SACHIN PILOT READY TO WALK OUT

In what appears to be a showdown by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot almost 18 months after Congress returned to power in the state, his office on Sunday claimed that the Ashok Gehlot-led government was reduced to a minority after over 30 Congress and some independent legislators pledged support to Pilot.

Pilot has remained incommunicado for the past two days, and some legislators backing him also stayed put in the National Capital Region. He was inactive on social media too, and did not respond to calls or text messages by Congress leaders. His silence, however, fueled speculation in New Delhi over his next course of action. When asked if he was joining the BJP, Pilot said, “I am not joining the BJP.”

With the political crisis escalating, the Congress party rushed Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala to Jaipur along with General Secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Avinash Pande.

The Gehlot camp, however, dismissed the claims made by Pilot’s office as “fake” and “rumours”. “His office can run anything. We will consider it official when he himself comes forward and makes the claim. Tomorrow he can distance himself from the claims made by his office,” said a Congress leader close to Gehlot.

A close aide of Pilot said, he was cut up with the notice sent to him by the Rajasthan Police. “A notice was issued to him under 124 B, which is sedition, and 120 A. Have you heard of any chief minister of an elected government issuing such a notice to the party President and Deputy CM…What if Pilot had been the Home Minister of the state and had issued such a notice to the Chief Minister? The Chief Minister would have dismissed him straight away,” a Congress state leader close to Pilot said.

“This notice is basically issued just to show the world that the Chief Minister can do whatever he wants and that he can discredit, humiliate, allege and treat the party president and Deputy CM as a non-entity. It is being done primarily to put him under surveillance legally and cause stress,” the leader said.

NEPAL URGES INDIA TO CHECK ‘FAKE’ BROADCASTS

Nepal has sent a ‘diplomatic note’ to India, urging New Delhi to take steps against the broadcast of materials what it called “fake, baseless and insensitive as well as abusive” to the country and its leadership by a section of the Indian media. The move came days after Nepal on Thursday stopped the transmission of all Indian private news channels except Doordarshan, accusing them of airing reports hurting the country’s national sentiment.

There was no immediate reaction from India on the issue.

The ill-intentioned “smearing campaign unleashed by a section of Indian media has deeply hurt the feelings of Nepali people and persona of Nepali leadership,” read the note. It requested the Indian authorities to take measures against these obscene materials on Nepal by a section of the Indian media and make sure that such materials do not find space in the media.

CHINA OUR REAL OPPONENT, NOT PAK, PAWAR TELLS SAAMNA

The border dispute with China should be resolved through negotiations and not military action, said NCP president Sharad Pawar in an interview that appeared in Saamna on Sunday.

He said an offensive strategy will entail a big price and the vexatious border issue should be brought to an amicable end through talks.

“Pakistan is not our real tension, it is China, which is our real opponent,” the NCP supremo said and added that India should use diplomatic channels and try to exert pressure on China through other countries and the United Nations.

Pawar, who held the defence portfolio in the Narasimha Rao regime in the 1990s, on Saturday became the first leader from a party other than the Shiv Sena to be interviewed in its mouthpiece.

“India’s military strength is just 1:10 against China. We cannot have direct war at a combat level with them considering our military, naval, air wing, and arms-ammunition,” he said.

He said India’s relations with neighbours had worsened over the years and China had been assiduously wooing India’s neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Pawar said: “China has seen to it that our neighbours turn away from us. Pakistan was always with them, Nepal has distanced itself from us. India did all it could to create Bangladesh. However, they now are with China. The fractured ties with neighbours is a contribution of the recent past.”

INDIA PROCURING 72,000 ASSAULT RIFLES FROM US

The Indian Army is fast-tracking the procurement of 72,000 Sig Sauer assault rifles for its troops from the United States as part of infantry modernisation, people familiar with the development said on Sunday.

The procurement is taking place at a time the Army is engaged in a tense border row with Chinese PLA in eastern Ladakh.

The Army is implementing a mega infantry modernisation programme under which a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines and assault rifles are being purchased to replace its ageing and obsolete weapons.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD – (Nos. IN INDIA / Nos. WORLDWIDE)

(Indian data from covid19india / and World Data from worldometers.info/coronavirus/ )

Total Cases 8,79,084 (+29,108) / 1,30,36,550 (+1,94,514)

Total Deaths 23,187 (+500) / 5,71,574 (+3,925)

Total Recovered 5,54,429 (+18,198) / 75,82,091 (+1,03,911)

Active Cases 3,01,468 (+10,410) / 48,82,885 (+86,678)

TOP IMPACTED NATIONS SO FAR: (AND SOME OF INDIA’S NEIGHBOURS)

Country, Total Cases / Total Deaths / Recovered Cases / Active Cases

1 USA 34,13,995 / 1,37,782 / 15,17,084 / 17,59,129

2 Brazil 18,66,176 / 72,151 / 12,13,512 / 5,80,513

3 India 8,79,466 / 23,187 / 5,54,429 / 3,01,850

4 Russia 7,27,162 / 11,335 / 5,01,061 / 2,14,766

5 Peru 3,26,326 / 11,870 / 2,17,111 / 97,345

6 Chile 3,15,041 / 6,979 / 2,83,902 / 24,160

7 Spain 3,00,988 / 28,403 / N/A / N/A

8 Mexico 2,99,750 / 35,006 / 1,84,764 / 79,980

9 UK 2,89,603 / 44,819 / N/A / N/A

10 South Africa 2,76,242 / 4,079 / 1,34,874 / 1,37,289

11 Iran 2,57,303 / 12,829 / 2,19,993 / 24,481

12 Pakistan 2,48,872 / 5,197 / 1,56,700 / 86,975

17 Bangladesh 1,83,795 / 2,352 / 93,614 / 87,829

107 Sri Lanka 2,617 / 11 / 1,981 / 625

TOP IMPACTED INDIAN STATES SO FAR

State / Confirmed Cases / Active Case / Recovered / Deceased

Maharashtra 2,54,427 / 1,03,516 / 1,40,325 / 10,289

Tamil Nadu 1,38,470 / 46,972 / 89,532 / 1,966

Delhi 1,12,494 / 19,155 / 89,968 / 3,371

Gujarat 41,906 / 10,662 / 29,198 / 2,046

Karnataka 38,843 / 22,742 / 15,411 / 686

Uttar Pradesh 36,476 / 12,208 / 23,334 / 934

Telangana 34,671 / 11,833 / 22,482 / 356

West Bengal 30,013 / 10,500 / 18,581 / 932

Andhra Pradesh 29,168 / 13,428 / 15,412 / 328

Rajasthan 24,392 / 5,779 / 18,103 / 510

Haryana 21,240 / 4,956 / 15,983 / 301

Madhya Pradesh 17,632 / 4,103 / 12,876 / 653

Assam 16,807 / 5,868 / 10,895 / 41

Bihar 16,305 / 4,227 / 11,953 / 125

Odisha 13,121 / 4,287 / 8,750 / 84

Jammu and Kashmir 10,513 / 4,355 / 5,979 / 179

Kerala 7,874 / 3,743 / 4,095 / 32

Punjab 7,821 / 2,230 / 5,392 / 199

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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DONALD TRUMP GIVES IN, FINALLY WEARS MASK IN PUBLIC AS COVID CASES RISE GLOBALLY

President Donald Trump finally wore a mask, in public, during a visit to a military hospital Saturday, falling in line with the recommendations of his public health officials and experts.

“I’ve never been against masks, but I do believe they have a time and a place,” Trump told reporters shortly before leaving the White House for the Walter Reed military hospital just outside Washington DC in the adjoining state Maryland.

Trump’s grudging capitulation came under mounting pressure from his aides, allies and critics – he had refused to wear a mask in public — he did say he wore it once, out of public view though — triggering a political war about facial coverings, with many conservatives around the country following his lead. Many Republican-ruled states had refused to make it mandatory — such as Texas — until recently, when it was hit by a brutal spike.

Trump had refused to wear masks in public interactions at the White House and outside, disregarding urgent appeals. He and his campaign had even mocked Joe Biden, his presumptive Democratic rival for the White House in November, for wearing one.

UK-CHINA TIES FREEZE WITH DEBATE OVER HUAWEI, HONG KONG

Only five years ago, then-British Prime Minister David Cameron was celebrating a "golden era" in U.K.-China relations, bonding with President Xi Jinping over a pint of beer at the pub and signing off on trade deals worth billions.

Those friendly scenes now seem like a distant memory.

Hostile rhetoric has ratcheted up in recent days over Beijing's new national security law for Hong Kong. Britain's decision to offer refuge to millions in the former colony was met with a stern telling-off by China. And Chinese officials have threatened "consequences" if Britain treats it as a "hostile country" and decides to cut Chinese technology giant Huawei out of its critical telecoms infrastructure amid growing unease over security risks.

All that is pointing to a much tougher stance against China, with a growing number in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party taking a long, hard look at Britain's Chinese ties. Many are saying Britain has been far too complacent and naive in thinking it could reap economic benefits from the relationship without political consequences.

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CONG LEADERS HEAR WAKE-UP CALL, HOPE LEADERSHIP LISTENS

The crisis threatening the Congress government in Rajasthan, just four months after the party let Madhya Pradesh slip from its grasp, has once again underlined the leadership vacuum in the party and how its sense of drift is deepening faultlines within: old versus young, second-generation leaders versus those who rose through the ranks.

On Sunday, the party’s top leaders appeared divided on what led to the latest clash between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his Deputy Sachin Pilot, but they were united in asking the high command to “wake up” and “save the government” — a recurring theme ever since Rahul Gandhi walked away from the top post last year, leaving Sonia Gandhi holding interim charge.

The disquiet within can be gauged from an unusual tweet by party loyalist, senior leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal. “Worried for our party. Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables?” he wrote.

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was more circumspect. “I passionately believe that our country needs a genuinely liberal party headed by centrist professionals committed to inclusive politics and respectful of India’s pluralism. All who believe in the founding values of the Republic must work to strengthen @INCIndia not undermine it,” he tweeted.

Without referring to the crisis, Karthi P Chidambaram, Sivaganga MP and son of former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram, tweeted: “Why is @Google a successful company? Because it lets talent to become entrepreneurial within the organisation. Lessons to be learnt here.”

And yet, what summed up the party’s predicament was a tweet from the man who had pulled the plug on its government in Madhya Pradesh. “Sad to see my erstwhile colleague, @SachinPilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan CM… Shows that talent and capability find little credence in the @INCIndia,” posted Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is now a prominent BJP face.

Several leaders agreed that the leadership vacuum is adding to problems. Former Law Minister M Veerappa Moily and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said the high command should step in immediately.

“It is deeply unfortunate that we seem to have learnt little from the Madhya Pradesh catastrophe. Since the Lok Sabha defeat in 2019, we have meekly surrendered Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, and allowed our state units in Gujarat, etc., to weaken. It is imperative that the Rajasthan crisis is resolved at the earliest,” said Sanjay Jha, who was removed as party spokesperson last month after warning in an article that the party was facing “political obsolescence”.

However, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi struck a restrained note. “This is the time for balance, restraint and sobriety. Differences inevitably exist but the cause of the party is always larger. I have no doubt that this turbulence will not last,” he said.

MORE CITIES TO COME UNDER LOCKDOWNS

As the country’s COVID-19 tally rose to nearly 8.5 lakh, authorities were getting ready to reimpose lockdown for varying periods in more cities, including in Bengaluru and Pune, in the coming days, while there appeared to be an improvement in the situation in the national capital.

The Uttar Pradesh government decided to implement strict restrictions across the state on weekends to check the spread of COVID-19, joining Karnataka and Tamil Nadu which have been imposing Sunday lockdown.

Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Bihar were among the states that have already announced area-wise lockdown for different durations.

Karnataka government has now announced a complete lockdown in Bengaluru for seven days from July 14.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami extended the curbs in Madurai and nearby regions including the Paravai Town Panchayat and several village panchayats till July 14.

Authorities in Kashmir too began strict implementation of another phase of the lockdown on Sunday, sealing off historic Lal Chowk and 67 other areas in Srinagar which have been declared containment zones after a sudden surge in COVID-19 positive cases over the past one week.

NADDA SAYS COLOUR OF GOLD IS RED IN KERALA

In an all-out attack against Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala, BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday questioned its alleged involvement in the high-profile gold smuggling case and accused it of “suppressing actual figures” and “messing up” the coronavirus crisis in the state.

Addressing a virtual rally at the inauguration of BJP District Committee office, ‘Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Mandiram’, at Kasargod Nadda took a jibe at the State government, saying that while colour of gold is yellow everywhere it is red in Kerala. “The colour of gold is yellow everywhere but in Kerala, it is red, red and red. What is the relationship between that IT officer and the personal secretary of the Chief Minister,” Nadda questioned.

Due for polls in 2021, Kerala is the only State with a Left government in the country.

The NIA has registered an FIR in the case pertaining to the seizure of 30 kg of gold from a diplomatic cargo addressed to the Consul-General of UAE in Thiruvananthapuram. On Saturday, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, two of the four key accused, were detained by the NIA from Bengaluru. Vijayan’s personal secretary M Sivasankar is also under the scanner as he had hired Swapna Suresh in the state IT department.

GOVT'S AMBITIOUS CALL: MAKING ELECTRONICS SECTOR WORTH $400 BN BY 2025

It’s an ambitious target. The government wants the value of domestic electronic hardware production to jump nearly six-fold in five years — from $70 billion in FY19 to $400 billion in 2025. And to achieve this objective, it is banking on one segment — mobile devices, which, it hopes, will contribute half the production value of electronics.

The plan is to transform India into the world’s biggest export hub for mobiles after China and overtaking Vietnam (which together with China controls 80 per cent of the global export market). This will require mobile manufacturers in India to increase their production value seven-fold from current levels and export 58 per cent of what they produce in value, as against only 12 per cent currently.

AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN, DAUGHTER AARADHYA TEST POSITIVE

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her 8-year-old daughter Aaradhya Bachchan also tested positive for coronavirus---a development that comes a day after her actor husband Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan said they had tested positive.

Abhishek Bachchan---who announced he had tested positive minutes after his father, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan had done so on Twitter---said in a tweet on Sunday that both his wife and daughter had tested positive and will be "self-quarantining at home", and that the rest of his family---including his actress-politician mother Jaya Bachchan---had tested negative.

A second tweet said he had his father were both at a hospital. The father-son duo are in the isolation ward of Mumbai's Nanavati hospital.

US GIANT QUALCOMM TO INVEST ₹730CR IN JIO

Reliance Industries (RIL) has raised Rs 730 crore from Qualcomm Ventures by selling 0.15% stake in Jio Platforms, it said on Sunday.

The company, controlled by Mukesh Ambani, the world’s eighth richest person, has so far mobilised Rs 1.18 lakh crore by selling 25.24% in Jio to 11 international investors, with the largest slice sold to Facebook.

The total money raised by RIL is just Rs 2,000 crore less than the Indian government’s disinvestment target of Rs 1.20 lakh crore for fiscal 2021.

The investment will deepen the ties between Qualcomm and Jio, RIL said. The US company will support Jio in its rollout of 5G infrastructure and services for Indian customers, RIL added.

W INDIES WIN SOUTHAMPTOM TEST

Blackwood made a superb 95 as the West Indies beat England by four wickets in the first Test at Southampton on Sunday. The West Indies, set 200 to win on the last day, were reeling at 27-3 after England fast bowler Jofra Archer’s early double strike.

Blackwood, however, held firm until, in sight of just his second Test century, he drove England stand-in captain Ben Stokes to James Anderson at mid-off, with the visitors needing just 11 more runs to win. But John Campbell, forced to retire hurt on one after being struck on the toe by Archer, returned to hit the winning runs. West Indies captain Jason Holder, the world’s top-ranked Test allrounder ahead of Stokes, was 14 not out.

The match was a personal and tactical triumph for Holder, who took a Test-best 6-42 in England’s lowly first innings 204 after Stokes, leading the side in the absence of Joe Root, won the toss and batted.

It was a thoroughly deserved success for the West Indies, who went ahead with their tour despite more than 44,000 deaths in Britain from the coronavirus during the pandemic.

Scores: England 204 & 313; West Indies 318 & 200/6

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller

OFF TRACK

When a pet dog lapped up anti-freeze, the veterinarian ordered a unique treatment: an IV drip mixing fluids with vodka. "Go buy the cheapest bottle you can find," he told the owner.

At the liquor store, the dog owner was uneasy buying a litre of cheap booze at ten in the morning, and felt compelled to explain things to the clerk. "Believe it or not," he said, "this is for a sick dog."

As he was leaving, the next customer plunked down two bottles of cheap rum and announced, "These are for my cats."