Newsletter 9 March

Sino-Indian Standoff: Wang’s comments indicated that China was keen to minimize direct confrontation with India-Expert

DRDO develops AIP technology, Indian subs to be more silent and lethal

A boost for AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign, AIP-fitted submarines remain sub-surface for a longer period and are quieter than nuclear-powered submarines.
A day before INS Karanj attack submarine is inducted into Indian Navy, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) conducted the final development test of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) in Mumbai design was tested on land on Mon night, a major step that will make Indian submarines more lethal.
AIP allows a submarine to be submerged for longer periods under water and makes the sub-surface platform more deadly by making it quieter than a nuclear submarine.
The Indian Navy now plans to retrofit all its Kalvari class non-nuclear attack with AIP during their first upgrade, expected around 2023.
The 1615 ton Kalvari class submarine is being built by Mazagon Dockyards Limited in collaboration with French Naval Group and is based on Scorpene design. INS Karanj, 3^rd of the class, is expected to be commissioned tomorrow.
The development of AIP technology is a major boost for the AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign since only the US, France, China, UK and Russia have this key technology.
The DRDO’s AIP technology is based on a Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell and the last 2 Kalvari class submarines will be powered by it.
The AIP is retrofitted into existing submarine hulls by adding an additional hull section. The AIP equipped submarines are identified as SSP while classic diesel attack submarines carry the SSK classification.
While the nuclear submarine generates noise due to the ship’s reactor constantly pumping coolant to maintain temperatures of the engine, the AIP-equipped submarine maintains a lethal silence.
The DRDO’s AIP technology has also got a pat in the back from the French, who were in touch with the Indians in the context of Kalvari class manufacturing.
Despite urgent requests, the French have decided not to upgrade the Pakistani Agosta 90 B submarines with AIP technology, forcing Islamabad to either go to China or Turkey.

'Domestic matter' of India: Minister Nigel Adams in UK Parliament debate on farmers' protests ANI

The United Kingdom on Mon reiterated that agricultural reform laws are a “domestic matter” of India and that security forces in a democracy have the right to enforce law and order.
What all UK Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams said on the issue of peaceful protests and press freedoms in India
- The UK Govt firmly believes that freedom of speech and the right for peaceful protest
- But if a protest crosses the line into illegality, security forces in a democracy have the right to enforce law and order.
- The Indian Govt has met with farmers on several occasions and that those talks remain inconclusive.
- It an exciting time for the UK-India partnership, it does not hinder us from raising difficult issues.
- India’s “vibrant media scene” that “promotes lively debate across the political spectrum.”
- India and UK work together as a force for good in the UN Security Council and the cooperation helps to fix global problems.
Adams was responding in a debate held in response to a petition that with over 10,000 signatories.
According to British parliamentary convention, petitions that garner 10,000 signatures on the UK Govt and Parliament website get a response from the Govt and petitions that get 100,000 signatures are almost always debated.
Farmers have been camping at several Delhi border points for over three months now demanding a complete repeal of the three farm laws.

India slams farm protest debate in House of Commons

The High Commission of India in London issued a statement immediately after the debate held in Westminster Hall at which 17 out of 18 British MPs attacked the Indian govt’s handling of the issues. “High Commission of India has been, over a period of time, taking care to inform all concerned about the issues raised in the petition. We deeply regret that rather than a balanced debate, false assertions – without substantiation or facts – were made, casting aspersions on the largest functioning democracy in the world and its institutions,” the spokesman said.
During the debate MPs – from both Labor and the ruling Conservatives – condemned India for its treatment of farmer protesters and alleged crackdown on the press, as well as Internet shutdowns and arrest of activists.
Jeremy Corbyn MP, ex-leader of the Labor party, claimed that ‘250 million people’ were taking part in the “strike”, which he described as the biggest ever industrial dispute in the history of this planet.
PoK-origin Labor MP Tahir Ali, took the opportunity to launch a tirade against the BJP Govt, saying “I demand that the UK Govt condemn Prime Minister Modi and the actions of his BJP Govt.”
Labor MP of Pakistan-origin Naz Shah claimed because the protests have been dominated by Sikh protesters from Punjab, the Indian Govt have tried to silence their voices by marginalizing the issue to one that affects a single community.
Labor MP John McDonnell said: “Journalists are continuously being targeted by arrests and intimidation, and falsely accused of criminal charges. Tragically, the political leadership feels it can act with impunity.”

'New trade corridor': PM Modi inaugurates 'Maitri Setu' between India and Bangladesh

‘Maitri Setu’ bridge which spans 1.9 km joining Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, has been built over Feni River which flows between Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ between India and Bangladesh on Tue along with other infrastructural projects in Tripura.
While inaugurating the bridge virtually, PM Modi said, “The connectivity between Bangladesh and India will prove to be very important for the northeast region and for India and Bangladesh trade as well. This is a new trade corridor between India and Bangladesh.”
The name of the bridge symbolizes the growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.
The construction of the bridge has been overseen by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
With this inauguration, Tripura is set to become the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom,” the PM’s Office said in the statement.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina also addressed the event and congratulated both the countries for the inauguration of the bridge.
PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of H-208 connecting the Unakoti district headquarters at Kailashahar with the Khowai district headquarters, state highways and other district roads with a financial outlay of ₹63.75 crore, 40,978 houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and multi-level car parking and commercial complex at Old motor stand.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat submits his resignation to Governor

Just a year ahead of Uttarakhand Assembly elections, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat is likely to tender his resignation on Tue amid a political crisis in the BJP state unit.
It was in media that Rawat would step down as CM when he would meet the Governor at 4 pm.
The development comes a day after Rawat met central BJP leaders in Delhi.
There has been speculation that BJP was mulling political changes in the state after several ministers and MLAs have expressed apprehensions over the working style of Rawat.
A section of state leaders are of the view that the party’s electoral prospects under him may not be very bright.
Top sources in the party said at least 10 BJP MLAs, including four ministers, are camping in Delhi.
Two central leaders, BJP vice-president Raman Singh and general secretary Dushyant Singh Gautam, who were sent as observers, have submitted their report to party president J P Nadda. As per sources, some ministers have given an ultimatum to Raman Singh and Gautam that they would resign if CM Rawat was not removed.

Death toll in Kolkata railway building fire rises to 9; Union Minister Piyush Goyal orders high level inquiry ANI

The toll in the fire that broke out at the Eastern Railway office building in Kolkata’s Strand Road on Mon night mounted to 9 with 2 more bodies recovered from the building.
Those who were killed included firefighting personnel and one policeman.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed his condolences at the tragedy and said a high-level inquiry team comprising of 4 Principal heads of Railway departments has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire within 3 weeks.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the site and announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for the next of kin of the deceased.

Around 200 crude bombs recovered from Bhangar area of South 24 Parganas, in poll bound West Bengal

Kashipur Police have started an investigation in this matter: Police.
Last Fri, a crude bomb was exploded in same district.

ED attaches 7 UP sugar mills worth Rs 1,097-cr in PMLA case against ex-BSP MLC

The Enforcement Directorate has attached 7 sugar mills worth over Rs 1,097 crore in a money laundering case against former Uttar Pradesh BSP MLC Mohammed Iqbal and his family, officials said on Tue.
They said the Lucknow zonal office of the central probe agency has issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
These mills are “owned” by Iqbal and are located in Kushinagar, Bareilly, Deoria, Hardoi and Barabanki districts of the central Indian state and their total worth is Rs 10,97,18,10,250, the officials said.
“These mills were sold to Mohd. Iqbal and his family members at a throwaway price of only Rs 60.28 crore through disinvestment/sale process in year 2010-11,” the agency said.
These mills were acquired by the accused “through laundering of illegitimate money through various shell companies having dummy directors and sham transactions,” the agency alleged.
The Supreme Court had in 2016 directed the CBI to conduct a probe against Iqbal after a public interest litigation was filed before it, alleging that the former legislator was indulging in corruption and money laundering.

42 outfits banned in India for involvement in terror activities: Govt

A total of 42 terrorist organizations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed have been banned by the Govt for their involvement in various acts of terrorism, which is largely been sponsored from across the border, Lok Sabha was informed on Tue.
As many as 230 people are currently being provided security by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) such as the CRPF and the CISF under different categories like “Z-plus”, “Z” and “Y”, the Govt informed Parliament on Mar 9. However, he did not disclose the expenditure.
In response to a separate question, MoS for Home Nityanand Rai said 61 cases of infiltration were reported along the Indo-Pakistan border in last 2 years, 1,045 infiltrations along the Indo-Bangladesh
The Govt has declared 42 organizations as terrorist organizations and listed their names in the First Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Terrorism in India has largely been sponsored from across the border.
The numbers of the terrorists and persons killed during terrorist attacks in the hinterland of the country and Jammu and Kashmir during the last three years and current year:

Year	No of Terrorist killed	No of Person killed
(1) Hinterland of the country
2018	–	03
2019	–	–
2020	–	–
2021 (till Feb 15)	–	–
(2) In Jammu & Kashmir
2018	257	39
2019	157	39
2020	221	37
2021 (till Feb 15)	03	01

Governments must also take concrete actions to level playing field for women:

Noting that Govt must take concrete actions to level the playing field for women, Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, Gita Gopinath has said that in many regions of the world, a key obstacle to women’s empowerment are outdated legal, regulatory and institutional impediments.
Delivering the inaugural Dr Hansa Mehta Lecture at UN marking the International Women’s Day, Gopinath said that research has shown that if women were to participate in the labor force to the same extent as men, national income could increase significantly.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

China tries to pacify India and Japan as US reaches out to regional allies

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi said new coastguard law not aimed at any one country and Tokyo should keep eye on the longer term
Wang downplays military confrontation along Himalayan border, Indian analyst says. Wang tried to put a positive spin on ties with Japan and India on Sun, seeking to pacify the two countries about territorial disputes amid renewed US interest in the region.
In response to concerns from Japan about China’s new coastguard law, Wang Yi said the law was not targeted at any nation.
He also voiced hope of resolving tensions with India as the neighbors try to negotiate their way out of a tense stand-off along their Himalayan border.
Wang’s comments come after US President Joe Biden signaled that Washington would strengthen Indo-Pacific security and renew its alliance with Asian powers, a move widely seen as countering China.
Washington said Biden might hold talks in the coming week with the three other members of the “Quad” – Japan, India and Australia – who together comprise an informal alliance that Wang has previously labelled an “Indo-Pacific Nato”.
One of Japan’s major concerns is that it could be the target of China’s new Coast Guard Law, which allows Chinese coastguard vessels to fire on foreign vessels and demolish structures built in disputed waters that China claims as its own.
On Sun, Wang said the law was just “regular domestic legislation” and “does not target any specific country”.
He also said the two countries could offer support to each other in hosting the Olympics – Tokyo is under pressure over its decision to hold the Summer Games despite the pandemic, while Beijing faces calls of a boycott of its plans to host the Winter Olympics next year amid accusations of human rights abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
Chinese analysts said Beijing was expecting turbulence in ties with Japan as the Biden administration bolsters its relationship with Tokyo.
Lian Degui, a Japanese affairs specialist at Shanghai International Studies University, said the Biden White House would look to Japan for support on issues such as human rights, Hong Kong and Taiwan. “This will create difficulties in China-Japan relations and a lot of challenges will come along,” Lian said.
Wang has also called for cooperation with India after nine months of a border conflict that has left soldiers dead on both sides. “China and India should be friends and partners instead of threats and competitors. We should help build each other,” he said.

Despite opposition’s concerns about corruption, Khan pushes for Broadsheet panel chief’s salary, allowances

Despite opposition’s resistance, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tue pushed for the salary, and allowances of Broadsheet inquiry commission chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, reported Dawn.
The opposition has criticized the Govts’ move to appoint Saeed as he had earlier served as deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau in 2000 for a period of one year.
The inquiry commission will not only probe into Broadsheet findings but also investigate the involvement of some holders of high public offices in mega corruption cases which caused irreparable economic damage to the national exchequer.