INDIA UPSET AT US MENTION OF MODI WHILE DISCUSSING IMMUNITY FOR SAUDI CROWN PRINCE

India is upset at a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a US state department official while defending the immunity it had extended to Saudi Arabian ruler Mohammad bin Sultan, who is facing allegations of killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"Frankly, I fail to understand how the comment on Prime Minister Modi was either relevant, necessary or contextual," external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said responding to questions about a US official referring to Modi while explaining the reasons for granting immunity to the Saudi ruler.

"Our two countries enjoy a very special relationship which is growing from strength to strength and we look forward to working with the US to further deepen it," he said, referring to the bilateral ties between India and the US.

When asked about giving immunity to the Saudi crown prince over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US state department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a briefing last Friday that this is not the first time that the US has done this and it has been applied to a number of heads of state previously, including PM Modi, according to reports.

BJP COMMITTED TO BRINGING UCC AFTER FOLLOWING ALL PROCESSES: AMIT SHAH

The BJP is committed to bring Uniform Civil Code in the country but only after following all democratic processes and discussions on it, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Times Now Summit on ‘India: A vibrant democracy, global bright spot’, Shah said the UCC has been a promise of the BJP since its Bhartiya Jan Sangh days. “Not only the BJP, the Constituent Assembly had also advised Parliament and states that UCC should come in the country at an opportune time. For any secular country, laws should not be on the basis of religion. If a nation and states are secular, how can laws be based on religion? For every believer, there should be one law passed by Parliament or the state assemblies,” he said.

He said that the commitment of the Constituent Assembly was forgotten over a period of time. “Except the BJP, no other party is in favour of the UCC. They did not even speak on it. If they don’t have courage, they won’t oppose it. But they won’t say that, OK you implement it we are with you. We are a part of a democracy. In a democracy, healthy debate is a necessity. There is a need for open and healthy debate on the issue,” he said.

Shah said in three BJP-ruled states – Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh – panels under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge and High Court chief justices have been formed, where all groups and people of different faiths are putting forth their views. “We will take any action on the basis of advice coming after this exercise. The BJP is committed to bring UCC but only after the conclusion of all democratic discussions,” he said.

AT UNSC, INDIA CONDEMNS RUSSIAN STRIKES ON CIVILIANS, INFRA IN UKRAINE

India has told the UN Security Council that it continues to remain concerned about the situation in Ukraine, including the targeting of infrastructure and civilians deaths.

“History has shown us that the killings of civilians and devastation of civilian infrastructure have been used, regrettably, as legitimate weapons of war. India strongly condemns the use of oppressive violence against innocent civilians and targeting of civilian objects in armed conflicts, regardless of who commits them,” said India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj at an emergency session on Ukraine.

“Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the violence. Our PM’s statement that this cannot be an era of war has been appreciated across the world. India’s position on the Ukraine conflict is premised on this principle. We continue to support all efforts aimed at de-escalation,” she said.

India’s approach to the Ukraine conflict will continue to be people-centric, said Kamboj while recalling that it has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovak Republic. “We, therefore, sincerely hope for an early resumption of peace talks to bring about an immediate ceasefire and early resolution to the conflict. We reiterate that the global order is anchored on respect for principles of the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,’” she observed.

Meanwhile, nearly all members of the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), including China, appreciated India’s hosting of its meeting over two days recently in Mumbai and New Delhi. “We welcome the adoption of the forward-looking Delhi Declaration and appreciate that it will serve as a non-binding benchmark for countering the new narratives of terrorists,” said Harold Adlai Agyeman, UNSC president.

China’s Deputy Permanent Representative Geng Shuang said, “India, as the chair of the CTC, hosted a special session this October and adopted the Delhi Declaration, thereby giving impetus to member states’ efforts in better tackling the new counter-terrorism challenges.”

SUPREME COURT QUESTIONS 'LIGHTNING SPEED' WITH WHICH CENTRE APPOINTED ARUN GOEL AS EC

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the “tearing hurry” and “lightning speed” with which the Central Government appointed Punjab cadre IAS officer Arun Goel as an Election Commissioner even as Attorney General R Venkataramani defended the mechanism followed in appointing the CEC and ECs.

“On 18th (November), we hear the case… on the same day you move the file, and the same day the PM says ‘I recommend his name’… What kind of evaluation is this? Why this urgency?” a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice KM Joseph said after perusing the file relating to Goel’s appointment.

“We don’t have anything against this individual. This man, in fact, is excellent in terms of academics… a gold medallist in mathematics,….but we are concerned with the mechanism of appointment,” Justice Joseph said.

Maintaining that the issue has to be looked into in entirety, Venkataramani said: “If we start doubting every appointment… look at the implications for the institution’s reputation.”

Amid repeated interruptions, the Attorney General said it was not a mini trial on this particular appointment and that it was wrong to suggest quid pro quo. “Absolutely,” said the Bench, agreeing with him.

Describing it as “a very difficult process”, Venkataramani said the short-listing was done on the basis of batch, seniority, date of birth, retirement and the tenure the person was likely to have in the EC so that the person appointed got at least six years as Election Commissioner.

During the arguments, senior counsel Gopal Shankaranarayan and advocate Prashant Bhushan urged the court to fill the vacuum and use its powers to prescribe a Collegium-like system to enhance the credibility of the poll panel.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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EX-ISI BOSS ASIM MUNIR IS PAKISTAN ARMY CHIEF, PLAYED ROLE IN PULWAMA

Pakistan’s former spy master and senior-most Lt General Asim Munir was named the new army chief by PM Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday. He will take over from Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on November 29.

Lt Gen Munir has served as head of both the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI), a rare combination in the Pakistan army. But he was removed as ISI chief within eight months on the insistence of then PM Imran Khan in 2019. Lt Gen Munir is believed to have approved the plans for 2019 Pulwama terror attack, although he was no longer the DG, ISI, when the attack was carried out.

Making the announcement, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted PM Sharif had also named Lt Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Both officers have been made four-star generals.

“It is based on merit, law and as per constitution,” said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, as the appointment came amid political tensions.

COVID SURGE IN BEIJING TRIGGERS PANIC BUYING, LOCKDOWN-LIKE RESTRICTIONS

Supermarket delivery apps in Beijing are being overwhelmed as the city’s rising Covid caseload triggers lockdown-like restrictions in swathes of the Chinese capital.

Beijing saw 1,854 new infections Thursday, up from 1,611 on Wednesday, as China’s wider outbreak reaches record levels.

The case increase, which has escalated from under 100 infections a day a fortnight ago is leading to stepped-up controls in the city of 22 million, with apartment blocks across Chaoyang being locked down and residents asked not to leave Beijing unless necessary.

Yet officials are going about the restrictions in a quieter way, communicating through neighborhood committees and WeChat groups rather than with official announcements, potentially to downplay the disruption caused after China’s top leaders ordered a more targeted approach to containing Covid two weeks ago.

Schools in a number of Beijing districts have been shuttered.

OVER 20,000 NEW HIRES LEAVE APPLE SUPPLIER FOXCONN'S CHINA PLANT

More than 20,000 employees, most of them were new hires not yet working on the production line, have left Apple supplier Foxconn's Zhengzhou plant in China. The worker departures come after the Taiwanese firm offered on Thursday 10,000 yuan ($1,396) to employees who wanted to resign and leave the chaos-hit plant.

It had apologised for committing a pay-related "technical error" when hiring new recruits, which workers say was a factor that led to protests involving clashes with security personnel.

THE REST

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GEHLOT LETS IT FLY: 'GADDAR' SACHIN PILOT CAN'T BE MADE CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot dubbed his former deputy Sachin Pilot a 'gaddar' (traitor) on Thursday and said he cannot replace him as he had revolted against the Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the government.

Pilot hit back saying it is unbecoming of someone like Gehlot's stature to use such language and and added such mud-slinging would not help and it was the duty of everyone in the organisation to strengthen the party to help bring a Congress government again in Rajasthan.

Pilot, who walked alongside Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh, said he would never use such language and asked the chief minister to focus on the assembly polls in Gujarat where he was the senior observer.

The war of words have further widened the fissures in the Congress party in Rajasthan, where Assembly polls are slated next year.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, is set to enter the desert state in a few days.

GIVE ME CONTROL OF CBI, ED FOR ONE DAY, HALF OF BJP WILL BE IN JAIL: DELHI CM KEJRIWAL

Attacking the BJP for allegedly filing “false” cases against members of the AAP, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Thursday that despite 167 cases filed against its leaders, no investigating agency had been able to prove any wrongdoing by an AAP member.

Speaking to NDTV, Kejriwal said, “Over the last seven years, they have filed 167 cases against AAP leaders — not one has been proved in court. AAP leaders have been cleared in over 150 cases and the rest are pending… 800 probe agency officers are dedicated only to find wrongdoing by AAP leaders but they have found nothing. Agencies are getting pulled up in courts because they have filed false cases.”

When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim of running a completely clean government, Kejriwal said, “Give me control of the CBI, ED (Enforcement Directorate) for one day, half of BJP will be in jail.”

Kejriwal also said AAP was going to win with a thumping majority in the MCD polls. “AAP will get 230-plus seats out of 250 in MCD. The BJP will get less than 20 seats. In Gujarat also, I feel AAP will win the elections,” he said.

TAKE AWAY THE SAMPLE YOU SENT TO STATE AS GOVERNOR, UDDHAV TELLS CENTRE

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari be shifted out of the state at the earliest and warned of calling a ‘Maharashtra Bandh’ or organising a rally to protest if he was not moved.

The comments came after Koshyari raked up a controversy last Saturday by labelling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an icon of “olden days” and called Dr B R Ambedkar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari “icons of modern times”.

Terming Koshyari an “Amazon parcel” sent by the Union government, Thackeray told mediapersons, “I am telling the Centre to take away the sample (Koshyari) which you (BJP-led Centre) have sent to the state. Send him wherever you wish, send him to an old age home.”

“The Union government decides who will be the Governor. Don’t mind my words but people who don’t get space in old age homes are now made Governors.”

Thackeray also took on the BJP over Maharashtra losing projects and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai staking claim over 40 villages in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, of the BJP, too expressed displeasure over Bommai’s remarks. 'No village in Maharashtra will go to Karnataka! The state government will fight strongly in the Supreme Court to get Marathi speaking villages in Karnataka including Belgaum-Karwar-Nipani!' said Fadnavis.

In a retort, Bommai, terming it a provocative statement, said: "His (Fadnavis') dream will never come true. Our government is committed to protecting our state's land, water and borders." He further said that there was no question of giving up any space in the border districts of Karnataka.

In fact, he said: "Our demand is that the Kannada speaking areas of Maharashtra like Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka."

‘JALLIKATTU’ SACRED, NO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: TN IN SC

The Tamil Nadu Government has told the Supreme Court that bull-taming sport "jallikattu" is a religious and cultural festival that bears a "religious significance" to the people of the state and doesn't violate the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.

It said bulls involved in the sport were treated with "great care" throughout their lifespan and no harm was ever allowed to be caused to the animals, read the written submission filed by the state before a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice K M Joseph.

DELHI'S JAMA MASJID REVOKES ORDER BARRING WOMEN'S ENTRY AFTER OUTRAGE

The Jama Masjid administration's decision restricting entry of 'girls' into the famed mosque led to an outrage Thursday and the order was finally withdrawn following Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's request to the Shahi Imam.

Earlier in the day, Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari said the decision was taken after some 'incidents' were reported on the premises of the heritage structure but it was not applicable to those coming to offer prayers. "Jama Masjid is a place of worship and people are welcome for that. But girls coming alone and waiting for their dates... this is not what this place is meant for. The restriction is on that," Bukhari said.

A controversy erupted over the issue with women's rights activists terming the mosque's decision regressive and unacceptable. Later in the evening, Shahi Imam withdrew the order, after Delhi LG Saxena spoke to him and requested him to take back the decree.

"The LG spoke to me. We have removed the notice boards. But people visiting the mosque have to maintain its sanctity," Bukhari said.

BRINGING BACK OLD PENSION SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REVDIS: MONTEK AHLUWALIA

Terming the Old Pension Scheme as one of the “biggest revdis”, former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said though there are talks about controlling fiscal deficit, there is no suggestion of getting rid of certain expenditure.

“…I think what the Prime Minister rightly called the revdis of the world and there are many more revdis than what we thought. I mean bringing back the old pension system is one of the biggest revdis that are now being invented,” Ahluwalia said at an ICRIER event on Tuesday.

Many political parties have spoken about reverting to the Old Pension Scheme. Congress has already reverted to the Old Pension Scheme in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and AAP has said it would do the same in Punjab. Under OPS, pension to government employees at the Centre as well as states was fixed at 50 per cent of the last drawn basic pay. A new system of New Pension Scheme came into effect for those joining government service from January 1, 2004, wherein defined contribution comprised 10 per cent of the basic salary and dearness allowance by the employee under Tier 1 and a matching contribution by the government (later raised to 14 per cent).

FOOTBALL WC: RONALDO SETS RECORD AS PORTUGAL PIP GHANA

Cristiano Ronaldo drew a line under a tumultuous tournament build-up as he wrote his name in the record books to become the first player to score in five World Cups in a 3-2 victory for Portugal over Ghana on Thursday.

Ronaldo drilled home a penalty in the 65th minute of the Group H encounter to set his side on their way and while Andre Ayew equalised for Ghana, Portugal turned on the afterburners with two quick-fire goals to effectively seal the deal at Stadium 974.

Joao Felix produced a delicate finish to give them the lead and Rafael Leao added a third to hand Portugal their first win in the opening match of the World Cup since 2006, even if Osman Bukari pulled another one back for Ghana late on.

Ronaldo thumped home a dubiously-awarded penalty in the 65th minute after an innocuous coming together with Mohammed Salisu saw the referee point to the spot.

In the other matches yesterday, the results were thus:

Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon         (G)

Uruguay 0-0 South Korea          (H)

Brazil 2-0 Serbia           (G)

INDICATORS

Sensex 62,273 (+762), Nifty 18,484 (+217), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 51,277

(US Markets were closed yesterday on account of Thanksgiving Day)

US$-Rs. 81.67 GBP-Rs. 98.85, Euro-Rs. 85.07, UAE Dhm-Rs. 22.23, Can$-Rs. 61.21, Aus$- Rs. 55.18

GBP 0.82 /US$, Euro 0.95 /US$, Jap.Yen 138.59 /US$, Aus$ 1.47 /US$, Sing 1.37 /US$, Bang Taka 100.23 /US$, Can$ 1.33 /US$, Mal Ring 4.50 /US$,

Pak Re 222.41 /US$, Phil Peso 56.66 /US$, Russian Rouble 60.38 /US$, NZ$ 1.59 /US$, Thai Baht 35.78 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.55 /US$)

Bitcoin - USD 16,529

Dollar Index 105.80 Brent Crude 85.54 BDI 1,184

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,755 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,297 / 4,855, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 68,200

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Ideas without action aren't ideas. They're regrets. - Jeff Hayden

OFF TRACK

Ontario's best-known annual event is the Shakespearean Festival held in Stratford. Even the hotels go all out naming rooms after the Bard of Avon's plays.

A bride refused to spend her wedding night in a suite called "Taming of the Shrew." The hotel staff showed the couple to another (as yet unnamed) suite.

The following morning, the blushing bride found she had spent the night in the "Much Ado About Nothing" suite.