WOMEN’S BILL INTRODUCED, PM MODI CALLS HIMSELF THE ‘CHOSEN ONE’

The Narendra Modi govt yesterday introduced the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2023, to bring in 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and all state Legislative Assemblies. The Bill extends the quota to the seats reserved for SC/STs.

Calling himself “the chosen one for empowering and strengthening women”, Prime Minister Modi urged the five-day special session of Parliament – that met in the new building on Tuesday – to pass the Bill, dubbed by the govt as the ‘Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam’, unanimously.

The reservation for women, however, will kick in only after the completion of the delimitation exercise based on the first Census conducted after the passage of the Bill, which puts off its date to around 2029. The Bill mandates women’s reservation for 15 years from the commencement of the Act, with Parliament empowered to extend it further. Rotation of seats reserved for women will happen only after subsequent delimitation exercises, to be determined by Parliament by law.

The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday is similar to the legislation passed by the Rajya Sabha in March 2010 under the Congress-led UPA govt on all aspects but this – its linking to the delimitation process. The Opposition seized on this, accusing the govt of “fooling the people”.

The women’s reservation will not apply to the Rajya Sabha or state Legislative Councils.

With the passage of the Bill almost certain, given that the parties opposed to women’s quota earlier have also come around now, the PM said amidst thumping of desks by both sides on Tuesday: “The Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam will further strengthen our democracy. I congratulate mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation… I assure all that we are committed to making this Bill into law.”

Modi appealed to MPs to pass the Bill unanimously. “Tomorrow it will be discussed in the Lok Sabha and, after that, it will come to the Rajya Sabha. I am requesting all of you… it is such an issue that if we take it forward unanimously, it would multiply its power,” he said.

Given that it is a Constitutional amendment Bill, it needs to be passed by both the Houses with “special majority” – that is, a majority of the total members of each House, plus a majority of two-thirds of the House present and voting – and to be ratified by at least half the state Assemblies.

The Congress claimed credit for the legislation and also questioned the secrecy around it. It also asked why the reservation was not being brought in immediately.

CONGRESS SHIFTS ITS STAND ON BILL; JOINS SP, RJD IN ASKING FOR OBC QUOTA

As the Women’s Reservation Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Opposition found two talking points to attack the govt. The parties said the Bill was a “huge betrayal” of the hopes of women as the implementation date had been kept vague and criticised the govt for not providing quota for other backward classes.

The Congress marked a complete turnaround from its position in 2010 when it failed to push the Bill through in the Lok Sabha. On Tuesday, the Congress demanded reservation for OBCs within the women’s quota. The demand is in sync with the larger Opposition bloc’s caste census demand and the social justice rhetoric could become one of the potent weapons in the Opposition’s arsenal for 2024.

Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge set the stage for the OBC quota demand during his speech in the House on Tuesday. “The backward classes may suffer in this because unless the Constitutional amendment provides one-third quota to the OBCs, their women will not benefit from it. If you don’t do that, it will amount to injustice to the backward classes),” Kharge said.

Explaining his opposition to the Bill, Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram wrote on X, “The date of the next Census is indeterminate. The date of the next Delimitation is indeterminate (and perhaps controversial). The Women’s Reservation is dependent on two indeterminate dates. Can there be a greater jumla? The women’s reservation can be implemented immediately on the basis of the updated Voters lists.”

Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal said, “At the earliest, this will kick in for the 2029 elections. If it isn’t applicable immediately, this is just another headline management stunt by the Modi govt. Further, the Bill doesn’t account for reservation for women from OBC communities. Without that, it is incomplete in its social justice agenda. The govt should ensure that along with women’s reservation, representation of India’s backward communities is also guaranteed.”

IN FIRST SPEECH IN NEW HOUSE, PM TO MPS: FORGET PAST BITTERNESS

As parliament began functioning from the new building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged all MPs to forget past bitterness and start a new chapter to build a stronger India. “The chains of slavery had suppressed our aspirations, but united we have reached here. The aspirations and dreams of Indians should be the centre of our reforms. Can we paint a big picture on a small canvas? Similarly, if we don’t widen the area of thought, we cannot depict the vast aspirations of India,” said Modi, addressing MPs of both Houses at a function in Central Hall of the old Parliament building, which he suggested be named Samvidhan Sadan.

Following this, the Prime Minister along with the MPs walked to the adjacent new Parliament building for the first session of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha there.

As proceedings chaired by Speaker Om Birla began in the new building, the Prime Minister delivered his maiden speech in the new Lok Sabha chamber as the Leader of the House. He said the new Parliament building reflects the aspirations of 140 crore Indians. “When we are starting a new chapter, we should forget all past bitterness,” he said. “Whatever we are going to do in this new Parliament building, it should be an inspiration to every citizen in the country…..Every law made in Parliament, every discussion held in Parliament, and every signal given by Parliament should encourage the Indian aspiration. This is our responsibility and the expectation of every Indian.”

GOVT JUNKS TRUDEAU’S ALLEGATION ON TERRORIST’S KILLING, AND EXPELS A CANADIAN ENVOY

India on Tuesday rejected as 'absurd' and 'motivated' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader and kicked out a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case, marking fresh strain to the already frayed ties between the two nations.

Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay was summoned and was informed about the decision to expel the senior diplomat with the Ministry of External Affairs saying the action reflected New Delhi's growing concern at the 'interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities'.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by two gunmen in Surrey on June 18. He was one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head.

In a strongly-worded statement, the MEA also trashed comments by Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, asserting that 'such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity'.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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BIDEN URGES WORLD TO STAND UP TO RUSSIA’S AGGRESSION

New York : President Joe Biden made a robust case before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the world must remain united in defending Ukraine against Russian aggression, warning that no nation can be secure if “we allow Ukraine to be carved up” as he tries to rally support for Kyiv’s effort to repel a nearly 19-month-old Russian invasion.

The US president called on world leaders to not let support for Ukraine diminish, arguing that Russia is counting on countries to grow tired of prolonged conflict in Kyiv which will “allow it to brutalise Ukraine without consequence.” Russia alone is standing in the way of a resolution, Biden argued, saying that Moscow’s price for peace was “Ukraine’s capitulation, Ukraine’s territory and Ukraine’s children.”

“If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? I’d respectfully suggest the answer is no,” Biden said. Appealing to nations that have stood on the sidelines of the Russian war, he implored the leaders to stand up to “this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”

‘RUSSIA WEAPONISING EVERYTHING, FROM FOOD TO ENERGY TO KIDS’

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday said that while the world has focused on the threat of nuclear weapons, Russia is weaponising essentials like food and energy, “not only against our country but against all of yours as well.”

Zelensky said Ukraine has the names of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped and transferred by Russia and that he was trying to get children back home. “Time goes by; what will happen to them?” He called it “clearly a genocide.” Painting Russia as a habitual aggressor, Zelensky noted Moscow’s military interventions in Moldova, Georgia and Syria; its increased control of Belarus; and its threats against the Baltic states. “The goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into a weapon against you, against the international rules-based order.”

Zelensky pushed back against a peace plan that would be anything less than a military victory for his country over Russia, saying there was a chance to “end the aggression on the terms of the state that was attacked.” His words drew sustained applause, and he concluded his speech with “Glory to Ukraine”.

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KHALISTAN LEADER’S KILLING: THE POSSIBLE FALLOUT

With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegation of a “potential link” between agents of the Govt of India and the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader and Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi is facing an unprecedented diplomatic challenge.

Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, numbering 16 lakh people of Indian origin, accounting for more than 3 percent of the total Canadian population and 700,000 NRIs.

India became the top source of foreign students studying in Canada — 2.3 lakh, according to 2022 data.

India’s total trade with Canada (goods and services) in 2021-22 was US $11.68 billion, much below potential, but when it comes to India’s import of pulses, almost 30% of the total import comes from Canada.

Canadian pension funds have cumulatively invested around US $55 billion in India. Cumulative FDI from Canada since 2000 is about US$4.07 billion.

All these have continued despite speed bumps like the recent pause in trade talks — and despite challenges over the Khalistan issue.

But a diplomatic escalation of this kind could potentially damage some of the structured and organic exchanges between the two sides.

Significantly, Canada has not shared any details of the evidence it has indicating that it will do so “in due course”. As New Delhi waits for this, it is very much aware that Canada — one of the G7 countries — is part of the Five Eyes Alliance: an intelligence-sharing grouping of US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. If Ottawa shares the information on Nijjar’s killing with its Five Eyes partners, the credibility of the evidence will be tested. So far, Trudeau has chosen to sound out US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — both Five Eyes partners. But all these countries — US, UK and Australia especially — are India’s close strategic partners as well.

KASHMIR: KOKERNAG ENCOUNTER ENDS; LASHKAR COMMANDER, ANOTHER MILITANT KILLED

At least two militants, including LeT commander Uzair Bashir Khan were killed as the six-day encounter between the Indian Army and militants drew to a close yesterday. The body of a third militant was seen near the encounter spot but it has not yet been recovered.

Additional director general of police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar has told reporters that while the encounter is over, search operations will continue.

DISTURBANCE, DISRUPTIONS FAST TAKING HOUSE TOWARDS IRRELEVANCE: JAGDEEP DHANKHAR

Warning that the role of the Legislature is in a “cliffhanger-like situation”, with Parliament and state Assemblies fast surging into “irrelevance”, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said it would “lose grip if we [legislators] do not occupy our space”.

Maintaining that non-performance and continuous disruptions have become more menacing than the Covid-19 pandemic, Dhankhar said while the Executive and the Judiciary are performing in the country, a “dysfunctional Legislature” has the potential to undermine democratic values and impede the blossoming of democracy.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), India region, Dhankhar also made a veiled criticism of the so-called “freebie culture”, which has been slammed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Political intoxication of people by distribution of largesse requires serious deliberation. Economies have collapsed as a consequence of this. Thrust has to be to generate an ecosystem that empowers people to unleash their talent and potential. Reaching out to their pockets is not a rational option.”

Dhankhar said: “The temples of democracy meant for dialogue, deliberation, debate and discussion are these days hotbeds of disturbance and disruptions. As a consequence…Parliament and legislatures are fast surging into irrelevance. The gruesome situation augurs ill for democratic values.”

‘NO STATUTORY VACUUM, ROBUST MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR REGULATING MEDIA’

Asserting that there is no statutory vacuum, the central govt has told the Supreme Court there exists a robust mechanism for regulation of content of private television channels.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said the Union of India has always protected journalistic freedom and encouraged the policy of promoting self-restraint and self-regulation in the field of journalism.

The govt said this was meant to ensure that media houses and journalists acknowledge their vital role and responsibilities towards the society and elevate their standards of practice though self-devised methods. This, it said, ensures there is minimum interference by govt authorities in the functioning of media. It is only in cases involving national security that the govt's statutory mechanism kicks in, the affidavit said.

The affidavit was filed in response to a plea by the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) against the January 2021 observations of the Bombay High Court. The high court had said media trials amounted to contempt of court and urged the press not to cross the proverbial "Lakshman Rekha", as it found the coverage of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case by some news channels "contemptuous".

AKASA AIR SOS TO DELHI HC AFTER PILOTS' EXIT

Akasa Air is in a “state of crisis” and it “may shut down” due to the abrupt resignations of 43 pilots to join rival airlines, the newly established carrier told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.

The sudden exits of these pilots, who did not serve their mandatory notice period of six months (for first officers) or one year (for captains), have forced the carrier to cancel 24 flights per day in September (to date), its counsel told the court.

These pilots have joined rival airlines, primarily Tata Group-run Air India Express.

“We cancelled 600 flights in August,” counsel said, requesting the court to empower the DGCA to enforce the rules regarding the mandatory notice period.

The pilots’ unions, whose representatives were also present in the court, opposed Akasa Air’s petition, stating that the matter regarding the notice period was not a regulatory one but a contractual issue between the pilots and the airline.

The aviation sector is undergoing turbulence. Go First went insolvent in May this year after stating that about half its 54 planes were grounded due to delay in engine supply by US-based Pratt & Whitney.

Go First’s revival is unsure because its lessors want their planes back and the matter is in court.

SpiceJet, another budget carrier, continues to face a cash crunch even as it is dealing with multiple court cases regarding money owed to its lessors, former promoter Kalanithi Maran, and financial services firm Credit Suisse.

JAWAN NEARS RS 900 CRORE GROSS WORLDWIDE

The 12-day total collection of the Atlee directorial, Shah Rukh Khan blockbuster, Jawan, now stands at Rs 493 crore in India. Jawan is doing incredibly well worldwide, having grossed over Rs 880 crore so far. It has become the fastest Bollywood movie to reach this milestone.

SRK seems to be outdoing himself and is even competing with his own film Pathaan, which was released earlier this year in January. The Siddharth Anand directorial was a massive box office hit, making Rs 1,055 crore worldwide and Rs 543 crore in India.

Atlee recently discussed the possibility of Jawan making it to the Oscars. In an interview with Etimes, Atlee expressed his desire to take Jawan to the Oscars if everything falls into place. The director mentioned that everyone in the film industry aims for recognition at prestigious ceremonies like the Oscars, and he would love for Jawan to have that opportunity.

INDICATORS

(Indian Stock Markets were closed yesterday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi)

Nasdaq 13,678 (-32) Dow 34,518 (-107), S&P 4,444 (-10)

US$-Rs. 83.28, GBP-Rs. 103.16, Euro-Rs. 88.98, UAE Dhm-Rs. 22.67, Can$-Rs. 61.91, Aus$- Rs. 53.71

GBP 0.80 /US$, Euro 0.93 /US$, Jap.Yen 147.75 /US$, Aus$ 1.55 /US$, Sing 1.36 /US$, Bang Taka 108.46 /US$, Can$ 1.34 /US$, Mal Ring 4.69 /US$, Pak Re 293.89 /US$, Phil Peso 56.72 /US$, Russian Rouble 96.43 /US$, NZ$ 1.68 /US$, Thai Baht 35.91 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.62 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 27,272, Dollar Index 104.80, Brent Crude 94.16, BDI 1526

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,929 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 6,022 / 5,520, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 78,000

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking. - A. A. Milne

OFF TRACK

A lady on a commuter train was reading a newspaper article about life and death statistics. Fascinated, she turned to the man next to her and asked, “Did you know that every time I breathe somebody dies?”

“Really,” he said, “have you tried mouthwash?”