Newsletter 24 September

Sino-Indian Standoff:

India will hold key heights till signs of China withdrawal

The recent understandings between India and China -by the foreign ministers in Moscow on Sept 10 and military commanders on Tue -are intended to begin the process of a limited disengagement and ensure a continued ‘standstill’ at the Line of Actual Control amid a deep trust deficit between the two sides.

Confirming that meaningful disengagement would depend on the political intent of the Chinese leadership and its willingness to de-escalate on the ground, Indian sources said the two joint statements should be read only to prevent provocative jostling at friction points on the LAC which could flare into hostilities even as India remains prepared for all eventualities.

Rajnath Singh Inaugurated 43 BRO-built Major Bridges Across 7 States/UTs

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate 43 permanent major bridges constructed by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) across seven States/UTs on Thu.
The Ministry said the 43 bridges made by BRO includes 10 in JnK, 8 in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh each, 7 in Ladakh, 4 in Punjab and Sikkim each and 2 in Himachal Pradesh.
He will also lay the foundation stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh via video conference. The tunnel is expected to shorten the travel time to Tawang.

Reinforcing border infrastructure is Compulsion, as the Indian side is preparing for a long haul through winter

The government has been trying to reinforce infrastructure in border areas through extensive road and bridge-building.
The Chinese and Indian armies have been embroiled in a tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh since May and
The Centre has increased funding for border road development projects and raised the allocation for maintenance of border roads. Funding for road development projects in border areas has been raised from Rs 340 crore to Rs 440 crore in the current financial year. The budget for maintenance of border roads has gone up from Rs 120 crore to Rs 220 crore.
This is the second revision of funding for border roads in the fiscal year; in June, the ministry of road transport and highways raised the allocation for border road maintenance by four times to Rs 120 crore.

India's imports from China decrease to US$ 16.60 billion during April-July 2020

India’s imports from China during April-July 2020 decreased to US$ 16.60 billion from US$ 23.45 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, the information was given by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Wed.

Nuke capable Prithvi-II night trial successful

The single stage liquid propelled weapon developed by DRDO was inducted into the Armed Forces in 2003 and is into series of production since then.
The Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army on Wed successfully conducted a night trial of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a defense test facility off Odisha coast.
Mounted on a Mobile Tatra transporter-erector Launcher (MTL), the short-range surface-to-surface missile was test fired from the launching complex III (LC-III) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 7.30 pm.
Equipped with a state of the art guidance system the indigenously developed missile was fired in a real-time in full operational configurations.
“This was a copy book success and the missile travelled nearly 300 km as coordinated. It was a successful mission accomplished,” said a defense official.
The test came a day after the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully test fired a laser guided anti-tank missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges, Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.
Capable of tracking the targets with the help of laser designation to ensure precision hit accuracy, the missile engaged a target located at 3 km.
However, the night trial of Prithvi assumed significance as the missiles fired in the dark are difficult to be tracked and shot down.
Prithvi-II, capable of attacking targets at a range of 350 km, is India’s first developed and inducted indigenous surface-to-surface strategic missile.

CAG slams French cos for not fulfilling Rafale offset terms

French firms Dassault Aviation and MBDA, the main companies in the Rs 59,000 crore contract for 36 Rafale fighters inked in Sept 2016, have been slammed by the national audit watchdog, CAG, for their failure so far to fulfil offsets obligation in offering advanced technology to India. The French companies are required to plough back 50% of the contract value to India.
The CAG report, however, itself admits that discharge of offsets in the Rafale deal are spread over 7 years from the date of signing the contract, with no such obligation in the first 3 years.
The report, however, also criticizes the fact that the maximum discharge of the offsets – 57% by MBDA and 58% by Dassault – is slated only during the last or 7^th year (2023).
Though the CAG report dwells upon several defence deals, the Rafale contract is noteworthy because it led to a political dogfight between the BJP-led Govt and Congress.
The Supreme Court had in Nov last year rejected review petitions for a probe into the 36-fighter deal.
Referring to different deals, including the Rafale one, the CAG report said: “In many cases, it was found that foreign vendors made various offset commitments to qualify for the main supply contract, but later were not earnest about fulfilling these commitments.”

Nepal plans to conduct census in Kalapani areas, Indian side says 'won't allow'

After its recent move to include the map showing Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani areas of Pithoragarh in its school textbooks as well as on coins, the Nepalese Govt is now planning to conduct a census in these areas which it has been claiming as its own.
Nepal conducts a census every 10 years and its next census exercise is due in May next year.
The exercise, by the country’s National Planning Commission and its Central Bureau of Statistics, involves a nationwide door-to-door survey.
Sources familiar with the development told TOI that “hawkish elements” of the Nepalese political leadership want to get the census done in the villages comprising the Limpyidhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh areas, and had also drafted a questionnaire for the exercise.
They added that “Nepal is also looking at other options for taking the census if a door-to-door survey is not possible.”
Meanwhile, villagers in the area said “there is no question” of participating in any census exercise conducted by Nepal. [1]

India’s Right of Reply during virtual CICA Special Ministerial Meeting on 24 Sept 2020

In response to remarks by Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Unfortunately, Pakistan has misused another forum by continuing its spurious narrative about India. The Union Territories of JnK and Ladakh have been and will remain an integral part of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal affairs.
Pakistan’s remarks today constitute gross interference in India’s internal affairs, sovereignty and territorial integrity which is inconsistent with the CICA Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations between the CICA Member States of Sept 1999.
Pakistan is the global epicentre of terrorism and continues to be the source of terrorist activities in India.
We advise Pakistan to cease its sponsorship and overt and covert support to terrorism against India. This will enable the two countries to engage and address issues bilaterally rather than distract this important forum from its agenda.
“India’s selective amnesia is reflective of its violent Hindutva mindset. The undeniable fact remains that India illegal actions of last August have brought more injustice, more HR abuses and more terrorization of Kashmiris by Indian forces”. Pak’s representative replied.

JnK: 'Kashmiris don’t feel Indian, would rather have Chinese coming in'

“…they don’t feel Indian and us who have to speak, I wonder whether we will survive. Today China is advancing on the other side, many if you talk to them, they would rather have Chinese coming in. Whatever one may say, they know what Chinese have done to Muslims in their region,” National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said.
Responding to a question in an interview to TV anchor and journalist Karan Thapar on the mood of people in the Valley, Abdullah said.
Blaming the Centre, he claimed that if he speaks about India anywhere in the Valley, there is none to listen. He claimed there are security personnel in every street carrying AK-47. “Where is the freedom?” he asked.

'Rail roko' agitation starts in Punjab, train services suspended

Farmers in Punjab on Thu began their three-day ‘rail roko’ agitation to protest against the three farm bills while the Ferozepur Railway division suspended the operation of special trains due to the stir.
Railway authorities said 14 pairs of special trains will remain suspended from September 24 till 26.
The decision has been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage, officials said.
The call for ‘rail roko’ agitation was given by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and later, different farmers’ outfits also extended their support.
Activists of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) squatted on rail tracks in Barnala and Sangrur on Thursday morning.Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee have decided to squat on rail tracks near Devidaspur village in Amritsar and Basti Tanka wala in Ferozepur.
They vowed to gherao BJP leaders and socially boycott those who voted in favor of the farm bills.
As many as 31 farmers’ outfits have given a call for the complete shutdown of Punjab on Sept 25 to protest against the bills.

However, no any ground except back the bill, has given by the farmer associations, or how it will unfavorable to farmers. However, they have expressed apprehension that the bills would pave way for dismantling the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

The Farm Bills will bring revolutionary changes in the lives of farmers as they can sell their produce to any buyer, get a guarantee of price of their crops, go for crop diversification, use new technology and reduce their input costs, said Agriculture Min, Narendra Singh Tomar.

He said that Rs 93,000 crores has been given to farmers till now under the PM KISAN scheme.
Tomar said the Govt will spend Rs 6,850 crores for 10,000 new farmer producer organizations (FPOs) and asserted that they will bring revolution in the field of agriculture.
“Nobody had thought that Rs 1 lakh crore infrastructure fund will be announced for the agriculture. But Modiji announced this fund. On Aug 9, the PM approved Rs 1,128 crores to develop infrastructure for FPOs,” he said.
Farmers do farming and take their produce to mandis (markets).
There are 25-30 people with licenses in these mandis.
They do auction of produce.
Whatever price is decided in the auction, farmers were bound to sell their produce at that price whether they were happy or not because if they decide to take their produce and go home and come back again, they will have to pay additional logistics cost.

PM Modi launches Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols during Fit India Dialogue

PM Modi on Thu launched the ‘Fit India Age Appropriate Fitness Protocols’ during an online Fit India Dialogue, to celebrate the first anniversary of the Fit India Movement. The fitness protocols have been prepared with the help of fitness enthusiasts for 3 age categories, from 5-18 years, 18-65 years, and 65 plus age category Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, Paralympics gold medalist javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia, woman footballer from JnK, Afshan Ashiq, actor and fitness promoter Milind Soman, nutrition and exercise science expert, Rujuta Diwekar, Yoga guru Swami Shivadhayanam Saraswati, and National Organizing Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Mukul Kanitkar also participated in the event being held through video conferencing.

NEIGHBORHOOD/WORLD

Ashraf Ghani urges global leaders to make Afghanistan 'sovereign, united and democratic'

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wed (local time) called the global leaders to help in achieving a “sovereign, united and democratic Afghanistan.”
Speaking at the 75^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Ghani said, “We have demonstrated the commitment, passion and courage to start direct peace talks with the Taliban but it will not be enough. For sustainable peace in Afghanistan, we must get to the roots of the terrorism blighting our region.”
He further said that the agony faced by the people of Afghanistan is a reminder of the relevance of the UN charter.
“The untold sorrow of our people during the last 40 years serves as a reminder of the relevance of the UN charter and also of its unfulfilled promise for maintaining international peace and security,” he said.

Is she 18? How Pakistan’s forced conversion of minors get legal cover

If your kidnapper-husband says you are 18, or have had your first period, no more questions are asked in Pakistan about abduction-conversions of young girls.

COVID-19 INDIA

6 months since lockdown: ‘Despite strides, Covid crisis far from over’

From 500 cases to 57 lakh. 6 months after lockdown, Covid-19 is spreading fast across the length and breadth of India with more developments on the vaccine front but no clarity on when the disease will be controlled, say scientists. As Covid-19 rages, US-based epidemiologist Ramanan Laxminarayan said there is a hidden epidemic happening even as the pandemic spreads.

[1]- Indian relations with Nepal have been bumpy in the recent past. Over 5 million people of Nepali origin live in India. Citizens both countries are allowed visa-free visits and use of Indian currency as well.

Due to past diplomatic snafus, India lost its influence over the Nepalese elite and politics. Over the last decade, diplomats with little knowledge about Nepal and its roots were posted in key positions.

The Indian security system failed to keep a tight vigil on the rampaging romance between China and Nepal. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his eagle-eyed National Security Advisor Brijesh Mishra would always keep a close watch on both diplomatic and political movements in the Nepalese neighborhood.

When Kathmandu began to misbehave during 2001-2002, Mishra decided to visit Nepal to sort out thorny issues.

Previous to that, the Vajpayee government selectively leaked out a list of Nepali ministers and other influencers with financial and other questionable relations with the Pakistan establishment. The hawks were nowhere to be seen when Mishra landed in Kathmandu.

But the current Indian establishment hasn’t used its powerful machinery to attack anti-India elements by exposing their misdeeds. India’s support for the economic blockade of Nepal in 2015 fueled anger against India. Subsequently, Nepal’s demand to accept Indian currency after demonetization was fiercely resisted by North Block mandarins leaving the Himalayan country with a heap of useless paper.

Instead of cementing their ancient cultural affinity by reminding Nepal of Rama and Buddha, Indian diplomats and foreign policy experts have nudged Nepal into China’s lap.

By claiming Rama’s geographical lineage to throw a desperate gauntlet to Bharat, the original birthplace of the god, Comrade Oli has found his spiritual home in the geopolitical sanctuary of red China.

India must affix the Ram baan on its geopolitical Kodanda to shoot down the fishy swayamvaram of China wooing Nepal.