Newsletter 31 August

Sino-Indian Standoff: China PLA troops attempts Provocative movements at LAC, while Beijing rejected such claim. Chinese President Xi Jinping turns focus onto Tibet border Security Indian Navy quietly deployed warship in South China Sea

While the incident occurred on night of Aug 29/30 New Delhi posted on Defense website on Aug 31^st 2020
On the Night of 29/30 Aug 2020, PLA troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements during the ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh and carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo.
Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on ground.
The Indian Army is committed to maintaining peace and tranquility through dialogue, but is also equally determined to protect its territorial integrity.
Srinagar Leh Highway closed for civilians without citing any reason.
China Study Group of Government of India likely to meet soon to discuss fresh standoff between India and China after China tried to unilaterally change facts on ground at Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh.
Governor of Ladakh R K Mathur calls on Union MoS for Home, G Kishan Reddy, amid fresh tension between Indian Army and China’s PLA

A Brigade Commander level Flag Meeting is in progress at Chushul to resolve the issues.

While efforts are underway to resolve the ongoing border dispute, India has rejected the Chinese suggestion to ‘disengage equidistantly from the Finger area in Eastern Ladakh”. (ANI)
However, the disengagement process has been largely stalled due to China refusing to go back to their previous positions on the ‘fingers’ on the Pangong Tso lake area.
There had been reports in June about China amassing troops and building a helipad on the southern bank of the lake which is located on the India-China border.

However sources said “Sunday’s border violations by PLA in Pangong-Chushul sector are more serious than Govt is admitting. China is steadily pushing the LAC westwards. The Indian Army wants to stop “dialogue” and take action. But New Delhi is desperate for a negotiated solution.”

Investigations with Geopolitical analysis of the Doklam region in the China, Bhutan, India tri junction area present new evidence of PLA air defense infrastructure being constructed roughly 50 Kms from known clash points of the India China Standoff of 2017 and 2020. This support unit could sustain all weather & rapid troop deployments in the sector along with improving surveillance operations.

Defense Ministry on Mon signed contracts with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd., Tata Power Company Ltd. and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for supply of Six Pinaka Regiments to the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs. 2580 Crores.

India not to send army contingent to Russia for multinational army exercise in which around 20 countries including China are expected to take part next month amidst a stalemate with PLA on border issues since last few months, said Additional Directorate General of Public Information.

Beijing said in talks with India to solve border dispute amid latest accusation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Mon that its troops have never crossed the LAC amid a China-India border standoff, after the Indian army alleged that China’s troops violated the previous consensus.

Chinese President Xi Jinping turns focus onto Tibet border security

High-level policy meeting follows deadly clash between Chinese and Indian soldiers along disputed frontier
Xi told the country’s highest-level meeting on Tibet that safeguarding border security should be a priority.to work to ensure national security in first meeting of top Tibet policy body for five years
State news agency Xinhua reported that Xi had ordered party, government and military leaders to “solidify border defenses and ensure frontier security” as well as ensuring “national security and enduring peace and stability” in the region, which shares a long border with India.
Xi was speaking at the seventh Central Symposium on Tibet Work, which finished in Beijing on Saturday. It is the country’s most important forum for Tibet policies, and the two-day event was the first such gathering since 2015.

Report suggests China is relocating citizens to weakly controlled border areas it shares with Arunachal Pradesh India, part of a frontier reinforcement plan.

Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, the altitude decreased sharply from 4,380 m above the sea level to 2,800 m where the Lebugou border region sits.
Lebugou borders India and Bhutan. Standing on the square of Le village in Lebugou, village chief Puba pointed to a mountain shrouded by mist to the Global Times. “This mountain is already in the India-controlled area, which is less than 5 kilometers from where we now stand,” he said.
#What Chines State media reported that “In 2018, all 12 counties in Shannan have been lifted out of poverty, and border villages like Le and Simu are prospering with tourism and ethnic-run industries. Mama Menba Township has been a famous tourist destination in the autonomous region due to its rich tourism resources and beautiful natural environment. The 66 households in the township run a total of 49 farmhouses, five restaurants, five teahouses and five shops selling ethnic products. In 2019, the total rural income of the township reached nearly 5 million yuan, including 2.8 million yuan in the tertiary industry, and 17,891 yuan in per capita disposable income.”

Indian Navy quietly deployed warship in South China Sea

Acting swiftly after the Galwan valley clash on June 15 in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Navy sailed out its frontline warship for deployment in the South China Sea much to the displeasure of the Chinese who raised objections over the move during the talks between the two sides.

# The Chinese have been objecting to the presence of Indian Navy ships in the region where it has significantly expanded its presence since 2009 through artificial islands and military presence.

“Soon after the Galwan clash broke out, the Indian Navy deployed one of its frontline warship to the South China Sea where the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy objects to the presence of any other force claiming the majority of the waters as part of its territory,” ANI reported.
The immediate deployment of the Indian Navy warship in the South China Sea had a desired effect on the Chinese Navy and security establishment as they complained to the Indian side about the Indian warship’s presence there during the diplomatic level talks with the Indian side, the sources said.
During the deployment in the South China Sea where the American Navy had also deployed its destroyers and frigates, the Indian warship was continuously maintaining contact with their American counterparts over secure communication systems, the sources informed.
As part of the routine drills, the Indian warship was being constantly updated about the status of the movement of military vessels of other countries there, they said adding that the entire mission was carried out in a very hush-hush manner to avoid any public glare on Navy’s activities.
Around the same time, the Indian Navy had deployed its frontline vessels along the Malacca Straits near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the route from where the Chinese Navy enters the Indian Ocean Region to keep a check on any activity of the Chinese Navy.
A number of Chinese vessels also pass through the Malacca Straits while returning with oil or taking merchant shipments towards other continents.
The sources said the Indian Navy is fully capable of checking any misadventure by the adversaries on either the eastern or the western front and the mission-based deployments have helped it to control the emerging situations effectively in and around the Indian Ocean Region.
The Navy also has plans to urgently acquire and deploy autonomous underwater vessels and other unmanned systems and sensors to keep a close eye on the movement of PLAN from Malacca Straits towards the Indian Ocean Region, the sources said.
The Navy is also taking care of the Chinese vessels present around the Djibouti area and has deployed its assets in the vicinity for protecting national interest.
The Navy has also deployed its MiG-29K fighter aircraft at an important Air Force base where they are practicing missions for conflict over land and mountainous terrain, the sources said.

Former President, Pranab Mukherjee (Pranab Da) passed away, announced by his son Abhijit Mukherjee around 5 pm IST after 21 days in Comma.

In Jnk, and LoC: a sum of 10 Militants killed 2 Security personals killed, from BSF and JnK Police. Various other violence accidents occurred in last 3 days.

Two AK-47 rifles, ammunition recovered from Uri in north Kashmir.
Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) major revival plan in Kashmir has been thwarted and 3 terrorists arrested. They were in contact with ISI handler Mohammed Kasim who ex-filtrated 18 years ago. An FIR was registered in his matter and a Special Investigation Team was formed: Reasi SSP Rashmi Wazir, Jammu & Kashmir
The ISI handler wanted to use these people as guides & for logistic support in cases of infiltration. There are around 11 suspects in this case, including a woman in Jammu who admitted to having met ISI handler Kasim in Pakistan and taking money from him: Wazir
The arrested people include govt employee, laborer & shopkeeper. We’ve verified some of their back accounts and detected some benami transactions. Some more persons will be arrested in this case. They were trying to lure family members of former terrorists: Wazir said.
At least six civilians sustained injuries in a grenade attack by terrorists on an Army convoy in Baramulla district of JnK on Mon, officials said.
The ultras lobbed a grenade on the convoy, which was on its way to Srinagar, at Azadgunj in Baramulla town, they said.
Officials said the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside, causing injuries to six civilians. The injured were rushed to a hospital.
Horrific visuals of J&K Police personnel who were attacked with stones by locals in Zadibal, Srinagar, Kashmir during Shia mourning procession. “Has this been reported & condemned by Kashmiri journalists? Why is the International media silent? Or waiting to twist facts?” said an Indian Journalist.
The video from Zadibal, Srinagar in Kashmir very closely. Some locals comes and kicks/punches/pushes cops on law and order duty. There is no provocation by either J&K Police or the CRPF as visible. Afterword, the news of pallet gun used by forces to dispersed the mob come in some section of media.
A young Shia mourner in a Muharram procession in Kashmir became a victim of Sunni majoritarian bigotry within local police and sectarian violence. But Stalinist “revolutionaries” are passing it off as oppression by “Hindu” Indian state against Kashmiri Muslims.
On Aug 29, three Militants killed in the encounter in Pantha Chowk gunfight that broke last night in Srinagar, Kashmir with security forces. J&K Police SOG Jawan ASI Babu Ram Killed in Action.
Forces ask them to surrender. Repeated calls made. Yet Militants fire at forces. Three bike-borne Militants tried to carry out a hit and run terror attack on a CRPF party in Srinagar. Entire area cordoned off. Massive search ops have been launched. A total 156 terrorists killed so far this year. Last year total was 152.

Meanwhile, Pakistan strongly condemns extra-judicial killing of Kashmiris in fake encounter and imposition of restrictions on religious gatherings, processions in IIOJK. Pak FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri says equally condemnable are the restrictions imposed on religious processions and gatherings during Muharram. However, in India, no religious gathering is allowed due to lockdown.

Pakistan Army resorted to an unprovoked ceasefire violation on LoC in Nowshera, Rajouri district, J&K. Naib Subedar Rajwinder Singh was critically injured in the incident and later succumbed to his injuries: Lt Col Devender Anand, PRO (Defense), Indian Army.
Punjab government announces an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakhs & a government job to the family Singh who lost his life in ceasefire violation along LoC: Punjab Govt.

‘Will contest Article 370 move legally, democratically’: Farooq and Omar Abdullah

The two leaders (father and Son), in perhaps their first joint interview, said they rejected the Union government’s constituency delimitation exercise and domicile laws as efforts to change the demography of the Valley.
National Conference (NC) leaders and former CMs Farooq and Omar Abdullah are “bitter” about, and feel “betrayed” by, the constitutional changes related to JnK pushed through by the Centre last year, and will contest them both politically and legally, while asserting that their struggle will be entirely peaceful.
They also spoke of the pain of on the one hand being seen as separatists by “ultra-nationalists” in the rest of the country, and on the other, as nationalists in Kashmir.
[Actually, as far as politics of JnK, only NC or Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) were in power prior to abrogation of Art 370. The both parties are parties of two family, which formed govt either with support of INC or BJP. While both later are national parties have hold in Jammu region. However, both PDP and NC have no mass supports in valley as well, and therefore here the interference of Pakistan comes.]

Important For Youth To Learn About Heroes Of Our Freedom Struggle: PM Modi

During the monthly program, PM Narendra Modi also lauded teachers for accepting COVID-19 challenge and turning it into an opportunity.

#While addressing the monthly Mann Ki Baat program, PM said, “It is very important that our today’s generation, our students know about the freedom struggle, the leaders of our nation and feel about them…from their districts and region, what happened during the freedom struggle, how it happened, who sacrificed their lives, who remained imprisoned for how long for the nation.”
“When our students learn about these things, it will reflect in their personality. Many things can be done for this which puts a lot of responsibility on our teachers, like in your native district, was there any incident during the long freedom struggle,” he added.
He further stated that in 2022 we will celebrate 75 years of independence. Before independence, our country has had a long history of freedom struggle. During this period there was no corner in India where freedom fighters did not sacrifice their lives, he added.
“Students can be engaged in research on this topic, it can be prepared as a handwritten edition of the school. If there is a place in your city associated with the freedom struggle, then the students can be taken there,” he said.
“Students of any school can take a resolve to write poems, plays on 75 freedom struggle heroes of their region. Your efforts will bring thousands of unsung heroes to the fore. Who lived for the country, died for the nation and whose names faded with the times,” the PM added.

States have power to provide quota in PG admissions to government doctors serving in remote areas: SC

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra held that states have legislative competence to make special provisions for reservation.
The SC judgement was pronounced on a plea by Tamil Nadu medical officers association and others contending that giving reservation benefits would encourage those working in government hospitals and in rural areas.
The top court said that the medical council of India (MCI) regulation that barred such reservation is arbitrary and unconstitutional.
The bench said that the MCI is a statutory body and has no power to make provisions for reservations.

Delimitation panel to visit 4 north east states, J&K after preparing broad framework to redraw constituencies

The Delimitation Commission, set up to redraw the constituencies of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, will visit the north-eastern states and the Union territory after preparing a “broad framework” of the delimitation exercise, officials said.

[This presently become significance after abrogation of Article 370. As the center wants clear-cut interference valley by reorganizing the constituencies so that majoritarian in valley could be reduced their say.]

The commission will also seek views and inputs of its “associate members” – a group of Lok Sabha members and MLAs -after drawing up the broad framework.

“First the broad framework has to be developed on carving out constituencies based on the 2011 Census.
Only then would the Delimitation Commission visit the states to meet locals.
Once the framework is drawn, it would also interact with associate members to seek their views and inputs,” said an official aware of the developments.
The penal is headed by former SC judge Justice Ranjana Desai (retd). Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra is the representative of the Election Commission in the delimitation panel while state ECs of JnK and the four states are its ex-officio
In May, the Lok Sabha Speaker had nominated 15 MPs from JnK, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh as “associate members” of the Delimitation Commission to assist the panel in redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituencies of the north-eastern states and the Union Territory. The 15 MPs include two Union ministers.

In Punjab: Border Security Force (BSF) troops seized 14 packets weighing 14.79 kgs of contraband, suspected to be heroin in Abohar, Punjab on 29^th Aug. BSF troops once again thwarted anti-national elements’ attempt to push contraband consignment into India: PRO, BSF Punjab Frontier.

Three persons have been booked & arrested for hoisting Khalistan flag on the rooftop of Deputy Commissioner’s office in Moga, Punjab and the dishonor of National Flag: Moga Police on Sun.

Amid Delhi Riot Rows: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested suspended Aam Admi Party (AAP) Councilor Tahir Hussain under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has secured six days custodial remand rom the Ld. ASG, Karkardooma Court, Delhi

Strict action against atrocities on Hindu daughters on marriage pretext UP CM's media advisor

Lucknow, Aug 29 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s media advisor Mrityunjay Kumar said on Sat the state Govt will take strict action in cases of “atrocities on Hindu daughters on the pretext of marriage”.
UP CM Yogi had earlier too said that his Govt will not tolerate any kind of love jihad.” According to sources, the issue had figured in a high-level meeting on Fri.
A day before CM office tweeted “that NSA (National Security Act) will be imposed on the rape accused.”

New Delhi’s historic monument Qutub Minar illuminated in Polish national colors to mark the 40^th anniversary of Flag of Poland, ‘Poland’s Solidarity movement’, a trade union fighting for civil rights, based on ideas of ahimsa and non-violence.

Neighborhood

Three US Air Force B-2A Spirit bombers are at the secretive island base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for the first time since 2016

The B-2, a nuclear-capable stealth bomber designed to penetrate enemy air defenses, is back in the Indian Ocean amid rising tensions between China and its neighbors, who are supported by the US

The US bomber deployment comes amid a period of intense military maneuvering by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as Beijing finds itself increasingly at odds with not only the US, but also Taiwan and India. Chinese troops are set to begin two days of live-fire drills off the Zhoushan Islands, an archipelago about 550 km north of Taiwan, on Mon.

Indian Govt announces Unlock 4 Guidelines. Strict lockdown in Containment Zones till Sept 30. Metro rail to be allowed from Sept 7 in a graded manner. Social/ Academic/ Sports/ Entertainment/ Cultural/ Political functions to be allowed with ceiling of 100 from Sept. international flight shall not be allowed till Sept.