1. Election 2024: PM’s “140 crore people” reply to Lalu Yadav’s “Modi has No family” Swipe
2. ‘Corruption, Bribery Destroy…’: Big order on legal shield for MPs, MLAs
3. Another jihadi on India’s ‘most wanted’ list dies in Pakistan
4. 80pc of digital payments in India happen through UPI: RBI governor
5. NIA raids 17 locations across 7 states in Bengaluru prison radicalisation probe

What Else

• Duqm port development deal with Adani Group is open: Oman official
• New Zealand Foreign Minister visit to India, Indonesia, Singapore
• India hits out at UN Rights head Volker Türk’s comment on restrictions on the civic space
• India allows exports of onion to Bangladesh, rice to Tanzania, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau
• Indian Embassy appreciates Thailand PM’s support during exposition of relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples
• PM Modi to unveil development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore in Odisha today
• ED issues 2nd summons to TMC leader Mohua Moitra in FEMA
• Maldives to get free military assistance from China, signs agreement to bolster bilateral ties
• China: FM rebuts US official’s remarks on Chinese cars as “false narrative, over-politicization” of economic and trade issues -GT
• Pakistan: PTI wants Senate, presidential polls postponed
• Pakistan: PTI to knock SC door after losing reserved seats

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Election 2924: PM’s “140 crore people” reply to Lalu Yadav’s “Modi has No family” Swipe

• Led by PM Modi, the BJP Mon launched the “Modi Ka Parivar” campaign to counter RJD patriarch Lalu Yadav’s attack, in which the Yadavs said the PM has no family.
• “Leaders of the INDI alliance, deeply engrossed in corruption, nepotism, and appeasement, are becoming nervous. When I question their ‘parivarvad’, they say Modi has no family,” the PM said at a rally in Telangana’s Adilabad.
• Top BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, added “Modi ka parivar” to their social media handles today.
• Addressing a rally of the opposition bloc in Patna, Yadav had on Sun hit back at the PM’s charge of dynasty politics against Opposition parties, including RJD.
• “What can we do if Narendra Modi does not have a family of his own?” he had said.
• “He keeps bragging about the Ram temple. He is not even a true Hindu. In Hindu tradition, a son must shave his head and beard after the death of his parents. Modi did not do so when his mother died,” he had said.
• The “Modi ka parivar” campaign is on the lines of the “Main bhi chowkidar” drive ahead of the 2019 general election.
• Mr Yadav’s remarks on the PM drew a sharp response from BJP leaders in Bihar (here)

[Notably, Yadava is out on parole from jail on the grounds of health, where NDA ally in the power]

• BJP’s hunt for Tamil Nadu allies in focus as PM makes 4^th Visit: The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit went into a huddle Mon ahead of PM Modi’s rally in Chennai later today.
• This is the PM’s 4^th visit – in the past 3 months – to the southern state – one in which the BJP has traditionally struggled for traction.
• The PM’s visit also comes as his BJP remains without a major alliance in a state dominated by DMK and AIADMK was an ally and member of the BJP-led NDA till it walked out in Sept. (here)
• Veteran TMC leader Tapas Roy resigned from the party on Sun: Roy, 67, an MLA from West Bengal’s Baranagar said he quit as he felt he was not respected in the party.
• Roy submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee and said he had already put in his papers on Mar 1 for all positions he held. (here)
• Former AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani, and former Congress MLA Chirag Patel who had resigned from the Gujarat assembly last month, joined the BJP formally on Sun
• Joining occurred in the presence of state BJP President, CR Patil.
• Bhupal Bhayani, the MLA from Visavadar seat in Junagadh, switched to AAP in 2022 ahead of the polls. (here)
• State-run fuel retailers are replacing existing hoardings of central welfare schemes at all petrol pumps with new ones saying ‘Modi’s guarantee means a better life‘ – a play on BJP’s poll slogan ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ with a photo of the PM handing over an LPG cylinder to a beneficiary of the ‘Ujjwala’ scheme. (here)

‘Corruption, Bribery Destroy…’: Big order on legal shield for MPs, MLAs

• Lawmakers are not immune from prosecution in bribery cases, the Supreme Court said Mon in a landmark verdict by a 7-judge bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud.
• The verdict set aside a 1998 judgment of a 5-member Constitution bench that had upheld the immunity for lawmakers to take bribes for a speech or a vote in the House.
• Bribery is not protected by parliamentary privileges and the interpretation of the 1998 verdict is contrary to Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution.
• These two Articles provide elected representatives legal immunity from prosecution to enable them to work without fear.
• The court today said a claim for immunity in such situations fails to pass the test of being necessary to discharge legislative functions.
• The issue came before the SC in 2019 when a bench headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi was hearing an appeal by Sita Soren, JMM MLA and daughter-in-law of party chief Shibu Soren. (here)
• PM Modi on Mon hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on ‘immunity in bribery case’ and stressed that ‘it will clean politics’.  (here)

Another jihadi on India’s ‘most wanted’ list dies in Pakistan

• LeT intel chief Azam Cheema, who was one of main conspirators of Nov 2008 terror attacks and Jul 2006 train bombings —in Mumbai — dies of a heart attack in Faisalabad
• Pak-based terrorist group LeT intelligence chief Azam Cheema has died following a heart attack in Faisalabad.
• But the 70-year-old’s death has sparked fresh speculation in Pakistan’s jihadi circles about a possible Indian link, mainly in the wake of mysterious killings of several LeT operatives in recent months.
• Islamabad has accused Indian agencies of being behind the killings, a charge denied by New Delhi. (here)

80pc of digital payments in India happen through UPI: RBI governor

• The share of UPI in digital payments in India has reached close to 80% in 2023, informed Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Shaktikanta Das on Mon.
• Addressing the DPAW organised by RBI, the RBI Guv said India has not only navigated through the fast-evolving tech innovations but also played a pivotal role, as a catalyst, in developing one of the most modern payment systems in the world.
• Retail digital payments in India have grown from 162 crore transactions in the financial year 2012-13 to over 14,726 cr transactions in 2023-24 (till Feb 24) – approx a 90-fold increase over 12 years.
• India accounts for nearly 46% of the world’s digital transactions (as per 2022 data), the guv said.
• At a macro level, the volume of UPI transactions increased from 43 crore in 2017 to 11,761 crore in 2023. (here)

NIA raids 17 locations across 7 states in Bengaluru prison radicalisation probe

• The National Investigation Agency on Tue carried out raids at 17 locations in 7 states in connection with its probe into the Bengaluru prison radicalization case
• T Naseer, a life imprisonment convict, and LeT terrorist, has allegedly radicalized several prisoners in Bengaluru central jail, instigating them to carry out terror attacks.
• Local Police had originally registered the case following the seizure of arms and ammunition, including 7 Pistols, 4 hand grenades, 1 magazine, and 45 live rounds, along with 4 walkie-talkies in Jul 2023.
• NIA took over the probe on Oct 25 2023 and carried out some raids in the case on 13 Dec 2023.
• It is not clear if NIA’s raids on Tue in the case have any connection with Fri’s blast at a popular cafe in Bengaluru, but people familiar with the developments said they will look into the suspected links.
• The agency on Mon took over the probe into the Rameshwaram cafe blast.
• In the Bengaluru prison radicalization case, the federal agency has already charge-sheeted 8 persons, including Naseer and 2 absconders. (here)

Duqm port development deal with Adani Group is open: Oman official

• Oman is highly optimistic about Indian investments in the country, particularly in the development of the Duqm port by the Adani Group, an Oman official said.
• Saleh Hamood Al Hasani, advisor to the Chairman of the Public Authority SEZ  and FZ in Oman, stressed Muscat’s ‘welcoming’ stance towards investments by the Adani Gr.
• Although an MoU has been signed, concrete plans have not yet materialized.
• During the “Invest in Oman” event in Muscat, discussions were held between Omani and Adani representatives, which also included visits to Adani’s office in India and the Duqm port site in Oman.
• On asked if there are any hurdles to the development of the Duqm port project, Hasani clarified that the Omani side is exploring occasions to attract development (here)

New Zealand Foreign Minister visit to India, Indonesia, Singapore

• New ZealandFM Winston Peters will travel to India, Indonesia, and Singapore next week to continue the reinvigoration of New Zealand’s relations with South and SE Asia.
• “The Coalition Government is making South and South East Asia a priority because it is critical to maintaining and building New Zealand’s security and prosperity.”
• The centerpiece engagements of the trip will be extended meetings with the Foreign Ministers of India, Indonesia, and Singapore.
• Peters leaves for the region on Sun (Mar 10) and will visit India (Ahmedabad and New Delhi) on Mar 10-13, Indonesia (Jakarta) on Mar 14-15 and Singapore on Mar 15
• In Ahmedabad, Mr Peters plans to meet with Bhupendrabhai Patel, the CM of Gujarat – a state which has been an engine of Indian economic growth, and which has significant connections to New Zealand’s Indian diaspora.
• In Delhi, he will also be highlighting the shared interest that New Zealand and India have in helping the development of the Pacific Islands region.
•  “India is a country with which New Zealand can, should, and will be doing more. New Zealand recognizes the global and regional leadership role that India plays,” Peters says.

India hits out at UN Rights head Volker Türk’s comment on restrictions on the civic space

• Indian mission at UN, Arindam Bagchi says, “Those in positions of authority do not allow their judgment to be clouded by propaganda”
• Volker, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on India: “I am concerned by increasing restrictions on the civic space – with human rights defenders, journalists and perceived critics targeted – as well as by hate speech and discrimination against minorities“
• This is not the first time, Volker got slammed by India.
• In Mar 2023, the Indian Ambassador to UN in Geneva slammed Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for raking Kashmir.
• Calls comment “unwarranted and factually inaccurate”
• Volker has served in the UN in the past and is from Austria. (from Sidhant’s posts)

India allows exports of onion to Bangladesh, rice to Tanzania, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau

• The Central government has allowed the export of 50k-tonne onions to B’desh and 14k-tonne onions to UAE, at a time when the main vegetable exports are banned.
• For exports to the UAE, a ceiling of 3,600 tonnes is kept every quarter, the official notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) read.
• India had in early Dec 2023 prohibited the export of onions till March 2024.
• The export would be subjected to permission of the central Govt(here)
• India allows export of select varieties of rice to Tanzania, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau: The central govt has allowed exports of 30k tonne of non-basmati rice to Tanzania, besides 30k tonne of broken rice to Djibouti and 50k tonne of broken rice to Guinea Bissau.
• Notably, the export of non-Basmati white rice was prohibited in July 2023 to check domestic prices and ensure domestic food security.
• Earlier, India allowed the export of such a variety to Nepal, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, the Republic of Guinea, Malaysia, Philippines, Seychelles, UAE, Singapore, Comoros, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, and Kenya, in varying quantities (here)

Indian Embassy appreciates Thailand PM’s support during exposition of relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples

• The Indian Embassy in Thailand has appreciated the continuous support of Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin and his govt during the ongoing exposition of sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples – Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana and added that this further deepens ties between people of two nations.
• The statement of the Embassy comes after PM Srettha Thavisin attended the ceremony to invite the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples – Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana.
• He said that the relics will be placed for exposition in Hor Kham Luang in Thailand’s Chiang Mai Province from Mar 5-8. (here)

PM Modi to unveil development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore in Odisha today

• PM Modi is set to unveil development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore in Odisha on Tue during his visit to the state.
• Mar 5 also happens to be the birth anniversary of former CM Biju Patnaik founder of the ruling BJD.
• The projects are from sectors of oil and gas, railways, roads, transport and highways, and atomic energy.
• PM Modi will inaugurate the Indian Oil Corp Ltd’s mono ethylene glycol project in Paradip refinery which will further help in reducing India’s import dependency.
• He will dedicate to the nation the 344-km-long product pipeline traversing from Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal.
• To augment the import infrastructure on the eastern coast, the PM will inaugurate a 0.6 MMTPA LPG import facility at Paradip.
• He will also unveil the 4-laning sections of NH-49, NH-49, NH-18, and NH-16.
• The PM will dedicate to the nation a 162-km-long Bansapani- Jakhapura rail line (here)

ED issues 2^nd summons to TMC leader Mohua Moitra in FEMA

• The financial regulator ED on Mon issued a 2^nd summons to TMC’s Mahua Moitra for anomalies in a foreign exchange contravention case asking to join the probe on Mar 11.
• The fresh summons followed the earlier one when she skipped the investigation and did not appear before the investigators on Feb 19.
• The agency wants to question the case under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

Maldives to get free military assistance from China, signs agreement to bolster bilateral ties

• China on Mon signed a defense cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster “stronger” bilateral ties
• This comes weeks after President Mohamed Muizzu set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his island nation.
• The Maldives Def Min MG Maumoon met with Major General Zhang Baoqun, Dy Dir of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China, to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries.
• Maumoon and Maj Gen Baoqun “signed an agreement on China’s provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties“.
• The details of the defense cooperation agreement were not provided.
• Meanwhile, China has also gifted 12 eco-friendly ambulances to Maldives.
• In a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health on Sun, Chinese Envoy to Maldives Wang Lixin presented the letter gifting the ambulances to the Maldives, it said.
• The visit is taking place days after India confirmed that its 1^st civilian team of technical experts has reached the island nation to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the country. (here)
• Chinese State-owned GT, on Mon published OpEd, saying “..in reality, it has drifted further from its neighbors. As a result, India’s neighbors are becoming more wary and distancing themselves from India’s aggressive behavior and “big brother” mentality.” (here)

China: FM rebuts US official’s remarks on Chinese cars as “false narrative, over-politicization” of economic and trade issues -GT

• China’s FM on Mon refuted recent remarks by US officials denigrating Chinese-made cars, noting they are creating a false narrative, which reflects Washington’s practice of turning economic and trade issues into ones of politics and security.
• This came in the backdrop of  US Commerce Secy Gina Raimondo saying in a recent interview “Imagine a world with 3 million Chinese vehicles on the roads of America, and Beijing can turn them off at the same time.”
• Mao said that by that logic, shouldn’t China be more worried about Washington’s ability to get hundreds of millions of iPhones of Chinese users to channel collected information back to the US, or even cause a blanket screen shutdown? (here)

Pakistan: PTI wants Senate, presidential polls postponed

• The PTI demanded the resignation of the ECP chi­ef and its members and rej­ected the decision as un­co­nstitutional and a stab in the heart of democracy.
• It also demanded the postponement of the upcoming election of the president and the Senate till the outcome of the plea they planned to file in the apex court.
• Speaking in the upper house of parliament, PTI leader Senator Syed Ali Zafar said there was no room in the Constitution for the elections with an incomplete electoral college.
• Minutes after the ECP’s decision, Senator Zafar said the PTI would not accept the result of the presidential and Senate elections if these were held before the decision of the apex court.
• He said all elections in an incomplete house were illegal.
• “We understand that the election of prime minister was also unconstitutional,” he said.
• Asad Qaiser says caretaker govt should not exist: PTI leader Asad Qaiser has said that he will suggest his party members discuss devolving the concept of “caretaker govts”.
• Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada was of the view that the system needs to be changed 1^st.
• Qaiser maintained that PTI would get their mandate back and his party did not want confrontation with anyone.
• “We want our legal right,” he concluded. “It should be given back to us according to Form 45.” (here)

Pakistan: PTI to knock SC door after losing reserved seats

• After the Election Commission decided against the allocation of reserved seats to the PTI-backed SIC for “having non-curable legal defects and violation of a mandatory provision of submission of the party list for reserved seats”, the PTI decided to approach the SC against the 4-1 decision of EC.
• ECP turns down SIC plea as party didn’t submit list for reserved seats on time
• EC to distribute vacant seats proportionally among other parties; 1 member dissents
• The nomination papers of Zardari, and Achakzai accepted
• PTI rejects decision as ‘unconstitutional, against democracy’; wants Senate, presidential polls postponed (here)