Newsletter 15 Feb

Top 5 of the news of the Week

Nation remembers Pulwama martyrs, memorial inaugurated today
PM Modi, Portuguese President hold delegation level talks in Delhi
EU Envoy After Kashmir Visit, “Important To Lift Restrictions Swiftly”
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa on 4 days visit India
US Approves Sale Of Integrated Air Defense Weapon System To India
India out of US’ developing nations list for trade benefits
APP landslide victory in Delhi Election
SC directed political parties to Publish details of criminal cases

….Corona Virus row….

Death toll in China reaches 1,523, confirmed cases over 66,000

However, US claimed lack of Transparency

Saturday’s Brief

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on responded to queries on references to Jammu and Kashmir by Turkish President & the Turkey-Pakistan Joint Declaration: India rejects all references to JnK, which is an integral and inalienable part of India.
- “We call upon the Turkish leadership to not interfere in India’s internal affairs and develop proper understanding of the facts, including the grave threat posed by terrorism emanating from Pakistan to India and the region,” MEA added.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court at Kolkata has convicted 2 people and sentenced them to 6 years of imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 and Rs. 8000 respectively, in Baishnabnagar PS Fake Indian Currency Notes case.
Chennai: Police lathicharge protesters demonstrating against CAA, NRC in Washermanpet.
- The situation escalated after some protesters were reportedly forcibly removed from the protest site, leading to a commotion between them and the police.
- Some 100 of the protesters were detained. Subsequently, more people gathered there demanding their release. The situation is said to be under control now.
- Meanwhile, over 4,000 workers belonging to the BJP and various Hindu outfits on Fri took out a rally seeking support for the CAA and to observe the 22^nd anniversary of the serial bomb blasts in the city that claimed over 50 lives.
PM Modi, chaired a meeting of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) society in New Delhi. He appreciated the tasks undertaken and also gave his suggestions to chart out a future road map. Modi listed 5G, artificial intelligence and affordable and long lasting batteries for renewable energy storage as some of the emerging challenges which the scientists need to focus on.
Shah Faesal, JKPM chief, booked under Public Safety Act. Former civil servant and chief of Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), Shah Faesal, has been booked under Public Safety Act which means that he can be detained without a trial.
Government of JnK, 54 officers deputed to various cities (Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, & Ahmedabad) for participation in road shows & for interaction with potential investors as part of the pre-event activities for J&K Global Investors Summit 2020.

National

Nation remembers Pulwama martyrs, memorial inaugurated today

Just a year back on same day, in one of the most deadliest terror attack on security forces, at least 44 Central Reserve Police Force (CPRF) personnel were killed and another 20 injured when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden SUV into a convoy of vehicles carrying paramilitary troops on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district at around 3 pm.

A memorial will be inaugurated at the Lethpora camp on Friday, a top official said. The names of all the 40 personnel along with their pictures will be part of the memorial along with the CRPF motto ‘Seva and Nishtha’ (Service and Loyalty).

Umesh Gopinath Jadhav is the special guest at the ceremony. Jadhav had taken a 61000 km long journey across the nation to meet the families of all the 40 Jawans who lost their lives during the attack. He had collected the soil from their houses and cremation grounds. The soil will be placed at the memorial at CRPF’s Lethpora camp.

Though, all most all leadership across the party line, paid tribute to the Indian martyrs, but opposition had raised certain questions.

Modi said the slain security personnel were “exceptional individuals” who devoted their lives to serving and protecting the nation. “Tributes to the brave martyrs who lost their lives in the gruesome Pulwama attack last year. They were exceptional individuals who devoted their lives to serving and protecting our nation. India will never forget their martyrdom,” Modi tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi, former INC president asked by tweet-

Who benefitted the most from the attack?
What is the outcome of the inquiry into the attack?
Who in the BJP Govt has yet been held accountable for the security lapses that allowed the attack?

Another question added by a senior INC leader,

Who is responsible for this failure, even after intelligence input?

These questions were got further strength from leaders of NCP, and immediately targeted by BJP. They questioned the intention and mental level of Gandhi.

Self-claimed leader of Schedule cast/ Schedule Tribe, from INC supported Rahul Gandhi, and directly alleged the Modi Govt for this causality, and also added Modi Win Gujrat election by Massacring the people. He was quoting Gujrat Riot in 2002. He went on further and said there are chances to anather such event before LS election 2024.

CPI-M leader Mohammed Salim demanded justice and asked how 80 kg of RDX had crossed the international border. “We don’t need a memorial to remind us of our incompetence. The only thing we need to know is how 80kg of RDX got past the international borders to the ‘most militarized zone on earth’ and exploded in Pulwama. Justice for Pulwama Attack needs to be done,” Salim said on Twitter.

One year of Pulwama attack, all suspects dead, but no clue still how explosives reached Kashmir?

The country’s National Investigative Agency (NIA) is yet to file charges in the case. It says most of the suspects in the attack have been killed in gunfights with security forces.

What happened exactly?

A 16 vehicles dropped out at Qazigund on reaching destination but 16 ‘mobile bunkers’ joined convoy to deal with terrorist ambushes which increase beyond Qazigund. The convoy left Qazigund at 2:38 pm
At Latoomode of Awantipora in Pulwama, an explosive laden vehicle entered the Jammu-Srinagar highway from a left bylane. It overtook a bus, 5^th in the convoy and exploded.
Later, the attacker is identified as ‘Adil Ahmad Darr’
- The bus was blown to smithereens. The sixth bus was also impacted by the blast
- The convoy of 78 vehicles, transporting 2,547 jawans, left Jammu transit camp at 3:30 am. The jawans were returning from leave or going to areas of deployment
- Around 40 CRPF jawans died, 39 in the 5th bus and one from the ROP. Five more men in the 6^th bus were injured
- This is the first time a suicide bomber in an explosive laden vehicle has attacked a CRPF convoy. About 80kg of explosives was used for the attack.
- Hours later of this attack, JeM took responsibility of this attack.
How India responded to the Pulwama Attack
- Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after the attack. India summoned Pakistan’s top envoy and lodged strong protest.
- PM asserted that the security forces have been given permission to choose the timing, place and nature of their response to the Pulwama terror attack.
- “All tears will be avenged” and the armed forces have been given “full freedom to decide the place, time, intensity and nature of the retaliation against the enemy. “I feel the same fire in my heart that’s raging inside you,” Modi said.
- Nationwide protests erupted against the dastardly terror attack. Several countries including Pakistan’s all-weather friend China condemned the attack.
Diplomatic Protest
India launched extensive diplomatic efforts to get JeM Chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist, which finally became a reality on May 1 when China lifted its technical hold on a proposal introduced by the US, the UK, and France in the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council.

Portugese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is in India on a 4-day visit

Portugese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is in India on a 4-day visit, arrived on Feb 13. This is his first visit to India. The last visit by a President of Portugal to India was in 2007.

PM Narendra Modi on Friday held delegation-level talks with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa at the Hyderabad House in the national capital.
A total of 7 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between India and Portugal on the sidelines of Marcelo’s visit in the fields of Nano-biotechnology, higher education, among other areas, while several other agreements have been exchanged.
- India and Portugal today exchanged seven documents in various fields including maritime transport, audio/visual cooperation in the field of industrial and intellectual property rights.
  - The documents were exchanged in the presence of PM Modi and Portugal president following delegation level talks. The 7 documents which were exchanged include:
    1. MoU for Cooperation in development of national maritime Museum Heritage complex at Lothel in Gujarat
    2. MoU for cooperation in the field of industrial and intellectual property rights
    3. agreement on audio/visual Co-production
    4. MoU on Diplomatic training and exchange of information
    5. Cooperation agreement in field of Maritime Transport and Port Development
    6. Joint Declaration on India and Portugal Mobility Partnership
    7. MoU between Start-up Portugal and Invest India for collaboration on Start-ups.
      - Prior to the talks, the two leaders had witnessed the exchange of agreements between the two countries.
      - Marcelo is accompanied by Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Prof Augusto Santos Silva, Secretary of State for Internationalization, Prof Eurico Brilhante Dias and Secretary of State for National Defense Jorge Seguro Sanche.
      - On Feb 15, arrived Mumbai and took part in the India-Portugal Business Forum.
      - Thereafter, he is expected to depart for Goa where important pacts are likely to be signed with the Goa Govt.
      Indo-Portuguese bilateral trade grew from USD 69 million in 1991 to USD 289.52 million in 2005. India’s exports constituted over 70% of the turnover.
      Background
      Relations between India and Portugal began amicably in 1947 when the former achieved independence. Relations went into decline after 1950 over Portugal’s refusal to surrender its exclaves of Goa, Daman and Diu on India’s west coast. By 1955, the two nations had cut off diplomatic relations, triggering a crisis which precipitated in the Indian annexation of Portuguese India in 1961. Portugal refused to recognize Indian sovereignty over the annexed territories until 1974 when, following the Carnation Revolution, the new government in Lisbon recognized Indian sovereignty and restored diplomatic relations.
      Previous Treaties and agreements
      In 1997 India and Portugal split the 1977 agreement into two separate segments, economic and industrial cooperation (signed at Lisbon in April 2000) and the other providing cooperation in science and technology (signed in Dec 1998). Another Agreement providing for avoidance of double taxation was signed in Sept 1998. Both these agreements had since entered into force with the completion of ratification procedures.
      A Cooperation Agreement was signed in January 1992, between the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Portuguese Institute for Foreign Trade and Investment (ICEP). A Joint Business Council established under this agreement met in 1993, 1995 and 1997.
      The following agreements were signed in Jan 2007
      - Cultural Exchange Program (2007–10)
      - Exchange Program in the fields of Education, Language, Science, Technology and Higher Education (2007–10)
      - Overarching Agreement in the field of Education, Science, Culture, Sports, Youth and Mass Media (20007-10)

EU Envoy Concluded Kashmir Visit yesterday

EU Envoy After Kashmir Visit, "Important To Lift Restrictions Swiftly"

The visit, facilitated by the government, had been criticized by opposition parties in India who were stopped in early days of the lockdown from visiting Jammu and Kashmir. Diplomats from 25 nations – including some from the European Union, reached Srinagar Thursday to survey the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir six months after the Centre ended the state’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories. The group includes envoys from Germany, Canada, France, Italy and Poland, New Zealand, Mexico, Afghanistan, Austria, Uzbekistan, as well as envoys from the European Union. Early this morning, the group was seen taking shikara rides on Dal Lake, after which they met the local media. The envoys had a lunch meeting with local entrepreneurs and political leaders.

Later in the day, they took a briefing from the army and meet some locals, among whom will be a group of young people being trained in the government’s “skilled society” program. On Fri, the group headed for Jammu, where they met Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and the civil administration.

India has taken positive steps to restore normalcy in JnK but it is important to lift the remaining restrictions swiftly, the European Union said on Fri, following the latest visit by a group of foreign diplomats to the union territory under lockdown since Aug.
Diplomats from 25 nations – including some from the EU, visited Srinagar and Jammu for two days this week, on Fri to survey the situation in JnK 6 months.
The group included envoys from Germany, Canada, France, Italy and Poland, New Zealand, Mexico, Afghanistan, Austria, Uzbekistan, as well as envoys from the EU.
“The visit confirmed that the GoI has taken positive steps to restore normalcy. Some restrictions remain, notably on internet access and mobile services, and some political leaders are still in detention,” a statement from the European Union said on Friday.
“While we recognize the serious security concerns, it is important that the remaining restrictions be lifted swiftly,” the statement from Virginie Battu-Henriksson, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, added.
It was the second group of foreign envoys whose visit was facilitated by the government after the big announcement in Aug.
Along with the announcement, the government had placed a series of restrictions on the state, saying they were preventive measures for possible backlash.
Six months on, some of them were still in place, including the ban on cellphone internet that raised concern abroad.
Last week, charges under the tough Public Safety Act were brought against former CMs Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who have been under detention since Aug, along with 7 others.
In Oct, a group of lawmakers from the European Union visited Kashmir Valley in their private capacity.
In Jan, the government facilitated the visit of a group of envoys. The European Union, however, skipped it, saying they would go at a later date. As per NDTV that the lawmakers were not interested in a “guided tour”.

Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa on 5 days visit

Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa on 4 days visit India from Feb 7. Mahinda Rajapaksa traveled to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati. Indian PM Modi has met his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa in New Delhi on Sat. its 1^st official visit to any foreign country of Rajapaksa in this term.

India concluded

“The stability, security and prosperity in Sri Lanka is in India’s interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean Region,” Modi said in his media statement.
“We have decided to deepen cooperation to combat terrorism,” Modi said.
On the long-pending Tamil issue, Modi was confident that the Sri Lankan government will realize expectations of equality, justice, peace and respect of the Tamil people.
Referring to the fishermen issue, Modi said both sides have decided to adopt a humanitarian approach in dealing with it.
“It will be necessary to implement the 13th amendment of (Sri Lankan) Constitution and take forward the reconciliation process at the same time,” Modi said.
India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th amendment which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987 which envisaged devolution of powers to the Tamils.
Rajapaksa said a part of the discussions centered around ensuring security for both the countries, and expressed gratitude to India for helping his country in countering terrorism.
Rajapaksa also met S. Jaishankar, Min Foreign Affairs.
Officials said a number of issues relating to defense, security and trade figured in the meeting between the Sri Lankan prime minister and.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, the older brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
After his official engagement in Delhi, Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also visited India in Nov which was also his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office.
India had announced a financial assistance of USD 450 million to Sri Lanka, including USD 50 million to fight terrorism, during the visit of the country’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Nov.
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India.
In June 2018 The New York Times reported that President Rajapaksa, during the 2015 presidential campaign and elections received large payments from the Chinese port construction fund that flowed directly into campaign aides and activities.
Rajapaksa had agreed to Chinese terms and was seen as an important ally in China’s efforts to tilt influence away from India in South Asia. The payments were confirmed by documents and cash checks detailed in a government investigation seen by The New York Times.
During the final months of the election, the ambassador of China to Sri Lanka had lobbied voters, “even caddies at Colombo’s premier golf course”, to support Rajapaksa over the opposition, which was threatening to tear up economic agreements with the Chinese government.
With the election coming around large payments started to flow toward the president’s circle. Affiliates of Rajapaksa’s campaign received at least $7.6 million that was dispensed from China Harbor’s account at Standard Chartered Bank.
A sum around $3.7 million was distributed in checks with 10 days to go before polls opened: $678,000 to print campaign T-shirts and other promotional material and $297,000 to buy supporters gifts, including women’s saris. $38,000 was paid to a popular Buddhist monk who was supporting the Rajapaksa campaign, while two checks totaling $1.7 million were delivered by volunteers to Temple Trees.
A sub-account controlled by China Harbor, named “HPDP Phase 2,” shorthand for Hambantota Port Development Project was where most of the payments came from.
Rajapaksa responded in the Colombo Telegraph by calling the article “part of a political mudslinging campaign”.In July 2018 Joint Chinese-Sri Lankan company Colombo International Container Terminals Limited (CICT) confirmed paying nearly 20 million Sri Lankan rupees as a donation to the Pushpa Rajapaksa Foundation, a private fund meant to build houses for the poor. Pushpa Rajapaksa is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sister in law, wife of Basil Rajapaksa, who was also his economic development minister. CICT did not say how the money was used.

US Approves Sale Of Integrated Air Defense Weapon System To India

US President Donald Trump To Visit India On Feb 24-25

As per White House Press Secretary “During a phone call President Trump and PM Modi agreed the trip would further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership.”

Trump will embark on a two-day visit to India from Feb 24 during which he will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad.

The Trump Administration has notified to the US Congress of its determination to sell India the Integrated Air Defense Weapon System (IADWS), for an estimated cost of USD 1.867 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Mon.

The request was for five AN/MPQ-64Fl Sentinel radar systems; one hundred eighteen AMRAAM AIM-120C-7/C-8 missiles; three AMRAAM Guidance Sections; four AMRAAM Control Sections; and one hundred thirty-four Stinger FIM-92L missiles.

Also included are 32 M4A1 rifles; 40,32) M855 5.56 mm cartridges; Fire Distribution Centers (FDC); Handheld Remote Terminals; Electrical Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensor Systems; AMRAAM Non-Developmental Item-Airborne Instrumentation Units (NDIAIU); Multi-spectral Targeting System-Model A (MTS-A); and Canister Launchers (CN); High Mobility Launchers (HML).

Additionally, the potential sale includes 32 M4A1 rifles, 40,320 M855 5.56mm cartridges, communications equipment, range and test programs, infrastructure improvements, U.S. government and contractor support, training equipment, and other logistics and program support

Integrated Air Defense Weapon System

Norway-based Kongsberg says the ground-based medium-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System can be closely integrated and adapted to a country’s integrated air and missile defense system.
NASAMS employs the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as the primary weapon. It can also fire the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, AIM-9X Sidewinder and can be modified to use other weapons including indigenous missiles.
The modular system is designed with an active 3D radar Raytheon AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel, a passive electro-optical and infrared sensor and a number of missile canister launchers with AMRAAM missiles. The fire units are typically netted together in a real-time communication network.
Currently 11 countries employ NASAMS and 15 others have acquired the command and control solution, according to Kongsberg.
India’s Ministry of Defence approved the acquisition of the NASAMS II in July 2018 to boost air defenses in New Delhi.
The acquisition forms part of the Delhi Area Defence Plan which aims to protect the capital against enemy aircraft, cruise missiles and drones, as well as hijacked airliners.
Last year Defense World reported that India’s plan for the defense system would include an outmost layer with two-tiered ballistic missile defense system developed by state-run DRDO, an inner layer comprised of the Russian-made S-400 system, and the NASAMS forming the innermost layer.
A NASAMS II battery consists of up to 12 missile launchers carrying six missiles each, networked with up to eight AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel X-band 3D radars, MSP 500 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems and Fire Distribution Centers.

Raytheon’s FIM-92 Stinger missiles have been integrated on NASAMS protecting the U.S. capital since 2014, and were chosen by Finland that same year to replace the Russian-made SA-16/18 Igla missiles on its upgraded air defenses..

India out of US’ developing nations list for trade benefits

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit on Feb 24-25, the US on Mon removed India from its list of developing countries that are exempt from investigations into whether they harm American industry with unfairly subsidized exports.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) eliminated a host of countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Africa and Argentina from getting special preferences under the methodology for countervailing

duty (CVD) investigations, stating that the previous guidance that dated back to 1998 “is now obsolete”.
The USTR said in a federal notice “For purposes of US CVD law, the USTR therefore considers countries with a share of 0.5% or more of world trade to be developed countries”. India’s share in global exports was 1.67% in 2018. In global imports, it was 2.57%.
Last year, US wants the Switzerland-based, World Trade Organization (WTO) to review the ‘developing country’ status of India and China, the two fastest growing economies in the world.
Though both are the world’s leading nation in terms of economic growth, the US claims they continue to enjoy special trade benefits that come with a ‘developing country’ tag.
The developing nations in question, India and China, have in turn flagged several key factors, including per capita income and human development indicators, where they are still lagging and are far behind than the developed countries like the US, Singapore, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, etc.
The economists are also divided over the issue, but many of them feel neighboring countries like China, Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong are way ahead in economic prosperity than India, and that putting India on the same scale can’t be justified.
As per the 2017 World Bank figures:

	India	Singapore	S Korea	China
per capita national income	$1,800	$54,530	$28,380	$8,690
Human Development Index	103	86	22	9
poor population (living on $1.90 a day as per 2011 purchasing power parity)	21.2 %			7.9%
employed population in agriculture	41.6%	0.1	4.8	16.4

What does ‘developing’ nation tag mean?

A country will get a certain advantage in terms of subsidies and tariff than a developed nation.
Get a longer time to implement global initiatives and more flexibility in adopting measures to boost international trade.

The primary factor used to distinguish developed countries from developing countries is the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, a tally of all the goods and services produced in a country in one year, expressed in U.S. dollars.

One unofficial threshold for a country with a developed economy is a GDP per capita of $12,000. Some economists prefer to see a per capita GDP of at least $25,000 to be comfortable declaring a country as developed, however. Many highly developed countries, including the United States, have high per capita GDPs of $40,000 or above.

APP landslide victory in Delhi Election

Delhi Went to AAP again

Delhi Assembly Election 2020: Congress, BJP congratulate AAP for landslide victory
Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is set to register a massive victory in the Delhi assembly election 2020 with 62 seat.
BJP is out of power from Delhi, since 21 years and could secure only 8 seat.
AAP, which had won 54.34% votes in 2015, came close to its past performance and secured 53.57% votes.
BJP also improved its vote percentage from 32.19 in the previous election to 38.51%.
“AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarizing, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022,” Chidambaram said in a tweet.
Congress loses its deposit on 67 out of 70 seats in the National Capital.
BJP accepts mandate given by people of Delhi, will play role of constructive opposition, says party president JP Nadda
‘We can call this people’s reward to the work done’, says Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing people.
As per political observers ”the victory of AAP is mainly due to
- Consolidation of Anti BJP vote, breaking of which had been a tool for BJP victory.
- Freebees allocation to majoritarian voters
- And reach of AAP’s workers to root level.
- No face was available against Arvind Kejariwal
Oath will be taken on Feb 16, PM is also invited and as per party, PMO has conferred consent over it.

	Turnout	Winner			Runner p			Margin
Name	(%)	Party	Votes	%	Party	Votes	%
Narela	64.98	AAP	86262	52.06	BJP	68833	41.54	17429
Burari	61.15	AAP	139598	62.81	JD(U)	51440	23.14	88158
Timarpur	60.77	AAP	71432	57.6	BJP	47288	38.13	24144
Adarsh Nagar	59.64	AAP	46892	45.2	BJP	45303	43.66	1589
Badli	63.51	AAP	69357	49.67	BJP	40234	28.81	29123
Rithala	59.62	AAP	87940	52.63	BJP	74067	44.33	13873
Bawana(SC)	61.6	AAP	95715	48.38	BJP	84189	42.55	11526
Mundka	59.24	AAP	90293	53.78	BJP	71135	42.37	19158
Kirari	63.3	AAP	86312	49.77	BJP	80551	46.51	5654
Sultan Pur Majra(SC)	63.75	AAP	74573	66.51	BJP	26521	23.65	48052
Nangloi Jat	56.7	AAP	74444	49.21	BJP	62820	41.53	11624
Mangol Puri(SC)	66.33	AAP	74154	58.53	BJP	44038	34.76	30116
Rohini	63.02	BJP	62174	53.67	AAP	49526	42.75	12648
Shalimar Bagh	61.62	AAP	57707	49.41	BJP	54267	46.46	3440
Shakur Basti	67.66	AAP	51165	51.6	BJP	43573	43.94	7592
Tri Nagar	66.36	AAP	58504	52.38	BJP	47794	42.79	10710
Wazirpur	60.3	AAP	57331	52.64	BJP	45641	41.91	11690
Model Town	59.35	AAP	52665	52.58	BJP	41532	41.46	11133
Sadar Bazar	66.7	AAP	68790	55.71	BJP	43146	34.94	25644
Chandni Chowk	61.03	AAP	50891	65.92	BJP	21307	27.6	29584
Matia Mahal	70.38	AAP	67282	75.96	BJP	17041	19.24	50241
Ballimaran	71.58	AAP	65644	64.65	BJP	29472	29.03	36172
Karol Bagh(SC)	60.44	AAP	67494	62.23	BJP	35734	32.95	31760
Patel Nagar(SC)	60.84	AAP	73463	60.81	BJP	42528	35.2	30935
Moti Nagar	61.81	AAP	60622	53.83	BJP	46550	41.34	14072
Madipur(SC)	65.59	AAP	64440	56	BJP	41721	36.26	22719
Rajouri Garden	61.8	AAP	62212	55.7	BJP	39420	35.13	22972
Hari Nagar	61.51	AAP	58087	53.67	BJP	37956	35.07	20131
Tilak Nagar	63.76	AAP	62436	62.2	BJP	34407	34.28	28029
Janakpuri	65.58	AAP	67968	54.43	BJP	53051	42.48	14917
Vikaspuri	59.27	AAP	133898	55.95	BJP	91840	38.38	42058
Uttam Nagar	63.94	AAP	99622	54.57	BJP	79863	43.75	19759
Dwarka	61.97	AAP	71003	52.08	BJP	56616	41.53	14387
Matiala	61.13	AAP	139010	53.2	BJP	110935	42.45	28075
Najafgarh	64.41	AAP	81507	49.86	BJP	75276	46.05	6231
Bijwasan	61.82	AAP	57271	45.83	BJP	56203	45.22	753
Palam	63.3	AAP	92775	59.15	BJP	60010	38.26	32765
Delhi Cantonment	45.36	AAP	28971	49.17	BJP	18381	31.19	10590
Rajinder Nagar	58.27	AAP	59135	57.06	BJP	39077	37.7	20058
New Delhi	52.15	AAP	46578	61.1	BJP	25061	32.75	21697
Jangpura	60.52	AAP	45133	50.88	BJP	29070	32.77	16063
Kasturba Nagar	59.67	AAP	37100	40.45	BJP	33935	37	3165
Malviya Nagar	58.71	AAP	52043	57.97	BJP	33899	37.76	18144
R K Puram	56.62	AAP	47208	52.45	BJP	36839	40.93	10369
Mehrauli	56.53	AAP	62417	54.27	BJP	44256	38.48	18161
Chhatarpur	64.48	AAP	69411	49.13	BJP	65691	46.5	3720
Deoli(SC)	63.43	AAP	92575	61.59	BJP	52402	34.86	40173
Ambedkar Nagar(SC)	64.03	AAP	62871	62.25	BJP	34544	34.2	28327
Sangam Vihar	62.16	AAP	75345	64.58	JD(U)	32823	28.13	42522
Greater Kailash	59.94	AAP	60372	55.62	BJP	43563	40.13	16809
Kalkaji	57.44	AAP	55897	52.28	BJP	44504	41.63	11393
Tughlakabad	60.77	AAP	58905	54.51	BJP	45147	41.77	13758
Badarpur	59.63	BJP	90082	47.05	AAP	86363	45.11	3719
Okhla	58.84	AAP	130367	66.03	BJP	58540	29.65	71827
Trilokpuri(SC)	66.48	AAP	69947	52.36	BJP	57461	43.01	12486
Kondli(SC)	67.01	AAP	68348	53.11	BJP	50441	39.2	17907
Patparganj	61.28	AAP	70163	49.33	BJP	66956	47.07	3207
Laxmi Nagar	61.48	BJP	65735	48.04	AAP	64855	47.4	880
Vishwas Nagar	62.23	BJP	65830	52.57	AAP	49373	39.42	16457
Krishna Nagar	67.31	AAP	72111	49.1	BJP	68116	46.38	3995
Gandhi Nagar	62.42	BJP	48824	42.64	AAP	42745	37.33	6079
Shahdara	65.8	AAP	62103	49.53	BJP	56809	45.31	5294
Seemapuri(SC)	68.09	AAP	88392	65.82	LJP	32284	24.04	56108
Rohtas Nagar	67.47	BJP	73873	51.94	AAP	60632	42.63	13241
Seelampur	71.22	AAP	72694	56.05	BJP	35774	27.58	36920
Ghonda	63.63	BJP	81797	57.55	AAP	53427	37.59	28370
Babarpur	65.45	AAP	84776	59.39	BJP	51714	36.23	33062
Gokalpur(SC)	70.51	AAP	88452	53.22	BJP	68964	41.5	19488
Mustafabad	70.55	AAP	98850	53.2	BJP	78146	42.06	20704
Karawal Nagar	67.36	BJP	96721	50.59	AAP	88498	46.29	8223

SC directed political parties to Publish details of criminal cases against poll candidates on website, newspapers

Supreme Court directed political parties to Publish details of criminal cases against poll candidates on website, newspapers

The SC ordered all political parties to publish credentials, achievements and criminal antecedents of candidates on newspaper, social media platforms and on their website while giving a reason for selection of candidate with criminal antecedents.
A 5 judges bench, headed by Justice F Nariman was pronouncing its order on a petition filed Ashwani Upadhya (BJP), on a contempt plea, which has raised the issue of criminalization of politics and claimed that the directions given by the apex court in its Sept 2018 verdict relating to disclosure of criminal antecedents by poll candidates were not being followed.
SC says that political parties will liable for contempt if they fail to comply with the order.
It asks Election Commission of India to file contempt petition in SC if political parties don’t not comply with the order.
According to reports, out of the 539 winners analyzed in Lok Sabha 2019, 233 MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves. This is an increase of 44% in the number of MPs with declared criminal cases since 2009.

In Bhima Koregaon Case: Pune Sessions Court passes an order to transfer all the records and further proceedings of the case to Special NIA Court, Mumbai.

All the accused in the case to be produced before the Special NIA Court in Mumbai on 28th Feb.
The court on Fri reserved its order on the transferring of this case to the NIA.
The Maharashtra government, in an application filed before the court on Feb 7^th, objected to transferring all the court records, seized articles from the file of this court to an NIA court in Mumbai.
As per application filled “That present application is not legally tenable under the provisions of law and particularly according to the provisions of UAPA 1967 and NIA Act 2008”.

The case, which was earlier being reinvestigated by the Pune Police, after a new government came to power in Maharashtra.

Then, center transferred this case to the NIA last week.

Obtaining PAN card will be made simpler, says Sitharaman

Fin Min, N Sitharaman made the comments during an interactive session titled ‘Budget and Beyond’ with professionals from asset management, wealth advisory, tax consultancy and other related industries at NITI Aayog.
“It is one budget where the impact on bond market currency and equity markets has been positive.”
- Even before, she had words with various stockholders, in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata also.
- The FM will be on a two-day official visit to Hyderabad and Bengaluru on Feb 16 and 17 to hold interactive sessions with various stakeholders on Union Budget 2020-21.
- In the first session, in each city, Sitharaman will interact with representatives of trade, industry, investment bankers and farmers organizations, among others.
- In the second session, she will meet economists, tax practitioners, academia and policymakers.

Rajya Sabha official demoted for anti-Modi posts on social media

On the directive of Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, an official working in the post of Dy Director in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has been demoted for his social media posts allegedly against PM Narendra Modi, BJP Cabinet Ministers and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adtiyanath.

A memo issued by the Secretariat dated Feb 12 to Dy Director (Security) Urujul Hasan charges him with “sharing several offensive, derogatory, demeaning and sarcastic posts on social media against the PM of India and some Union Ministers and CM UP as also sharing a number of posts indicating his active involvement/ assistance/

indulgence in political activities canvassing in connection with an election to the legislature”.
According to media, the order was issued following a year-long enquiry after an anonymous complaint flagged Mr. Hasan’s Facebook posts made from Apr to May 2018.
Many of these posts, sources said, were merely repost of others’ statements.
The order rules that Mr. Hasan has “failed to maintain political neutrality” as per the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules of 1964 which has stringent provisions against participation of a government servant in any kind of political activity or even freely expressing their view.

International

US calls for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for involvement in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack

The US on Thursday called for Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of “numerous acts of terrorism, including 2008 Mumbai attacks”.

“We continue to call for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of numerous acts of terrorism, including 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 innocent people, including 6 Americans,” US State Department spokesperson told ANI, commenting on the Saeed’s conviction in terror financing cases.

The spokesperson said Hafiz Saeed’s conviction on terror financing is a step towards curtailing the operation of a terrorist group that threatens peace and stability in South Asia.

“We urge Pakistan to continue to take appropriate legal action against individuals who commit acts of terrorism, raise funds for, or advocate for terrorism,” the official said.

On Wed, Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of US for South and Central Asian Affairs had termed the conviction of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed as an “important step forward” towards holding terrorist organization LeT “accountable for its crimes”.

The conviction of Hafiz Saeed and his associate is an important step forward – both toward holding LeT accountable for its crimes and for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terrorist financing,” she tweeted.

“And as @ImranKhanPTI has said, it is in the interest of Pakistan’s future that it not allow non-state actors to operate from its soil,” she said in another tweet.

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday sentenced Mumbai terror attack mastermind and chief of the banned Jamaat-ud -Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Saeed to five-and-a-half years in prison each in two terror financing cases.

Pakistan based Dawn reported that he was slapped with a prison sentence of five-and-a-half years and a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case and the sentences of both cases will run concurrently.

We should not forget that on Dec 19, a Pakistani court has disposed of the petition of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and 67 other leaders of the outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and its so-called charity wing Falah-i-Insaniat (FIF) seeking cancellation of 23 FIRs registered against them on charges of using different properties for terror financing.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Islamabad

As per radio Pak “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphatically stated to stick to his stance on resolution of outstanding Kashmir dispute through dialogue and peaceful means on the basis of justice”.
Addressing the joint sitting of the parliament amidst the thumping of desks by the elected representatives in Islamabad on Fri, he said “our Kashmiri brothers have been living under difficult circumstances over the years. However, the recent unilateral steps have further added to the woes of the Kashmiri people and the situation has assumed alarming situation.”
He noted that depriving the Kashmiris from their freedom and usurping their rights is not in anybody’s interests.
He said resolution of this dispute lies not in oppressive tactics but it warrants justice. He added, we feel for the Kashmiris the same way like the Muslims of this region felt for us during Khilafat Movement.
The Turkish President had extended fully support to the Pak at the session of the UN General Assembly.
In Joint Press conference
- Erdogan has vowed to take Pak-Turkey bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in the 1st phase and eventually to $5 billion later
- He said that there is vast scope for increasing the current two way trade volume of $800 million. He said Turkey is one of the top 20 economies of the world and we have brought down our debt from 72% of GDP to 33 %.
He said Turkey increased tourists from 13 million to 68 million, resulting in increased to 35 billion dollars from $8.5 billion earned from this sector.

Political

BJP may have suffered because of hate statements made by party leaders: Amit Shah

Union minister Prakash Javadekar says ‘sudden disappearance’ of Congress was responsible for BJP’s defeat in Delhi Assembly polls as it led to direct fight between his party and AAP.

States

Chhattisgarh: Congress MLA Shakuntala Sahu and trainee IPS officer Ankita Sharma entered into a verbal spat during a protest in Baloda Bazar on Wednesday. SP Neetu Kamal says, “Some protesters were trying to demolish a gate. Police personnel forbade them and an argument broke out”.

2012 Delhi gang-rape case: Supreme Court dismisses the petition of death-row convict Vinay Kumar Sharma challenging the rejection of the mercy petition by President Kovind.

Justice R Banumathi fainted during the hearing in 2012 Delhi gang-rape case in SC today. He was hearing the submissions made by the Centre on separate execution of convicts in the case.

SC also said in its order, that the medical reports said that Vinay is psychologically fit and his medical condition is stable.

The Apex Court dismissed his petition, finding it devoid of merit.

In Gujarat college, 68 girls forced to remove underwear to prove they weren’t menstruating

Ahmedabad Mirror report says hostel rector complained to principal of college run by Swaminarayan trust that menstruating girls were violating ‘religious norms’. V-C says will take action.

National Commission for Women have taken suo-moto cognizance in the matter and have set-up an inquiry team to visit and speak with the students at institute.

India in International Frame

BBC

Pulwama: Indian soldiers’ families still waiting for justice

Reuters

Trump to woo Indian executives during New Delhi visit