Newsletter 5 February

Sino-Indian Standoff: India ready to ‘defeat any Misadventure’: DM

New Delhi's overreaching ambition in Indian Ocean, said Chinese’s State Media, Global Times

On Feb 4 at the AeroIndia exhibition, India hosted the first ever Indian Ocean Region (IOR) defense ministers conference, themed “Enhanced Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean”
The Diplomat suggests that “the immediate imperative for India to convene a defense ministers meeting is possibly China’s growing activities in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
New Delhi is reluctant to see China’s increasing presence in the IOR in general.
It harbors paranoid ideas that China’s growing military power will threaten its dominant role in the region.
Truth be told, India’s sense of crisis comes from an instinctive reaction to the setback of its ambition to dominate the Indian Ocean.
In an era when it is becoming more and more untenable and costly to try to maintain exclusive control over the Indian Ocean, New Delhi needs to find external threats as an excuse to achieve its strategic goals to dominate the region.
However, countries in this region may not be interested in New Delhi’s endeavors to pull them over to India’s side.
Countries such as Madagascar are sovereign nations.
They have the right to formulate their foreign policies by themselves, and carry out their international affairs by themselves.
In recent years, India has been considering China as a hypothetical enemy on several issues. This is the inevitable result of the cold war mentality that has dominated the Indian strategic community for the past few years.
From China’s point of view, there is no need for anyone to react to false assumptions that might be floated by media or politicians in India.

Aero India2021 concluded today

President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the valedictory ceremony of the Aero India 2021 in Bengaluru, Karnataka
“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, I am happy that Aero India 2021 has been organized successfully. It has been held without compromising its spirit while following the Covid-19 appropriate norms, he said.
We are going to invest around $130 billion towards enhancing security by military modernization, in the next 7-8 years, said Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, at the valedictory session of in Bengaluru.
Singh said that aerospace sector will play an important role to reach the targets of domestic defense production of $25 billion and exports of $5 billion by 2025.
He said, “During the period 2015-2020, defense exports grew from Rs 2000 crores to Rs 9000 crores. The aerospace sector has an important role to play if we have to reach our targets of domestic defense production of $25 bn and exports of $5 bn by ‘25.”

India looking at Tejas exports at Rs 309 crore per aircraft, HAL chairman says

Madhavan, chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), said countries from Southeast Asia and the Middle East have shown interest in Tejas fighters.
India is actively scouting for export potential for the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas at a vanilla price of just Rs 309 crore per aircraft, as countries from SE Asia and the Middle East have evinced interest, Madhavan said at Aero India being held in Bengaluru.
Madhavan said while the contract cost for the 83 Tejas fighters is about Rs 48,000 crore, it will come down to around Rs 36,000 crore if one takes away the tax component and escalation in foreign exchange.

Tejas performance

The main challenger for the Tejas Mark 1A, in terms of exports, is the joint Sino-Pak product, JF-17.
Defense officials, however, argued that the Tejas has superior performance since it has a better engine, radar system and electronic warfare suit, besides an edge in weaponry like the Beyond Visual Range missiles.
Refusing to name countries that have shown interest, Madhavan said they are from SE Asia and the Middle East.
Sources in the defense establishment, however, said half a dozen countries, including Sri Lanka and Egypt, have evinced interest in the aircraft.

Export targets

Asked whether HAL has sought the government’s waiver on high taxes to enable exports, a senior HAL official said: “Most of the tax are output tax, which will not be applicable on exports.”
HAL is looking at setting up logistics facilities in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to woo the countries to buy Tejas and military helicopters.
This is because having logistics facilities is key to selling the products and ensuring after-sales services.

Farmers Protests Row:(laws are suspended by Apex Court)

PM Modi Holds Meeting With Amit Shah, Other Ministers In Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with Home Min Amit Shah, Information and Broadcasting Min Prakash Javadekar and Parliamentary Affairs Min Pralhad Joshi at the Parliament complex, amid continuing opposition attacks on the Govt over the farmers’ protest against the three central agriculture laws.

The ruling BJP and the opposition led by the Congress on Fri clashed in parliament over the laws against which thousands of farmers have been protesting in and around the national capital.

Amit Shah’s Scheduled visit to Sindhudurg, Maharashtra has postponed for a day.

In Rajya Sabha, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said protests over farm laws limited to only one state, farmers being instigated. Farmer unions, and opposition parties have failed to point out a single flaw in three new farm laws.

Ahead of Feb 6 ‘chakka jam’ called by protesting farmers, NSA Ajit Doval chaired crucial meet

Delhi Police started repositioning nails installed on the roads at various borders
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava arrived at the Parliament to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah
The ‘chakka jam’ is organized by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, umbrella body of all protesting unions (60) out 600 farmers unions in the country.

Delhi Police to seek info from Google on authors of ‘Toolkit’ ANI

Delhi Police is set to write to Google to get the IP (internet protocol) address or the location from where the ‘Toolkit’ document was created and uploaded on the social media platform.
According to Police sources, this inquiry is being done to identify the authors of the ‘Toolkit’ which was shared on Google Docs.
Addressing a press conference here, Delhi Police Special Commissioner Praveer Ranjan on Thu said they had registered a case against creators of ‘Toolkit’ and no one had been named in the FIR.
Correction: Yesterday, in media there was news that FIR has been registered against Greta Thunberg but police cleared in late night that “No Name” in FIR.
Ranjan said protests by farmers at Delhi borders have been going on for days and Delhi Police has been closely monitoring several social media accounts.
‘Toolkit’ account was being run by a group of Khalistanis.
They had decided to conduct a digital strike post the Republic Day incident,” he said.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg had posted ‘Toolkit’ in a tweet on Wednesday which she later deleted.
Interestingly, in toolkit only information is available, till the incidences already happened, but no outline of future planning as protests is still going on.
Ministry of Home Affairs has reached out to United States Department of Justice with Mutual Legal Assistance request for investigation into Khalistani terror group, Sikhs For Justice, Ministry of External Affairs replied on a question, on Thu in regular Press meet.

Battle to begin with repeal of farm laws, says Mo Dhaliwal who created ‘toolkit’

Mo Dhaliwal, the founder of the Vancouver-based Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF) that created the controversial ‘toolkit’ tweeted by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, is

looking to use the farm protests in India to fuel the separatist Khalistani movement, according to a police officer probing attempts to fan the separatist movement under the garb of the farmers’ agitation.

This lingering suspicion, the officer suggested, was confirmed by a recent video clip of Mo Dhaliwal where he is seen mobilizing support for the agitation, as well as the separatist movement.

“If the farm bills get repealed tomorrow, that is not a victory. This battle begins with the repeal of the farm bills, it does not end there. Let no one tell you that this battle is going to end with the repeal of the farm bills. That is because they are trying to drain energy from this movement. They are trying to tell you that you are separate from Punjab, and you are separate from the Khalistan movement. You are not,” Mo Dhaliwal says in this video clip, reportedly shot during the group’s protest outside the Indian consulate on 26 January.

Haryana ADGP issues directives to SPs, Commissioners in view of farmer unions ‘chakka jam’ on Feb 6- ANI

Haryana Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh Virk on Fri issued directives to the state’s Superintendents of police and Commissioners in view of Sat’s pan India ‘chakka jam’ called by agitating farmers.
Maximum force shall be pulled out from non-operational duties.
Intelligence network should be geared up and necessary preventive action may be taken

As the farmers continue their agitation against farm laws at various borders of the national capital, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thu had informed that 3-4 hrs-long ‘chakka jam’ on Feb 6 will not apply in Delhi. Speaking to reporters at the Ghazipur border protest site, he had said farmers would provide food and water to the people who will be stuck due Jam.

A Jaish operative has been arrested by J&K police at Delhi airport, brought back to JnK. More details awaited

Delhi Police File Case Against Two NGOs Run by Ex-IAS Officer Harsh Mander

Umeed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow Home in south Delhi were booked after an inspection by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
A case has been registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act over alleged violations by 2 NGOs in south Delhi, police said on Thu.
According to police, a case under Sections 75 and 83(2) of the Juvenile Justice Act along with Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) has been registered on Tue at Mehrauli police station on the complaint of the registrar of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights against alleged violations in Umeed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow Home in south Delhi, both established by Centre for Equity Studies (CSE).
The CSE is run by trustee member Harsh Mander, a retired IAS officer. However, no immediate reaction was available from Mander.

Despite a CDS to coordinate procurement, all 3 services are proceeding on different paths while buying “SDR”- Ajai Shukla

Despite the appointment of a chief of defense staff (CDS) to coordinate procurement and interoperability between the army, navy and Indian Air Force (IAF), all three services are following different paths while buying their next-generation communication systems, known as “software defined radio” (SDR).
As a result, there will be a loss of communications efficiency when, say, an army signaler communicates with an air force pilot, defeating the very purpose of upgrading radio equipment. Even worse, the enemy could find it easy to intercept communications because of lowered security protocols.
In 2017, the IAF signed a contract worth over $100 million with Rafael, for 500 SDR sets that the Israeli firm has named the B-Net system.
The next year, Rafael began integrating SDR sets into the IAF aircraft and grounds stations where they were intended to be deployed.
Thereafter, the manufacture of the IAF’s 500 SDR is to be carried out in Hyderabad, in a joint venture (JV) company called Astra Rafael Comsys (ARC).
Indian electronics firm Astra Microwave owns a 51% stake in ARC, while Rafael owns the remaining 49%.
Meanwhile, the army has decided to procure SDR through the “Make-2” category of the Defense Procurement Procedure.
This requires interested companies to develop equipment at their own cost and offer it to the MoD, which then conducts trials and chooses what it likes.
It is understood that the army will soon issue an Expression of Interest (EoI), inviting firms to develop suitable SDR.
Meanwhile, the navy has decided to buy SDR from Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). Unlike aircraft, where space is critical and, unlike the army where weight is crucial because many users have to man-pack their radio sets; naval vessels have ample space and no weight constraints for their SDR equipment.
BEL’s SDR equipment is both bulky and heavy, but meets the navy’s requirement, perhaps at a lesser cost.

RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 4%, maintains accommodative stance

The Reserve Bank of India on Fri decided to keep key lending rates unchanged in its Feb policy review meeting.
While, it projected a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 10.5% for the financial year 2021-22, on the back of recovery in economic activities.
In line with the Union Budget, the RBI projected a GDP growth rate of 10.5% for the financial year beginning Apr 1^st, on the back of recovery in economic activities.
RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said the growth outlook has improved significantly and the vaccination drive will help the economic rebound.

Tamil Nadu Govt Announces Rs 12,110 crore farm loan waiver

The AIADMK Govt in Tamil Nadu on Fri announced waiver of Rs 12,110 crore farm loans availed by 16.43 lakh farmers from cooperative banks. Chief minister E K Palaniswami said the scheme would come into immediate effect and the required financial allocation would be made by his Govt.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

UNSC issues Press Statement on the Situation in Myanmar after coup by Military

The United Nations Security Council on Thu expressed deep concern over the military coup in Myanmar and called for the immediate release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and others leaders who were arbitrarily detained.

The 15-member council, which is the most powerful organization of the governing body issued a statement on Thu – 3days after the military seized power in the Southeast Asian country in a coup and detained top politicians.

Security Council emphasizes the need for continued support of the democratic transition.

Uphold democratic processes
Refrain from violence
Respect human rights and the rule of law.

‘America is back’: Joe Biden touts muscular foreign policy

In his speech, Biden signaled aggressive approaches to China and Russia, urged Myanmar’s military leaders to halt their coup, and declared an end to US support for a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen.
He called Beijing “our most serious competitor.”
“We’ll confront China’s economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China’s attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance.
But we’re ready to work with Beijing when it’s in America’s interest to do so,” he said.
Many believe that no relationship between any two democracies is as important in today’s changing world than the one between the U.S. and India. But, in his speech, Biden mentioned Canada, Mexico, Britain, Germany, France, NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia but not India.

Pak FM approached UNSC President, UNSG to apprise on continuing grave situation in IIOJ&K

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has approached the President of the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary General, apprising them of gross and systematic violations of human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and India’s belligerent and hostile actions against Pakistan.
Qureshi recalled the detailed dossier presented to the UN containing irrefutable evidence of India’s active planning, promoting, aiding, abetting, financing and execution of terrorist activities against Pakistan.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said India should allow access to the occupied territory to the UN observers, international human rights and humanitarian organizations, observers and the international media.

“To the Kashmiri people, my message is that your goal of self-determination is not far. Pakistan will stand with you till you achieve your legitimate rights. Pakistan has always stood for peace in our region, but the onus of creating an enabling environment lies with India” tweeted Pak PM Imran Khan.

Pfizer withdraws emergency use request for its COVID vaccine in India ANI

US-based pharma company Pfizer has withdrawn an application for emergency-use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine in India, the company spokesperson said.
The company participated in a subject expert committee meeting of the Drug Regulatory Authority of India (DGCI) on Wed, following which it has decided to withdraw its application at this time.
Pfizer said it will continue to engage with the DGCI and resubmit its approval request with additional information as it becomes available in the near future.

The article has been corrected to clarify that WTO has not ruled against the proposal by India and South Africa and that talks in the matter remain inconclusive. Next Council Meeting is on 23 Feb. Even after blocking by the developed countries, no final decision taken yet at WTO.

“We’ve received requests for vaccine supply from 22 nations so far. Out of these, supply has already been made to 15 nations – as grant assistance as well as contract doses. 56 lakh doses given as grant assistance and 105 lakh as contracts doses”: Health Minister in Lok Sabha-ANI.