Newsletter 8 july

This Week (July 8^th)

News dominated by domestic politics, besides Pakistan’s claim about Kulbhushan Jadhav’s refusal for review of his death sentence. However, Sino-Indian clash has diapered from media, though China’s disputes with various countries are in international and national media dominated.

Headlines of the Week

Kulbhushan Jadhav refused to seek review of his death sentence, Pakistan Said
India, US Hold Foreign Office Consultations, Reaffirm Commitment Towards Free, Open Indo-Pacific
Rajiv Gandhi Foundation to be probed for legal violations, Govt sets up panel
Bhutan Eyes Negotiating End To Its Boundary Disputes With China; Delhi Embassies The Venue
China accuses US of fabricating facts, refutes cyber hacking allegations
Pakistan, China, Afghanistan agree to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism
Federalism, Secularism Among Chapters Dropped from CBSE School Courses

Kulbhushan Jadhav refused to seek review of his death sentence, Pakistan Said

Kulbhushan Jadhav is on death row in Pakistan over charges of espionage. India has rejected this and maintained that Jadhav was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from Iran.

Pakistan has offered India a second consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav, the former Indian Navy officer (Pakistan’s Claim), who is on a death row.
He was arrested on charges of espionage in Balochistan in March 2016 and sentenced to death by a military court a year later.
“In the first round, he met his mother and wife and now we have offered to let him meet his father and wife,” Additional Attorney General Ahmed Irfan said in a press conference on Wed.
Irfan jointly held the press conference with Director-General of South Asia and SAARC at the Pakistan Foreign Office, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri.
They told the media that Pakistan enacted the International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance, 2020 in May this year which allows review petitions within a certain period of time.
But the officials said that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition against the death sentence awarded to him.
Last July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav and review his death sentence.
“The petitions can be filed before the Islamabad High Court,” explained Irfan, adding that in this case, it can be filed by Jadhav himself, an appointed representative or a consular official of the Indian high commission.

“On June 17 we invited Jadhav to file a petition for the reconsideration of his conviction and offered him legal representation but he refused to file the petition and instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition,” said Irfan.
He said the government had also repeatedly written to the Indian high commission to file the petition and initiate the process for a review before the deadline.
“Pakistan is fully cognizant of its international obligations and committed to implementing the ICJ judgment in letter and spirit,” he said expressing hope that India will follow due legal course and cooperate with courts in Pakistan to give effect to the ICJ judgement.

India has rejected the allegations against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business. In May 2017, New Delhi petitioned the ICJ, which stayed Jadhav’s execution. In its ruling on July 17, the ICJ said its stay of the death sentence should continue.

India, US Hold Foreign Office Consultations, Reaffirm Commitment Towards Free, Open Indo-Pacific

India, US hold foreign office consultations, reaffirm commitment towards free, open Indo-Pacific

As per ANI, India and the US have reaffirmed their commitment to work towards ensuring a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
They also agreed on the need to deepen cooperation in the United Nations, especially during especially during India’s membership of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2021-2022,” an MEA release said.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale on Tue exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of shared interests on Tue during the virtual foreign office consultations between the two countries.
The two senior officials reviewed the entire gamut of engagements under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including political, economic, commercial, regional and international cooperation.
In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, they agreed to further strengthen the bilateral health partnership, including on pharmaceuticals and vaccine development.
They agreed to remain in touch and move forward on the bilateral agenda through a range of mechanisms like the 2+2 ministerial that India will host later this year.
Shringla and Hale discussed ways to further enhance mutually beneficial trade and people-to-people ties, including through visa facilitation for students and professionals. (ANI)

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation to be probed for legal violations, govt sets up panel

“MHA sets up inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA etc by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust & Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. Special Director of ED will head the committee”. Tweeted by MHA

This investigation came when so much debates occurred in past few weeks, and become more important during Sino-Indian clash, as donations have been accepted by Chines authorities.

Rahul Gandhi, former president INC, responds to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation row saying ‘PM Modi will never understand that those who fight for the truth have no price and cannot be intimidated.’

The MHA has set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into alleged violation of regulations by three trusts linked to the Gandhi family.
The probe by inter-ministerial team will handle probe into alleged violation of legal provisions by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, the Centre said on Wed.
“MHA sets up inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA etc by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust & Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust,” the MHA spokesperson tweeted.
Sources say the investigation will be focused on alleged money laundering, manipulation in declaration and filing of Income Tax and money received from foreign countries as donation or contribution by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
India Today has learnt that the FCRA violations will be probed by Central Bureau of Investigation, PMLA violations by Enforcement Directorate, tax evasion and diversion of funds will be probed by Income Tax department.
“As the different agencies comes under different ministries, the inter-ministerial committee has been formed,” said a source.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

According to the official website of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, it was set up on June 21, 1991, to realize the vision of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. The foundation is chaired by Sonia Gandhi. “The other trustees include Dr Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Suman Dubey, Rahul Gandhi, Dr Ashok Ganguly, Sanjiv Goenka and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra,” reads the website.
The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), according to the website, is a not-for-profit organisation, which was established in 2002 to address the development needs of the underprivileged of the country, especially the rural poor. Sonia Gandi and Rahul Gandhi are on board of trustees along with others.

Allegations by BJP

BJP president JP Nadda had last month alleged that Chinese donations were accepted by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation between 2005 and 2009 under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.
The BJP chief alleged that the RGF received donations every year from the Chinese embassy between 2005-09 and from the “tax haven” of Luxembourg, which is full of “hawala transactions”, between 2006-09.
“The RGF worked with the China Association for Internationally Friendly Contact, which is just a vehicle of the Central Military Commission of China to infiltrate and influence top voices in other countries. Sonia Gandhi must answer how much influence and infiltration of this Chinese agency happened in India,” JP Nadda had said.
Following BJP’s allegations, the Congress had dismissed the claims and said it was used for welfare purposes.
Congress, in a statement, said the donation from the Chinese embassy was utilised for the welfare of disabled persons, while the grant from PMRF was utilised for tsunami relief work.

Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rs 1.45 crore donation from the Chinese embassy was used by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation for the welfare of disabled persons and research on Indo-China relations.

Bhutan Eyes Negotiating End To Its Boundary Disputes With China; Delhi Embassies The Venue

Amid the border row with China over the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary, Bhutan on Tue said that the boundary between both the countries is “under negotiation”

Bhutan reacts on China raising the border dispute in Eastern Sector. Royal Bhutanese Embassy in a statement says, ‘All disputed areas will be discussed during the next round of boundary talks’. Bhutan had earlier issued a demarche to the Chinese embassy in New Delhi.

In a statement, Royal Bhutanese Embassy in India said the 25^th round of ministerial-level boundary talks was delayed due to Coronavirus.
It added that all disputed areas will be discussed in the next round.

China will restrict visas for some US personnel who have behaved badly on Tibet-related affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry said, following Secretary Pompeo’s statement that the US will restrict visas for some Chinese officials over Tibet.

Background

‘Boundary has not been demarcated’

“Boundary between Bhutan-China is under negotiation and hasn’t been demarcated. 24 rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held and the 25th round was delayed due to COVID. All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient,” the statement said.
The development comes days after Bhutan issued a demarche to China upset by its claims over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary located in eastern Bhutan. The Royal Embassy of Bhutan lodged a formal protest with the Chinese embassy in New Delhi saying the sanctuary was “an integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan”.
Both Bhutan and China don’t have embassies in each other’s countries and carry out their diplomatic communication through their missions in New Delhi.

China makes new border claims

The fresh claims by China were recently made at the 58th Global Environment Facility Council where the Chinese member raised objections to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary project and argued that it was in a “disputed area” between Beijing and Thimphu. Sakteng lies in a zone of Bhutan that borders Arunachal Pradesh and China.

Bhutan has urged the GEF to purge all references to China’s baseless claims from the council’s documents. The GEF has also rejected the Chinese claim and approved the project for funding. Set up in 1992, GEF is a US-based global body to finance projects in the environment sector.

Kerala gold smuggling case latest updates

PMO seeks details
Sources: Kerala Minister met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Centre probe likely after customs report.
CBI holds crucial meeting with customs department in Ernakulam.

Yesterday night, UAE Embassy, New Delhi stated, “Authorities in the UAE have launched an investigation to find out who sent the cargo containing gold to the address of the UAE consulate (Thiruvananthapuram).

The authorities have stressed that the culprits who not only committed a major crime but also sought to tarnish reputation of the UAE mission in India will not be spared. We remain committed to cooperating with Indian authorities in getting to the root of the crime.

Federalism, Secularism Among Chapters Dropped from CBSE School Courses

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has removed some key chapters like Federalism, Citizenship and Secularism from its Political Science syllabus in a bid to reduce the academic burden on students this year.
Key chapters like Democratic Rights, Food Security in India, Federalism, Citizenship and Secularism have been dropped from school courses in the national education board CBSE’s bid to reduce the burden on students amid the coronavirus crisis.
CBSE announced on Tue that the syllabus for 2020-21 would be reduced by a third because of the “extraordinary situation” as the world fights the coronavirus pandemic.
The board has revised the Economics and Political Science courses for grades 9 to 12.
The chapters “completely deleted” from the Class 11 Political Science syllabus include Federalism, Citizenship, Nationalism, and Secularism.
Only two units from the ‘Local Government’ chapter have been deleted. These include ‘Why do we need Local Governments?’ and ‘Growth of Local Government in India’.
From the Class 12 Political Science syllabus, the board has entirely removed “Security in the Contemporary World”, “Environment and Natural Resources“, “Social and New Social Movements in India“, and “Regional Aspirations“.
From the “Planned Development” chapter, units dealing with “changing nature of India’s economic development” and “Planning Commission and Five Year Plans” have been removed.
“India’s Relations with its Neighbors: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar” has been deleted for the present session from the chapter on India’s Foreign Policy.
Chapters on Democratic Rights and Structure of the Indian Constitution have been removed from the Class 9 Political Science syllabus. A chapter on Food Security in India has been completely removed from the Economics syllabus.

For class 10 students, chapters on “Democracy and Diversity“, “Caste, Religion and Gender“, and “Challenges to Democracy” have been removed.

Soldier, Lashkar terrorist killed; 3 security men injured in J&K encounter

Jul 7, 2020, a soldier and one Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist were killed in an anti-terror operation in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Tue morning, IGP (Kashmir Range) Vijay Kumar said.
Three security personnel, including two soldiers and a cop, were also injured in the fire exchange.
Sources identified the slain terrorist as Mudasir Rashid, a native of Pulwama’s Kakapora area who earlier worked for Northern Railways before joining terrorism in 2018.
Based on intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Pulwama’s Goosu village, a joint team of Army’s 53 RR, CRPF and J&K Police launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area.

Geelani family distances itself from strike call

The newly nominated Pakistan-based Hurriyat faction led by Abdullah Geelani received its first rebuff from 91-year-old Syed Ali Geelani’s family here for “attributing the announcement of a strike call” for two days — July 8 and 13 — to their father, Syed Ali Geelani.
The Jammu & Kashmir police, meanwhile, warned social network users to desist from sharing the press release on social media platforms as it would be perceived as instigation of violence leading to creating a law and order problem.
The police said members of the ailing Syed Ali Geelani’s family had distanced themselves from the press statement released in his name.

International

UK will face consequences if it rules China is a hostile country - envoy

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, China wants to be UK’s friend and partner. But if you treat China as a hostile country, you would have to bear the consequences. To quote Dr Zbigniew Brzezinski: If we treat China like an enemy, they will become an enemy. It’s up to UK side to decide what they want in the end.
Britain will have to bear the consequences if it treats China as a hostile country when deciding whether to allow Huawei to be involved in the country’s telecommunications networks, the Chinese ambassador to Britain said on Monday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week he would proceed carefully on making a decision on Huawei because the government did not want any critical infrastructure to be controlled by “potentially hostile state vendors”.

China accuses US of fabricating facts, refutes cyber hacking allegations

Tensions between the two world powers have been running high over several issue, including a bitter trade war.

Can you trust what FBI, US said? By accusing China of fox hunt operation, are US officials hoping to make the US a safe haven for criminals? Chinese FM spokesperson said in response to FBI director’s allegation against China.
China is firmly opposed to @FBI director’s remarks, which ignored basic facts, were full of political lies and exposed a deep-rooted Cold War mentality and ideological bias, Chinese FM said after FBI director accused China over cyberattacks. As per Global Times reported on Wed.
US withdrawal from WHO is another example of a US unilateral retreat from an international organization. It harms the efforts of the world in its fight against epidemic and severely harms developing nations that most need international support: Chinese FM
- Trump administration formally withdraws US from World Health Organization: US Media.
China on Friday accused the US of “fabricating facts” after the Justice Department charged two Chinese men allegedly linked to the communist nation’s security services with cyber espionage for targeting companies in 12 countries, including India.
According to the unsealed accusation, Chinese nationals Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong were members of a hacking group operating in China known within the cyber security community as Advanced Persistent Threat 10 (the APT10 Group).

FBI chief slams Chinese cyberattacks on U.S., calls it ‘one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history’

In blistering remarks Tue, FBI Director Christopher Wray slammed the Chinese government for its use of espionage and cyber-attacks against the United States.
“The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation,” Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute.
Wray’s comments come on the heels of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s threat to ban TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns.
In May, the FBI, in a joint statement with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said it was investigating “the targeting and compromise of U.S. organizations conducting COVID-19-related research by [People’s Republic of China]-affiliated cyber actors and non-traditional collectors.”

The hackers have been caught attempting to “identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property” and public health data related to coronavirus research, according to the May 13 statement. “The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options,” the statement read.

Pakistan, China, Afghanistan agree to enhance cooperation to combat terrorism

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan agree to strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation to combat terrorist forces posing threats to their common security-Pak Radio Reported.

Some unverified sources said few days back that the meeting was organized by Pak Dy Secy, Foreign Ministry.

During diplomatic talks, China and Pakistan agreed to enhance cooperation with Afghanistan in support of the ‘Afghan-led, Afghan-owned’ peace reconciliation process.

Pakistan, China and Afghanistan on Tue called for “orderly” and “responsible” withdrawal of foreign troops from the war-torn country to prevent a potential terrorist resurgence.
The three sides also agreed to continue to strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation, according to a joint press statement issued at the conclusion of the 3^rd round China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral vice foreign ministers’ dialogue held via video link.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood co-chaired the meeting.

“The three sides urged for an orderly, responsible and condition based withdraw of the foreign troops from Afghanistan to avoid potential terrorist resurgence,” the statement said.
An agreement signed between the US and the Taliban in Feb in Doha drew up plans for withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the insurgent group.

As part of the Doha deal, the US committed to withdraw its 12,000 troops within 14 months. Troops have since been reduced by over a quarter, according to a recent report on Afghanistan published by the Congressional Research Service.

The Taliban committed to prevent other groups, including Al Qaeda, from using Afghan soil to recruit, train or fund raise toward activities that threaten the US or its allies.
China and Pakistan appreciated the efforts by the Afghanistan government and relevant parties in expediting the exchange of the prisoners to pave the way for the start of the Intra-Afghan negotiations and call for violence reduction and humanitarian ceasefire.
During the talks, China and Pakistan agreed to enhance cooperation with the Afghan government in support of the ‘Afghan-led, Afghan-owned’ peace reconciliation process.
The three sides agreed that the return of Afghan refugees should be part of the peace and reconciliation process and underlined the role of the international community for a time-bound and well-resourced roadmap for their return with dignity and honor.
The participants also conducted in-depth discussions and reached consensus on cooperation against COVID-19, the statement said.

Nation Amid COVID-19

Active Cases

Cured / Discharged

Deaths

Total

Ø Chinese govt agreed that WHO will send a team of experts to Beijing to trace the origin of COVID-19, says Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson says

Ø After consultation, the Chinese government has agreed that WHO will send a team of experts to Beijing to trace the origin of COVID-19 Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, reported ANI.

264944

456830

20642

742416