1. Foreign Countries also know “Aayega Toh Modi Hi”: PM at key BJP Meet
2. INSAT-3DS mission success: INSAT series can image India every 12.5 minutes
3. Farmers Protest Day 6: “We’ll continue with ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Feb 21 if…”: Farmer leader after meeting with ministers; Haryana govt extends ban on mobile internet services
4. Phones, spy cam found in Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh’s jail cell in Assam

What Else

• Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link of Banihal-Sangaldan section to open on Feb 20
• ‘You should admire me’: MEA Jaishankar’s sassy response on India’s diplomatic multipolarity
• Key US official warns India, Bangladesh of ‘increasing’ Indo-Pacific issues
• Greek PM set for State visit to India, first in 15 years
• Russia turns to India to source banana, APEDA Chairman flags off consignment
• Man arrested with 4 time bombs in UP’s Muzaffarnagar
• Ten killed in explosion at Tamil Nadu fireworks unit
• India says UNSC’s permanent-5 members override collective voice of 188 countries
• Pakistan: Social media X restricted for 24 hours amid reports of election fraud: Netblocks
• PTI strikes alliance with Sunni Ittehad Council, vows to form govt
• Mainland China coastguard to mount regular patrols where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase

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Foreign Countries also know “Aayega Toh Modi Hi“: PM at key BJP Meet

• PM Modi Sun reasserted that his party BJP will return to power in general elections, a win that will ensure a comfortable 3^rd term for him.
• He said that even foreign countries know that “aayega toh Modi hi (Modi will return”).
• Addressing the BJP national convention in Delhi, the PM said, “The elections are yet to happen but I already have invitations from foreign countries for Jul, Aug, and Sept. What does this imply?”
• He told the BJP leaders and workers who gathered at Bharat Mandapam for the key party meeting that the next 100 days are very crucial.
• The PM, citing Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “ab ki paar, 400 paar” gaffe in the Parliament, said, “Today, even opposition leaders are chanting slogans of the NDA government crossing the 400-mark.”
• The BJP is holding the two-day convention as part of its preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. (here)

INSAT-3DS mission success: INSAT series can image India every 12.5 minutes

• With at least 2 INSAT series (INSAT-3DR and INSAT 3DS) sats at an altitude of about 36k km above the Equator, India’s weather-monitoring agencies will have the ability to image the subcontinent every 12.5 min.
• The launch of the latest generation INSAT-3DS on Sat will enhance weather prediction and disaster warning capabilities.
• The satellite will have a wide coverage and capability to monitor atmospheric and oceanic parameters across the Indian subcontinent and the larger Indian Ocean region.
• The GSLV-F14 rocket, which took INSAT-3DS to the sky has overperformed.
• It has taken the satellite to an altitude of 38k km above, which means that the satellite has been imparted higher energy and it would thus be gradually lowered to a 36k km orbit. (here)

Farmers Protest Day 6: “We’ll continue with ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Feb 21 if…”: Farmer leader after meeting with Union ministers; Haryana govt extends ban on mobile internet services

• After the 4^th round of talks, leader of Punjab KMSC Committee Sarvan Singh asserted that the farmers will continue to move forward with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Feb 21 adding that the discussion will also be held on the proposal by the govt on MSP.
• He further said that the govt and farmers’ unions would try to find a solution
• Meanwhile, a farmer leader said that the govt has given us a proposal, which will be supervised and managed by two government agencies.
• Dallewal further said that we had a detailed discussion on our (farmers’) demands during the fourth round of talks with the govt.
• Earlier, Union Minister Piyush Goyal asserted that they had a very positive and extensive discussion with representatives of farmers adding that the farmer leaders will announce their decision on the govt proposals by tomorrow.
• Farmers from Punjab, “Haryana, and other parts of North India” continued their protests on Sun as their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, called by the SKM (Non-Pol) and the KMM, entered Day 6.  (here)
• The agitating farmers have sought an ordinance on giving a legal guarantee to MSP, one of their key demands, ahead of their 4^th round of discussions with the Centre.
• 3 Union Mins will meet with farmer leaders in Chandigarh for the 4^th round of talk to resolve the ongoing farmers’ protest.
• The two sides met earlier on Feb 8, 12, and 15 but those talks remained inconclusive.
• Over 200 farmers’ unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, are taking part in the march to press the Centre. (here)
• Haryana govt on Sat extended the suspension of mobile internet services in 7 districts by two more days.
• The affected districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. 
• “The govt has asked for some time and said that it will discuss the matter with the ministers and find a solution to it,” the committee’s Gen Sec Pandher said on Sun (here)

Phones, spy cam found in Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh’s jail cell in Assam

• In a major security breach reported from Dibrugarh Jail in Assam, where separatist leader, Amritpal Singh, and his associates are currently lodged, several unauthorized activities were detected in the National Security Act (NSA) cell.
• The state police chief confirmed on X on Sun
• Multiple unauthorized items, including a spy camera, a smartphone, a keypad phone, pen drives, Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and a smartwatch were recovered.
• An investigation was underway to determine their source.
• Radical preacher Amritpal Singh was arrested by Punjab police on Apr 23 from Moga’s Rode village after days of a man-hunt when he finally surrendered.
• 9 of Amritpal’s close aides, including Papalpreet Singh and Daljeet Singh Kalsi, are also in the same jail. (here)

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link of Banihal-Sangaldan section to open on Feb 20

• The Indian Railways will start train services on the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section, a 48.1-km-long segment of the country’s most ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, on Feb 20.
• According to sources in the railways, PM Modi is likely to inaugurate the section by virtually flagging off a train from Sangaldan.
• The USBRL project seeks to integrate the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu and the national rail network, spanning a total length of 272 km out of which 161 km have already been commissioned.
• The Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section, which was constructed at a cost of ₹15,863 crore, is ready for operation and the existing train services from Baramulla to Banihal will now be extended up to Sangaldan.
• It features 16 bridges – 11 major, 4 minor ones, and one road overbridge.
• More than 90% of this section is in tunnels, with a total of 11 tunnels covering 43.37 km, including the country’s longest transportation tunnel, T-50, stretching 12.77 km
• For safety and rescue, there are 3 escape tunnels with a combined length of 30.1 km.
• Additionally, the section includes 30 curves spanning 23.72 km. (here)

 ‘You should admire me’: MEA Jaishankar’s sassy response on India’s diplomatic multipolarity

• External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar on Sat said that it’s difficult to have unidimensional relationships in the contemporary world as he repeated New Delhi’s stand over buying Russian oil despite the Western sanctions
• Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich security conference, Jaishankar said that India buying Russian oil should not be a problem for others.
• “Is that a problem, why should that be a problem? If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me. Is that a problem for others,” he asked with US Secy Blinken and German FM Annalena Baerbock beside him.
• While highlighting the history of New Delhi’s ties with Moscow and Washington, Jaishankar said that India’s relations are not “
• The 60^th MSC got underway with an in-person event from Feb 16-18, at its traditional venue. (here)
• EAM Jaishankar, Bangladesh PM Hasina held meeting in Munich: Jaishankar-Bangladesh PM Meet, PM Hasina called for increasing trade between the 2 countries using national currencies- Taka and Indian Rupee.
• ‘Decoupling from China will only backfire on US itself,’ Wang holds ‘frank’ talk with Blinken: Washington should lift sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals, and that attempts to de-couple from China would only hurt the US, China’s FM Wang Yi told Secy Blinken on the sidelines of MSC.
• Washington has imposed sanctions on various Chinese companies that it accuses of working with China’s military despite denials from the firms.
• U.S. sanctions have also been imposed on individuals and entities over alleged human rights abuses in the Chinese region of Xinjiang.
• The exchanges between the two men were “frank, substantial and constructive“, the ministry said in the statement released on Sat (here)

Key US official warns India, Bangladesh of ‘increasing’ Indo-Pacific issues

• Donald Lu, US Asstt Secy for South and Central Asia, has hailed Sri Lanka as an example of the success of the admin’s Indo-Pacific strategy in collaboration with partners such as India but warned both Delhi and Dhaka that the security situation born out of the Rohingya refugee crisis and the general instability in Myanmar will worsen and continue to have implications for neighbors.
• India is historically the big player in the Indian Ocean. We are having interesting talks, and will launch talks on Africa with India later this month, says Lu
• Lu also said that he told Male during a recent visit that China would be a good partner to the country only if Beijing knew and faced “real competition” from others
• He also accepted the Indian leadership of the IOR, pointing to the imminent discussions between India and the US on what they can do together in littoral states in Africa.
• The State Department’s top official on the South Asia desk said that this turnaround happened “with a little help from friends”.
• Myanmar-induced challenges: When asked about the friction in the region, Lu briefly referred to the India-China border conflict and the “historic, deep-seated conflict” between India and Pakistan but said he spent a lot of time on the implications of the Myanmar situation on the South Asian region. (here)

Greek PM set for State visit to India, first in 15 years

• At the invitation of PM Modi, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece will pay a State visit to India from Feb 21-22, the MEA announced.
• This would be the 1^st bilateral Head of State level visit from Greece to India after 15 years after 2008.
• The then Greek PM, Kostas Karamanlis, was accompanied by FM Dora Bakoyannis, in his Jan 2008 visit.
• Meanwhile, Mitsotakis will be accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation and will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 9^th  Raisina Dialogue, 2024 in New Delhi.
• He will also visit Mumbai before returning to Athens.
• India-Greece relations have been elevated to ‘Strategic Partnership’ during PM Modi’s visit to Greece in Aug 2023.
• Post-visit, PM Modi said his Greece tour will add momentum to India-Greece friendship, particularly people-to-people linkages.
• India and Greece have witnessed frequent engagements with EAM Jaishankar meeting Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias on Sun itself. (here)

Russia turns to India to source banana, APEDA Chairman flags off consignment

• India, the world’s largest producer of bananas, has swiftly moved to take advantage of the space created by Ecquador in the Russian market as a Mumbai-based exporter has sent a consignment of 20 tonnes of bananas to Russia via sea route.
• Gurukrupa Corporation, the Mumbai-based exporter of fruits and vegetables, has been regularly exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU and the Middle East markets.
• It procures bananas directly from farmers of Andhra, the largest producer.
• After harvesting, the bananas are brought to an APEDA-approved packhouse in Maharashtra where those got graded, sorted, packed, boxed, and stuffed in containers.
• Sea protocol: In the case of current shipment, the container was transported to JNPT for a further voyage to Novorossiysk port, for the final destination to Moscow. (here)
• India’s export share in the global market is only 1% whereas it accounts for 26.45% of the world’s production (35.36 million tonnes).
• India had exported 0.36 million tonnes bananas, worth $ 176 million in 2022-23. (here)

Man arrested with 4 time bombs in UP’s Muzaffarnagar

• The Meerut unit of the STF arrested Javed Ahmad, an expert in making bombs from material collected in local markets, from Muzaffarnagar on Fri morning and recovered 4-time bombs from his possession.
• Javed made the bombs on the direction of a woman, Imrana, of Shamli district, after receiving an advance of ₹10,000 of the total ₹50,000 that she promised to pay him.
• Sleuths arrested him from near Kali River after a tip-off by informers and recovered four bombs kept in a shoe box from his bag.
• Javed told the police that his job was to make bombs and that Imrana might know where these were to be used.
• The police were now looking for the woman to know about her network and what they were planning to do with these bombs.
• The matter was reported to the Intelligence Bureau and Anti-Terrorism Squad. (here)
• Imrana was planning to create unrest in India to protest the implementation of the CAA.
• In addition to radicalizing individuals, Imrana was reportedly instrumental in the production and distribution of bombs. (here)

Ten killed in explosion at Tamil Nadu fireworks unit

• 9 people were killed after an explosion at a fireworks unit under the Vembakottai police station limits in the Virudhnagar area, in Tamil Nadu on Sat, including 4 women.
• CM M K Stalin directed 2 ministers to coordinate the rescue and relief activities.
• PM Modi expressed condolence and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased.
• The mishap occurred around 12.30 pm on Sat in the chemical mixing room of the firecracker-making unit in the village (here)

India says UNSC’s permanent-5 members override collective voice of 188 countries

• India on Fri questioned for how long the will of 5 permanent members of the UNSC will continue to override the collective voice of the world org’s188 member states.
• India’s Permanent Rep at the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, speaking at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGNs) on SC on Fri, said that “equity” must be the cornerstone of global efforts to reform the 15-nation UN body. (here)

[Neighborhood]

Pakistan: Social media X restricted for 24 hours amid reports of election fraud: Netblocks

• Netblocks has stated that its metrics show that X has been restricted in Pakistan for 24 hours, “the latest and longest in a series of nation-scale internet censorship measures imposed by authorities as reports of election fraud emerge”.
• A day earlier Netblocks- an Internet monitor- had reported a nationwide disruption to X “amid escalating unrest and protests over allegations of election fraud, following a high-level resignation and public admission”
• The development had come after Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali accused [after resigning from his post] the Election Commission and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa of involvement in ‘rigging’ — a claim denied by the electoral watchdog and the top judge.
• Earlier today, the director of Bolo Bhi, an advocacy forum for digital rights, Usama Khilji said that X was inaccessible for many except via select VPNs. (here)
• PTI calls for a judicial commission to probe ex-Rawalpindi commissioner’s rigging revelations: The PTI on Sunday demanded the formation of a judicial commission to probe the rigging allegations made by the former Rawalpindi commissioner. (here)

PTI strikes alliance with Sunni Ittehad Council, vows to form govt

• 2 days after it decided to sit on the opposition benches and launch a countrywide campaign against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 elections, the PTI on Sun renewed its efforts to form govts in the Centre, Punjab, and KP with the help of a new partner, SIC
• In KP, the talks between the PTI-Parliamentarians are stalled, after the PTI demanded the removal of certain leaders, including ex-CMs Pervez Khattak and Mahmood Khan from the party.
• However, on Sun, PTI leaders vowed to form govts, with its PM slot candidate Omar Ayub saying that 30 mn votes were polled for PTI-backed candidates even without its electoral symbol of ‘bat’.
• New partner in Centre: To boost its numbers in parliament, the PTI after talks in Islamabad decided in principle to become partners with the SIC in the National and Punjab assemblies to claim seats reserved for women and minorities. (here)

Mainland China coastguard to mount regular patrols where 2 fishermen died after Taiwan chase

• PRC coastguard have pledged to regularly patrol the waters near Quemoy, a Taiwan-controlled group of islands also known as Kinmen.
• This comes days after Beijing condemned Taiwan over the deaths of 2 Chinese fishermen whose boat capsized during a chase by Taiwan’s patrol vessels near Quemoy.
• In a statement on its website on Sun, the PRC coastguard said its Fujian bureau would carry out regular patrols and inspections in waters between Xiamen and Taiwan to strengthen maritime law enforcement.
• Fujian province’s port city of Xiamen lies just a few nautical miles from Quemoy, a defense outpost of Taiwan and its nearest point to the mainland.
• The regular patrols aimed to “maintain operational order in sea areas and safeguard fishermen’s lives and property”, the statement said.
• Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office– which oversees cross-strait ties – said it had taken note of the coastguard’s move. (here)
• “Will continue to enforce law on…”: Taiwan rejects China’s criticisms over Kinmen incident: Taiwan rejected Beijing’s criticism of the Taiwanese Coast Guard’s handling of a case near Kinmen that left two Chinese fishermen dead and said that Taipei will continue to “enforce the law in waters it controls”.
• Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council — which is a top govt agency in charge of cross-strait affairs — stated on Sun that the govt will continue “to enforce the law in the waters it controls” based on the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area. (here)
• China’s claim that the waters between Taiwan’s Kinmen archipelago and China’s Xiamen are not a restricted area is a tactic of Beijing employing “grey zone” to ratchet up pressure against Taipei.
• A research fellow at the INDSR told CNA on Sun that the once-held tacit understanding between China and Taiwan that the waters around Kinmen, Matsu, and other outlying islands are “restricted” or “prohibited” appeared to be broken. (here)