NITISH KUMAR DUMPS BJP IN BIHAR, TO FORM NEW GOVT WITH RJD & CONGRESS

On a day of fast-moving political developments, Bihar’s mercurial leader Nitish Kumar resigned as the chief minister, met Governor Phagu Chauhan once again and staked claim to form a new govt. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accompanied him. The JD(U)-RJD led ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) will take oath at 2 pm on Wednesday. Nitish has already been elected leader of the Mahagathbandhan of seven parties. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122. Speaking to the media later, Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will be the deputy chief minister and the new cabinet will have representatives from the RJD and Congress besides the JD-U, according to sources. The Left parties are likely to give outside support to the new govt "retaining their independent identity".

Kumar’s move is a reversal of what happened in 2017 when he left the Mahagathbandhan to rejoin the NDA,

Accusing Nitish Kumar of betraying the people of Bihar and the BJP, president of the saffron party’s state unit Sanjay Jaiswal Tuesday said: “We fought the 2020 polls together under NDA, the mandate was for JD-U and BJP, we won more seats despite that, Nitish Kumar was made the CM. Whatever happened today is a betrayal of Bihar’s people & the BJP.”

During a joint presser with Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav said: “Nitish is the most experienced Chief Minister in the country who has taken a courageous step.” Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, the RJD leader said: “Across the Hindi heartland, the BJP does not have any alliance partners. History tells us that the BJP destroys the parties with which it forms an alliance. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra.” “JP Nadda said they will end regional parties. The BJP knows only to intimidate and buy people. Our only aim was to not let the BJP implement its agenda in Bihar. We all know how Laluji stopped the ‘Rath’ of Advaniji. We won’t relent at any cost,” Tejashwi Yadav added.

In the Bihar House of 242 – down from the total 243 owing to the death of an RJD MLA – this is how the parties rank: BJP (77), JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), RJD (79), Congress (19), CPI(M-L) (12), CPI (4), AIMIM (1), Independent (1).

In the 2020 polls, the BJP’s vote share was 19.5 per cent, the JD(U) won 15.4 per cent, the RJD 23.1 per cent and the Congress 9.5 per cent.

NITISH HABITUAL BETRAYER, ALLEGES BJP; ANNOUNCES STATE-WIDE STIR

The BJP on Tuesday fumed at yet another volte face by Nitish Kumar, accusing him of being a “habitual betrayer” who was pushing Bihar into the abyss of lawlessness and corruption by entering into a fresh alliance with the RJD.

This is Kumar’s 3rd flip since 2015 assembly polls in Bihar as he initially fought as a part of Mahagathbandhan (with RJD and Congress) against NDA, later changing ranks midway in 2017 to join BJP. He fought the 2020 polls in alliance with BJP and has now again joined hands with RJD and Congress.

In a statement issued after core committee meeting at the state headquarters, the party announced that it will stage massive protests (mahadharnas) against the “betrayal” by the JD(U) leader across all districts on Wednesday which will be followed by agitations at the block level a day later.

Reacting furiously to the development, senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who had served as Kumar's deputy for more than a decade, accused the former boss of telling “blatant lie”. He dismissed JD(U)'s allegations that the BJP wanted to break the party.

"It is a white lie that BJP had made RCP Singh Union minister without Nitishji's consent. It is also a lie that BJP wanted to break JD(U)," Sushil Modi said in a tweet.

OPPN PARTIES SEE MOVE AS SIGN OF TAKING FIGHT TO BJP

Opposition parties welcomed Nitish Kumar’s move to snap ties with BJP and ally with RJD, Congress and other parties in Bihar as a move that took the fight to BJP and a sign that the opposition would not be intimidated by the saffron party.

“This is a good beginning today, the day when the slogan of ‘Bharat chhoro (Quit India)’ was given against the British. If the slogan of ‘BJP bhagaao (drive away BJP)’ is coming from Bihar, I feel in other states also, parties will stand against BJP, and so will the people,” Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said.

Congress politician Jairam Ramesh said that the ruling party had been “illegally” toppling state govts. “In March 2020, Modi Sarkar postponed the Covid-19 lockdown to engineer the fall of the Kamal Nath govt in Madhya Pradesh. Now, it cuts short the Parliament session knowing its coalition govt in Bihar is going. What goes up must come down!” Ramesh said on Twit-ter.

CPI general secretary D Raja tweeted to say that Nitish’s move was a “strong indictment of the politics of intimidation practiced by BJP”. “BJP’s authoritarianism leaves no scope for cooperation. After Akalis & Shiv Sena, JD(U) is the latest example. Cracks are visible in the relationship of BJP & AIADMK too,” he said.

Former PM and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda tweeted: “The developments in Bihar made me think of the days when the Janata Dal parivar was under one roof. . . If the younger generation decides, it can offer a good alternative to this great nation,” he tweeted.

Tamil Nadu’s governing DMK said party president MK Stalin’s determination to battle BJP in national politics had received a boost from Nitish’s move. A DMK functionary recalled how Stalin had called for opposition unity before the presidential polls.

TMCMP Derek O’Brien said the shock received by BJP in Bihar was among the reasons why the Parliament session was being curtailed by the central govt.

UNDETERRED BY FAILURE, SSLV TO SOON ATTEMPT ANOTHER FLIGHT

The failure of India's newest rocket to put small satellites in orbit was not a setback and the space agency will soon attempt another flight, Space Commission member AS Kiran Kumar has said.

Kumar was commenting on the failure of the first demonstration flight of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) to put an earth observation satellite (EOS2) and AzaadiSat, into the desired orbit on Sunday.

Kumar said all the three stages of ISRO's newest rocket performed well and the primary objectives of the launch vehicle were demonstrated well.

“It is a question of tweaking certain parts….Very soon they will be attempting the next flight,” he said.

Kumar said the SSLV was significant because satellites were now becoming smaller and the new rocket could help India get a share of the small satellite launch market.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / Aug 9

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Monday 12,751

Active Cases 1,31,807 (-3,703)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,26,772 (42)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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FBI RAIDS TRUMP HOME

The FBI on Monday raided Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, triggering a massive political fracas in the US, including an angry outburst from the former President, rage from his supporters, and jubilation among his critics.

The FBI itself did not immediately disclose the reason for the unprecedented raid, but Trump himself confirmed the development saying “my beautiful home. . . is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents”. The search is said to be related to Trump’s handling of confidential presidential documents he is believed to have brought to Mara-Lago after demitting office. Trump delayed returning 15 boxes of material requested by officials with the National Archives for many months, only doing so when there became a threat of action to retrieve them.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the US before. After working and cooperating with the relevant govt agencies, this unannounced raid was not appropriate. It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponisation of the justice system, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don’t want me to run for President in 2024,” Trump raged in a lengthy statement. Complaining that “they even broke into my safe!”, Trump said that “such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries”.

WESTERN EUROPE GRAPPLES WITH EXTREME HEAT, DROUGHT

Business for Francoise DrozBartholet has reduced to a trickle, just like stretches of the Doubs River straddling the French-Swiss border that her cruise boats usually ply. Water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs across western Europe are running low, or even dry, amid the severest drought in decades which is putting stress on drinking water supplies, hampering river freight and tourism and threatening crop yields. “We hope this drought is an exception to the rule,” said Droz-Bartholet, whose bookings are 20% lower than usual.

Conditions have deteriorated across Europe. In Spain, farmers fear a harsh drought may reduce olive oil output by nearly a third in the world’s largest producer. In France which is facing fourth heatwave this week, trucks are delivering water to dozens of villages without water. In Germany, cargo vessels cannot sail fully loaded along the Rhine, and along Italy’s river Po, large sandbanks now bake in the sun as water levels recede.

Britain’s weather service on Tuesday issued an amber “Extreme Heat” warning for parts of England and Wales, with no respite in sight from hot dry conditions that have sparked fires, broken temperature records and strained the nation’s infrastructure. The amber warning — the second-most severe after red — will be in place from Thursday through to the end of Sunday, the UK Met Office said. Temperatures are expected to peak at 35°C.

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KARNATAKA: SPECULATIONS RIFE OVER CHANGE OF CM

The spectre of another change in chief ministership has risen in Karnataka following the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state last week.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has come under severe criticism from within the BJP itself following the recent murder of a youth leader in Dakshina Kannada district, went into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 for a third time on August 6, ahead of a scheduled visit to Delhi.

Bommai reportedly looked out of sorts during a visit by Amit Shah on August 3. The chief minister was scheduled to travel to Delhi on August 6 and 7 to attend meetings chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but cancelled his visit after testing positive. The cancellation of the visit to Delhi has been read by BJP leaders as a possible sign of the exit of the CM.

A former BJP MLA who is considered to be close to the Yediyurappa camp has stated that the Karnataka CM could be changed even before August 15.

According to sources in the state govt, the BJP leadership is concerned over its govt in Karnataka losing credibility owing to various issues in recent weeks, including murders of party workers and poor administration. The BJP is also reportedly concerned over factionalism disrupting the party’s preparations in the run up to the next state polls in 2023.

AKHILESH, MAYAWATI JOIN TIRANGA CAMPAIGN

As the BJP and the Yogi Adityanath-led party govt gear up to ensure the proposed hoisting of 4.5 crore tricolours in Uttar Pradesh during August 11-17 as part of the nationwide “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign under the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” initiative to mark the 75th Independence Day anniversary, the Opposition parties, including the SP and BSP, have also joined the campaign actively.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a campaign to hoist national flag in every state household from August 9 to August 15 from Jhauvva village in Kannauj district. He also felicitated the kin of freedom fighters at the event.

The BSP national president, Mayawati, also made an appeal Tuesday to the people of the country to hoist tricolours at their homes to express happiness over 75 years of India’s freedom.

When asked whether the SP was following the BJP in undertaking the tricolour campaign to display patriotism, the party spokesperson, Abdul Hafeez Gandhi, said, “No particular party has the copyright on patriotism. It is everyone’s right to express love and respect for the country. Since this is a special occasion of 75 years of freedom, SP has undertaken a week-long programme. Party workers will reach out to people with appeal to hoist national flags.”

Regarding Mayawati’s appeal, BSP leader Faizan Khan said, “BSP has always respected the national flag. But he also said that if other parties stay away from the triclour campaign, BJP will try to project itself as the only “patriotic political party”.

28L VISIT CHAR DHAM IN 60 DAYS, EXPERTS WARN OF RISKS

In just 60 days, around 28 lakh pilgrims visited the four Char Dham shrines, all located above 10,000 feet on “fragile” mountain ranges. Since their opening in early May, a staggering 10,42,963 pilgrims visited Badrinath (17,383 daily on an average) and 9,76,514 Kedarnath (16,275 daily). Geologists, glaciologists and experts said this huge turnout “could lead to consequences”, as the hills are still shaping into mature mountain ranges, which is why the least disturbance could lead to loss of human life.

Experts believe the shrines should have a fixed footfall limit, considering they are located on fragile zones.

Scientists said choppers flying to and from the Kedarnath and Badrinath “like auto-rickshaws” was bound to affect the ecology, especially the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, from where the sorties take off.

AIRLINES ASKED TO SHARE PNR DETAILS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS WITH GOVT

Airlines will have to mandatorily share PNR details of passengers with customs authorities 24 hours prior to departure of international flights, a move which will prevent law offenders from fleeing the country.

The information, which shall include name, contact details and payment details, will be used by the customs department for improved surveillance and risk assessment of passengers entering or leaving the country, according to a finance ministry notification.

With this, India joins 60 other countries that collect PNR details of international passengers.

GOVT MULLS ADOPTION OF COMMON CHARGER FOR ALL DEVICES

The govt is exploring the adoption of a common charger for a variety of devices, including smartphones and tablets, and has called a meeting on August 17 to discuss the issue with the industry, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said on Tuesday.

The meeting with mobile makers and sector-specific organisations has been scheduled to assess the possibility of ending the use of multiple chargers in India and reduce the burden on consumers besides preventing e-waste, the official said.

Recently, the European Union announced the adoption of a USB-C port common charging standard for small electronic devices by 2024. A similar demand is in the US as well.

"If companies can serve in Europe and the US, why cannot they do it in India? Portable electronic devices like smartphones and tablets should have a common charger," the official told PTI. If India does not push for this change, such products might get dumped here, the official added.

MICROSOFT ONBOARDS GOVT-BACKED OPEN NETWORK OF DIGITAL COMMERCE

ONDC (OPEN Network of digital commerce), which is developing a first-of-its-kind open network for digital commerce, on Tuesday said US tech giant Microsoft has onboarded its platform. Microsoft intends to introduce social e-commerce — group buying experience — in the Indian market, it said.

ONDC was launched earlier this year by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), with an aim to create an inclusive e-commerce market and enable all kinds of sellers and buyers to leverage digitisation of commerce through its network.

Microsoft’s collaboration with ONDC is crucial as it widens the models available on the network, which is aimed at fostering equal opportunities for small, medium, and large buyers as well as sellers.

WHATSAPP NOW LETS YOU DELETE MESSAGES FOR EVERYONE EVEN AFTER 2 DAYS

For anyone who regretted quite often after hitting the send button on a WhatsApp chat, there is good news. WhatsApp just announced that users will have a little over two days to delete messages for everyone.

Announcing the new time limit via a post on Twitter, the company wrote: “Rethinking your message? Now you’ll have a little over 2 days to delete your messages from your chats after you hit send."

The feature was under beta testing for over a month. It will begin with effect immediately only for users with the updated version of the app.

Earlier, WhatsApp offered an hour and eight minutes to delete for everyone unwanted, irrelevant or mistakenly sent text messages.

UMPIRE RUDI KOERTZEN DIES IN A CAR CRASH

Umpire Rudi Koertzen, along with three other people died in a head-on collision near Riversdale on Tuesday. The 73-year-old was on his way back home from Cape Town after a golf weekend when the tragic incident took place.

Koertzen officiated in a record 209 ODIs. He also became the second umpire, after Steve Bucknor, to officiate in 100 Test matches, finishing with 108 Tests to his name.

SERENA ANNOUNCES IMPENDING RETIREMENT, SAYS 'EVOLVING AWAY FROM TENNIS'

Serena Williams says she is ready to step away from tennis after winning 23 Grand Slam titles, turning her focus to having another child and her business interests.

"I'm turning 41 this month, and something's got to give," Williams wrote in an essay released Tuesday by Vogue magazine.

Williams, one of the greatest and most accomplished athletes in the history of her or any other sport, said she does not like the word retirement and prefers to think of this stage of her life as "evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me."

Williams is playing this week in Toronto, at a hard-court tournament that leads into the U.S. Open, the year's last Grand Slam event, which begins in New York on Aug. 29.

INDICATORS

(Indian Markets were closed yesterday, on account of Moharram)

Nasdaq 12,494 (-151) Dow 32,774 (-58), S&P 4,122 (-18)

(US$-Rs. 79.45 GBP-Rs. 96.03, Euro-Rs. 81.14, UAE Dhm-Rs.21.62, Can$-Rs. 61.72, Aus$- Rs. 55.39

GBP 0.82 /US$, Euro 0.97 /US$, Jap.Yen 134.97 /US$, Aus$ 1.43 /US$, Sing 1.37 /US$, Bang Taka 93.03 /US$, Can$ 1.28 /US$, Mal Ring 4.45 /US$,

Pak Re 223.81 /US$, Phil Peso 55.56 /US$, Russian Rouble 60.58 /US$, NZ$ 1.59 /US$, Thai Baht 35.38 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.64 /US$)

Bitcoin - USD 23,043

Dollar Index 106.27 Brent Crude 96.25 BDI 1,566

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,795 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,231 / 4,795, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 64,500

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A positive attitude may not solve every problem but it makes solving any problem a more pleasant experience. - Grant Fairley

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