AT COMMANDERS MEETING, BEIJING RAKES UP LADAKH, BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE

An apparent distrust stood in the way of a breakthrough during the seventh

round of talks between senior military commanders of India and China, while

Beijing on Tuesday again ratcheted up aggression saying that it did not

'recognise' Ladakh's UT status. It also opposed border infrastructure

development, including the recent opening of bridges, by India.

In Beijing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, while

answering questions at a press conference, said: "China doesn't recognise

the so-called 'Ladakh Union Territory' illegally set up by India or

'Arunachal Pradesh', and opposes infrastructure-building aimed at military

contention in disputed border areas."

"The Indian side has been stepping up military deployment along the border

with China. This is the root cause of tensions," Zhao said while responding

to a question on India opening 44 new bridges.

Military commanders of the two countries had met yesterday at Chushul along

the LAC for a marathon 10-hour meeting.

A joint statement on Tuesday said: "Both sides agreed to maintain dialogue

and communication through military and diplomatic channels". "The two sides

had a sincere and constructive exchange of views on disengagement along the

LAC... these discussions were positive and had enhanced understanding of

each other's positions," the statement said.

However, sources said that no date or timeline had been set for any such

disengagement.

MAHARASHTRA GOVERNOR, CM SPAR OVER REOPENING OF SHRINES

In an unusually worded official letter demanding the immediate re-opening of

places of worship, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari mockingly

asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray if he has turned "secular", provoking

Thackeray to respond by reminding Koshyari that the word "secular" is in the

Constitution he had sworn to protect when he took oath of office in Raj

Bhavan.

Koshyari sent the letter Monday. Thackeray hit back Tuesday saying he did

not need his Hindutva credentials certified by Koshyari.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar closed ranks with Thackeray, with a strong letter to

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing "shock and surprise" at the

"intemperate language" used by the Governor.

"In the very preamble of our Constitution, the word "secular" is added that

equates and shields all religion and hence the chair of the Chief Minister

must uphold such tenets of the Constitution. Unfortunately the Governor's

letter to the Chief Minister invokes the connotation as if written to the

leader of a political party," wrote Pawar.

Koshyari's missive was apparently prompted by Thackeray's address Sunday

that the govt had decided not to open places of worship because of the

continuing danger from Covid. Thackeray said that "it was out of love and

care for the people" that the govt was treading cautiously.

In an affidavit in the court, the govt said the Ganesh festival "was really

an eye-opener" that overcrowding could set off a "major surge" in the spread

of infection which will be "impossible to contain." Calling this "most

unfortunate," Koshyari said: "It is ironical while, on one hand, the state

govt has permitted the opening of bars, restaurants and beaches, on the

other hand, our Gods and Goddesses have been condemned to stay in the

lockdown."

The state govt has been firm on not reopening places of worship fearing that

large gatherings, especially during the festival season, could turn into

infection super spreaders. In his address, the CM said: "Navratri, Diwali

and other religious festivals are coming up. We are slowly opening our doors

for prosperity and good health but not for the coronavirus".

CHIDAMBARAM'S DIG AT SITHARAMAN'S LATEST FISCAL STIMULAS

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday took a dig at Finance Minister

Nirmala Sitharaman over her stimulus package announcements yesterday saying

it was like digging a mountain and finding a mouse.

"The grand announcement yesterday was no stimulus package, it was another

sly attempt to dazzle people with exaggerated numbers. It is also a candid

confession that the earlier so-called Rs 20 lakh crore package was a massive

failure," former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said adding that the fiscal

impact of these announcements is estimated by analysts to be 0.1 per cent of

GDP.

He said the govt is parenting people by telling them what to buy and what

not.

He said the Rs 10,000 crore interest-free festival advance to govt servants

is not additional expenditure as it will be recovered in 10 monthly

installments.

"The Rs 12,000 crore offered to the states is not a grant but a loan. The

offer of a tax concession to 35 lakh Central govt employees on LTC is a

pathetic attempt to induce them to spend twice that amount out of their own

money to gain a small benefit on tax," he said lamenting that the most

deserving people who need the money-the poor and the marginalised-have once

again been left in the cold.

INDIA SET TO SLIP BELOW BANGLADESH IN 2020 PER CAPITA GDP, SAYS IMF

Bangladesh is set to beat India in terms of per capita gross domestic

product (GDP) this calendar year, thanks to a sharp contraction in the

Indian economy due to Covid-19 and the economic lockdown.

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Economic Outlook (WEO),

Bangladesh's per capita GDP in dollar terms is expected to grow 4 per cent

in 2020 to $1,888. India's per capita GDP, on the other hand, is expected to

decline 10.5 per cent to $1,877 - the lowest in the last four years.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

======================

CHINA AND RUSSIA WIN SEATS ON UN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Saudi Arabia failed in its attempt to become a member of the United Nations

Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the next three-year term starting on

January 1, while China, Russia and Cuba were elected on Tuesday in a vote

that caused an outcry among human rights defenders.

Russia and Cuba ran unopposed in the UN General Assembly election. Saudi

Arabia and China vied for membership in a five-nation race for four spots

with Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Nepal.

Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi

Arabia 90 votes - ending Riyadh's bid to again be a member of the UN's top

human rights body.

Fifteen countries were elected to the 47-nation council on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch has described China and Saudi Arabia as "two of the

world's most abusive govts". The New York-based group also singled out

numerous war crimes in the Syrian war as making Russia a highly problematic

candidate.

Experts say with a number of countries with questionable rights records

being elected, the current system of entry to UNHRC is in serious need of

reform.

ANOTHER VOICE IN PAKISTAN AGAINST ARMY GRIP

Addressing the fifth annual conference of South Asians Against Terrorism and

for Human Rights (SAATH), Pakistan People's Party spokesman and former

Senator Farhatullah Babar said Pakistan's parliament was unable to hold the

military accountable.

"In their hearts, Pakistan's generals do not accept the country's

Constitution. That is why they have built a national narrative that is

against democratic values and puts the army above all institutions," he said

at the event from Pakistan through a video conference.

Babar called for changing the basis of Pakistan's relations with India,

which he said had been predicated on the resolution of the Kashmir issue as

Pakistan wants it.

"If China and India can have trade relations despite their conflicts, why

can't Pakistan?" He asked, hinting that good relations with India would help

advance democratic norms and civilian supremacy in Pakistan.

He said the "creeping coup" in Pakistan was the result of the powerful

military trying to safeguard its economic interests which might not be

protected in a federal and democratic system.

THE REST

========

MEHBOOBA RELEASED, SAYS 'WILL TAKE BACK WHAT DELHI SNATCHED'

Fourteen months after she was arrested, former Chief Minister of Jammu and

Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti was released Tuesday after the J&K govt revoked her

detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The decision came two days

before her daughter Iltija Mufti's petition challenging her detention was

scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court.

In an audio message posted on Twitter after being released, she said the

people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot forget the "robbery and humiliation" of

August 5 and demanded release of all prisoners lodged in different jails of

the Union territory and outside.

"Now, all of us have to reiterate, we will have to take back what New Delhi

snatched from us illegally, undemocratically and unconstitutionally. In

addition to this we will have to continue our struggle for the resolution of

Kashmir issue for which thousands of people sacrifices their lives. I agree

that this path would not be easy but I have belief that our courage and our

determination will help us to cross this road," she said in the audio

message.

In her message, Mufti also said, "All this time, the black decision of the

black day of August 5, 2019 wounded my soul. And I understand the situation

would have been similar for all people of Jammu and Kashmir."

Mufti, along with the entire separatist and mainstream leadership, was

detained by the J&K Police on August 5 last year; the day the Centre

abrogated Jammu and Kashmir's special status and downgraded the state into

two Union Territories. She is the last mainstream political leader to be

released by the govt.

The govt's change of heart over Mufti's detention has come barely a

fortnight after the Supreme Court questioned the govt over her detention

beyond a year.

ALLAHABAD HC QUESTIONS OFFICIAL'S RAPE DENIAL, SAYS CREMATION VIOLATED

RIGHTS OF VICTIM, FAMILY

From questioning the police claim that the 19-year-old Dalit woman from

Hathras was not raped to observing that her hurried cremation was "prima

facie an infringement upon the human rights of the victim and her family",

the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has delivered a stinging

indictment of the Uttar Pradesh police and administration.

The Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Rajan Roy was critical of top

officials, including Prashant Kumar, ADG, Law and Order, and Awanish Kumar

Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home.

"The guiding principle of governance and administration, after independence,

should be to 'serve' and 'protect' people and not to 'rule' and 'control' as

was the case prior to independence. Govt should come out with appropriate

procedures as guidance for district officials to deal with such situations,"

the court said.

On the police claim that the victim was not raped, the court said: "We asked

Sri Kumar (Prashant Kumar, ADG, Law and Order) as to whether it was proper

for anyone not directly connected with investigation to comment on any

evidence relating to the offence alleged, specially if the allegation is of

rape, or to draw conclusions based thereon as to whether offence was

committed or not, when the investigation was still pending and such person

was not part of the investigation, he fairly agreed that it should not

happen.""We also asked him as to whether he was aware of the amendments in

law relating to definition of rape w.e.f 2013 and that mere absence of semen

during forensic examination, though a factor for consideration, would not by

itself be conclusive as to whether rape had been committed or not, if there

are other admissible evidence. He said that he was aware of the same," it

said.

Citing forensic reports, police had earlier denied that the woman was raped.

"We do not at this stage find any good reason on behalf of the

administration as to why they could not hand over the body to the family

members for some time, say for even half an hour, to enable them to perform

their rituals at home and thereafter to cremate it either in the night or

next day," the

The court also directed the then Hathras SP, Vikrant Vir, who is now under

suspension, to appear before it at the next hearing.

TANISHQ WITHDRAWS AD ON INTERFAITH COUPLE

Incessant social media trolling by right-wing forces has forced a popular

jewellery brand in India to withdraw its advertisement featuring an

interfaith couple. The 40-second commercial, released by Tanishq last week,

showed a pregnant Hindu bride attending a baby shower organised by her

Muslim in-laws.

"She is married into a family that loves her like their own child. Only for

her, they go out of their way to celebrate an occasion that they usually

don't. A beautiful confluence of two different religions, traditions and

cultures," the advertisement's YouTube description said.

The advertisement was a part of Tanishq's latest jewellery line called

"Ekatvam", Sanskrit word which means oneness, and was released ahead of the

festival season.

But many social media users accused the company of promoting "love jihad".

On Monday, the hashtag #BoycottTanishq trended on Indian social media, with

a barrage of posts and comments on the YouTube video accusing the company of

"hurting" the religious sentiments of the Hindu majority and demanded an

apology.

On Tuesday, Tanishq pulled the advertisement from the social media

platforms, saying the "film stimulated divergent and severe reactions,

contrary to its very objective".

"So Hindutva bigots have called for a boycott of @TanishqJewelryfor

highlighting Hindu-Muslim unity through this beautiful ad. If Hindu-Muslim

'ekatvam' irks them so much, why don't they boycott the longest surviving

symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in the world - India?" tweeted Congress party's

member of parliament, Shashi Tharoor.

ABUSE CASE: LAW STUDENT DISOWNS STATEMENT AGAINST EX-MINISTER CHINMAYANAND

The 24-year-old law student, who had earlier accused former BJP minister

Chinmayanand of sexual assault and harassment, on Tuesday disowned her

statement before a special court in Lucknow where the case is being heard.

The woman, who was a student of a law college run by a trust of Chinmayanand

in Shahjahan-pur, told the court she had levelled the allegations against

the former Union minister "under pressure by miscreants". The prosecution

has moved an application to file a case against her for perjury.

"The court has asked the law student to file her counter by October 15, the

next day of hearing," Tripathi added.

AKBAR VS RAMANI: TWO YEARS LATER, COURT SAYS CASE NOT UNDER ITS JURISDICTION

After two years of hearing a criminal defamation case filed by former

Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar against journalist Priya

Ramani, a Delhi court Tuesday said it can no longer hear the matter. It said

this was not a case against an MP or MLA - it was a case filed by an MP -

and must be transferred to a court of competent jurisdiction in line with a

direction of the Supreme Court.

Ramani had levelled allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment against

Akbar who sued her and resigned from the Union Council of Ministers.

The defamation case was in its last stages after the two sides had concluded

final arguments. At the last hearing on September 19, Akbar's counsel, Geeta

Luthra, had sought the court's permission to rebut the final arguments of

Ramani's lawyer Rebecca John and was granted two days to conclude.

On Tuesday, as Luthra began making her final arguments, Additional Chief

Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja said, "There has been directions from

the Supreme Court. This case has to be placed before the District and

Sessions Judge for further directions. This court will deal with cases

against MP/MLAs."

IPHONE 12 HELPS APPLE JOINS THE 5G RACE

Apple Inc on Tuesday launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G

connectivity that the California company hopes will spur consumers to trade

in their old phones and keep its sales booming through the end of the year.

The core of the line-up, the iPhone 12 with a 6.1-inch display, will sell

for $799, while a 'Mini' version with a 5.4-inch screen will be slightly

cheaper at $699. A 'Pro' version with three cameras and a new 3-D 'lidar'

sensor starts at $999, with the largest 'Pro Max' starting at $1,099 and

going up to $1,399.

The new products will test whether Apple can ride a wave of consumer

excitement around 5G wireless data networks, whose speediest variants

outstrip their predecessors' data rates multiple times over.

But whether iPhone buyers see a dramatic speed boost will depend heavily on

where they are and which carrier they use.

Apple said all iPhone 12 models in the United States will support millimeter

wave 5G, the fastest variant of the technology, as well as lower-frequency

bands.

Outside of the United States, however, iPhones will lack millimeter wave

compatibility, even in countries like Australia and South Korea where

carriers are planning to roll out versions of the millimeter wave

technology. Like some cheaper Android devices, iPhone 12 models in those

countries will only support lower-frequency versions of 5G.

Apple also announced a HomePod Mini smart Siri enabled speaker that will

cost $99.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS PULL OFF MUCH-NEEDED WIN, BEAT SRH BY 20 RUNS

A desperate Chennai Super Kings dished out an all-round performance to earn

a much-needed win as they stay afloat in the race for the IPL Play-offs with

a 20-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, on Tuesday. Shane Watson and

Ambati Rayudu shared a 81-run stand to power Chennai Super Kings to 167 for

six after electing to bat.

CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni then used seven bowlers, who executed their

plans to perfection, to restrict SRH to 147 for eight.

For CSK, the win, their third of the tournament, come amidst 5 losses in 8

matches so far.

SRH also have 3 wins from their 8 matches so far.

INDICATORS

Sensex 40,626 (+32), Nifty 11,935 (+4), Trading Value NSE ,(Rs.crores)

50,105.5

Nasdaq 11,864 (-12) Dow 28,680 (-158), S&P 3,512 (-22)

US$-Rs. 73.26 GBP-Rs. 95.24, Euro-Rs. 86.23, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.94, Can$-Rs.

55.80, Aus$- Rs. 52.55

GBP 0.76 /US$, Euro 0.84 /US$, Jap.Yen 105.45 /US$, Aus$ 1.39 /US$, Sing

1.35 /US$, Bang Taka 83.24 /US$, Can$ 1.31 /US$, Mal Ring 4.14 /US$,

Pak Re 163.43 /US$, Phil Peso 48.49 /US$, Russian Rouble 76.92 /US$, NZ$

1.50 /US$, Thai Baht 31.16 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 28.02 /US$, Norway NOK 9.19

/US$

Bitcoin - USD 11,433

Dollar Index 93.53 Brent Crude 42.27 BDI 1,807

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,895 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,054 / 4,954

Silver (Rs. Per KG)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Be careful that victories do not carry the seed of future defeats. - Ralph

W. Sockman

OFF TRACK

While taking a driving test, a young lad went through a red light without

stopping. The examiner told him that he had automatically failed the test.

Back at the office, the examiner and the young lad met up with his mother.

The examiner explained what had happened. At first the boy's mother was

speechless. Then she asked incredulously, "He ran a red light?"

"Yes," replied the examiner.

"Well," persisted the mom, "how red was the light?"