1. Farmers Protest Day 3: Punjab CM, Union Ministers Hold Talks With Farm Leaders; Internet Suspended in Haryana Till Feb 17
2. Sandeshkhali sex abuse row – Section 144 slapped again despite Calcutta HC order in trouble-hit areas
3. PM Modi thanks Amir of Qatar for taking care of Indian Community In Qatar
4. Supreme Court strikes down electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional
5. Central Banks of India, Nepal Sign Terms To Link UPI-NPI: RBI

What Else

• ‘Ajit Pawar-Led Faction is Real NCP’: Maharashtra Speaker’s Big Decision on Disqualification Pleas
• Hyundai’s $3 billion IPO in India will help it score two goals in one go
• Anti-terror agency NIA arrests 1 in Maharashtra in ISIS module case
• “No excuse for violence…”: US on attacks against Indian students
• Pakistan: PTI nominates PM and CMs, announces protest movement
• Pakistan downgraded to ‘authoritarian regime’
• Pakistan detects Indian Navy of covertly observing naval drill
• Chinese Communist Party stealing secrets, harassing students on US campuses

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Farmers Protest Day 3: Punjab CM, Union Ministers Hold Talks With Farm Leaders; Internet Suspended in Haryana Till Feb 17

• Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda & Nityanand Rai held talks with farmers in Chandigarh but probably went inconclusive.
• Farmers’ leader Announces Protest Escalation in Haryana, Says ‘Will Keep Haryana Toll-Free’
• Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni said, “3 decisions were taken on Thu, first one is, we will keep Haryana toll-free for 3 hours tomorrow, from 12 pm to 3 pm.”
• “Day after tomorrow, there will be a tractor parade in every Tehsil, from 12 pm, and on February 18, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers’ and labor organizations. Further decisions will be taken in that meeting,” he added.
• Farmers Should Not Go to Their Farms & Work [there is no work at forms] tomorrow, says Tikait, [has not been asked by protesting farmers]
• “We have called for a ‘Gramin Bharat Bandh’. Farmers should not go to their farms and work tomorrow. Labourers will also go on strike. This will show how many people are participating in the movement,” Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said on the call for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Feb 16.
• Punjab Farmers Stage Protest at Toll Plaza in Patiala: “We are expressing our anger against the atrocities meted out to the farmers who have been stopped at Shambhu Border,” they said.
• Singhu, Tikri Borders remain sealed as farmers’ Stir Enters Day 3, Delhi Police Extra Vigilant
• Two key border points between Delhi and Haryana remain closed for traffic while security personnel in anti-riot gear were deployed at strategic locations in the national capital as farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation entered the third day on Thu.
• While the two borders – Tikri and Singhu — with Haryana remain closed, movement was allowed through the Ghazipur border with Uttar Pradesh under the watch of security personnel.
• According to a senior police officer, the Delhi Police is on extra vigil though the protesting farmers have been stopped by the Haryana Police at the Shambhu border.
• In the central part of Delhi as well, the police have put up barricades on several roads leading to Parliament and other sensitive locations.
• At the Tikri and Singhu borders, the Delhi Police has put in place multiple layers of barricades, barbed wires, and concrete blocks to stop farmers from entering the capital.
• Agitation Will Get Bigger In Coming Days, Says Union Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher
• Here’s what farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said during a press conference at the Shambhu border about their ongoing protest.
• The farmer unions BKU (Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner faction), which have been leading the ongoing protests, are staging a ‘rail roko’ (stop trains) in the state of Punjab between 12 noon and 4 pm on Thu as the protesters geared up to hold a meeting with the cabinet ministers.
• Farm Protesters Petitioner writes to UN Secretary-General. Asks the UN to intervene, The Additional Solicitor General informed the High Court.
• [As reported yesterday, the demands are not made to be fulfilled but to create chaos in the country. Demands are such that no Govt can fulfill them. To increase the incomes of farmers, Govt brought 3 Farms Laws, in 2020, which they have to repeal. Looking at the previous protests, Govt will not allow it to enter Delhi. While protestors welcomed a BBC reporter by saying that ‘they are ours’, beaten an ANI reporter]

Sandeshkhali sex abuse row – Section 144 slapped again despite Calcutta HC order in trouble-hit areas

• The situation remains tense in the violence-hit Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas where the ruling TMC leaders have come under the scanner for allegations of ‘systemic gang rape’ and sexual exploitation of women.
• The authorities on Tue night imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits the gathering of more than 4, at 19 places in the violence-hit Sandeshkhali
• The decision by district administration came after the single-judge bench of Calcutta High Court, earlier in the day, scrapped the order of restrictions under Section 144.
• However, the court had granted liberty to the state authorities to seek a prohibition order in the “exact area of disturbance”.
• No complaints of sexual assault, or torture: Police: The West Bengal police have called the sexual exploitation allegations “wilful misinformation”.
• While the police said no such complaint had been received, some of the victims said they had kept silent out of fear.
• Victims also blamed the police for their involvement.
• “What do you call summoning us at 10 pm under the pretext of a meeting? Touching us whenever they like and wherever they like, pulling our saree? I went through that so many times and I am not alone,” one of the women, in her 20s who was molested. (here)

PM Modi thanks Amir of Qatar for taking care of Indian Community In Qatar

• PM Modi thanked the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for taking care of the over 8 lakh-strong Indian community in Qatar, the MEA stated
• The two leaders met at Amiri Palace in Doha on Thu.
• He also invited the Amir to pay an early visit to India.
• PM Modi conveyed India’s commitment to further expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation with Qatar.
• The PM was given a ceremonial welcome at the Amiri Palace on arrival.
• Thereafter, both sides held delegation-level and restricted talks.
• The discussions covered a wide array, including economic cooperation, investments, energy partnerships, space collaboration, urban infrastructure, cultural bonds, and people-to-people ties.
• PM Modi also met Father Amir, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, in Doha on Thu. (here)

Supreme Court strikes down electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional

• Electoral Bonds: The Supreme Court on Thu struck down as ‘unconstitutional’ the so-called ‘electoral bonds’, in a judgment that ruled that the controversial financial instruments to support political parties can lead to ‘quid pro quo’.
• A five-judge bench of CJI delivered the unanimous verdict on a batch of pleas challenging the legal validity of the Central govt’s scheme.
• The bench stated that the scheme was a violation of the right to information and freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
• The court also asked the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector lender, to stop issuing the controversial financial instruments.
• Electoral bonds were used by individuals and corporations to fund political parties anonymously.
• The SC was looking into several aspects of the constitution about the bonds. (here)

Central Banks of India, Nepal Sign Terms To Link UPI-NPI: RBI

• State-owned Central banks of India and Nepal on Thu signed terms of reference for the integration of the UPI and NPI.
• The Central Bank of India, RBI and Nepal Rastra Bank signed the terms of reference.
• The formal launch of the linkage or commencement of operations will be done at a later date, the Reserve Bank said in a statement.
• The RBI said the collaboration between two in linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI linkage will further deepen financial connectivity and reinforce the enduring historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries.
• Based on the terms of reference exchanged between the RBI and NRB, the necessary systems will be put in place for the interlinking of UPI and Nepal’s NPI (here)

‘Ajit Pawar-Led Faction is Real NCP’: Maharashtra Speaker’s Big Decision on Disqualification Pleas

• In a decision, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thu delivered his verdict on the disqualification petitions filed by the 2 NCP factions against each other and announced that “Ajit Pawar’s faction is the real NCP”.
• The Speaker’s decision was based on the factor of legislative majority.
• Dismissing the petitions to disqualify the MLAs belonging to Ajit Pawar’s camp, the Narwekar said Ajit’s faction substantially outnumbered the Sharad Pawar faction (here)

Hyundai’s $3 billion IPO in India will help it score two goals in one go

• Hyundai Motor’s planned $3 bn IPO in India will help the carmaker score 2 goals in one go: expand in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets and tackle the so-called “Korea discount” that suppresses the value of its business back home.
• Hyundai, India’s 2^nd-biggest carmaker behind Maruti Suzuki with a 15% market share, has appointed bankers for the initial public offering which could be the country’s biggest ever, and Hyundai’s first such listing outside South Korea.
• The India IPO is aimed at accelerating its expansion in a country where it has operated for over 25 years and where its affordable cars are popular with price-conscious Indians.
• The listing will also reduce Hyundai’s need on its parent for funds, giving it the fiscal muscle to take on local rivals such as Tata and chart its growth plans in a market that accounts for 14% of total global sales. (here)

Anti-terror agency NIA arrests 1 in Maharashtra in ISIS module case

• The National Investigation Agency on Thu arrested one terror accused following raids at multiple locations in the Sambhaji Nagar ISIS module case, involving a conspiracy to target vital installations.
• Raids were conducted at the houses of various suspects at nine locations in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra by the NIA teams.
• The officials seized several electronic gadgets and incriminating documents
• The arrested accused has been identified as Mohd Zoheb Khan, against whom a case was registered by the NIA based on inputs that he and his associates had pledged allegiance to the ISIS Khalifa and had planned to target various establishments.
• The anti-terror agency further alleged that the group was also involved in radicalizing and recruiting gullible youth, both physically and over social media, to join ISIS (here)

“No excuse for violence…”: US on attacks against Indian students

• Reacting to recent attacks on Indians in the US, the WH has asserted that there is no excuse for violence based on race, gender, or any other factor and called it unacceptable in the US.
• In response to a question about recent attacks on Indian students and concerns among parents about sending their children to the US, he said.
• “The President and his administration have been working very, very hard to make sure we’re doing everything we can to work with state and local authorities to try to thwart and disrupt those kinds of attacks.”
• The statement comes amid a sudden increase in attacks and deaths of Indians and Indian-Americans in the United States. (here)
• So far, 5 persons have been killed in one month

[neighborhood]

Pakistan: PTI nominates PM and CMs, announces protest movement

• The PTI has put forward its nominations for key political positions, with acting Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan slated for PM, Mian Aslam Iqbal for Punjab CM, Salar Khan for Balochistan CM, and Aqib Ullah Khan for (K-P) Assembly speaker.
• The announcement follows a meeting at Adiala Jail with PTI founder Imran Khan, according to acting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
• Barrister Gohar, while addressing the media outside Adiala Jail, stated that Khan personally nominated the mentioned candidates
• Asserting the party’s commitment to safeguarding the public mandate given to PTI on Feb 8, Gohar emphasized their determination to explore all available options
• Highlighting that PTI had declined power-sharing offers with the PML-N and the PPP, Gohar urged the courts to expedite decisions on over 70 petitions related to election result manipulation. (here)

Pakistan downgraded to ‘authoritarian regime’

• Democratic standards across the world fell in 2023 amid the spread of wars, authoritarian crackdowns, and declining levels of trust in mainstream political parties, the Economist Intelligence Unit said on Thu.
• While the number of countries categorized as democracies increased by 2 last year, the global average index score fell to 5.23 in 2023 from 5.29 the year before, its lowest level since the first study was published in 2006.
• “Today’s wars are concentrated in countries where democracy is absent or in trouble.”
• Western Europe was the only region to improve its score, moving ahead of North America.
• The study said it was the first time that N America has not placed as the world’s highest-scoring region.
• Only 7.8 percent of the global population reside in a “full democracy”, and substantially more than one-third live under authoritarian rule.
• The top three places in the index are occupied by Norway, New Zealand, and Iceland, while the final three countries are North Korea, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. (here)

Pakistan detects Indian Navy of covertly observing naval drill

• Pakistan Navy’s warships and aircraft detected the presence of Indian Navy ships, submarines, and aircraft attempting to covertly observe Exercise Seaspark 2024 and interpret naval war plans, the ISPR said in a statement.
• In response, it added, necessary safeguards were implemented by the Pakistan Navy to safeguard its operational activities and strategic interests.
• According to ISPR, Exercise Seaspark 2024 stands as a hallmark maritime exercise of the Pakistan Navy, conducted biennially to test the operational readiness and coordination between various elements of the navy.
• The exercise is structured around a two-force concept, comprising the blue force (own force) and the orange force (enemy force).
• Through this exercise, the Pakistan Navy aims to simulate wartime procedures, major mobilizations, and complex operations to enhance its operational capabilities. (here)

Chinese Communist Party stealing secrets, harassing students on US campuses

• This week, the Select Committee on the CCP will be in Boston to discuss a difficult truth: for decades, the CCP has exploited the openness of our academic institutions to fuel the PRC’s military modernization and obtain American technology to enhance its repressive surveillance state.
• The Chinese govt is not shy about this. They even have a phrase for it: “picking flowers in foreign lands to make honey in China.“
• These are not empty words. Here is what we have seen the CCP do: The CCP operates nearly 500 foreign talent programs.
• Its members are contractually obligated to return to China with secrets and expertise, gained in foreign universities and labs, to drive military modernization
• According to the Australian Policy Institute, over the past 15 years, China’s PLA “has sponsored over 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study abroad”.
• Michael Pillsbury warns China has placed ‘Trojan horses’ in US infrastructure (here)