FARM PROTESTS 'SACRED' BUT ANDOLAN JEEVIS HAVE DEFILED MOVEMENT: PM

In yet another outreach to protesting farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Wednesday once again reiterated that the recently passed farm laws are not

coercive and only provide options.

Speaking in Lok Sabha, the prime minister reiterated that the old system of

agriculture markets and MSP would continue. He also hit out at those

"misleading" the farmers and the movement.

The PM said that he treats the kisan andolan as sacred but andolanjeevis

have defamed the movement. "The movement has importance in India's democracy

but what happens when the agitators come out to defile the holy movement for

their own benefit? The work of ruining the holy agitation of the farmers has

been done by andolanjeevis and not andolankaris. Therefore, it is very

important for the country to differentiate between the two," he added.

"To use the agitation to demand the release of Naxalites, terrorists behind

bars by showcasing their photos is to defile the movement," he said.

Modi's speech was disrupted several times by the opposition before the

Congress and the Trinamool Congress staged a walkout.

Modi accused the Congress of adopting different stances in the Lok Sabha and

the Rajya Sabha, and said it is like a "divided party" that can do no good

for the country.

"This uproar is a pre-planned strategy to ensure the real truth behind the

situation of the three laws remains hidden," he added. "I want to ask every

farmer, have the new laws snatched any right of yours that was available

earlier? What has happened is an alternative option has been provided. That

is the arrangement under the new laws. You can choose."

Modi said everyone whether in power or in opposition needs to work for the

welfare of the farmers. "We all have the responsibility to empower the

farmers," he added.

The prime minister also said that his government has no problems in making

changes to the farm laws if the farmers express a convincing argument. "We

are awaiting them to come up with suggestions," he said.

"We introduced the three farm laws as a response to the crisis the

agriculture sector faced," he said, "But I noticed that in the debate,

especially the Congress talked more of the colour of the laws rather than

its intent and content."

"I heard a new logic of why there is a new law that no one has asked for.

This is not compulsory. So the question of asking and giving does not

arise," he said. "In the past, no one had demanded anti-dowry, anti-triple

talaq laws, rights for daughters in property, right to education,

construction of toilets.. a progressive society demands it and hence the

laws were made."

Modi also said that the culture of abusing the Private Sector is no longer

acceptable and while such a rhetoric may have fetched votes in the past but

such times are now gone.

"To use improper words against the private sector may have got votes for a

few people in the past but those times are gone. The culture of abusing the

private sector is not acceptable any longer. We cannot keep insulting our

youth like this", he said.

"Will the Babus do everything? If one becomes IAS will he/she do everything

like running fertiliser industries, chemical industries or flying a

plane...what are we going achieve by handing over our country to Babus. If

Babus belong to our country, so do the youth (who work in the private

sector)", said Prime Minister Modi.

CHINA ANNOUNCES 'SYNCHRONISED' DISENGAGEMENT AT LAC

Signalling the first major breakthrough in talks to resolve the nine-month

military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, China's

Defence Ministry announced Wednesday that Chinese and Indian troops on the

southern and northern shores of Pangong Tso began "synchronized and

organized disengagement" in line with the consensus reached between Corps

Commanders when they last met on January 24.

There was no immediate statement from the Indian Army. The office of the

Defence Minister said Rajnath Singh will make a statement in Rajya Sabha

today regarding 'Present Situation in Eastern Ladakh'.

Sources in the security establishment said "there will be a phased

withdrawal" because that is what "has been decided" mutually. To start with,

some armoured columns will be pulled back while frontline troops will

continue to remain where they are.

Under the plan, the sources said, troops occupying heights will descend at a

later stage. The disengagement, sources underlined, will happen

"simultaneously" on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

India has been demanding status quo ante - of troops returning to their

April 2020 positions - and simultaneous withdrawal of troops.

Before the onset of the harsh Ladakh winter, each side had around 50,000

troops in the region, backed by tanks, artillery and air defence assets.

TRUDEAU DIALS PM MODI, ASSURED OF SUPPORT IN VACCINATION

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called up Prime Minister Narendra

Modi on Wednesday and was assured that India would do its best to support

Canada's vaccination efforts.

This comes about two months after Trudeau had spoken out on the farmers'

protests. New Delhi had summoned the Canadian envoy and warned that such

"actions", if they continue, will have a "seriously damaging impact" on

bilateral ties.

On Wednesday, Modi tweeted, "Was happy to receive a call from my friend

@JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate

supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue

collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global

economic recovery."

"Expressing his appreciation, Prime Minister Trudeau said that if the world

managed to conquer COVID-19, it would be significantly because of India's

tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in

sharing this capacity with the world. Prime Minister thanked PM Trudeau for

his sentiments," the PMO said.

PROTESTING FARMERS ANNOUNCE 4-HOUR NATIONWIDE RAIL BLOCKADE ON FEB 18

Protesting farmers Wednesday announced a four-hour blockade of trains across

the country on February 18 as part of a fresh strategy to intensify their

agitation against the new agricultural laws.

Unveiling its plans for the month, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella

organisation of farm unions, said it will make all road plazas in Rajasthan

toll-free on February 12.

"On February 14, a candlelight and torch march shall be undertaken across

the country to remember the sacrifice of the martyred soldiers in the

Pulwama attack," read a statement issued by SKM's Darshan Pal.

Two days later, the farmers will also hold events in a show of solidarity on

the birth anniversary of Sir Chhotu Ram-one of the most prominent

pre-partition farmer leaders. "A rail roko programme will be held on

February 18 from 12-4 pm across the country," said Darshan Pal, who is also

president of the Krantikari Kisan Union

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

USING GRAPHIC VIDEO FOOTAGE, PROSECUTORS BRAND TRUMP 'INCITER IN CHIEF'

The House impeachment managers opened their prosecution of Donald J. Trump

on Wednesday with a meticulous account of his campaign to overturn the

election and goad supporters to join him, bringing its most violent spasms

to life with never-before-seen security footage from the Jan. 6 Capitol

riot.

Filling the Senate chamber with the profane screams of the attackers, images

of police officers being brutalized, and near-miss moments in which Vice

President Mike Pence and lawmakers came steps away from confronting a mob

hunting them down, the prosecutors made an emotional case that Mr. Trump's

election lies had directly endangered the heart of American democracy.

They played frantic police radio calls warning that "we've lost the line,"

body camera footage showing an officer pummeled with poles and fists on the

West Front of the Capitol, and silent security tape from inside showing Mr.

Pence, his family and members of the House and Senate racing to evacuate as

the mob closed in, chanting: "Hang Mike Pence! Hang Mike Pence!"

All of it, the nine Democratic managers said, was the foreseeable and

intended outcome of Mr. Trump's desperate attempts to cling to the

presidency. Reaching back as far as last summer, they traced how he spent

months cultivating not only the "big lie" that the election was "rigged"

against him, but stoking the rage of a throng of supporters who made it

clear that they would do anything - including resorting to violence - to

help him.

BIDEN SPEAKS WITH XI JINPING

US President Joe Biden spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday,

the White House said, his first direct contact with the leader of the

world's second-largest economy since winning election in November and taking

office last month.

It was also the first call between Xi and a US president since the Chinese

leader spoke with former President Donald Trump in March last year. Since

then, relations between the two countries have plunged to their worst level

in decades.

Biden "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and

unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in

Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward

Taiwan," the White House said in a statement. The US president also told Xi

the United States wanted to preserve "a free and open Indo-Pacific," it

said.

According to an account of the discussions reported by Chinese state

television, Xi told Biden that confrontation between the two countries would

be a disaster for both and the two sides should re-establish the means to

avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments.

THE REST

========

FINDINGS OF INITIAL PROBE: 'ROCK BREAK-OFF, BLOCKADE LED TO FLOOD, NOT

GLACIAL LAKE BURST'

Sunday's flash flood in Uttarakhand was triggered by a large mass of rock

and snow falling from a hanging glacier, a preliminary investigation has

found.

The sliding mass of rock and snow, along with soil, earth and vegetation,

fell into a narrow stream, blocking the flow of water. After a few hours,

under the pressure of accumulated water, this blockade gave way, resulting

in large amounts of water and debris gushing downstream.

It was not a case of a breach in the glacial lake, which results in an event

called Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, or GLOF, as was initially suspected.

INDIA ON TRACK TO EXCEED PARIS ACCORD TARGETS, SAYS PM MODI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the road to fighting climate

change is through climate justice and called for giving developing countries

enough space to grow.

Addressing the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), Modi said: "The

road to fighting climate change is through climate justice. At the root of

climate justice is the principle of being large-hearted. Climate justice is

also about thinking about the bigger and long-term picture."

The remarks at the Summit, which brings together a wide range of experts to

discuss ways to mitigate climate change, come amid a continuing tug of war

between developed and developing countries on who needs to do more to save

the environment by reducing emissions.

Asserting that India's intent is supported by concrete action, Modi said:

"We committed to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33-35 per cent

from 2005 levels. You'll be happy to know that a drop of 24 per cent of

emission intensity has already been achieved."

'ARTFULLY CRAFTED PERFORMANCE': THAROOR ON PM'S EMOTIONAL FAREWELL TO AZAD

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Wednesday termed Prime Minister Narendra

Modi's emotional farewell speech for Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad

an "artfully crafted performance".

The Prime Minister had turned emotional several times in Rajya Sabha on

Tuesday while recalling his close association with Congress leader Azad,

whose term in the House ended.

"It was partly in response to Tikait's tears that he decided he also has

tears," Tharoor said, referring to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait who broke

into tears recently while talking about the ongoing farmers' protests at the

Ghazipur border.

NEW LABOUR CODES COMING SOON, WITH AN OPTION OF 4-DAY WEEK

As the government finalises the rules for the new labour codes, the Labour

Ministry is now considering giving flexibility to companies to have four

working days instead of five or six.

The proposed new labour codes could provide companies with the flexibility

of four working days in a week, even as the working hours limit of 48 hours

for a week will remain "sacrosanct", Labour and Employment Secretary Apurva

Chandra said on Monday.

This implies that there will be longer working hours if the working days are

reduced. For instance, a four working day week will have to meet the 48-hour

weekly work hours, resulting in daily shifts of 12 hours, which will

correspondingly reduce if there is five-day or six-day working week.

The provision of flexibility to have reduced working days of four days in

the labour code rules will mean that companies will not require prior

government nod to enact it.

The labour ministry had envisaged implementing the four labour codes from

April 1 this year in one go. The ministry is in the final leg of

amalgamating 44 central labour laws into four broad codes on wages,

industrial relations, social security and OSH. The ministry wants to

implement all four codes in one go.

GOVT PULLS UP TWITTER ON LATE COMPLIANCE OF ITS ORDER

The government on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Twitter's

delay in taking prompt action against accounts and hashtags spreading

misinformation and provocative content around the farmers' stir, as the IT

Ministry made it clear that the company must comply with the country's laws

irrespective of the platform's own rules.

Twitter has suspended over 500 accounts, and blocked access to several

others within India while refusing to block accounts of "news media

entities, journalists, activists and politicians" citing the need to uphold

freedom of expression.

During a virtual interaction between IT Secretary and senior officials of

Twitter, the government told the microblogging platform that as a business

entity operating in India, it must respect the laws and democratic

institutions and take strong action against "well-coordinated" campaigns

"designed to create disharmony and unrest" in the country.

Slamming the delay by the platform in complying with government orders on

taking down provocative content around farmers' stir, the IT Secretary also

expressed dissatisfaction over Twitter's "differential treatment" in case of

the US Capitol Hill siege, where it had taken prompt action.

The government questioned the manner in which Twitter "officially allows

fake, unverified, anonymous and automated bot accounts to be operated on its

platform" and said it raises doubts about its commitment to transparency and

healthy conversation on the platform.

The Secretary also flagged the issue around a 'toolkit' that was shared on

its platform amid the farmers' protest, and said the chain of events had

made it evident that a strong social media campaign was planned in a foreign

country around the agitation.

APEX COURT PUTS ON HOLD FURTHER DISMANTLING OF INS VIRAAT

The Supreme Court on Wednesday put on hold the further dismantling of INS

Viraat, the iconic aircraft carrier decommissioned by the Indian Navy

following a plea by a Thane-based group which wants to buy it and convert it

into a maritime museum.

Issuing notice on the petition filed by M/s Envitech Marine Consultants

Private Limited through its directors Vishnukant Sharma and Rupali

Vishnukant Sharma, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde

ordered, "In the meantime, parties are directed to maintain status quo with

regard to dismantling/breaking of the subject-ship known as INS Viraat, as

on date."

The group had earlier approached the Bombay High Court with its request. The

High Court asked the Defence Ministry to take a decision on their

representation for a No Objection Certificate from the government to acquire

it. The ministry, however, rejected their request for NOC, following which

the group approached the Supreme Court.

Mukesh Patel, the chairman of Shree Ram Group, which has been dismantling

INS Viraat at Alang shipbreaking yard in Gujarat since December 1, says that

a sizable portion of the aircraft carrier has been dismantled, including the

flight deck, ski jump and the accommodations meant for sailors. "Roughly, we

have broken 40 per cent of the aircraft carrier," he said.

Before the breaking process began, manholes were also drilled into different

parts of the vessel to allow passage of air and light in order for workers

to cut the vessel with gas torches.

AUS OPEN, DAY 3: DJOKOVIC, SERENA ENTER THIRD ROUND

Novak Djokovic's aura of invincibility at Rod Laver Arena wavered under the

pressure of Frances Tiafoe but the Serbian rose to the challenge to claim a

tough 6-3 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-3 win and reach the third round of the Australian

Open.

The double-defending champion has rarely been tested so early at his

favourite Grand Slam but he had his hands full against American Tiafoe,

whose sparkling tennis revived memories of his exhilarating run to the 2019

quarterfinals.

Serena Williams said she played better when she was not thinking quite as

much after reaching the third round of the Australian Open for the 19th time

with a 6-3 6-0 victory over Nina Stojanovic.

The Australian Open looks to have seen the last of the crouching officials

scrutinising the lines of the tennis court after they were replaced by

technology for this year's tournament -- a move that has been largely

welcomed by players.

INDICATORS

Sensex 51,309 (-20), Nifty 15,106 (-3), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores)

78858.08

Nasdaq 13,973 (-35) Dow 31,438 (+62), S&P 3,910 (-1)

US$-Rs. 72.81 GBP-Rs. 100.71, Euro-Rs. 88.28, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.82, Can$-Rs.

57.34, Aus$- Rs. 56.30

GBP 0.72 /US$, Euro 0.82 /US$, Jap.Yen 104.62 /US$, Aus$ 1.29 /US$, Sing

1.32 /US$, Bang Taka 83.20 /US$, Can$ 1.26 /US$, Mal Ring 4.04 /US$,

Pak Re 159.28 /US$, Phil Peso 48.02 /US$, Russian Rouble 72.82 /US$, NZ$

1.38 /US$, Thai Baht 29.86 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 27.53 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 44,727

Dollar Index 90.42 Brent Crude 61.06 BDI 1306

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,837 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,801 /

4,701, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 69,600

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the

same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. - Marcus

Aurelius

OFF TRACK

Not that his wife's the jealous type or anything, but one day at work, he

had taken his new secretary to lunch in gratitude for an outstanding job on

a very difficult project.

As luck would have it, there was his wife waiting in the office for his

return. The secretary, who was a ravishing beauty said, "Oh, I'm so happy to

meet you. I'm your husband's new secretary."

Within a single heart beat, the wife quietly intoned, "Oh, Really? WERE

you?"