WORLD IN CRISIS, LET US SHAPE EMERGING ORDER, PM MODI TELLS GLOBAL SOUTH

Underlining that the “world is in a state of crisis”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told leaders of developing countries Thursday that “your voice is India’s voice” and “your priorities are India’s priorities”.

Addressing leaders at the Voice of Global South Summit, the Prime Minister spelt out the challenges: “We have turned the page on another difficult year that saw war, conflict, terrorism and geopolitical tensions; rising food, fertiliser and fuel prices; climate change-driven natural disasters; and, lasting economic impact of the Covid pandemic.”

“It is clear the world is in a state of crisis. It is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last,” he said at the inaugural session of the two-day virtual summit organised by India.

The Global South includes the developing and the less developed countries of the world, and India invited more than 120 countries to the summit.

The idea behind the summit is that India will work to ensure that inputs generated from partner countries in the Voice of Global South Summit deliberations will be pushed forward at the G20 summit which will be hosted by India later this year.

Leaders of several countries including Bangladesh, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Guyana, Mozambique, Mongolia and Senegal were among those who attended the leaders’ session.

CHINA HAS INCREASED ITS TROOP COUNT ALONG LAC IN THE EAST: ARMY CHIEF

Army chief General Manoj Pande said Thursday that China has increased deployment of troops across India’s eastern border, but the Army is keeping a close watch on their movement and activities and has deployed adequate numbers of troops and reserves to tackle any contingency.

Addressing the press ahead of Army Day on January 15, General Pande said the Army had modified deployments in line with its winter posture — not only ensuring adequate forces and reserves but also synergising with the local civil administration and integrating resources with the Indian Air Force to maintain the required level of preparedness along the border.

“There has been a slight increase in the number of troops we find opposite our Eastern Command, but we are keeping a close watch on the movement and activities with all surveillance resources available at our disposal,” General Pande said.

Underlining the challenge along India’s northern borders, he said the situation along the LAC with China is stable, but unpredictable.

He said Indian soldiers, deployed along the LAC, have been able to maintain a robust defensive posture and have been able to prevent attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in a firm and resolute manner.

The Army, he said, is closely watching the situation in Doklam and monitoring Chinese activities there.

CONG SLAM DHANKHAR, DEFENDS ‘BASIC STRUCTURE DOCTRINE’ JUDGEMENT

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s reference that he didn’t agree with the verdict in the Kesavananda Bharati case has rekindled the debate over the doctrine of separation of powers and triggered renewed alarm bells in the Opposition camp.

The 7-6 decision of the Supreme Court in the landmark case of 1973 enunciated the Basic Structure Doctrine under which the court asserted its right to quash amendments that it felt violated the fundamental architecture of the Constitution. This was seen as a push back to the Indira Gandhi govt which had started showing authoritarian tendencies.

The main Opposition Congress led a strident criticism Thursday against Dhankhar. The question, many in the Opposition said, was whether he was airing his opinion or was he reflecting the mind of the govt?

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram said Dhankhar is “wrong when he says that Parliament is supreme”. He said “it is the Constitution that is supreme” and, interestingly, argued the basic structure doctrine was evolved in order to prevent a “majoritarian-driven assault on the foundational principles of the Constitution.”

Chidambaram argued: “Suppose Parliament, by a majority, voted to convert the parliamentary system into a Presidential system. Or repeal the State List in Schedule VII and take away the exclusive legislative powers of the States. Would such amendments be valid?”

Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said Dhankhar has “taken the confrontation with the Supreme Court to an altogether different level.” He said that “legal luminaries of BJP like Arun Jaitley” had hailed it as a milestone. “Now, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha says it was wrong. Extraordinary attack on the judiciary!”

DON’T SHIFT SUPPLY CHAINS FROM CHINA TO INDIA: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH TO WEST

The latest annual report of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised hackles in South Block after it asked the West to be circumspect in shifting supply chains from China to India. While criticising India and its entire neighbourhood, it opted to warn Australia, Japan, Canada, the UK, the EU, and the US only regarding India.The West is reconsidering its ties with China and looking to expand trade and security arrangements with India.

The HRW said deepening ties with India without pressure on PM Narendra Modi to respect rights “squanders valuable leverage to protect India’s increasingly endangered civic space”.

The HRW said the Indian Govt had in 2022 “intensified and broadened’’ its crackdown on activist groups and the media while “harassing” rights groups through tax raids, allegations of financial irregularities and use of the FCRA. The authorities in several BJP-ruled states “demolished” Muslim homes and properties without legal authorisation or due process as summary punishment for protests/alleged crimes, it noted.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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US, JAPAN AGREE TO BOOST SECURITY COOPERATION AMID CHINA WORRIES

The United States and Japan on Wednesday announced stepped-up security cooperation in the face of shared worries about China, and Washington strongly endorsed a major military buildup Tokyo announced last month.

A joint statement issued after a meeting between their foreign and defense ministers in Washington said the two countries "provided a vision of a modernized Alliance postured to prevail in a new era of strategic competition."

"We agree that the PRC is the greatest shared strategic challenge that we and our allies and partners face," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a joint news conference after the meeting, referring to the People's Republic of China.

At the briefing, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced plans to introduce a Marine Littoral Regiment in Japan, which would bring significant capabilities, including anti-ship missiles. Blinken said that two sides also agreed to extend the terms of their common defense treaty to cover space.

The joint statement said that given "a severely contested environment," the forward posture of U.S. forces in Japan should be upgraded "by positioning more versatile, resilient, and mobile forces with increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, anti-ship, and transportation capabilities."

PAK DENIES PACKAGE WITH URANIUM FOUND AT LONDON AIRPORT WAS FROM KARACHI

Pakistan yesterday rejected the reports in British media that a uranium-tainted cargo package that landed at London's Heathrow Airport last month originated from Karachi, saying the news is "not factual".

The BBC reported on Wednesday that British counterterrorism police were investigating after border officers seized cargo contaminated with uranium at Heathrow Airport last month.

The Sun newspaper, which first reported the news, said the uranium came from Pakistan, the report said, adding it was found in a shipment of scrap metal.

Responding to the reports, a top Pakistani official said they were "not factual", adding that no information had been shared by the UK with Pakistan officially.

It is learnt that the cargo package arrived at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 via Oman Air passenger flight WY 101, which arrived on the evening of December 29. The flight originated from Pakistan, where UK officials believe the package was checked in as cargo, and had a stopover in Muscat, Oman.

The Sun newspaper reported that the package was being shipped to UK-based Iranian nationals, with other media outlets saying it was shipped to a London-based business owned by Iranians.

THE REST

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FORMER JD-U CHIEF SHARAD YADAV DIES AT 75, CONDOLENCES POUR IN

Veteran politician and former Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav died on Thursday at a private hospital in Gurugram, family sources said. He was 75.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

A statement from the Fortis Memorial Research Institute said Yadav was brought to the emergency ward in an unconscious and unresponsive state. "On examination, he did not have any pulse or recordable blood pressure. He underwent CPR as per ACLS protocols. Despite best efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 10.19 pm," the statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over Yadav's demise. "Pained by the passing away of Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as MP and minister. He was greatly inspired by Dr. Lohia's ideals. I will always cherish our interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti," he tweeted.

WHY ELECTED GOVT IN DELHI IF FULL CONTROL WITH YOU, SC ASKS CENTRE

The Supreme Court asked the Centre Thursday what is the purpose of Delhi having an elected govt if the entire administrative control is to be with the Central govt.

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, presiding over a five-judge Constitution Bench which is hearing a dispute between the Delhi govt and the Centre over control of services, asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: “Then what is the purpose of having an elected govt in Delhi at all if the administration is to be carried out only at the beck and call of the Central govt.”

The observation from the bench, also comprising Justices M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha, came after Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said, “The very purpose of creating a graphical area as the Union Territory by itself suggests that the Union itself wants to administer the territory, meaning thereby through its own offices. So, all Union Territories are administered by Central civil services officers and all Central govt officers.”

Mehta said there is a difference between functional control of officers and their administrative or disciplinary control, and that the former is always with the minister as representative of the elected govt.

The arguments remained inconclusive and will resume January 17.

UPROAR IN TN ASSEMBLY AS MLA CALLS RAMAYANA 'IMAGINARY EPIC'

The Tamil Nadu assembly on Thursday witnessed sharp exchanges between members after a Communist Party of India-Marxist MLA termed Ramayana an 'imaginary epic,' which was strongly objected by main opposition AIADMK and BJP and they demanded that such remarks be expunged.

When a resolution, moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin, to urge the Centre to implement the Sethusamudram ship canal project was taken up for discussion in the House members spoke on their party stand.

K Marimuthu of the Communist Party of India said the project was a dream of icons of the freedom movement and quoted a poem of Mahavkavi Bharathi of building a bridge to Sri Lanka. When the project was taken up for implementation, those seeking political mileage in the name of 'epic hero Ramar' (Lord Ram) and those affected by superstition caused obstruction. However, today the court has intervened. The Union govt should immediately implement the scheme. He welcomed the resolution.

Fiction, imaginations and beliefs cannot become history. Ramayana was a classical literary work, replete with Tamil poet Kambar's poetic skills. However, this is an epic based on imagination, he said. "I am not saying this. Mahatma Gandhi is saying that Ramayana is a great epic of imagination. Jawaharlal Nehru and C Rajagopalachari too said the same. Some are creating confusion by portraying imagination and belief as true history," he said.

Congress Selvaperunthagai expressed confidence that a new regime at the Centre would implement the project even if the BJP-led dispensation did not do it.

POST YATRA, CBI BOOKS EX-FIN SECY IN CORRUPTION CASE

The CBI on Thursday lodged an FIR against former Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram and a UK-based company for alleged corruption in the supply of exclusive colour shift security thread for Indian currency notes.

The agency alleged Mayaram, UK-based De La Rue International Ltd and unidentified officials of the Ministry of Finance and the RBI hatched a criminal conspiracy to extend undue favour to the firm. It alleged Mayaram granted an “illegal” three-year extension to an “expired contract” with the company for supplying the security thread without taking mandatory security clearance from the Home Ministry or informing the then Finance Minister. It was the fourth extension to the firm, it alleged.

After registering the FIR, the CBI conducted searches at Jaipur and Delhi residences of the 1978-batch retired IAS officer, days after he had joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Reacting to the development, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh mentioned in a tweet, “A former RBI Gov walks in #BharatJodoYatra, BJP attacks him. A retired Army Gen does it, he’s maligned. Now a former Finance Secy who joined is booked. Modi’s FDI policy — fear, defamation & intimidation — is at work.”

PROTESTS END, DEMOLITION OF UNSAFE HOTELS BEGINS IN JOSHIMATH

The demolition of two unsafe hotels in Joshimath started Thursday after all stakeholders agreed to the process, but stopped soon owing to bad weather.

A team of the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) was roped in on Tuesday for the demolition, but the process could not begin after the owner of Malari Inn and some residents held protests. The residents, including the owners of the two hotels had demanded compensation as per the rates listed under the Badrinath Dham redevelopment masterplan.

On Thursday, Army Chief General Manoj Pande said about 25-28 buildings have developed minor cracks and the units and jawans posted there have been temporarily relocated. If needed, they can be moved permanently to Auli.

The Army Chief said the BRO is repairing the existing road which had developed minor cracks. Work on an alternate route work has been temporarily put on hold, he said.

“There is no major damage to the main axis going beyond Joshimath and no major impact on our operational readiness,” he said.

KANJHAWALA CASE: COPS ON DUTY AT 3 PCR VANS, 2 PICKETS FACE SUSPENSION

The ministry of home affairs directed the Delhi police on Thursday to suspend all the personnel posted at three PCR vans and two pickets on the night when a 20-year-old woman was killed in the national capital after her scooter was hit by a car and she was dragged by the vehicle for 10-12 kilometres.

Officials said the MHA also directed the city police to serve show-cause notices to the supervisory officers of the PCR vans and police pickets for their alleged dereliction of duties.

Disciplinary action will also be taken against the police personnel who were on duty on that night, the officials said.

The MHA directed the Delhi police to file the chargesheet in the case as soon as possible so that the culprits are punished. The city police has also been ordered to ensure that there is no let up in the investigation and submit fortnightly reports to the MHA on the progress of the probe.

GOLDMAN SACHS BEGINS MAJOR ROUND OF GLOBAL LAYOFFS

Hundreds of people working for Wall Street banking major Goldman Sachs were fired on Wednesday and Thursday as the company began laying off as many as 3,200 people across the globe. Anywhere between 700-800 people working for the company in India are understood to have been fired in the restructuring, said to be among the company’s largest since the 2008 financial crisis.

The layoffs, done predominantly to cut costs in the face of economic headwinds such as high inflation, have affected a number of senior employees too, including those at the vice-president level.

Before the layoffs, the company had close to 9,000 employees in India working out of its offices in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai — meaning that the restructuring has affected close to 9 per cent of its employees in the country.

Of the ones laid off, those present in the office were called for a quick meeting and informed that they were fired. After that, according to these people, they were escorted directly out of the building without an opportunity to return to their work desks. Those who were working from home were called over Zoom and laid off.

ALL-ROUND INDIA DOWN SRI LANKA TO CLAIM SERIES

Under-fire KL Rahul made amends for his poor run of form as he anchored India's series clinching four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI with a dogged 64 on a tricky Eden Gardens track.

Snubbed time and again by the Indian think-tank, Kuldeep Yadav proved his mettle yet another time as he formed a lovely bowling alliance with pacer Mohammed Siraj to demolish Sri Lanka for 215 inside 40 overs after they opted to bat.

The paltry chase on the quick Eden outfield however was not a cakewalk for the Indian team, which lost its top-four batters for 86 runs in 14.2 overs.

Needing 130 from 214 balls, Rahul was the only designated batter left as he once again proved his utility in the middle overs with an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls that took India home with 40 balls to spare. While there was a bit of seam movement on offer and ball from spinners gripping a bit, to be fair, there was no scoreboard pressure on the home team.

The win also gave India an unassailable 2-0 series lead going into the Trivandraum ODI on Sunday.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

No institution can possibly survive if it needs geniuses or supermen to manage it. It must be organized in such a way as to be able to get along under a leadership composed of average human beings. - Peter Drucker

OFF TRACK

Sometimes I just want someone to hug me and say, "I know it's hard. You're going to be okay. Here's a coffee. And 5 million dollars.”