1. Election 2024: PM Modi unveils development projects worth Rs 7,200 crore at Sangareddy
2. “Spiritual bridge”: PM Modi on Lord Buddha’s impact over deep-rooted relationship between India, Thailand
3. PM Modi congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on being sworn-in as Pakistan’s PM
4. Strict Sharia Law enforced by ‘Adam Sena’ in villages in Jharkhand, few Muslim women complaint
5. UP cabinet expansion: 2 new BJP ministers, 1 from RLD, SBSP each inducted in UP govt

What Else

• As WB govt moves SC against HC order on Sandeshkhali, CBI team reaches Kolkata to take Shahjahan into custody, back empty-handed
• No Indian troops after May 10: Maldives President Muizzu after military deal with China
• Jaishankar discusses trade and energy cooperation with South Korea Minister Ahn Dukgeun
• India issues advisory for its nationals living in Israel to “relocate to safe areas”
• ‘Two sessions’ 2024: Premier Li Qiang vows China’s ‘new type’ of diplomacy will pursue equality and order
• SCS: China and the Philippines blame each other for latest collision in disputed 2nd Thomas Shoal
• Goldman Sachs Wealth Management CIO’s warning: Don’t invest in China because…
• US reiterates need for Pakistan’s alleged election irregularities to be ‘fully investigated’

——————-

Election 2024: PM Modi unveils development projects worth Rs 7,200 crore at Sangareddy

• PM Modi unveiled various development projects worth Rs 7,200 crore at Sangareddy, Telangana on Tue.
• The projects are related to multiple sectors such as road, rail, petroleum and natural gas.
• The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 3 National Highway projects.
• The 2 NH projects inaugurated by the PM include 4 lanes of the 40 km long Kandi to Ramsanpalle section of NH-161.
• The project is a part of the Indore – Hyderabad Economic Corridor and will facilitate seamless movement between Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The Prime Minister also flagged off the inaugural MMTS Train Service from Ghatkesar – Lingampalli via Moula Ali – Sanathnagar.
• PM also inaugurated the Indian Oil 1212 km Paradip-Hyderabad Product Pipeline.
• The product pipeline with a capacity of 4.5 MMTPA traverses through the states of Odisha (329 km), Andhra Pradesh (723 km) and Telangana (160 km). (here)
• PM Modi to inaugurate India’s first underwater metro service in Kolkata today: PM Modi is set to inaugurate India’s first under-river metro tunnel built in Kolkata on Wed.
• In a development set to transform urban transportation, PM Modi is slated to inaugurate several key metro and rapid transit projects across countries, marking a significant stride towards enhancing urban mobility and connectivity.
• The Kolkata Metro extension, featuring the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade Metro section, includes the first transportation tunnel in India to pass under a major river, representing a critical milestone in the country’s infrastructure development.
• Later in the day, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone, and dedicate and inaugurate various infrastructure-related projects related to rail, road, and petroleum and natural gas worth around Rs. 12,800 crore at Bettiah, West Champaran district in Bihar.
• PM Modi is on 3 visits to Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar from Mar 4 to 6. (here)
• Modi hits out at opposition over RJD chief’s ‘no family’ jibe: Countering the Opposition bloc, PM Modi on Tue elaborated on what a family means to him, saying that leaders of INDI Alliance are interested in living only for their families whereas he prefers to live for every family in India.
• Further sharpening his attack, he said that he has been following the ideology of Nation First, ‘Mera Bharat-Mera Parivaar’.
• Addressing a rally in Odisha Tue, PM Modi said he is engaged in creating a better future for every citizen of the country. (here)
• Rahul Gandhi’s big attack on PM Modi, says ‘PM wants youth to chant Jai Shri Ram, starve to death’: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tue hit out at PM Modi and accused his govt of misleading the youth, saying that the PM wants the young generation to only chant ‘Jai Shri Ram and starve to death’.
• Addressing a gathering in MP’s Shajapur during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi also advocated for the caste-based census and said that conducting the survey would ensure social justice for the people. (here)
• Gangopadhyay says he will join BJP, hours after stepping down as Calcutta HC judge: Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who stepped down as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on Tue announced that he will join the BJP.
• “Maybe on 7^th (Mar) in the afternoon. There is a tentative program, when I will join BJP,” Gangopadhyay said while addressing media persons here on Tue. (here)

“Spiritual bridge”: PM Modi on Lord Buddha’s impact over deep-rooted relationship between India, Thailand

• PM Modi on Tue commended the profound spiritual connection between India and Thailand as nearly a million devotees gathered in Bangkok from Feb 23 to March 3, to pay homage to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples.
• “Almost a million devotees in Thailand paid obeisance to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana in Bangkok from Feb 23 onwards till Mar 3,” tweeted the Indian Embassy. [posted on Mar 5^th]
• This remarkable act of devotion underscores the enduring ties between the two nations.
• PM Modi, in his tweet, further urged devotees to continue their spiritual journey by paying obeisance at upcoming locations where the relics would be enshrined.
• Specifically mentioning Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, and Krabi, Modi’s call reinforces the enduring spiritual bond shared by India and Thailand, transcending geographical boundaries. (here)

PM Modi congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on being sworn-in as Pakistan’s PM

• PM Modi on Tue congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on being sworn in as Pakistan’s PM.
• In a [13 words] post on X, PM Modi stated, “Congratulations to @CMShehbaz on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.”
• PM Modi extended wishes after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif was on Mon sworn in as the 24^th PM of Pakistan. (here)

Strict Sharia Law enforced by ‘Adam Sena’ in villages in Jharkhand, few Muslim women complaint

• In various villages of Ramgarh district, JH some youths belonging to the Muslim community have formed an organization in the name of Adam Sena.
• With the help of this, they are arbitrarily treating the people of the area.
• They were forbidden to talk to people of other communities, women were asked to cover themselves and if they did not agree, strict action was being taken.
• If we talk to Hindus… Adam Sena is committing atrocities in the name of Sharia law, they are molesting Muslim girls by entering their houses.
• Adam Sena said – Sharia law prevails among us, we do not accept administrative action.
• The organization has spread its wings in Dulmi, Chitarpur and Ramgarh blocks, Sharia is being imposed on Muslim girls.
• In various villages of Ramgarh district, some youths belonging to the Muslim community have formed an organization in the name of Adam Sena.
• The youths involved in Adam Sena were forcibly imposing Sharia law on Muslim girls.
• The organization is taking immediate action against women and girls for talking to Hindus or not wearing a burqa. (here)

UP cabinet expansion: 2 new BJP ministers, 1 from RLD, SBSP each inducted in UP govt

• 4 new ministers including SBSP chief OP Rajbhar, and RLD MLA Anil Kumar were inducted into the UP cabinet on Tue.
• On Mar 2, RLD joined the NDA
• 2 BJP leaders, Dara Singh Chauhan and Sunil Kumar Sharma also took oath as ministers in the State cabinet at a swearing-in ceremony in Raj Bhawan.
• The SBSP has 6 MLAs and fought the 2022 UP Assembly elections in alliance with the opposition SP but the relationship soured later. (here)

As WB govt moves SC against HC order on Sandeshkhali, CBI team reaches Kolkata to take Shahjahan into custody, back empty-handed

• West Bengal CID refuses to handover Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan to CBI
• Hand over Shahjahan Sheikh to CBI today: High Court to Bengal Govt: The HC on Tue handed custody of Sheikh Shahjahan – the former TMC strongman accused of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali – to the CBI.
• Bengal Police have till 4.30 pm to hand over Shahjahan and all relevant case materials.
• A High Court bench led by CJ set aside an earlier order setting up a special investigative team – of CBI and state police officials – and transferred the case to the central agency.
• Both the ED and the state moved separate challenges to that order; the ED wanted the case to be given to the CBI only, while the state wanted the police to handle the probe.
• Shahjahan had been on the run since Jan 5, when a team of ED officials was attacked by a mob of his supporters while en route to conduct raids.
• On the run for 55 days, Shahjahan was finally arrested by a special police team and suspended from the Trinamool for 6 years.
• His arrest came 3 days after the High Court ordered his arrest. (here)

No Indian troops after May 10: Maldives President Muizzu after military deal with China

• Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has once again declared that Indian military personnel will not be present in the island nation after May 10, as per a local portal.
• “There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing….I state this with confidence,” he said in line with anti-India rhetoric
• Muizzu’s remarks come on a day when the Maldives signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid.
• The Muizzu said that people who spread false rumors are trying to twist the situation.
• The comment after the opposition started criticizing the Muizzu govt that the Indian personnel sent to Maldives as civilians are in reality military officials out of uniform.
• A civilian team from India reached Maldives on Feb 28 to take charge of 1 of the 3 aviation platforms, ahead of the Mar 10 deadline agreed by the two nations. (here)

Jaishankar discusses trade and energy cooperation with South Korea Minister Ahn Dukgeun

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tue held a meeting with South Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Dukgeun in Seoul.
• The two leaders held discussions on trade and economic cooperation between India and S Korea.
• EAM, who is on a 2-day visit to S Korea, also met think tank representatives of S Korea.
• He stated that exchanges will only increase as the convergences between the two rise.
• “India-South Korea partnership can emerge as significant factor in Indo-Pacific”: EAM

Highlighting India’s robust manufacturing and tech development, EAM S Jaishankar said that the rising efficiencies of the country are on offer to Korean businesses.

• He also emphasized the growing responsibility of New Delhi and Seoul in reshaping the global order, adding that the cooperation can emerge significant in the Indo-Pacific.
• He highlighted India’s recovery from Covid and the growth of start-up and unicorns in the country, adding that New Delhi is poised to become the 3^rd-largest economy.
• The EAM also pointed out that the two countries need to have more political discussions, strategic conversations, and business and technology interactions. (here)
• After concluding his visit to S Korea, Jaishankar will travel to Japan from Mar 6-8 for the 16^th India-Japan FMs Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Yoko Kamikawa.
• The two are expected to discuss issues of bilateral, regional, and global importance, and exchange views on cooperation for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, according to MEA.
• MEA said, “India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership has further deepened in the last decade in areas such as defense and digital technologies, semiconductor supply chains, clean energy, high-speed rail, industrial competitiveness, and connectivity. EAM’s visit and meetings in Tokyo will provide strategic guidance to our functional cooperation in these areas.” (here)

India issues advisory for its nationals living in Israel to “relocate to safe areas”

• India on Tue issued an advisory for its nationals living in the border areas of Israel to relocate to safer areas within the country due to prevailing situations.
• The Indian embassy in Israel said in an official statement, “All Indian nationals in Israel, especially those working in or visiting border areas in the north and south, are advised to relocate to safe areas within Israel. The Embassy remains in touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals“.
• The advisory comes after a man from Kerala working in Israel was killed and 2 other Indian citizens were injured in N Israel following a terror strike by Hezbollah on Mon.
• Additionally, Indian authorities have also issued an emergency helpline number (+972-35226748) and an email address (cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in).
• Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon today said that he has spoken with the relatives of the deceased Indian and reassured his country’s support. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

‘Two sessions’ 2024: Premier Li Qiang vows China’s ‘new type’ of diplomacy will pursue equality and order

• China has pledged to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and stand firm against [“other”] “bullying” and “hegemonism” as priorities in diplomacy this year.

[What remains then in Chinese diplomacy?]

• While delivering his first work report on Tue, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who took office a year ago, recommitted China to an independent foreign policy.
• “We call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and we are committed to promoting a new type of international relations,” Li told nearly 3,000 national legislators in Beijing.
• Premier Li delivers his 1^st work report amid concerns about the state of the economy
• Premier Li Qiang sets a GDP target of around 5% for the year.
• “We will remain firm in opposing all hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts and upholding international fairness and justice,” Li annual gathering of the NPC.
• The remarks of Li echoed the Central Conference on Foreign Affairs Work in late Dec.
• China’s rise, exemplified by the size of its GDP, was thought to be inevitable.
• While the total spending would be slightly shy of the pre-pandemic peak of 61.539 bn yuan in 2019, it marks a notable increase compared to Beijing slashing its diplomacy budget by 11.8% in 2020 and 1.9% in 2021 before a 2.4% boost in 2022. (here)
• China increases its defense budget 7.2% as it pushes for global heft: China on Tue increased its def budget by 7.2% to $232 bn as it continues with the massive upgrading of its military amid tensions over Taiwan, the SCS, and border frictions with India.
• China, which is the 2^nd highest spender on defense after the US, has allocated $232 bn for defense spending, the same as last year in terms of percentage.
• China last year hiked its defense budget by 7.2% to $225 bn, marking the 8^th consecutive year of increase in its military spending.
• Like its previous budgets, this year’s defense budget of China was almost 3 times higher than that of India ($74.8 bn). (here)

SCS: China and the Philippines blame each other for latest collision in disputed 2^nd Thomas Shoal

• China has accused the Philippine coastguard of “deliberately” ramming Chinese ships following a collision near a disputed reef in the South China Sea on Tue morning.
• Manila blamed the incident near the Philippine-held 2^nd Thomas Shoal on China’s “reckless and illegal” behavior
• [The Philippine govt’s task force for the West Philippine Sea says “dangerous blocking maneuvers by a China Coast Guard vessel… caused a minor collision resulting in superficial structural damage to the hull” of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
• The force also says another China Coast Guard vessel “caused a minor collision” with a supply boat, as 2 CCG vessels “simultaneously deployed water cannons… shattering the windshield” of the supply boat and “causing minor injuries” to at least 4 crew members.]
• Chinese coastguard spox Gan Yu said the Philippines had “violated its commitments and deliberately sent 2 coastguard ships and 2 supply ships” to the area.
• Gan claimed the Philippine vessel “ignored China’s repeated warnings, violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and deliberately rammed into China’s coastguard vessel”.
• “The China Coast Guard is always ready to resolutely respond to any infringement and provocation at any time, and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Gan said. (here)
• China is in dispute in the SCS with several sovereign states, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
• China also doesn’t accept the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruled against the PRC’s maritime claims in the South China Sea Arbitration in 2016.

Goldman Sachs Wealth Management CIO’s warning: Don’t invest in China because…

• China’s big stock-market declines are not crucial indicators of whether investment should be made in the country, the chief investment officer of Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s wealth-management business said as per Bloomberg.
• Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani said, “All our clients are asking us that question — given how cheap China appears, people inevitably say, well, has it discounted the worst news? Our view is that one should not invest in China.”
• Citing reasons, she said that there are expectations for a steady slowdown in the economy over the next decade as the country’s property market, infra, and exports are struggling amid a lack of economic data.
• The comments come as China has focussed on information security putting curbs on data availability outside the country.
• The statistics bureau also suspended for a time some unemployment figures and Beijing discontinued a decades-long tradition of annual press briefings at a key gathering.
• She said, “It is not clear what the overall general direction of policy will be long term. Policy uncertainties generally put a little bit of a cap on the equity market.” (here)

US reiterates need for Pakistan’s alleged election irregularities to be ‘fully investigated’

• The US State Department on Tue urged the newly elected govt in Pakistan to hold a thorough investigation into alleged electoral irregularities in the country.
• During a news briefing on Tue, the department’s spox reiterated the White House’s commitment to working with the new Pakistani govt.
• “There was a competitive election in Pakistan; millions of people made their voices heard,” the US official said, adding: “A new government has been formed, and we will, of course, work with that govt.”
• However, he recognized “there were reported irregularities, and there have been challenges brought by political parties to the results. We want to see those challenges, those irregularities fully investigated.”
• Miller underlined Washington’s commitment to freedom of expression in Pakistan and condemned any govt-imposed shutdowns of internet platforms. (here)