Newsletter 17 December

Sino-Indian Standoff: Both side Military talks deadlocked

Feeder national highways to China border to get broader

Now all national highways that act as feeder roads to the China border or are of strategic importance for national security would be 10 m wide, the road transport and highways ministry has said.
The highways ministry modified its two-year-old circular limiting the width of such roads to 5.5m, which had become a bone of contention for the Chardham road widening project.
This comes barely months after the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee (HPC) chairman Ravi Chopra had flagged the Mar 23, 2018 circular to point out how the ministry was violating its own decision while executing the Chardham road project.
The HPC was vertically divided in two groups on the issue of road width with the majority of members agreeing with the Govt’s stand to widen the road to 12 m while the minority view was that the ministry should ensure that the tarred road width doesn’t cross the stipulated 5.5 m.

India's DRDO to convert 6 Air India A320s into AEW&C jets for the Indian Air Force in $1.4 billion program cleared

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting of Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) today clearing the acquisition proposals worth Rs 28000 crores of which acquisitions worth Rs 27000 crores is to be sourced from the Indian industry: 5 cases valued at Rs 25000 crores are approved under indigenous design development & manufacture category. Particularly noteworthy are the DRDO designed & developed AEW&C systems for the Air Force & modular bridges for the Army: DoD said.

PM Modi, Hasina jointly inaugurate Chilahati-Haldibari Rail link

Bangladesh PM Hasina calls India a true friend, commends PM Modi’s leadership during pandemic
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the virtual summit on Thu, said that India is the country’s true friend for its support during 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.
India and Bangladesh sealed 7 pacts amid their rapidly growing ties, to expand cooperation in several areas.
They also restored a cross-border rail link, which was operational till 1965.
The countries vowed to restore the Chilahati-Haldibari railway link and signed the pacts providing for cooperation in areas of hydrocarbons, agriculture and textiles among others.
She further congratulated the PM Modi for his handling of the pandemic as India’s recovery rate has improved to 95.31 %, as of today.”
Hasina stated that India would play an even more important role in the global economy.
Bangladesh is on the verge of celebrating 50 years as an independent nation.
Bangladesh and India are also stepping into the 50^th year of establishment of diplomatic relations.
“Your (PM Modi) visit to Dhaka on Mar 26, 2021, will be the crowning glory of our joint commemoration of Bangladesh’s Liberation War 1971,” she said.
PM Modi said that ever since taking office, it has been his priority to strengthen and deepen the relationship between India and Bangladesh and pointed out that the nation is a significant pillar of our ‘Neighborhood First’

Rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh worries India

A rising concern in India is the apparent resurgence of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh. The Hasina government is re-activating over 80 terrorism-related cases against the extremist group Hefazat-e-Islam, whose new radicalized chief Junaid Babunagri has already vandalized statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and threatened to bring down others too.

India-Nepal ties tall as Himalayas, deep as ocean with 'no strings attached', says CDS Rawat

Calling the India- Nepal ties as “tall as the Himalayas and as deep as the Indian Ocean,” Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Thu said India’s goodwill towards its neighbor comes with “no strings attached”, however, without naming China, CDS Rawat warned Kathmandu to be cautious when signing agreements with “other countries” in the region.
“…the canvas and spread of cooperation, friendship and people to people contact between India and Nepal are deep and extensive. But in the present age, Nepal is also opening to other nations including China based on its independent foreign policy,” said General Rawat at the 2^nd annual dialogue with the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) during the virtual meeting.
Speaking on the theme of “Soft Power Dimension: India-Nepal Relations,” CDS Rawat said, “India’s goodwill comes with no strings attached.
Nepal is free to act independently in international affairs but must be vigilant and learn from Sri Lanka and other nations.
General Rawat said it is necessary to strengthen the existing relationship further for the peace and prosperity for both countries who are already “inseparable in every way.”

Two armed Pak intruders shot dead at international border

Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead two Pakistani armed intruders who were trying to enter India by taking advantage of the thick layer of fog in the wee hours of Thu.
According to sources, a patrolling party of BSF observed some suspicious movement in the area of jurisdiction of Border outpost Rajatal in Amritsar sector.
Three bags of heroin weighing about 3 kg (total) were also recovered from the same border outpost area in a separate incident, yesterday: Bhupinder Singh, DIG BSF

Jaishankar launches economic diplomacy website

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wed launched economic diplomacy website which will showcase India’s economic, sectoral, and state-wise strengths.

6^th India-EU Cyber Dialogue was hosted by India virtually on Dec 14. Indian Delegation was led by Dr S. Janakiraman, Joint Secy, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, while the EU delegation was led by Ms Joanneke Balfoort, Director Security & Defense, EEAS: MEA

Both sides discussed various areas of cooperation in the cyberspace including contemporary matters; multilateral and regional cooperation on stability in cyberspace at UN platforms. Both sides agreed to hold the next India-EU Cyber Dialogue in Brussels: MEA

Communication satellite, CMS01 successfully separated from 4th stage of PSLVC50 and injected into orbit

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thu successfully launched communication satellite CMS-01 onboard launch vehicle Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The polar satellite launch vehicle’s 52^nd mission lift-off took place at 3.41 pm from the second launch pad at the spaceport of Sriharikota.
CMS-01 is the 42^nd communication satellite of the space agency and it is envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum covering India, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
PSLV-C50 is the 22nd flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (equipped with six strap-on motors), and the launch would be the 77^th launch vehicle mission from Sriharikota, about 120 km from here.

SC asks Centre to explore possibility of putting three farm laws on hold

The Supreme Court on Thu asked the Central Govt to explore the possibility of putting on hold the 3 farm laws, against which farmers are protesting at different borders of the national capital.
They also said the Govt should have formed a committee of farmers and others before the laws were enacted by Parliament.
20 people have lost their lives during the farmers-protest at Singhu border.
Protesting farmers at Tikri border (Haryana-Delhi border) say they’re ready for more talks with govt but won’t give up protest. “We’re ready for more rounds of talks. Govt is taking SC’s help now so their ego is not hurt. Table talks should be shown live,” says a farmer
The first and the only thing we will decide today is regarding the farmers’ protest and the fundamental right of citizens to move. The question of the validity of laws can wait,” said Supreme Court
SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India while hearing pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the 3 farms laws says that it will not decide the validity of the laws as of now. Supreme Court asks Centre to explore the possibility of putting legislations on hold.
SC asks the Attorney General if the Govt can assure the Court that it will not take any executive action on implementation of the law till court hears the matter.
What was the hurry to get Farm Laws passed in Parliament during pandemic? It has happened for 1^st time that 3 laws were passed without voting in Rajya Sabha. I hereby tear 3 Farm laws in this assembly & appeal Centre not to become worse than Britishers: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, though 1 of 3 he has already passed.

‘Waste of time’: Rahul, MPs walk out of defense panel meet

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his party colleagues walked out of the parliamentary standing committee on defense on Wed on the ground that panel chair Jual Oram did not allow him to speak during a discussion on the rank structure, uniforms, stars and badges of the defense forces.
Rahul Gandhi only ‘engaging in antics’, says Hardeep Puri after Congress leader walks out of meeting, Union minister said Gandhi did not observe the solemnity of the occasion.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and USA for exchange of information in areas of mutual interest in the electricity sector

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Modi, has given its approval for Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s proposal for entering into a MoU between Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), India and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and USA for exchange of information and experiences in areas of mutual interest to both in the electricity sectors.

Sitharaman holds 5th pre-Budget consultations with representatives of Various sectors

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her 5^th Pre-Budget consultations with representatives of social sector ahead of the Union Budget 2021-22 here on Thu.

India wants a V-shaped recovery at any cost, the pressure now is on Shaktikanta Das

By creating a rupee glut, the central bank has delivered the equivalent of an additional 1.25 percentage points in rate cuts – by stealth. That extends a 2.5-percentage- point reduction since Feb 2019, with 1.15 points coming after the pandemic hit.
A collapse in imports during the coronavirus lockdown has left India awash with dollars. Now a further influx of greenbacks is expected as an embryonic economic recovery draws investors back.
To banks, this means one thing: The local currency is a sitting duck for appreciation against a weakening dollar. Policy makers won’t want a stronger rupee to become a one-way bet, but the market doesn’t believe them to have many other options.
What the authorities have done so far – scoop up the dollars by giving banks rupees – has left the financial system swimming in money and threatens to fuel inflation that’s already above the central bank’s target.
If the Reserve Bank doubles down on its generosity in 2021, the country’s red-hot equity markets could get dangerously overvalued. Conversely, if the RBI pulls back on liquidity – before the complicated task of distributing vaccines to 1.3 billion people is meaningfully under way – confidence could be diluted by falling stock prices.
Thanks to $58 billion of RBI dollar purchases in the first 9 months, the rupee is the worst-performing Asian currency this year.
While inflation last month was a slower-than-expected 6.9%, it has exceeded the central bank’s 2% to 6% range for 8 straight months. Traders are putting their money on Rupee being Asia’s best performer in 2021.

Assassination of J&K lawyer Babar Qadri: Order to 'kill' came from 'Srinagar Central jail', reveals probeIndia

Babar Qadri, a lawyer and TV panelist, was killed by two gunmen who entered his residence on Sept 24, saying that they wanted to discuss legal matters.
In his last tweet on Sept 21, Qadri had tagged J&K police and said that there was a threat to his life.
“I urge the State Police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread the wrong campaign that I work for agencies. This untrue statement can lead to a threat to my life,” he had said.
The 3 detainees have told the police that the order for his assassination came from ‘central jail, Srinagar’.
The trio has also revealed the names of people who ordered the assassination. A special team constituted by the JnK police to investigate the murder of Qadri, also arrested two men from the Srinagar central jail, for a stone-pelting and murder case
The police are investigating how these individuals passed orders from inside the central jail.

"PM Very Worried": Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa On Violence At iPhone Factory

Hundreds of workers vandalized Taiwan-based Apple supplier Wistron’s facility in Kolar near Bengaluru over the weekend, looting iPhones and laptops and causing damage worth $7 million.
We have taken action. It is a very important foreign company and this should not have happened. “We have instructed that such things will not be repeated.
We will give full support to that company, without any problem let them continue production,” he said.
The company’s vice president Vincent Lee told the center “while reiterating that the Taiwanese manufacturing major’s “commitment to India remains the same”

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Maryam Nawaz slams Pak govt for ‘incompetence, corrupt practices’ after oil crisis report

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Wed slammed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Govt for ‘incompetence, poor decision-making and corrupt practices‘, 2 days after an inquiry commission on the June petroleum crisis released its report.
The commission’s 163-page report also estimated over (Pakistani) Rs 250 billion worth of oil smuggling from Iran and noted that a wide range of operations in the oil sector were against law and rules, operating without any check and balance, reported Dawn.
“The report on the oil crisis confirms what we already knew. It was a direct result of the selectee’s incompetence, poor decision making and above all corrupt practices. This is exactly why he needs to go and is on his way out,” Maryam tweeted on Wed.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said on Tue that the report on the oil scam was placed before the cabinet and the PM has vowed to take stern action against those involved in the scandal.

Would sacrifice Sindh govt for democracy’s sake: Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday said that he was ready to give up his party’s government in Sindh for the sake of democracy as the Prime Minister Imran Khan government continues to impose crackdowns on the opposition.

UNGA adopts Pakistan’s resolution reaffirming peoples’ right to self-determination

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously adopted Pakistan-sponsored resolution that reaffirms right to self-determination for the peoples who are subjected to colonial, foreign and alien occupation.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN, Munir Akram said UNGA has reaffirmed our legal, political and moral case in support of all including Kashmiri people.
He said the resolution, co-sponsored by 71 countries, calls on countries to immediately cease their foreign military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories.