RAJNATH'S VEILED ATTACK ON CHINA AT INS VISAKHAPATNAM'S COMMISSIONING

Taking a veiled dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said 'some irresponsible nations' for the sake of their narrow partisan interests and hegemonic tendencies are coming up with inappropriate interpretations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a matter of concern that UNCLOS is being repeatedly weakened by arbitrary interpretation of its definition by some nations, Singh said, after commissioning of Indian Navy's destroyer Visakhapatnam in Mumbai.

As a responsible maritime stakeholder, India supports consensus-based principles and a peaceful, open, rule-based stable maritime order, Singh said.

Singh asserted that India's interests are directly linked with the Indian Ocean and the region is crucial for the world economy.

With the changing power dynamics in the Indian Ocean region, INS Visakhapatnam will augment the Indian Navy's mobility, reach and flexibility towards accomplishment of its tasks and goals, Singh said. The indigenously-built stealth guided missile destroyer, packed with an array of missiles and anti-submarine rockets, was commissioned in presence of top naval commanders.

INS Visakhapatnam measures 163 metres in length and 17 metres in breadth with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. The ship is propelled by four powerful gas turbines and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.

FARMER UNIONS DIG IN HEELS; LIST SIX DEMANDS

In a press conference held at the Singhu border on Sunday, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said that protest events will take place as per schedule for the time being. It further added that a meeting will be held on November 27 to decide on the future course of action.

SKM also wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi, listing six demands, including legal guarantee for MSP. It demanded withdrawal of the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill (2020-2021), removal of penal provisions in the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and Adjoining Areas Act-2021, withdrawal of cases against farmers in Delhi, Haryana, U.P. and other states, sacking of MoS (Home) Ajay Mishra whose son is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings, land at Singhu to raise a memorial to 700 farmers who died during the agitation and compensation for their families.

The leader further said that the march to Parliament at the end of the month will take place as per schedule. Meanwhile, the SKM has given the call for a mahapanchayat in Lucknow today.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the farm laws will be repealed and the process will be completed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

SKM said the farmers agitation would continue till these six demands were met.

From November 29, the SKM will send 500 farmers in tractors every day to Parliament to protest during the forthcoming Winter Session.

CONG QUESTIONS MODI’S 'MYSTERIOUS' SILENCE ON CHINESE INTRUSION

The Congress has again questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “mysterious and inexcusable” silence on Chinese intrusion, pointing to the latest satellite pictures suggesting new constructions inside Arunachal Pradesh.

On Sunday, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at a news conference: “It is a sad and distressing story of deception, prevarication on a subject like national security. It is a case of deliberate distortion, digression and diversion on an issue affecting India’s integrity and sovereignty. Can you have doublespeak, hypocrisy on national security? What is the definition of national security? We don’t understand this definition of national security, where you berate, browbeat, intimidate the whole country on national security issues and keep silent on this kind of thing.”

The Congress spokesperson recalled defence minister Rajnath Singh’s rhetoric that nobody can occupy even an inch on India’s territory without dealing with specifics. The latest intrusion shows the Chinese have built infrastructure 6-7km inside Indian territory. Showing satellite imageries, he said: “We can see a cluster of 60-70 houses. This is apart from the encroachments reported into Bhutanese territory. The Prime Minister who speaks on everything is silent on these issues.”

The Congress has been ceaselessly raising questions about the Chinese aggression in different parts of the country but the govt hasn’t given credible, categorical explanation. Singhvi insisted that everybody stood for national interest and the govt too should take these concerns in a constructive manner instead of seeing it through partisan politics.

CM YOGI POSTS PHOTOS WITH PM, SENDS OUT MESSAGE TO ELECTORATE

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday sparked off fresh speculation about his future role in the BJP, posting intimate tell-all frames with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two engaged in an intense conversation on the eve of state elections early next year.

“We have embarked on a pledge, dedicating our mind and body, with a resolve to herald a new dawn, reach beyond the skies and build a new India,” Yogi captioned two Twitter frames that show the PM, in a counselling gesture, putting hand on the UP CM’s shoulder.

The frame appeared intended not only as a signal to saffron rank and file about new winds blowing in the BJP, but also as a message the electorate of UP.

The CM’s tweets promising the rise of new India also carry loaded messages about his own future, raising questions about whether the PM had begun the search for a successor.

Although BJP insiders said it was too early in the day for PM’s succession plan discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah already in tow, they privately acknowledged the rise of Yogi in the party.

The recent BJP national executive meeting bore testimony to the fact that Yogi had trumped compatriot BJP CMs to the top having been the only one to be invited to attend the meeting physically. Besides, Yogi was then handpicked to propose the BJP’s political resolution, something Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had done over the previous two years.

FLOODS WREAK HAVOC IN ANDHRA; TOLL CLIMBS TO 31, ROAD, RAIL TRAFFIC HIT

Andhra Pradesh on Sunday continued to reel under the aftermath of heavy rains and flash floods that wreaked havoc on the state, killing a total of 31 people.

Hundreds of vehicles and passengers were stranded after the main rail and road routes in the state, connecting southern, eastern and northern parts of the country, remained cut off as the Penna river in spate caused heavy destruction.

As floods caused devastation, the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway-16 had to be closed down for traffic in SPS Nellore district following heavy breaches at Padugupadu and Kovuru. The traffic between Nellore and Vijayawada has been suspended, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for kilometers on either side. The Chennai grand trunk rail route also remained cut off for traffic.

More than 100 express trains were cancelled after the rail track at Padugupadu near Nellore was damaged in the deluge. 29 more trains were diverted via other routes, the South Central Railway informed.

The flash floods due to a breach of the Annamayya project’s earthen bund on Cheyyeru river wreaked havoc in Kadapa district. Annamayya is a medium irrigation project on Cheyyeru, a tributary of Penna river.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST 22/Nov

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Saturday (Sunday Data is not yet available) 10,488

Active Cases as of Monday Morning 1,18,443 (-4271)

Deaths as of Sunday 4,65,911 (+249) (Saturday’s figure of 313 deaths includes 216 old deaths in Kerala, as the data is being reconciled)

Total Vaccination as of Monday Morning: 1,16,87,28,385 (+32,99,337)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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

IN VIDEO CALL WITH OLY OFFICIAL, CHINA TENNIS STAR SAYS SHE’S SAFE

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai had a video call on Sunday with the president of the International Olympic Committee and told him she was safe and well, the IOC said, after Western govts expressed mounting concern for her well-being.

Photos and videos of Peng at a children’s tournament in Beijing published earlier in the day had done little to quell that unease, following a nearly three-week public absence after she alleged that a former senior Chinese official se.xually assaulted her.

In a statement, the IOC said Peng began the 30-minute call with its president Thomas Bach by thanking the Olympic organisation for its concern. “She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,” the statement said.

France’s foreign minister had earlier called on the Chinese authorities to provide more reassurance, echoing a statement by the Women’s Tennis Association that the images of Peng at the tournament were “insufficient” proof.

“I’m expecting only one thing: that she speaks,” France’s Jean-Yves Le Drian told LCI television, adding that there could be unspecified diplomatic consequences if China did not clear up the situation. His office did not respond to a request for comment on IOC’s statement. The US and UK had also called for China to provide proof of Peng’s whereabouts.

Current and former tennis players, from Naomi Osaka to Serena Williams to Billie Jean King had joined the calls seeking to confirm she was safe, using the social media hashtag #WhereIsPengShuai? World No.1 Novak Djokovic said it would be strange to hold tournaments in China unless the “horrific” situation was resolved.

The concern over Peng came as global rights groups and others have called for a boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February over China’s human rights record.

PROTESTS IN GWADAR AMID BACKLASH AGAINST CPEC

Massive protests have erupted in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar against unnecessary checkpoints, part of a growing backlash in the country against China’s multibilliondollar belt and road projects. The protests organised by workers of some political parties, civil rights activists, fishermen and concerned citizens have been going on for a week at Y Chowk in Gwadar, a coastal town in the restive southwest Balochistan province of Pakistan. The protesters demand the removal of unnecessary security check posts, availability of drinking water and electricity, eviction of big fishing trawlers from Makran coast and opening of the border with Iran from Panjgur to Gwadar, Jang newspaper reported on Sunday.

Gwadar port has long been portrayed as the jewel in the CPEC crown, but in the process, the city has become the very embodiment of a security state.

BIDEN DECLARES INTENT TO RUN IN 2024

US President Joe Biden has conveyed to his supporters that he plans to run for the White House again in 2024 in an apparent effort to quell Democratic disquiet and infighting amid falling poll numbers for himself and his party. Biden and members of his inner circle have reportedly reassured allies in recent days that he plans to run for reelection in 2024, despite the widespread assumption that his age — he turned 79 on Saturday and he will be 82 by the time of the next election — will not allow a vigorous campaign.

Declaration of his intent to run is also aimed at snuffing out preparatory work by other contenders, including his vice-president Kamala Harris, who is expected to make a bid for the party nomination should Biden bail out.

THE REST

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IN RAJASTHAN RESHUFFLE, CONGRESS EYES 2023 STATE POLLS; PILOT SAYS ALL WELL

Fifteen new ministers took oath Sunday at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur and the Congress party’s message throughout the day was to put up a united front and keep the house in order in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections in the state. The new faces in the Rajasthan Council of Ministers include four Dalits, three tribals, and three women, one among whom is from the minority community.

Earlier in the day, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, who had led a rebellion 16 months back, was at pains to emphasise there were “no factions” and pointed out that the party reached the halfway mark by collectively contesting the 2018 polls. State in-charge Ajay Maken too said with the reshuffle, party workers should now aim to break the “tradition of the last few decades in 2023 and get the Congress party re-elected”.

On his part, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said, “The public should know that the Congress has resolved that it will repeat the govt this time around. If we give good governance, the govt will be elected once again.”

‘BILLS ARE MADE AND REPEALED … THEY WILL COME AGAIN’

Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the contentious farm laws will be repealed, Unnao BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has stated that the laws can be brought again, if needed.

Speaking to reporters in Unnao on Saturday, Maharaj said, “Bills to bante rehte hai, bigarhte rehte hai…vaapas aa jaayenge, dobaaraa ban jaayenge…koi der nahi lagtee hai (Bills are made and repealed. They will come again, and will be made again. It hardly takes any time)”

“But I would thank Modiji that he displayed a big heart, and he chose the Nation over the laws. And those whose intentions were wrong, those who had raised slogans of Pakistan zindabad and Khalistan zindabad, they have got a befitting reply,” the Unnao MP said.

Similarly, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra also stated that the farm laws can be brought again if necessary.

Reacting sharply to the statements, the Samajwadi Party in a tweet in Hindi said, “It is absolutely clear that their heart is not clean, and after the elections, the bills will be brought again. Occupying the constitutional posts, Governor of Rajasthan Kalraj Mishra and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj have said that the BJP govt may bring the bill for farm laws.”

“This is the truth of those tendering false apologies to farmers,” the party said.

TMC LEADER SAAYONI GHOSH ARRESTED IN TRIPURA

Tripura Police on Sunday arrested actor and Trinamool Congress leader Saayoni Ghosh on charges of promoting enmity between people, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. An FIR was also registered against her at the East Agartala Police Station for allegedly disturbing a municipal poll rally of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb at Ashram Chowmuhani area here on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, West Tripura Additional SP Jagadish Reddy said: “We received a complaint against her and summoned her for interrogation. After recording the statement of witnesses, we found evidence that she had involvement in connection with the case registered under Sections 153, 153A, 307 and 120B of the IPC. So, we have arrested her. We shall produce her before the court tomorrow.”

Her colleagues from the TMC, on the other hand, claimed that she was being framed in a “false case” as part of a premeditated conspiracy. “This is a baseless allegation. Saayoni is a known face. Spotting her in a car, someone said ‘didi, khela hobe’ (Sister, game is on). She said ‘haan, khela hobe’. This can’t be the ground for a case and arrest. She was arrested in an ugly way and now the police aren’t producing her in court. So, we can’t move for bail,” West Bengal TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.

UTTARAKHAND POLLS: ARVIND KEJRIWAL PROMISES FREE PILGRIMAGE SCHEME

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal Sunday promised a free pilgrimage scheme for people from different communities in Uttarakhand if his party comes to power in next year’s Assembly election.

“If an AAP govt is formed in Uttarakhand, just like Delhi, we will start ‘tirth yatra yojna’ here. The people of Uttarakhand will get to visit Ayodhya in complete comfort. For our Muslim brothers, we will have a provision of (pilgrimage to) the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and for our Sikh brothers, the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan,” he said at a press conference.

Kejriwal’s pilgrimage pitch — in place in Delhi as the ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Scheme’ — is one he has made in other poll-bound states as well.

“Ours is the first party which promises to make both your life and afterlife better,” he said.

SII URGES GOVT TO FAST-TRACK MOVEMENT OF INCREASING COVISHIELD STOCK

Serum Institute of India (SII) has urged the govt to fast-track Covishield movement citing the difficulties being faced in production and cold chain space planning for other vaccines because of the increasing stock of its COVID-19 jab.

SII, is learnt to have recently communicated to the Union Health Ministry that it has a manufactured stock of 24.89 crore Covishield doses and it is increasing every day.

“To fulfil our domestic and global supply commitments, we have to plan our production/cold chain space/human resource well in advance. In view of continuous increase in the stock of Covishield, we are facing a lot of difficulties in production/cold chain space/human resource planning for other life-saving vaccines,” a company official said. “In view of these facts, genuine difficulties and as this matter is directly concerned with the availability of various other life-saving vaccines in our country and the world at large, we request for your kind intervention for fast-track movement of our Covishield vaccine domestically and globally."

SINGAPORE, INDIA REACH AGREEMENT ON FLIGHTS

Singapore has reached an agreement with India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation on the resumption of scheduled commercial passenger flights between the two countries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Sunday. Singapore’s vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with India will start on November 29, with six designated flights daily from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, it said.

Applications for vaccinated travel passes for short-term visitors and long-term pass holders from India will start on Monday. Airlines can also operate non-VTL flights between India and Singapore, although passengers on non-VTL flights will be subject to the prevailing public health requirements, CAAS said.

INDIA OUTCLASS NEW ZEALAND TO SWEEP T20I SERIES

Axar Patel took three wickets for just nine runs and skipper Rohit Sharma scored a breezy 56 off only 31 balls as India trounced New Zealand by 73 runs in the third and final T20 International, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, to sweep the series 3-0.

Chasing a huge 185, New Zealand were down and out of the contest after a horrid start as Axar snared the first three wickets inside five overs with his mesmerizing spin. The visitors were reduced to 30 for 3 after just 4.4 overs.

They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were shot out for a paltry 111 all out in 17.2 overs.

Earlier, Rohit's imperious form was on full display as he laid the platform for an above par score of 184 for 7.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I am patient with stupidity, but not with those who are proud of it. - Edith Sitwell

OFF TRACK

Boss hangs a Poster in his Office that says: "I'M THE BOSS, DON'T FORGET AND REMAIN IN YOUR LIMITS.”

He returns from lunch to finds a slip on his desk: Your Wife called, she wants the Poster back at HOME.