PM MODI DIALS SUNAK, CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST ANTI-INDIA ELEMENTS

In the first call since vandalisation of the Indian High Commission in London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom in a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, and called for strong action against anti-India elements.

About the vandalism at the Indian High Commission last month, Sunak conveyed to Modi that the UK considers the attack “totally unacceptable” and assured him of security of the Indian Mission and its personnel, the statement said.

According to the statement, Modi and Sunak also reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors, and agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the statement said.

According to the statement, Modi also sought progress on the return of economic offenders wanted in India. This was in the context of India pursuing the extradition of businessman Vijay Mallya and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi from the UK.

Modi also conveyed his greetings to Sunak, who is of Indian origin, and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi, according to the statement.

CAN MEET PAK, CHINA SECURITY THREATS: EAM

A “different India” will give a suitable reply to forces indulging in cross-border terrorism against India for decades, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar while maintaining that the country could meet its national security challenges posed by Pakistan and China.

“Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up and… meet its security challenges, whether it is Uri or Balakot. Today, the forces that indulged in cross-border terrorism for decades and which India tolerated, they now know this is a different India and it will give them a reply,” he said while addressing the Indian community in Uganda.

“For the past three years, in violation of the agreements, the Chinese have brought large forces,” he said. But the situation is different from the past as Indian soldiers now have the “full backing, right equipment and infrastructure”. He acknowledged that more needed to be done to develop the infrastructure on the border with China as it had been neglected in the past.

Jaishankar said India could not be put under pressure now by countries that would “tell us from where we should buy our oil”.

The minister said “some people felt bad when India joined the Quad”. “But this is today a different India which will take positions determined by India’s national interests and that is very much that you can actually see in the personality of the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)…. This is also a caring India, particularly for Indians abroad, for Indians in a country like Uganda. This is India which is producing vaccines not only for itself, but is also ready to share these with others,” he said.

INDIA TESTS BATTLE READINESS ON CHINA BORDER

Amid the continuing tensions with China along the LAC in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) jointly conducted an exercise in the eastern sector to validate plans for carrying out a strategic airlift of special forces.

The exercise witnessed IAF planes and helicopters landing and dropping troops in designated areas for carrying out operations to “provide a surge” to the existing land forces. The Army said the exercise concluded last week.

“It was to validate integrated operations in a high-altitude and mountainous terrain. The exercise demonstrated speed and agility of the special forces, showcasing their ability to be rapidly deployed in a hostile environment. The troops were tasked with securing landing zones and engaging the enemy with precision and speed as per a laid-out plan to mimic a battle scenario,” an Army official said.

The recent statement by Bhutan that it was “ready to draw out a line demarcating the boundary with China” has raised fears in India over the Chinese presence at Doklam plateau. Last week, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan visited forward areas in north Bengal and Sikkim to review infrastructure development and operational and logistics preparedness.

India fears that Bhutan, while resolving its boundary issue with China, could cede Doklam plateau and retain the areas to its north, which would mean China getting ensconced on Doklam plateau. This will allow it a clear view of the sensitive Siliguri corridor in north Bengal, which is a narrow tract of land connecting mainland India with the north-eastern states.

"WE ARE UNITED": RAHUL GANDHI MEETS SHARAD PAWAR ON OPPOSITION UNITY

Veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday evening, amid efforts by the country's splintered opposition to band together ahead of next year's national elections.

The NCP chief met the Congress leaders at Mr Kharge's home in Delhi, where they were expected to discuss strategies to unify the opposition.

"I want that there should be talks with leaders of all opposition parties. Mamata Banerjee, [Arvind] Kejriwal... We should go and talk to them. We will move forward, taking everyone along, to unite the opposition," Sharad Pawar told reporters after the meeting.

Mr Kharge said, "I am glad Sharad Pawar came to visit us from Mumbai and guide us. Yesterday, me and Rahul Gandhi had a conversation with Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav that we will keep the opposition united in the country."

Rahul Gandhi said, "What Kharge ji and Pawar ji have said that this process of uniting the opposition has started. This is a beginning and all parties are committed towards this process. We are all united."

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

MAN LINKED TO LEAKING US INTEL DOCUS ARRESTED

US Federal investigators on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old air national guardsman who they believe is linked to a trove of leaked classified US intelligence documents, which have upended relations with American allies and exposed weaknesses in the Ukrainian military. The man,identified as Jack Teixeira, is a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and is tied to an online group where the leaked documents first appeared. Airman Teixeira oversaw an online group named Thug Shaker Central, where about 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teenagers, came together over a shared love of guns, racist online memes and video games.

N KOREA TESTS NEW TYPE OF MISSILE

North Korea fired a new model of long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea said, triggering a scare in northern Japan where residents were told to take cover, though there turned out to be no danger.

A South Korean military official said the missile appeared to have been a new weapon displayed at recent North Korean military parades, and possibly used solid fuel. North Korea has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time.

The missile flew about 1,000 km, the South’s military said, calling it a “grave provocation”. The official said the missile’s maximum altitude was lower than 6,000km, the apogee of some of last year’s record breaking tests. “So far we assess that they fired a new type of ballistic missile,” the official said. “We’re still analysing the possibility that it carried a solid-fuel propellant. ”

The South Korean military said it was on high alert and coordinating closely with its main ally, the US, which “strongly condemned” what the White House said in a statement was along-range ballistic missile test. Japan called a National Security Council meeting in response to the launch.

THE REST

=========

JAILED GANGSTER ATIQ AHMED’S SON ASAD KILLED IN ENCOUNTER WITH UP POLICE

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday, officials said.

“Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP STF team,” said Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prasahant Kumar. “The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited,” the officer added.

Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj’s Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year.         

Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal’s wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others.

Earlier in the day, Atiq Ahmed and his brother were produced before a court in UP’s Prayagraj on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. While Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj via road from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from a Bareilly jail. Atiq Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case.

ENCOUNTER NO. 183 IN 6 YRS OF YOGI GOVT

The killing of Asad Ahmed, the 19-year-old son of gangster Atiq Ahmed, and his aide, is Encounter Number 183 since the Yogi Adityanath Government first took charge in March 2017.

Since his swearing-in as Chief Minister on March 19, 2017, Yogi Adityanath threw his political weight behind this controversial police method. For the CM, this was a powerful tool, in both style and substance,  to crack down on crime, a key plank of his governance.  He also believed this to be a deterrent.

“Those killed or hurt in the encounters are hardcore criminals. All the police agencies including STF and ATS are working as per chief minister’s directive of zero tolerance against crime and the criminals,” said Prashant Kumar, Special DG, Crime and Law & Order.

ON February 25, a day after the Prayagraj shootout when Umesh Pal and two gunners were killed, Adityanath said, “Iss mafia ko mitti mein mila denge” (This mafia will be razed to dust).

BATHINDA ARMY BASE KILLINGS: NO BREAKTHROUGH YET

With no arrests yet in the killing of four Army personnel early Wednesday, the Bathinda Military Station in Punjab remained on high alert as a cordon-and-search operation for the assailants continued on Thursday.

Besides eyewitness reports that two men in civvies were seen at the spot, multiple agencies investigating the four killings will also probe if “internal rivalries” among soldiers led to the crime, and if the perpetrators could have been insiders who were officially on leave at the time. On Wednesday too, police had said that it appeared to be an “internal” incident.

SURAT COURT TO DELIVER VERDICT ON RAHUL'S PETITION ON APRIL 20

A Surat sessions court on Thursday said it would pronounce on April 20 the order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s plea for a stay to his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark, made four years ago during a poll rally.

Kirit C Panwala, a member of the Gandhi’s legal team, said the verdict would be on the application for an interim stay on conviction. “The verdict is not regarding the main appeal,” Panwala said.

BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, the complainant in the case, opposed Gandhi’s plea for a stay in his reply, saying the Congress leader was a “repetitive offender”. On Thursday, Gandhi’s lawyer senior advocate RS Cheema told sessions judge Mogera that the trial court need not have awarded the maximum punishment prescribed for the offence. The magistrate’s judgement was “strange” as he “made a hotchpotch of all the evidence on record”, Cheema argued.

“It was not a fair trial. The entire case was based on electronic evidence, wherein I made a speech during elections and a person sitting 1000 km away filed a complaint after watching that in the news....There was no need for maximum punishment in this case,” he said.

KARNATAKA SCRAPPING 4% MUSLIM QUOTA: SC CALLS IT PRIMA FACIE FLAWED

The Supreme Court Thursday told the Karnataka government that a reading of its order scrapping the 4 per cent quota for Muslims in the state “appears to suggest that prima facie…the foundation of its decision-making process is highly shaky and flawed”.

This was underlined by Justice K M Joseph heading a two-judge bench hearing a writ petition challenging the Government Order (GO) by L Ghulam Rasool and Anjuman-E-Islam.

With the state as well as counsel appearing for some leaders of Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities opposing any stay and seeking a few days to reply, the bench declined to grant any interim relief sought by the petitioners.

Fixing the matter for hearing on April 18, the court recorded the statement of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the state that “no appointment or admission is going to be made until April 18 in pursuance of the GO”.

The petitioner argued that the state changed the status quo “overnight” without any enquiry or empirical data or report. The state said that reservation based on religion was unconstitutional and asked for a few days to reply so the SC declined to give interim relief.

Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Rasool, the lead petitioner, said the state’s decision suffers from malice in law as the GO was issued just two days before the announcement of Assembly elections. The 4 percent reservation had, instead, been given to Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities because “they don’t want to displease others”, he said adding “we (Muslims) are dispensable”.

BJP PITS VETERANS AGAINST CONG, JD(S) STRONGMEN IN KARNATAKA

Two reluctant veterans and a Young Turk with mixed fortunes in elections have been chosen by the BJP to take on the three main Opposition leaders in Karnataka — Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar of the Congress, and H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) — in the coming Assembly polls.

BJP veterans V Somanna, 72, and R Ashok, 65, who have largely carried out their politics in Bengaluru city, have been asked by the party to leave the comfort of the state capital and fight polls in Varuna of Old Mysuru and Kanakapura of Bengaluru Rural, respectively. Somanna will take on Siddaramaiah in Varuna, and Ashoka will battle Shivakumar.

A former filmstar-turned-businessman-turned-politician, C P Yogeshwar, 59, who is a sitting BJP MLC, will fight against former CM and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy in Channapatna of Mandya.

The BJP’s game plan seems to be to not allow the top Opposition leaders an easy run in their traditional seats, to keep them confined to their constituencies, as well as to galvanise BJP seniors to take up challenges outside their comfort zones.

The state goes to polls on May 10.

NET DIRECT TAX COLLECTIONS ROSE 160% TO RS 16.6 TRILLION IN 2022-23

Net direct tax collections have risen by a huge 160 per cent to Rs 16,61,428 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 6,38,596 crore in 2013-14, according to time series data released by the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

As per the data, gross direct tax collections also witnessed a massive 173 per cent rise to Rs 19,68,780 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 7,21,604 crore in 2013-14.

Direct tax buoyancy, at 2.52 in 2021-22, was the highest ever recorded over the last 15 years, official sources said, adding that direct tax to GDP ratio increased from 5.62 per cent in 2013-14 to 5.97 per cent in 2021-22.

Cost of collections though has come down from 0.57 per cent of total collections in 2013-14 to 0.53 per cent of total collection in 2021-22, the data indicated.

EQUITY MUTUAL FUND FLOWS AT 12-MONTH HIGH OF RS 20,500 CRORE IN MARCH

Net investments in active equity schemes rose to a 12-month high of Rs 20,500 crore in March. The robust tally was underpinned by investments through the SIP route, which breached the Rs 14,000-crore mark for the first time.

Industry players said investors stepped up buying as valuations turned attractive, with the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex and the National Stock Exchange Nifty indices dropping to their lowest levels in five months. From March lows, the indices have now gained nearly 6 per cent.

The total investment through SIPs stood at over Rs 1.5 trillion in 2022-23. N S Venkatesh, chief executive officer, AMFI, said the strong flows through SIPs showcase resilient investor behaviour. “SIP inflows continue to soar, breaking the record on a month-on-month basis. It would not be overkill to say that the retail investor is the hero of the markets. The spike in investors witnessed in the post-pandemic period, despite volatility due to global geopolitical reasons and inflation, is also a cue to resilient investor behaviour,” he said.

In 2021-22, MFs added over 4 million new investors, taking the total unique investor count to 37.7 million.

IPL MATCH 18: GUJARAT TITANS CLINCH THRILLER AGANIST PBKS

Gujarat Titans roared back to winning ways with a six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings after Mohit Sharma's excellent return to the IPL and Shubman Gill's 49-ball 67 in Mohali yesterday.

Medium pacer Mohit marked his comeback with figures of 2/18 as holders GT restricted PBKS to 153 for eight. Playing in his first game in the league since 2020, Mohit was exceptional in the penultimate over, giving away as little as six runs.

When their turn to bat came, Gill led the way with his fine half-century as GT completed the chase of 154 in 19.5 overs, four days after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.

So Far, both teams have played 4 matches each. GT have 3 wins while PBKS have 2.

INDICATORS

Sensex 60,431 (+38), Nifty 17,829 (+16)

Nasdaq 12,166 (+237) Dow 34,030 (+383), S&P 4,146 (+54)

US$-Rs. 81.80 GBP-Rs. 102.33, Euro-Rs. 90.18, UAE Dhm-Rs. 22.27, Can$-Rs. 61.10, Aus$- Rs. 55.17

GBP 0.79 /US$, Euro 0.90 /US$, Jap.Yen 132.86 /US$, Aus$ 1.48 /US$, Sing 1.32 /US$, Bang Taka 105.24 /US$, Can$ 1.33 /US$, Mal Ring 4.40 /US$,

Pak Re 285.54 /US$, Phil Peso 55.24 /US$, Russian Rouble 81.81 /US$, NZ$ 1.59 /US$, Thai Baht 34.02 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.59 /US$)

Bitcoin - USD 30,422

Dollar Index 100.63 Brent Crude 86.25 BDI 1,463

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 2,041 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 6,120 / 5,610, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 81,800

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Your self-confidence is directly connected to how much you feel you are making a difference in your world. - Brian Tracy

OFF TRACK

The bride came down the aisle and when she reached the altar, the groom was standing there with his golf bag and clubs by his side.

She said, "What are your golf clubs doing here?"

He looked her right in the eye--and said, "This isn't going to take all day, is it?"