Newsletter 27 November

Sino-Indian Standoff: Both side military talks deadlocked

Government has given Army free hand to counter PLA across LAC: Rajnath Singh

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thu said that the Govt has given a free hand to the armed forces to counter any changes on the Line of Actual Control with China with full force. The Indian Army did exactly that in Galwan valley.
The Defence Minister, however, accepted that India has “perceptional difference” with China, and added that despite those differences, both countries follow agreements and protocols while patrolling on the LAC.
“I want to assure everyone that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, there will be no compromise on India’s border, self-respect and sovereignty,” he added.
On the stand-off with China, Rajnath Singh said, “Talks have continued, and we will continue to have a dialogue to resolve border stand-off with China. But I believe countries should not be expansionist.” Singh further emphasized on indigenous solutions to fulfill the country’s defense and security requirements.

Meanwhile, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said “India should meet China halfway and safeguard peace & stability in the border regions with sincerity and positive actions”

Navy's MiG-29K aircraft crashes into sea; pilot goes missing

An Indian Navy aircraft – MiG-29K – operating at sea crashed around 5pm on Thu. While one pilot managed to eject safely, a search operation is under way to find the second. A probe has been ordered into the incident, according to an official statement.

MIG-29 is a highly advanced twin engine jet unlike the MIG-21s. Unfortunately we lose most of our aircraft in sorties rather than in war.

NSA Ajit Doval arrives in Sri Lanka to attend trilateral maritime dialogue

Ajit Doval, India’s National Security arrived in Colombo on Fri for 4^th trilateral maritime dialogue among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, hosted by Sri Lanka on Fri and Sat.
The meeting is to take place after 6 years, as the last meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014.
This will be the first NSA level meeting on Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation.
Besides Doval, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Major General (Retd). Kamal Gunaratne and Maldives Defense Minister Mariya Didi will participate in the meeting.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the NSA-level trilateral meeting has served as an effective platform for cooperation among Indian Ocean countries.
The mechanism is being revived after 6 years as earlier meetings were held in 2011 in the Maldives, in 2013 in Sri Lanka, and in 2014 in India.

Indian and Vietnamese defense ministers held talk

India’s defense minister Rajnath Singh and Vietnamese defense minister General Ngo Xuan Lich held a virtual meet on Fri, with focus on strengthening of ties and increase bilateral exchanges.
In terms of defense, both sides have increased partnership significantly. India trains a number of Vietnamese defense personnel under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) which has 70 slots for the country.
In Oct 2019, the 12^th annual security dialogue at defense secretary-level took place in Ho Chin Minh city. India has deputed mobile training teams to 11 countries, among them one is Vietnam.
Defense industrial cooperation has been a new focus area of cooperation, with New Delhi extending defense Lines of Credit worth US$ 600 million to strengthening Vietnam’s domestic defense manufacturing.
Both, India and Vietnam, have been dealing with an aggressive China — India at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh while Vietnam in the South China Sea — with Chinese vessels breaching into the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Amidst the aggressive behavior, both are working together, especially on the Indo Pacific concept. ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, have come up with their own outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which is broadly similar to India’s Indo-Pacific Vision.

Nepal want to build on momentum in bilateral relationship with India: K.P Sharma Oli

Harsh Vardhan Shringla on his part conveyed India’s interest in deepening economic linkages, promoting connectivity, expanding the development partnership and strengthening people-to-people contacts, particularly among the youth, the person said.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli on Thu expressed his country’s desire to build on the momentum in the bilateral relationship with India and enhance the level of bilateral engagement, a person familiar with the development said.
This follows a row over a map brought out by Nepal that showed three regions that are part of India as lying within Nepal’s boundaries. Nepali parliamentary approval for the map despite India’s protests had soured ties between the two countries, but by the now it seems, matter put bag.
Besides Oli, Shringla also called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Foreign Min Pradeep Kumar Gyawali besides holding talks with his counterpart, the person said.
“The special relations between India and Nepal, and the importance of respecting each other’s sensitivities was noted,” the person cited above said – a possible reference to India’s concerns over the map as well as Nepal’s contacts with China, seen as a strategic rival by India. Shringla inaugurated three schools in Gorkha completed under India’s reconstruction assistance: investing in people and investing in education.

S Jaishankar reached Seychelles on last leg of his 3-nation tour

External affairs minister S Jaishankar reached Seychelles on Fri on a two-day (Nov 25-26) official visit during which he will call on the newly-elected Indian-origin President and meet his counterpart to bolster bilateral relations with the key Indian Ocean nation. Indian-origin President Wavel Ramkalawan won the presidential election on Oct 25 this year, the first such victory for an opposition candidate since independence.

2 Soldiers Killed In Action In Pak Firing In J&K's Rajouri

Naik Prem Bahadur Khatri and Rifleman Sukhbir Singh were injured and later died in the line of duty, when the Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Rajouri’s Sundarbani sector. “Own troops responded immediately to the enemy fire,” the army said.

Amid farmers' protest: Delhi Govt rejected the request from Delhi Police to convert stadiums into 'temporary prisons'

Delhi Police confirmed in afternoon that protesting farmers allowed entry into national capital, can hold protest at Burari ground-PTI
The showdown between the farmers protesting the Centre’s farm laws and the police continues as protesters remain undeterred in the face of heavy police action faced by them throughout y’day.
The Delhi Police on Fri sought permission from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s to convert nine stadiums into temporary prisons, in view of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ farmers protest.
This comes a day after Kejriwal came out in support of Punjab farmers and their protest against the Centre’s recently passed farm laws, saying that peaceful protest was a Constitutional right and the use of water cannons against them was a crime.
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Fri sought to assure agitating farmers that the central government is always ready for talks with them and a solution can come out through the dialogue.
Some of ‘Khalistan sympathizers’ (?) among protestors attacked on CRPF Convoy.
Meanwhile, farmers used a tractor to remove a truck placed as a barricade to stop them from entering Delhi, at Tikri border near Delhi-Bahadurgarh highway.

[A day after commencement of protest, Punjab CM urges Centre to hold talks with farmers to defuse tense situation at Delhi borders. However, this has already been schedules on Dec 3^rdImportantly, Punjab Govt has already imposed night curfew in Punjab from Dec 1^st, amid COVID. And why only farmers of Punjab are protesting is also can’t be overlooked. Nevertheless, federal Govt also didn’t make any sincere effort to resolve the issue.]

Mehbooba Mufti Alleges Detained Again, Daughter Under House Arrest

Mehbooba Mufti said she is not being allowed to visit the family of PDP youth wing President Waheed Parra, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged links in a terror case and that her daughter Iltija has been “placed under house arrest”.
Parra was instrumental in the revival of the PDP in south Kashmir, especially in militancy-infested Pulwama, from where he also filed his nomination for the District Development Council (DDC) elections – first phase of which will be held on Nov 28.
He is on remand of NIA, for 15 days NIA custody for alleged links with Hizbul.

Former J&K minister and Congress leader booked by the CBI in the Roshni land grab case

The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked former J&K minister and Congress leader Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Govt officials in the Roshni land scam.
Taj is the first politician to be named in an FIR filed by the CBI
Four days back, he had filed for nomination on Congress ticket for DDC polls
On 9^th Oct, the J&K High Court had ordered a CBI probe

Will make Srinagar a world class city, says Altaf Bukhari after Junaid Mattu joins JKAP

After joining the party, Mattu said that the JKAP believes in the politics of pragmatism and delivery.

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President, Syed Altaf Bukhari on Fri said that they will make Srinagar a world class city. He made the remark after Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu joined the JKAP. Bukhari also termed DDC polls as a challenge for the party.

1,200-Crore Bank Fraud Case Against Delhi-Based Firm, Accused "Flee" Country-NDTV

According to sources, while the CBI is taking necessary steps to extradite the accused, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has also issued non-bail able warrants against the directors of Amira Pure Foods Pvt Ltd.
CBI has registered a case of corruption and cheating against the directors of a Delhi-based company for defrauding 12 banks to the tune of ₹ 1,200 crore.
The accused have been identified as Karan A Channa, his wife Anita Diang, Aparna Puri, Rajesh Arora and J Kapoor.

IITs, NITs to teach courses in native tongue from next academic year

Giving a thrust to education in the mother tongue, the government has decided to impart technical education, especially engineering courses, in regional languages from next academic year. A few IITs and NITs are being shortlisted for the same.

COVID-19: Russia agrees to produce Sputnik V vaccine in India

The Russian Sovereign Wealth Fund and India’s pharmaceutical company Hetero have agreed to produce over 100 million doses per year of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India, according to a statement on Sputnik V Twitter account on Fri.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Hetero intend to start the production of Sputnik V in the beginning of 2021.
Russia became the first country to register the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine on Aug 11. Sputnik V, named after Russia’s first satellite, is developed by the Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology (GNRCEM) of the Russian Healthcare Ministry. On Tue, the GNRCEM and RDIF declared results obtained during the 2^nd interim data analysis of the largest double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trials in Russia involving 40,000 volunteers.

“It has shown a 91.4% efficacy on day 28 after the 1^st dose while preliminary data from volunteers obtained 42 days after the first dose(corresponds with 21 days after the 2^nd dose) indicates an efficacy of the vaccine above 95%,” stated press statement by the RDIF.

“Tomorrow, PM Narendra Modi will embark on a 3 city visit to personally review the vaccine development & manufacturing process. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad & Serum Institute of India in Pune.” PMO tweeted.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

U.S State Dept Rewards for Justice program announces a $5 million reward for information about Pakistani terrorist Sajid Mir. He played a crucial role in the planning, preparation & execution of the 26/11 attack in Mumbai. However, U.S has already placed a bounty on Hafiz Saeed, I think it is $10 million. The issue is that hasn’t made Pakistan handover Hafiz Saeed to the U.S, he is still roaming around openly in Pakistan.

Tweet posted by FM of Pakistan, “Jammu & Kashmir dispute resonates in Opening Plenary of 47^th CFM in Flag of Niger. Deeply appreciate new Chair Niger’s FM Ankourao, Chair of 14^th Islamic Summit Flag of Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan & Flag of Turkey FM Mevlut Cavusoglu (speaking on behalf of Asian Group) for highlighting J&K dispute in their statements.”