PM MODI’S MANN KI BAAT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the country is re-establishing its national symbols through efforts undertaken under the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.

“We have seen that ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ near India Gate and the flame at the nearby National War Memorial have been merged into one. On this emotional moment, many countrymen and the family of martyrs had tears in their eyes,” Modi said in his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on Sunday, the first this year.

He said his government has been honouring unsung heroes. In this context, he also mentioned Basanti Devi of Uttarakhand, who has been bestowed with Padma Shri for her contribution to environmental protection.

Modi said India is fighting the new wave of Covid with "great success" and asserted that the people's trust in indigenous vaccines was "our strength". "Now the cases of corona infection have also started decreasing, this is a very positive sign." It is a matter of pride that till now about four-and-a-half crore children have been administered the first dose of coronavirus vaccine. This means that about 60 per cent of youth in the age group of 15 to 18 years have got their vaccines within three to four weeks. This will not only protect our youth but will also help them to continue with their studies," he said.

Another good thing is that within 20 days, one crore people have taken the precaution dose as well, Modi said.

Earlier in the day, he congratulated fellow citizens for this "momentous feat" of full vaccination of 75 per cent of all adults and said he is proud of all those who are making the inoculation drive a success.

CONG LEADERS, MAYAWATI QUESTION MODI GOVT ‘SILENCE’ ON PEGASUS

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent message to mark 30 years of India-Israel relations, Congress leaders P Chidambaram urged the PM to ask Israel for an “advanced version” of the Pegasus spyware. “The last deal was for $2 billion. India can do better this time. If we get more sophisticated spyware ahead of the 2024 elections, we can give them even $4 billion,” Chidambaram tweeted.

Another Congress leader, Ashok Gehlot demanded Narendra Modi should address the nation on the Pegasus issue to end any confusion on the matter. “The Central government should give a clarification. If the government is clean, then the PM should himself address the nation. The Supreme Court is not able to do hearings on the matter on priority, which it should have done. Who should be blamed?” he said.

BSP’s Mayawati targeted the central government on its “silence” over the Pegasus controversy saying that it is necessary to give credible answers and be accountable towards the country and its people. She also slammed Union minister Gen VK Singh for his “supari media” remark.

In another tweet, she called out the “narrow thinking of the government”. “India’s name in Pegasus case along with countries like Mexico, Poland and Hungary is no less a matter of concern,” she wrote.

The Editors Guild of India also expressed “deep concern” over the claims made by The New York Times.  The claims in the report, the Editors Guild said, “are in stark contrast to the stance of the Government of India, which has been and continues to be vague and non-committal in its response to these extremely serious allegations that whether they purchased the spyware, and more disturbingly, if it was used against Indian citizens, including journalists and civil society members”.

WINTER SESSION STARTS TODAY, FM TO PRESENT ECO SURVEY TODAY

If the winter session of Parliament was a washout, the prognosis for the upcoming Budget session that begins today, is no better. As Opposition parties reached out to each other to fine-tune parliamentary strategy, the Narendra Modi government is expected to be in the Opposition's cross hairs on issues such as the new revelations on snooping by intelligence interception company Pegasus, farm distress, management of the third wave of Covid-19, the sale of national carrier Air India, and Chinese "incursions" into eastern Ladakh.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2021-22 on Monday and the Union Budget on Tuesday.

The Budget session is also taking place amid a heated election campaign in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, and Manipur - that go to polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.

SUPREME COURT JUDGE BATS FOR AIRING OF HEARINGS

Maintaining that judges should be judged not only by the number of cases decided but also by their courtroom conduct, Supreme Court Judge DY Chandrachud has favoured public viewership of judicial proceedings, saying it would provide legitimacy to the judiciary.

“Not only is it imperative that justice is done, but it should also seem to be done. Justice seems to be done only when judicial proceedings are opened for public viewership. This not only provides legitimacy to the judicial institution but also furthers the democratic principle of accountability,” Justice Chandrachud said.

“Though legal journalism is on the rise and reporting of judicial proceedings has gained traction, it has its own limitations. Unless judicial proceedings are open for public viewership, it would not be possible for the public to understand the nature of work undertaken by courts. Streaming of judicial proceedings is also a mode of education for law students, the young and the old of the Bar,” Justice Chandrachud noted.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST /Jan 31

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Sunday 2,09,918

Active Cases 18,31,268 (-53,669)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 4,95,050 (585)

Total Vaccination: 166.03 Crores (+28,90,986)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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PEGASUS MAKER SLAMS CRITICISM, BUT CONCEDES 'SOME MISTAKES'

Israel's embattled cyber tech company NSO Group has denied wrongdoing as it called criticism of its sale of Pegasus spyware programme to non-democratic countries 'hypocritical', comparing the surveillance technology to military weapons systems being sold by others, amid mounting allegations that software was misused globally, including in Israel.

An undeterred Chief Executive Officer of NSO Group, Shalev Hulio, in an interview to Israeli Channel 12 on Saturday, strongly defended the company's operations, though he also conceded that some 'mistakes' may have happened over the years.

"I absolutely sleep soundly at night," Hulio told the Channel's interviewer when asked if he can do so amid so much worldwide criticism. "There is not one country we've sold to, not one, that the US does not sell to, or that Israel doesn't sell to. So it's a bit hypocritical to say it's okay to sell F-35s and tanks and drones, but it's not okay to sell a tool that collects intelligence," Hulio said, defending the company's position.

In reaction to the blacklisting of the company by the US Department of Commerce in November, the company's senior most executive called it an "outrage" that he hopes will be lifted soon. "Our technology has over the years helped the interests and national security of the United States quite a bit," he claimed.

Israel distanced itself from the controversy triggered by the blacklisting of the NSO Group after allegations of illegal use of its Pegasus spyware to target government officials, activists and journalists globally, saying it is a private company and it has nothing to do with the policies of the Israeli government.

TRUDEAU MOVED TO SECRET LOCATION AS THOUSANDS PROTEST COVID CURBS

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with his family, reportedly went into hiding in a secret location due to potential security threats as thousands of people in a huge convoy streamed into the capital, Ottawa, to protest against Canada’s vaccine mandates, social media users in India said that Trudeau is receiving a comeuppance for supporting the farmer protests in India.

In December 2020, Trudeau had come out in support of the farmers’ protests. India had then termed it “ill-informed” and “unwarranted”.

Canadian news organisation CBC reported Saturday that a planned protest of a trucker convoy, known as the “Freedom Convoy” arrived to stage their dissent in front of the country’s parliament in Ottawa. It added that Trudeau and his family have been relocated to an “undisclosed location” in Ottawa as security concerns rise with the number of protesters expected to cross the 10,000 mark, as estimated by Canadian officials.

The truckers are protesting the Canadian government’s mandate that cross-border truckers, such as those travelling between the US and Canada, must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The protests have reportedly been “hijacked by radical white truckers” opposed to Trudeau for reasons beyond vaccine concerns. Some statements by protestors included threats of violence and a call to overthrow Trudeau’s government.

THE REST

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‘REMAIN FRIENDS’ DESPITE NO TIE-UP WITH NCP-SHIV SENA IN GOA: P CHIDAMBARAM

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said an alliance could not be forged between his party and the NCP-Shiv Sena for the Goa Assembly polls despite best efforts.

Chidambaram also hit out at the TMC for its barbs at the Congress for not forging an alliance with it, saying the party continued to poach Congress leaders, despite making an offer of a tie-up.

Chidambaram asserted that the contest in the Goa polls is “between the Congress (plus Goa Forward Party) and the BJP and we will be able to win a simple majority”.

Asked why the Congress was not able to tie up with other Opposition parties especially the NCP and the Shiv Sena, Chidambaram said these parties are Congress’ allies in Maharashtra and it would have liked them to be allies in Goa as well. “We tried. They made certain proposals. We made certain proposals. Unfortunately, there was no meeting point. I acknowledge that both sides had compulsions and despite our best efforts we could not find a meeting point,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are friends and will remain friends. After the elections, we will continue to explore opportunities to work together with NCP and Shiv Sena,” he said.

BJP TO CONTEST ALL 60 MANIPUR ASSEMBLY SEATS, DECLARES ENTIRE LIST OF CANDIDATES

BJP will contest all the 60 seats of Manipur Assembly and announced its entire list of candidates for the February-March election on Sunday.

Among the main contestants are Chief Minister N Biren Singh who will be contesting from Heingang constituency, PWD Minister Th Biswajit Singh from Thongju, Govindas Konthoujam, the former Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president who joined BJP recently, from Bishnupur.

BJP has given party tickets to three women candidates and denied three sitting MLAs. Seven MLAs who had defected from Congress and joined BJP have been given nominations according to the list of candidates issued on Sunday.

Assembly election in the north eastern state will be held in two phases, on February 27 and March 3.

Meanwhile, angry BJP workers yesterday burnt effigies of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the state unit president Sharda Devi as well as flags over the candidates’ list that featured defectors from the Congress ignoring many loyalists.

HINDU MAHASABHA PAYS TRIBUTE TO NATHURAM GODSE, CONFERS ‘BHARAT RATNA’ ON KALICHARAN

On a day the nation observed Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, the Hindu Mahasabha on Sunday paid tribute to his assassin Nathuram Godse and a co-accused in the Gandhi murder trial, Narayan Apte, in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior by observing “Godse-Apte Smriti Diwas”.

The right-wing organisation also bestowed “Godse-Apte Bharat Ratna” in Gwalior upon jailed religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj, who was arrested last December for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the Mahatma during a Dharma Sansad held in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, and four leaders of the Mahasabha.

“We performed ‘aarti’ of Bharat Mata with a resolve to integrate India with Pakistan to make it ‘Akhand Bharat’. We are observing January 30 as the ‘Godse Apte Smriti Diwas’ day to express our anger over their arrest on January 30, 1948,” Hindu Mahasabha’s national vice president Jaiveer Bharadwaj told PTI over the phone from Gwalior.

TO CRIMINALISE OR NOT—DELHI HC IN A FIX OVER MARITAL RAPE

To criminalise or not — the Delhi High Court appears to be in a fix over the contentious marital rape.

While hearing petitions filed by RIT Foundation and three others seeking to criminalise marital rape, a Bench led by Justice Rajiv Shakdher on Friday said the court can’t fold its hands and sit when people complain about a particular law.

The petitioners have challenged the validity of an exception 2 to Section 375 of the IPC on the ground that it discriminated against women raped by their husbands.

In October 2017, the SC ruled that sex with one’s minor wife would amount to rape. It watered down the exception to Section 375 IPC which said sexual intercourse by a man with his wife not under the age of 15 would not amount to rape.

Even as India dithers, more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, France, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, have already criminalised it.

The Law Commission had in 2000 opposed criminalising marital rape on the ground “that may amount to excessive interference with the marital relationship”. The government maintains that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, can’t be suitably applied in the Indian context due to illiteracy, poverty, social customs and values, religious beliefs and mindset of the society to treat marriage as a sacrament.

The Centre and men’s rights groups have cautioned the court against it as it is fraught with serious consequences.

It’s a complex issue touching upon law, society, culture, crime, society and public policy. Even if the court doesn’t simply declare marital rape amounts to rape, it will have to find a way out to deal with one of the worst open secrets of Indian society.

AI MOVES US COURT TO PREVENT DEVAS DEMAND TO RECOVER $1BN

Air India has recently appealed in a US court against Devas Multimedia, arguing that a change in ownership of the airline prevents demands for recovery of arbitration awards ($1. 2 billion) given to the Indian startup by international courts over cancellation of a satellite deal with Isro’s commercial arm Antrix.

Air India filed the appeal in the US court on Thursday, the same day the Tata Group took over the management of the airline.

Devas will continue to confiscate cash generated from some ticket sales overseas by Air India, said Matthew McGill, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher that represents several Devas shareholders. The firm has already seized assets worth over $30 million owned by Air India, he said.

International arbitration tribunals had awarded Devas a compensation of $1. 2 billion for the cancelled satellite deal with Antrix and on the basis of those awards, the company has been seeking seizure of Indian government assets abroad by pursuing legal cases in Canada, France and the US.

Devas shareholders have been allowed by a Canada court in Quebec province to seize 50% of Air India funds, estimated to be around $23 million, lying with global airlines body IATA.

NADAL WINS HISTORIC 21ST SLAM AFTER EPIC COMEBACK

Rafael Nadal edged Daniil Medvedev in a classic Australian Open final on Sunday, roaring back from two sets down to claim a record 21st Grand Slam title only months after fearing his glorious career might be over due to injury.

With Novak Djokovic forced out by deportation and Roger Federer recovering from knee surgery, the Spanish great is now one major title clear of his ‘Big Three’ rivals after surviving the 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 thriller at Rod Laver Arena.

"It was one of the most emotional matches in my tennis career," Nadal said at the post-match presentation. "It's just amazing now being gone one month and a half ago I didn't know if I will be able to be back on the tour playing tennis again." "And today I'm here in front of all of you having this trophy with me."

Riding a wave of raucous support from the crowd, a vintage Nadal pulled off his greatest escape to deny Medvedev again, less than three years after leaving the Russian heartbroken in five sets at the 2019 US Open final.

In a five-hour 24-minute epic steeped in drama, Nadal was two points from the title but was broken as he served for the match at 5-4. He held firm to break Medvedev again and served out the match to love, rushing in to deliver a backhand volley as a stunning coup de grace.

Dropping his racket, Nadal shook his head and grinned, then kicked a tennis ball away and pumped his fists in delight.

It was a triumph that defied time and logic, with the 35-year-old fighting back from a two-set deficit for the first time in 15 years -- the last time being against Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2007.

Having suffered four final defeats in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019, Nadal can now savour a second Melbourne Park crown, 13 years after beating Federer in another epic decider in 2009.

The long hair and pirate shorts of that decade have fallen by the way-side, but the class and fighting spirit endure in the face of Nadal's titanic battles to recover from injuries.

Having missed Wimbledon due to fatigue and the U.S. Open because of a chronic condition in his left foot, Nadal was on the brink of quitting in late-2021 and felt blessed just to turn up at Melbourne Park.

U-19 WORLD CUP: INDIA BEAT BANGLADESH TO ENTER SEMIFINALS

Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar bowled a sensational opening spell as India exacted sweet revenge on Bangladesh, knocking out the defending champions to enter the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup here.

In the last edition of the tournament, India had lost to Bangladesh in the title clash. Four-time champions India will meet Australia in the semifinals on February 2.

Ravi ended with excellent figures of 3/14 off seven overs as Bangladesh were bowled out for 111 in 37.1 overs on Saturday.

In reply, India chased down the target in 30.5 overs, losing five wickets, with opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 44 being the top score. Skipper Yash Dhull made 20 not out and his deputy Shaik Rasheed contributed 26. The victory was particularly satisfying considering several players had returned to action after recovering from Covid-19, due to which they had missed two matches.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Toleration is not the opposite of intolerance but the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms: the one assumes to itself the right of withholding liberty of conscience, the other of granting it. - Thomas Paine

OFF TRACK

"Mr. Clark, I'm afraid I have bad news," the doctor told his anxious Patient. "You only have six months to live." 

The man sat in stunned silence for the next several minutes. Regaining his Composure, he apologetically told his physician that he had no medical Insurance. "I can't possibly pay you in that time." 

"Okay," the doctor said, "let's make it nine months."