JAISHANKAR TICKS OFF EUROPE: UKRAINE A WAKE-UP CALL TO LOOK AT PROBLEMS IN ASIA

Responding to questions from European ministers and leaders on the crisis arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Tuesday pointed to challenges in Asia and India’s neighbourhood — in Afghanistan, and from China — and said it was a “wake-up call” for Europe to look at these instances where “problems have been happening”.

This came a day after visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the killings in Bucha as “severe violations of international law” and said the outcome of the war in Ukraine will not only determine the future of Europe, but also “deeply affect the Indo-Pacific region and the rest of the world”. She urged all members of the international community to support efforts for lasting peace — in a reference soliciting India’s support.

On Tuesday, while responding to a question from Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Jaishankar said, “You talked about Ukraine. I remember less than a year ago what happened in Afghanistan, where the entire civil society was thrown under the bus by the world. We in Asia face our own sets of challenges, which often has an impact on the rules-based order.”

Responding to another question from Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Jaishankar said, “If I were to put those very challenges in terms of principles, when a rules-based order was under challenge in Asia, the advice we got from Europe is: do more trade. At least we are not giving you that advice. And in Afghanistan, please show me which part of the rules-based order justified what the world did there?”

To another question from former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, Jaishankar said, “This could be a wake-up call for Europe, not just in Europe. It could be a wake-up call for Europe to also look at Asia. This has not been an easy part of the world for the last decade. And this is a part of the world where boundaries have not been settled, where terrorism is still practised, often sponsored by States. This is a part of the world where… the rules-based order has been under continuous stress for more than a decade. And I think it’s important for the rest of the world outside Asia to recognise this. It’s not that problems are going to happen. The problems have been happening.”

CAA ‘COMPASSIONATE AND AMELIORATIVE’ LEGISLATION, SAYS MHA ANNUAL REPORT

Even as notification of rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) remains pending for over two years, the government has said the legislation is “compassionate and ameliorative” and does not deprive any Indian of citizenship.

“The CAA is a limited and narrowly tailored legislation which seeks to provide a relaxation to aforesaid specific communities from the specified countries with a clear cut-off date. It is a compassionate and ameliorative legislation,” the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said in its latest annual report for 2020-21.

“The CAA does not apply to Indian citizens. Therefore, it does not in any way take away or abridge the rights of any Indian citizen. Further, the present legal process of acquiring Indian citizenship by any foreigner of any category as provided in the Citizenship Act-1955 is very much operational and the CAA does not amend or alter this legal position in any manner whatsoever. Hence, legal migrants of any religion from any country will continue to get Indian citizenship once they fulfil the eligibility conditions already provided in the law for registration or naturalisation,” it has said.

The notification of its rules, without which the law cannot be implemented, continues to be pending with no commitment from the government as to when it will happen.

PRASHANT KISHOR REFUSES TO JOIN CONG, SAYS PARTY NEEDS LEADERSHIP

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday declined the Congress offer to join the party and evolve its poll strategy. Kishor was asked by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to join the party and be a part of the Empowered Action Group-2024 and take care of its election strategy for upcoming polls. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Kishor has declined the offer and the party appreciates his efforts and suggestions.

Kishor had made a detailed presentation before top Congress leaders, which was discussed at length by senior leadership of the party, after which an offer was made to him.

Within a few minutes of the Congress saying that Kishor has declined the offer, he tweeted: "I declined the generous offer of Congress to join the party as part of the EAG and take responsibility for the elections. In my humble opinion, more than me the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep rooted structural problems through transformational reforms."

OVER 100 EX-BUREAUCRATS REQUEST PM MODI TO CALL FOR END TO ‘POLITICS OF HATE’

Over 100 former civil servants have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a hope that he will call for an end to what they termed as “politics of hate” allegedly practised “assiduously” by governments under BJP’s control.

In an open letter, they said “we are witnessing a frenzy of hate filled destruction in the country where at the sacrificial altar are not just Muslims and members of the other minority communities but the Constitution itself”.

Former Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung, former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, ex-foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, former home secretary G K Pillai and former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s principal secretary T K A Nair are among the 108 signatories to the letter.

As former civil servants, it is not normally our want to express ourselves in such extreme terms, but the relentless pace at which the constitutional edifice created by our founding fathers is being destroyed compels us to speak out and express our anger and anguish, the letter said.

“We appeal to your conscience, taking heart from your promise of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’,” it said.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / April 27

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Tuesday 2,927

Active Cases 16,279 (+643)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,23,654 (6)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

RUSSIA: WEST PURSUING PROXY WAR, DANGER OF N-CONFLICT REAL

The US and its allies met at a German air base on Tuesday to pledge new packages of ever heavier weapons for Ukraine, as Moscow accused the West of pursuing a proxy war and ignoring the “considerable” risk that it could spiral into a nuclear conflict.

In a marked escalation of Russian rhetoric, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was asked on state TV about the prospect of WW3 and whether the current situation was comparable to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that nearly caused nuclear war. “The risks now are considerable,” Lavrov said, according to the ministry’s transcript of the interview. “The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it,” Lavrov said. “Nato, in essence, is engaged in a war with Russia through a proxy and is arming that proxy. War means war. ”

Kyiv played down Lavrov’s remarks. Russia had lost its “last hope to scare the world off supporting Ukraine,” Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted after Lavrov’s interview. “This only means Moscow senses defeat.

“Nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s imperial aggression,” US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said, welcoming officials from more than 40 countries to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, headquarters of US air power in Europe. Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the next several weeks in Ukraine would be “critical”. “They need continued support to be successful. . . ,” he said, describing the aim as cordinating aid that includes heavy weapons like howitzer artillery.

The Russian military has warned it could strike Ukrainian “decision making centres” in Kyiv and said attacks wouldn’t be stopped by the possible presence of Western advisers there.

Meanwhile, Russia has halted gas deliveries to Poland after Poland made clear it won’t pay in roubles.

3 CHINA CITIZENS DIE IN BLAST AT KARACHI UNIV

Three Chinese citizens and their Pakistani driver were killed and four more people were wounded in an explosion that ripped through a van inside a university campus in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Tuesday. Separatist group Balochistan National Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out by a woman suicide bomber.

Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said CCTV footage showed a person covered from head-to-toe in a burqa walking up to the van, followed by an explosion around 2. 30pm. According to police, about 3-4 kg of explosives were packed in a school bag with ball bearings. “The material does not seem to be made locally,” said Raja Umar Khattab, chief of Karachi’s counterterrorism department.

THE REST

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TEJASHWI TIP HITS A RAW NERVE IN CONGRESS

The steady erosion in the Congress party’s vote share in Bihar has put its alliance with the RJD, which has cemented its position as the principal Opposition party in the state now, under considerable stress.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s recent statement in an interview with PTI – that the Congress must focus on 200-odd parliamentary seats in which it is in direct battle with the BJP while taking a “backseat” in states where regional parties are dominant players – seems to have further strained the relationship between the two parties, which have been in an alliance since 2000 barring the 2009 general elections.

On Tuesday, the functionaries of the two allies clashed on Twitter over Tejashwi’s statement, with the Congress’ social media department national convenor Saral Patel chiding the RJD that “Congress doesn’t need your advice, keep your advice to yourself. Congress people are capable enough to think about what it should do”.

The RJD social media convenor in turn taunted the Congress, saying “The Congress is so capable of thinking about itself that it is fighting with NOTA. This arrogance has reduced you to levels below NOTA”.

DECLARE YOUR ASSETS ONLINE, YOGI TELLS HIS MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS

In a “special meeting” to mark one month of the BJP government’s second term at the helm in UP, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked his Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday to declare their movable and immovable assets, and that of their family members, within three months of swearing-in — and release the details on an online portal that can be accessed by the general public.

Adityanath also asked the Ministers to ensure that their family members do not interfere in the functioning of the government.

Besides, the Chief Minister asked government employees to declare their movable and immovable assets, and that of their family members.

This is the first time that Ministers in UP have been specifically directed to declare their assets on an online portal that can be accessed by all. In 2017, too, Adityanath had directed his Cabinet to declare assets within a deadline of 15 days but without any specific instruction to release it online.

ENSURE NO HATE SPEECH AT DHARAM SANSAD: SUPREME COURT

On the eve of the ‘Dharam Sansad’ scheduled in Roorkee, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary to place on record the steps taken to ensure that no untoward statement will be made at the event. The direction came from a three-judge Bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar even as the Uttarakhand Government said all steps would be taken in accordance with the court’s directions.

As the Uttarakhand counsel said it was difficult to anticipate what would be said at the Dharam Sansad, the Bench shot back, “But if it is by the same person then you have to prevent it. Don’t make us say things….” The counsel said the authorities were confident that no untoward statement would be made during the event. However, the Bench went on to direct the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary to place on record the statement and inform it about the corrective steps taken.

“You know the preventive measures. You will have to do it. If it still happens, we will ask the Chief Secretary to remain present. We are directing you to take all these steps. You are bound to. You are not doing a favour to us by following the directions,” the Bench told the Uttarakhand counsel.

Several FIRs were earlier registered in connection with the three-day Dharam Sansad held in Haridwar in December last year where hate speeches were allegedly made targeting a particular community.

LIC FIXES PRICE BAND AT RS 902-949/SHARE FOR 3.5% STAKE SALE

Insurance behemoth LIC has fixed the price band at Rs 902-949 per share for its Rs 21,000-crore public offer. It would offer a Rs 60 discount for policyholders and Rs 40 for retail investors and employees. The issue is likely to open for subscription on May 4 and close on May 9, and the bid lot would be 15. Anchor investors can subscribe to the shares on May 2.

The LIC has reserved 2.21 crore shares or 10% of the issue size for its policyholders and 15 lakh shares for its employees. After these reservations, 50% of the remaining shares will be allocated to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 35% to retail investors and 15% to non-institutional investors.

The government has also filed papers with SEBI seeking exemption from the 5% stake sale norm for companies with a valuation of over Rs 1 lakh crore as it now wants to offload only 3.5% stake.

In February, the draft red herring prospectus filed by the LIC had intended to sell 5% stake or 31.6 crore shares.

A FIRST, 2 VACCINES CLEARED FOR KIDS BELOW 12

India is all set to expand its basket of Covid vaccines with the drug regulator on Tuesday, in a first, granting approval to two jabs for children below 12.

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, already in use for the 15-18 age group, has been granted emergency use authorisation for kids aged 6-12 years. Biological E’s Corbevax has received the same approval for children aged 5-12 years. Corbevax was earlier approved for children in the 12-14 age group. A two-dose regimen of ZyCov D, the world’s first DNA Covid vaccine, developed by Cadila Healthcare, has also been cleared for use in children above 12 years.

The DCGI has asked the three firms to submit safety data every 15 days for the first two months.

TWITTER AFLAME WITH REVOLT OVER ITS TAKEOVER BY MUSK

Twitter is aflutter with revolt and rebellion over its takeover by Tesla’s Elon Musk, the world richest individual. So great is the ferment in the social media firm that it has blocked its developers from making changes to the app amid fears of sabotage by angry staffers. Furious employees who believe Musk’s Twitter grab is dangerous are venting openly, while civil liberties groups are warning that it would put too much power in the hands of one individual even though he is free-speech absolutist.

Alarms about a Musk takeover of Twitter and what could mean for influential social media platform has erupted in different quarters in different forms. There are also questions on what the deal will mean for Twitter’s China content policy as Musk’s Tesla relies heavily on China for production and vehicle sales. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whom Musk overtook to become the world’s wealthiest man, suggested in a tweet that Twitter could become vulnerable to pressure from Beijing, ostensibly because Tesla has big stakes in China. “Did the Chinese government just gain abit of leverage over the town square?” he asked, before reeling back suspicion in a follow up tweet. “My own answer to this question is probably not. The more likely outcome in this regard is complexity in China for Tesla, rather than censorship at Twitter”.

There is also the Washington angle that will take several weeks to unfold. Liberal lawmakers like Elizabeth Warren, who are leery of Big Tech and who have long wanted to reign it in, believe Musk’s takeover is dangerous for democracy. “Billionaires like Musk play by a different set of rules than everyone else, accumulating power for their own gain. We need a wealth tax and strong rules to hold Big Tech accountable,” she tweeted. There is also apprehension that Musk’s insistence on free speech and open platform will pave way for the return of Donald Trump, who was banned indefinitely. Although Trump has said he does not intend to return, some of his surrogates are making plans for a triumphant return.

IPL MATCH 39: PARAG, KULDEEP SEN STAR IN RR'S WIN OVER RCB

Riyan Parag smashed a match-defining unbeaten half-century before the bowling unit lived up to its reputation to hand Rajasthan Royals a 29-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL match, in Pune, on Tuesday.

Parag (56 not out off 31 balls) single-handedly took his side to 144 for 8 with his unbeaten half-century, which is his highest score in IPL. He marshalled the RR lower-order brilliantly and smashed Harshal Patel for a boundary and two huge sixes in the final over to take RR to a decent total after being sent in to bat.

But RCB's chase never got going as RR bowlers, led by young Kuldeep Sen (4/20), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/17) and Prasidh Krishna (2/23), bundled out their opponents for 115 in 19.3 overs.

Opening the innings on the back of two consecutive first-ball ducks, Virat Kohli started on a cagey note but lit up the stadium and raised hopes of his fans when he struck two back-to-back boundaries of Trent Boult to start his innings. But as it has been happening in the tournament, Kohli flopped once again when a Prasidh Krishna bouncer got the better of him in the next over.

RR (6 wins in 8 matches) are now at top of the points table while RCB (5 in 9) are placed 5th.

INDICATORS

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Bitcoin - USD 38,023

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. - Francis Bacon

OFF TRACK

John was talking to his fiance, Rebecca.

He said, "Be honest, now, baby. How am I as a lover?"

To which she replied, "Honey, I would definitely say that you're warm."

"Really?" he said excitedly.

"Yes, in fact I would say that you're the dictionary definition of the word 'warm'."

John was pleased until he went home and, just for fun, checked his dictionary and found, "WARM: Not so hot."