KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS EVE: LAMPS LIT AT MEMORIAL, EPIC BATTLES RECALLED

The epic battles of Tololing, Tiger Hill and others were recalled and 559 lamps lit in a tribute to the martyrs at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass area of Ladakh as events to mark the 22nd Kargil Vijay Diwas commenced on Sunday in the presence of top military officers, family members of the army personnel and others.

A special meet recalling the many inspiring stories of Operation Vijay was organised by the Army at Lamochen near Drass early Sunday morning which was attended by a number of military personnel including the gallantry award winners and families of Kargil War heroes.

A fusion of military bands put up a display which was followed by a solemn ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony.

A memorial service was held where the attendees paid silent tribute to the fallen heroes with moist eyes.

Captain Vikram Batra’s biopic, ‘Shershah’ – produced by Dharma Productions – was also released and ‘Maa Teri Kasam’, a soulful and emotive song, conceptualised by Northern Command screened.

Batra sacrificed his life fighting Pakistani forces during the Kargil War in 1999 at the age of 24 and was posthumously awarded the highest wartime gallantry award—the Param Vir Chakra.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly ‘Mann ki baat’ radio address, mentioned Kargil Vijay Diwas and asked the people of the country to pay tributes to those who made the nation proud in 1999.

PM MUST MAKE STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT, CLARIFY WHETHER SNOOPING WAS DONE: CHIDAMBARAM ON PEGASUS ROW

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said the govt should either call for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations or request the Supreme Court to appoint a sitting judge to investigate the matter, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in Parliament clarifying whether there had been surveillance or not.

The former home minister said he was not sure that one can go to the extent of saying that the entire electoral mandate of 2019 was vitiated by the “unlawful snooping” but added that it may have “helped” the BJP to score that victory which has been “tainted” by the allegations.

On the govt’s response to the allegations, Chidambaram referred to IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw statement in Parliament, saying he is obviously a very “clever minister” and therefore the statement has been “very cleverly worded”.

“He (Vaishnaw) denies that there was any unauthorised surveillance. He does not deny that there was surveillance. He does not deny that there was authorised surveillance. Surely the minister knows the difference between authorised surveillance and unauthorised surveillance,” the Congress leader said.

Posing questions for the govt, he asked whether there was surveillance at all and whether snooping was done through Pegasus. “If Pegasus spyware was used, who acquired it? Was it acquired by the govt or by one of its agencies,” he asked. He also asked the govt to come clean on the amount paid to acquire the spyware.

“Was it a rogue agency in India doing it without the knowledge of the govt or was it a foreign agency hacking into Indian telephones without the knowledge of the govt. Either way...it is a more serious matter than the govt conducting the surveillance,” he said.

JUST 1% DIP IN WEEKLY CASES AS KERALA RECORDS 16% SURGE

India recorded the smallest drop in weekly Covid-19 infections since the peak of the second wave as the case count in the current week (July 19-25) fell by just around 1.4% as compared with the previous seven days. The country recorded over 2.66 lakh new cases in the week at a daily average of around 38,000, marginally less than the 38,548 recorded during July 12-18. In the previous two weeks, Covid cases had seen a fall of 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively.

The main factor behind the plateauing of positive cases in the country was the accelerating numbers being reported from Kerala, and to a lesser degree, from the northeast.

Kerala recorded 1,10,593 fresh cases in the last seven days, registering a sharp 15.7% surge over the previous week. This was also the first time in seven weeks that any state in the country had reported over 1 lakh fresh cases in a week ending Sunday.

Kerala accounted for over 41% of all cases in the country in the current week. Covid cases have been surging in the state for four weeks now. Of greater concern would be the fact that this week’s rise of nearly 16% was by far the sharpest since the last week of April. The test positivity rate in the state was over 12% on Sunday, up slightly from the previous day.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 4,04,820

New Cases in last 24 hours: 38,144

Recovered in last 24 hours: 35,909

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: +1,824

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 411 (4,20,996)

Daily Tests (Saturday): 17,18,756

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 2.3%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 25.5% / 7.0%

STATES WITH HIGH No. OF ACTIVE CASES AND/OR HIGH POSITIVITY RATE

S. No. / States / Active Cases    / New Cases  /   New Deaths /  TPR (no of Positives per 100 Tests)

1          Kerala              140275 /           17,466  /           66        /           12.5

2          Maharashtra     94985   /           6,843    /           123       /           3.4

3          Karnataka                     23419   /           1,001    /           22        /           0.7

4          Tamil Nadu       23364   /           1,808    /           22        /           1.5

5          Andhra Pradesh            22155   /           2,252    /           15        /           2.7

6          Odisha             16806   /           1,833    /           67        /           2.6

7          Assam              13910   /           1,054    /           22        /           1.4

8          West Bengal     11796   /           806       /           9          /           1.6

9          Manipur                        10581   /           1,207    /           13        /           14.5

10        Telangana                    9405     /           494       /           4          /           0.5

11        Mizoram                       8375     /           938       /           1          /           20.4

12        Meghalaya        5007     /           597       /           10        /           11.1

13        Arunachal Pradesh        4266     /           164       /           3          /           4.4

14        Tripura             3934     /           408       /           1          /           4.1

15        Sikkim              3017     /           337       /           Nil        /           16.0

16        Chhattisgarh     2738     /           130       /           5          /           0.5

17        Nagaland                      1285     /           68        /           4          /           6.8

18        Goa                  1158     /           75        /           6          /           2.2

19        Puducherry       922       /           104       /           2          /           1.7

20        Uttar Pradesh   868       /           3          /           1          /           0.0

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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WORLD CONTINUES TO GRAPPLE WITH DELTA VARIANT

Hundreds of children in Indonesia have died from the coronavirus in recent weeks, many of them younger than 5, a mortality rate greater than that of any other country and one that challenges the idea that children face minimal risk from Covid-19. The deaths, more than 100 a week this month, have come as Indonesia confronts its biggest surge yet in coronavirus cases overall. The jump in child deaths coincides with the surge of the Delta variant which has swept through Southeast Asia. Indonesian govt reported nearly 50,000 new infections and 1,566 deaths among the entire population on Friday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Helge Braun, said on Sunday that he fears the number of new coronavirus cases in Germany could soar to 1,00,000 a day in about two months unless many more people get vaccinated and those who refuse may face restrictions. Helge Braun, told Bild newspaper that cases were increasing by 60% per week

The US is in an “unnecessary predicament” of soaring Covid-19 cases fuelled by unvaccinated Americans and the virulent Delta variant, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert said on Sunday. “We’re going in the wrong direction,” said Anthony Fauci, describing himself as “very frustrated.” He said recommending that the vaccinated wear masks is “under active consideration” by the govt’s leading public health officials. Also, booster shots may be suggested for people with suppressed immune systems who have been vaccinated, Fauci said.

He noted that some local jurisdictions where infection rates are surging, such as Los Angeles County, are already calling on individuals to wear masks in public regardless of vaccination status. Nearly 163 million people, or 49% of the eligible US population, are vaccinated, according to CDC data. “This is an issue predominantly among the unvaccinated, which is the reason why we’re practically pleading with the unvaccinated people to get vaccinated,” he said.

MACRON CALLS ISRAELI PM TO RAISE CONCERN ABOUT SPYING CLAIMS

French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken to Israeli PM Naftali Bennett on reports that Morocco’s security forces may have used the Pegasus spyware to snoop on his cellphones, according to a media report.

The mobile phones of French President Macron and 15 members of his govt may have been among potential targets, according to a member of the consortium.

Macron called Bennett on Thursday and asked him to ensure that “the issue was being taken seriously”, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Saturday. The Israeli PM said the allegations are from a period when he had not assumed office but assured Macron that the required conclusions on the matter will be reached upon.

Macron had called an urgent national security meeting on Thursday to discuss the spyware after reports about its misuse in France emerged. The Moroccan govt has denied reports that the country’s security forces used the spyware to eavesdrop on Macron. NSO has also denied that the French president was targeted.

U.S. GENERAL VOWS TO CONTINUE AIR STRIKES SUPPORTING AFGHAN TROOPS

The United States will continue air strikes in support of Afghan forces fighting the Taliban, a top U.S. general said on Sunday, as the insurgents press on with offensives across the country.

The Taliban’s deadly assault has seen the insurgents capture scores of districts, border crossings and encircle several provincial capitals.

“The United States has increased air strikes in the support of Afghan forces over the last several days, and we are prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks,” General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the US Army Central Command, told reporters in Kabul.

McKenzie acknowledged that there were tough days ahead for the Afghan govt, but insisted that the Taliban were nowhere close to victory.

“The Taliban are attempting to create a sense of inevitability about their campaign. They are wrong,” he said. “Taliban victory is not inevitable.”

THE REST

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9 TOURISTS KILLED AS BOULDERS HIT VEHICLE IN HIMACHAL LANDSLIDE

Nine tourists were killed after heavy boulders fell on their tempo traveller in a landslide near Basteri in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

Multiple landslides triggered by recent rains occurred near Basteri on the Sangla-Chitkul road at 1.25 p.m., resulting in a bridge collapse and damage to some vehicles, police said. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows several boulders rolling downhill and smashing into the bridge, causing it to collapse.

MAHARASHTRA RAIN TOLL REACHES 149, AT LEAST 100 STILL MISSING

With the Maharashtra govt pegging the death toll due to heavy rains in the Konkan region and western parts of the state at 149, including 37 deaths recorded on Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that a relief package will be announced soon — and a separate force on the lines of the NDRF will be set up in vulnerable districts to ensure a quicker response during natural disasters.

Speaking to reporters after a review meeting at Chiplun in Raigad district, Thackeray said: “The govt will do everything to make them (those affected) stand on their feet. The assistance such as food, clothes, medicines and others will be provided to flood-affected people immediately. The district administration has been instructed that technical issues should not come in the way of providing assistance.”

Union Minister Narayan Rane, however, expressed concern over what he alleged was the “lackadaisical approach” of the state govt. “Where is the state govt? Where are the state and district officials? People are helpless. But there is no help from the state administration,” Rane said after a visit to Taliye village in Raigad, where 49 people were killed in landslides.

KARNATAKA COUNTDOWN: BSY WAITS FOR WORD FROM DELHI; NO CRISIS, SAYS NADDA

Following strong indications of a change of guard in Karnataka over the last two weeks, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa is likely to step down from the post of Chief Minister after his govt completes two years on Monday.

On Sunday, Yediyurappa said he was waiting for a communication from the party high command to move on his resignation. In Panaji, meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda praised Yediyurappa and dismissed suggestions of a crisis in Karnataka. “He (Yediyurappa) has done good work. Karnataka is running well. Yediyurappaji is handling things in his own way,” Nadda said. Asked if there was a political crisis in the state, he said: “Aisa aapko lagta hai, humko nahi lagta (That is what you feel. We don’t feel so).”

The 78-year-old Lingayat leader is now waiting for the central leadership to make up its mind on his successor from a field of over 15 aspirants. “Tomorrow morning, there will be an event to mark the second anniversary of the govt. I would be talking about our achievements over the last two years at the event. After that what happens, you will come to know,” Yediyurappa said.

“When I am told to submit my resignation, I will be ready to resign. Until now, I have not received any message and if I am told to continue, I will do so and if I should resign, I will resign.”

THE CASTE CENSUS DEBATE

Last week, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said in response to a question in Lok Sabha: “The Govt of India has decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census.”

Since then, during the weekend, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his predecessor Jitan Ram Manjhi have separately demanded a caste-base census. Weeks earlier, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale had raised the same demand.

Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Before that, every Census until 1931 had data on caste.

However, in 1941, caste-based data was collected but not published. M W M Yeats, the then Census Commissioner, said a note: “There would have been no all India caste table… The time is past for this enormous and costly table as part of the central undertaking…” This was during World War II.

In the absence of such a census, there is no proper estimate for the population of OBCs, various groups within the OBCs, and others. The Mandal Commission estimated the OBC population at 52%, some other estimates have been based on National Sample Survey data, and political parties make their own estimates in states and Lok Sabha and Assembly seats during elections.

It comes up before almost every Census, as records of debates and questions raised in Parliament show. The demand usually come from among those belonging to OBC and other deprived sections, while sections from the upper castes oppose the idea.

INDIA AT TOKYO OLYMPICS: MARY, MANIKA, SINDHU KEEP HOPES ALIVE

Mary Kom's winning start in boxing (51 kg) and paddler, Manika Batra's brilliant come-from-behind victory over her 20th ranked Ukrainian rival were the only bright spots in an otherwise gloomy day for India at Tokyo.

In an exciting bout against the younger Miguelina Hernandez Garcia from the Dominican Republic, the 38-year-old veteran won on points to keep alive her hopes for another Olympic medal.

While P V Sindhu's victory over lower ranked Ksenia Polikarpova from Israel was never in doubt, in a heart-warming performance, Manika came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-3 in a pulsating battle.

The shooters, however, continued to pile on the agony with yet another lacklustre performance. Manu Bhaker and Yashaswin Singh Deswal who between them have had more than a dozen international medals, including in World Cups, couldn't reach the finals in the 10m Air Pistol competition. Similarly, young sensation Divyansh Singh Parmar and Deepak Kumar did little justice to their world rankings by failing to make the cut for the final eight in the 10 m Air Rifle event.

Of the two skeet shooters, Angad Vir Singh and Mairaj Khan who took to the range, the former is hanging in by a thread at close of day one. He is placed 11th with only a point behind the top six and has to pull out a rabbit from the hat on Monday in order to sneak in to the finals.

The rowers, Arjun Lal and Arvind Singh dished out a gritty performance in the repechage round to finish third and progress to the semi-finals on the 27th. No hope for a medal there, but a creditable performance nonetheless.

Elsewhere, it was a story of heartbreak. In tennis, Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina raised hopes of an upset victory by winning the opening set against their Ukrainian opponents 6-0, but failed to sustain the momentum losing the next two 6-7 and 8-10.

Paddler G.Sathiyan's was a similar story. The higher ranked Indian squandered away a 3-1 lead to go down to his rival from Hongkong 4-3.

Boxer Manish Kaushik failed to add to the cheers brought in by Mary Kom by going down to his opponent from Great Britain tamely in the flyweight category.

To round up a dismal day, in hockey the men in blue went down to to the formidable Aussies by a tennis like score of 7-1. The latter were as precise as the former profligate.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV, BHUVNESHWAR STAR IN EASY INDIA VICTORY

Suryakumar Yadav's golden run with the bat was beautifully complemented by the Indian bowling unit led by Bhuvneshar Kumar as the visitors outclassed Sri Lanka by 38 runs in the first T20 International here on Sunday.

If Surya's  second T20 International half-century -- an attractive 50 off 34 balls -- ensured a decent total of 164 for 5, Yuzvendra Chahal (1/19 in 4 overs) oozed class while Deepak Chahar (2/24 in 3 overs) and Bhuvneshwar (4/22 in 3.3 overs) picked up wickets when it mattered most, bowling the hosts out for 126 in 18.3 overs In fact, from 111/4 in the 16th over, Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for only 15 runs.

In what will be the final international audition before T20 World Cup, Chahal gave his all in presence of IPL star and debutant mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who as per grapevine could be the Indian team management's choice for the marquee event.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed... Great necessities call our great virtues. - Abigail Adams

OFF TRACK

A man is driving home, when is pulled over by a patrolman for a broken blinker. The cop looks into the guys' car and sees a collection of knives in the backseat.

"Sir," the cop says. "Why do you have all those knives?"

"They're for my juggling act," the man says.

"I don't believe you," says the cop. "Prove it." So the man gets out of his car and begins juggling the knives. At the same time, a car with two guys in it drives by.

"Man," says the first guy. "I'm glad I quit drinking. These new alcohol tests are hard."