India by the US during Modi’s ongoing trip, the official statement said they largely belong to the period of 11th CE to 14th CE as well as historic antiquities such as the copper anthropomorphic object of 2000 BC or the terracotta vase from the 2nd CE. Some 45 antiquities belong to Before Common Era, it said. Their make spreads across metal, stone and terracotta, the statement said. The bronze collection primarily contains ornate figurines of the well-known postures of Lakshmi Narayana, Buddha, Vishnu, Siva Parvathi and the 24 Jain Tirthankaras and the less common Kankalamurti, Brahmi and Nandikesa besides other unnamed deities and divine figures. The statement noted that the motifs include religious sculptures from Hinduism– three-headed Brahma, chariot driving Surya, Vishnu and his consorts, Siva as Dakshinamurti and dancing Ganesha among others, Buddhism– standing Buddha, Boddhisattva Majushri, Tara, and Jainism– Jain Tirthankara, Padmasana Tirthankara, Jaina Choubisi, as well as secular motifs, including amorphous couple in Samabhanga and chowri-bearer female playing the drum among others. There are 56 terracotta pieces and an 18th CE sword with a sheath with an inscription mentioning Guru Hargovind Singh in Persian, it added.

NATIONAL NEWS

Gunmen dressed as lawyers kill gangster inside Delhi Rohini court, 2 attackers dead in police action 

Delhi gangster Jitendra Gogi was shot dead on Friday in broad daylight shootout in Delhi’s Rohini court today. The assailants came dressed as lawyers and shot the gangster along with 3 others, PTI reported. Two assailants in the uniform of advocates fired upon Gogi in court, following which police also opened fire, said Rohini DCP Pranav Tayal. Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana informed that the killers belonged to the ‘Tillu Gang’ and were neutralized by the Delhi Police. He, however, denied the instance being that of a gang war. Jitendra Gogi was arrested earlier back in April under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) by Delhi Police’s Special Cell. There are 19 cases of murder and attempted murder, besides dozens of extortions, dacoities, car jackings and robberies against him. The war between Jitender Alipuria, who goes by the name Gogi, and Sunil Tajpuria alias Tillu is a long-standing one which has resulted in murders of multiple members of both the gangs. The police is still verifying the names of the shooters. 

Gujarat drug seizure case likely to go to NIA 

The Central government may enlist the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for undertaking a comprehensive probe into the country’s largest drug seizure by the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Mundra Port in Gujarat. The DRI recently seized almost 3,000 kg of heroin that was originally shipped from Afghanistan and its market value is pegged at around ₹21,000 crore. After the seizure, the probe was widened to Andhra Pradesh, as one Vijaywada-based couple had imported the consignment; Tamil Nadu; Gujarat and other places. The seizure is said to be one of the largest seizures in the world. Now, The Hindu has reliably learnt that the Centre is contemplating roping in the NIA to probe the case, as terror forces from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran are involved in the smuggling of banned substances in the country. It will probably go to the NIA, a senior official told The Hindu, adding that only a federal agency could probe the case since it involved multiple States and also stakeholders. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said it would also join the probe and lodge a case of money-laundering in the matter. Both the DRI and the ED are the Finance Ministry wings, while the NIA functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Gujarat’s Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), which has been actively busting the drug mafias who try to smuggle in the drugs via the sea route off Gujarat coast, has also begun collecting details of the seizure at the Mundra Port and people involved in its import and arranging its logistics. Meanwhile, when contacted, officials at Adani Group, which operates the Mundra Port, stated that their role was limited to port operations and they were not empowered to inspect or check the cargo that was shipped or arrive at the port terminal. Secondly, the terminal where the cargo landed at the port was also not operated by the Adani Group, which has leased out terminals to other private players. The law empowers the Government of India’s competent authorities such as the Customs and the DRI to open, examine and seize unlawful cargo. No port operator across the country can examine a container. Their role is limited to running the port, the group said in a statement. In the last few years, the Gujarat coast has emerged as the preferred route for drug-smuggling as the ATS and Indian Coast Guard have intercepted Pakistani and Iranian boats loaded with contraband drugs.

Shubham Kumar tops, 761 candidates clear civil services exam, says UPSC 

A total of 761 candidates have cleared the coveted civil services examination 2020, with engineering graduates Shubham Kumar and Jagrati Awasthi bagging the first and second ranks respectively. The Union Public Service Commission on Friday declared the results of the examination, conducted annually to select IAS, IFS and IPS officers, among other civil servants. Kumar, a Bachelor of Technology (civil engineering) graduate from IIT Bombay, has qualified the examination with anthropology as his optional subject. Awasthi is the topper among women candidates, according to a statement issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Awasthi qualified the examination with sociology as her optional subject. She completed B.Tech (electrical engineering) from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal. Ankita Jain has achieved the third rank in the prestigious test. A total of 761 candidates — 545 men and 216 women — have cleared the examination and been recommended for various civil services by the Commission. The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC in three stages — preliminary, main and interview — to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others. The civil services (preliminary) examination, 2020 was conducted on October 4 last year. As many as 10,40,060 candidates applied for the examination, out of whom 4,82,770 appeared in it, the statement said. A total of 10,564 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (main) examination which was held in January, 2021. Of them, 2,053 candidates qualified for the personality test (interview), it said. The 761 recommended candidates include 25 persons with benchmark disability — seven orthopedically handicapped, four visually challenged, 10 hearing impaired and four multiple disabilities. Of the successful candidates, 263 are of general category, 86 from economic weaker section (EWS), 220 of Other Backward Class (OBC), 122 Scheduled Castes (SC) and 61 belong to Scheduled Tribes category. The UPSC said that the top 25 candidates comprise 13 men and 12 women. The educational qualifications of top 25 successful candidates range from graduation in engineering, humanities, commerce and medical science from premier institutions of the country such as IIT, NIT, BITS, NSUT, DTU, JIPMER, University of Mumbai and Delhi University, the statement said. A total of 150 candidates have been put in the reserve list. The examination was conducted to fill 836 posts of different civil services.

BJP stand on caste census puts JD(U) in tight spot

The Narendra Modi government’s submission in the Supreme Court (SC) on the caste census not being feasible has put key NDA ally Janata Dal (United) in a difficult position. This is the first time that the Narendra Modi government has spoken on their stand on the caste census. We are sad and angry that the government has decided to take a stand in the Supreme Court without consulting the allies, JD(U) Secretary General K C Tyagi said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a strident advocate of caste census, has argued that enumeration of the backward castes is key for effective implementation of welfare programmes. He has so far maintained studied silence on government’s affidavit in SC.  The JD(U) has been leading the march, but the baton could easily slip from their hands to the opposition parties. On July 31, the party’s national executive passed a resolution in favour of the caste census and on August 23, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led a delegation of all floor leaders in Bihar assembly to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their political opponent in Bihar, the RJD, sources said, will use the government affidavit to corner both the BJP and the JD(U). The government’s stand also gives a window to the Samajwadi Party, who are desperately looking to make inroads into the OBC vote bank ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls. Senior RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K Jha said the government’s affidavit clearly exposes the government’s reluctance to respect the sentiments of people. This affidavit from the government is based on a false narrative. A narrative that is brazenly denying the people’s right to know the critical reality in terms of the socio-economic data. It is not a political question. People of the country must know in the 75th year of our independence how many of us are genuinely free, Jha said. A more belligerent stand by the JD(U) on the subject could cast a shadow on their ties with the BJP. Tyagi, however, pointed out that BJP leaders themselves have spoken in favour of the caste census, including BJP MP from Badaun, Sanghamitra Maurya, who spoke in support of the backward headcount in Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The Congress also criticised the government’s affidavit, saying that it exposes the Modi-government’s insensitivity towards the backward classes.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Must defend democratic principles and institutions, says Kamal Harris on occasion of first in-person meeting with PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Kamala Harris had bilateral talks on September 23, 2021. Modi was received at the 150-year-old Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the Vice President’s ceremonial office. The meeting started with comments at the top, with the press in the room. Harris spoke first, and Modi next, with interpreters translating between English and Hindi. During her opening remarks, Harris said it was imperative for India and the U.S. to strengthen democracy within their respective countries, defend democratic principles and institutions. Finally, as democracies around the world are under threat, it is imperative that we defend democratic principles and institutions within our respective countries and around the world and that we maintain what we must do to strengthen democracies at home, Harris said. And it is incumbent on our nations to, of course, protect democracies in the best interest of the people of our countries, she said making a reference to her own family’s experience. I know from personal experience and from my family of the commitment of the Indian people to democracy and to freedom and to the work that may be done and can be done to imagine and then actually achieve our vision for democratic principles and institutions, Harris said. After their meeting, Modi and Harris could be seen talking briefly on the balcony, while the delegates waited inside. A small group of protestors had gathered earlier in front of the White House on Lafayette Square. Some of the protestors, part of a group called ‘Coalition to Stop Genocide in India’,  waived the Indian flag and carried banners with #HumansAgainstHindutva written on it. At the Willard hotel, where Modi was staying, another handful of people – this time supporters – could be seen in the public areas , some of them in formal wear, asking how they could catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister. Media access to the Prime Minister has been a challenge. While The Hindu managed to access the remarks at the start of the Modi-Harris bilateral, it was told it did not have a place and only state run media (and at least one specific private media agency) were given spots from the Indian side. In his remarks, Modi spoke about the warmth of Harris’s message in a phone call earlier this year when India was facing its second pandemic wave. Excellency, some months ago, we had an opportunity to talk to each other on the phone. We had a detailed discussion at that time. And the way you spoke to me so warmly and so naturally, I will always remember that. Thank you so much, Modi said, calling Harris a true friend and acknowledging the help of the U.S. government, its private sector, and the Indian diaspora.

 

Pakistan, China Conduct First Ever Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise Under SCO

The closing ceremony of the Joint Anti-Terrorist Exercise (JATE) – 2021 was held at National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi, in the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Army said in a statement. The first-ever anti-terror exercise conducted in Pakistan under the ambit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) concluded on Monday with the participation of troops from China and Pakistan sharing their experiences to counter evolving threats. The closing ceremony of the Joint Anti-Terrorist Exercise (JATE) – 2021 was held at National Counter Terrorism Centre, Pabbi, in the northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Army said in a statement. The exercise focused on enhancing cooperation and cohesiveness in combating international terrorism, the statement said. Troops from China and Pakistan participated in the exercise and shared their experiences of capacity building and innovative approaches on emerging technologies being used to counter the evolving threats. The two-week exercise had started on September 21, which was its second phase. In the first stage, the training part of the exercise was conducted in respective SCO member countries from July 26-31. During the two-week-long training, participating troops from China and Pakistan extensively practised various drills as part of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Operations from planning to conduct, the army said. The exercise included cordon and search, compound clearance, close quarter battle, rappelling from a helicopter, explosive handling and medical evacuation. RATS, headquartered in Tashkent, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote the cooperation of member states against terrorism, separatism and extremism. The SCO is an economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Pegasus case | Supreme Court panel may look into allegations

Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Thursday indicated the Supreme Court’s intention to form a committee to examine allegations that the government used Israeli-based Pegasus software to spy on citizens. The revelation came when the Chief Justice informed senior advocate C.U. Singh, who represented one of the petitioners in the Pegasus case, that the court wanted to pass orders in the case this week but could not because some of the members it had shortlisted for the committee were unavailable due to personal reasons. Chief Justice Ramana said the court would now pass orders in the Pegasus case sometime next week. We wanted to pass the order this week, but some of the members we thought of in the committee said they would be not be able to for personal reasons. We will pass the order next week sometime, Chief Justice Ramana addressed Singh. The CJI asked Singh to inform the other lawyers in the case. While reserving the case for interim order on September 13, the court had mentioned it would be pronounced in the next two or three days. The court had decided to go ahead with an interim order after the government expressed reservations about filing a detailed affidavit responding to the allegations. The Centre had said it would be public and compromise national security. The petitioners had asked for an affidavit from the Cabinet Secretary or for the court to form a committee led by a sitting judge to probe the snooping controversy. A Bench of Chief Justice Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli made it clear on September 13 that there would be no more beating around the bush in the issue. The CJI had said the court had given the government a fair opportunity to file a detailed affidavit in order to get a clear idea of its stand in the Pegasus case. We thought the government would file a counter-affidavit now we will pass our interim orders, Chief Justice Ramana had remarked. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for senior journalists N. Ram and Sashi Kumar, had found the government’s refusal to file a detailed affidavit unbelievable.

Large grazing area lost to growing Chinese presence in eastern Ladakh 

Villagers have lost access to a vast grazing area near Gogra in eastern Ladakh owing to growing Chinese presence in the area, Konchok Stanzin, a councillor from Chushul has claimed. Gogra is one of the several friction points in eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a stand-off since April-May 2020. The troops have disengaged from the north and south banks of the Pangong Tso and Gogra sector, creating no zones in areas along the undemarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC) that was regularly patrolled by Indian troops pre-April 2020. Stanzin told The Hindu that the Army has stopped the villagers’ access to the Kiu La pass that was till a few years ago frequented by the villagers of Lukung, Phobrang and Yourgo for cattle-grazing. A group of villagers marched to the Kiu La pass a few days ago but they were denied access by the Army. There used to be a bunker on the upper reaches, but it is no longer there. We fear that the Chinese are nibbling away at our territory. This was never a disputed area, Stanzin said. He added that the area does not have a phone or Internet connectivity and the villagers had decided to go there on their own initiative. Since April 2020, Chinese troops have blocked Indian troops from reaching at least 10 patrolling points (PPs) in eastern Ladakh — running from Depsang plains in the north to the Pangong Tso lake in the south. In all, there are more than 65 PPs from the base of the Karakoram to Chumar. Stanzin said that China has constructed permanent structures and roads close to the LAC while the Indian side could only boast of a few roads. There is no mobile connectivity in border areas and despite repeated pleas, the administration has not acted. It is frustrating. They fix the phone lines for a few hours whenever a VIP arrives here. It’s back to square one once they leave, he said. On April 2, the Ministry of Defence in a communication to Stanzin said, Due to the present operational situation in Ladakh, grazers have been asked to restrict their cattle movements.

Kin of those who died by suicide within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis can get financial help, MHA tells SC 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that the families of those who died by suicide within 30 days of a COVID-19 positive diagnosis would be eligible for financial help under the Disaster Management Act. The statement came in the backdrop of the guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which recommended ₹50,000 each as ex gratia assistance to the families of people who died of the virus. The NDMA has proposed that the States should provide the money from their State Disaster Response Fund. In the previous hearing of the case on September 13, a Bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna urged the government to consider ex gratia payment to the families of people who committed suicide, unable to bear the shock of a COVID-19 positive diagnosis. On Thursday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Ministry, stressed that these families were also entitled to avail financial help as granted under the SDRF in accordance with the NDMA guidelines of September 11. That is, they too would be eligible for the ₹50,000 ex gratia payment. If the person committed suicide within 30 days of a positive test, it should be deemed that the person took his own life because of COVID-19, he submitted. During the hearing, the court suggested that the committees proposed to be formed at the district level under the NDMA guidelines to deal with grievances regarding certification of death should be able to directly access hospital medical records to check claims of COVID-19 deaths. This would help resolve cases in which families claim ex gratia assistance but do not have medical records of COVID-19 treatment to show. The court would pass formal orders on the NDMA guidelines on October 4.

Man stabs college student to death near Chennai’s Tambaram railway station 

A 20-year-old college student was murdered in broad daylight by a man near Tambaram railway station in Chennai on September 23. The youth, who knew the victim for a few years, also attempted to kill himself but was stopped by the public. He was later handed over to the police. A senior officer of the Chennai Police said Shwetha, a diploma student at Madras Christian College in Tambaram, was on her way home when the accused Ramachandran, working in a private company in Maraimalai Nagar, wanted to speak to her near the railway quarters located on the east side of the railway station. Though Shweta, a resident of Chromepet, knew him for a few years, she had ended the relationship. They had a verbal spat during which Ramachandran took a small knife kept hidden in his bag and stabbed her. On  hearing her cries, nearby residents rushed to her rescue. In the meantime, the 25-year-old accused also attempted to kill himself, but was stopped by the public. Even before the people could take the victim to a nearby hospital she died, the police officer said. Tambaram Police rushed to the crime scene, and arrested the accused Ramachandran, who is from Nagapattinam. The victim’s body has been sent to Chromepet Government Hospital for post mortem. Senior police officials inspected the crime scene, and are investigating.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

China sends record number of warplanes towards Taiwan. 

China sent a record number of warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Friday and Saturday ahead of a visit to Taipei by French lawmakers. The escalation of Beijing’s intimidation against Taipei comes as China endures growing economic pressures while stepping up domestic regulatory and political crackdowns. According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, 38 military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Friday, including 28 J-16 fighters, four SU-30 fighters, four H-6 bombers, an anti-submarine plane and an early warning aircraft. On Saturday, the Chinese Air Force sent 39 aircraft, including 26 J-16 fighters, 10 SU-30 fighters, two anti-aircraft planes and one early-warning aircraft, Taiwan’s defence ministry said. On both days, the numbers markedly exceeded the daily record of 28 planes, which was set in June. Some 16 Chinese military aircraft entered the zone on Sunday, including 12 fighters. Military experts define the incursions as grey zone tactics, operations aimed at eroding Taiwan’s security but stopping short of war. China claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens to invade it if Taipei refuses to submit to its control indefinitely. The Taiwanese government on Saturday denounced the latest incursions. China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace, said Su Tseng-chang, the premier. Last week, Beijing described Joseph Wu, the Taiwanese foreign minister as a shrilling fly in an unusual verbal attack that Taipei described as slander and abuse. October is traditionally a politically charged season because both China and Taiwan celebrate their national days this month. On Friday, Beijing marked the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. On October 10, Taiwan celebrates the Republic of China, the state that was overthrown in mainland China by the PRC but continues to exist in Taiwan, where the ROC government fled in 1949. Last year, however, there was no marked increase in air incursions by China’s People’s Liberation Army.

 

Taipei’s bid to join transpacific trade pact could be held hostage by Beijing

Some observers in Taiwan said the PLA’s increased harassment could be an attempt to intimidate Taiwan ahead of planned exchanges with Europe. Next week, a delegation of French lawmakers is due to visit Taipei. Later this month, Taiwan’s chief economic planner is scheduled to lead a 65-strong delegation to several central and eastern European countries. However, military experts noted that the level of PLA air activity near Taiwan had been at a heightened level for weeks. Since Taiwan conducted its regular annual military exercise in early September, PLA air incursions frequently included fighter jets, a pattern rarely seen until now. The PLA has been sending aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ on an average of 20 days per month since September 2020, when Taipei made the incursions public for the first time. Often only one or two anti-submarine warfare or early-warning aircraft a day enter the zone for extended periods. Large numbers of fighters and bombers, like this weekend, have in the past appeared when Taiwan has enjoyed international attention or engaged in foreign exchanges. The warplanes do not enter Taiwan’s sovereign airspace, which begins 12 miles off the coast of its territory. But by frequently entering the ADIZ, they force Taiwan’s military to continuously scramble fighter jets, exhausting its resources and gathering intelligence in the process.

NATIONAL NEWS 

SC pushes armed forces to let women compete for admission to NDA in November 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pushed the armed forces to live up to its reputation as the best response team we have to stand up to an emergency, iron out creases, and make history happen by allowing women to write the exam for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA) in November this year. The court was responding to a statement made by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in an affidavit that it would have the mechanism to induct women into the NDA ready by May 2022. Senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma and advocate Mohit Paul, for petitioner Kush Kalra, countered that if the NDA entrance exam is announced in May 2022, the actual exam would take place later in September. This would mean that the actual induction of women cadets into the prestigious military academy, the gateway to the three Services and a male bastion, would happen in 2023 — a delay of a whole year. A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and B.R. Gavai said it was time the armed forces buckle up and make a beginning. The court refused to vacate its order of August 18 that women would write the NDA entrance exam in 2021 itself. The exam is scheduled for November. The MoD, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, urged the court to let the November 2021 exam go on as before, without women taking it. It stated that the military establishment would need at least six months to prepare for the start of the process for induction of women into the NDA. Bhati submitted that a study group had been formed to look into the infrastructure and course requirements for women cadets in the NDA. But the court made it plain that though it was in favour of giving time to the study group, it did not want to delay women from taking the exam. We do not accept this situation. The armed forces treat everything as an emergency. They are the best response team we have. They deal with far more difficult situations in the country’s borders, they can deal with this. Do not ask us to vacate our order [of August 18], Justice Kaul addressed the MoD.

NDMA for ₹50,000 ex-gratia to kin of those who lost lives to COVID-19, Centre tells Supreme Court The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended that ₹50,000 be given to the kin of those who died of COVID-19, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday. It said that ex-gratia assistance will also be given to the kin of those who died of the virus due to involvement in COVID-19 relief operations or activities associated with the preparedness for dealing with the pandemic. The ex-gratia assistance will be given subject to the cause of death being certified as COVID-19 as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and ICMR, the government said. It added that the ex-gratia assistance will be provided by States from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). On September 3, the top court had expressed displeasure over delay in framing of guidelines for issuance of death certificates to the families of those who died of COVID-19. The apex court had in its June 30 verdict directed the NDMA to recommend within six weeks the guidelines for ex-gratia assistance on account of loss of life to the family members of persons who died due to COVID-19.

Rahul likely to visit Chhattisgarh where a leadership tussle is on 

Amid the leadership tussle in Chhattisgarh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit the Congress-ruled State by the end of September. After the change of guard in Punjab, speculation has gained ground that Chhattisgarh is likely to be the next State that could see a leadership change. It is not clear if the Congress high command will take a call on the leadership question before Gandhi’s visit but the issue is wide open. The arrival of State Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo in Delhi on Monday and Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu meeting party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal on Tuesday has further fuelled talks of a possible change of leadership and Cabinet reshuffle. Top party sources, however, claimed that talks about an impending reshuffle are not correct. The date or other issues of rotating chief ministership have not been finalised. Both the leaders have been told to keep quiet and not issue statements against each other. The high command will let them know when it takes a call on the issue, said an All India Congress Committee (AICC) functionary. According to a rotation formula agreed in December 2018 when Gandhi was the party president, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was to handover his position to Deo by June 16 this year. Though both the leaders have avoided making direct public statements, Baghel has been using various public events to show his strength and support among the MLAs. On Tuesday, Baghel hosted a dinner for the tribal MLAs from the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, at the Chief Minister’s residence. Last week, 36 Congress MLAs are said to have expressed their support by pledging to resign if the Chief Minister is changed. The central leaders have not yet decided but such antics won’t go down well, said another AICC leader who is familiar with the Chhattisgarh situation.

DTU VC Yogesh Singh appointed Vice Chancellor of Delhi University 

Delhi Technological University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh has been appointed as the VC of Delhi University, Ministry of Education officials said on Wednesday, PTI reported. Singh, who will be the 23rd Vice-Chancellor of DU, will succeed Yogesh Tyagi, who was suspended last October over allegations of irregularities and dereliction of duty. Tyagi was the first VC in the university’s history to face such action. Pro Vice-Chancellor PC Joshi was holding charge of the top post since then. President Ram Nath Kovind who is the Visitor to central universities has approved the appointment of two Vice Chancellors. While Yogesh Singh will be the VC of Delhi University, Neelima Gupta has been appointed to the post at Dr Hari Singh Gaur Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, a ministry official said.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Turkish President Erdogan again makes reference to Kashmir in UN General Assembly address Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again referred to the issue of Kashmir in his address to world leaders at the high-level UN General Assembly session. Last year also, Erdogan in his pre-recorded video statement to the General Debate had made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir. India at that time termed it as completely unacceptable, saying Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply. Erdogan in his address to the General Debate on Tuesday said, We maintain our stance in favour of solving the ongoing problem in Kashmir for 74 years, through dialogue between the parties and within the framework of relevant United Nations resolutions. The Turkish President, a close ally of Pakistan, had repeatedly raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level General Debate. He had also raised the Kashmir issue during his visit to Pakistan last year. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at that time had said Erdogan’s remarks reflected neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy and that they will have strong implications on India’s ties with Turkey. It said India rejected the repeated attempts by Turkey to justify the cross-border terrorism practised so blatantly by Pakistan. In his address on Tuesday, the Turkish President also referred to China’s minority Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Myanmar’s Rohingya during his address. Erdogan said that within China’s territorial integrity perspective, we do believe that more efforts need to be displayed regarding the protection of the basic rights of the Muslim Uyghur Turks. The U.S. and the European Union, besides many other countries, have accused China of committing genocide against the Uyghurs in resource-rich Xinjiang and called for an international probe by human rights groups. We also support ensuring the safe, voluntary, dignified return of Rohingya Muslims, who are living in difficult conditions in camps in Bangladesh and Myanmar, back to their motherland, Erdogan said.

U.K. includes Covishield in list of recognised vaccines, but India remains on ‘Amber’ list

The United Kingdom on Wednesday formally recognised Covid-19 vaccine Covishield produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII). The recognition will become effective from 4 a.m. of October 4. It was, however, told to The Hindu that discussion on vaccination certificates was still on. Wednesday’s announcement did not include any change in India’s position in the ‘Amber List’, while the U.K. has cleared 18 countries for the ‘Green List’. The development came a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his British counterpart Liz Truss in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly and urged the U.K. to address the issue around the status of Covishield and the requirement of quarantine for 10 days in case of Indian travellers. The Hindu reported on Wednesday that recognition of Covishield is not a problem for the U.K. and the real challenge has been about India’s vaccination certificates. U.K. High Commission officials said they were still in discussion over vaccination certification with the Government of India, indicating that a final decision on whether to include India in the list of recognised vaccine administrators has not yet been made. British High Commissioner Alex Ellis in an interview with NDTV on Wednesday highlighted that lots of people were travelling from India to the U.K. and that his country had conducted detailed conversation internally on India’s vaccine certificates. From 4 a.m. of October 4, the U.K. will do away with the traffic light system of ‘Red, Amber and Green’ lists and create a single ‘Red List’ to ensure greater ease. London has cleared 18 nations, including Canada, Denmark, Antigua and Barbuda, for the ‘Green List’, which will allow doubly vaccinated travellers from these countries to fly to the U.K. without quarantine requirement. The current rules and the recognition of Covishield means that a traveller from the ‘Green List’ countries can use Covishield vaccine before flying to the U.K., but an Indian traveller from India will still have to undergo quarantine lasting 10 days despite using the same vaccine. According to the latest announcement, the U.K.-approved vaccines will have to be administered 14 days before travelling to that country. Britain took India out of the ‘Red List’ and placed it in the ‘Amber List’ on August 8 that removed the requirement of hotel or institutional quarantine for Indian travellers but retained the need for home quarantine for 10 days. There were no changes in India’s position in the ‘Amber List’ and the requirement of quarantined private stay lasting 10 days has also been retained. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla stated that India could impose reciprocal measures if the U.K. continued with its policy on Covishield. He termed it discriminatory.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Mechanism to induct women cadets into NDA will be ready in May 2022, Defence Ministry tells Supreme Court.

The government has informed the Supreme Court that it proposes to have the ‘mechanism’ to induct women cadets into the National Defence Academy (NDA) for entry into the Armed Forces to be ready in May 2022. The Ministry of Defence told the court in an affidavit that the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) would include women in its NDA exam notification expected to be published in May, 2022. The government, in line with its commitment, hereby places on record the clear and categorical stand that the women candidates shall be considered for entry in the three defence services, in the existing streams, through the National Defence Academy… Entrance examination for entry into NDA are held twice in a year. The government proposes to have the necessary mechanism in place by May, 2022, i.e., the time by which UPSC is required to publish the first notification of 2022, for entrance exam for entry to NDA, a short affidavit by the Ministry said. With this, the path is clear for women to train along with men at the NDA, considered a male bastion. After the Supreme Court judgment last year, which led to permanent commission for women officers, this is the second time that the court has nudged the Armed Forces towards gender equality.

India’s religious makeup has remained stable since 1951, says Pew Center study

The religious composition of India’s population since Partition has remained largely stable, with both Hindus and Muslims, the two largest religious groups, showing not only a marked decline but also a convergence in fertility rates, according to a new study published by Pew Research Center, a non-profit based in Washington DC. The study, based on data sourced from India’s decennial census and the National Family Health Survey (NHFS), looked at the three main factors that are known to cause changes in religious composition of populations, fertility rate, migration, and conversions. With regard to fertility rates, the study found that Muslims, who had the highest fertility rate, also had the sharpest decline in fertility rates. From 1992 to 2015, the total fertility rates of Muslims declined from 4.4 to 2.6, while that of Hindus declined from 3.3 to 2.1, indicating that the gaps in childbearing between India’s religious groups are much smaller than they used to be. In percentage terms, between 1951 and 2011, Muslims grew by 4.4 percentage points to 14.2% of the population, while Hindus declined by 4.3 points to 79.8%. But all the six major religious groups — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains – have grown in absolute numbers. The sole exception to this trend are Parsis, whose number halved between 1951 and 2011, from 110,000 to 60,000. Interestingly, out of India’s total population of 1,200 million, about 8 million did not belong to any of the six major religious groups. Within this category, mostly comprising adivasi people, the largest grouping was of Sarnas (nearly 5 million adherents), followed by Gond (1 milliion) and sari Dharma (510,000). With regard to migration as a driver of change in religious makeup, the study says that since the 1950s, migration has had only a modest impact on India’s religious composition. More than 99% of people who live in India were also born in India, and migrants leaving India outnumber immigrants three-to-one, with Muslims more likely than Hindus to leave India, while immigrants into India from Muslim-majority counties are disproportionately Hindu. Religious conversion has also had a negligible impact on India’s overall composition, with 98% of Indian adults still identifying with the religion in which they were raised.

600 more workers to be deployed at Central Vista Avenue to speed up project

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said 600 more workers would join the Central Vista Avenue redevelopment project, which was expected to be completed before the Republic Day Parade in 2022. Puri, who visited the site on Tuesday to review the work, said he was confident that the project would be ready in time for the R-Day parade next year. 3,400 workers working day & night on site to compensate for the time lost due to rains. 600 more workers will be added to the workforce in a week. (sic), Puri said in a tweet. As part of the Central Vista revamp project, the Central Vista Avenue redevelopment was started earlier this year. It includes new public amenities for visitors, new landscaping of the India Gate lawns and development of infrastructure for the annual parade.

Raj Kundra walks out of Mumbai jail after bail in pornographic films case

Businessman Raj Kundra today walked out of a Mumbai jail, a day after a magistrate court in Mumbai granted bail to the key accused in a pornographic films case in which he was arrested two months ago. Kundra was released from the Arthur Road jail shortly after 11.30 a.m., a jail official said. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S.B. Bhajipale on September 20 allowed Kundra’s bail application on furnishing a bond of ₹50,000. Kundra’s associate and co-accused Ryan Thorpe, who was arrested along with him on July 19, was also granted bail by the court in the case pertaining to alleged creation of pornographic films and publishing them through some apps. The 46-year-old businessman was lodged in Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai under judicial custody. Kundra, the husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, was arrested by the Mumbai police’s crime branch after being booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Kundra moved a bail plea before the metropolitan magistrate court on Saturday, days after the police filed a supplementary charge-sheet in the case. In the plea, filed through advocate Prashant Patil, Kundra claimed there was not even an iota of evidence till date with the prosecution that would connect the app ‘Hotshots’, used in the alleged porn films racket, with an offence under law. As per the probe agency, the ‘Hotshots’ app was being used by accused persons for uploading and streaming obscene content. The businessman claimed there was no evidence of him being actively involved in creation of alleged questionable porn content. Kundra alleged he was falsely implicated, was not even named in the FIR and was dragged by the respondent (police) in the case. The businessman claimed in the plea that he is being made a scapegoat for reasons best known to investigators.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urges U.S.-China dialogue, warns of divisions at UNGA

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the United States and China to engage in dialogue, warning of an increasingly divided world. I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence — and ultimately two different military and geopolitical strategies, Guterres said as he opened the annual UN General Assembly. This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need cooperation, he said. We need dialogue. We need understanding. The summit will feature the first speech to the world body by U.S. President Joe Biden, who has described a rising and authoritarian China as the paramount challenge of the 21st century. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also set to address the United Nations but by video in light of COVID-19 restrictions. Guterres said that divisions between the two powers set back efforts on other key priorities including reversing coups. Since February, militaries have seized control both in Myanmar and Guinea and Afghanistan’s Western-backed government collapsed to the Taliban. We are also seeing an explosion in seizures of power by force. Military coups are back. The lack of unity among the international community does not help, Guterres said. Geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation and limiting the capacity of the Security Council to take the necessary decisions.

 

India considers ‘reciprocal’ steps to U.K.’s quarantine rules

India could impose reciprocal measures on the United Kingdom if London maintained the current quarantine policy that subjected Indian travellers irrespective of vaccination status to a quarantine period lasting 10 days, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said here on Tuesday. There was an option of mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, he noted at a press briefing. The comments came hours after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his British counterpart Liz Truss in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The UK government on September 17, relaxed pandemic restrictions on travel into England. The External Affairs Minister has raised this issue strongly with his counterpart, the new Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and I am told that certain assurances have been given that this issue would be resolved. And as you saw, the Minister has said this issue should be resolved at the earliest possible to mutual satisfaction. We have also offered some of our partner countries the option of mutual recognition of vaccination certificates or vaccine certification. But these are reciprocal measures. I think if obviously, as we go along, we will have to see how it goes. If we don’t get satisfaction, we would be well within our rights to impose reciprocal measures, Shringla observed. He indicated that the U.K.’s policy to impose 10 days quarantine on people vaccinated with Covishield did reveal a gap in that country’s policy regarding vaccines made in India. The basic issue is that here is a vaccine — Covishield — which is a licensed product of a U.K. company, manufactured in India. Of which we have supplied five million doses to the U.K., at the request of the U.K. We understand this has been used in their National Health System and therefore, non-recognition of Covishield is a discriminatory policy, he stated. This policy hurt Indian nationals travelling to the U.K., he pointed out. Earlier, Jaishankar remarked he had taken up the matter with Truss and urged early resolution of the issue in mutual interest. It was also learnt that the recognition of Covishield of the SII is not an issue for the U.K. and the real problem is the vaccine certificate, which is stuck on procedural and technical matters related to the healthcare database of the U.K. Earlier, a British High Commission spokesperson said, We are engaging with the Government of India to explore how we could expand U.K. recognition of vaccine certification to people vaccinated by a relevant public health body in India.

 

PM Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron discuss Indo-Pacific co-operation

French President Emmanuel Macron discussed on Tuesday co-operating over the Indo-Pacific region with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as France deals with the fallout from Australia’s cancellation of a $40 billion French submarine order. The two leaders held a phone conversation on Tuesday, said a statement from Macron’s office, during which they also discussed issues such as the crisis in Afghanistan. Last week, France recalled its ambassadors from the United States and Australia after Australia cancelled its previous nuclear submarine deal with France. Australia said last week that it would scrap an earlier 2016 deal with France’s Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines, and would instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology after striking a trilateral security partnership. France called it a stab in the back. China in turn denounced a new Indo-Pacific security alliance between the United States, Britain and Australia, warning of an intensified arms race in the region.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Charanjit Singh Channi takes oath as Punjab Chief Minister

Congress leader and MLA Charanjit Singh Channi on September 20 took oath as Chief Minister of Punjab. Two Deputy Chief Ministers — O.P. Soni and Sukhjinder Randhawa — also took oath along with the Chief Minister. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy, with Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, State unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu and others present on the occasion. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh skipped the event though he had extended his best wishes to Channi. Channi, 58, is the first Dalit to head the government in the State. He was Technical Education Minister in the Amarinder Singh Cabinet. A close aide of Sidhu, he was among the ministers who had rebelled against Capt. Amarinder, expressing lack of faith in the former Chief Minister’s ability to fulfill the party’s election promises.  He had attacked him on several issues — the Bargari sacrilege issue, failure to curb the drugs and transport mafias, and other unkept election promises made in 2017. Meanwhile, the turmoil in Punjab Congress seems to be far from over as former Punjab Congress State president Sunil Jakhar raised questions on the party’s strategy of going to the upcoming Assembly poll under the leadership of Sidhu rather than Channi, saying it undermined the Chief Minister’s authority. Taking to Twitter, Jakhar said, On the swearing-in day of Sh @Charnjit_Channi as Chief Minister, Rawats’s statement that elections will be fought under Sidhu, is baffling. It’s likely to undermine CM’s authority and also negates the very raison d’être of his selection for this position. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Channi on being sworn-in as Punjab Chief Minister. Congratulations to Shri Charanjit Singh Channi Ji on being sworn-in as Punjab’s Chief Minister. Will continue to work with the Punjab government for the betterment of the people of Punjab, Modi tweeted.

COVID-19 vaccine export to be resumed next month

India would resume the export of COVID-19 vaccines under ‘Vaccine Maitri’ in order to fulfill the commitment towards COVAX, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Monday. We are resuming Vaccine Maitri next month in line with our motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ he said. The surplus supply of vaccines would be used to fulfill India’s commitment towards the world for the collective fight against the virus. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organisation. Speaking about increased vaccine production in the coming months, he stated that more than 30 crore doses would be made in October. More than 100 crore doses would be produced in the coming quarter, he added. Highlighting the importance of indigenous research and production of COVID-19 vaccines, he observed that India’s vaccination drive had been a role model for the world and it was marching ahead with great speed. More than four times, we have crossed one crore vaccination administration on a single day since the drive commenced on January 16, he noted.

Won’t interfere with States’ decisions on school reopening: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday said the judiciary will not interfere with State governments’ decisions on whether or not to open schools. A Bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and B.V. Nagarathna said the decision to open schools is entirely that of individual States and the court will not queer the pitch. The judiciary has neither data nor the expertise to pass omnibus directions to States to open schools and resume physical classes, especially when the lives of children are at stake. Governments have to tread with the greatest care when opening schools and exposing children to the virus… If so, the courts have to take greater care, that too, with no data at hand, Justice Chandrachud observed. The court was dealing with a petition filed by a student who wanted governments to take time-bound decisions to open up schools for physical classes. Justice Chandrachud said the child who is the petitioner here should focus on his studies rather than file public interest petitions with no or little data to support his contentions. Different States have different situations regarding COVID-19. The situation may vary according to factors like the size of the State and density of the population. It is the decision of each State to see the areas where there is a spike in cases and act accordingly. Ultimately, it is best to leave it for the governments to decide. We cannot take over governance, Justice Chandrachud said. Justice Nagarathna pointed out that teachers have to be vaccinated and children have not been vaccinated yet. The government is ultimately responsible to bring children back to school. Government is answerable. We cannot direct them to open up in a time-bound manner. We have just come out of the second wave. There may be a third wave, though it may not be as devastating, Justice Chandrachud said. The issue of whether to send children to school for physical classes or not and when to do that concerns the complexities of governance which makes it eminently a case on which the court should not interfere. Let us leave something to the democratic way of life we have chosen. Let us leave it to every State to decide this issue, Justice Chandrachud addressed the petitioner. Advocate Ravi Prakash Mehrotra, appearing for the student-petitioner, said the petition was not meant to be publicity seeking. Instead, it had focused on the psychological and physical damage children are being subject to by not going to school. More seriously, Mehrotra said, many thousands of children depend on school to provide them with a mid-day meal. Justice Chandrachud agreed that there was a need to balance the need to keep the children safe from the virus with the requirement to keep them physical and mentally healthy. The court said many State governments, in this case, have decided to open schools in a phased manner.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Shooting at Russian university leaves 8 dead, 28 hurt

A gunman opened fire on Monday at a university in Russia, leaving eight people dead and 28 hurt, officials said. The suspect was detained after being wounded in an exchange of fire with the police, the Interior Ministry said. There was no immediate information available on his identity or possible motive. During the attack, students and staff at Perm State University locked themselves in rooms, and a video posted on Russian news sites showed some students jumping out of second-storey windows. In some footage, a black-clad, helmeted figure could be seen striding on a campus sidewalk cradling a long-barreled weapon. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the gunman fired a smoothbore hunting weapon. That could indicate he used a shotgun. A traffic police unit was the first to reach the scene, and the suspect opened fire on them, according to the Interior Ministry. He was wounded when police returned fire and then was disarmed, the ministry said. Although firearms laws are strict in Russia, many people obtain permits for hunting weapons. News reports cited officials as saying the suspect had a permit for a pump-action shotgun, although it was not clear if it was for the weapon used. The university, which has 12,000 students enrolled, said about 3,000 people were on the campus at the time of the shooting. The school is in the city of Perm, which is about 1,100 kilometers east of Moscow with a population of about 1 million. The Investigative Committee said 28 people were injured, and some of them were hospitalized. The Health Ministry said 19 of them were shot. It was not clear how the others were injured. In May, a gunman opened fire at a school in the city of Kazan with a registered weapon, killing seven students and two teachers.