Scrutators

Tuesday 27th June 2017 20:43 EDT
 

Prime Minister Narenda Modi proved once again that he has no rival as master tactician in the country. While India had been holding its breath for the ruling BJP coalition to announce its candidate for the next president of the Republic, he maintained a Sphinx-like silence. Then, with perfect timing, he pulled the rabbit out of his hat: it was Ram Nath Kovind, the present Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Mr Modi had wrong-footed the Opposition. 

Mr Kovind is a Dalit, the country’s second after K.R. Narayanan, who was elected to the office almost two decades ago. The stunned Congress and Communist leaderships appeared bewitched bothered and bewildered. The whispering galleries and street auctions fell silent; the fevered, jockeying Sonia Gandhi’s sumptuous banquets to cobble an acceptable candidate had come to naught. Or so it seemed, when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced his support for Mr Kovind: game, set and match to Narendra Modi. Or was it? Kovind supporters include Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK, Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena and Kashmir’s PDF. (Hindu, Times of India, Telegraph et al June 20-22).

Meira Kumar in the ring

The Congress-led Opposition parried the Modi blow by nomination the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, as their nominee for President.

She, too, is a Dalit, the daughter of Jagjivan Ram, widely recognized as one of the most capable and successful ministers in post-Independent India. Her public profile exceeds that of the hitherto unknown Ram Nath Kovind. She was a member of the diplomatic service before she entered politics.

Bihar factor

There is also the Bihar factor to consider. It is Meira Kumar’s home State, where she commands wide popular support. Lalu Praad Yadav’s Rajya Janata Dal, whose support keeps Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United in power, has appealed to Nitish to reconsider his ‘historic blunder’ and reverse his decision. This Nitish has refused to do. Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), also Dalit, has backed Ms Kumar’s candidature. The Opposition presents a more united face than most people remember. Thie contest is proving to be a potboiler, The electors are restricted to State legislatures. (Telegraph, Hindu, Times of India June 23, 24).

Darjeeling imbroglio

The Gorkhaland party in the hill districts of north Bengal appears to be intoxicated by the violence it has unleashed in support of its claims to a separate state. However, the truculence displayed thus far by the leadership could be self-defeating in the long run. The economy and social stability are under dire threat, so what confidence can there be in people devoid of sense and sensibility. (Telegraph, Times of India, Hindu, June 23).

Adivasi threat

The Adivasis, dependent for their livelihood on the Darjeeling’s prized tea gardens, vowed to fight the Gorkhaland activists if damage was caused to the source of the economic and social wellbeing (Times of India June 20).

India joins global transit system

India has joined the United Nations Convention pertaining to the International Customs Transit System, thereby positioning itself as a regional trade and transit hub. The TIR Convention permits goods to move under customs control across international borders without payment of duties and taxes. India’s decision has a significant foreign policy dimension. India, opposed to China’s ambitious One Belt, One Road project, seeks to play a more effective game by signing up the UN Transit Convention. (Times of India June 20).

Jaw-jaw, not war-war

That was the advice rendered to India and Pakistan by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, following visits to Islamabad and New Delhi, where he met with Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi respectively. However, Pakistan, being in a state of undeclared war with India must call off its jihad. Five hundred citizens of Mumbai alone have died in terror attacks mounted on the city in March 1993 and November 2008 and lesser assaults, including one on a Mumbai suburban train. Normal relations cannot be restored until terrorism ceases to be an instrument of Pakistani statecraft. (Hindu, Telegraph, Times of India, June 22).

International test

What would happen if, say, Mexico or Canada exported terror groups north or south of their border to the United States? Anyway, the Indian government brushed aside the Secretary General’s appeal by stating that India’s dialogue with Pakistan was strictly a bilateral affair broking no third party intervention. (Telegraph, Hindu, Times of India, June 23).

L&T builds floating dock for Navy

Mumbai-based engineering company Larsen&&Toubro Shipyard at Kattupalli, in Tamil Nadu, has built a floating dock for the Indian Navy – the first wholly Indian construction of its kind – where six ships can be repaired or refitted at any given time. ‘It is truly a Made in India’ product,’ said Vice-Admiral D.M. Despande at the launch function. The floating dock will be moved to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to service the needs of the Navy primarily, and also those of the other services as well (Business Line, June 21).

Discordant service chiefs

Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat was quoted recently as saying that India’s military was equipped to face the challenges of a two-front war with Pakistan and China - India’s war doctrine since 2008 when it was enunciated by General Deepak Kapoor. The Navy appears to concur. Not so the Indian Air Force Chief, Air Marshal Danoa, who has said bluntly that the IAF under-strength squadrons would be unable to rise to the challenge. It is scandalous that two successive governments, the first Congress-led, the second BJP-led, have failed to bring the IAF to its full operational strength. (Hindu, June 20).

Tata-Lockheed tie-up

Tata Group Chairman Chandra-sekaran has announced a tie-up with US giant Lockheed for the joint production of fourth-generation F-16 warplanes. Under this arrangement, Lockheed proposes to transfer its manufacturing facility from the United States to India, a problematical prospect with President Trump’s insistence that American companies remain at home to cater to the demands of the domestic job market. (Times of India, Hindu, June 20).

Jaitley in Moscow

Defence (and concurrent) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley flew to Moscow on a crucial visit to reinforce Indo-Russian defence ties, particularly in face of prevailing US administration uncertainties. Jaitley co-chaired a new bilateral committee on science and technology with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. Russia has shared cutting edge military technologies with India. The need to take this to the next level is India’s goal.

Following his meeting with Rogozin in Novosimbirsk, Jaitley headed for Moscow for talks with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Jaitley invited Russia to invest in joint ventures with Indian companies as befitted its status as a ‘privileged strategic partner,’ assuring Russian investors of a smooth administrative passage already in place and strict safeguards of its intellectual property rights. (Telegraph, Hindu, June 20, 22).

Rosneft’s clinches Essar deal

Russian energy major Rosneft has clinched its $12 billion deal to acquir Indian company Essar’s oil assets. The original deal had been announced in October last year, but approvals from Essar’s lenders have now been completed and confirmation of the deal announced last week at a shareholder’s meeting in Sochi by Igor Sechin, a close ally of President Putin. Rosneft is seeking to diversify its global presence to counter Western sanctions against Russia. (Business Line, June 23).

Chinese firm bets big on India

Chinese smartphone companies are swarming across India with their 50 per cent share of the Indian market. Xiaomi, Vivo and Oppo lead the pack at the mass level, One5, the firm’s flagship is focused on the high-end market. Peter Lau, its founder and CEO, told a reporter in Mumbai that ‘India has exceeded our expectations. ..More than 60 per cent of our user group are post-graduates. So in India our strategy is to send in the best products and the beat of our services. In terms of brand influence, as of now, we think India is one of the best; it is the first in all markets. In terms of market share we have some way to go, but we have had a huge growth rate. In 2017, our market share and market value is going to increase.’ (Business Line, June 23).

IT export growth 7-8 per cent

India’s IT trade body Nasscom has pegged exports this fiscal to 7-8 per cent, compared with last year’s figure of 8-10 per cent. This is largely due to protectionist headwinds, said Nasscom President R.Chandrasekhar. (Business Line, June 23).

India-Afghan air bridge 

Denied transit rights through Pakistan, India and Afghanistan have started an air corridors for cargo flights to each other’s country. Being land locked, Afghanistan is dependent on its neighbours for transit rights for its trade. The inaugural flight from Kabul to New Delhi carrying 60 tonnes of goods and commodities, was flagged off by President Ashraf Ghani and greeted by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Indian capital. This strengthens Indo-Afghan relations.


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