Newsletter 3 December

Sino-Indian Standoff: Despite the Deadlocked on both Sides, Dragan is creeping slowly

India approaches China bilaterally, with the challenge of global rebalancing, says External Affairs Minister

Negotiations with China are ongoing, says External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and hints that they could even take years, in an exclusive interview to Suhasini Haidar, where he lays out a treatise for Indian foreign policy, he also defended the government’s moves on Article 370, Citizenship Amendment Act and trade protection.

“Why is the icy Himalayan standoff involving 100,000 rival troops attracting little global attention? Because India chooses to equivocate. It is mum on the standoff’s cause: China’s encroachments. Note: India’s “bottom line” no longer means status quo ante.”- “Instead, India has stayed put for more than six months in unproductive talks with China. India has played into the enemy’s hands. These talks have given China cover to consolidate its hold on the areas it occupied earlier this year, thereby strengthening its negotiating leverage”.-Brahma Chellaney

Navy prepared to handle challenge of COVID-19 & Chinese attempts to change LAC: Admiral Karambir Singh

Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh has said in a press conference that the Navy is prepared to handle the dual challenge of both COVID-19 and Chinese attempts to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Singh added, the Navy’s activities are in close coordination and synergy with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. He informed that three Chinese warships are in the Indian Ocean region which he said have been there since 2008 for anti-piracy patrols.
He said, 2 predator drones taken on lease are helping India to fulfil the capability gap in terms of surveillance. He said the Navy has deployed P-8I aircraft at various locations on the requirement of Army and Indian Air Force, in addition to the deployment of Heron surveillance drones on the northern borders.
Admiral Singh informed that adding a push to the goal of self-sustainability 41 out of the 43 warships and submarines, including the indigenous Aircraft Carrier, will be built indigenously in the country for the Indian Navy.

India's emergence not a threat to anyone: Defence Secy

Emergence of India is not a threat to anyone and it does not get threatened by anyone, Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Thu, asserting that the national interest requires maintenance of stability in the country’s immediate neighborhood.
The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff at multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last 7 months.
The tension escalated manifold after the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15.
“Our maritime and national interests require maintenance of stability in our immediate
neighborhood and also the preservation of rule-based order in not just the Indian Ocean region but the Indo-Pacific (region),” Kumar said.
“Emergence of India is not a threat to anyone, but nor do we get threatened by anyone,” he said at a webinar organized by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses.
India and China have already held multiple rounds of military talks to decide on concrete steps to resolve the situation in eastern Ladakh, where around 50,000 soldiers each of the Indian Army and the Chinese Army are currently deployed.
Kumar said India’s defense relationships are based on the principle of free, open and rule-based order, ensuring economic growth to meet the aspirations of 1.3 bn people of India and 2 bn people of the region.
“The recent years have seen an increase of our engagement with likeminded nations and signing of some key agreements that will facilitate greater synergy and interoperability” he noted.
The Govt has made it clear that resources would not be a constraint as far as defense preparedness is concerned, Kumar stated.
“Having said that, this does not mean that we have resources to fritter away,” he noted.

IAF test-fires indigenous, Russian air defense missiles-ANI

The exercise was conducted from Nov 23 to Dec 2.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a massive exercise to test its air defense missiles including the indigenous Akash air defense system and the Igla handheld launchers.
IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal, HS Arora witnessed the Surface to Air Guided Weapons Firing as a part of Combined Guided Weapons Firing 2020 at Air Force Station Suryalanka on Dec 1.
While the country continues to face the Arora also urged all the air warriors to be ready to apply all lessons learnt in the Combined Guided Weapons Firing (CGWF) 2020 to any emerging operational scenario.

India’s security could be harmed if parts of Char Dham road only 5.5m wide, MoD tells SC

SC ordered on 8 Sept that width of Char Dham highway will be 5.5m due to ecological concerns in Himalayas, while MoD wants it at 7m for security reasons.
The Ministry of Defense has moved the Supreme Court to modify its 8 Sept order and allow a 7m-wide, 2-lane road in some parts of the 900-km Char Dham highway project.
The ministry has cited serious repercussions on the defense of the country and its security interests, which “is in jeopardy, especially in the background of today’s sensitive situation existing at the Chinese border”.
The 3 stretches where the defense ministry wants to widen the road connect the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police stations located at Joshimath, Uttarkashi, Roorkee, Rajwala, Dehradun, Tanakpur, Pithoragarh and other places to the International Border/ LAC.

Farmer’s Protest Row..

Inside track of the meeting between Centre & farmers

After 4^th round meeting Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal with 34 former’s representatives, farmers rejected written assurance on MSP from the Govt.
Unverified sources said that earlier, farmers were pressurizing govt on MSP issue, Govt today said that we are ready to consider amendment in MSP issue. Now Farmers Unions are adamant that Govt must Roll Back these Bills. Govt has made its stand clear: We won’t roll back.
In a letter to Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, the protesting farmers have demanded a special Parliament session to repeal the new Farm Laws.

MSP should be made a legal right.
Procurement of crop by states.
Swaminathan panel to fix MSP.
Repeal commission on air quality management.
Slash agri diesel prices by 50%.
Withdraw cases against farmers.

The farmer protests in and around Delhi not only affects the economy of Punjab but is also a “national security” issue, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said today as he appealed to “both sides” to resolve the matter, said after meeting with union home minister Amit Shah.
Akali Dal stalwart Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa returned their ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in protest against farm laws to return Padma Bhushan amid farmers’ protest
Farmers from Uttar Pradesh have flexed their muscles further along key roads connecting Delhi to Noida and Ghaziabad, even as the national capital’s western border with Haryana remained mostly blocked by those from Punjab and Haryana.
The traffic police in Delhi and Noida have issued advisories on route diversions.

India has been steadfast in its support for Palestinian cause, says Ambassador Tirumurti

Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti on Wed said India has been steadfast in its support for the “just Palestinian cause,” adding that the people of Palestine must not be forgotten.
Speaking at the 75^th Session of the UNGA on the “Question of Palestine,” Tirumurti said, “Over the years, India has invested in strengthening human resource capacities of the Palestinian people through scholarships for Palestinian students pursuing higher education and training of Palestinian professionals in prestigious Indian institutes.
Around 250 Palestinians benefit every year from such opportunities.”
“India has been steadfast in its support for the just Palestinian cause and in our solidarity with Palestinian people, which extends beyond political support,” he added.
We see it as an essential investment to help establish a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.”

SC directs installation of CCTVs in offices of CBI, NIA, other probe agencies

The SC has directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras in offices of investigating agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, Narcotics Control Bureau, Department of Revenue Intelligence Enforcement Directorate and Serious Fraud Investigation Office.
In a significant judgement on Wed, the SC had said, in case of any human right violation by investigating agencies, the victims have the right to get a copy of CCTV footage of interrogation to take cognizance of an offence.
A 3-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman pronounced the landmark judgement after hearing the SLP (Special Leave Petition) filed by one, Paramvir Singh Saini
Saini had raised issues regarding AV recordings of statements and the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations generally across the country.

India calls on UN member states' to condemn attacks on all religions

India on Wed called out UN member states’ for selective condemnation of attacks on Abrahamic religions*, leaving religions-like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
At the 75^th session of the UNGA, Indian diplomat Ashish Sharma said that with “selectivity” the world can never truly foster a culture of peace.
Speaking on the issue of “Culture of Peace”, First Secretary asked, “Why is this selectivity? Overall, Hinduism has more than 1.2 billion, Buddhism has more 535 million, and Sikhism around 30 million followers.
It is time that attacks against these religions are also added to earlier list of the three Abrahamic religions when such resolutions are passed.
Culture of peace cannot be only for Abrahamic religions. And as long as such selectivity exists, the world can never truly foster a culture of peace.”

*The Abrahamic religions, also referred to collectively as the world of Abrahamism, are a group of Semitic-originated religions that claim descent from the Judaism of the ancient Israelites and the worship of the God of Abraham.

Indian economy witnessing V-shaped recovery: FinMin report

“This V-shaped recovery, evident at the half-way stage of 2020-21, reflects the resilience and robustness of the Indian economy. The fundamentals of the economy remain strong as gradual scaling back of lockdowns, along with the astute support of Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission has placed the economy firmly on the path of recovery,” the Monthly Economic Review for Nov said.

RBI bars HDFC Bank from issuing new credit cards following outages

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked HDFC Bank to stop launches of new digital business activity and not to add new credit card customers following repeated outages in its electronic banking services. The lender has also asked the bank’s board to examine the lapses and fix accountability. The country’s largest private bank have been facing outages over the past two years.

Rajinikanth to launch political party in January

Breaking the suspense over his political plunge, actor Rajinikanth on Thu tweeted that he would launch his political party in Jan.
An announcement will be made on Dec 31. “Our party with the support of people will capture power and provide a corruption-free and transparent govt that will be above caste, creed and religion,” Rajinikanth said, adding, “We will change everything.“
Why it is important? In Tamil Nadu, film stars cherish huge affection from mob, at least as per past records, while he had an adorable career in cinema. That’s why his entry in politics in the state will matter.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Pakistan welcomes agreement on rules, procedures b/w Afghan parties

Pakistan has welcomed the announcement regarding the agreement reached on rules and procedures by the Afghan parties in Doha.
Addressing weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thu, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said this is another significant step forward.
The Spokesperson said Pakistan will continue to support intra-Afghan negotiations, culminating in an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution paving the way for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Highlighting the grave situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Spokesperson called upon the international community to take cognizance of brutal suppression of the Kashmiri people’s rights and freedoms in utter violation of international laws and conventions.
He said the world community must use all tools at its disposal to hold India accountable for its serious crimes against the Kashmiri people.
He urged the international community, particularly the United Nations counter-terrorism mechanisms, to act on the Pakistani Dossier providing irrefutable evidence of Indian state sponsorship of terrorism.

INDIA: COVID-19

According to the ICMR, 14,35,57,647 samples have been tested up to Dec 1^st with 11,11,698 samples being tested on Tue.
India reports more recoveries than active Covid-19
As the countries gear up to vaccinate the masses against coronavirus, Interpol has issued a global alert for law enforcement across its 194 member countries warning them to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.
Hopeful India will get Covid-19 vaccine nod by Dec end or early Jan: AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria