Newsletter 14 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: Such Meetings shall be Continued

Joint Press Release of the 7th Round of India-China Military Commander-Level Meeting:

(Issued late night of Oct 13^th Good to read only)

On 12 Oct, the 7^th round of Senior Commanders meeting of India and China was held in Chushul.
The two sides had a sincere, in-depth and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of India-China border areas.
They were of the view that these discussions were positive, constructive and had enhanced understanding of each other’s positions.
Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue and communication through military and diplomatic channels, and arrive at a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement as early as possible.
Both sides agreed to earnestly implement the important understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, not to turn differences into disputes, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas.

A group of parliamentarians is set to visit the Ladakh

sector to get first-hand insights into aspects related to high-altitude clothing for soldiers, housing and rations at a time when India and China are locked in a border row and efforts to reduce friction have made no headway. The members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), headed by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, are likely to visit Leh on Oct 28-29, the officials said.

Rudram missile will give Air Force capability to detect and attack enemy radars: DRDO

The Rudram -1 anti-radiation missile launched from a fighter aircraft would require a few more tests to be completely proven and will provide Indian Air Force with the capability to strike enemy radars including surveillance and air defense systems, said DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy on Wed.
The Rudram-I missile system was successfully testified recently from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft near the East coast and it hit its intended target successfully there.
Asked about the Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile with ranges of around 1,000 km, test firing which did not succeed, Reddy said DRDO scientists are looking into the snag and that must be some one element malfunctioning or something like that.
“Right now, I am not very sure today, a team is looking into it and we should be able to come out of it and will be going ahead with the program in a much accelerated way,” he said.

Indian Army soldiers in Kashmir are being trained to kill drones at 15 Corps Battle School

The Indian Army has adopted a new training module for their troops deployed in JnK for counter insurgency and counter terror operations.
Trainers at 15 Corps Battle School, wherein specialized combat training is imparted through real life situations, are now being educated on how to thwart emerging threats due to drones.
Threat of terrorists using hexacopters to lob grenades at security forces at Line of Control (LoC) as well as in the Kashmir hinterland have made armed forces adopt new training course for the troops. Now, soldiers are learning how to kill drones.
The battle school runs two training courses: one for those who are to be posted at Line of Control with Pakistan and another for those who are to be posted in counter insurgency units in different parts of the valley.
Last month intelligence agencies had flagged that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has procured a sizable number of Hexacopters from a Chinese firm associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to flood Jammu and Kashmir with weapons to create unrest.
Sources said that due to the strong anti-infiltration grid established by the Indian security forces, Pakistan has been unable to infiltrate terrorists or weapons into the valley to increase insurgency. So they have adopted the new modus operandi.

Gadkari to initiate the first blasting at 14.15 Km Zozila Tunnel tomorrow

Tunnel will ensure all-weather connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh on NH-1 with approach Road to Z-morh Tunnel and Avalanche protection structures.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari will initiate the first blasting for Zozila Tunnel in J&K Thu.
The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh (Ladakh plateau) on NH-1, and will bring about an all-round economic and socio–cultural integration UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
It involves construction of a 14.15 Km long tunnel at an altitude of about 3000 m under Zojila pass (presently motorable only for 6 months in a year) on NH-1 connecting Srinagar and Leh through Dras & Kargil.
It is one of the most dangerous stretch in the world to drive a vehicle & this project is also geo-strategically sensitive.

Gadkari writes letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, suggesting that rain water from Mumbai be used for irrigation, supply to industries around the city and for horticulture in cities like Nashik, Ahmednagar

JnK: Mehbooba Mufti freed, just ahead of Supreme Court hearing

The Jammu & Kashmir administration late on Tue revoked the detention of former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti after 14 months and 8 days.
She met to former CMs of JnK, Farooq and Omar Abdullah at the residence, on Wed. However, it didn’t mention any reason for her release before the end of the three extra months for which it had been last extended on July 31 this year.

>> Two Pakistan sponsored militants killed in Chakura area of Shopian during a brief encounter with security forces in South Kashmir. Joint Operation underway by J&K Police, Indian Army and CRPF.

>> Two security forces personnel, including a jawan of SSB, have gone missing along with weapons and ammunition from Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district: Officials.

>> Suspected BAT (Border Action Team) action bid foiled in Tangdhar. Today early morning, suspicious activity was observed of 3-4 intruders by alert troops, close to forward post along LoC. Timely action by alert troops averted infiltration bid. Area search and surveillance under progress-twitted by Official account of Chinar Corps, Indian Army.

Union Cabinet approves Rs 520-crore package under NRLM for J&K and Ladakh

Javadekar said the package will ensure sufficient funds under the mission to both the Union Territories.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wed approved a special package of Rs 520 crore for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

Cabinet also approved World Bank supported Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project; total project cost is Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to US $ 500 million, he said.

Gautam Navlakha sought clemency for ISI agent Ghulam Nabi Fai convicted in US: NIA

The NIA also claimed that Navlakha was in touch with the ISI and was assigned the task to unite intellectuals against the government.
Gautam Navlakha had sought mercy for ISI agent Ghulab Nabi Fai, who was arrested by FBI in 2011 on charges of terror funding in the US.
Navlakha was introduced to the ISI by Fai and was assigned with the task to unite people against the govt.
In the Bhima-Koregaon violence case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed that activist Gautam Navlakha was in touch with Pakistan’s ISI and had also sought clemency for an ISI agent, who was convicted in the United States for terror funding.
In a chargesheet filed in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case, the NIA stated that Navlakha had visited the US thrice between 2010 and 2011 and was in touch with Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Kashmiri who was an active member of the ISI.
Navlakha had also written to a US district court judge seeking mercy for Fai, who was arrested by the FBI in 2011 for accepting funds of several millions from the ISI and the Pak Govt.
In its chargesheet, the NIA has alleged that Navlakha had delivered speeches at different forums and programs on many issues related to the Kashmiri separatists’ movement and CPI (Maoist) movement.

How Can We Stop Extrajudicial Killings? Asks Top Court, Dismisses Plea

“We agree it should be prevented, but how can we stop extrajudicial killings?” the bench asked.
The Supreme Court on Wed refused to entertain a petition seeking to prevent extrajudicial killings in India after asking the advocate appearing for the petitioner how can the extrajudicial killings be stopped.

Subsidy under Operation Greens a step towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat: Narendra Singh Tomar

50% subsidy under Operation Greens Scheme
Transportation subsidy for Kisan Rail Scheme too
Tomar, Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Panchayati Raj and Food Processing Industries has stated that the subsidy under Operation Greens TOP to TOTAL is a big step towards Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

Eligible Crops: –

Fruits (19) – Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Litchi, Mousambi, Orange, Kinnow, Lime, Lemon, Papaya, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit, Apple, Aonla, Passion fruit and Pear;

Vegetables (14): – French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies (Green), Okra, Cucumber, Peas, Onion, Potato and Tomato.

No minister present, Punjab farmers boycott meeting on new farm laws

Farmers’ organizations from Punjab on Wed boycotted a meeting called by the Union agriculture ministry to resolve their concerns over new farm laws, and accused the government of playing double standards with no minister present to hear them out.
Representatives from 29 farmers’ organizations, including Joginder Singh-led Bharati Kissan Union, were miffed at the absence of Agriculture Minister NS Tomar and MoS for Agriculture in the meeting.
The meeting was convened at the Krishi Bhavan amid police security to avoid any protest.
After the meeting, agitated farmers’ representatives were seen shouting slogans and tearing copies of new farm laws outside Krishi Bhavan.
More than 30 representatives, who had come in a bus, were mostly senior citizens but had not even worn face masks despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“No proper discussion took place. Neither Union agriculture minister nor junior ministers were present to hear our concerns.

Govt may not implement international tribunal’s order on Vodafone

>> The Centre has said an international arbitration tribunal’s order in the Vodafone case impinges on its sovereign right to tax, in a strong indication that the ruling is unacceptable to it and may not be immediately implemented.

>> The govt might challenge the order, which cited a violation of the India-Netherlands Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement, or may not implement it.

‘Narendra Modi’, ‘Barack’, ‘Laden’ in UP village voter list

A block-level officer in eastern Uttaer Pradesh’s Siddharth-Nagar district had the shock of her life when dusted off the existing voter list of her area for revision and correction ahead of the forthcoming panchayat elections. The list of Bhaisahiya gram panchayat in Domariaganj was a virtual who’s who – from ‘Narendra Modi’ to Barack (only first name) and Maya to Shivraj.

Indian economy to contract by 10.3% in 2020; worst contraction on record: IMF

The IMF report said global growth would contract by 4.4% this year and bounce back to 5.2% in 2021.
The Indian economy, severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is projected to contract by a massive 10.3% this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tue.
However, India is likely to bounce back with an impressive 8.8% growth rate in 2021, thus regaining the position of the fastest growing emerging economy, surpassing Chinas projected growth rate of 8.2%, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook report.
Released ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, the report said global growth would contract by 4.4% this year and bounce back to 5.2% in 2021.
America’s economy is projected to contract by 5.8% in 2020 and grow by 3.9% the next year, the IMF said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wed took a dig at the Govt over IMF growth projections showing Bangladesh closing in on India in terms of per capita GDP this year and described it as a “solid achievement” of six years of BJP’s “hate-filled cultural nationalism”.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

China and Russia win seats on UN rights council, Saudis lose

China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the UN’s premier human rights body Tue despite opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records, but another target, Saudi Arabia, lost.

In secret-ballot voting in the 193-member UNGA, Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi just 90 votes. In 2016, Saudis won a seat with 152 votes.

This results are criticized by the media, designating that these countries, especially China and Pakistan as having ‘illustrious human right records.’ Quoting ‘39 countries condemned the China’s abuse of Uighurs’ while Pakistan has already condemned in UN HR reports.

Pakistan will continue efforts towards consensus building and ensuring HRC’s work is guided by principles of universality, impartiality, dialogue & cooperation. Pak will continue to expose human rights violations committed with impunity by the Indian occupation forces in IIOJK, said Pak PM, Imran Khan.

US Indo-Pacific strategy undermines peace, development prospect in East Asia: Wang Yi

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tue that the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by the United States would undermine peace and development prospect in East Asia.
In response to a question on the impact of the US Indo-Pacific strategy on the East Asia cooperation, Wang told a joint press conference with Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that East Asia is the most dynamic region in today’s world, and is also the economy with the biggest potential going forward.
Wang pointed out that the Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by the United States is in essence aimed at building a so-called Indo-Pacific “new NATO” underpinned by the quadrilateral mechanism involving the United States, Japan, India and Australia.