PM SLAMS CONG OVER PATKAR JOINING RAHUL’S YATRA

Leading the BJP’s campaign in poll-bound Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the upcoming elections would decide state’s path for the next 25 years and not just five years.

As he recalled the issue of water scarcity in the Saurashtra region, the PM also slammed Rahul for walking with Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar, who “stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades”. Claiming the ambitious project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over the Narmada was delayed because many people tried hard to stall it, the PM said, “The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad. You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was walking with a woman who was an anti-Narmada activist. She had stalled the project for three decades.” He accused activists of defaming Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project.

YOU STOP, WE STOP: JAIRAM TO BJP ON SAVARKAR ROW

Amid the row over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the Congress on Sunday said it would stop commenting on saffron ideologues the day the BJP stopped spreading falsehoods about Congress leaders.

“Let there be no debate on this matter after what I am going to say. The day the BJP and RSS stop speaking falsehoods about our leaders, we will stop saying truths about their leaders,” AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said today when asked to comment on the issue.

Jairam was responding to comments by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi who, while referring to Savarkar’s letter to the British stating ‘your obedient servant’ mentioned that even Chhatrapati Shivaji had written six letters of apology to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut again questioned Gandhi's decision to take up issues with which the people of the country have emotional attachments. "By speaking against Savarkar, Rahul Gandhi doused the positive energy and confidence generated by the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Raut claimed.

NEPAL VOTES IN ELECTIONS WITH GEO-POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

Nepal reported a lower turnout than last time as it voted on Sunday for a new Parliament and provincial assemblies. As against 68 per cent in 2017, preliminary reports put the voting percentage for Sunday's turnout at 61 per cent, said Nepal's Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya.

With the results slated to have geo-political implications as India, China and the US jostle for influence in the Himalayan state, there is intense international scrutiny. Representatives from 18 diplomatic missions, including India, as well as international organisations observed the elections in most constituencies. Nepal has also invited top election officials from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea and the Maldives to observe the voting.

While the people yearn for a govt that lasts its full term of five years, the new dispensation in Kathmandu will have to balance its historic ties with India with promises of economic advancement offered by China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the US’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The Nepali Congress, led by PM Sher Bahadur Deuba, has formed an electoral alliance with former Maoist guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ as well as some Terai-based parties. The Deuba govt had ratified the MCC pact with the US and has also worked to improve ties with India. Former PM KP Sharma Oli leads the other major alliance. Under his premiership, Nepal had signed the BRI as well as stoked the territorial dispute with India.

Of the 275 Members of Parliament, 165 will be elected through direct voting and the remaining 110 through a proportional electoral system. Out of 550 members of seven provincial assemblies, 330 will be elected directly and 220 through the proportional method. Thapaliya said all direct voting results would be announced in the next eight days and the results of proportional representation by December 8.

SLASH PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATES, CII URGES GOVT

Even as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will begin pre-Budget consultations on Monday, industry body CII has sought a reduction in personal income tax rates, decriminalisation of GST and a relook at the capital gains tax rates.

In 20023 will be the last full Budget of this Modi govt as a vote of account will be tabled in 2024, an election year.

“The govt should contemplate a reduction in the rates of personal income tax in its next push for reforms as this would increase disposable income and revive the demand cycle,” said CII president Sanjiv Bajaj in the pre-Budget note. Consumption will also get a boost on reduction of 28% GST on select consumer durables and expediting rural infrastructure projects, he said. Besides decriminalisation of the GST, Bajaj said no arrests or detention should take place in civil cases unless criminalisation in business has been proved beyond doubt. The apex industry chamber also said “non-merit subsidies” estimated at 5.7% of GDP — 1.6% from the Centre and 4.1% from the states — is clearly unsustainable.

Besides meeting industry captains and infrastructure specialists on Monday, Sitharaman will also interact with climate change experts on Monday. The next day she will meet representatives of agriculture and agro-processing sectors besides capital markets and financial sector experts in two separate meetings.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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COP27: LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND LONE BRIGHT SPOT AS AGREEMENT LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED

The creation of a loss and damage fund, a key demand of the developing countries, was the lone bright spot in the final outcome of COP27, with countries at the Sharm el-Sheikh climate meeting settling for an extremely weak agreement that does little to strengthen the efforts to tackle the main cause of global warming.

There was nothing in the agreement that could lead to greater action on emissions reductions or mobilise greater financial or technological resources to fight climate change. Efforts to inject some stronger provisions on emissions reductions at the last minute on Saturday night did not receive the consent of all parties. A proposal to phase-down all fossil fuels, originally put forward by India and supported by a large number of countries, did not make it to the final agreement.

“In Glasgow, we saw a phase-down of coal (being incorporated into the agreement). At COP27, we needed to see an (agreement on) equitable and just phaseout of all fossil fuels. A text that does not stop fossil fuel expansion, that does not provide progress from the already weak Glasgow Pact makes a mockery of the millions of people living with the impacts of climate change,” Zeina Khalil Hajj, head of global campaigning at 350.0rg, said.

The developing countries, mainly the small island states were drawing comfort from the fact that one of their main demands at this conference, a new fund to help nations hit by climate disasters, had been met. “A mission thirty years in the making has been accomplished,” said the statement from the chairperson of the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS), a group of 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states.

But the creation of the fund is the bare minimum that has been accomplished. Developing countries hit by climate disasters are still quite a distance away from being able to access some financial resources to rebuild themselves. A number of issues crucial to the operationalisation of this fund, some of them highly contentious, have been left for another day. These include questions like who will pay into the fund, who will be able to access it, and how will it be managed. A transitional committee has been set up to look into all these issues, including the possibility of “identifying and expanding” the sources of funding.

ZAPORIZHZHIA N-PLANT HIT; PLAYING WITH FIRE, SAYS UN

At least a dozen shells exploded at a large nuclear plant in southern Ukraine on Sunday, Ukrainian and Russian authorities said, damaging equipment in attacks that the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency called “extremely disturbing”. Russian and Ukrainian nuclear energy authorities each blamed the other side’s forces for the strikes, the latest to hit the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is the largest in Europe. The attacks have raised fears of a serious nuclear accident at the plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, although so far there have been no reports of any leak of radiation.

“Explosions occurred at the site of this major nuclear power plant, which is completely unacceptable,” the director general of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said. “Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately. As I have said many times before, you’re playing with fire!” The IAEA team on the ground said there had been damage to some buildings, systems and equipment at the site, but none of them critical for nuclear safety so far.

IRANIAN ACTOR REMOVES HIJAB IN INSTA POST, ARRESTED DAY LATER: REPORT

Iran has arrested a prominent actor who in a video removed her headscarf in public in an apparent act of defiance, state media reported Sunday, as protests sweep the country.

Iran's clerical leadership has been shaken by more than two months of women-led demonstrations sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman of Kurdish origin who had been arrested by the morality police in Tehran.

Authorities in the Islamic republic describe the protests as "riots" and accuse the country's Western foes of fomenting them.

Hengameh Ghaziani, a vocal critic of the crackdown on protesters, was arrested for inciting and supporting the "riots" and for communicating with opposition media, the official news agency IRNA said.

The 52-year-old film star had already indicated she had been summoned by the judiciary, and then published a video on Instagram of herself removing the obligatory hijab. "Maybe this will be my last post," she wrote late Saturday.

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WORLD WAITED FAR TOO LONG FOR THIS: INDIA HAILS MOVE

India yesterday called as “historic” the deal on fund to address loss and damage due to climate change-induced disasters, saying “the world has waited far too long for this”. At the same time, making an intervention in the closing plenary session of COP27, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the world should not burden farmers with mitigation (reducing emissions of greenhouse gases) responsibilities.

“We congratulate you on your untiring efforts to evolve a consensus. The world has waited far too long for this,” Yadav said, addressing the Egyptian presidency.

On the establishment of a four-year work programme on climate action in agriculture and food security, Yadav said agriculture, the mainstay of livelihood of millions of small farmers, would be hard hit from climate change. “We should not burden them with mitigation responsibilities. Indeed, India has kept mitigation in agriculture out of its NDCs (national plans to achieve Paris Agreement goals of limiting warming to 1.5 degree Celsius),” he said.

EXPLOSION IN A MANGALURU AUTO; POLICE SAY IT WAS AN 'ACT OF TERROR':

The explosion inside a moving autorickshaw near a police station in Mangaluru was triggered by explosives concealed in a pressure cooker and it is an act of terror intended to cause damage, Karnataka director general of police, Praveen Sood said on Sunday.

The suspect, who was the passenger in that vehicle had terror links, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said and added that sleuths of the National Investigation Agency and Intelligence Bureau have joined the Karnataka police in investigation.

After the explosion near a police station in Mangaluru, the driver and passenger (suspect) were injured and the autorickshaw's interior portion was badly damaged.

In a tweet, the DGP said: "It's confirmed now. The blast is not accidental but an act of terror with intention to cause serious damage. Karnataka State Police is probing deep into it along with central agencies."

'SC RULING ON V-CS ENCROACHES ON STATE’S RIGHT TO LEGISLATE,’ SAYS KERALA LAW MINISTER

The ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala is in touch with political parties in other states to mobilise them on the Supreme Court October judgment that appointments of vice-chancellors in state universities must abide by UGC guidelines, say Kerala’s Law Minister P. Rajeev.

The Pinarayi Vijayan govt has also decided to legally challenge court orders quashing vice-chancellor appointments for violating UGC norms, the minister said.

Rajeev said UGC guidelines are subordinate legislation of Parliament and that the Supreme Court’s verdict could be extrapolated to mean that the central govt could annul any law passed by a state on a subject that is on the Concurrent List. “The implications of the Supreme Court judgment are not confined only to education. UGC guidelines are subordinate legislation. It’s only tabled in Parliament and deemed passed if the Parliament does not make any modifications,” he said.

This, Rajeev argues, raises larger questions of Centre-state relations and the rights of states to make laws on subjects that are on the concurrent list.

FUGITIVE ZAKIR NAIK INVITED BY QATAR TO GIVE TALKS DURING FIFA WORLD CUP

Islamist evangelist Zakir Naik, wanted in India for promoting enmity among religious groups and inciting youths to commit terrorist acts, has been invited by Qatar to give lectures throughout the FIFA World Cup.

The news about the invite split the social media with many raising questions about Naik getting a public airing, three years after he was banned from delivering speeches in Malaysia, his country of refuge after he fled India in 2016 on accusations of hate speeches, subversion and money laundering. India has made efforts for the extradition of Naik over the years.

Besides India, his Peace TV network is also banned in Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka and the UK.

Naik is accused of influencing through his speeches perpetrators of the 2016 Dhaka bombing that killed 20, including 17 foreigners, and the much more devastating Easter bombings in Sri Lanka that killed over 250 in 2019. Some who joined the ISIS and were later apprehended confessed that the turning point was their meeting with Naik, who has denied having any role.

CDSL MALWARE ATTACK HITS BROKING OPS; CLEAN SYSTEMS BACK LIVE AGAIN

Trade-related activity and back-end operations at brokerages were disrupted due to a malware attack at the country’s largest depository, Central Depository Services (India) (CDSL).

Several brokerages informed their clients about disruptions in timelines as CDSL “isolated the machines and disconnected itself from other constituents of the capital market”.

“Pledge and unpledge requests are not processed today (Friday). These requests will be processed on Monday, 21st November 2022. Gift requests are not processed, and clients can reinitiate gift requests on Monday (November 21). The settlement process also could be delayed. Mutual fund redemptions on Coin may also be affected. The holdings and P&L values are not updated for trades done on November 18. It will be updated by Monday,” Zerodha, the country’s largest brokerage, wrote in a blog post late Friday.

Late on Sunday night CDSL informed the exchanges that their systems were live after due checks and validations.

Meanwhile, market regulator SEBI and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-in), a nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats, will soon examine the details provided by CDSL of the malware attack.

FIFA WORLD CUP DAY 1: HOSTS QATAR LOSE 0-2 TO ECUADOR

The real moment when it sunk in that the World Cup was upon the world came when the ball boys threw the first few balls onto the shiny turf after what was a minimalist opening ceremony, grand but not gaudy. So shiny was the surface that it resembled an animation turf brushed in a Disney studio. And when the hosts in maroon training kits jogged in, the Al Bayt Stadium shook and swayed in delirium. The World Cup that was haunted, harassed and harried by off-field themes, finally acquired a World Cup feel.

The 60,000-stadium that resembles a bloated Bedouin tent was filled to the full. The spectators not only made the numbers but made their presence felt in a rousing exhibition of passion and fervour. So much so, the rendition of the national anthem, “Al-Salam-Al-Amiri”, in the stands drowned out the recorded version.

Then, abruptly, a shiver silenced the stadium when Ecuador ruffled the nets as early as the third minute. Even the Ecuadorian fans were shocked, before they had even gathered their voices.

However, the video review adjudged that the goal was off-side, by the slimmest of margins. The stadium rediscovered its joy and bounce. Only that it lived for just 12 more minutes, when Ecuador was awarded a clear penalty.

The angst got deeper as Enner Valencia netted Ecuador’s second goal in the 31st minute. That’s where the score remained – 2-0 - till the end.

But for all the pain the host nation endured on the turf, Qatar was surreally calm, almost unflustered, outside. Everything was precise. There were no long traffic snarls or choking or fans stranded for lack of transportation. The paramilitary forces sourced from Pakistan and Turkey were on the alert. Navy frigates patrolled the coastline and an army of 2,00,000 police and soldiers had been mobilised.

Qatar had promised it would put on a show, and it delivered – at least on the opening day.

2ND T20I: NEW-LOOK INDIA HAND KIWIS A THRASHING

New Zealand's Tim Southee claimed a hat-trick but Suryakumar Yadav smashed a blistering hundred to help secure India's comprehensive 65-run victory in the second Twenty20 International at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Yadav, the world's top-ranked T20 batter, clobbered seven sixes and 11 fours in his unbeaten 111 off 51 balls to power India to a commanding 191-6 after being put into bat.

Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday became only the second Indian to hit two T20i hundreds in a calendar year, continuing his rich vein of form in the shortest format of the game.

New Zealand were bundled out for 126 with skipper Kane Williamson (61) supplying half of the runs before they were bundled out in 18.5 overs.

After Friday's series opener in Wellington had been washed out, Williamson elected to field in the second match which was also rain-affected. But the match did run its full course.

Napier hosts the third and final match on Tuesday.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Ignore the critics. Only mediocrity is safe from ridicule. Dare to be different! - Dita Von Teese

OFF TRACK

Patni :- My dear husband

I love you so much.

I can't live without you!

Marr jaaungi!

Mit jaaungi!

Zehar pee jaaungi.

Tere pyaar mein fanna ho jaaungi!

Pati :- Dekh le, Jaise bhi tujhe comfortable lage.