MONSOON SESSION ENDS 4 DAYS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

The monsoon session of Parliament ended on Monday, four days ahead of schedule, after continued disruptions during the last three weeks over issues like price rise, suspension of 27 MPs, the controversial "Rashtrapatni" remark and the Enforcement Directorate's action.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which were adjourned sine die Monday afternoon, saw the passage of seven and five bills, respectively, during the session which was to end on August 12.

While Lok Sabha saw a total of 16 sittings that lasted for 44 hours and 29 minutes, the upper house met for 38 hours with as many as 47 hours lost due to disruptions, an issue flagged by outgoing Chairman Venkaiah Naidu who has frequently expressed unhappiness over the stalling of proceedings.

Rajya Sabha also bid farewell to Vice President Naidu, whose tenure ends on August 10. During the next session, Rajya Sabha proceedings would be chaired by Jagdeep Dhakhar, who will take over on August 11.

Members cutting across party lines recalled the contributions of Naidu, noting how he inspired and allowed them to speak in their native languages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his witty one-liners were "revered, and never countered". He hailed Naidu's highly productive five-year term as vice president of India and Rajya Sabha chairman and said the attendance of members in the House increased during his tenure.

Govt sources said that the members of various parties were in favour of the earlier conclusion of the session as they wanted to visit their constituencies due to upcoming festivals.

However, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien hit out at the govt for cutting short the Monsoon session. "Stop mocking #Parliament. We will fight for its sanctity and prevent PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah from turning this great institution into the Gujarat Gymkhana," O'Brien said in a tweet.

ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT BILL TABLED IN LS AMID OPPOSITION

Hours before the two Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die on Monday, four days ahead of schedule (August 12), the govt introduced the contentious Electricity Amendment Bill-2022 in the Lok Sabha to enable the entry of private players in India’s power distribution landscape.

Tabled amid stiff opposition from the Congress, TMC, DMK and the Left, the Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on energy after Union Power Minister RK Singh made a related reference, terming the draft legislation “pro-people and pro-farmer” and accusing the Opposition of “false propaganda.” He said there was no provision in the Bill to cut power subsidies to farmers.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had recently warned the govt against bringing this Bill, saying its withdrawal was one of the principal demands of the year-long farmers’ movement. “On December 9, 2021, the govt, in a letter to the SKM, had said that there will be a discussion with all stakeholders on the provisions in the Electricity Amendment Bill, which affect farmers. No discussions have taken place,” the SKM had pointed out.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury referred to the Centre’s promise to the SKM today while MP Manish Tewari articulated the party’s concerns. “This Bill seeks to amend the Constitution through a statute and is beyond the legislative competence of this House. The amendment substantially weakens the power of the states by allowing multiple private agencies to distribute power in one place, paving the way for privatisation of profits and nationalisation of losses,” Tewari argued. He said under the Bill, the Centre had been empowered to issue licences to multi-state distribution companies with no consultation with states.

‘RS HAS RIGHT TO PASS, REJECT, TWEAK BILLS, BUT NOT TO STALL’

Taking aim at opposition parties stalling legislative business in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Upper House has every right to pass, reject or amend bills referred to it by the Lok Sabha, but stalling or blocking them is not provided for in parliamentary democracy.

While delivering his farewell speech for outgoing Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu, the PM said, “This House certainly has the right to agree or disagree to the bills that are referred from the other House.

“The House can pass, reject or amend them. But our democracy does not envisage stalling the bills received from the other House. ” The PM said he hoped the House will function with accountability to the nation taking ahead the legacy that Naidu is leaving behind. The PM recalled how Naidu used to tell both the treasury and opposition benches, “let the govt propose, let the opposition oppose and let the House dispose. ”

CHINA TO INDIA: DON’T DISTURB ‘NORMAL EXCHANGE’ WITH SL

Still smarting from Sri Lanka’s decision to block a Chinese spy vessel’s visit to Hambantota, Beijing on Monday asked India to not disturb its “normal exchange” with the island nation by citing “senseless” security concerns. Sri Lanka had withdrawn its approval, which was given before President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed office, for the research vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at the Hambantota port following a protest by India.

“China urges relevant parties to see China’s scientific explorations in a reasonable and sensible way and stop disturbing the normal exchange between China and Sri Lanka,” said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. “Sri Lanka is a sovereign state. It can develop relations with other countries in the light of its own development interests,” he added. The spokesperson said it’s “senseless to pressure Sri Lanka” by citing security concerns.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / Aug 8

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Sunday 16,167

Active Cases 1,35,510 (+577)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,26,730 (41)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

CHINA DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN GO ON A DAY AFTER SCHEDULED END

China’s military announced fresh drills in the seas and airspace around Taiwan on Monday, a day after the scheduled end of its largest-ever exercises to protest against last week’s visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it would conduct joint drills focusing on anti-submarine and sea assault operations - confirming the fears of some security analysts and diplomats that Beijing would continue to maintain pressure on Taiwan’s defences.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the move, saying China was deliberately creating crises. It demanded Beijing stop its military actions and “pull back from the edge”. “In the face of military intimidation created by China, Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down, and will more firmly defend its sovereignty, national security, and free and democratic way of life,” the ministry said in a statement.

AMID GLOBAL ALARM, KYIV AND MOSCOW TRADE BLAME FOR SHELLING OF N-PLANT

International alarm over the weekend shelling of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex grew on Monday, as Kyiv and Moscow traded blame for the attacks. UN chief Antonio Guterres, calling any attack on a nuclear plant a “suicidal thing”, demanded that UN nuclear inspectors be given access. Zaporizhzhia is situated in a southern region seized by Russiain March and now targeted by Ukraine for a counter-offensive.

Kyiv appealed for the area to be demilitarised and for the IAEA, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, to be let in. Russia’s foreign ministry said it too favoured an IAEA visit, which it accused Ukraine of blocking while trying to “take Europe hostage” by shelling the plant. Ukraine blamed Russia for weekend attacks in the area of the complex, which is still run by Ukrainian technicians. It said three radiation sensors were damaged, with two workers hospitalised with injuries.

THE REST

=========

ALL EYES ON BIHAR TODAY

All eyes in Bihar are now on the meetings today called by CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, of their respective legislators, which have triggered speculations of seismic political developments in the state.

However, those appearing to be in the know of things in both parties insisted that notwithstanding hectic political activity that continued till late Monday evening, a dramatic realignment was not on the agenda of the meetings that will commence simultaneously, right across the street from each other.

RJD state president Jagadanand Singh expressed annoyance over constant speculations about a fresh tie-up with Nitish Kumar and asserted "we have made no such proposal nor have we received any such proposal". "Our meeting tomorrow has not been necessitated by the rumblings in the NDA. It was scheduled much earlier and the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav wants to have a one-to-one conversation with MLAs, many of whom have been lax in carrying out the party's membership drive which is vital to strengthen the organisation," Singh said.

The BJP showed remarkable restraint with all its hotheads, who abound in the state unit, kept on a tight leash.

LAW MINISTER HITS OUT AT SIBAL FOR SAYING HE HAD ‘NO HOPE LEFT’ IN SC

Law minister Kiren Rijiju lashed out at senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal for his criticism of the Supreme Court over its recent judgments, including the validating of provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Rijiju said some Congress leaders betray a mindset that courts or any constitutional authority must favour them or work according to their interest. Whenever courts give a decree or a judgment against their mindset, they start attacking the constitutional authorities, he said.

The law minister’s attack comes a day after Sibal had said that after practising for 50 years in the SC that he had “no hope left” in the institution. In reference to the apex court’s PMLA judgment, the senior advocate said that the Enforcement Directorate has now become extremely dangerous and that it has crossed the line of individual liberty.

He hinted at bench fixing where “politically sensitive cases are assigned to certain judges” and verdicts can be predicted by everyone.

“A court where judges are instituted through a process of compromise; a court where there is no system to determine which case will be presided over by which bench, where the Chief Justice of India decides which matter will be dealt with by which bench and when, that court can never be independent,” Kapil Sibal said, questioning the independence of the higher judiciary.

Rijiju called the utterances of Sibal, who is an independent member of the RS, no more aligned with Congress, as “very, very sad for the entire country”. The law minister said that the judiciary and other constitutional authorities are absolutely independent, working according to the rule of law and are guided by the statutes.

CONG URGES SC TO TAKE COGNISANCE OF AYODHYA 'LAND SCAM'

The Congress on Monday urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of an alleged "land scam" in Ayodhya and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his "silence" on the issue.

The Congress' attack came after the Ayodhya Development Authority accused 40 people, including the City mayor, a local BJP MLA and a former party legislator, of illegally trading plots and building infrastructure there.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged a "huge property scam" is happening in Ayodhya. "Why are BJP leaders acquiring more land at low cost and then selling it at steeply high prices to the temple trust with the cognisance of temple trust members….The only probe that is happening into the land scam is at the district magistrate-level. How can the DM probe the MLA, the ex-MLA, the ministers in the UP govt," she said.

Shrinate questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah on the matter.

FIRST BATCH OF 19 WOMEN CADETS JOIN NDA, SET TO BEGIN TRAINING THIS WEEK

After the Supreme Court paved the way for women to take the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam last year, the first batch of 19 cadets have joined the tri-services academy in Khadakwasla, Pune.

The cadets will be a part of the NDA (Women)’s 148th course, and will report on Tuesday.

These cadets will undergo the same training as their male counterparts and will train at the NDA for three years. After this, they will be transferred to their specific services for further training. Out of the 19 women selected, ten will join the army, six the air force, and three will be in the navy.

Reports suggest that 147,000 women registered for the 2022 NDA exam. This was nearly 22 percent of the total 669,000 applications received. The NDA exam is held twice every year – in April and September.

In September 2021, the Supreme Court permitted women candidates to appear for entrance examinations for the first time.

GREEN ENERGY TO PIP OTHER RIL VERTICALS IN 5-7 YEARS: AMBANI

Reliance Industries’s (RIL’s) green energy business, which will go live in 12 months, will outshine all its existing growth engines in just five-to-seven years, said its chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani.

In his address to RIL shareholders in the FY22 report, Ambani said, “Over the next 12 months, our investments across the green energy value chain will gradually start going live, scaling up over the next couple of years. This new growth engine holds great promise to outshine all our existing growth engines in just 5-7 years. ” RIL launched the green energy business in FY22 with a capex commitment of $10 billion over three years.

“Just as India has the world’s most affordable wireless broadband today, we will have the world’s most affordable green energy within this decade,” said Ambani.

CWG: SHUTTLERS, PADDLERS DAZZLE ON LAST DAY; INDIA FINISH 4TH WITH 22 GOLD

Led by the iconic PV Sindhu, Indian shuttlers owned the badminton arena by winning all three titles on offer on the day while paddler Sharath Kamal yet again reminded everyone of his class and longevity, as the country wrapped up its CWG campaign with 61 medals to finish a creditable fourth.

The concluding day of the Games began with superstar Sindhu outplaying Canada's Michelle Li in straight sets -  21-15 , 21-13.

Later, 10th-ranked Lakshya Sen came from behind to end Ng Tze Yong's giant-killing run in the competition. The 20-year-old defeated the world number 42 from Malaysia 19-21, 21-9, 21-16.

India's star doubles pair of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy won the country's third gold from the badminton court with a straight game victory over England's Ben Lane and Sean Mendy at the Commonwealth Games. The Indian duo won 21-15, 21-13.

India thus finished a fantastic badminton campaign with three gold, one silver and two bronze.

In Table Tennis, Sharath Kamal and G Sathian had lost to England's Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall in the men's doubles gold medal match, but on Monday, both the Indians had their revenge. This was after Sathiyan beat Drinkhall 11-9 11-3 11-5 8-11 9-11 10-12 11-9 in an exciting but nerve-jangling bronze play-off.

Sharath outsmarted the 29-year-old nimble-footed Briton 11-13 11-7 11-2 11-6 11-8 to claim his second CWG singles gold after 16 years. He had won the singles title in the 2006 Melbourne Games. The superstar paddler will return from Birmingham with a rich haul of four medals, having won the men's team and the mixed team gold, apart from his silver in the men's doubles.

However, with the 0-7 hammering of the men's hockey team by Australia, the Games ended on a somewhat disappointing note. The manner in which India caved in took away the joy of the silver medal it managed.

India's final tally read 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze and they stood behind third-placed Canada (26-32-34). Australia (67-57-54) finished on top ahead of hosts England (57-66-53).

LIKE FOR LIKE, INDIA’S BEST EVER CWG PERFORMANCE

India’s 61 medals at Birmingham might seem well short of the 101 won in the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 and their 22 gold medals below the 26 won at Gold Coast four years ago, but account for disciplines that were missing here, and this is actually India’s best CWG performance.

Here’s how that works out. The 101 medals in Delhi included 30 from shooting, eight from archery, seven from Greco-Roman wrestling and four from tennis. None of these disciplines were part of the 2022 Games. Subtract those from the Delhi total and what we’re left with is 52 medals, including 17 gold. For a fair comparison, also take away the lawn bowls gold and silver from Birmingham, the cricket silver and the judo medals because cricket and judo were not part of the 2010 CWG and lawn bowls in 2010 did not have men’s and women’s fours, the events in which India won medals here. That reduces the 2022 tally to 55 medals and 21 gold, better on both counts than 2010.

A similar,  apples to apples comparison with 2018 would mean excluding the shooting medals, which brings the tally from four years ago to 50, including 19 gold, again short of the total achieved this time.

NEERAJ CHOPRA CONGRATULATES FRIEND ARSHAD NADEEM

At the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Sunday, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the javelin throw gold and underlined his status as a world class athlete. With his effort of 90.18 m, Nadeem crossed a barrier that even India’s Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra hasn’t. While Chopra missed these Games because of injury, in the coming days the healthy on-field rivalry between the two friends is expected to intensify – both egging the other to throw the javelin further. Chopra’s best is 89.94 m.

Neeraj, who had to miss the Commonwealth Games this year due to injury, congratulated his dear friend on Instagram where he wrote in the video of Nadeem’s throw, shared from the official handle of the Pakistan javelin thrower, “Congratulations Arshad bhai for gold medal and crossing 90 mtr with new games record. Aage ke Competitions ke liye all the best.”

INDICATORS

Sensex 58,853 (+465), Nifty 17,525 (+128), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 57,492

Nasdaq 12,644 (-13) Dow 32,833 (+29), S&P 4,140 (-5)

(US$-Rs. 79.43 GBP-Rs. 95.99, Euro-Rs. 80.93, UAE Dhm-Rs.21.62, Can$-Rs. 61.62, Aus$- Rs. 55.30

GBP 0.82 /US$, Euro 0.98 /US$, Jap.Yen 134.98 /US$, Aus$ 1.43 /US$, Sing 1.37 /US$, Bang Taka 93.23 /US$, Can$ 1.28 /US$, Mal Ring 4.45 /US$,

Pak Re 224.00 /US$, Phil Peso 55.46 /US$, Russian Rouble 60.98 /US$, NZ$ 1.59 /US$, Thai Baht 35.64 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.78 /US$)

Bitcoin - USD 23,840

Dollar Index 106.27 Brent Crude 96.41 BDI 1,560

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,790 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,187 / 4,755, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 63,000

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

But let's put it this way: You got to be willing to change. Once you harden, the arteries do. - Allan Gurganus

OFF TRACK

There's a statistical theory that if you gave a million monkeys typewriters and set them to work, they'd eventually come up with the complete works of Shakespeare.

Thanks to the Internet, we now know this isn't true.