Newsletter 15 September

Sino-Indian Standoff: No ‘Symptom’ of Tranquility!

Defiance Minister, Dr Rajnath Singh, Stated in Lok Sabha about Current Standoff:

He stated “though India is committed to maintain peace and tranquility at Boarder area and with its neighbors, but not at the cost out sovereignty and security of our nation”

PLA started mobilization in Eastern Ladakh in April
Disruptions to Indian army patrols in Galwan during May
Violent faceoff on 15^th June leading to causalities on both sides
On 29-30 Aug, PLA again tried provocative moves in Pangong area which were repulsed by IA
PLA has done huge mobilization on friction points in E Ladakh Various friction points still active in the region
Indian Army has done effective counter deployment in all areas determined to work for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nation
Specialized clothing, tents, arms and ammunition provided to Army to deal with situation effectively
Requests parliament to support Indian armed forces and their determination
Whole country stands with their armed forces
Our PM recently had recent visited Ladakh and met the security forces. I too met the brave soldiers. Colonel Santosh Babu and 20 others made the supreme sacrifice.
The boundary issues with China are still unresolved.
Indian forces will forcefully counter all Chinese aggressive action along the border.

Chinese troops' movement in depth areas opposite Arunachal noticed, Indian Army strengthens positions

Indian agencies are keeping a close watch on their movements opposite other sectors, especially Arunachal Pradesh, where the PLA has been moving troops in the depth areas.
“A strict vigil is being maintained in almost all the sectors with China from Ladakh to AP as the Chinese may try to make fresh attempts to ingress into newer dormant areas,” ANI reported.
In the AP sector, the Indian security forces have been keeping a close watch on Chinese military movements in the areas opposite the Asaphila area, and also opposite the Tutting axis and the Fish Tail-2 area, ANI.
Sources said the movement of Chinese troops in their depth areas (~ 20 kms from LAC) has been seen in the last few days using the roads built by them in the area where they have built infrastructure through glaciated areas as well.

Overall situation at friction points in eastern Ladakh unchanged, continues to be tense

The overall situation remains unchanged and continues to be tense, 4 days after foreign ministers of India and China agreed on a five-point plan to resolve the prolonged border standoff, Govt sources said on Mon.
The sources also said both the Indian and Chinese troops are firmly holding onto their respective positions at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
They said while the situation in the region continues to be tense, no fresh movement of Chinese troops was witnessed.
The Indian Army will not lower its guard and will maintain the current state of very high-level of combat readiness in eastern Ladakh till there are visible changes in the ground situation, the sources added.
The sources said the date for the much-anticipated Corps commander-level talks between the two armies is yet to be firmed up but it is likely to take place in the next few days.
The military talks are expected to focus on implementation of certain provisions of the 5-point consensus to ease tensions.
PLA have been locked in a tense standoff in multiple areas along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since early May.
In the five rounds of the Corps commander-level talks, the Indian side has been insisting on immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of E Ladakh prior to April.
The Indian side clearly conveyed that it expected full adherence to all agreements on management of border areas and would not countenance any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

India says China laying cables to bolster communications at border flashpoint

Reuter “Chinese troops were laying a network of fiber optic cables at a western Himalayan flashpoint with India, suggesting they were digging in for the long haul despite high-level talks aimed at resolving a standoff there.”
Such cables, which would provide forward troops with secure lines of communication to bases in the rear, have recently been spotted to the south of Pangong Tso lake in the in Eastern Ladakh, a senior Govt official said.
Another official said that there had been no significant withdrawals or reinforcements on either side since the foreign ministers of the two countries met last week.
An official, on condition of anonymity, said fiber optic cables offered communications security as well as the ability to send data such as pictures and documents.

“Trapped between its domestic majoritarian politics, its crumbling economy, and its proud military, India’s strategy for tackling a two-front military challenge needs a fundamental shift. If the cost of pursuing such a radical course seems very high, the price for chasing easy alternatives is far worse”.-WarOntheRock

India beats China to win election to UN commission on women

In a significant victory, India got elected as Member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the principal global body focused on gender equality and women empowerment, beating China in a hotly-contested election.
The elections were held for two seats in the Asia-Pacific States category won by India (38 votes) and Afghanistan (39 votes). China got only 27 votes.
UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member organization, holding the first plenary meeting of its 2021 session in the General Assembly Hall on Mon, held elections for two seats in the Asia-Pacific States category.
The election result is being seen as sending a strong signal about China’s own record of women’s equality and empowerment.
India’s Permanent Mission to the UN worked tirelessly for the hard-fought election, reaching out and sensitizing all Member States, sources said.

India’s election win at the CSW is highly significant as it comes on the eve of India gearing up to sit at the UN SC high table as non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning Jan 1, 2021.

Pakistan truce violations in 9 months highest in 17 years

Ceasefire violations (CFVs) by Pakistan across the 778-km-long Line of Control in just the first 9 months of this year have already beaten all annual records for the last 17 years.
Latest figures tabled in Parliament on Mon showed India recorded 3,186 CFVs from Jan 1-Sep 7.
242 incidents of ‘cross-border firing’ took place along the 198-km international border in J&K.
According to Pakistani news reports, there have been 2,158 ceasefire violations by India this year as of Sept. 6, which have left 17 civilians dead and 168 seriously injured.
Notwithstanding the disparity in exact numbers — much depends on how either country defines a ceasefire violation — it clearly points to the fact that the Line of Control has been “hot” this summer.

More than 50 projects in Bihar of over Rs 541 crore approved to keep Ganga clean: PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tue inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of seven urban infrastructure projects poll-bound Bihar.
Without naming anyone, the prime minister also slammed earlier state governments, saying Bihar used to have tall and visionary leaders, but an era came when focus shifted from governance.
“Selfish interests” took over governance and “vote-bank politics” suppressed the system, Modi said, in an apparent reference to 15-year-long rule of Lalu Yadav”s RJD and Congress Govt that preceded it.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 9 am tomorrow

On the International Day of Democracy, it is being “killed and mocked” in Parliament’s monsoon session, said Trinamool Congress, MP Derek O’Brien today.
After attending the 2^nd day of the RS session, the he said he wanted countries around the world to know how democracy was being mocked at in India under the current government. And all this for “Thanks”
“If ₹ 100 is spent on health, 65 is borne by the State, while 35 is given by the Centre. But they did not thank the States, once,” he added.

Parliament passes bill to give statutory status to aviation regulators

Parliament on Tue passed a bill which seeks to improve India’s aviation safety ratings and provide statutory status to regulatory institutions, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 also provides for keeping aircraft belonging to the country’s armed forces outside the purview of the Aircraft Act, 1934.
The Congress, main opposition in house, demanded a probe into the privatization of 6 airports in the country alleging violation of rules and corruption, a charge denied by the BJP which said there is complete transparency under the Modi dispensation.
Congress member KC Venugopal alleged that the Govt was promoting crony capitalism by privatizing airports in the name of developing them.

One crore migrants went home in lockdown: Centre

The Govt said on Mon 1.04 crore migrant workers returned to their home states during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, but that it has no data of migrant workers who died, or were injured during the lockdown period.

The government gave identical responses to all questions on the extent of unemployment in the country referring only to unemployment figures of 2018-19.

Indian economy to shrink 9% in FY21, says ADB

“INS Talwar on mission-based deployment in Northern Arabian Sea undertook refuelling with US Navy Fleet Tanker USNSYukon under LEMOA,” Indian Navy tweeted. In 2017, Manohar Parrikar, then Indian Def Min and Ash Carter, then US Def Secy, signed the logistics agreement to enable forces of both countries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

JnK: Police allegedly beat up two photojournalists in Srinagar for taking pictures during gunfight

One of the photojournalists has suffered injuries to his arm and leg and is being treated at a hospital in Srinagar.

While they were covering an ongoing encounter between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

11 ‘love jihad’ cases reported from UP’s Kanpur in 1 month; 8-member SIT formed for investigation

11 ‘love jihad’ cases reported from UP’s Kanpur in 1 month; 8-member SIT formed for investigation

The Kanpur Police have constituted an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate ‘love jihad’ cases.
It has come to light that around 11 cases of forced conversion on the pretext of marriage were reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur in the past one month.
The SIT has been asked to find out if there is any fixed pattern or modus operandi behind the alleged incidents.
The SIT has also been tasked to probe the alleged role of Islamic organizations in financing the ‘love jihad’ racket in Kanpur.

INS Talwar Refuels With US Navy Tanker In Arabian Sea

In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020 Update, ADB forecasts a strong recovery for the economy in FY2021, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing by 8% as mobility and business activities resume more widely.
India’s coronavirus-battered economy will shrink by 9% this fiscal, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) predicted on Tue saying growth outlook remains highly vulnerable to either a prolonged outbreak of the pandemic or a resurgence of cases.
“India imposed strict lockdown measures to contain the spread of the pandemic and this has had a severe impact on economic activity,” said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada.

Last week, two other global rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch projected the Indian economy to contract 11.5% and 10.5 per cent respectively in the current fiscal. However, Goldman Sachs has estimated the contraction at 14.8%.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Imran Khan: Pak has higher standing than India

Pak PM Imran Khan has completed 2 years in office. In an interview, he claimed to have internationalized Kashmir issue.
He also stated that Pakistan has a higher standing in the world than India. He compared Palestine to Kashmir.

PAF aircraft crashes near Pindigheb, area of Attock district on Tue, pilot ejected safely

No loss of life or damage to infrastructure was reported on the ground.
Earlier in Feb, a PAF Mirage aircraft crashed near Shorkot in Punjab. The aircraft was on a routine operational training mission at the time of the incident, said a statement released by the PAF.In Jan, 2 PAF pilots were martyred after an FT-7 aircraft on a routine operational training mission crashed.

Bangladesh to export 1,450 tons of Padma Hilsa to India as Durga Puja gift

Bangladesh to export 1,450 tons of Padma Hilsa to India as Durga Puja gift

Hilsa, a sea-water fish makes its way into the fresh waters traveling up to 1300-km during the mating season.
The first consignment of quintessential Bengali delicacy – Padma Hilsa arrived in several fish markets of West Bengal today. The entire quantity of 1450 MT of Padma Hilsa will arrive in batches over a month and each fish will weigh approximately 1kg or 1.2kg.

India: During Covid 19

India may roll out covid vaccine in huge volumes next year: Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recognizes the key role India is likely to play in manufacturing of the coronavirus vaccine. “India is a leading vaccine producer; we need cooperation from India on manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine,” Bill Gates told PTI.
Bill Gates also hopes that covid vaccine will be rolled out from India next year. “It’s very likely that roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine will take place in fairly big volume (in India) sometime next year,” Bill Gates said.
“I’m quite optimistic that by first quarter of next year, several of COVID-19 vaccines will have final stage,” said Gates.
India produces over 6900 MT oxygen. This morning 6% COVID19 Indian patients were on oxygen. These patients and other health needs together come to 2800 MT daily. Industry requirement is 2200 MT. There is no shortage of oxygen but important for states to monitor: Rajesh Bhushan secy, Ministry of Health.