India External Affairs - Indira Gandhi

" ఇండియా పాకిస్తాన్ వ్యవహారాల్లో తల దూర్చితే అమెరికా నోరుమూసుకుని కూర్చోదు. ఇండియాకు తగిన గుణపాఠం చెప్పుతాం"
- రిచర్డ్ నిక్సన్, అమెరికా అధ్యక్షుడు.

" ఇండియా అమెరికాను స్నేహితునిగా పరిగణిస్తోంది. యజమానిగా కాదు. తన భవితవ్యాన్ని లిఖించుకోగల శక్తి ఇండియాకు ఉంది. పరిస్థితులను బట్టి ఎవరితో ఎలా వ్యవరించాలో మాకు తెలుసు."
- ఇందిరాగాంధీ, భారత ప్రధాని.

1971 లో అమెరికా అధ్యక్ష భవనం వైట్హౌస్ లో ఇరువురు నేతల మధ్య ముఖాముఖి జరిగిన సంభాషణల్లో ఇది చిన్న భాగం. దీని తర్వాత జరగవలసిన భారత-అమెరికా సంయుక్త పత్రికా సమావేశాన్ని ఏకపక్షంగా రద్దు చేసి ఇందిరాగాంధీ తనకే సాధ్యమైన ఠీవి తో వైట్ హౌస్ నుంచి బయటకు వచ్చింది.

వీడ్కోలు చెప్పేందుకు కారువరకు వచ్చిన అప్పటి అమెరికా విదేశాంగ కార్యదర్శి, జాతీయ భద్రతా సలహాదారు హెన్రి కిస్సింజర్ ఇందిరా గాంధీ కారు ఏక్కుతుండగా " మేడం అధ్యక్షునితో మీరు కొంత సహనంగా వ్యవహరించి ఉండాల్సిందని అనుకోవటం లేదా" అని అడిగినప్పుడు " మీ సలహాకు ధన్యవాదాలు. ఒక అభివృద్ధి చెందుతున్న దేశంగా అకృత్యాలపై పోరాడేందుకు తగినంత దృఢంగా నిటారుగా మా వెన్నెముక ఉంది. వేలమైళ్ళ దూరంనుండి ఏదేశాన్నైనా శాసించే రోజులు గతించాయని మేము రుజువు చేస్తామ"ని ఇందిరాగాంధీ అన్నారని హెన్రి కిస్సింజర్ తన ఆత్మకథలో రాశారు.

తర్వాత ఇందిరాగాంధీ ప్రయాణించిన ఎయిర్ ఇండియా బోయింగ్ పాలం ( ఇందిరా గాంధీ అంతర్జాతీయ విమానాశ్రయం ) లో దిగంగానే ఇందిరాగాంధీ నాటి ప్రతిపక్షనేత అటల్ బిహారీ వాజపేయి ని తక్షణం తన నివాసానికి పిలిపించుకున్నారు.

ఒక గంట ఏకాంత చర్చల అనంతరం వాజపేయి హడావిడిగా వెళ్లిపోయారు. ఆ తర్వాత తెలిసింది ఐక్యరాజ్యసమితిలో భారత్ కు వాజపేయి ప్రాతినిధ్యం వహించనున్నారని.

బి.బి.సి ప్రతినిధి డోనాల్డ్ పాల్ " ఇందిరాజి మిమ్మల్ని బలమైన ప్రత్యర్థిగా భావిస్తారు కదా! అయినప్పటికీ ఈ ప్రభుత్వ విధానాన్ని సమర్థిస్తూ ఐక్యరాజ్యసమితి లో మీరు గొంతు చించుకోగలనని భావిస్తున్నారా?" అని వాజపేయిని ప్రశ్నించాడు.

దానికి " ఒక తోటలో గులాబీ ఉంటుంది. ఒక లిల్లీ కూడా ఉంటుంది. రెండూ తానే అందమైనదాన్ని అనుకుంటాయి. ఐతే తోట సంక్షోభంలో పడినప్పుడు మొత్తం తోట అందాన్ని కాపాడుకోటానికి రెండూ ఒకటిగానే ఉంటాయి. తోటను కాపాడుకొనేందుకు ఈరోజు ఇక్కడికి వచ్చాను. ఇదే భారత ప్రజాస్వామ్యం" అని వాజపేయి సమాధానం.

తర్వాతి చరిత్ర తెలిసిందే ! అమెరికా పాకిస్థాన్ కు 270 పాటన్ టాంక్ లు పంపింది. ప్రపంచ మీడియా ప్రతినిధులను పిలిచి తమ టాంక్ లు ప్రత్యేక సాంకేతిక పరిజ్ఞానంతో తయారు చేసినవని అందువల్ల వాటిని ధ్వంసం చేయటం సాధ్యం కాదని ప్రదర్శించుకుంది. అమెరికా ఆంతర్యం విదితమే ! ఇండియాకు మరే దేశమూ సహాయం చేయకూడదని ప్రపంచ దేశాలకు అదొక హెచ్చరిక.

అక్కడితో అమెరికా ఆగిపోలేదు.భారత దేశానికి చమురు సరఫరా చేసే ఏకైక అమెరికా కంపెనీ బర్మాషెల్ కంపెనీని సరఫరా నిలిపివయమంది. భవిష్యత్ లో కూడా భారత్ తో వ్యాపారం చేయరాదని శాసించింది.

తర్వాతి చరిత్ర ఎదురు తిరగటమే! ఇందిరాగాంధీ అద్భుత దౌత్యనీతి వల్ల యుక్రెయిన్ నుండి చమురు సరఫరా జరిగింది.

ఒకరోజు యుద్ధంలోనే 270 టాంకులు ధ్వంసమయ్యాయి. ధ్వంసమైన టాంక్ లను ఇండియా కు తెచ్చి ప్రదర్శించారు. రాజస్థాన్ లోని మండే ఎడారులు అమెరికా ప్రతిష్ట భంగ పాటుకు నేటికీ సాక్షీభూతంగా నిలుస్తున్నాయి.

పద్దెనిమిది రోజుల యుద్ధం 1.5 లక్షల పాకిస్తానీయులను యుద్ధఖైదీలుగా పట్టుకోవటంతో ముగిసింది.లాహోర్ జైలునుండి ముజిబుర్ రెహ్మాన్ విడుదలయ్యారు.

మార్చి నెలలో బంగ్లాదేశ్ ను స్వతంత్రదేశంగా గుర్తిస్తూ ఇందిరాగాంధీ పార్లమెంట్ లో ప్రకటించారు.

వాజపేయి ఇందిరాగాంధీని "దుర్గామాత" అని సంబోధించారు.

ఈ సంఘటనలు దీర్ఘకాలిక ప్రయోజనాలు కల్పించాయి.
- ఇండియా సొంత చమురు సంస్థ ఇండియన్ ఆయిల్ రూపుదిద్దుకొంది.
- ఒక బలమైన దేశంగా ఇండియా ప్రపంచానికి చాటి చెప్పింది.
-అలీన దేశాల కూటమిని ఇండియా ముందుండి నడిపింది. ఈ కూటమికి తిరుగులేని నాయకుడిగా రూపొందింది.

శక్తివంతమైన ఆకాలం , ఆనాటి సంఘటనలు కాలగర్భంలో కలిసిపోయాయి.

నిజమైన చరిత్ర ఇప్పటికీ మార్గదర్శిగా ఉంటుంది.

నాటినుండి ఇండియా ఏభై సంవత్సరాలు గడిపేసింది. ఒకవిధమైన అలసట స్వభావం గోచరిస్తోంది.

ప్రజాస్వామ్యం ఏకాకిగా నిఘంటువులో ఒక పదంగా మిగిలిపోయింది.

(నేటి) ప్రజాస్వామ్యంలో ప్రతిపక్షం ఇంకెంతమాత్రం భాగం కాదు.

తమకు వంత పాడని గొంతులన్నీ దుష్ట స్వరాలే !

(రాహుల్ బెనర్జీ ఎఫ్.బి ఆంగ్ల పోస్ట్ కు ఇది తెలుగుసేత.)

Modi's 'No Intrusion' by China Claim Contradicts India's Stand, Raises Multiple Questions

Modi's 'No Intrusion' by China Claim Contradicts India's Stand, Raises Multiple Questions
After his assertion led to criticism, the PMO has sought to clarify that the prime minister had spoken of an attempted Chinese intrusion which had been successfully foiled by Indian soldiers.

Modi's 'No Intrusion' by China Claim Contradicts India's Stand, Raises Multiple Questions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the all-party meeting to discuss the India-China standoff in Ladakh on Friday. Photo: PTI

Devirupa Mitra
Devirupa Mitra
DIPLOMACYSECURITY
20/JUN/2020
New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “no one has intruded into our territory” – an assertion which contradicted government statements about the circumstances in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed in combat with the Chinese army this week – the PMO sought to clarify that the reason he said there was “no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC” is because Indian soldiers had foiled an “attempted transgression” at Galwan.

Modi made his controversial statement at the all-party meeting called by the government on Friday to discuss the violence on the India-China border that has taken the relationship between the two countries to their lowest level in over five decades.

“Na koi wahan hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai aur nahi koi ghusa hua hai, na hi hamari koi post kisi dusre ke kabze mein hain (No one has intruded and nor is anyone intruding, nor has any post been captured by someone)”,  he said in closing remarks that were carried on television.


PMO India
✔
@PMOIndia
पूर्वी लद्दाख में जो हुआ, इसको लेकर आपने रक्षा मंत्री जी और विदेश मंत्री जी को सुना भी और Presentation को भी देखा । न वहां कोई हमारी सीमा में घुस आया है और न ही कोई घुसा हुआ है, न ही हमारी कोई पोस्ट किसी दूसरे के कब्जे में है: PM @narendramodi

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Modi’s original statement that there is and has been no intrusion by the Chinese – which the government sought to play down by reacting the words “Na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai (No one has intruded)” from its official summary – contradicted the government’s press note issued after external affairs minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Chinese counterpart, state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi:


“[The] Chinese side sought to erect a structure in Galwan valley on our side of the LAC [line of actual control],” the press release dated June 17 said. “While this became a source of dispute, the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties. It reflected an intent to change the facts on ground in violation of all our agreements to not change the status quo.”

It is clear that if the Chinese sought to “erect a structure” on “our side of the LAC”, it would need to cross the de-facto border.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement seeking to clarify what Modi had said and rejecting what it termed the “mischievous interpretation” given to his remarks “in some quarters”:

“Prime Minister was clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In fact, he specifically emphasized that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of LAC (“unhe rokte hain, unhe tokte hain”).

“The APM was also informed that this time, Chinese forces have come in much larger strength to the LAC and that the Indian response is commensurate. As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on 15 June arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions.

“The focus of the PM’s remarks in the APM discussions were the events of 15 June at Galwan that led to the loss of lives of 20 Indian military personnel. Prime Minister paid glowing tributes to the valour and patriotism of our armed forces who repulsed the designs of the Chinese there. The Prime Minister’s observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces. The sacrifices of the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment foiled the attempt of the Chinese side to erect structures and also cleared the attempted transgression at this point of the LAC on that day.”

However, the PMO clarification is likely to add to the confusion that Modi and the government have spread by their use of vague and imprecise phrases.

The PMO uses the words “just across the LAC” to describe the location of the spot where the Chinese side was trying to erect structures and later refers to the Chinese efforts as as “attempted transgression”, which implies all of this action happened on the Chinese side. Elsewhere, the PMO statement quoted Modi as saying, “Those who tried to transgress our land were taught a befitting lesson by our brave sons of soil” – which is a loose and inaccurate translation of his exact words in Hindi, “Ladakh mein hamare 20 jaanbaz shaheed hue, lekin jinhone Bhart Mata ki taraf aankh uthakar dekha tha, unhein vo sabak sikhakar gaye (In Ladakh, 20 of our braves were martyred but after they taught a lesson to those who dared look at (covet) Mother India)”.

While Modi and the PMO’s new formulation is vague about the location of the clash, the MEA had said on June 17 that the structures Indian soldiers objected to were “on our side of the LAC”.

Indeed, the first statement issued by the MEA on June 16 right after the Galwan incident said the “violent face-off” had “happened as a result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo there.” (emphasis added).

The MEA’s reference to unilateral attempts to change the status quo at Galwan makes it obvious the territory in question either falls on the Indian side of the LAC or is in an area where Indian and Chinese claim lines overlap.

There are around 23 such ‘areas of differing perception’, or ADPs, along the entire length of the India-China boundary from Ladakh in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east but Galwan has not been one of them. Until now, when China has begun making sovereignty claims over the entire valley. Which is why Modi’s claim that Chinese soldiers had not intruded is being seen by the strategic community as not just wrong but also damaging.

Speaking to The Wire, former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon expressed his puzzlement over the prime minister’s choice of words, calling it “an ill-considered and inaccurate statement that concedes territory and the gains of aggression.” “If this is so”, he added, “why and where were our soldiers killed?”

Also Read: In Talks, China Takes Hard Line, Claims All of Galwan Valley, Chunk of Pangong Tso

Pravin Sawhney, editor of FORCE magazine said India would have to pay “a heavy price for the appeasement of China, and soon…. The Chinese see appeasement as a sign of weakness which they will exploit to the fullest.” Like Menon, he too saw the prime minister’s assertion casting a shadow over the clash at Galwan. “How did 20 unarmed Indian soldiers die?” he asked. “Why were 10 soldiers taken captive by PLA? If no one has intruded into our territory, did India transgress into Chinese territory?”

“I can’t figure out why [Modi] should have done this, contradicting his own army top brass and external affairs minister,” a former Indian diplomat with extensive experience dealing with China  told The Wire on condition of anonymity. “There will be a domestic political price to pay no matter how they try and spin it. So there must have been a bigger price to be paid to justify this utterly pathetic climb down. What is that? I can’t believe this was inadvertent.”



Satellite view of the Galwan valley and Shyok river. Image: The Wire/Google Maps

While the MEA has always rejected as “inaccurate” any suggestion that Indian troops had undertaken activity across the LAC – this was reiterated recently, on May 21 – the Chinese side has been repeatedly claiming that the violent clash took place when “Indian forces crossed the Line of Actual Control again, made deliberate provocations and even violently attacked the Chinese soldiers who went for negotiations”. This was reiterated by the foreign minister Wang Yi in his conversation with Jaishankar, as per the Chinese foreign ministry readout.

On June 16, the Chinese PLA western theatre command’s spokesperson, while claiming that Indian soldiers had crossed the LAC and “launched provocative attacks”, had also asserted Chinese sovereignty over the Galwan valley area.

The region is, of course, named after the Galwan river, which is named after a Ladakhi explorer, Ghulam Rasool Galwan who discovered a route through the region. His descendants still live in Ladakh. There is no Chinese name for the valley, with Chinese statements also using this nomenclature. The Chinese army claim is also controverted by China’s own maps which draw the boundary/LAC hundreds of metres short of the Galwan river’s confluence with the Shyok river, thus rendering a part of the Galwan valley on the Indian side of the LAC.

After the Chinese foreign ministry also reiterated the claim over the entire Galwan valley, the MEA spokesperson described this as “exaggerated and untenable”.

Also Read: ‘Chinese Behaviour Has Been Very Different From Anything in the Past’: Former NSA Shivshankar Menon

The LAC, the de-facto border, between India and China has never been demarcated or delineated. When India attempted to exchange maps for the western sector in 2012, China brought the process to a halt.

However, the Indian and Chinese sides have had a perception of each other’s claim line based on observing decades of patrolling patterns and border meetings. In the areas of different perception (ADP) on the LAC, where the claim lines of the two sides overlap, Chinese and Indian soldiers regularly come face-to-face, before withdrawing back as per an elaborate system of drills.

In Indian official language, when Chinese soldiers come into these ADPs, this is not considered an “intrusion” but a “transgression” of the LAC. The PM’s statement, however, does not use that term for Chinese actions either.

In any case, Galwan had not been part of this list of ADPs, as India had considered the LAC to be settled as per the withdrawal line of the Chinese after the 1962 war.

Incidentally, the Chinese side of the LAC here is also, officially, Indian territory. The LAC determines only effective control and therefore, India has still not withdrawn its claim to Aksai Chin, which has been emphasised repeatedly through parliamentary resolutions, government statements and more recently, the Indian home minister.


China’s traditional claim line stops short of the confluence of the Galwan and Shyok rivers, encompassing most but not all of the Galwan valley. IMap showing ‘Historical development of Western Sector Boundary’. Source: Neville Maxwell, India’s China War (Pelican, 1972)

China now wants India to keep off Galwan estuary

On Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry published a document that makes it clear Beijing’s claim over Galwan has extended beyond their withdrawal points as depicted in Chinese maps from 1962.

A few hours after the all party meeting where Indian PM made the statement no one had intruded into Indian territory, the Chinese embassy’s spokesperson tweeted a link of a publication that gave China’s “Step-by-Step Account of the Galwan Valley Incident”.

It began by stating that “Galwan Valley is located on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in the west section of the China-India boundary”

Galwan’s strategic important is that its heights have a dominating position over the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road built by India.

China claims that the since April, India has been building infrastructure in Galwan, which led to “representations and protests on multiple occasions”.


On May 6, Indian troops crossed the LAC by night, China alleged, and impeded patrol movements by “building fortifications and barricades”, which led to the first confrontation. The Chinese foreign ministry’s account states that India agreed to withdraw and demolish its “facilities”.

A month later, the senior commander level meeting on June 6 reached a “consensus”, the Chinese foreign ministry claims, that Indian patrols “would not cross the estuary of the Galwan river”.

Also Read: China’s Galwan Valley Gambit is Attempt to Extend Official Claim Line, LAC Westward

This means that the Chinese have extended their claim upto the confluence of the Galwan and the Shyok rivers, near which India’s road to Daulat Beg Oldie passes.

While India has also repeatedly stressed that the understanding reached at June 6 should be implemented, Indian statements don’t provide further details and stated that the agreement was for a process of de-escalation.

Chinese deployments at Pangong lake

Among the three areas of contention in the ongoing tensions, Pangong Tso lake has always been the most volatile and is also in the list of ADPs.

The Indian claim line crosses ‘Finger 8’, one of the mountainous spurs jutting into the lake, while the Chinese states that the LAC lies at Finger 2. Previously, India has patrolled till Finger 6.

This time, the Chinese came down to ‘Finger 4’, where they scuffled with Indian troops on night of May 10-11. As per satellite images, China has changed the status quo at the Fingers and built “substantial’ structures.

According to Nathan Ruser of Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the Chinese have constructed 500 structures, fortified trenches and a new boatshed over 20 kilometres between Fingers 4 and 5.

At Hot Springs, Ruser analyses that satellite imagery from late May shows that there are two dirt tracks that go into “Indian-controlled territory”. “There are no PLA positions on the Indian side of the LAC; however, these tracks suggest that PLA forces are regularly making incursions into Indian territory, at a remote part of the LAC that is 10 kilometres from the nearest Indian positions,” he claims.

Note: This story was edited to include details from the PMO’s press release issued at 1:40 pm on June 20.

మేమిద్దరం మాట్లాడుకుంటున్నాం... మీ జోక్యం అనవసరం : అమెరికాకు తేల్చి చెప్పిన రాజ్‌నాథ్ సింగ్

మేమిద్దరం మాట్లాడుకుంటున్నాం... మీ జోక్యం అనవసరం : అమెరికాకు తేల్చి చెప్పిన రాజ్‌నాథ్ సింగ్

ఢిల్లీ : లడఖ్‌లో నెలకొన్న వివాదంపై చైనాతో చర్చలు కొనసాగుతున్నాయని కేంద్ర రక్షణ శాఖా మంత్రి రాజ్‌నాథ్ సింగ్ శనివారం ప్రకటించారు. భారత్, చైనాకు చెందిన సైనిక, దౌత్య స్థాయిలోని అధికారులు ఒకరితో ఒకరు మాట్లాడుకుంటూనే ఉన్నారని ఆయన తెలిపారు. రెండు దేశాలు కూడా ఈ వివాదాన్ని పరిష్కరించుకోడం వైపే మొగ్గు చూపుతున్నాయని, తొందర్లోనే సమస్య పరిష్కారమవుతుందని ధీమా వ్యక్తం చేశారు. ఈ విషయంపై ఆయన ఓ జాతీయ ఛానల్‌తో అభిప్రాయాలను పంచుకున్నారు.

ఈ విషయంపై ఇరు దేశాల ప్రతినిధులు చర్చలు జరుపుతూనే ఉన్నారని, అమెరికా జోక్యం అనవసరమని, ఓ పద్ధతి ప్రకారం పరిష్కారమవుతాయని ఆయన తేల్చి చెప్పారు. అయితే శుక్రవారం సాయంత్రం రాజ్‌నాథ్ సింగ్ అమెరికా ప్రతినిధి మార్క్ ఎస్పేర్‌తో సమావేశం అయ్యారు. ఈ సమావేశంలో కూడా మళ్లీ మధ్యవర్తిత్వం అన్న ప్రతిపాదన వచ్చినట్లు ఆయన పేర్కొన్నారు.

‘‘భారత్, చైనాలు ఈ విషయంపై మాట్లాడుకుంటున్నాయి. ఏవైనా సమస్యలు ఉత్పన్నమైతే తామిద్దరమే పరిష్కరించుకుంటాం. మిలటరీ స్థాయి అధికారులు, దౌత్యవేత్తలతో పరిష్కారం చేసుకుంటాం. ఇప్పటికే చర్చలు కొనసాగుతున్నాయని నేను ఆ అధికారికి తేల్చి చెప్పాను’’ అని రాజ్‌నాథ్ వెల్లడించారు.

ప్రపంచ దేశాలన్నింటితోనూ భారత్ సత్సంబంధాలనే కోరుకుంటోందని, అది తమ ప్రభుత్వ విధానమని ఆయన తేల్చి చెప్పారు. ఇందు కోసం తాము శతధా ప్రయత్నిస్తామని, అయితే కొన్ని సందర్భాలు మాత్రం తద్భిన్నంగా ఉంటాయని పేర్కొన్నారు. చైనాతో సరిహద్దు వివాదంలో గతంలో కూడా జరిగాయని, వాటిని పరిష్కరించుకుంటామని రాజ్‌నాథ్‌ తేల్చి చెప్పారు. 

PM Modi's letter to the nation: Read full text here

PM Modi's letter to the nation: Read full text here
30 May 2020, 09:07 AM IST

Staff Writer
Modi govt was sworn-in for a second successive term on May 30 last year after leading BJP-led NDA a thumping majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written an open letter to the people of India as his government completes one year of its second term. PM Modi in his letter listed out several initiatives, achievements and big decisions taken by his government, while expressing confidence of victory in the country's battle against coronavirus.

PM Modi was sworn-in for a second successive term on May 30 last year after leading BJP-led NDA a thumping majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Here is full text of PM Modi's letter:

Dear friends,

A year ago, a golden chapter was added to the history of Indian democracy. After decades, the people of the country gave a second opportunity to a government elected with a full majority. You have played a major role in writing this chapter. Today presents an opportunity for me to bow to you and honour you for your commitment to India and Indian democracy.

Had the situation been normal, I would have been blessed to be in your midst. However, the circumstances brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic have led me to write this letter and seek your blessings. In the past one year, your affection, blessings and active participation have given me fresh energy and inspiration. During this period, you have shown to the world democracy's collective strength, which has become an example before the entire world.

In the year 2014, the people voted for a big change; you voted to change the policy and system (niti and reeti). In those five years, the country saw extricating itself from the quagmire of inertia and corruption. In those five years, the country inspired by Antyodaya has seen the change in governance in easing the lives of the poor.

In that tenure, on the one hand, the country's prestige before the world grew, and on the other, we raised the dignity of the poor by opening their bank accounts, making available free cooking gas and electricity connection for them; and by building homes and toilets for them. In that tenure, whereas there were surgical and air strikes, there were also works for one-rank-one-pension, one-nation-one-tax GST and fulfillment of decades' old demands involving procurement of crops under MSP for farmers. That tenure was dedicated to meeting several needs of the country.

In 2019, your blessings meant dreaming big for the country, for high hopes and for meeting the aspirations. The decisions taken in the last one year are the reflections of those big dreams. The people's power fuelled by the common man is effulgently shining as the nation's strength. In the past one year, the country had many dreams, many resolves as it also continuously took several steps towards realizing those goals.

In this historic journey, each community, each section and each individual has played one's part responsibly. 'Sabka sath, sabka vikas' with this mantra, the country is forging ahead in all directions -- social, economic, global or internal.

in the last one year, some important decisions have been in discussion, and that is why it is natural to for these achievements to linger on in our memory. Whether it was the topic of Article 370 for national unity and integrity, or the happy outcome of age-old conflict over the Ram temple construction, or the factor disrupting the modern social system, the 'triple talaq' or the symbol of India's compassion, the citizenship law – all these achievements you remember.

Amid these decisions which came in quick succession, there are many other decisions and changes that have given new momentum to India's development journey, have given us new objectives as we have strived to fulfill many expectations of the people. The constitution of the post of Chief of Defence Staff has led to increased coordination among armed forces. At the same time, India has accelerated its preparations for Mission Gaganyaan.

In this period, our priority has been to empower the poor, farmers, women and the youth.

Today, each farmer has been covered under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. In the last one year, under this scheme, over ₹72,000 crore have been deposited in the bank accounts of more 9.5 crore farmers.

To make available piped drinking water for the country's over 15 crore rural population, the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' has been initiated.

To ensure better health care for our more than 50 crore cattle, a massive campaign for livestock vaccination is under way.

For the first time in the nation's history, the government has decided to offer the facility of ₹3,000 monthly pension for farmers, farm labourers, small shopkeepers and workers belonging to the unorganized sector after the age of 60 years.

A separate department has been formed to strengthen 'blue economy' and increase the facilities for fishermen. Similarly, it has been decided to constitute National Traders Board to timely resolve issues concerning business enterprises. About 7 crore sisters associated with self-help groups have been given more financial assistance. Recently, the loan amount available without guarantee for self-help groups has been doubled to ₹20 lakh from ₹10 lakh.

Keeping the education of tribals' children in mind, a campaign is under way to build more than 450 Eklavya Model Residential Schools.

The government has also worked expeditiously towards making better laws linked with common man's welfare. Our Parliament has broken decades' old record in conducting legislative business. That's why several laws – the Consumer Protection Act, amendment to Chit fund law, and laws concerning more security for women and children – have been quickly enacted.

The government policies have led to bridging the gulf between the urban and rural lives. For the first time, the internet users in rural areas have outnumbered the urban counterparts by 10 per cent.

The list of historic works and decisions is very long. It is not possible to elaborate on all of them in this letter. But I would surely say that in the last one year, each day round the clock, the government has worked with full awareness, sensitivity, and has taken decisions.

Just when we were moving quickly towards realizing our country's aspirations, the corona pandemic surrounded India too.

On the one hand, there are countries with massive economies and most modern health services, and on the other, there is India with its huge population and so many challenges. Many people had expressed their apprehensions that when corona would attack India, the country itself would become a trouble for the world. Today, all countrymen have changed the way they look at India. You have proved that your collective capability and capacity are unprecedented in comparison with other more resourceful and prosperous countries.

You have shown that India alone holds the guarantee for a greater and better India – whether it was collective clapping or thali-beating or lighting the lamps, whether it was honouring of corona warriors by the armed forces, or following the Janata curfew or following the lockdown rules with sincerity.

In this crisis, no one can claim that nobody has been put to trouble or inconvenience. Our workers, migrant brother and sister labourers, those working in small industries, cart pushers and vendors, our shopkeeper brothers and sisters and those having small businesses have suffered immensely. We all are working together in an attempt to sort out their problems.

But we have to be careful that these inconveniences should not transform into a crisis of life. For that, each Indian has to follow all directives. We have to move forward with the same patience and courage that we shown so far. This is the reason why the situation in India has so far been manageable in comparison with other countries.

This battle will stretch on, but we are on way to victory and, to be victorious is our common resolve.

We can draw inspiration from those people who recently faced the Cyclone Amphan boldly. They worked hard to reduce the damage caused by the cyclone.

Under the given circumstances, there have been discussions as to how economies of India along with other nations will emerge out of the crisis. At the same time, there is this belief that the way India has surprised the world in facing coronavirus with its unity, the country can present the same example in the economic field -- 130 crore Indians can not only surprise the world but can also inspire it.

Today, the time demands that we must stand on our feet, and we will have to move on our own strength. And for this, there is only one path: a self-reliant India (atmanirbhar Bharat). The recent economic package of ₹20 lakh crore is a big step towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' campaign. This campaign will usher in a new trend of opportunities for every countryman – our farmers, workers and labourers, medium enterprises and the youth associated with startups. India will reduce its dependence on imports with the sweat of its citizens, with their hard work and skills, thus becoming self-dependent.

You have continued to bless me with your affection in the past six years. The country has moved ahead with unprecedented pace with historic decisions and development. But I know there is so much left to be done. The country has many challenges and problems before it. I am making all efforts day and night. I may have some deficiency, but the country does not have any. That is why I place more confidence in you, in your strength and in your capacity. You, your support and your blessings are the energy behind my resolve.

The global pandemic has brought about a crisis situation, but at the same time, for us Indians, this is also the time for determination. We have to remember that no calamity, no crisis can determine the present or future of 130 crore Indians. We will decide our present and, the future too.

We will move ahead, we will race ahead to progress and we will be victorious. It is said in our country: "Kritam me dakshine haste, jayo me savya ahita-h" – meaning, in one hand we carry our deeds and duties and in the other, sure success.

I bow before you yet again with a wish for our country's success forever. Best wishes for you and your family. Be healthy, be safe. Be aware and be conscious.

Your Pradhan Sevak

కరోనా కట్టడిలో మనమే స్ఫూర్తి

May 30 2020 @ 02:34AMహోంజాతీయం

ప్రజల మద్దతుతోనే సాధ్యమైంది..
20లక్షల కోట్ల ప్యాకేజీ ముందడుగు
370 రద్దుతో సమైక్యత
సీఏఏతో కలుపుకెళ్లేతత్వం
చెత్తబుట్టలో ట్రిపుల్‌ తలాక్‌
మందిరంపై సుప్రీం తీర్పుతో
చర్చకు సుహృద్భావ ముగింపు
తిరిగి అధికారంలోకి వచ్చి ఏడాది
ప్రజలకు ప్రధాని బహిరంగ లేఖ


న్యూఢిల్లీ, మే 29:  మనదేశాన్ని కరోనా మహమ్మారి తాకినప్పుడు ప్రపంచానికి భారత్‌ ఓ సమస్యగా మారుతుందని చాలామంది  కలవరపడ్డారని.. ప్రజల మద్దతుతోనే వైర్‌సను ఎదుర్కొన్నామని, దీంతో ఇప్పుడు ప్రపంచమంతా భారత్‌వైపే చూస్తోందని ప్రధానమంత్రి  నరేంద్ర మోదీ పేర్కొన్నారు. ప్రజల ఆశయాలు, ఆకాంక్షలను నెరవేర్చే దిశగా తమ ప్రభుత్వం సాగుతున్న సమయంలోనే ప్రపంచమంతా వ్యాపించిన కరోనా వైరస్‌ భారత్‌నూ చుట్టుముట్టిందని అన్నారు.

కరోనాపై పోరాడుతూనే ఆర్థిక వ్యవస్థ కోలుకునేట్లు చేసుకోవడం ద్వారా ప్రపంచాన్ని భారత్‌ ఆశ్చర్యంలో ముంచెత్తిందన్నారు. కరోనా మహమ్మారితో ఇప్పుడు నడుస్తోంది సంక్షోభ సమయమేనని..  దేశ ప్రజలంతా మరింత పట్టుదలతో వ్యవహరించాల్సిన సమయం కూడా ఇదేనని సూచించారు. లాక్‌డౌన్‌తో వలస కార్మికులు, చేతి వృత్తుల వారు, హస్త కళాకారులు ఎన్నో కష్టాలు పడ్డారని.. ఆ సమస్యను తగ్గించడానికి దేశ ప్రజలంతా ఐక్యంగా ముందుకు సాగుతున్నారని అన్నారు. కరోనా కట్టడి కోసం పోరాడుతున్న వైద్యులు, పోలీసులు, పారిశుధ్య సిబ్బందికి మద్దతుగా చప్పట్లు కొట్టినా.. దీపాలు వెలిగించినా, సాయుధ దళాలను గౌరవించినా , జనతా కర్ఫ్యూ, లాక్‌డౌన్‌ నిబంధనలకు కట్టుబడటం అయినా ప్రతి సందర్భంలోనూ ‘శ్రేష్ఠ్‌ భారత్‌’కు మద్దతుగా  ‘ఏక్‌ భారత్‌’గా నిలిచారు అని కొనియాడారు.


బీజేపీ ప్రభుత్వం వరుసగా రెండోసారి అధికారంలోకి వచ్చి శనివారం (మే 30)తో ఏడాది పూర్తయిన సందర్భంగా  దేశప్రజలను ఉద్దేశించి ‘నా సహచర భారతీయులారా’ అంటూ ఆయన లేఖ రాశారు. గత సార్వత్రిక ఎన్నికల్లో బీజేపీ ప్రభుత్వాన్ని కొనసాగించాలనే ఉద్దేశంతో మాత్రమే ప్రజలు ఓటు వేయలేదని, భారత దేశాన్ని సమున్నతంగా చూడాలన్న కల సాకరం కావడానికే కమలం గుర్తుకు ఓటు వేశారని మోదీ అన్నారు. రెండోసారి తమ పార్టీ అధికారంలోకి వచ్చిన తరుణం దేశ ప్రజాస్వామ్య చరిత్రలోనే సువర్ణాధ్యాయం అని ఆయన పేర్కొన్నారు. సర్జికల్‌ దాడులు, వైమానిక దాడుల ద్వారా భారత్‌ తన శక్తిని ప్రపంచానికి చాటిందని మోదీ పేర్కొన్నారు. వన్‌ ర్యాంక్‌-వన్‌ పెన్షన్‌, వన్‌ నేషన్‌-వన్‌ ట్యాక్స్‌, మెరుగైన గరిష్ఠ మద్దతు ధర లాంటివి సాకారం చేసుకున్నామన్నారు.


కశ్మీర్‌ నుంచి ఆర్టికల్‌ 370 తొలగింపు దేశ సమైక్యత, సమగ్రతా స్ఫూర్తిని మరింతగా పెంచిందన్నారు. అయోధ్య రామ మందిరంపై సుప్రీం కోర్టు వెలువరించిన తీర్పుతో శతాబ్దాలుగా సాగుతున్న ఓ చర్చకు సుహృద్భావ ముగింపు వచ్చిందన్నారు. క్రూరమైన ట్రిపుల్‌ తలాక్‌ విధానాన్ని చెత్తబుట్టలో పారేశామని, పౌరసత్వ చట్టానికి చేసిన సవరణ భారత దేశపు కరుణను, కలుపుకపోయే తత్వాన్ని చాటిచెప్పిందన్నారు. పీఎం కిసాన్‌ సమ్మాన్‌ నిధి రైతులందరికీ వస్తోందని.. ఏడాదిలోనే 9.5కోట్లమంది రైతుల ఖాతాలో 72వేల కోట్లు జమ చేశామని పేర్కొన్నారు. జల్‌ జీవన్‌ మిషన్‌ ద్వారా 15కోట్లకు పైగా గ్రామీణ గృహాలకు పైపుల ద్వారా తాగునీరు సరఫరా చేస్తున్నామన్నారు. దేశ చరిత్రలో తొలిసారిగా రైతులు, రైతు కూలీలు, చిన్న దుకాణదార్లు, అసంఘటిత కార్మికులు, 60 ఏళ్లపైబడ్డ వారికి రూ.3వేల చొప్పున పెన్షన్‌ ఇస్తున్నామన్నారు. స్వయం సహాయక బృందంలోని 7కోట్లమంది మహిళలకు ఇచ్చే రుణాలను రెట్టింపు చేశామని తెలిపారు.

2014-19 మధ్య భారత్‌ ప్రతిష్ఠ పెరిగింది

2014లో ప్రజలు మార్పును కోరుకొని ఓటు వేశారన్నారు మోదీ. తాము అధికారంలోకి వచ్చిన తర్వాత అవినీతిని దూరం చేసి.. పాలనను గాడిలో పెట్టామన్నారు. ‘అంత్యోదయ’ స్ఫూర్తికి కట్టుబడి లక్షల మంది ప్రజల జీవితాల్లో మార్పు తీసుకొచ్చామన్నారు. ఆర్థికంగా అందరినీ కలుపుకొని పోవడంతో 2014 నుంచి 2019 మధ్య దేశ ప్రతిష్ఠ గణనీయంగా పెరిగిందన్నారు. ఇటీవల ఆత్మనిర్భర్‌ భారత్‌ అభియాన్‌ కింద ప్రకటించిన రూ.20లక్షల కోట్ల ప్యాకేజీ క్లిష్ట దశలో కీలక ముందడుగుగా అభివర్ణించారు.

After 31 top defaulters flee, India seeks to shut the gates

After 31 top defaulters flee, India seeks to shut the gates

Govt has compiled a list of people it is considering barring from leaving the country because of their involvement with companies that have defaulted on loans.
Bloomberg|Last Updated: Mar 15, 2018, 04.52 PM IST

By Shruti Srivastava and Anto Antony

From London to St. Kitts, India’s struggling to extradite businessmen it claims have fled the country after defaulting on billions of dollars of bank loans. Now it hopes to stop others from leaving.

The government has compiled a list of 91 people it is considering barring from leaving India because of their involvement with companies that have defaulted, said a person with knowledge of the matter.

The people were selected because of their roles as directors or owners of Indian companies which have been identified as so-called wilful defaulters, firms which refuse to repay loans despite having the means to do so, the person said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. Some 400 Indian companies have been classified as wilful defaulters.

In addition he Governmebnt has asked Indian banks to provide passport details of a larger group of individuals who have signed applications or stood as guarantors for soured credits of more than Rs 50 crore ($7.7 million), the person said, declining to elaborate. Some individuals from that group may also be barred from leaving the country if they are found to have committed fraud or engaged in wilful defaults, the person added.

Mounting Anger
Pblic anger against the government is mounting after two prominent jewelers left the country just before their alleged involvement in the nation’s biggest bank fraud came to light. Less than a month after first details emerged, lawmakers introduced a bill that will give authorities power to impound the assets of fugitive offenders -- people who have fled the country after committing an economic offence involving 1 billion rupees or more.

Some 31 Indians have fled abroad to avoid prosecution, lawmakers were told in parliament on Wednesday. These include Vijay Mallya, the tycoon behind India’s best-selling beer, who’s becoming something of a fixture in London courts as he fights cases including extradition. Also named are Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi and brother Neeshal Modi, who’re accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud, and Jatin Mehta, another jeweler who allegedly fled to St. Kitts. The Modis deny any wrongdoing.

“It is logical that someone accused of an offence is not allowed to leave the country because extradition requires proof of criminal offence and it is difficult to establish this beyond doubt,” Aditya Puri, the chief executive officer of HDFC Bank Ltd., told the Times of India in an interview published last week. “Banks are custodians of public money"

With national elections due early next year, the government is under pressure to act against wealthy defaulters. India’s regulator has also stepped up efforts to clean up $210 billion of bad loans in the banking system, partly by tightening bankrupcy rules.

Tjhere is a lot of pressure on the industry right now,” said Arpinder Singh, a partner at EY who oversees fraud investigations across India and emerging markets. Finance Ministry spokesman D.S. Malik didn’t respond to calls made to his mobile phone seeking comment on the government’s steps.

"Those who had funneled money overseas hoping to flee if the recovery push comes to shove will be worried,” said Kranthi Bathini, director of Mumbai-based financial advisory company WealthMills Securities Pvt. “While some horses have already bolted to countries with tough extradition laws, it is not yet too late to close the gates.”

Zee News & News 18 India on Arab states, Ramdev breaks rules with ‘lauki’ juice on India TV

Zee News & News 18 India on Arab states, Ramdev breaks rules with ‘lauki’ juice on India TV
A quick take on what prime time TV news talked about.
KAIRVY GREWAL 30 April, 2020 9:49 am IST

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev | ANI Photo
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New Delhi: Prime time discussions Wednesday circled around the coronavirus (obviously!) and the remarks made by Delhi Minority Commission Chairman Zaraful-Islam Khan. Khan thanked Arab nations for their support to Indian Muslims Tuesday.

Most Hindi TV anchors were greatly agitated by this statement.


Zee News’ anchor Aman Chopra was feeling rather poetic, “Mere angne mein Muslim deshon ka kya kaam,” (What’s the need of Muslim nations in my land?).

Then he had a bad thought: “Ramzan ke mahine mein Hindustan ki barbaadi ke sapne dekh rahe hai,” (At the time of Ramzan, people are dreaming of India’s destruction).

Tarek Fateh, Pakistani journalist and occasional writer, sought to clarify what the Arabs actually meant, “Inko Arab mein pooch kaun raha hai. Yeh Arab unse baat nahi karte, yeh codeword hai Pakistan ka. Arabs ko toh pata nahi hai Hindustan kahan hai.” (Who is asking about them? This is all a codeword for Pakistan. Arabs don’t even know where India is.)

VDO.AI


News 18 India’s anchor Amish Devgan was angry, “Arab deshon ke naam par Hindustan ko dhamkaya ja raha hai,” (Indians are being threatened in the name of Arabs).

On the show, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Jo minority commission ne chitti daali hai woh unconstitutional aur anti-Indian statement hai,” (The letter and comments by the chairman of minority commission are both unconstitutional and anti-Indian.)

Patra continued, “He didn’t trust India’s judiciary so he felt the need to reach out to Arab Nations. He has threatened the sovereignty of India.”

Away from this, India TV had something very important to ask yoga guru Ramdev after he drank some lauki ka juice: “You had the juice right after doing yoga, can one drink the juice so quickly or should they wait for a while?”

Ramdev grinned — “Mera sharir ekdum swasth hai toh mujh par vishesh niyam lagu nahi hai, baaki jo yog abhyas karte hai woh 10 min baad le sakte hai,” (My body is very fit, so ordinary rules don’t apply to me. For others who do yoga, they should drink after 10 minutes).


He also suggested that viewers can add some lemon and mint to their lauki ka juice and promised that it would be so tasty that it would be hard to put it down. Okay then.



India Today’s anchor Rahul Kanwal had some “concrete evidence” and he didn’t let anyone forget that. Kanwal said, “Evidence has emerged that suggests China in early January knew about the fact that they had a raging contagion on their hands and that it could spread globally. Despite that for some mystifying reason the Chinese authority didn’t even reveal it to their own people so much so they went out to celebrate their Lunar New Year.”

“This is what has been insinuated so far. What’s new and very, very intriguing is that there are official documents that China knew and lied deliberately about,” he added.



ET Now’s Chandra R. Srikanth was in conversation with N.R. Narayan Murthy, founder of Infosys. Srikanth asked, “If you have to assess India’s response to Covid-19, are people happy about how we imposed the lockdown early?”

Murthy made a pros and cons list, “The positives are the fact that India recognised this danger pretty early and took steps to de-accelerate the virus. The PM has also taken a personal interest. The fact that political parties fully cooperated and didn’t politicise the issue is also a big positive.”

Listing the negatives, Murthy said, “But we have not been able to ramp up our testing facility. Even if we are able to test one lakh people a day, we would take 37 years to cover the entire population. It is a moving target.”

On NDTV 24×7, Vishnu Som came with some breaking news, “In a very important decision, the Home Ministry has decided that the movement of persons despite the lockdown will be allowed. This involves migrant workers, students, stranded tourists.”

Som noted, “This is a breakaway from what was decided earlier on the policy that wherever migrants or tourists or others were, they would stay over there in the interest of trying to prevent coronavirus.”

He also called for the need to designate nodal authorities and delegate standard protocol.

Midnight Order Allows More Shops: What Can Open, What Can't

Midnight Order Allows More Shops: What Can Open, What Can't
India coronavirus lockdown: Malls, cinemas and market complexes will stay closed, the government says.
All IndiaReported by Neeta Sharma, Edited by Arun NairUpdated: April 25, 2020 02:37 pm IST
by TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored
Master's in Data Science from a Global University | Initial fee of just INR 10,000. (upGrad)
Unbelievable and Funny Photos Taken At The Subway (MisterStocks)
Midnight Order Allows More Shops: What Can Open, What Can't
New guidelines for lockdown: The Centre said e-commerce companies can only sell essential items.. (AFP)




New Delhi: From today, neighbourhood shops can reopen for business after the government announced new relaxations during the coronavirus lockdown in a late-night order. The new order comes as big relief for traders as well as residents after a month of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19, which is due to end on May 3. The relaxations will not apply to areas that are COVID-19 hotspots or containment areas, with a large number of infections. For the first time in a month, local shops selling both essential and non-essential goods can open. Malls, cinemas and market complexes will stay closed, the government says. However, with public transport still closed, employees of shops that can re-open could still find it tough to get to work.
The government, in the morning, clarified that e-commerce companies can only sell essential items.

The Home Ministry also says masks, gloves and social distancing norms will be a must for workers in establishments that open. States can decide whether they want to continue with the restrictions, the government said. Delhi, for example, has said it will decide in two days whether to reopen shops as allowed by the latest order.

Here is a look at what reopens from today:

Shops registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/Union Territory, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, outside the municipal corporations and municipalities, will be allowed to open
All shops in residential areas and neighbourhood markets will be open
In rural and semi-rural areas, all shops and markets that are registered can open. In cities, only standalone shops and residential shops can open
Shops in registered markets outside municipal corporations and municipalities can open only with 50 per cent staff
In urban areas, non-essential goods and services will be allowed to operate provided they are in residential areas or is a standalone shop
Market complexes, except those within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, are allowed to open
What will remain shut

Malls and cinemas
Salons, barber shops, restaurants
Complexes with clusters of shops like Mumbai's BKC or Delhi's Khan Market and Nehru Place
Shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities
Shopping complexes, shops in market complexes, multi-brand and single-brand malls
Gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, theatres, bars and auditoriums
Liquor shops
Boutiques in malls cannot open