Newsletter 7 Feb

Top 5 of the Day

1- PM addressed a public Rally in Kokrajhar, Assam
2- Vote of Thanks over Presidents’ Addressed to budget session, passed from the RS with certain amendments
3- Today’s LS adjourned till 1 pm, and later for the day,
4- Budget Roundtable: Finance Minister N Sitharaman answers burning questions on economy and growth
5- Top Kashmir leaders charged under ‘draconian’ law

Tweet of the Day..

Besides logistics information tracking, how does BeiDou, China’s homemade navigation satellite system, help with #coronavirus relief?

National

PM addressed a public Rally in Kokrajhar, Assam

To celebrate the signing of the Bodo agreement, this was the first visit of PM, after cancelling 2 previous one, including meet with Shinzo Abe, due to state has been witnessing anti-CAA protests.

PM Modi acknowledged the support of all the young people belonging to All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary and Assam Govt, who played a very positive role for this agreement.
He welcomed all those who were part of the Bodo Land Movement and have joined the mainstream.
He added, after 5 decades, with full harmony, the expectations and aspirations of every partner associated with the Bodo Land Movement have been respected.
PM also announced an Rs 1,500 crore will be given as special developmental package to help Bodos.
The NE where thousands of people became refugees in their own country due to violence. They are now being given new facilities to settle here with full respect and dignity.
This celebration is to mark the final solution of the decades-old Bodo problem that was signed on Jan 27, 2020, by the various Bodo organizations, the Union government and the Assam government.
This was another major step by the Modi government to solve long-pending issues in the NE region and usher in wider development.
ceasefires and subsequent memoranda of settlements.
Going further, this is not the first pact that was signed between the Bodo communities and the Govt as there were similar pacts in 1993 and 2003.
The 1^st pact was signed between the Govt and the ABSU which led to the creation of Bodoland Autonomous Council.
The 2^nd was signed between the Govt and the Bodo militant ground Bodo Liberation Tigers which helped in the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council with the four districts which are Kokrajhar, Udalgiri, Chirag and Baska.
The current agreement which has been signed between GoI, Govt of Assam, Bodoland Territorial Council members, United Bodo People Organization, All Bodo Student Union and National Democratic Front of Bodoland is very comprehensive and has covered a variety of issues in order to focus on the developmental projects.
While the Bodos roughly make up 4% of Assam’s population, they constitute just about 30% of the population in the Bodoland region.
Despite severe bloodshed due to violent movements by the Bodo extremist groups, where precious lives have been lost and government properties damaged, efforts for peace and a solution to their genuine demands were never lost.
Assam is a priority state to realize the PM’s vision for all round development of the North East development and also have the gains of the Act East Policy.

News from Upper House

After teared apart the papers in hand of Min of Sci. and Tech Dr Harsh Vardhan (as per his claim) by some INC Parliamentarians, especially Manickam Tagore.

While BJP MPs condemned such acts and demanded strict action against Manickam Tagore, Rahul Gandhi alleged that
- There is an issue in Wayanad about them not having a Medical College so I wanted to raise. BJP obviously doesn’t like it if I speak. We are not allowed to speak in Parliament. Tagore didn’t attack anyone rather he was attacked.
Congress party has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha on “internal security situation in the country”.
Ashok Bajpai, BJP MP has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “commercialization of education.”
BJP MP Kailash Soni has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “demand for inclusion of Emergency’s history in curriculum” and “concerns over stoppage of Samman Nidhi pension in some states”.
Ram Nath Thakur, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP has given a Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “demand for caste specific census in 2021”.

K K Ragesh, Communist Party of India (M) MP has given a Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over “alleged criminal attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) teachers and students”.

Top Kashmir leaders charged under 'draconian' law

Two former chief ministers of Indian-administered Kashmir have been charged under strict Public Safety Act (PSA) 6 months after they were detained.

Authorities on Thursday charged Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti under PSA – a law that allows detention without trial for up to two years, made by Farooq Abdullah himself) as part of a crackdown to prevent protests against New Delhi’s decision to strip the Muslim-majority region’s autonomy.

The strict measures against the mainstream politicians were taken after they strongly opposed the government’s move to abrogate the special law that had provided the region with a separate constitution, a flag and barred outsiders from the permanent settlements.

Now the news is louder in international media, but they failed to mention the attainment of quantum of peace so far in the region.

Only two families had ruled the whole region, since independence, by one or other ways.

Yesterday, PM Modi told to house, that they people threaten the nation on abrogation of Art 370.

Supreme Court says, it would take up the matter on February 10 in connection with two PILs seeking a direction to Central government for laying down comprehensive guidelines relating to outright restrictions for holding protest leading to obstruction of public places.

SC admitted “We do understand that there is a problem.”

Meghalaya: Indo-Bangladesh joint exercise Sampriti IX that commenced on 3rd February is underway at Umroi. Forces of the two countries are training together to face challenges in Counter-Terrorism environment.

Pakistan desperate to push terrorists as Army foiled most of infiltration attempts: Army Chief

Gen MM Naravane, “There has been an increase in ceasefire violations on Line of Control. It was expected as he (Pakistan) is trying to push terrorists from launch pads and various camps.”
Because of winters he is finding it difficult and resorting to ceasefire violations.
He (Pakistan) has not been successful as most of the infiltration attempts have been foiled. As we have seen, he is getting desperate to push those (terrorists) across.

Militants on Thursday hurled a grenade in the direction of a police station in the city, resulting in injuries to one policeman, officials said.

An explosion was heard near Lal Bazar police station in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The security forces have cordoned off the area.

SC asks Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to suggest by Fe 10, names of advocates for appointment as special public prosecutor (SPP) for conducting trials on behalf of Enforcement Directorate in money laundering case relating to alleged irregularities in coal block allocations.

Then Govt admits to irregularity in coal block allocations, on Jan 10, 2014, a day after the Supreme Court’s observation that large investments made by companies could not be a defense against cancellation of coal block allocations, the government appeared to be accepting, albeit partially, that there could have been irregularities in the allotment process.

Russia terms India's choice to buy American SigSauer guns as “unusual decision"

Amid America-Russia tussle over the supply of arms to India, Russian gun maker Kalashnikov expressed apprehensions over Indian Army’s choice to procure US-made Sig Sauer assault rifle.
India has bought 72,400 SiGSauer assault rifles for its frontline infantry troops while it is going for a joint venture with Russian Kalashnikov to acquire over 6.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles for replacing the INSAS rifles.
- The SIG Sauer SIG516 is a firearm manufactured by SIG Sauer, rifle is based on the earlier 5.56×45mm NATO AR-15 and the M16. It is semi-automatic multi-caliber, single shot, 3 shot burst, full automatic modes assault rifles, strictly intended for law enforcement and military use.
“I don’t know what is the purpose for the Sig Sauer rifles, because normally this kind of rifle will be used as a “designate marksman rifle”, as a semi-automatic sniper rifle and using that as a basic infantry rifle is a very unusual decision.
- We don’t know what the plan is, How they want to use it? What troops they want to give it to,” Kalashnikov Group representative Alexander Onokoy told ANI.
- Comparing the two rifles, he said: “When we are talking about AK-203, we have to understand that it is a proven system. For basic infantry rifle, we believe it is the best option.
- As for 716 (Sig Sauer), there is a lot of discussion in the expert community because it is using a 7.62×51 round that has a pretty short recoil, that is generally not necessarily handled very well by every soldier.
- It is up to the Indian Army to decide what they want to use but we think that in this role as the basic infantry rifle, AK-203 is the best option available.”
  - Highlighting the features of AK-203, he said: “AK-203 is a new generation assault rifle that is going to be produced by a joint venture called Indo-Russia Rifles in Amethi.
  - This is a new generation of the legendary AK-47. An Indian soldier deserves the most reliable weapons available and this weapon is definitely an AK. It has a lot of new features.”
  - “Everything is very easy to use. Indian soldiers already know how to use an AK so this weapon will be a welcome addition and we see a lot of soldiers and officers coming here and they are really glad that this weapon is going to replace the INSAS rifle,” he added.
  - In December last year, the Indian Army has started inducting its newly acquired American SiG Sauer assault rifles in operations.
  - In addition, the Indian Army had also started getting supplies of ammunition for its sniper rifles as more than 21 lakh rounds have been ordered from vendors.
  - “The first lot of 10,000 SiG 716 assault rifles have arrived in India and has been sent to the Northern Command,” top Indian Army sources had told ANI.
  - India had signed an over Rs 700 crore contract to equip the Indian Army with 72,400 new assault rifles.
  - A majority of these rifles –
    - 66,000 – Indian Army. The
    - 2,000- Indian Navy
    - 4,000 Indian Air Force
  - The Indian Army will also receive a major boost with the induction of more than 7 lakh AK-203 assault rifles which are going to be produced in the joint venture between India and Russia.
    - On Mar 3 last year, PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated the plant that will produce 7.5 lakh AK-203 assault rifles at Kauhar in Amethi as part of a joint venture between world-renowned arms manufacturer Kalashnikov and Ordnance Factory Korwa.

International

Corona Virus Row…

As per AFP news agency, govt confirmed China coronavirus infections climb past 30,000, while virus death toll rises to at least 630.

People’s Daily, China claimed The genome sequences of the nCV strain separated from pangolins were 99% identical to those from infected people, indicating pangolins may be an intermediate host of the virus.

Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust: If a ship with any Chinese crew member arrives, then our Public Health Officer (PHO) goes to the ship and checks it. They (crew

members) have been banned from going on an excursion, they are not allowed to go to the city.

Cruise ships provide us complete list of passengers, with details if any of them travelled to China in last 14-15 days. Even without it, PHO goes to the ship for thermal screening. They also go to ships coming for anchorage. We aren’t permitting ships to dispose off waste

S&P Global Ratings cut its Chinese 2020 growth forecast to 5%, down from 5.7% on Friday, saying the impact of the coronavirus outbreak could take a heavy short-term toll.

Washington DC [USA], Feb 7, Sr US diplomat Alice Wells on Fri welcomed Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s new Ambassador to the US.

India’s new envoy, Taranjit Singh Sandhu is slated to present his credentials to US President Donald Trump at the formal ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House.

Sandhu assumed charge as the Indian Ambassador to the United States on Monday.

He is one of the most experienced Indian diplomats on US affairs, having served in the Indian Mission in Washington DC twice earlier.

DGISPR tweeted “CCC. Geo strategic environment, special focus on IS, situation on borders reviewed. Provocative statements of Indian leadership are irresponsible rhetoric with implications for region. Pak Armed Forces fully prepared to thwart any misadventure, whatever the cost.”

As per radio Pak, A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Mirage aircraft, on a routine operational training mission, crashed near Shorkot on Friday.

According to the PAF spokesperson, the pilot ejected safely and no loss of life or property has been reported on ground.

Political

A senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvaragree has detained by police for leading a protest in support of CAA. As per police the permission was not granted for rally.

Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal MPs staged a protest in Parliament with placards stating, ‘Save Democracy in West Bengal’ and ‘Stop Rapes in West Bengal’.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia: I got to know that an officer who is posted at GST & has been an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with me for 5 years has been arrested for taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakhs. What CBI did is right, strictest action should be taken to set an example.

I have no issues with the timing of arrest, whoever takes bribe should be caught immediately. We have zero tolerance for corruption.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress: Prime Minister spoke against Omar Abdullah & Mehbooba Mufti in Parliament yesterday & they were charged with Public Safety Act (PSA) at night. You cannot govern Kashmir like this. Physically Kashmir is with us but not emotionally.

States

Mumbai: Poster put up by MNS outside Matoshree, residence of Maharashtra CM&Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. Poster reads,”Respected CM, if you are serious about action against illegal infiltrators, start by cleaning your Bandra locality first which is filled with infiltrators”

Jammu and Kashmir: India Army’s 25th Infantry Division (Ace of Spades Division) organised a medical and artificial limb camp in Rajouri district’s Nowshera yesterday, as a part of ‘Nowshera Day Celebration’.

India in International Frame

BBC

Kashmir: India uses ‘draconian’ law to extend house arrest of former chief ministers

Reuters

India uses draconian law to keep Kashmir’s political leaders locked away

India has extended the detention of four political leaders in Kashmir who had been held by authorities since August to quell dissent after the central government stripped the region of its autonomy, two senior officials said on Fri.

Aljazeera

‘Humiliated’: Top Kashmir leaders charged under ‘draconian’ law

Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief ministers under detention since August, charged under PSA law.

The Washington Post

India detains prominent Kashmiri leader under law critics call draconian