Newsletter 24 December

Sino-Indian Standoff: Fingers Crossed in Delhi

New Border outposts along India-Bhutan border ready to add strength to SSB amid tension with China

Sashastra Seema Bal has built 22 Border Out Posts (BoPs) allowing SSB to position at key locations near India-Bhutan Border.
Now, SSB has multiple BoPs which are at more than 12,000 feet above the sea level. SSB is deployed near key tri-junction (India-Bhutan-Tibet) and the BOPs will add strength to SSB.
Tri-junctions are strategically important as the Indian Army, in 2017 had a long stand-off with Chinese Army.
After these 22 BOPs, SSB is now close to achieving its sanctioned BOPs which is 734. Now, SSB has 722 BOPs and only 12 are left to be constructed.
“These new 22 posts have been built in record time and most of them are at India-Bhutan Border,” a top SSB official told ANI.

Army chief awards troops deployed at Rezang La, Rechen La heights, LAC sector

As the first Indian Army chief to have visited the strategic Rechen La and Rezang La tops in Ladakh, General Manoj Mukund Naravane gave 12 Chief’s Commendation Cards to troops deployed in the icy heights on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The two heights close to the LAC were occupied by the Indian Army troops in a special operation around August 29-30 this year, preempting the Chinese who wanted to move in there.
“The Army chief gave his commendation cards to 12 troops including officers and jawans for their operational role and devotion to duty during deployment in the area since the middle of the year,” Army sources told ANI.
The Army chief has been visiting the operational area regularly since the conflict between India and China broke out in the area in April-May timeframe over transgressions by the People’s Liberation Army.
In an apparent response to the aggression and occupation of heights by the PLA along the northern bank of Pangong Tso, the Indian Army took around six strategic heights overlooking Chinese positions on both the northern and southern bank of the over 130 km-long lake.
During the visit, Gen Naravane undertook on the spot inspection of the state of the habitat of troops on the forward line of defenses at Rechen La.
He appreciated the efforts made by the formation to make troops comfortable along the LAC.
As the winters sets in over LAC, India’s Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been working near the China border in Ladakh to ensure the Indian Army’s movement in the intense snow causes no problem for quick movement.

China is still at the border. It has snatched away thousands of kms of the land of India. Why doesn’t PM speak about it, why is Prime Minister silent?: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

No possibility of dialogue with India in prevailing situation, says Pakistan foreign minister

Withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special powers and bifurcating the state into two union territories in August last year also evoked a strong reaction from Pakistan.
New Delhi has already been maintaining its stand that “talks and terror” cannot go together as it continues to ask Islamabad to take demonstrable steps against terror groups responsible for launching various attacks on India.
“There is no possibility of a backdoor or diplomatic dialogue with India in the prevailing situation…The circumstances are not suitable for any dialogue at the moment,” Qureshi was quoted as said by Dawn.
Qureshi made the comments while talking to reporters in his hometown Multan on Wed, the paper said.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

Pakistan exposing Indian atrocities, CFVs on WB and LoC before world: Moeed Yusuf

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf said Pakistan is badly exposing Indian atrocities and ceasefire violation on working boundary and Line of Control before the world countries’ Pak Radio reported.
Dr Yusuf said that Pakistan valiant armed forces are fully prepared to thwart any aggression on our homeland and to teach enemy the lesson.

Decision to not hold India-Russia Annual Summit due to Covid-19 was mutually agreed, says MEA

India on Wed said that the India-Russia annual summit did not take place in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and it was a mutually agreed decision between the Govts of the two countries.
MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said in a statement that any imputation otherwise is false and misleading. He said, spreading false stories on important relationships is particularly irresponsible.
Srivastava said this in response to a media report regarding the India-Russia Annual Summit. Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev also tweeted today to say that the report published about the summit was “far from reality.”
Reiterating the close bilateral ties with India, the Russian Ambassador said that he is in touch with Indian officials and is working out new dates for the summit postponed due to the pandemic.
The Russian envoy also said that special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries is progressing well despite the COVID-19.

Guided by Tagore, Visva-Bharati presented strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment: PM Modi

Visva-Bharati University presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence with the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thu.
“Guided by Gurudev (Rabindranath Tagore) Visva-Bharati presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence. Gurudev wanted entire humanity to benefit from India’s spiritual awakening. Atmanirbhar Bharat vision is also a derivative of this sentiment,” said PM Modi while attending the centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, via video conferencing.
Today we must remember the circumstances which led to the establishment of this univ., the PM stated.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skips event in Visva Bharati.
Trinamool Congress said Mamata Banerjee was not invited. However, some media busted TMC’s claim, invitation sent on Dec 4.
India is the only major country which is moving in the right direction to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement, said PM Modi, while adding that India is leading the world in environmental protection through international solar alliance.

MoS External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Croatian State Secretary for Political Affairs held a meeting

through a virtual conference on 22 Dec.

India and Croatia recognized the need for tourism promotion activities. The film industry as a means for enhancing awareness of each other’s tourism sites was highlighted as an important area of intervention and cooperation, said MEA
He also had a virtual conference with Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya, FM of Gabon and had a wide-ranging discussion especially on bilateral trade & investment, and cooperation in energy sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a book titled ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee’ in Parliament on Fri- a commemorative volume on the former Prime Minister on his 96^th birth anniversary.
MEA will commence the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Annual Lecture on foreign policy tomorrow on his 96^th birthday. Will be delivered by Amb. Nisha Desai Biswal, President US-India Business Council.

UK drops nomination of pro-Khalistan leader to House of Lords ahead of Boris Johnson's India visit

While the pro-Khalistan Labor party leader’s name was cleared by the appointments commission, India Today TV has learnt that he would have been in the House of Lords if not for the last-minute pressure from the Indian community in the UK.
In a major turn of events, UK Labour leader Keir Starmer who nominated Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu to the House of Lords (HOL) later withdrew the nomination despite the fact that Sidhu’s name was vetted and approved by the appointments commission.
Sidhu, an executive at the National Audit Office (NAO) — which equates to India’s C&AG – has been a key supporter of the Khalistani movement and is the principal advisor to Sikh Federation, UK (SFUK).
He is also part of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs on behalf of Sikh Federation UK and is known to be closely associated with MPs Preet Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi.
He was a one-time member of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) which is listed as a terrorist organization in India, the USA, Japan and Canada.
It was proscribed in the UK as well until 2016 when then PM Theresa May took it off the list.
He reportedly participated in the recent anti-India farmer protests in London.
He has been a part of protests outside the Indian High Commission in the past as well.

Farmer Protest row…

Centre writes to unions again, asks them to decide date for next round of talks

Meanwhile, BJP plans to hold a farmers’ outreach program. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Nitin Gadkari to meet farmers in Delhi tomorrow.

A delegation of 60 farmers belonging to Kisaan Majdoor Sangh, Baghpat meets Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan.

Meanwhile, farmer leaders from Punjab protesting at Delhi borders have started travelling to different parts of the country from the dharna site to connect them to the ongoing agitation. Protesting unions now plan to take the agitation to 20 states covering nearly 500 districts by Dec end, the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) said.

Rahul Gandhi Submits ‘2 Cr Signatures’ To President Against Farm Laws; Particulars Sketchy

Gandhi said, “I told the President that these farm laws are anti-farmer. The country has seen that farmers have stood up against these laws“. “I want to tell the PM that these farmers are not going to go back home until these farm laws are repealed. Govt should convene a joint session of Parliament and take back these laws. Opposition parties stand with farmers & laborers.”

Farmers up ante, nix Govt’s offer, demand higher MSP

Dramatically upping the ante while rejecting the Centre’s proposals as “meaningless amendments”, agitating farm unions on Wed said talks could restart only if repeal of the 3 new agri laws was on the agenda and added a demand for revised cost of production that will increase support price.

How ‘outsider’ Altaf Bukhari turned the tables on Gupkar alliance

In an election billed as a straight contest between the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration and BJP, an estranged Mehbooba Mufti acolyte with a 9-month-old party has emerged as the unlikely kingmaker shepherding a clutch of independents to form semi-rural Srinagar’s first District Development Council.
People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) members met in Srinagar today to discuss DDC election results.”Gupkar alliance is much stronger today than when it was formed. We’re are united & we’ll continue to be united,” said PAGD member & National Conf Chief Farooq Abdullah.
Encounter in Wanigam Baramulla started in the morning in which 2 terrorist are trapped, who later on managed to escape due to fog, are now again back in trap in afternoon. Later one killed in cross firing.
Huge quantity of banned camouflage uniform items were seized by Awantipora Police from the house of one Abdul Rehman. An FIR has been registered and the investigation is underway.

Congress eyes nationalism in bid to hit refresh button

Amid outcry over its leadership crisis and political demoralization since the advent of Narendra Modi-led BJP, Congress plans to push the restart button of sorts with a mega program to celebrate the “foundation day” around the idea of nationalism this year.

Indian economy reviving at unforeseen pace: RBI

As economic activities gather momentum and strive to get back to pre-Covid levels, Reserve Bank of India has said that the Indian economy is reflating at a pace higher than most predictions. The monthly bulletin of the central bank for Dec said more evidence has emerged since the last bulletin which shows that the Indian economy is coming out of the Covid-induced slowdown.

Goa Shipyard Ltd has got the contract for construction of 12 Advanced Fast Patrol Crafts for Indian Army though competitive bidding, GSL tweeted. One more addition to the Diverse Product Range of GSL for National Security. Boats are probably to for the deployment at Pangong tso.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Chinese Envoy Hou Yanqi met communist leader Puspa Kamal. Meeting went on for 45 min.

Prime Minister Oli is believed to have indicated to ambassador Hou that he is capable of handling challenges within his party without any assistance from other countries.
It isn’t clear if ambassador Hou will be meeting PM Oli as well. But their last meeting in Nov didn’t go too well after it became clear that Beijing was indifferent to his continuation in the Govt.
This approach also fitted well with PM Oli’s efforts to reclaim the nationalist agenda that was the mainstay of his campaign that led to the NCP’s win in 2018.

Experts question China’s underhanded influence after ICC rejected call for probe in Uyghur genocide

Experts have questioned China’s underhanded influence on the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and said “the international legal system suffers from a double standard” after the court rejected a plea to investigate Beijing’s alleged genocide against Uyghurs.
Recently, the ICC rejected a plea to open an investigation in the mounting allegation of genocide against the Uyghur Muslims.
An advocate said that China is well aware of the “pain and havoc Beijing could impose on the court and its officials, including the justices and prosecutors“, according to experts and advocates, Fox News reported.
Last week, the ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda stated that the “precondition for the exercise of the court’s territorial jurisdiction did not appear to be met with respect to the majority of the crimes alleged” since they appear “to have been committed solely by nationals of China within the territory of China, a State which is not a party to the Statute”.
Analysts have questioned the argument and raised questions over a broader influence of China in the international community and throughout the UN, of which The Hague, Netherlands, is affiliated with but functions independently, Fox News reported.

Pak-China Joint Air Exercise ‘Shaheen-IX’ concludes

The Pak-China Joint Air Exercise “Shaheen-IX” culminated at an Operational Air Base of PAF on Thu.
Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was the chief guest at the closing ceremony.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong also attended the ceremony as guest of honor.
Addressing the Exercise participants, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan said that the existing global security scenario coupled with the evolving dynamics of air warfare, called for enhanced partnership between Pakistan and China as indeed between our Armed Forces.
Expressing his views at the occasion, Rong said, “International and regional strategic situation is undergoing profound changes with growing complexity in security environment. This calls for the collaboration of our two countries and two armed forces in maintaining peace and stability and to cope with shared challenges“.