international relations today- (Book 7)

International Relations Today (Book – 7)

- Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal-

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Chapters

Chapter- 1: India: Implications of AAP win in Delhi by-poll for Indian politics Chapter- 2: Turkey’s President Erdogan heads for Tehran!

Chapter- 3: Germany: Angela Merkel wins fourth term as Chancellor!

Chapter- 4: Indian politics: Amid political uncertainty, Madras HC stays Tamil Nadu floor test till 04 October!

Chapter-5: Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh: UN to provide aid for up to 7, 00,000 refugees!

Chapter- 6: Towards Russo-Saudi Arabia rapprochement!

Chapter- 7: Shaping Russo-Turkey relations: Putin meets Erdogan in Turkey over Syria, weapons deal Chapter- 8: Nuclear missile capability: North Korea conducts strongest ever nuclear test!

Chapter- 9: Badminton: Nozomi Okuhara is World champion, proves that player height does not matter in wins!

Chapter- 10: India: India: Tamil Nadu politics: RK Nagar bypoll to be held before December 31 Chapter- 11: Why terror wars won’t ever end?

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Chapter- 12: India: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wins against Lavalin witch-hunt!

Chapter- 13: Purpose of judiciary: Indian Judicial system needs to become efficient, trust worthy and respectable!

Chapter- 14: India: AIADMK likely to expel VK Sasikala at general council meeting in September!

Chapter- 15: India: Sasikala, Dinakaran threaten unified AIADMK. Will they support DMK to pull down AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu?

Chapter- 16: India: Tamil Nadu politics: Sasikala-Dinakaran duo weakened ruling AIADMK! Chapter- 17: Amid Dokalam standoff, Narendra Modi meets Xi Jinping in China briefly!

Chapter- 18: Pivot to Asia and Chinese response!

Chapter- 19: India: Tamil Nadu politics: Sasikala must quit AIADMK! Chapter- 20: India: Justice Arumugasamy to probe former CM Jayalalithaa’s mysterious death!

Chapter- 21: Why does America not want to end state terror occupation of Afghanistan?

Chapter- 22: Bomb scares across Russia prompt mass evacuations!

Chapter- 23: Anti-terrorism row: Pakistan’s response to US accusations!

Chapter- 24: Rising Russo China relations Chapter- 25: India: Cricketism and terrorism: Disappointed by defeat, India rock-attacks Australian cricket team in Assam!

Chapter- 26: Why this endless, senseless Hamas-Fatah feud?

Chapter- 27: Climate change: Hurricane Irma slams Caribbean islands!

Chapter- 28: Dokalam standoff and Jinping-Modi brief meeting in China!

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Chapter- 1: Indian politics: Implications of AAP win in Delhi by-poll Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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As it was facing the threat of extinction following the rout in the local polls in Delhi state which it rules, Delhi's ruling party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has won a byelection for the Bawana seat by a big 24,000 votes, leaving behind the real threat BJP and the Congress, which had hoped to enter the Delhi assembly as it ran neck and neck with AAP in the early rounds of counting. While the BJP has 4 seats in the Delhi assembly, the Congress party has none.

Victory for AAP's Ram Chander is sweeter as he defeated Ved Prakash, who had won Bawana as an AAP candidate in the assembly elections but quit the party just before key civic polls in March this year and joined the BJP. Bawana seat is a reserved seat (Scheduled Caste), with a large number of Dalit voters. The AAP succeeded in playing up BJP’s presumptive 'anti-Dalit' image

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in its favour. Even in the past, this segment of voters had proved to be bankable for AAP. In fact, the Aam Aadmi Party has retained the Bawana assembly seat in Delhi in a booster shot particularly for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has no answer yet to the shocking defeat of his party in the parliamentary and local polls.

The win is significant as AAP was also trounced by the BJP in the Delhi civic polls, only weeks after being pummeled in assembly elections in Punjab and Goa.The poll was also seen as a test of the popularity of the rival parties ahead the 2019 national election, in which the BJP hopes win all seven Lok Sabha seats as it did in 2014.

Victory for AAP's Ram Chander is sweeter as he defeated Ved Prakash, who had won Bawana as an AAP candidate in the assembly elections but quit the party just before key civic polls in March this year and joined the BJP. AAP has demonstrated clearly as to who is boss in Delhi- Kejriwal or Modi.

The Modi-Shaw duo that dictates term to national politicians could not pierce through Delhi assembly politics of Kejriwal.

Energetic campaign After his ambitious national runs that almost always ended in disaster, Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal seems to have finally learnt his lesson. And AAP’s victory in Bawana by-election by a record margin of 24,052 votes is a proof of that.

Kejriwal is back to the grassroots that catapulted him to power in 2015. He’s back to his old strategy and his greatest strength — connecting with people, especially the weaker sections and voters of rural areas, unrecognized colonies, and slum dwellers.

For a party that was trounced by the Congress in Punjab, by the BJP in MCD and by both in the Rajouri Garden bypoll, the Bawana result presents an opportunity for revival. Kejriwal’s outreach in the Outer Delhi constituency speaks to his party’s base – the urban poor.

Faced with popularity crisis, the Delhi Chief Minister, his ministers and other top party colleagues campaigned hard in Bawana, with the supremo Kejriwal camping there every Sunday for the past few weeks, asking voters to choose his party again.

During its campaigning in Bawana, AAP played up the 'bhagora' (deserter) factor against BJP. Ultimately, Bawana voters rejected the 'detractor' and BJP 4

candidate Prakash. Besides, apart from its senior leaders, both Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia virtually camped in Bawana to oversee both development work as well as an election strategy First of all, learning a lesson from its past, AAP fielded Ram Chander, a candidate who had never won any election before. He had contested the last election as a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. During Rajouri Garden byelection, AAP had lost because the voters rejected the party for its decision to allow the then-sitting MLA Jarnail Singh to quit the seat and contest the Punjab election.

Out of the six wards in Bawana, BJP had won five in the MCD election.

Immediately, after the MCD polls, AAP had set an agenda of bringing development in the unorganized colonies, JJ clusters, villages, etc. The focus was on improving the long-pending civic problems of these areas. This helped the party to reconnect with its grassroots voters. AAP’s relentless demand for Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system was accepted and all the EVMs used in the Bawana byelection were equipped with VVPAT. Delhiites have found the AAP and Kejriwal still relevant in their lives. People see AAP still better than other corrupt parties.

Huge setback for BJP For the national ruling party BJP and PM Modi, the loss of Bawana is a big embarrassment, a land slide. Riding high on a series of victories, especially the byelection to the Rajouri Garden Assembly constituency in Delhi and the elections to the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD), BJP’s hyperbole failed to cut ice with Bawana voters.

The Bawana by-election was important for the BJP and PM Modi as they have to prove that people are behind the decision of the AAP MLA who quit the party and joined the BJP. It was also a prestige battle for the BJP's Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari, who draws key support from Delhi's "Poorvanchali" voters, made up of people from UP and Bihar. Bawana, one of Delhi's biggest assembly constituencies, has a big presence of Poorvanchalis.

The Bawana by-poll result underscores BJP’s failure of strategy and misplaced optimism.

Why did BJP fail to corner Bawana seat? Answer looks very simple.

AAP’s strategic attack on BJP failed the BJP’s Delhi assembly strategy.

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PM Narendra Modi, trying to take back Delhi poll in the next poll, was said to be watching the Bawana election closely. The BJP and Modi had hoped to add a fifth seat to its kitty after snatching the Rajouri constituency from AAP in another byelection earlier this year.

Contrary to his 'anti-Narendra Modi', 'anti-BJP' image and criticisms, Kejriwal maintained a stoic silence and restrained communication, ever since the MCD result was announced. Abandoning his strategy of attacking Modi, Kejriwal singlepointedly focused on carrying out the development of the area. An internal post-poll survey by the Pradesh Congress Committee also underlined this fact and mentioned that this would make AAP a winner.

The Delhi BJP was on a high this year after they won a resounding third term in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The MCD win balanced the scales in favour of the BJP after AAP’s 2015 sweep. But with the Bawana by-poll result, the AAP has stamped its authority on the National Capital. The BJP, which was buoyant after the MCD polls, had to settle with No 2 position.

For BJP's Delhi unit, winning Bawana seat was important as well as challenging, because it had to keep pace with the spreading dominance of the party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in other parts of the country.

Keeping an eye on the Purvanchali voters, who account for almost 35 percent of the total electorate in Bawana, Delhi BJP Manoj Tiwari was placed at the forefront of the battle to woo the segment. Here too, BJP failed to anticipate the growing acceptance of AAP in the unrecognized colonies and JJ clusters, where a large number of residents belong to Purvanchal. "Many Purvanchali voters no doubt voted in the favour of BJP, but not all. Considering the body of developmental work done

by Kejriwal in this area, a large section voted in the favour of AAP. Instead of favoring regionalism, they chose to go for the development of the area," a resident of one of the unorganized colonies said.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari’s 'Poorvanchali' identity, which had worked during the local polls, failed this time to win all the Poorvanchali voters, as AAP emphasized on 'development for all the residents of Bawana'.

In an astute move, the Delhi BJP fielded ex-AAP MLA Ved Prakash, who had quit AAP just before the MCD elections. Following its impressive victory in the MCD elections, the BJP was confident that its strategy of welcoming Opposition rebels in its fold and rewarding them with election tickets would pay dividends. But, it didn’t.

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In fact, the strategy badly backfired. Somehow, BJP managed to end up in the second spot — during the initial rounds of counting, Congress was in the second position — in Bawana, thereby saving itself some acute embarrassment.

AAP’s victory has proved that the voters of Bawana have rejected BJP’s strategy of giving tickets to deserters and win. The message is clear from the people of Bawana — 'if you are a detractor, we won’t accept you'. The strategy applied by BJP has miserably failed," said an AAP observer.

Observation: Back to people!

AAP’s win in Delhi by-poll has put the BJP and Congress in tight stop and they will have to reschedule their anti-AAP program.

Huge defeat suffered by AAP and Kejriwal forced them to relink themselves with the people of Delhi as mere rhetoric of Kejriwal cannot match the high profile talks of PM Modi.

More importantly, the impact of GST has been felt by the people gradually as process of food and other essentials are sky rocketing with heavy taxes.

Bawana has recast the AAP and Kejriwal in limelight, their importance in Indian politics beyond Delhi, is stressed once again. A post-poll internal survey conducted by the Pradesh Congress Committee had predicted AAP’s victory in the Bawana by-election. The survey stated that AAP's gaining margin over Congress and BJP would be due to the development work carried out by the Delhi government in the unrecognized colonies and villages in Bawana.

The Bawana by-election was seen as a crucial test of CM Kejriwal and his AAP's popularity in the only state the party rules, after several setbacks since it swept the Delhi assembly elections in 2015.

The spectacular win by the ruling AAP in Delhi’s Bawana constituency by-election has saved the party from the embarrassment it faced after the defeat at local polls and also stop any future defections by selfish MLAs, if any left in the party. In fact, no MLA would dare quit party and join BJP or Congress because they lose their MLAs seat while the AAP candidate would win the by poll convincingly. So the CM Kejriwal and his team can concentrate on development projects and serve the Delhiites to their full satisfaction. Take the people into confidence in whatever the government does or does not. Whatever deficit in faith, trust and confidence people have not must be erased.

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Delhi’s victory of AAP has to do with more than Kejriwal because Delhiites want a change in the politics of Delhi but he is centre of popular change in the capital. Delhiites supported the anti-corruption movement as people are fed with corruption groomed and pampered by both the top and richest national parties Congress and BJP and AAP for their own sake and better future of their children.

Winning back the Bawana means Kejriwal is a shrewd leader Delhiites have found from among whole lot of corrupt political rats. His decision to reconnect with the people won him the Bawana seat. However, whether or he would be able to overcome the Modi effect remains to be seen.

However honest Kejriwal maybe, his honesty cannot survive in politics without kindness. Arrogance with fellow leaders may not win votes for ever. Defeat of the popular AAP in the parliamentary poll and local polls while the AAP rules the capital state has a vital message for Kejriwal and AAP. Apparently, Kejriwal is a powerful tool the Delhiites use to bring the necessary changes in their lives. They trust him more than anybody else. But Delhi CM should not take the Bawana victory for granted and accept it as a game of Delhiites and should try to accommodate the leaders with varying views on governance but opt for consensus policy to pursue the AAP objectives successfully.

Remember, both the Congress and BJP are after the blood of AAP! Delhi’s victory of AAP has to do with more than Kejriwal because Delhiites want a change in the politics of Delhi but he is centre of popular change in the capital.

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Chapter- 2: Turkey’s President Erdogan heads for Tehran!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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Of late Turkey has been taking keen interest in the regional affairs especially after its military ally Israel’s misbehavior with Turkish aid workers going to the Gaza Strip.

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President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, flew to Tehran on October 04 for talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, and the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on trade and regional politics. They would discuss bilateral relations and regional issues amid growing tension following the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) referendum to secede from Iraq.

Erdogan’s visit and Talks

The visit, which comes upon the invitation by Iranian President Rouhani, follows a flurry of high-level exchanges between the historic rivals who seem united, at least for now, in seeking to reverse the referendum on Kurdish independence in Iraqi Kurdistan and to cement shaky “deescalation” zones to end the conflict in Syria. Erdogan and Rouhani will chair the fourth meeting of the Turkey-Iran High Level Cooperation Council, which gathered for the first time in Ankara in 2014 to bolster trade ties between the region’s non-Arab heavyweights. The meeting is expected to be dominated by talks on Syria's political transitional process and the possible joint steps that can be taken after the KRG referendum.

Two days prior to Erdoğan's visit, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar went to Tehran where he met his Iranian counterpart, Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the first such visit by an Iranian army chief since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.. Gen. Akar touched upon counterterrorism and border security issues, saying Turkey and Iran have agreed to increase bilateral ties and cooperation in security related matters.

"Turkey and Iran have been two friendly countries with common values for centuries. Within these common values, we are improving our cooperation against existing threats and risks," Akar said. For his part, Gen. Bagheri said that Turkey and Iran have developed a common stance against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) referendum. Bagheri said Iran and Turkey were “unanimous” in their determination to preserve Iraq’s territorial integrity and called the Iraqi Kurdish referendum “unacceptable.” Bagheri added that Turkey and Iran will collaborate in matters of military training and border security. They would also take part in each other’s war games, he said.

Erdogan makes this trip amid Kurdistan independence movement cum referendum mounting worry in Iraqi Kurdistan as leaders from both sides keep up their calls on Massoud Barzani, Iraqi Kurdistan's president, to annul the referendum results. Khamenei’s chief of staff, Mohammadi Golpayegani, has called the referendum a “Zionist plot,” a view that was echoed by 9

Bagheri. An unswayed Erdogan renewed threats to impose further sanctions on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) if it failed to rescind the referendum, saying, “If they do not come to their senses, sanctions will grow.”

Lately, a convergence has evolved between Ankara, Tehran and the Iraqi central government following last week's illegitimate poll in KRGcontrolled areas as well as disputed territories such as Kirkuk amid fears that the vote may lead to greater instability in the region and disrupt war with Daesh. The three countries warned Irbil to step back, against which the Iraqi armed forces launched military drills both with Turkey and Iran near the KRG border. Both confirmed that that the sharing of military experience and training will be established between the two countries.

Turkish and Iranian leaders are putting heads together to keep region safe from growing threats. The Iranian President said relations between the two countries in terms of economy and foreign policy are in a good situation, and as "two deep-rooted Muslim countries in the region," they should increase cooperation in perspective of mutual interests against common threats. "We should also exert to strengthen relations in military and defense areas," he said.

Erdogan and Rouhani will discuss the latest course of the Astana talks, which was initiated by Turkey, Iran and Russia, and aims to find a permanent solution on Syria's seven-year brutal civil war that has claimed more than 500,000 lives. After the sixth meeting of the Astana talks last month, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to jointly monitor a fourth safe zone around Syria's northwestern Idlib province. According to the plan, the trio is expected to send 500 observers each to Idlib to monitor the de-escalation deal, and the Russian ones will be military police, the Russian negotiator said after the meeting.

However, for all the recent mutual appreciation, Iran and Turkey continue to disagree on a broad array of issues. This recent uptick in diplomatic activity should be seen in the context of a recent convergence of concerns and threat perceptions in the Middle East. However, it should not be interpreted as anything more than that, as Turkey and Iran continue to have diverging, if not conflicting, interests, especially in Iraq and Syria.” In a show of force, Iran and Turkey have deployed additional troops to the Iraqi Kurdish border and invited Iraqi forces to join in training drills.

In Turkey, too, the pro-Islamic and nationalist media is awash with claims of how Barzani and his family are in fact crypto-Jews who are bent on establishing a “second Israel.”

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Survey

Turkey and Iran have heavy mutual influence on each other, due to geographical proximity, linguistic and ethnic relations. Iran and Turkey are major trade partners notwithstanding occasional irritations in bilateral relations. .

On 22 April 1926 the First "Treaty of Friendship" between Iran and Turkey was signed in Tehran. The basic principles included friendship, neutrality and nonaggression towards each other. The agreement also included possible joint actions to groups in the territories of both countries which would try to disturb peace and security or who would try to change the government of one of the countries. This policy was indirectly aimed at the internal problems both countries had with their Kurdish minorities.

On 23 January 1932 the first definitive frontier treaty between Turkey and Iran was signed in Tehran. The border between Turkey and Iran is one of the oldest in the world and has stayed more or less the same since the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514, and the Treaty of Zuhab. The 1932 treaty thus formalized a centuries-old status quo. On the same day, the countries signed a new Treaty of Friendship, as well as a Treaty of Conciliation, Judicial Settlement and Arbitration.

Between 16 June and 2 July 1934, Reza Shah Pahlavi visited Turkey, together with a mission of high-ranking officials, among which General Hassan Arfa, at the invitation of Mustafa Kemal AtatĂźrk. Several regions in Turkey were visited and attempts at close friendship and cooperation between the two leaders were made. Reza Shah Pahlavi was reportedly impressed by the republic's modernization reforms and he saw this as an example for his own country.

On 8 July 1937 a Treaty of Non-aggression was signed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. This treaty would become known as the Treaty of Saadabad. The purpose of this agreement was to ensure security and peace in the Middle East. In August 1955, the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), a mutual security-pact between Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Britain, was established. In July 1964 the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development), aimed at joint economic projects between Iran, Turkey and Pakistan was established.

A period of coldness passed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution which caused major changes in Iran and the Middle Eastern status quo. Today Iran 11

and Turkey closely cooperate in a wide variety of fields that range from fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia.

In May 2010, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan made an unscheduled trip to Tehran in coordination with Brazilian President Lula da Silva to make an agreement to outsource Iranian uranium enrichment to his country to avoid further sanctions on Iran.[1] In supporting Iran after the agreement Erdogan turned the question back on the international community. "In fact, there is no nuclear weapon in Iran now, but Israel, which is also located in our region, possesses nuclear arms. Turkey is the same distance from both of them. What has the international community said against Israel so far? Is this the superiority of law or the law of superiors?" This comes after growing pressure from the USA and the UK to support sanctions against Iran.

Turkey, the largest NATO member in the region, hosted the establishment of a NATO missile shield in September 2011. The establishment of NATO defense shield has caused a crisis between Turkey and Iran. Iran claimed that the NATO missile shield is a US plot to protect Israel from any counter-attack should Israel target Iran's nuclear facilities.

In addition, Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Turkey should rethink its policies over Syria, the NATO defense shield, and promotion of secularism over the Arab world following the Arab Spring.

The decision of Turkey to host a radar system of NATO (USA) to track missiles launched from Iran has been seen by the Iranians as a serious break in relations. In a 2012 Pew Research Global Attitudes Survey, 54% of Turks oppose Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons, 46% consider a nucleararmed Iran somewhat a "threat" and 26% support the use of military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. 37% of Turks believe that Iran is not a threat at all, the highest percentage between surveyed countries. Only 34% of Turkey's population approves of "tougher sanctions" on Iran, compared to 52% of Turks disapproving of sanctions The behavior of Turkish statesmen towards Syria and Iran is wrong and they are acting in line with the goals of America. If Turkey does not distance itself from this unconventional political behavior it will have both the Turkish people turning away from it domestically and the neighboring countries of Syria, Iraq and Iran reassessing their political ties.

Turkey stated that the NATO system neither cause threat to a nation nor target any particular nation. Turkish Minister of National Defense, Ä°smet YÄąlmaz, insisted that NATO missile defense system's aim is to secure Europe, adding that it's also for security of Turkey.

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On October 23, 2011, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Iran over US presence in Turkey. “Iran would be badly miscalculating if they did not look at the entire region and all of our presence in many countries, both in bases and in training with NATO allies, like Turkey,” Clinton said. In November 2011, the head of the Iranian Guard's aerospace division threatened to strike Turkey if other countries attacked Iran.

Tensions The escalation of diplomatic tensions between Iran and Turkey came after President Erdogan completed a week-long tour of the Arabian Peninsula.

Turkey’s President Erdogan accused Iran of trying to split Iraq and Syria by resorting to "Persian nationalism", while Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, criticised what he called Iran's "sectarian policy" aimed at undermining Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. "Iran is trying to create two Shia states in Syria and Iraq. This is very dangerous. It must be stopped," Cavusoglu said at the Munich conference on 19 February.

In response, Iran summoned the Turkish ambassador over these remarks and warned Turkey that its patience "had limits", and if Turkish officials continue making such statements "it will not remain silent".

Turkey and Iran have been on opposite sides of the conflict in Syria, with Ankara seeking to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad and Tehran being, along with Russia, his key backer.

Iran experts in Turkey say Tehran is alarmed by Turkey's presence in Syria and Iraq. Iran views Turkey's military presence in these countries as a significant obstacle in front of its desire to extend its influence in the region.

Iran also wants to cut Turkey's efforts to create a Sunni controlled safe-zone in northern Syria at its roots.

Turkey does not want another enemy at the gates, so it is making its position known to Iran, clearly and loudly. Iran, on the other hand, is actively working towards ending Turkey's ongoing military presence in Iraq and Syria, to make sure its allies keep controlling the area, analysts said. a senior foreign affairs adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently said Turkish troops should immediately retreat from Iraq and Syria or the people would "kick them out".

Possibly Erdogan asked his Saudi and Gulf allies to finance the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria during these visits and Iran was of course disturbed by this development. It is also possible that the Gulf States 13

asked Erdogan to adopt a more contentious attitude towards Iran in exchange for providing financial assistance for the safe-zone

Relations of Turkey and Iran with Israel

The main cause of troubles in West Asia, Israel is one of the few countries to say it will recognize an independent Kurdish state in Iraq.

It is useless to study Turkey, Iran or any other Muslim nation in the region without understanding the impact of Israel on their mutual relationships as well as US policy for the region. In the past, Turkey's ties with Israel have caused various disagreements between Ankara and Tehran.

However, Turkey's neutral stance with regards to the disputes between Israel and Iran has secured the maintenance of friendly bilateral relations.

The growing trade between Turkey and Iran indicate the two countries’ willingness to strengthen mutual ties. Turkey's relations with Israel have deteriorated after the Gaza War (2008–09), the Gaza flotilla raid (2010) and the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.

Unnatural Turkey-Israeli ties have been badly strained. From 2010 to 2016, Turkey had no diplomatic relations with Israel in the ambassadorial level. However, on June 28, 2016, Turkey and Israel signed an agreement to normalize relations, which included a $20 million compensation fund from Israel to Turkish families affected by the Gaza-bound flotilla attack, an eventual return of ambassadors and initial talks of a natural gas pipeline.

Iran's relations with Turkey have occasionally soured over the AKP government's active involvement in regional disputes between Shia and Sunni groups since the dawn of the Arab Spring.[12] Iran firmly backs the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad (formed mostly of Alawite Shia Muslims), while the AKP government in Turkey (which has its roots in political Islam) supports the Syrian opposition (formed mostly of Sunni Muslims).

During the 2015 military intervention in Yemen, Iran and Turkey supported rival (Shia and Sunni, respectively) groups, which led to official arguments between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Erdoğan stated that "Iran and the terrorist groups must withdraw" and Zarif replied "Turkey makes strategic mistakes". However, a few days later, Erdoğan went to Tehran for talks on improving Turkish-Iranian trade relations and was received by Khamenei and Rouhani.

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Before the ascent of the Islamist AKP government to power in 2002, Turkey (a constitutionally secular state) had maintained a neutral foreign policy with regards to the religious and sectarian conflicts in the region.

Turkey and Iran's differing geopolitical goals in Syria and Iraq have also led to increased tension and suspicion. Anti-Iranian views have been propagated by Turkish media like Yeni Akit and Yeni Şafak due to the Battle of Aleppo (2012–16).

Turkey's relations with Iran improved during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, where both countries backed Qatar in a dispute with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Other matters also aggravate relations, such as their supporting opposing sides in Yemeni Civil War (2015–present), Turkish installation of a NATO radar tracking Iranian activities (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said NATO defense system deployed in southeast Turkey meant to protect Israel from Iranian missile attacks), and Iranian support for al-Qaida against Turkey.

Analysts explained US president Donald Trump's aggressive attitude towards Iran and the perception that he may be willing to support the creation of a Turkish-controlled safe zone in northern Syria also played a significant role in the escalation of tensions between Tehran and Ankara.

It looks like Erdogan realized Trump is going to be a lot more aggressive towards Iran compared to his predecessor, so he decided to act up against Tehran to secure US support for the safe zone Russia, of course, is also an important player in this game.

Russia's recent rapprochement with Turkey, as well as disagreements it has with Iran over Syria may play a significant role in the future of Turkey's relations with Iran. Russia and Iran are having differences of opinion regarding the future of Syria. Russia is viewing Assad as an ally, but is not insistent about him staying in his role as Syria's president. Iran does not want Assad to go anywhere, but Russia, on the contrary, may easily sacrifice him." Russia is ready to get out of Syria. It is content with its victory on the ground. So it may choose not to be on Iran's side to support Assad against Turkey.

While their conflicting interests on the ground as well as actions of other actors like the United States and Russia may lead to further diplomatic tensions between Iran and Turkey, the vast economic ties between the regional rivals may prevent an actual confrontation.

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Turkish-Iranian relations have always defied any general characterization. The two neighbors have never had a straightforward alliance, feud, cooperation or rivalry. Instead, their relationship always carried all these elements simultaneously. There have been times in which the relationship has seemed to be tilting one way or another, and this has generated more debate, controversy and confusion about the nature and future course of the relations between the two countries.

Turkish-Iranian relations are now being seen as moving towards cooperation, if not alliance-building. Such a characterization, however, is premature and is reading too much into diplomatic niceties. In recent times, the diplomatic traffic between Ankara and Tehran seems to have intensified.

As recently as August, a large Iranian military delegation headed by military chief of staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri visited Ankara, meeting their military counterparts as well as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The latter is also expected to pay a visit to Tehran soon.

Iran and Turkey also have very close trade and economic relations.

Both countries are part of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

Bilateral trade between the nations is increasing. In 2005, the trade increased to $4 billion from $1 billion in 2000. Iran’s gas export to Turkey is likely to be increased. At present, the rate is at 50mm cm/d.[22] Turkey imports about 10 billion cubic meters a year of gas from Iran, about 30 percent of its needs. Turkey plans to invest $12 billion in developing phases 22, 23 and 24 of South Pars gas field, a senior Iranian oil official told Shana.ir.

Two-way trade is now in the range of $10 billion (2010), and both governments have announced that the figure should reach the $20 billion mark in the not too distant future. 50 percent of the gas from three phases of Iran’s South Pars gas field will be re-exported to Europe. Turkey has won the tender for privatization of Razi Petrochemical Complex valued at $650 million (2008). Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi announced in October 2012 that the speed of trade exchanges between Iran and Turkey has accelerated and was close of reaching the goal of 30 billion dollars per year. He added that the growing trade relations between Tehran and Ankara indicate the two countries’ willingness to strengthen mutual ties This recent uptick in diplomatic activity should be seen in the context of a recent convergence of concerns and threat perceptions in the Middle East. However, it should not be interpreted as anything more than that, as Turkey and Iran continue to have diverging, if not conflicting, interests, especially in Iraq and Syria.

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90 percent of Iran's natural gas exports go to Turkey and Turkey imports 20 percent of its natural gas from Iran. Regional politics may cause tensions between the two countries, but in the light of their strong economic ties, I don't believe the recent escalation in diplomatic tensions is going to lead to a serious confrontation.

The economic ties between the two countries cannot be overlooked but he argued that Turkey may be ready to take the economic blow to protect its regional interests. It is true that Turkey is buying a lot of natural gas from Iran, and given that the Islamic Republic does not care too much about the international law, it may decide to close down the valves to teach Ankara a lesson," he said. "Also Turkish businesses had been investing heavily in Iran since the country's relations with the rest of the world was normalized following its nuclear deal with the USA. Yet Turkey might still be willing to face any economic threat and do everything necessary to stop Iran from extending its influence further in the Middle East, because any other scenario will be politically too costly for the country."

Iraq The USA has several key bases in the Iraqi Kurdish territory and the CIA is known to run a huge regional intelligence-gathering operation out of the region. Moreover, the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition ferries arms and other critical supplies to their Kurdish and Arab allies in Syria via Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Iraqi parliament had asked the country’s federal court in a letter to strip Kurdish lawmakers who backed independence of their parliamentary immunity. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says he will not resume any dialogue with Erbil until the KRG cancels the results of the plebiscite, which was approved by a crushing 93% of voters. Iraq's Central Bank told the KRG today that it would halt selling dollars to four top Kurdish banks and stop all foreign currency transfers to the Kurdish zone. Yet Barzani shows no signs of cracking.

Meanwhile, Baghdad, which shut Iraqi Kurdistan's airspace to international flights on Sept. 29, is continuing to pile on pressure as well. An Iraqi Kurdish official said that the Iraqi Kurdish leadership had reached out to several ethnic Kurdish members of parliament in Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party for their help. But so far, their intervention appears to have had little effect. This has further alienated pious, pro-Barzani Kurds who normally vote for Erdogan.

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Many Iraqi Kurdish officials blame the USA for Iraqi intransigence.

They insist Washington’s noisy campaign against the referendum has emboldened their enemies and deepened instability and that Washington stands to lose as well.

Iraqi Kurdish officials aired hopes that Baghdad would reopen the airspace to allow the return of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s body to his native Sulaimaniyah. A larger-than-life figure beloved by journalists for his accessibility and sly wit, Talabani died in Berlin today after a long bout of illness. His death is expected to spark further infighting in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party he founded and led in opposition to Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party.

Then again, in death Talabani may become a vehicle for unity among the Kurds and for cooling tensions with Baghdad, Iran, Turkey and the USA. All are expected to send emissaries to his funeral. Anadolu, quoting unnamed sources, said Erdogan had called Talabani's widow Hero today, offering condolences.

Diplomatic tensions between Iran and Turkey will not result in an actual confrontation due to the vast economic ties between the regional rivals, Turkish analysts say. The tensions between Turkey and Iran did not appear out of the blue. As both regional rivals compete for a greater share of influence in the region, the Syrian government's victory in Aleppo, coupled with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group's diminishing presence in Iraq, has brought tensions between them to the boil. This rivalry had been simmering beneath the surface for a very long time. Recent developments in Syria and Iraq simply forced the two countries to be more overtly aggressive against each other.

Diplomatic tensions have escalated between regional rivals Turkey and Iran after Ankara blamed Tehran of pursuing a sectarian agenda and destabilising the Middle East.

And in Iraq, Turkey claims that it has a "historical responsibility" to protect the country's Sunni and Turkmen minorities from Iran-backed Shia militias who are in the region to fight ISIL. Iran, on the other hand, alongside with Iraq's government, views Turkey's involvement in the conflict and military presence in the country as an "incursion".

Turkey acts as the protector of Sunnis in the region, while Iran wants to build a Shia circle of influence all the way from Tehran to Lebanon, so it is inevitable for these two regional powers to clash.

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Concerns and interests

A number of common concerns have recently emerged between Turkey and Iran, which has facilitated the recent thaw in relations. Two factors have been particularly important. First, the struggle to establish a post-Arab Spring regional order has generated anxiety in both Ankara and Tehran. The most obvious manifestation of this struggle was on full display during the latest Gulf crisis. Neither Iran nor Turkey regarded this crisis as an isolated confrontation between Qatar and the Gulf-Arab coalition.

Second, the struggle for the post-Arab Spring regional order has coincided with another one to determine the post-ISIL futures of Iraq and Syria. The more territories the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) loses, the more rivalries emerge over who should control them.

The Saudi-Emirati-Egyptian axis is trying to establish a new regional order supported by the Trump government and Israel, and condoned by countries like Jordan. The logical other of this alliance is political Islam, and by extension Turkey, and the publicly announced enemy is Iran. Therefore, this new regional order, if imposed, would be detrimental to the interests of both regional powers.

Turkey and Iran both opposed the Saudi-led block's moves against Qatar. In fact, during the initial phase of the crisis, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif paid a rare visit to Turkey to discuss, among other issues, what was happening in the Gulf.

Two issues cause particular concern in Turkey and Iran: the perceived opacity of US policy and the political ambitions of the Kurds. Iran is anxiously awaiting whether the US will switch its regional policy from ISILfirst to Iran-first policy in the near future. Turkey, on the other hand, is disturbed by the fact that it can't figure out the durability of US for the Kurds in Syria and the end goal of this partnership in Syria.

Both countries are also concerned about the overall aims of the US' Syria policy. The prospect of Kurdish statehood in Iraq and of autonomy in Syria and the potential spillover effect these could have on the Kurdish population in Turkey and Iran generate much anxiety in both capitals.

The emergence of the Syrian Kurdish bloc led by the Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a major player in Syria has pushed Turkey to re-evaluate its Syrian policy. It has prioritized pushing back against the gains of the Syrian

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Kurds over regime change in Syria and this new strategy has become the thorniest issue in Turkish-American relations.

The cooperation that emerged between the USA and the PYD during the ISIL siege of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane between September 2014 and February 2015 acquired a much more solid grounding with the creation of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the backbone of which is the PYD's military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG).

Ankara has perceived US' use of SDF as the primary force in the fight against ISIL even outside of the Kurdish-majority areas as evidence of Washington's long-term commitment to the Syrian Kurds.

Iran, too, is concerned with Kurdish political ambitions, particularly those of the Iraqi Kurds. The independence of Iraqi Kurdistan would diminish the status of Iraq - a Shia-majority country over which Iran has a significant level of influence - in terms of population, geography, hydrocarbon wealth, and water resources. An independent Iraqi Kurdistan is also likely to be closer to the West, Turkey, Israel, and arguably Gulf states than to Iran.

Kurdish statehood could also create plenty of domestic trouble for Iran. The ties of the Iranian Kurdish population and parties with their Iraqi Kurdish brethren are more solid than those with Turkish Kurds. Aside from the PKK's Iranian affiliate the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK - created in 2004), all other Iranian Kurdish parties have deep historical ties with the Iraqi Kurdish parties.

Although both countries are worried about Kurdish statehood, Turkey's interests lie in minimizing the PKK-PYD threat, while the political projections of Iraq's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are rather tolerable (even if Ankara opposes its latest push for independence, it is still much less of a threat than an autonomous pro-PKK body in northern Syria).

For Iran, it is the opposite: The break-off of Iraqi Kurdistan bodes ill for its policies in Iraq and it would do anything to prevent it; the PKK and PYD's presence in Syria and Iraq, however, is no more than a nuisance.

As ISIL is steadily losing large swaths of territory in both Iraq and Syria, a significant power vacuum is forming along Turkey's southeastern border, causing Iran and Turkey to clash over who is going to replace the dominant force in the area. This rivalry had been simmering beneath the surface for a very long time. Recent developments in Syria and Iraq simply forced the two countries to be more overtly aggressive against each other

Observation 20

USA and European nations with which Arab nations and Turkey have close ties in all fields have failed to comprehend the simple fact that these Western states are together and plan for entire Europe and entire USA. They jointly work against Islamic world and try to defame Islam as terrorist religion by using hypocritical Muslims or others who pose as Muslims. In fact, their ties go beyond the transatlantic realm towards Australia, New Zealand, others with which they plan and work together for joint economic achievements and joint diplomatic efforts However, Arab world has not learnt anything from their enormous capacity for unity against Islam and Islamic world. Muslim rulers are interested only in protecting their wealth secretly kept in USA and European capitals with the concurrence of the western rulers. Moreover, the rulers and leaders in Islamic world have prove to the world that they are fools as being claimed by the enemies of Islam.

It is time Arab world, Iran and Turley sorted out their differences and worked for their collective progress. They need not make a continent but make their nations united to withstand all pressure tactics of enemies of Islam. Not just that. There would be no more terrorism –private or state sponsored. The West would mind their own business and would not dare poke into the affairs of Islamic world.

Obviously, Israel will stop its misadventures in the region.

Time is running out very fast. ______________________

Chapter- 3: Germany: Angela Merkel wins fourth term as Chancellor!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _________

Chancellor Angela Merkel, the real force behind the continuation of EU, clinched a fourth term in Germany's election on Sunday, but her victory was clouded by the hard-right AfD party winning its first seats in parliament.

Merkel, who after 12 years in power held a double-digit lead for most of the campaign, scored around 33 percent of the vote with her conservative Christian 21

Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, according to exit polls. The exit poll made her and her supporters very happy. Its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats and their candidate Martin Schulz, came in a distant second, with a post-war record low 20-21 percent.

Supporters gathered at the party headquarters in Berlin cried out with joy as public television reported the outcome, many joining in a chorus of the German national anthem.

But in a bombshell for the German establishment, the anti-Islam, antiimmigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) captured around 13 percent, making it the country's third biggest political force. The four-year-old nationalist party with links to the far-right French National Front and Britain's UKIP has been shunned by Germany's mainstream.

While the likelihood of the AfD winning seats was clear for months, commentators called its strong showing a “watershed moment” in the history of the German republic. It is now headed for the opposition benches of the Bundestag lower house, dramatically boosting its visibility and state financing.

Alarmed by the prospect of what Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel branded “real Nazis” entering the Bundestag for the first time since World War II, the candidates had used their final days of campaigning to implore voters to reject the populists.

Germans elected a splintered parliament reflecting an electorate torn between a high degree of satisfaction with Merkel and a desire for change after more than a decade of her leadership.

Another three parties cleared the five-percent hurdle to be represented in parliament: the liberal Free Democrats at around 10 percent and the anti-capitalist Left and ecologist Greens, both at about nine percent.

As Merkel failed to secure a ruling majority on her own and with the dejected SPD ruling out another right-left “grand coalition” with her, the process of coalition building was shaping up to be a thorny, potentially months-long process.

Merkel, 63, whose campaign events were regularly disrupted by jeering AfD supporters, said in her final stump speech in the southern city of Munich that “the future of Germany will definitely not be built with whistles and hollers”.

Merkel, often called the most powerful woman on the global stage, ran on her record as a steady pair of hands in a turbulent world, warning voters not to indulge in “experiments”. Merkel's reassuring message of stability and prosperity resonated in greying Germany, where more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older. Her popularity had largely recovered from the influx since 2015 of more than one million mostly Muslim migrants and refugees, half of them from wartorn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

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But the AfD was able to capitalize on a wellspring of anger over the asylum issue during what was criticised as a largely lacklustre campaign bereft of real clashes among the main contenders.

The party has made breaking taboos its trademark. Gauland has called for Germans to shed their guilt over two world wars and the Holocaust and to take pride in their veterans. He has also suggested that Germany's integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz, who has Turkish roots, should be “disposed of in Anatolia”.

Law student Sabine Maier dismissed the AfD as “too extreme” as she voted in Berlin. But she also criticised the media for lavishly covering the most outrageous comments by the upstart party. “They aren't all fascists,” she said.

The SPD said its catastrophic result would lead it to seek a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit. “This is a difficult and bitter day for German social democracy,” a grim-faced Schulz, a former European Parliament chief, told reporters, adding that he hoped to remain party leader.

This would leave Merkel in need of new coalition partners — possibly the probusiness Free Democrats, who staged a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago. In theory they could join forces with the left-leaning Greens, who, however, starkly differ from the FDP on issues from climate change to migration policy.

Schulz, 61, struggled to gain traction with his calls for a more socially just Germany at a time when the economy is humming and employment is at a record low. The SPD also found it hard to shine after four years as the junior partner in Merkel's left-right “grand coalition”, marked by broad agreement on major issues, from foreign policy to migration. In the final stretch, the more outspoken Schulz told voters to reject Merkel's “sleeping-pill politics” and vote against “another four years of stagnation and lethargy”.

Angela Merkel has been derided as Europe's “austerity queen”, cheered as a saviour by refugees and hailed as the new “leader of the free world”. But as the pastor's daughter raised behind the Iron Curtain just won a fourth term at the helm of Europe's biggest economy, many Germans simply call her the “eternal chancellor”.

Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner in 1954 in the port city of Hamburg. Weeks later her father, a leftist Lutheran clergyman, moved the family to a small town in the communist East at a time when most people were headed the other way.

Biographers say life in a police state taught Merkel to hide her true thoughts behind a poker face. Like most students, she joined the state's socialist youth movement but rejected an offer to inform for the Stasi secret police while also staying clear of risky pro-democracy activism.

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A top student, she excelled in Russian, which would later help her keep up the dialogue with President Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

During that momentous upheaval, Merkel joined the nascent Democratic Awakening group, which later merged with the Christian Democrats (CDU) of thenchancellor Helmut Kohl, who fondly if patronizingly dubbed Merkel his “girl”. But Merkel's mentor was not the last politician to underestimate her and pay the price.

When Kohl became embroiled in a campaign finance scandal in 1999, Merkel openly urged her party to drop the self-declared “old warhorse”.

The move, which has been described as “Merkelvellian”, kicked off her meteoric rise. As an outsider, she remade the CDU, anchoring it in the political centre by pushing progressive social policies, abolishing compulsory military service and scrapping nuclear power. She emerged as Europe's go-to leader during the debt crisis, though she was derided as a puritanical “austerity queen” in the worsthit southern countries.

As she starts her fourth term, there is no challenger in sight, but plenty of challenges ahead for Merkel, whom New Yorker magazine just labeled “the most powerful woman in a world filled with unstable men”.

Brexit and consolidation of EU, Turkey’s legitimate EU membership are some of the issues she is likely to concentrate on in the near future.

Chapter- 4: Indian politics: Amid political uncertainty, Madras HC stays Tamil Nadu floor test till 04 October!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ._______

The power struggle in Tamil Nadu that ensued following the sudden death of the ruling AIADMK supremo and the then CM Jayalalithaa has already had its toll of conflict for power and clearly tarnished the image of the party and government. An impression has been created that politicians want power to advance their own interests by fooling the people and taking their mandate in polls as a routine matter. .

Sasikala and Dinakaran continue to fight for power by removing the incumbent AAIDMK government notwithstanding upset in the process and even when there is 24

no possibility of getting to Madras Fort now or ever. One is not very sure if DMK has offered him any such hopes.

Nine months after the death of their beloved leader Jayalalithaa, a smooth transition within the AIADMK into some form of steady leadership wasn’t necessarily a sure bet, but given they are the ruling party, it was imperative.

Instead, the party, which certainly had some fault lines as Jayalalithaa was in hospital, broke into factions after her death, each jostling for control. In the mean time, its then secretary was sent to jail and people looked for an opening.

Within hours of Jayalalithaa’s death, O Panneerselvam was sworn-in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, then resigning a couple of months later as Sasikala took charge as Panneerselvam remained as an interim. Then came what could be seen as a scene from a movie; Panneerselvam meditating at the memorial of Jayalalithaa, saying shortly after that “she called out to him” and that he went there to “search my conscience”. It was then war on Sasikala. The Hindustan Times editorial states that the general council meeting shows a precarious power balance The revolt by Panneerselvam against Sasikala’s coup attempt changed everything and the scenario kept evolving in speed.

The Madras High Court, before the council meeting, dismissed an appeal from the Dhinakaran camp to halt the meeting. As someone who is insistent on forming the party on the ideals and image of Jayalalithaa, he criticized the current administration for abandoning the ideals of the former CM; citing the NEET issue which she was strongly against. In the midst of this drama, the party could give the opening the DMK needs to take advantage. A situation where MK Stalin and his party cadres quietly plot their next move while internal fights plague the AIADMK is a possibility.

The BJP, trying to capture some space in Tamil Nadu once again, could also be looking at this with keen interest.

The crisis in the AIADMK has its origin in the merger of factions led by Chief Minister Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, who later became Deputy Chief Minister and their decision to sack party boss VK Sasikala and her deputy TTV Dhinakaran who earlier gave the public the impression that he is keen to reunite the ruling AIADMK party but now it is clear he is eager to oust the ruling party from power even if that does not benefit him or his aunt Sasikala- the conspirator in chief, in any manner.

In order to strengthen the government and party, EPS and OPS reunited along with their supporters and in an exclusive meeting of the party, both Sasikala and her nephew Dinakaran were removed from the party and posts, all actions by Dinakaran were cancelled, thereby clearing way for restructuring the party. .

Obviously, Dinakaran and supporters have reason to be angry. Their real anger is that CM Palaniswamy co-opted Sasikala’s arch foe O.Panneerselvam into his 25

government offering him second position in the government as DY chief minister and also made him the Coordinator of the party after dissolving the post of General Secretary. OPS and EPS factions also have created a permanent post of GS and reserved it for their leader Jayalalithaa posthumously.

Disqualification Tamil Nadu speaker P Dhanapal had disqualified 18 legislators from the ruling party's faction led by TTV Dhinakaran, citing anti-defection rules under Schedule 10 of the Constitution. The 18 dissident AIADMK MLAs were disqualified as they "distanced" themselves from their party and fell "into the control of persons outside their party" besides aligning with the DMK. The rebel MLAs and Dinakaran went to the courts against the disqualification and in an interim order Dhinakaran camp said that they had asked the Speaker for the documents regarding the disqualification of the 18 MLAs but the Speaker replied that it was not necessary to show the documents. Why no committee was constituted according to laws of Assembly to enquire MLAs. Speaker is influenced by somebody: TV Dinakaran’s lawyer MLAs didn't vote against party or resigned.

Speaker depriving right of MLAs: TTV Dinakaran’s lawyer.

Last week, the high court had stayed any trust vote until 20 September in response to a DMK plea.

The Palaniswamy government would have had the majority after the disqualification of 18 rebel MLAs, The Tamil Nadu government led by Palaniswamy could have won the floor test after the disqualification of the 18 MLAs. With the stay on the floor test, the situation has become difficult for them. Even as the ruling Palaniswamy camp was preparing for the floor test to win it, in a huge blow to the Palaniswamy camp, Madras High Court has blocked the floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly by the ruling AIADMK party till further orders. Judge Duraisamy said that no floor test will happen till the case is disposed off. Justice Duraisamy stayed the floor test while hearing the petition from Dhinakaran camp legislators. The judge, while extending the stay on a floor test, also ordered that no by-elections will be held to the seats rendered vacant by the disqualification of MLAs. The disqualification clearly gives the Tamil Nadu government an advantage in the Assembly. With the disqualification, the total strength of the AIADMK in the Assembly has come down to 116. Of the total 234 legislators, the number is now 231 excluding Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi and the Speaker. With 18 MLAs disqualified, the total number of seats in the House comes down to 213 and thus the halfway mark is 106. The merged faction of AIADMK has the support of 114 MLAs which is more than the required numbers to form the majority. Anti-defection law being misused by speaker: TTV Dinakaran's lawyer Dushyant Dave in Madras HC on disqualification of 18 MLAs from Assembly October 04 26

Madras HC has directed no election notification to seats of 18 disqualified MLAs. No stay on the disqualification. Case adjourned to 4 October. The Dinakaran case has been adjourned till 4 October.

As it stands, the Madras High Court was set to take up the issue of disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs and DMK’s plea on floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on October 04.

Shortly after, Tamil Nadu governor C Vidyasagar Rao had met Union home minister Rajnath Singh. During the 20-minute meeting, the governor is believed to have apprised the home minister about the current political developments in the southern state, officials said. The disqualified MLAs had recently told the governor that they had no confidence in Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswamy, and had accused him of being corrupt.

Senior Congress leader and former Finance cum Home minister P Chidambaram dubbed as "blatantly partisan" the decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker and said that it was aimed at helping the minority state government, which he described as a "sinking ship". In a series of tweets, he also said the decision was taken to "manufacture" a majority for the "paralyzed" state government and called Tamil Nadu a "theatre of the absurd".

Victory?

The Dhinakaran camp is reportedly saying that a floor test should not take place after the MLAs have been disqualified. Opposition DMK has been demanding a floor test for the Palaniswamy government.

Meanwhile, sources said that about 100 Opposition MLAs had planned to put in their papers, a move which was seen as an attempt to put pressure on the governor to dissolve the state Assembly and call for fresh polls.

However, later in the day, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan had said that no mass resignation was in order. "The move would only help the EPS-OPS faction, we can only appeal against the disqualification," he said. "It's a victory for democracy. It has defeated the EPS government's plan to disqualify them (rebel MLAs) and call for a floor test to make a backdoor entry to govern the state," said A Saravanan, spokesperson of the opposition DMK which has been trying to milk the AIADMK's internal crisis.

Dushyant Dave, the counsel for the rebel lawmakers, argued that the disqualification is illegal. Though the lawmakers had withdrawn support to Chief Minister Palaniswami and sought his replacement, they clarified in the letter to the Governor that they remained in the party and are not withdrawing support to the government. The rebel lawmakers also cited a similar case in the neighbouring 27

Karnataka where the court had ultimately quashed the disqualification of MLAs by the Karnataka Speaker. He recalled that the Speaker did not disqualify the 12 legislators from the O Panneerselvam camp in the party who had voted against the Palaniswami government during the floor test in February. This, he said, suggested the Speaker could be biased to ensure comfortable majority for Chief Minister EPS. Reddy brothers in connivances with the government have been looting the natural resources of both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. AIADMK leader Apsara Reddy said that the Palaniswamy camp is working at the behest of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Opposition DMK and its working president MK Stalin to hold crucial meeting as soon as the Madras High Court MK argues that confidence motion must not be held until the case is disposed of on 4 Oct Tamil Nadu in the dock as politicians stay busy with headcount Merger Chief Minister Palaniswami has the support of 113 lawmakers and would have flunked the trust vote if the rebels, loyal to VK Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, had been allowed to vote. The Speaker's disqualification order had brought down the strength of the assembly to 214. The government's 113 MLAs would have been well above the 107 half-way mark at 107.

The latest crisis within the party has its origin in the merger of factions led by Chief Minister Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, who later became Deputy Chief Minister.

One of the conditions for the merger deal was that the party should throw out its general secretary Sasikala and her deputy TTV Dhinakaran. Once the AIADMK leaders made this change, the 18 lawmakers quickly withdrew support to the Chief Minister and demanded that Mr Palaniswami be replaced.

The disqualification order had insured the EPS government against any embarrassment if the ruling AIADMK government had to prove its majority in a floor test, as demanded by the main opposition party DMK last month.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said that no mass resignation was in order. "The move would only help the EPS-OPS faction, we can only appeal against the disqualification," he said. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Tuesday attacked Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal decision to disqualify 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs as "blatantly partisan" to help the minority government and said the state has become a "theatre of the absurd".

Dhinakaran, a shrewd manipulator, calls their failure to come to power as being 'murder of democracy' in TN and wants the Federal government run by the BJP not to close its eyes to what is happening in the state. Dhinakaran described as 28

"murder of democracy" Speaker P Dhanapal disqualifying the 18 legislators owing allegiance to him and said he did not expect such an action from the former. The Dhinakaran faction, besides Opposition including DMK have been since urging Rao to direct a floor test of the Palaniswami government. He also said the BJP-led central government "should not close its eyes to this murder". The Congress today questioned the "huge delay" by the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker and the Governor in disqualifying 18 AIADMK lawmakers under the antii-defection law, saying the decision is liable to be challenged in court. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said every political party was monitoring the decision, but he adopted a cautious approach by saying that his party was not obliged to comment n another party The resignation of 100 MLAs would force new elections if that happens at all.

Sources have told News18 that about 100 opposition MLAs may put in their papers, a move which is also being viewed as an attempt to put pressure on the governor to dissolve the state assembly and call for fresh polls.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today asserted that his government could not be toppled, though some forces harbored such hopes. "Some think the government can be toppled. That is never possible as workers and supporters have put in their hard work for its formation," he said in a veiled attack on sidelined party leader TTV Dhinkaran who is seeking his ouster.

The consensus is that even if the government wins the trust vote in a truncated House, it would have lost the moral compass to rule as it would face fresh problems. Though again it is not as if the party in power and its backers outside the borders of Tamil Nadu care for the morality aspect or public sentiment beyond a point.

Delhi CM Kejriwal meets actor Kamal Hasan Tamil Nadu is known admixture of cinema and politics and film heroes like MGR and Jayalithaa have become state chief minister while script writers CN Annadurai and K. Karunanidhi ruled the state for many terms. They promoted corruption and fixed price tags for each job and service to people and only rich people could get jobs and others should go to other states or abroad for fining jobs.

Today names of two Tamil super film stars, Rajinikanth and Kamal Hasan have been circulating in Tamil nadu politics and with the assumption that both would enter politics to fill up the vacuum created by Jayalithaa’s death and clear the confusion in the state politics. Rajinikanth has no real interest in politics or starting a new party but many parties, including BJP tried hard to rope in him but he very tactfully got out of the trap.

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The AIADMK ministers have criticized any arrival of Rajni or Kamal in the politics.

Naturally they are screed of film magic. Kamal’s political overtones may have upset the plans of the government to stay in power.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal met Tamil actor Kamal Hasan in his residence on September 21 and discussed political environment existing in the country. Drama is happening in Tamil Nadu right now, with the infighting within the AIADMK...

Kamal Hasan says he always wanted to stay away from politics. “But someone has to clear this quagmire and make this place habitable for people”. Over a period of time, we have pulled down the state to such a pathetic level that all they have now is statistics. Old statistics to throw at you when you say you throw accusations their way. Those suffixes and titles don't matter. Actual business should happen in Tamil Nadu. Health, education and agriculture should be taken care of. They have been neglected. I am not talking about bringing Neduvasal (the site of a controversial hydrocarbon project) and making industries.

Politicians are corrupt but people have also been part of this corruption. They have somehow been accessories to this crime. So with guilt we have to change the ways.

Just because I didn't take money to sell votes doesn't mean I am not part of the people. My people have taken it. Some of them have taken even Rs 5000 per vote.

They have been cheated by the politicians and system. .They didn't even make good business with that, because they are worth more than that. They can achieve more than Rs 5000 per day because they are worth that. Instead they settled for Rs 5000 for five years- Hasan said. .It has to change. But first people have to change.

And when the voters are ready next time, they first have to be honest if they want an honest man at the top. Only the situation will necessitate that. But doesn't mean I have to jump tomorrow. My passion alone will not take me across. I must prepare. My fulcrum should be strong enough to lift the weight. With empty coffers, already disrupted infrastructure and half finished task, it will be uphill task for anyone, especially a new man, new party in Tamil Nadu.

“I am going to be meeting people now as a citizen. Slowly, step by step. We will provide a clear roadmap. People already want to join my welfare association. I am not sure whether it is opportunism or enthusiasm. But we have to be careful about collecting people. “The people who have already been working for 37 years need not get precedence. It is capability that will give precedence. For 37 years the people have been working... Now they will work more if I ask them to. They are not looking for power. Neither am I. But we will seize it if that's the only way to deliver service to people…”

It was misrepresented with some quarters saying that Kamal and Rajni will join hands. But both are good friends with different ideologies...”Absolutely different ideologies... And we are such friends who will not impose one ideology on the other. Or one will against the other. I am pretty sure that all we promised to each other is that we would be ethical. And set an example for other politicians to follow.

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So are you ready to officially join hands with Rajinikanth? If he is willing. I am going to be making certain rules for the party. Those who are interested in that set of rules are welcome”.

Qn: “What do you think of PM Narendra Modi? How important it is Centre's role in the welfare of Tamil Nadu?”

Ans: “Ideologies do not matter to me as long as they are good for the people of Tamil Nadu. I have an ideology. I am not going to deter from it. Definitely- not for power and money! We have to be united with all the diverse ideologies and beliefs we have in this country. We must trust the Centre. There is a constant reference of Tamil Nadu being separate entity. Yes, there was a talk of it years ago - nearly half a century ago, when we wanted our own identity because we were not recognised.

Back then it was Anna Durai who was that advocate of that cause. Then he pulled back on that... I insist we do not go that secessionists' way. This country will have to stay united despite its differences. PM Modi has tried while others have only promised. Swachh Bharat is a good idea. Demonetisation is a good idea. I am not an economist... but now there is criticism about it (demonetisation). Let us not jump to conclusions”.

“Who ruined Tamil Nadu? We can see corruption. Not a single project moving. Was it DMK, AIADMK, the Sasikala family? Today everyone wants to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu...Including Kamal Haasan, who dares to say that if there's the possibility (of Kamal Haasan becoming CM) he will come. But let me tell you clearly what is happening... the onus of this mistake goes to the people. Parties don't matter. Personalities do not matter. My elders those do not matter if they join hands with the corrupt. They have to go”, Kamal said .

How do you respond to the Palaniswami and the Panneerselvam who have been attacking you left right and centre? Their attack is a knee jerk reaction. I am not going to respond to that. Are they worried about you? They better be, if they are not. It is high time that they worry about me. Because I am not just a man, I am the people.

Whether or not Kamal Hasan or Rajinikanth enters active politics, fate of poor people would not change any drastically because once they assume power the rich and corporate lords throng them with their lists of preferences and the rulers have to work for them only.

Regional as well as national politicians are corrupt and frauds in India and they promote corruption and cheating and honor the frauds and thieves like cricketers who get 100s and 50s through mutual or mafia fixings.

Observation

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Today DMK and AIADMK leaders are very rich and have acquired the rights to mint money. They use police against the poor and helpless people and even destroy house of those who do not support their ideology by hiring agents. Police are informed priory not to take any action against the criminals and create problems only for those who come to the police stations with complaints for justice.

In fact, people have lost hopes and trust on the government’s ability to help the people. MPs and MLAs would help people only if huge sum is given before hand as one time bribe. They argue that the people are paid huge bribe for their votes.

Of course, corruption and bribery “rules” are not exclusive to Tamil Nadu aloneeverywhere in every state it is being practiced as people in the federal government also doing the same, providing models for corruption.

As a result of misgovernance, not only they could remove poverty and illiteracy but even made the state corrupt as they only enjoyed power and did not really want any positive change in the lives and attitudes of Tamils. They continue to lead apathetic life while party people thrive in huge wealth made illegally.

The AIADMK government would be in a real danger if the high court were to find that the disqualification order was flawed, or illegal as the rebel lawmakers insisted in court. Unless, the rival factions of the AIADMK are able to find some common ground to work together within the next fortnight, anything may happen. .

In the never ending saga that is Tamil Nadu politics, the ruling AIADMK continues to its shape shifting relentlessly. Whether the faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami adopted this course out of political necessity or out of a genuine desire to keep Sasikala out of the party’s affairs is now irrelevant. The newly evolved collective leadership in the party, with Panneerselvam as the coordinator and Palaniswami as the co-coordinator, and the abolition of the powerful post of general secretary, will be resistant to the influence of Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran. As it stands, it seems like Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran are the outsiders looking in.

Their only hope is the courts and their money power.

Even if nothing more, the resolution passed by the AIADMK general council would essentially consolidates the position of Chief Minister E K Palaniswami and O Pannerselvam in the party and government.

However, the infighting leaves the AIADMK is less important for those who are not either O Panneerselvam or Edappadi K Palaniswami, former and current chief minister, respectively. The prestige of the party has eroded in the minds of common people of the state who all through supported Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami cannot seek a trust vote in the assembly before the court decides on the status of 18 rebel AIADMK lawmakers disqualified 32

by Assembly Speaker this week, the Madras High Court ordered on Wednesday. The directive has come as a relief for the rebel lawmakers and the opposition that had accused the ruling AIADMK of manufacturing majority by disqualifying dissenting MLAs. The high court would decide on a batch of petitions filed against Speaker P Dhanapal's order disqualifying 18 lawmakers on October 4 and directed against starting the process to fill seats that have fallen vacant due to the disqualification.

A lot depends on the Madras High Court, which will hear a plea on the disqualification of rebel AIADMK MLAs. If the High Court upholds the disqualification, then 18 bypolls will have to take place within the next six months to replace those MLAs. Powerful people in the post-Jayalalithaa era Tamil Nadu politics try to advance their illegal wealth by maneuvering power towards the Madras Fort. And the power politics of southern state of Tamil Nadu has taken the parties to the court.

Politics means wealth and that is the reason why more and more people throng the political spectrum, choosing a party and switch to another if that is more profitable. ..

Chapter- 5: Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh: UN to provide aid for up to 7, 00,000 refugees!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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The United Nations has drawn up a contingency plan to feed up to 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar after some 480,000 fled to Bangladesh over the past month and arrivals continue.

The hunger situation in camps in Bangladesh has improved as food aid from WFP and other agencies is now reaching the refugees. The plan also covers some 300,000 Rohingya who were already sheltering in southeast Bangladesh before the latest influx began, meaning it could cater for a million people in total. "No one would be left out from any humanitarian assistance. The WFP would need about $80 million for the massive aid.

Earlier, the UN made an emergency appeal for $78 million on 9 September, but UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins said much more would be needed as the exodus grows.

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Impoverished Bangladesh, which earned praise for opening up its border, has eased restrictions on aid groups working in refugee camps and sought $250 million from the World Bank to fund emergency relief.

The Rohingyas were placed in internment camps and today there are still more than 120,000 still housed there. For years the Rohingyas have faced discrimination and persecution, today they are still facing this problem and have started to flee to other countries for safe haven. In 2015 “more than 40 Rohingya were massacred in the village of Du Chee Yar Tan by local men, the U.N. confirmed.

Among the findings were 10 severed heads in a water tank, including those of children� The Rohingya people have been facing persecution for their religion and as of today still have no rights or citizenship in their homeland.

A United Nations official last week said it would need $200 million over the next six months to handle the Rohingya crisis. Rohingya have been fleeing Rakhine state in north east Myanmar for decades. The new influx began on 25 August when deadly attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar police posts prompted a huge crackdown by the military.

Bangladesh is already host to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled previous outbreaks of violence in Rakhine. Existing refugee camps are full and the new arrivals are sleeping rough in whatever space they can find, reports say.

The 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis refers to the mass migration of thousands of Rohingya people from Myanmar (also known as Burma) and Bangladesh in 2015, collectively dubbed "boat people" by international media. Nearly all who fled traveled to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand by rickety boats via the waters of the Strait of Malacca and the Andaman Sea. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 25,000 people have been taken to boats from January to March in 2015 by human traffickers. There are claims that, while on their journey, around 100 people died in Indonesia, 200 in Malaysia, and 10 in Thailand, after the traffickers abandoned them at sea.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visited the overflowing camps last week and said Bangladesh needs "massive international assistance" to feed and shelter the Rohingya. Grandi said there had been an "incredible outpouring of local generosity" but that now needed to be "beefed up by massive international assistance, financial and material".

The Rohingya, a stateless mostly Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Rakhine, have long experienced persecution in Myanmar, which says they are illegal immigrants. The violence began on 25 August when the Rohingya militants attacked police posts in northern Rakhine, killing 12 security personnel. Rohingyas who have fled Myanmar since then say the military responded with a brutal campaign, burning villages and attacking civilians in a bid to drive them out. Zeid,

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the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the current operation in Rakhine was "clearly disproportionate".

A senior official from the UN's World Food Program (WFP) said they were now prepared to provide massive food and other emergency aid if the influx continues in coming weeks. "All the UN agencies together have now set a plan for a new influx of 700,000. We can cover if the new influx reaches 700, 000," said the WFP's deputy chief in Bangladesh, Dipayan Bhattacharyya.

The Muslim Rohingya has been fleeing from Myanmar (Burma) by the thousands. The Rohingya are a minority ethnic group located in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state and are considered to be a variation of the Sunni religion. Since the Rohingya are considered to be illegal Bengali immigrants and were denied recognition as a religion by the government of Myanmar, the dominant group, the Rakhine, rejects the label “Rohingya” and have started to persecute the Rohingya.

The people in Myanmar are also facing wide spread poverty, with more than 78 percent of the families living below the poverty line. With most of the families living below the poverty line, tensions between the Rohingya and the other religious groups have exploded into conflict. The violence and turmoil began in 2012, the first incident was when a group of Rohingya men were accused of raping and killing a Buddhist woman The Buddhist nationalists retaliated by killing and burning the Rohingya homes. People from all over the world started calling this crisis and bloodshed “campaign of ethnic cleansing.”

More than 300,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since violence erupted there late last month. The UN human rights chief says the security operation targeting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar seems a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Zeid Raad Al Hussein urged Myanmar to end the "cruel military operation" in Rakhine state. The military says it is responding to attacks by Rohingya ‘militants’ and denies it is targeting civilians. He noted that the situation could not be fully assessed because Myanmar had refused access to human rights investigators, but said the UN had received "multiple reports and satellite imagery of security forces and local militia burning Rohingya villages, and consistent accounts of extrajudicial killings, including shooting fleeing civilians".

The 1982 Citizenship Law denies the Rohingya Muslims citizenship despite the people living there for generations. The Rohingya are fleeing Myanmar because of the restrictions and policies placed by the government. The restrictions include: “marriage, family planning, employment, education, religious choice, and freedom of movement” and they are facing discrimination because of their ethnic heritage.

The Bangladeshi authorities have started to register the new arrivals.

Previously only those in two official camps were being documented, but government teams are now collecting fingerprints and details from all newcomers, including those in makeshift shelters. BBC analysts say that, until now, the government has refused to register those outside camps for fear of legitimizing them. But the current move may help the government as it engages in a diplomatic battle about the Rohingyas' future.

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The emergence of Rohingya militant group was due to oppressive tactics of Burmese military and police. The defending was implicated being behind the 25 August attacks, declared a one-month unilateral ceasefire to allow aid agencies in, but the Myanmar government rejected it, saying it would not negotiate with "terrorists".

Myanmar military and regime say that it is the militants who are burning Rohingya villages and targeting civilians, but a BBC correspondent on an official visit to Rakhine came across a Muslim village apparently burned by Rakhine Buddhists led by monks, contradicting the official narrative.

Obviously, the Rohingya are extremely unpopular among Buddhists inside Myanmar. On last Sunday, police fired rubber bullets to break up a mob attacking the home of a Muslim meat seller in Magway region in central Myanmar. One protester was quoted by AFP news agency saying it was a response to events in Rakhine. Myanmar is influenced heavily by Hindutva politics in India where Muslims are targeted by the ruling regime.

In October 2015, researchers from the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London released a report drawing on leaked government documents that reveals an increasing "ghettoisation, sporadic massacres, and restrictions on movement" on Rohingya peoples. The researchers suggest that the Myanmar government are in the final stages of an organised process of genocide against the Rohingya and have called upon the international community to redress the situation as such.

The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority group residing in the Rakhine state, formerly known as Arakan. The Rohingya people are considered “stateless entities�, as the Myanmar government has been refusing to recognize them as one of the ethnic groups of the country. For this reason, the Rohingya people lack legal protection from the Government of Myanmar, are regarded as mere refugees from Bangladesh, and face strong hostility in the country—often described as one of the most persecuted people on earth. To escape the dire situation in Myanmar, the Rohingya try to illegally enter Southeast Asian states, begging for humanitarian support from potential host countries.

On 1 May 2015, about 32 shallow graves were discovered on a remote and rugged mountain in Thailand, at a so-called "waiting area" for the illegal migrants before they were sneaked through the border into Malaysia. A Bangladeshi migrant was found alive in the grave and was later treated at a local hospital as told to Thai news agencies. On 22 May 2015, however, the Myanmar navy rescued 208 migrants at sea, and upon inspection, confirmed themselves as having come from Bangladesh.[20] Protests by nationalists erupted in the capital, calling for the international community to stop blaming Myanmar for the Rohingya crisis.

On 24 May 2015, Malaysian police discovered 139 suspected graves in a series of abandoned camps used by human traffickers on the border with Thailand where Rohingya Muslims fleeing Burma were believed to have been held.

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The violence erupted in late August when the army retaliated against coordinated attacks by Rohingya militants. Since then just under half of Rakhine's Rohingya population has poured into Bangladesh, where they now languish in one of the world's largest refugee camps.

A further 30,000 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists as well as Hindus have also been displaced -- apparent targets of the 25 August attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salavation Army (ARSA) militant group.

While desperate scenes of weary and hungry Rohingya civilians streaming into Bangladesh have dominated global headlines, there is little sympathy for the Muslim group among Myanmar's Buddhist majority.

Many reject the existence of a Rohingya ethnicity and insist they are 'Bengalis' — illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. On Monday several hundred people gathered in downtown Yangon to rail against the UN, international NGOs and foreign media, as a siege mentality grows inside Myanmar. "I want Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to stand for the ethnic people of Myanmar and to remove the pressure from the international community by giving the speech tomorrow," demonstrator Khin Khin Myint said.

Tensions over the status of the Rohingya have been brewing for years in Myanmar, with bouts of anti-Muslim violence erupting around the country as Buddhist hardliners fan fears of an Islamic takeover.

The knotty a military still looms large in the fragile democracy. Although the army stepped down from junta rule in 2011, it kept control of security policy and key levers of government. In fact, the military rules Myanmar on behalf of the elected Aung San Suu Kyi. Any overt break from the army's policy in Rakhine could enrage the generals and derail Suu Kyi's efforts to prevent a rollback on recent democratic gains.

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has been decried overseas for failing to condemn the generals, with whom she is in a delicate power-sharing arrangement.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader and defender of genocides of Muslims in Myanmar, is facing mounting criticism for failing to protect the Rohingya, but the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama cannot tolerate crimes against the humanity in Myanmar and added his voice, urging her "to reach out to all sections of society to try to restore friendly relations".

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is poised to break her near-silence on communal violence scorching through Rakhine state, in a televised speech on Rohingya refugee crisis that has shocked the world and prompted the UN to accuse the country's army of ethnic cleansing.

Suu Kyi's refusal so far to defend the Rohingya over nearly a month of violence has baffled and enraged an international community that once feted her as the champion of Myanmar's democracy struggle. But inside Myanmar, supporters say the 72-year-old lacks authority to reign in the army, which stands accused of 37

waging a campaign of murder and arson that has driven more than 410,000 Rohingya from their homes.

With global pressure cranked high, Suu Kyi skipped the UN General Assembly in New York to manage the crisis at home and deliver her televised address — the biggest yet of her time in office. "She is going to tell the world the real truth," her spokesman Zaw Htay told reporters ahead of the speech. Analysts say she faces the treacherous task of walking the line between global outrage and Islamophobic anti-Rohingya views at home, where there is broad support for the army's campaign.

As such, there is almost no possibility, given the political climate in Myanmar, for balancing the expectations of most of the country and the expectations of the international community.

UN aid to the insulted and injured Rohingya is a welcome step but it must quickly act to protect the remaining Rohingya community in Myanmar against state criminal gangs in uniform. . .

It is high time the UNSC stepped in to punish the regime and military in Myanmar for its planned crimes against humanity by targeting the helpless Rohingya community.

US-NATO silence over genocides and oppressive policies of Myanmar is comprehensible but the silence being maintained by UNSC is itself a very serious crime.

Chapter- 6: Towards Russo-Saudi Arabia rapprochement!

(Saudi King’s historic visit to Moscow) - Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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As a part of the fresh bilateral efforts to further strengthen the bilateral ties, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will make a historic visit to Russia on October 4-7. The very first visit of a Saudi King (Salman Al Saud) to Russia will be historic, since, as Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said, that would demonstrate the scale of the dialogue between the two states. The Minister stressed that the Russian and Saudi leaders have focused over the last few years on deepening and strengthening relations in numerous areas.

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The visit to Russia will symbolize the extent of the relationship and consultations that take place between the two countries. “Our two countries are much more closely allied than some of the analysts.....try to portray it.

We are both oil producers, we have an interest in a stable oil market. We have enhanced Russian investments in Saudi Arabia, Saudi investments in Russia. We have cultural, educational, scientific relations that we are developing. We are also working very closely in the area of security to counter extremism, to counter terrorism," the Minister Al-Jubeir said, adding that the two countries had the same stance on the situation in the region and moving towards having a identical views on Syria as well.

The Saudi monarch’s groundbreaking trip to Moscow comes after Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, flew into Saudi Arabia for talks on September 10. Lavrov met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi heir to the throne who oversees energy and defence policy. After the talks, Lavrov said the Saudis had expressed support for so-called “de-escalation zones” in Syria, which were announced in May after a meeting between Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

Top Russian diplomat Lavrov and his Saudi counterpart Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir discussed bilateral relations in a phone call. "The foreign ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia discussed topical issues of further development of mutually beneficial bilateral relations, including the schedule of respective contacts at various levels," a statement said. Lavrov and alJubeir stressed that the promotion of bilateral relations would help ensure peace and stability at both regional and international arenas, according to the statement.

Russia has been requesting the king to make a trip to Moscow for cementing the relationships. At the end of September 2017, it was confirmed that King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will pay a visit to Russia in early October 2017. The visit is to become the first time a Saudi monarch has ever travelled to Moscow in an official capacity.

In April, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir confirmed that King Salman had accepted an invitation to come to Moscow, and the terms of his visit were being discussed. On June 21, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov 39

said the sides had not agreed on the date of the visit as of yet. Earlier in September, an informed source said that the Saudi king would visit Moscow on October 4-7 to sign a number of documents. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on September 21 that the preparation for the visit was underway.

Eerier, the Russian government hoped that Saudi Arabia would determine the date of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's visit to Russia soon in the light of escalation of diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its neighbor states, a source from the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Earlier in the day, Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed situation regarding Qatar with the Saudi King in a telephone conversation as the crisis around Doha does not promote the consolidation of efforts on the Syrian reconciliation and the fight against terrorism.

In an interview with media, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel AlJubeir spoke about the forthcoming visit of Saudi King Salman Al Saud to Russia. An informed source said that the Saudi King would visit Moscow on October 4-7 for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the preparation for the visit was underway. "The ministers agreed to continue meaningful dialogue on the ways of resolving continuing Middle Eastern crises," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

Meanwhile, Russia is preparing for the maiden visit of Saudi King Salman Al Saud who will arrive in Moscow on October 4 to discuss the deepening cooperation between the two countries. The visit of Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Russia is currently being prepared, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Diplomatic relations

The first country to establish full diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd (the name of the Saudi state until 1932) was the Soviet

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Union. However, relations cooled later on, with Saudi Arabia closing their legation in Moscow in 1938 and refusing to reestablish relations.

Diplomatic relations began in 1926 but did not take off as Riyadh was not inclined to be an ally of Communist Russia. Moreover, due to regular interference from Washington, relations cooled later on, with Saudi Arabia closing their legation in Moscow in 1938 and refusing to reestablish relations.

Diplomatic relations were only reestablished after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the establishment of the Russian Federation.

(Despite a lack of relations, about 20 Soviet Muslims were allowed to annually make the Hajj from 1946 until 1990 when liberalization allowed thousands of Soviet Muslims to attend) Relations were strained in the 1980s

by Saudi support for the Mujahideen as a part of US led coalition during the Soviet occupational war in Afghanistan and the close alliance with the USA did not the relations to grow.

Despite a lack of relations, about 20 Soviet Muslims were allowed to annually make the Hajj from 1946 until 1990 when liberalization allowed thousands of Soviet Muslims to attend. Relations were strained in the 1980s

by Saudi support for the Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan and the close alliance with the USA. King Abdullah's visit to Russia in 2003, as Crown Prince, was an opening in high level contacts between the countries which did not have diplomatic ties from 1938 until 1990.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made sincere efforts to establish good relations with Riyadh and he met King Abdullah in Riyadh during a high level delegation visit on February 11–12, 2007. It was the first official visit for a Russian leader to the Kingdom. The visit was an opportunity for Moscow to improve its relations with Riyadh regarding various areas, including regional security issues, energy, trade, transportation, scientific cooperation and exchanges.

After the 2008 Georgia-Russia crisis, King Abdullah said that he had the full understanding of the Russian side on the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but Saudi Arabia did not recognize the two regions yet.

In recent times, relations between the two countries became strained during the Syrian Civil War launched by the USA and its allies in the Syrian opposition as part of Arab Spring, in which Russia, a military ally of Iran, also supports Syria′s president Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia along with Qatar and Turkey supports the Syrian rebels.

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USA remains a problem for Saudi and other Arab nations to forge economic ties with Russia. The Middle Eastern kingdom has enjoyed a longstanding and broadly cooperative relationship with the USA, dating back to the start of oil exploration within Saudi Arabia in the 1930s. The latest cast of key characters, headed by US President Donald Trump and Saudi's King Salman, has established a warmer rapport than seen during the final years of former President Barack Obama's presidency when tensions developed over Saudi Arabia's stance on Iran and Yemen. Yet cooperative links are now flourishing between the kingdom and Russia – the USA's longstanding foe.

Controlled by USA, relations between the Soviet Union and Saudi Arabia were so frosty during the Cold War that the two countries did not even have diplomatic missions in each other’s country. Ties were also strained by Riyadh’s support for fighters who battled the Red Army occupation of Afghanistan.

Rapprochement

The Middle Eastern kingdom has enjoyed a longstanding and broadly cooperative relationship with the USA, dating back to the start of oil exploration within Saudi Arabia in the 1930s.

Relations between the two countries were strained during the Syrian Civil War in which Russia supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia along with Qatar and Turkey supported the Syrian rebels.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that if Saudi Arabia along with Turkey went forth with their invasion plans and invaded Syria, the conflict could result in a Third World War.

The latest cast of key characters, headed by US President Donald Trump and Saudi's King Salman, has established a warmer rapport than seen during the final years of former President Barack Obama's presidency when tensions developed over Saudi Arabia's stance on Iran and Yemen.

Cooperative links are now flourishing between the kingdom and Russia – the USA's longstanding foe. A blossoming friendship between Saudi Arabia 42

and Russia is being reflected in a recent spate of deals, and signals yet another sea change in the ever-evolving global order.

The rapprochement is in the mechanisms of solving the Syrian conflict, while Moscow and Riyadh are the leading players in this process. "Russians are different from others as they keep their promises, and Saudi Arabia believes that Russia's presence is important for achieving balance of power in the region," the lawmaker added. "I expect the rapprochement and big mutual understanding‌ I suppose that the Syrian issue will be the most important topic of the discussion of the two leaders," Harisi said. Harisi said that he expects the two countries to sign agreements in many areas besides the defense sector. Earlier in September, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Jubeir called the upcoming visit of King Salman to Russia a historic one and demonstrating the scale of bilateral dialogue.

In May 2017 Saudi Arabia and Russia put their weight behind a new agreement to curb oil production; analysts say it should drive up crude prices but also underscores a growing alliance between the two countries.

The oil ministers of Saudi Arabia and Russia said they would consult other nations on an agreement to extend the current production deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers by nine months, about three months longer than the market expected.

The deal to keep 1.8 million barrels of crude from the market is likely to embolden US shale producers to ramp up their production, but it is also a deal that both Russia and Saudi Arabia would see as politically expedient and critical to their domestic finances. The deal could also include deeper cuts than the 1.8 million barrels a day already agreed to late last year.

King Abdullah's visit to Russia in 2003, as Crown Prince, was an opening in high level contacts between the countries which did not have diplomatic ties from 1938 until 1990. Russian President Putin met King Abdullah in Riyadh during a high level delegation visit on February 11–12, 2007. It was the first official visit for a Russian leader to the Kingdom.

The visit was an opportunity for Moscow to improve its relations with Riyadh regarding various areas, including regional security issues, energy, trade, transportation, scientific cooperation and exchanges. After the 2008 Georgia-Russia crisis, King Abdullah said that he had the full understanding of the Russian side on the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, however, Saudi Arabia did not recognize the two regions yet.

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In February 2016, Saudi Arabia offered for the first time to send ground troops to Syria; a Saudi official confirmed that Riyadh had sent warplanes to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, a move considered as preparation for an incursion into Syria and seen as inimical to Russia′s as well as Iran′s interests. Russia reacted to the reports with public sarcasm alluding to the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen.

Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft, and Saudi Arabia's national oil company Saudi Aramco announced that they will look into joint investments in the kingdom with another Russian gas giant Lukoil also revealing that it will consider marketing oil alongside Saudi Aramco. That same morning, Saudi Arabia confirmed it would evaluate the possibility of joining Russia's arctic liquid natural gas (LNG) project. These developments followed Trump’s decision to withdraw the USA from the Paris climate change agreement with many commentators questioning the broader and longer-term implications of the USA stepping back from its leadership role in this pivotal international agreement.

The decision does not just reflect a retreat from leadership but a more widespread inability and unwillingness of countries to compromise. This strengthens the rise in power of Eastern countries alongside a decline in the West's strength and accelerates the shifting of economic engines towards East, towards Asia.

Russia in Arab world

Until Moscow proved itself a militarily-capable player in the region, the Saudis had a negative, disdainful attitude towards Russia. But now the Saudis are beginning to view Russia differently…

Russia may not have the ability to mount a direct challenge to the USA in the Middle East, but Putin’s hardheaded approach to the Syria crisis has restored some of its Soviet-era influence in the region. Putin’s support for Al Assad in the face of international condemnation has proved he is willing to stick by his allies in the Middle East, a trait that will have been duly noted by leaders across the Middle East.

President Vladimir Putin sent Russia’s military into Syria in September 2015 to prop up Syria’s leader, Bashar Al Assad, while the Saudis have been aligned with anti-Assad rebels. But since Russia’s military intervention appears to have assured Al Assad’s survival by altering the balance of power in Syria, Saudi Arabia is pushing for talks with opposition groups. “This isn’t 44

the first time that Russia and Saudi Arabia have tried to agree on things in recent years,” Fyodor Lukyanov, who heads the Council on Foreign and Defence, a Kremlin advisory group aid. “..Now the situation has changed because Saudi Arabia realizes that Russia is a much more serious player in the region than it was three or four years ago.

Although the Kremlin’s Syria strategy has proved to be a foreign policy success for Putin and boosted Moscow’s standing in the Middle East, ordinary Russians have little enthusiasm for the war. The ISIL announced it had captured two Russian soldiers in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province. If true, this would be the first time ISIL has taken Russian servicemen hostage. A Russian military spokesman denied the claim.

Moscow’s revived focus on the Middle East has also taken the Russian foreign minister to the Gulf region amid the continuing stand-off between Qatar and other Gulf states. In August, Lavrov met with the leaders of Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. Russian state media claimed his trip proved Russia was now “the chief negotiator in the Middle East”.

Qatar recently boosted ties with Russia via a $3 billion deal to purchase a stake in Russia’s Rosneft oil company. However, Russia is keen not to be seen as favoring any of the parties to the dispute. Putin reportedly called off visits to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait this summer over fears that such a trip would be interpreted as taking sides.

Russia has also been staking out a position in Iraq, where it was the only major power not to oppose last week’s Kurdish referendum on independence. Russian state oil giant Rosneft recently announced a deal, thought to be worth more than $1 billion, to help Iraqi Kurdistan develop its natural gas industry. Rosneft is believed to have secured deals worth some $4 billion in total since it began doing business in Kurdistan in December.

Saudi support for the zones, which Putin says are vital to ending the war, was previously in doubt because the Riyadh-backed Syrian opposition rejected any role for Iran as guarantor in any peace deal. The reality of the military situation on the ground in Syria has also seen western countries taking a more pragmatic position on the conflict, muting their previous demands that Al Assad must go before any peace deal can be reached.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, presumably on instruction from USA, cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar, expelled all Qataris and banned flights to and from the country, while other Arab states later joined their actions. The dispute centered on Qatar’s public support for the so-called “Islamist terror groups” such as Hamas – 45

real victim of Zionist fascism. Doha denied the accusations and said that no retaliatory measures would be taken.

The Kremlin is eager to unite Arab world and keep USA out of the region once for all. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, saying that Moscow calls for direct talks between Qatar and other Arab states to overcome the diplomatic crisis and confirmed its readiness to continue dialogue with Doha in all spheres.

Moscow wants a united front with Arab world against USA in Syria but Arab leaders support USA in ousting or killing Assad. Saudi Arabia, Russia and Egypt support the idea of conducting the second meeting between the Syrian opposition. Talks between the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Cairo and Moscow groups of Syrian opposition took place in Riyadh. The HNC said that the meeting was not successful due to the Moscow group's refusal to adopt any document demanding the resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Economics

The flagship symbol of Russo-Saudi cooperation is the oil output cut agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC members, originally brokered and recently extended thanks largely to the determined efforts of Saudi Arabia and Russia.

As a close economic and strategic ally of USA, Saudi Arabia and Russia do not have much in terms of trade, except in military deals. However, a blossoming friendship between Saudi Arabia and Russia is being reflected in a recent spate of deals, and signals yet another sea change in the everevolving global order.

The relations between the two countries are currently strong in military and technical cooperation. Russian consultations with Saudi Arabia in the area of military and technical cooperation are ongoing, the US-Saudi deal is not an obstacle for that.

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In May, the USA and Saudi Arabia agreed on a deal worth $110 billion concerning the supply of US military equipment and arms. Russia continues consultations with the Saudi Arabia's authorities in area of military and technical cooperation. The deal between this country and the USA on acquiring US arms should not and would not serve as an obstacle for our further dialogue," Vorobyeva said during Paris Air Show — 2017 at the Le Bourget airport.

In September Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation CEO Alexei Likhachev has held a meeting with representatives of Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the 61st General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. They discussed the possible construction of a big and powerful plant also capable of desalinating water, to projects concerning floating nuclear power plants.

The flagship symbol of cooperation is the oil output cut agreement between OPEC and non-OPEC members, originally brokered and recently extended thanks largely to the determined efforts of Saudi Arabian and Russian representatives.

OPEC President Mohammed Barkindo told CNBC from St. Petersburg that there was no doubt the "turning point" for the deal was when both countries decided to come together in China last year to sign a statement of cooperation that was "widely acclaimed". "For them to decide to come together to address the challenges of the market … I think it is a welcome development by all producing countries," he asserted, adding that both sides had reiterated their joint determination to work together to ensure that the oil market's volatility is tackled.

In other signs of tightening relations, Russia's largest oil producer, Rosneft, and Saudi Arabia's national oil company Saudi Aramco announce that they will look into joint investments in the kingdom with another Russian gas giant Lukoil also revealing that it will consider marketing oil alongside Saudi Aramco. That same morning, Saudi Arabia confirmed it would evaluate the possibility of joining Russia's arctic liquid natural gas (LNG) project.

These developments followed Trump decision to withdraw the USA from the Paris climate change agreement with many commentators questioning the broader and longer-term implications of the USA stepping back from its leadership role in this pivotal international agreement.

The decision does not just reflect a retreat from leadership but a more widespread inability and unwillingness of countries to compromise, according 47

to Vladimir Yakunin, former Russian Railways president and current chairman of the DOC Research Institute, a German think tank. Speaking to CNBC from St. Petersburg, Yakunin said he expects a turmoil-ridden time ahead for world economies and also predicted that trends showing the rise in power of Eastern countries alongside a decline in the West's strength would persist, as data continue to show the rapid relative economic growth in Asia.

"At the G-20 for example, reputable experts, they are talking about values, they are talking about the shifting of economic engines towards East, towards Asia.

The oil revenues are a big part of the government budget in Russia and Saudi Arabia. For Russia, higher oil prices have helped its economy.

Low prices could really create enormous stress for the Saudis. The extension of the production deal was also announced just days before President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia on his first overseas trip Saudi Arabia had felt the pinch of lower prices for oil, though several weeks ago it reversed a move to withhold some pay and benefits to government workers, move analysts saw as a possible effort to ward off unrest. Saudi Arabia also needs a high oil price to help its plan to diversify its economy away from crude, under its Vision 2030 plan.

Saudi Arabia has borne the lion's share of the production cuts, announced in December and effective in January

Agenda

Like Saudi economy, Russia’s economy is also massively dependent on oil revenues: Putin needs higher global oil prices to allow him to stem rising unhappiness that has been triggered in part by falling living standards.

Despite “deep distrust” between Russia and Saudi Arabia, co-operation by the world’s two largest oil exporters, along with other OPEC member states, has been successful in driving up the price of oil.

King Salman’s visit to Moscow is the first time a Saudi monarch has ever travelled to Moscow in an official capacity. The historic visit by Saudi Arabia’s king to Russia is timed to highlight the Kremlin’s growing political and military clout in the Middle East.

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Apart from Syrian solution, both would discuss arms deal as well as nuclear energy deals. Russia is gradually overtaking USA in supplying terror goods to Arab world at cheap rates.

The main topic of talks in Moscow would be Syria, where Russia and the Saudis are backing different sides in the six-year-long conflict. The bilateral royal talks will touch Syria and further rapprochement between the two countries on this issue is possible.

The Kremlin’s hand has also been strengthened by uncertainty over US president Donald Trump’s Middle East policies. The Saudis see the writing on the wall. They are hedging their bets, unsure whether the USA is committed fully to the region’s security, according to a Russian foreign policy analyst.

“But Russia is not replacing the United States in the region, the resources committed are incomparable, it is trying to be a second choice.”

Observation Moscow considers that a regular exchange of opinions between the two countries is a factor of stability in the region and political settlement, with ongoing uncompromising fight against terrorism in all of its manifestations..

The forthcoming visit of Saudi King Salman Al Saud to Russia for the first time in almost hundred years of Saudi-Russian relations and the upcoming talks of Salman and Putin is regarded to be historic. Both sides hope to strengthen bilateral relations and achieve progress on Syrian settlement - burning issue of modern international politics.

Moscow is confident that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud‘s visit to Russia will give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral relations. "Coordination between the two countries’ foreign ministries is getting closer. Two weeks ago, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Jeddah." Lavrov praises Saudi Arabian policy towards Syria. Major attention is being paid to business cooperation, we plan to further develop cooperation in the agricultural sector. The intergovernmental commission, which is scheduled to meet in late October or early November in Riyadh, is called to make its contribution to it” Saudi Ambassador to Russia Abdulrahman Al Rassi, in turn, noted that relations between his country and Russia are entering a qualitatively new level of development.

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Moscow has been effectively filling the gap as the USA has been pulling back from Iraq. Although Russia did not speak out against the Kurdish referendum, it has also been careful not to damage ties with Baghdad, calling this week for “a unified Iraqi state”, and urging the Kurds to achieve statehood through negotiations, rather than a unilateral declaration of independence. It’s a subtle juggling act, but one that sums up Russia’s increasing skill at promoting its interests in the Middle East.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have more reasons to extend deal than just oil. Relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia have grown closer as they cooperate on oil prices. A deal to extend production cuts for nine months should support a higher level of oil prices as the market rebalances.

It’s not surprising Russia and Saudi Arabia are moving closer together to solve their common problem of low oil prices. They have common interests in increasing their revenues.

It's not an accident that the two countries [Russia and Saudi Arabia] were moving together at a time when maybe the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia was problematic Bin Salman is also behind the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil.

Thousands of Russians protested last weekend about a plan by the city of Moscow to tear down Soviet-era housing.

The timing of the OPEC production extension coincides with the Russian presidential election next March, another reason Russia may have been keen to strike a new deal.

Chapter- 7: Shaping Russo-Turkey relations: Putin meets Erdogan in Turkey over Syria, weapons deal -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ________

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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ankara, Turkey on September 28 for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip oh the situation in Iraq and Syria along with bilateral trade, among international issues. The two held a working dinner before a one-on-one meeting and a press conference at 9:30 pm at Erdogan's palace, the Turkish presidency confirmed it on its website.

A visit for improved relations Amid tensed relations with US president Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Moscow to meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks on Syria and a key weapons deal, hoping to strengthen an increasingly active relationship that has already troubled the West. The strenuous efforts of USA and Europe to keep Russo-Turkey antagonism has not worked as they had expected.

Despite a regional rivalry that goes back to the Ottoman Empire and the Romanov dynasty, Russia and Turkey have been working closely since a 2016 reconciliation ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian war plane over Syria. “Russia and Turkey are cooperating very tightly,” Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said ahead of the one-day working visit by Putin to Ankara.

Turkey and Russia have been on opposing sides during the more than six years of war in Syria, with Russia the key backer of President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey supporting rebels seeking his ouster.

However, Russo-Turkish relations have improved considerably in recent time against the wishes and plan of the USA and Europe. Turkey, a strong NATO member, has signed a deal reportedly worth $2 billion to buy S-400 air defence systems from Russia, a move that has shocked its allies in the alliance.

Economic cooperation is also beginning to flourish, with Russian tourists returning to Turkey and the two countries working on a Black Sea gas pipeline.

In Syria both Moscow and Ankara are pushing for the creation of four “deescalation zones” in Syria, in line with peace talks in Astana, to end the civil war that has raged since 2011. While Turkey's policy is officially unchanged, Ankara has notably cooled its attacks on the Damascus regime since its cooperation with Russia began to heat up.

Putin's visit came as Turkey and Russia are working to deepen ties in a turnaround for the two nations, which have backed opposing sides in Syria and nearly came to blows over Turkey's downing of a Russian plane in 2015.

The two leaders showered one another with praise in statements after their talks in Ankara, hailing a deal to de-escalate fighting in Syria. Moscow sides with Syrian President Bashar Assad while Turkey has supported his foes since the start of the Syrian civil war six years ago. But Russia and Turkey, together with Iran, are

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now working on setting up de-escalation zones in Syria that are credited with having helped reduce the fighting.

Erdogan said they focused on the specifics of securing a de-escalation zone in Syria's northern province of Idlib on the border with Turkey, emphasizing the shared political will to contribute to the Syrian political settlement. Putin, for his part, hailed "our friend, President Erdogan" for helping make the de-escalation deal possible, adding that it would allow to halt fighting and create conditions for the return of refugees to their homes. "I consider these agreements our common, extremely important success," Putin said. "The necessary conditions have been created for putting an end to the fratricidal war in Syria, completely destroying terrorists and allowing Syrians to return to peaceful life."

The Russian leader added that "we are creating conditions for the refugees' return, and for stepping up the search for a long-term political settlement in Geneva." Putin and Erdogan also talked about the Iraqi Kurdish referendum, with the Turkish president denouncing it as a "big mistake" that eroded stability in the region.

Kurdish Independence Turkey, which is battling a more than three-decades-old Kurdish insurgency, strongly opposed the plebiscite, in which Iraqi Kurds voted overwhelmingly for independence. Turkey has said it considering economic sanctions against the semiautonomous Kurdish region in Iraq and has not ruled out military action.

Russia's stance on the non-binding Kurdish independence vote is troubling for Turkey, for whom opposing Kurdish statehood is a cornerstone of foreign policy due to its own Kurdish minority. The Russian foreign ministry said that while Moscow supports the territorial integrity of Iraq, it “views the Kurds' national aspirations with respect”. “Russia has been trying to abstain from taking a clear stance on the issue and Turkey may be wanting to get some assurances and explanations,” Timur Akhmetov, Ankara-based Turkey expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, told AFP. In public, President Erdogan has diplomatically shied away from attacking Russia's stance on the Kurdish referendum, declaring that Israel was the only state that backed the poll.

Russia has sought to maintain a neutral tone regarding the Kurdish referendum, but it underlined its support for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity while emphasizing the need to avoid destabilization of the region.

At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed Moscow's respect for the Kurds' interests and called for a dialogue between the Iraqi government and the Kurds to decide on a "mutually acceptable formula of co-existence within the integral state of Iraq." Putin referred to that statement without going into further details.

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A Kurdish commander of the SDF, which has approached along the east bank with US jets and Special Forces, said the alliance expected to completely push IS out of its former Syrian headquarters of Raqqa within a month. With the Kurdish YPG militia at its forefront, the SDF said last week that, after seizing 80 per cent of Raqqa, the battle for the city had entered its final stages.

EU’s negative approach to Turkey’s entry as a legitimate member brings Russia closer to Turkey. By accusing German and Dutch governments of acting like Nazis by banning Turkish ministers’ addresses to fellow Turks in their cities on the grounds of security, Erdogan has destroyed much of the goodwill needed for Ankara’s successful application to become a full EU member.. In 1963 Turkey became an associate member of the European Economic Community, the predecessor to the EU. Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and four years later was recognized as a candidate for full EU membership.

Subsequent negotiations had run into periodic roadblocks even before Ankara’s latest tensions with Berlin and Amsterdam. As an adversary of EU expansion, Putin was pleased to see Turkey’s chance of acquiring full EU membership rapidly diminish.

US-Russia cooperation?

As veto member, USA and Russia cooperate with each other and even coordinate their global moves.

Earlier, therefore, one got the impression that Russia entered Syrian bloody conflict on the request or advice of USA but now it looks that President Putin only wants to shield the ruler Assad to stay in power. Russia a close ally of Iran and it is helping Assad on Iranian request even while as a veto member it maintains close contact with Washington as peer the convention- according to which veto members would avoid a direct war among themselves. .

Turkey has also been hit by a spate of deadly bombings and gun attacks by the US sponsored militant Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish militants over the past year and a half. ISIS, like Al Qaeda and Taliban, is the production of American strategic community led by notorious Neocons. But even while helping them secretly, USA pretends to be fighting all terrorist gangs. Russia and the USA back separate offensives against ISIS in eastern Syria, both of which are advancing in oil-rich Deir Ezzor province bordering Iraq.

Apparently, USA and Russia are not together in their respective wars in Syria. Moscow accused USA of targeting Russia in Syria and said Russian general killed in Syria because of US policy. The Russian defence ministry said the general had been killed by shelling near Deir Ezzor. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that “two-faced policy” of the United States was to blame for the death of Russian general Valery Asapov in Syria, RIA news agency quoted him as saying. “The death of the Russian commander is the price, the bloody price for the 53

two-faced American policy in Syria,” Ryabkov told reporters, according to RIA. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias fighting with a US-led coalition said the attack killed one of its fighters and injured two.

A war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Russian rounds had not hit the SDF near Deir Ezzor. The SDF later said it had responded to the source of fire that targeted it from near the city of Deir Ezzor without specifying which forces it had attacked.

The ISIS assaults are converging on ISIS from opposite sides of the Euphrates that bisects the province, the jihadists’ last major foothold in Syria, with the river often acting as a dividing line. But their proximity has at times raised the risk of clashes that could stoke tensions between the competing world powers. With Russian air support and Iran-backed militias, Syrian troops are advancing along the west bank of the river.

Obviously, USA does not want to kill Assad but only wants to totally destabilize Syria as part of hidden agenda of US-Israeli fascist twins for Arab Spring and loot its energy as well as other resources. Meanwhile, US-backed Syrian militias said Russian warplanes struck their positions in Deir Ezzor province, which Moscow denied, generating friction between two rival campaigns against the militant Islamic State group. Major-General Igor Konashenkov of Russia’s defence ministry was cited by RIA news agency as issuing a denial, saying Russia was always careful to ensure its air strikes were accurate. A spokesman for the US-led coalition, Colonel Ryan Dillon, said rounds had hit in the area around the SDF but he could not confirm they were fired by Russia.

Erdogan enjoys popularity and power

An elected president has to be strong in order r to take steps to protect the sovereignty and of the nation and well being of the common people. USA, Germany and also ultra fanatic Israel badly want a anti-Islamic weak Turkey to maneuver thing with it so that they can get what they want from Ankara. They could engineer and execute a powerful coup in Turkey but, unlike their successful experiment in New York in September 2001, failed.

Islamic Turkey state survived. Turkish parliament approved presidential system, seen strengthening Erdogan. The Turkish parliament has backed a plan to strengthen the powers of the presidency, paving the way for a referendum on the issue in spring which, if passed, could allow President Tayyip Erdogan to stay in office until 2029. Erdogan says the reform will provide stability in the European Union (EU) candidate country at a time of turmoil and prevent a return to the fragile coalitions of the past. His opponents fear it will herald increasingly authoritarian rule.

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The constitutional reform bill was approved with 339 votes in the 550member assembly. The legislation needed at least 330 deputies to support it in order to go to a public vote. Erdogan, speaking for the first time since parliament's vote, called on his supporters to work “day in and day out” throughout the referendum campaign. “My people will give the final decision... I believe this referendum period will conclude with the will of our people,” Erdogan said at an opening ceremony in Istanbul.

After parliament's decision, and voiced support for the changes, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdags said: “A new door in Turkish history and in the lives of the Turkish people has been cracked open today. With our people's 'yes' vote, this door will be completely opened,” Bozdag wrote on Twitter. The leader of the main opposition CHP, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said after the voting that his party would fight the changes in their referendum campaign.

Erdogan assumed the presidency, a largely ceremonial position, in 2014 after over a decade as prime minister with the ruling AK Party, which he co-founded.

Since then, pushing his powers to the limit, he has continued to dominate politics by dint of his personal popularity on the basis of his Islamist policies. The reform would enable the president to issue decrees, declare emergency rule, appoint ministers and top state officials and dissolve parliament — powers that the two main opposition parties say strip away balances to Erdogan's power. With the reforms, the president will be allowed to retain ties to a political party, potentially allowing Erdogan to resume his leadership of the AK Party, in a move that opposition parties say will abolish any chance of impartiality. The plans envisage presidential and general elections to be held together in 2019 with a president eligible to serve a maximum two five-year terms.

Following the failed coup against Turkey, AKP and President Erdogan, western critics accuse Erdogan of increasing authoritarianism with the arrests and dismissal of tens of thousands of judges, police, military officers, journalists and academics since a failed military coup in July. Erdogan and the government say the extent of the crackdown is justified by the nature of the threat to the state from July 15, when rogue soldiers commandeered tanks and fighter jets in a violent bid to seize power. Erdogan on Saturday also revived the question of reintroducing the death penalty, which some of his supporters had called for in the wake of July's coup attempt.

Equation Political and economic developments in the European Union or EU, Turkey and Russia are cumulatively aiding President Vladimir Putin to become an ascending star in the international firmament. In an unexpected twist, the supporting actor in this dramatic ascent is Turkish president Erdogan, a former staunch critic of the Kremlin in the Syrian civil war who is now aligned with Putin in hostility towards the EU.

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At home, after aborting an attempted military coup on 15 July, Erdogan declared a state of emergency and unleashed a massive crackdown on political opponents. This led to the purging of almost 100,000 employees in state institutions and the arrest of 40,000, including judges, senior civil servants, academics, journalists, and police and military officers.

After corralling the parliament to amend the constitution to replace parliamentary democracy with an executive presidency, he has urged voters to endorse the radical change in the April 16 referendum, arguing rightly it is needed to avoid fragile coalition governments of the past and to give Turkey stability in order to meet security challenges in the future. His opponents fear an authoritarian, one-man rule by Erdogan.

Of course, his actions have unnerved Western leaders who expect an antiIslamic regime to rule Turkey. By contrast, the Kremlin welcomes these in the context of an astonishing turnaround in relations with Ankara. Following Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet fighter, presumably on the advice of USA, in its airspace on November 15, 2015, Moscow imposed stiff economic sanctions on Ankara. As a result, annual bilateral trade plummeted from $38 billion to about $17 billion. But that clash in fact served as a milestone in the bilateral ties.

In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Putin made a congratulatory call to Erdogan. Three weeks later, Erdogan met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him publicly, saying that his call “meant a lot psychologically.” Putin announced that Russian trade sanctions on Turkey would be lifted step by step. Conversely, Erdogan was angered by EU and US. criticism over his crackdown on educational institutions, the judiciary and the media, including the jailing of 152 journalists. His Russia visit in August alarmed Western capitals. Since then, from the Western viewpoint, a stream of negative news, including two more meetings for the Turkish and Russian presidents, has continued.

Most of Erdogan’s statements against the West has made Russia a reliable ally of Istanbul. After his talks with Putin in the Kremlin on March 10, Erdogan declared that alliances like NATO or allies that ignore Turkey’s interests did not have the right to question what Turkey does to protect itself. He added that no one has the right to object to Ankara’s measures in Syria or current negotiations with Russia on the purchase of an advanced S-400 anti-missile defense system. Erdogan indicated that his latest meeting with Putin had created an environment for facilitating further security cooperation with Moscow as well as in economic and military sectors.

Erdogan’s recent spats with Germany and the Netherlands on the issue of Turkish ministers being allowed to persuade gatherings of Turkish voters settled in these countries to vote “yes” in the referendum have also gone down well with the Kremlin.

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The Syria deal helped warm up ties and restore bilateral trade and the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey, halted in the wake of the 2015 plane incident. Erdogan underlined the need to prevent "even more serious mistakes," adding that "it's important that the international community sides with Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity."

Analysts say that while both countries share an interest in seeking to discomfort the West by showing off close cooperation, their relationship falls well short of a sincere strategic alliance. With Moscow's ally Assad now having the upper hand in the conflict; Russia will be hoping Turkey will bring the rebels it has supported into the political process. “Relations between Turkey and Russia may appear to be friendly, but they are loaded with contradictions and set to remain unstable in the near term,” Pavel Baev and Kemal Kirisci of the Brookings Institution wrote in a study this month.

Deliveries of the S-400s, meanwhile, could be years away due to orders from China, while Ankara's insistence on a technology transfer as part of the deal may also create problems. But both Moscow and Ankara are, for now, happy to send a message to the West that they are serious about defence cooperation. “They are trying to utilize the issue of the S-400 for their respective political interests,” Akhmetov told AFP. In Ankara, Putin and Erdogan continue exchanging views on regional and bilateral agendas. Military and political cooperation, the Kurdish issue, the Syrian crisis and other important issues are expected to dominate the agenda between them. For strategic reasons, however, the two leaders didn't mention a deal for Turkey to buy Russia's most advanced air defense missile system, the S-400.

Erdogan announced earlier this month that Turkey had signed a deal to buy the S400s, drawing concern of some of Turkey's NATO allies who pointed that they aren't compatible with NATO weapons systems.

Despite their remaining differences, Russia-Turkey relations have seen significant progress over the past year. The dynamics have been positive.

Apparently, Moscow and Ankara are ready to listen to each other and make concessions. Possibly, there are some points for cooperation even on Kurdish issue.

Turkey is a very important player in the political arena. Currently, a major continental Eurasian bloc is taking shape and both Russia and Turkey are part of the trend. This means serious advantages in the long-run.

Beyond Syria The visit is a signal of positive dynamics in bilateral relations. The leaders of both countries have been involved in an exchange of opinions and joint consultations. What is important is that Moscow and Ankara have deepened their cooperation, including on regional stability and the situation in Syria and Iraq.

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Since August 2016, Russia and Turkey have been actively developing military and political cooperation, primarily on the Syrian crisis. At the time, the groundwork was laid for an important future military and political deal. Since then, this cooperation has been positive for Syria. Moreover, Moscow and Ankara have signed a deal on the delivery of the Russian S-400 [missile defense system] to Turkey.

There have also been several important regional agreements between Russia, Turkey, Iran and Iraq The Putin-Erdogan meeting is an opportunity to take bilateral relations to a brand-new on the most important international issues, including the escalation on the Korean peninsula, relations with the USA and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

The talks could lay the foundation for transforming current cooperation into the form of an alliance between Moscow and Ankara" The rise of right-wing populism in the EU – Brexit, improved performance by Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom in the 15 March Dutch general election, and the lead position of the National Front’s Marine Le Pen in French opinion polls – is a contributory element. Another is the refugee crisis which has widened the base of Europe’s rightwing parties.

Erdogan’s good will has helped the grave refugee crisis in Europe under control. By closing Turkish borders with neighboring Greece, he drastically reduced the refugee influx into the EU. Equally, if he could reverse his decision that would certainly revive the crisis. EU must understand that former Ottoman Empire Turkey is a great nation with kind heart and end drama to delay the Turkey’s interest to be a part of EU as a great European power.

The hard core EU led by a few anti-Islamic members maintains its unwillingness to let an European but Islamic Turkey become its member as it is eager to have on amalgam of essentially anti-Islamic European Christian states.

The restoration of the death penalty, which Turkey formally abandoned in 2002 as part of its European Union accession talks, would likely spell the end of Turkey's talks to join the bloc.

In fact, Turkish parliament's approval of the Presidential system is the answer to their challenges. Pakistan must also turn to the Presidential system as their present system has failed to protect the nation from coups by enemies of Islam and Turkey and bring political accountability and end corruption which is destroying the country.

True, today right wing parties are occupying the governments in the West.

We are firmly in the age of dictators and Presidents-for- life. It is my way or the highway. Be it Modi, Putin, Netanyahu or Trump or Erdogan,. All of them crave power and control. Now it is all dictatorial powers in the hands of one man.

Parliaments, legislature and courts have been effectively rendered irrelevant.

Pakistan is almost following the same model. However, Erdogan has an Islamist ideology that makes him a class apart among the dictators.

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Turkey was the last bastion of Muslim-majority countries, which has to some extent been open, progressive and democratic. As the Turkish hero, Erdogan is becoming a one-man-show, all pretenses of democracy notwithstanding.

West has a role in helping Turkey become a truly democratic nation to serve the cause of Islam and world peace. USA and Germany should stop meddling with domestic affairs of Turkey and stop engineering coups to harm the ruling party and government or destabilize a only Islamic nation in Europe. However, entire Europe and USA are free to opt for Islamic path of life and governance, if they are able to see the genuine truth, for the sake of world peace and genuine security.

Fighting Islam is not the way..

Global Muslims wish progress and prosperity for Turkey.

Chapter- 8: Nuclear missile capability: North Korea conducts strongest ever nuclear test!

North Korea said it set off a hydrogen bomb on September 03 in its sixth nuclear test, which judging by the earthquake it set off appeared to be its most powerful explosion yet.

South Korea's weather agency estimated the nuclear blast yield of the presumed test was between 50 and 60 kilotons, or five to six times stronger than North Korea's fifth test last year in September 2016. On North Korean television, a newsreader called the test a "complete success" and said the "two-stage thermonuclear weapon" had "unprecedented" strength. Hours earlier, Pyongyang claimed its leader had inspected a hydrogen bomb meant for a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

The North's state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong­un had visited scientists at the nuclear weapons institute and "guided the work for nuclear weaponization". Seoul's weather agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff said an artificial 5.7 magnitude quake occurred at 12:29 pm local time, in Kilju, northern Hamgyong province, the site where North Korea has conducted nuclear tests in the past. Seoul officials revised their earlier estimate of 5.6 magnitude quake. The US Geological Survey called the first quake an explosion with a magnitude 6.3.

The USGS and China's earthquake administration detected a second tremor in North Korea minutes after the first, describing it as a cave-in or collapse. South Korea's weather agency, however, said no second quake occurred.

It may be difficult for outside experts to confirm that the nuclear device detonated Sunday was an H-bomb. State media reported that the test left no trace of 59

radioactive material. The US and its allies attempt to detect blast material to gauge North Korea's progress, but Pyongyang has become better at containing it as its nuclear program has evolved.

The latest high precision missile test would mark a significant step forward in the North's quest for a viable nuclear missile capable of striking anywhere in the USA in case the later attempts some Hiroshima terror mischief on Pyongyang.

North Korea conducted two nuclear tests last year, the last nearly a year ago, on the Sept. 9 anniversary of the nation's founding. It has since maintained a torrid pace in weapons tests, including its first two intercontinental ballistic missiles test in July. Last month, North Korea fired a potentially nuclear- capable midrange missile over northern Japan.

North Korea, which carries out its nuclear and missile programs in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions, "recently succeeded" in making a more advanced hydrogen bomb that will be loaded on to an ICBM The H-bomb, the explosive power of which is adjustable from tens kiloton to hundreds kiloton, is a multi-functional thermonuclear nuke with great destructive power which can be detonated even at high altitudes for superpowerful EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack according to strategic goals All components of the H-bomb were homemade and all the processes ... were put on the Juche basis, thus enabling the country to produce powerful nuclear weapons as many as it wants. Juche is North Korea's homegrown ideology of self-reliance that is a mix of Marxism and extreme nationalism preached by state founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader's grandfather. Its weapons programmes are needed to counter U.S. aggression.

While the US State Department had no immediate reaction, its ally South Korea's presidential office said it will hold a National Security Council meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in. South Korea's military said it has strengthened its monitoring and readiness while mulling a variety of possible responses that could be executed only in collaboration with the USA. Both Japan and South Korea, like Europe are scared of US unilateral actions. Japan confirmed that North Korea conducted a nuclear test: "It is absolutely unacceptable if North Korea did force another nuclear test, and we must protest strongly," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

It is almost impossible to independently confirm North Korean statements about its highly secret weapons program. South Korean government officials said the estimated explosive yield of last year's first test was much smaller than what even a failed hydrogen bomb detonation would produce. There was speculation that

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North Korea might have detonated a boosted fission bomb, a weapon considered halfway between an atomic bomb and an H-bomb.

It is clear, however, that each new missile and nuclear test gives the North invaluable information that allows big jumps in capability. A key question is how far North Korea has gotten in efforts to consistently shrink down nuclear warheads so they can fit on long-range missiles.

Earlier on Sunday, photos released by the North Korean government showed Kim talking with his lieutenants as he observed a silver, peanut-shaped device that was apparently the purported thermonuclear weapon destined for an ICBM. What appeared to be the nose cone of a missile could also be seen near the alleged bomb in one picture, which could not be independently verified and was taken without outside journalists present. Another photo showed a diagram on the wall behind Kim of a bomb mounted inside a cone. Kim visited the Nuclear Weapons Institute and inspected a "homemade" H-bomb with "super explosive power" that "is adjustable from tens of kiloton to hundreds of kiloton."

North Korea's nuclear and missile program has made huge strides since Kim rose to power following his father's death in late 2011. The North followed its two tests of Hwasong-14 ICBMs by threatening in August to launch a salvo of its Hwasong-12 intermediate range missiles toward the US Pacific island territory of Guam. It flew a Hwasong-12 over northern Japan last week, the first such overflight by a missile capable of carrying nukes, in a launch Kim described as a "meaningful prelude" to containing Guam, the home of major US military facilities, and more ballistic missile tests targeting the Pacific.

To back up its claims to nuclear mastery, such tests are vital. The first of its two atomic tests last year involved what Pyongyang claimed was a sophisticated hydrogen bomb; the second it said was its most powerful atomic detonation ever.

South Korea's main spy agency has previously asserted that it does not think Pyongyang currently has the ability to develop miniaturized nuclear weapons that can be mounted on long-range ballistic missiles. Some experts disagree.

The White House said President Donald Trump spoke with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan regarding "ongoing efforts to maximize pressure on North Korea." The statement did not say whether the conversation came before or after the North's latest claim.

South Korea's military said the first earthquake "appeared to be manmade".

A meeting of Seoul's National Security Council has been convened, national news agency Yonhap reported. "I was eating brunch just over the border here in Yanji when we felt the whole building shake," Michael Spavor, director of the Paektu Cultural Exchange, which promotes business and cultural ties with North Korea, told Reuters from China. "It lasted for about five seconds. The city air raid sirens started going off."

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Arsenal of nuclear bombs

The North has previously claimed to have miniaturized a nuclear weapon, but experts have cast doubt on this. There is also skepticism about the North's claims to have developed a hydrogen bomb. However, this does appears to be the biggest and most successful nuclear test by North Korea to date ­ and the messaging is clear. North Korea wants to demonstrate it knows what makes a credible nuclear warhead.

Now Pyongyang said it had tested a hydrogen bomb ­ a device many times more powerful than an atomic bomb. Analysts say the claims should be treated with caution, but its nuclear capability is clearly advancing. North Korea last carried out a nuclear test in September 2016. It has defied UN sanctions and international pressure to develop nuclear weapons and to test missiles which could potentially reach the mainland US.

North Korea displayed a lot of missiles ­ including big ones ­ at a bombastic military parade over the weekend. But what do we really know about Pyongyang's missile capabilities? Defence expert Melissa Hanham explains.

Kim Jong­un put on quite a show to mark the 105th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather Kim Il­sung, North Korea's founding leader. More new hardware was on display than ever before, including new inter­continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

To its domestic audience, it was a demonstration of technological might and prosperity.

To outsiders it was a threat: be you near or far you will eventually be in range.

The Kim Jong­un years have seen increasingly frequent missile tests, all defying UN sanctions, but have they made any difference to the North's capabilities?

North Korea is thought to have a growing arsenal of nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of those bombs.

A long line of US presidents has failed to check North Korea's persistent pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program in exchange for aid fell apart in early 2009.

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North Korea said in its statement that its H-bomb "is a multi-functional thermonuclear nuke with great destructive power which can be detonated even at high altitudes for super-powerful EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack according to strategic goals." Kim, according to the statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, claimed that "all components of the H-bomb were homemade ... thus enabling the country to produce powerful nuclear weapons as many as it wants."

In what could be read as a veiled warning of more nuclear tests, Kim underlined the need for scientists to "dynamically conduct the campaign for successfully concluding the final-stage research and development for perfecting the state nuclear force" and "set forth tasks to be fulfilled in the research into nukes."

Tremors, earthquakes

The "artificial quake" was 9.8 times more powerful than the tremor from the North's fifth test. Earthquakes triggered by North Korean nuclear tests have gradually increased in magnitude since Pyongyang's first test in 2006, indicating the isolated country is steadily improving the destructive power of its nuclear technology. After the fifth nuclear test in September, the US Geological Survey (USGS) measured a magnitude of 5.3 while South Korean monitors said the blast caused a 5.0 magnitude earthquake.

North Korea said on Sunday it has developed a more advanced nuclear weapon that has "great destructive power" and leader Kim Jong Un inspected a hydrogen bomb that will be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile. The hydrogen bomb's power is adjustable to hundreds of kilotons and can be detonated at high altitudes, with its indigenously produced components allowing the country to build as many nuclear weapons as it wants, the North's official KCNA news agency said. Japan has concluded that the tremors detected in North Korea were a nuclear explosion, marking the sixth atomic test by Pyongyang since 2006. Japan's Ministry of Defence said it had dispatched at least three military jets from bases in Japan to test for radiation. "It was a least ten times as powerful," a Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) official said. The previous nuclear blast in North Korea is estimated by experts to have been around 10 kilotons.

Earlier on Sunday, two shallow earthquakes shook North Korea, hours after it said it had developed an advanced hydrogen bomb that possesses "great destructive power". The earthquakes, the first of which neighbouring China described as a "suspected explosion" and the second as "collapse", struck 75 km (45 miles) north northwest of Kimchaek. Previous recent tremors in the region have been caused by nuclear tests, which if the case this time round, would be a direct challenge to US President Donald Trump, who hours earlier 63

had talked by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about the "escalating" nuclear crisis in the region.

The first, more powerful quake measured magnitude 6.3 and was 10 km deep, the US. Geological Survey said, again suggesting a nuclear device.

Such a magnitude would be its most powerful detonation yet.

Witnesses in the Chinese city of Yanji, on the border with North Korea, said they felt a tremor that lasted roughly 10 seconds, followed by an aftershock.

China said it had detected a second, 4.6 magnitude quake with near identical coordinates eight minutes later.

North Korea offered no evidence for its latest claim, and Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University’s Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, was sceptical. "Referring to tens to hundreds of kilotons, it doesn’t appear to be talking about a fully fledged H-bomb. It's more likely a boosted nuclear device," Kim said, referring to an atomic bomb which uses some hydrogen isotopes to boost explosive yield.

Kim Jong Un, who visited the country's nuclear weapons institute, "watched an H-bomb to be loaded into new ICBM" and "set forth tasks to be fulfilled in the research into nukes," KCNA said.

Pictures released by the agency showed Kim inspecting a silver-coloured, hourglass-shaped warhead in the visit accompanied by nuclear scientists, with a concept diagram of its Hwasong-14 long-range ballistic missile seen hanging on the wall.

The shape shows a marked difference from pictures of the ball-shaped device North Korea released in March last year, and appears to indicate the appearance of a two-stage thermonuclear weapon, or a hydrogen bomb, said Lee Choon-geun, senior research fellow at state-run Science and Technology Policy Institute. "The pictures show a more complete form of a possible hydrogen bomb, with a primary fission bomb and a secondary fusion stage connected together in an hourglass shape," Lee said.

Reaction South Korean President Moon Jae­in said North Korea's sixth nuclear test should be met with the "strongest possible" response, including new United Nations Security Council sanctions to "completely isolate" the country.

China, North Korea's only major ally, condemned the test.

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North Korea "has ignored the international community's widespread opposition, again carrying out a nuclear test. China's government expresses resolute opposition and strong condemnation toward this," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said sanctions against North Korea should include restrictions on the trade of oil products.

Russia meanwhile said the test defied international law and urged all sides involved to hold talks, saying this was the only way to resolve the Korean peninsula's problems.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the global nuclear watchdog, described the test as "an extremely regrettable act".

Yukiya Amano added: "This new test, which follows the two tests last year and is the sixth since 2006, is in complete disregard of the repeated demands of the international community."

Embarrassment North Korea's sixth nuclear weapons test is an utter rejection of all that its only ally has called for.

Beijing's response was predictable: condemnation, urging an end to provocation and dialogue. But it also spoke of urging North Korea to "face up to the firm will" of the international community to see denuclearization on the Korean peninsula.

There is no sign though that China is willing yet to see that firm will go beyond UN sanctions, which recently clamped down on seafood and iron ore exports, in addition to the coal and minerals that are already banned from crossing the border.

It is noteworthy also that this test took place just as the Chinese president was about to welcome a handful of world leaders to the two­day showpiece Brics summit on China's east coast.

Even the state­controlled media will find it hard to ignore the fact that their man has been upstaged ­ embarrassed too ­ by its almost universally ostracized ally and neighbour.

Observation

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The two Koreas have shared the world's most heavily fortified border since their war in the early 1950s ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against North Korea.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high since last month when North Korea threatened to launch missiles into the sea near the strategically located U.S. Pacific territory of Guam after Trump said Pyongyang would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the United States. North Korea further raised regional tensions by launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan, drawing international condemnation.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and its main ally, the United States.

The United States has repeatedly urged China, the North's sole major ally, to do more to rein in its neighbour.

Trump and Abe spoke by phone and said that in face of an "escalating" situation with North Korea that close cooperation between their countries and with South Korea was needed.

North Korea's sixth nuclear test ­ probably its largest so far ­ sends out one clear political signal.

Despite the bluster and threats from the Trump administration in Washington and near­ universal condemnation from around the world, Pyongyang is not going to halt or constrain its nuclear activities.

Worryingly, it also suggests that this is a programme that is progressing on all fronts at a faster rate than many had expected. So far all efforts to pressure North Korea ­ sanctions, isolation, and military threats ­ have all failed to move Pyongyang.

Could more be done? Certainly, but the harshest economic pressure would potentially cripple the regime and push it towards catastrophe ­ something China is unwilling to countenance.

Containment and deterrence will now come to the fore as the world adjusts its policy from seeking to roll­back Pyongyang's weapons programme to living with a nuclear­ armed North Korea.

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North Korean testing of nuclear/hydrogen weapons repeatedly should be a Efforts should be made to implement quickly disarmament plan.

warning to the world.

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Chapter- 9: Badminton: Nozomi Okuhara is World champion, proves that player height does not matter in wins!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

__________

Height weighs a lot, if not completely, in winning titles in sports especially in running, jumping, long jump, tennis, badminton, etc in which tall persons can easily deal with the opponents who are not high enough.

Short person might win a few games and eventually they fall to the tall persons, losing titles as short legs and hands can reduce the chances to hit powerful shots. Rarely, for instance, a short sportsperson could in titles in Tennis.

So, natural growth and height help these sports persons achieve success in sports. Even in entertainments like cricket height helps the batboys to hit big 6s and 4s if the bowlers throw empty balls.

On August 27 in the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2017held at Glasgow, in Scotland Nozomi Okuhara [7] of Japan defeated two top tall shutters Carolina MARIN [3] of Spain and Sindhu [5] of India who are now the Olympic medalists – gold and silver respectively, to prove that height in indeed is not a problem for a skilled, talented, watchful and committed players.

Nozomi Okuhara dismissed the all hopeful Indian Sindhu in the final to win the global title. Sindhu and Okuhara fought tooth and nail in the gripping summit clash of the World Badminton Championships 2017, described by many as the best women's singles final in recent times. The Japanese won 21-19 20-22 22-20.

In the match, Okuhara took the first point of the match on a fine line judgment while Sindhu bagged two successive points to take 2-1 lead.

Sindhu went into the break with a 11-5 lead. After changing the sides,

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Okuhara picked up two straight points to reduce the gap. She soon made it 10-13 after clinching a point on a hard fought 39-shot rally.

Okuhara levelled the scores at 14-all and then took four-point lead to make it 18-14. It was Sindhu's time to mount a comeback to make it 18-18 in the first game. At 19-19, Sindhu played it on the net to give her opponent a game point and then played it wide of the court to lose the first game 1921.

There was, however, an interesting development. As if playing according to some BWF mafia scrip, Okuhara and Sindhu took an early 5-1 lead alternatively in the subsequent games. In the second match Sindhu took 5-1 lead in the beginning. But Okuhara clinched five straight points to reduce the deficit by one point 8-9. Sindhu went into the break with 11-8 lead. Both Sindhu and Okuhara were neck and neck at 12-all post the break in the second game. Sindhu won four crucial points to lead 16-13. Sindhu made it 20-17 but Okuhara came back strongly to make it 20-20. Sindhu held her nerve to grab two crucial points and forced the match into the decider. She secured the game after winning a 73-shot rally on the final point.

Then, and as if playing according to the same mafia BWF script, Okuhara opened the third and title-deciding game with a 5-1 lead but Sindhu's came back level the score. The players exchanged points time.

Sindhu took the crucial lead at 18-17 and extended it to 19-17 but Okuhara fought back hard to make it 19-19. Unforced error from Sindhu gave Okuhara the first Championship point. Sindhu drew level at 20-20. But Okuhara earned a second Championship point and won the championship taking the final game 22-20.

Okuhara and Sindhu fought tooth and nail in the gripping final often placed neck-and-neck. An 'upset' PV Sindhu says a historic gold medal at the World Badminton Championships slipped through her hands in the dying moments of the thrilling final against Nozomi Okuhara. Everybody aims for gold and I was there very close but that last moment changed everything," she said referring to crucial unforced error at 20-20 in the deciding game. It was a big match, a good match but unfortunately I couldn't win."

Both the players battled hard in a match full of long rallies. Sindhu and Okuhara were evenly matched and played their heart out in the middle.

World Badminton Championships went to the right person as it slipped through Sindhu’s hands in the dying moments of the thrilling final against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

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Sindhu said, “Okuhara is not an easy player. Every time we have played it is not easy, it is tough, tough rallies "It was mentally and physically very tough" against her.

Okuhara had lost to Sindhu in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games last year in Rio de Janeiro and the Japanese said she had learnt a lot from that match. "I learned a lot from that match. Today, I changed my strategy and tried to keep her moving more," she said. "The third game was so close and I was absolutely exhausted. But I decided to try and enjoy it and I could see that she was very tired and was struggling. My attitude got me through," said Okuhara who became the first Japanese player to win Gold in singles in a World Championships.

Sindhu who had expected an easy global title win as world number 1 and top player from China Taipei TAI Tzu Ying did not participate (why did not she participate?) and Olympic Gold medalist Carolina had just knocked out by a “weaker� player Okuhara but that did not happen but what happened shocked India as the regime was ready with huge cash prize for her to the tune of 10 lakhs thinking Indian would defeat Okuhara easily.

However, the government amount is not slashed down just because she lost the final gold. She gets both silver and 10 lakh money. Former world number one Saina Nehwal's bronze means that it was India's best-ever show in a World Championship.

Many Indians, including this writer have not been given the retirement benefits after their sincere service to nation but now the regime just throw cash and awards on persons because the medals have made the rulers and media lords very impressed and happy. Match fixing media are in full swing trying to arrange the schedule and timings to suit Indians black magicians and spy agencies. In cricket India dictates about 100s for Indian batboys and if one top batboy falls, the opponents must offer 100 to the next players, including bowlers. .The ongoing Indo-Lanka matches prove that point beyond doubts.

Indians have the capacity to hit back after trail if the opponents take the game easily or for granted. Not just believing in mere luck, Okuhara had come prepared for the bigger weapons that Sindhu possessed, not letting her have late surge in points The Indian knew she had to avoid the rallies that Okuhara is feared for, but in seeking to keep the points short, Pusarla sacrificed rhythm. For much of the opening game, it was Okuhara who set the tempo. Seven straight points helped her take the game.

Nozomi Okuhara achieved feat, her first ever world championship in a tough battle with a highly ambitious Sindhu of ever greedy India which control now BWF and its official portal manipulating information to suit 69

Indian interest. Her fascinating wins against to all tall players to claim the world tile should come as a positive sign and soothing invitation to short players also to be confident on the courts and play and win titles comfortably. Fear of tall players as superior only acts negatively on the psyche of short shutters. Meanwhile there is a need to group the top players separately from the new payers so that undue points are not won by the top players.

It is a rare occasion when the winner Okuhara has convincingly got the world title by defeating the top players one after another: first Carolina MARIN at quarter final, then Nehwal at semi-final and Sindhu in the final to clinch the Gold medal.

In decades to come, the Women’s Singles final will be talked of in mythic terms as the gold standard – the prime example of all that badminton stands for. At the end of 110 minutes – the second longest Women’s Singles match ever – every sinew of the two gladiators had been stretched; every drop of sweat shed.

Thankfully, there was no blood. Why should there be?

BWF World Rankings list, apparently controlled by India, needs to be updated to show the latest position of players like world champion Okuhara after the world event.

---------------Chapter- 10: India: India: Tamil Nadu politics: RK Nagar bypoll to be held before December 31 -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _______

The election to the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai, that fell vacant on the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, will be held before December 31, Chief Election Commissioner A.K. Joti said here on October 12.

The EC had countermanded the by-election that was scheduled to be held on April 12 after reports emerged of heavy bribery of the voters by a candidate namely TTK Dinakaran, nephew of now jailed Sasikala on a case concerning disproportionate assets she amassed without holding any post of the government or party but by just living at Poes garden bungalow of former CM Jayalalithaa.

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Last month, hearing a PIL (public interest litigation), the Madras High Court had directed the Election Commission to hold the by-poll "preferably" by December 31 this year.

While earlier two factions led by EPS and OPS were fighting for proving their respective worth to stake claim to be the heirs of Jayalalithaa, now both have come gather and the Dinakaran-Sasikala faction is a weak faction without any support fo the people to win against the now powerful ruling party and equally powerful DMK. .

So, the fight is back square one between AIADMK and main opposition DMK. The winner could hope to be the next ruling party of the state.

After a Lok Sabha or state assembly seat falls vacant due to any reason, the EC has to hold a by-election within six months to fill that seat. Hearing the PIL, the High Court had said: "It is expected that the Election Commission of India will announce the election date at the earliest and conduct the elections preferably by December 31, 2017." Joti said that as per court's directions the by-elections would be held before December 31.

AIAMK without the powerful popular leader Jayalalithaa and with the faction fight within the party due to the selfish moves of Sasikala-Dinakaran with ‘Mannargudi’ hidden agendas to take over Tamil nadu just like after the sudden death (murder?) of the party supermo has definitely confused the masses that had previously voted for Jayalalithaa by keeping the aspiring Karunanidhi-Stalin at bay. .

With just a few days left for the crucial RK Nagar bypoll in Tamil Nadu, campaigns are gathering momentum in the constituency of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and stakes are running high especially for the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) which is now split into three factions, making it difficult for any of the factions to win for AIADMK. A bypoll was necessitated following Jayalalithaa’s demise on 5 December under mysterious circumstances. RK Nagar in Chennai will see 62 contestants—the highest since its inception in 1967— when the constituency goes to vote on 12 April.

Historically speaking, the incumbent ruling party has always had an advantage in byelections in Tamil Nadu. But now the ruling AIADMK party does not look confident to retain the seat while Panneerselvam look forward to win it for Jayalalithaa- even public seems to have sympathy for his Puratchithalaivi faction but DMK is all out to outsmart him. Deepa may not have chance to win this time.

The poll is particularly important for the DMK, ruling faction and OPS faction of AIADMK and end game fight is very tensed. Money is being distributed for votes and ruling AIADMK is being blamed for buying votes.

Now that the ruling AIADMK is formally split into AIADMK (Amma) and AIADMK (Puratchithalaivi Amma) and with the EC freezing the party’s two leaves symbol, the 71

traditional AIADMK voters would be weighing between the new symbols—hat and lamp post.

DMK has fielded N. Maruthu Ganesh—the party’s secretary for RK Nagar east division and a journalist with party mouthpiece Dinakaran—as its candidate. While former chief minister O. Panneerselvam camp—AIADMK (Puratchithalaivi Amma) which has been allotted the lamp post—is fielding veteran E. Madhusudhanan as its candidate, the Sasikala faction—AIADMK (Amma) with the hat symbol—has Sasikala’s relative T.T.V. Dinakaran in fray.

According to analysts, the opposition DMK is in a better position amid the confusion within the ruling party. Depending on which faction of AIADMK takes the second and third positions, the future course of the party will unveil. Analysts don’t rule out the possibility of a merger between the two groups even one day before the poll day.

However, Ruling faction is interested in knowing which of the factions would ains more votes will be in a commanding position to bring the party together. Depending on which camp (of the AIADMK) wins or who gains better share of votes, there could be a consolidation or realignment within the two factions of the party.

RK Nagar, Chennai Traditionally any bypoll is won by the ruling party, but given the political turmoil and chaos over the last three months within AIADMK, the opposition DMK would have an edge.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar, the high-profile constituency in north Chennai that elected former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa twice, is all set to once again choose its legislative representative on April 12. A total of 62 candidates, including eight women, are in the fray in the by-election. The AIADMK has won seven out of 11 times in the constituency in the last 40 years. This time, three candidates are are claiming to be the ‘real face of the AIADMK.’ The late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa contested from the RK Nagar (Chennai) constituency for the first time in the 2015 by-elections. She chose it again the following year to win the assembly elections. RK Nagar has become Jayalalithaa's home turf in public perception, even though Srirangam was the Iyengar-Brahmin' (which is what she was, by birth) constituency, from where she won to become the CM in 2011. Freshly acquitted, wrongly, of any wrongdoing in the disproportionate assets case, Jayalalithaa won by a margin of over 1,50,000 votes in the 2015 by-elections. This might seem like a bonafide celluloid miracle wrought by a party that was born and raised by filmdom, and run by 'Amma', who was once 'Anni' In 1989, after MGR's death, the AIADMK split into the Janaki faction and the Jayalalithaa faction. In the ensuing elections, the DMK won hands down, since the votes were split between the two factions and their allies. Both AIADMK factions (Jayalalithaa Vs Janaki) in 1989 laid claim to the 'two leaves' symbol.

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The AIADMK’s two leaves have – metaphorically speaking – split, into the Sasikala faction and the O Panneerselvam faction. There is the DMK, led by Stalin, and the MGR Amma Deepa Peravai, led by Deepa Jayakumar (Jayalalithaa’s estranged niece). All four parties now seek to fill the legendary and occasionally notorious shoe-rack of Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala's ADMK, with Edappadi Palanisamy as the chief minister, is by far the most stable party. As the ruling party, they will have access to resources and the machinery to whip up a good campaign- and they are doing that even though public is not impressed.

The lack of trust is all thanks to the public angst against Sasikala, who is still seen as a conspirator in Jayalalithaa’s demise.

Political analysts say a win for Dinakaran would assert his position in the party and he could even claim the chief minister’s post. But Mr. Dinakaran had said that Edappadi K. Palaniswami will continue to head the government.

The fate of both Sasikala and Dinakaran’s party posts will be decided by the Election Commission as the rival AIADMK camp has claimed that the appointments are not in line with the party’s constitution. The Enforcement Directorate has imposed a ?28crore fine on Mr. Dinakaran for money laundering. He is also facing two 20-year-old FERA cases for acquiring foreign exchange from unauthorised dealers.

Votes for currency notes The Election Commission (EC) is closely monitoring the bypoll. Following a complaint by opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the EC ordered the transfer of Chennai police commissioner S. George. It has also transferred almost all the officials involved in the RK Nagar bypoll, appointed as many as five observers—the highest-ever for a constituency in the country—and deployed two IAS and two IPS officers on night patrol until the polling is over.

Meanwhile, income tax officals have raided the residences and offices of many important people in Chennai and elsewhere, including ministers, VC of MGR University.

Money and documents shave been reportedly recovered from them.

Ahead of RK Nagar by-poll In Tamil Nadu, 15 Lakh seized and 28 men arrested. Public says money Rs500 and 200 are bribed for each vote and a lot of money is being distributed to voters even in public. Reports suggest around Rs. 15 lakh was seized and 28 persons were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged roles in various incidents of money distribution to voters and violence in the run up to the April 12 RK Nagar assembly bypoll. Authorities said seizure of Rs. 14.92 lakh was made by EC's flying squads and static surveillance teams in RK Nagar where bypoll was necessitated due to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death.

The day also saw the Election Commission ordering transfer of 22 police officials, including two IPS officers, out of RK Nagar even as the opposition parties lodged complaints with Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni against the alleged 73

distribution of money to voters by the AIADMK's VK Sasikala faction. While three AIADMK activists (VK Sasikala's Amma faction) were arrested for allegedly attacking DMK cadres over a row, 25 others were arrested on the basis of 15 cases registered for alleged distribution of money to voters, police said.

The attack on DMK men was over a row related to the alleged money distribution.

Meanwhile, videos of alleged money distribution in RK Nagar and markings made in the area to facilitate it are doing the rounds in social media and messaging app Whatsapp.

Commenting on the alleged money distribution, PMK chief Ramadoss demanded countermanding of RK Nagar bypoll and said it should be held after the cash distribution's impact faded. The bypoll should be held by drafting officers only from outside Tamil Nadu and by deploying Central police forces, he said. EC replaced Additional Police Commissioner (North) MC Sarangan with H M Jayaram (now IGP, Operations) besides 21 other police personnel.

Meanwhile DMK Rajya Sabha MP, RS Barathi in a petition to Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said, "The ruling party (Dinakaran faction) is planning to continue the illegal distribution of money to voters. We, herewith, enclose proof of the illegal distribution of money." He demanded steps to stop it. Former Minister KP Munusamy of O Panneerselvam-led faction too petitioned the CEO on the matter.

Anger toward ruling Sasikala AIADMK As the fight over the seat started, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi, who was campaigning at the 42nd ward in support of VK Sasikala's nephew and party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, had slippers and tomatoes thrown at her.

The whole of Tamil Nadu is concentrating on the upcoming RK Nagar by-election, which is now being considered as the zone that will decide the future course of politics in the state. As the fight over the seat started, AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi, who was campaigning at 42nd ward in support of VK Sasikala's nephew and party deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, had slippers and tomatoes thrown at her. Saraswathi was heard screaming, "You are throwing stones and slippers at me. Is this right? We've come to ask for your votes but you're throwing slippers at us!"

Team EPS and team OPS have been hurling allegations at one another, with Dinakaran accusing the rebel party faction led by O Panneerselvam of manipulating its poll symbol of electricity pole as 'two leaves'. Not to be outdone, team OPS blamed team EPS of distributing money for votes.

And in support to the claim by team OPS, a man was yesterday arrested for distributing money for vote, and what apparently gave him away was his flashy 'hat' (symbol for team EPS) carrying the AIADMK flag's color. Already many videos have gone viral on social media where people had altercation with such money distributors.

Candidates and promises

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Every candidate has come out with certain promises but the ruling AIADMK and Panneerselvam faction have put forward interesting promises.

Dhinakaran, the candidate from team EPS for the by-elections, has promised people that should he win, 57,000 house would be constructed for RK Nagar residents. Team OPS, which is fielding Madhusudhanan as its candidate, has on the other hand promised a judicial inquiry into Jayalalitha's death within a week of their victory, and to also turn the late TN Chief Minister's house into a memorial. When asked how their promises are related to RK Nagar victory, they said that whoever wins the by-poll, will control the party and by the government.

An AIADMK veteran, E. Madhusudhanan was the party’s presidium chairman. He has contested in R.K. Nagar four times and represented the constituency in the Assembly during 1991-96, the first tenure of Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister. Madhusudhanan was convicted and later acquitted in a free dhoti-saree scam during his term as Handloom Minister. He has some 19 criminal cases pending against him, which he claims were politically motivated. When Madhusudhanan switched to former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam’s side, Sasikala dismissed him from the party.

Maintaining that he is still the party’s presidium chairman, Madhusudhanan ‘expelled’ Sasikala. . Madhusudhanan is a strong Jayalalithaa loyalist and stayed with her when the AIADMK split into Jaya and Janaki factions in 1989. He has been associated with the AIADMK since the party was formed and is a North Chennai strongman. He is contesting using the ‘Electric Pole’ symbol under party name ‘AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’.

The DMK has fielded N. Marudhu Ganesh as its party’s candidate. A journalist-turnedpolitician, Mr. Ganesh is the party’s area secretary of R.K Nagar (East) unit and belongs to a family of DMK cardholders. Ganesh hopes that his introduction to the local people as a Dinakaran journalist will work in his favour. R. Loganathan is the CPI(M)’s candidate. But the CPI and the VCK, alliance partners of the People’s Welfare Front, have declined to support his candidature. Loganathan is a member of the party’s North Chennai district Executive Committee. The party is banking on the sizeable working class population in the constituency.

P. Mathivanan is DMDK’s North Chennai District Secretary. He lost to Mr. M.K. Stalin in the 2016 Assembly elections. As a resident of Kodungaiyur,he is pinning hopes on voters to elect a ‘local person.’ Film director-turned-politician Seeman’s Naam Thamizhar Katchi has fielded Kalaikottudhayam as its candidate. Kalaikottudhayam runs a Tamil news channel called Tamizhan TV and has produced a few movies.

Tamil music director Gangai Amaran, younger brother of legendary music composer Ilayaraaja, is the BJP’s candidate for the bypoll. He joined the BJP in 2014 and is currently the president of the State unit’s cultural cell. Gangai Amaran had accused Sasikala of forcing him to sell his 22-acre farm at Payyanurin 1994. He was one of the prosecution witnesses in the disproportionate assets case. The BJP is betting on Amaran’s popularity and caste. The constituency has a significant number of Dalits, and the BJP hopes they would vote for him.

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J. Deepa Jayalalithaa’s niece J. Deepa is also contesting the bypoll as an independent. She has been allotted the ''boat'' symbol. Ms. Deepa rose to fame after the death of Jayalalithaa.

She claims to be the “rightful successor of Jayalalithaa” and had managed to gain support from a section of AIADMK followers. A staunch opposer of Sasikala and her family, Ms. Deepa floated a political outfit called MGR Amma Deepa Peravai on Jayalalithaa’s birthday last month, putting an end to rumours that she will join hands with the Panneerselvam camp.

The Election Commission on Thursday tightened the screws on the by-election to the RK Nagar Assembly constituency, scheduled for April 12, by putting in place more measures to ensure free and fair polls.It appointed as many as five Observers, the highest ever in any constituency in the country and deployed two IAS and two IPS officers on night patrol until the polling is over. Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said, “The Commission will monitor the arrangements closely and will not leave any stone unturned to ensure free, fair, transparent and inducement-free election.”

CCTVs would be deployed in major streets and junctions and checkpoints in the constituency to monitor movement of vehicles and persons.

Observation: Election commission is making all efforts to help the people vote without fear.

So far the ruling Sasikala faction of AIADMK has made any move for merger of factions as it is keen to see OPS faction is finished even if DMK wins comfortably in that process. Possibly Sasikala is working towards ending MGR-Jayalalithaa rule in the state.

Now Tamil Nadu without Jayalalithaa as the only vote puller of the party one has to see if OPS could emerge the winner of the hearts of Tamils, even if unable to win the poll due ot split politics.

Absence of Jayalalithaa phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics, both DMK and BJP are back with new hopes. While DMK wants to win the RK Nagar to push for a government change in Madras Fort sooner than later, BJP is eager to make a presence in Tami Nadu politics once again.

DMK has got a solid vote bank unlike the AIADMK where there seems to be a three way split. Moreover Congress party is backing the DMK candidate. CM Palanisamy has not been able to make a decision to take step forward, without prisoner Sasikala’s nod, to merge with Panneer Selvam faction to let Jayalalithaa legacy live in the state without further major setbacks. Sasikala seems to be toying with idea of ending the MGR rule in the state. She knows once down, AIADMK cannot revive its fortunes as there are no charismatic and loyal leaders in the party. .

Without the symbol of two leaves, the voters who want to vote for Jayalalithaa party could be confused. New symbols are bound to confuse the common or ‘aam voter’.

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Money and other resources play very important role in polls. Sasikala's faction and the DMK have the money-power to repeat this tradition. The OPS and Deepa camps lose this round.

The by poll results in RK Nagar constituency in Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai would give an idea of the changing course or otherwise of politics in Tamil Nadu in the postJayalalithaa era, particularly an assessment of popularity of the ruling AIADMK (Amma).

The results would also show the benefits of DMK would gain from the death and division of AIADMK in the state and, if BJP could make any profits from the fluid situation obtaining from the untimely demise of Jayalalithaa.

The current situation indicates that DMK could sail through albeit with a small majority and that would be big success for the opposition party which is eagerly awaiting a government change in Madras Fort for quite some time and so long as Jayalalithaa was in control, it could not make any head way in achieving its goal.

When Jayalalithaa won the general poll with a resounding victory for the AIADMK for the second consecutive term without any truck with any of the parties, notwithstanding the BJP’s attempts to be a partner of the ruling AIADMK to win a few seats in this southern state, she indeed made a history in Tamil Nadu politics and took all politicians by shock.

Now the situation is back to square one! Speculation is indeed thrilling!

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Chapter- 11: Why terror wars won’t ever end?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

______

The answer is simple. The world’s only super power USA and Israel - its secret global terror ally and West Asia’s self claiming super power on the strength of its illegal nukes, promote terrorism as a part of imperialism and now focusing on energy rich Arab world.

US led NATO terror war from Afghanistan to Syria has only been a phase of US-Israeli terrorism. In fact, that terrorism has been designed to be a permanent one, moving from one nation to another from one continent to another and now it s concentrated on Europe with various names. Each time a terror attack is executed quickly some terror organization claims for that “achievement” but such terror 77

attacks continue and veto powers are incapable of ending the terror attacks and terror wars and provide security to the humanity.

Why do terror attacks take place routinely even though global intelligence cum surveillance agencies’ networks are surging in numbers and countries increase their defense capabilities by purchasing terror gods and technology from the top powers like USA? Who needs terrorism and counter terrorism? Obviously, that is the Zionist-US tactics to confuse the humanity.

A Shia imam from California in the USA has claimed that the Islamic State group — also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) etc — was created by Israel. Now, this statement could have been simply dismissed off hand, had a terrorist organisation in Pakistan not levelled similar allegations in May this year.

While Taliban and Al Qaeda that were launched by the USA with Israeli backing are targeting Pakistan and Afghanistan, ISIS is currently limited to its latest stronghold of Tal Afar in Iraq after it was driven out of Mosul. However, that has not stopped the terrorist group from claiming responsibility for terrorist attacks in Spain and Finland.

Of course this not the end of terrorist list. More such names are going to be launched in other parts of the world. .But Muslims do not have any role in the creation of such terrorist organizations as they only harm the Muslims and Muslim nations as millions of Muslims have been slaughtered b the enemies of Islam under various guises.

Then who is really behind all these terror organizations and terror attacks?

Is it not a civilizational war on permanent basis, targeting Islam and Muslims?

A Fox News report has quoted Imam Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini — who it describes as a "popular" Shia preacher — as saying at the Islamic Educational Centre in Orange County on June 23: "All of you know who established ISIS, alQaeda and all of those terrorist organisations."

According to the report, he went on to add: "You know very well. You know who paid for them, who financed them, who helped them, who purchased weapons for them, who even trained them, who protected them. This is not the production of Islam. Islam is not responsible for ISIS. Most of their officers were trained in Israel, including Abu Bakr al-Baghadi." He seemed to be echoing — at least in part — the statements of Mehmood Shah, the chief of proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Shah had, in late May, responded to allegations that the LeT pushes youths to display ISIS flags in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir: "The allegation is completely baseless. In Jammu and Kashmir, ISIS is a part of RAW's plot to 78

sabotage the freedom movement. ISIS is a terrorist organisation founded and funded by India, America and Israel to disintegrate and kill Muslims in the world."

The RAW he was referring to is India's secretive spy agency Research and Analysis Wing.

While two people — each halfway across the world from another — giving similar statements on terrorism can be cause for concern for global intelligence agencies, this could be a simple case of conspiracy theory or misinformation.

One even doubts if some of the intelligence-spy agencies also are involved in the mushrooming of terrorist organizations globally and recurring terror attacks.

Elliot Zweig, executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), told Fox News terrorism and Islamophobia are just propaganda being fed to Muslims across the world. MEMRI, it may be noted, is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Washington DC which monitors and analyses news reports for radical content pertaining to West Asia. Zweig, meanwhile, told Fox News about the Imam's statement: "These types of conspiracy theories have been prevalent in the Muslim world, especially the Middle East, for decades as MEMRI has revealed. One would hope that in America, all communities, including the Muslim community, would be immunized from such ludicrous propaganda, let alone propagate it."

But who and why are Islam and Muslims are targeted by the terrorist attacks?

Possibly, like Al-Qaeda, ISIS is also the brain child of US-Israeli strategists.

The Islamic State group can still send funds to its supporters and motivate attacks in Europe and other countries despite military pressure and lack of revenue, experts at the United Nations said in a report. Also, terror outfit al-Qaeda remains strong in several areas especially West Africa, East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, they added.

The UN experts, who are monitoring sanctions against the terrorist organisations, said that while the competition between ISIS and al-Qaeda continues, the "shifting alliances" among fighters "and cooperation on the tactical level in several regions also allow them to move between various groups," the Associated Press reported.

The report said that the threat from terrorist organisations continues to rise in Southeast Asia with ISIS trying to establish itself in the region. It cited the city of Marawi in the Philippines being under siege by militants linked to ISIS for over two months as evidence for the growing threat from extremist groups.

The experts added that the "core" of ISIS is to delegate decision-making responsibility to local commanders and switch to encrypted communications in an attempt to adapt to military pressure in Iraq and Syria. ISIS has been using drones to a large extent especially in Iraq and Syria, the report further added.

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The experts said in the report that ISIS is trying to design and create larger drones to enable it "to weaponized the drones, thereby increasing its ability to strike at a distance." It said Isis "continues to send funds to its affiliates worldwide" and is likely to continue to do so as long as it can afford to. Isis terrorists have also sent money to places the group does not have affiliates in to prepare for its eventual defeat in Iraq and Syria, an unidentified UN member state was quoted as saying in the report.

However, the report said that ISIS has not carried out any attack since then in which the "core" group of the organisation is involved in the planning and decision-making process — sending militants and providing financial help.

The report quoted member states as saying that there has been "an increase in radicalization and violent extremism" in connection with Isis networks in Europe.

When it came to Iraq, several member states said that key ISIS leaders left Mosul before the Iraqi forces launched the attack in the region. However, it added that ISIS resistance in Mosul "indicates that its command and control structure has not broken down completely and that the group remains a significant military threat." The ISIS leaders in Syria also left Raqqa before the attack and air strikes took place.

The report said that the Arabian Peninsula faces "a significant threat" from both ISIS and al-Qaeda in Yemen. It quoted a member state as saying that more than 30 ISIS-linked "terrorist plots" were disrupted in the region, including one targeting the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Who else can dare targeting the Holy Mosques of Islam other than USA and Israel?

Meanwhile, Hamza bin Laden, son of one superman Osama bin Laden who apparently was used by the CIA-Pentagon-Mossad to make Islam look a terrorist religion. , had earlier released a statement urging supporters to join al-Qaeda training camps in Yemen.

Sept-11 hoax was launched after a prolonged planning by the foes of Islam by US-Israel duo - to do what has already been done to Islam and Muslims till today since the invasion of an Islamizing Afghanistan.

Interestingly, ISIS also warns Trump of murdering him in his dressing room.

Now the terrorism takes a form of comedy as well. Of course, Trump, incapable of thinking out of box and would quickly place entire blame on Islamic terrorist organization as a usual strategy to terrorize Muslims.

Why should some terrorist organizations claim for the attacks without fear?

Who then are the terrorists and originations planning a terror attacks?

USA and allies are keen to prolong occupation of Muslim nations permanently and continue the terror war also permanently. In doing so, they think they will not 80

be required, as being demanded by Russia, among other nations, to diamante the NATO military- terror organization that terrorizes entire world with its pre emptive strikes.

If USA and Russia are fighting for military superiority why should they target Islam and Muslims? Why do the USA and allies invade and destabilize energy rich and oil route nations?

Why have they killed millions of Muslims in the name of war on terror?

Global media is anti-Islam and it promotes Islamophobia in order to make the terror war a permanent feature. In fact, the GST (global anti-Islamic media) has done maximum danger and harm to Islam and Muslims with its global reach.

Europe is with USA and Israel and so is Russia and China enjoying the western crimes being committed against Muslims and Islam. All of them work in coalition in Afghanistan and Syria, elsewhere.

One thing looks certain: terror wars are not going to end now or in the near future mainly bemuse USA and its anti-Islam allies that also deal win terror goods, do not want to end wars.

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Chapter- 12: India: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wins against Lavalin witch-hunt!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 23 was acquitted of all charges by the Kerala High Court in the SNC-Lavalin case.

Pinarayi Vijayan, a top leader of the CPM, who has been accused by the CBI of swindling Kerala of about 375 crores in the 1990s through hiring a Canadian firm, SNC-Lavalin, to repair and upgrade three major hydroelectric projects, was acquitted of all charges by the Kerala High Court in the SNC-Lavalin case. . At the time, Vijayan, now 73, was Power Minister in a coalition government anchored by the Left parties. HC says CBI has no evidence!

The Court also found no evidence against Vijayan as it pronounced its verdict in a revision petition filed by the CBI in 2014 which sought to challenge the release of the minister along with six others in the case.

Vijayan was accused of hatching a criminal conspiracy while he was serving as the electricity minister from May 1996 to October 1998. He along with others named in the case, were accused of awarding the contract for the renovation and modernisation of few hydroelectric projects to a Canada-based company SNC81

Lavalin at exorbitant rates, thereby causing a loss of Rs 374.50 crores to the state.

The contract was awarded for the renovation of the Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniar hydel power stations. Besides Vijayan, six others discharged in the case were senior executives of the Kerala State Electricity Board.

The charge sheet in the case was filed by CBI which had claimed that there was substantial evidence against the accused terming their release by the special court as ‘illegal’ in the revision petition. However, the judge in the special court had ruled that the CBI could not prove the charges. Earlier this year in March, the CBI had insisted before the court that a full-fledged was necessary to prove the conspiracy charges.

The case was heard in a CBI special court, Thiruvananthapuram, which had in November 2013 acquitted Vijayan and the rest. The charge sheet in the case was filed by CBI which had claimed that there was substantial evidence against the accused terming their release by the special court as ‘illegal’ in the revision petition.

However, the judge in the special court had ruled that the CBI could not prove the charges.

Earlier this year in March, the CBI had insisted before the court that a fullfledged was necessary to prove the conspiracy charges.

Kerala state's high court, ruling against the investigating agency, said the CBI is wrong to link Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to a corruption case that the 73-year-old has described as a witch-hunt, said. The High Court rejected the petition of the CBI and said that he cannot be held accountable for the loss to the exchequer, while also acquitting two others in the graft case. "The CBI has picked and chosen Pinarayi Vijayan. There is no prima facie evidence against him. There are subsequent power ministers in Congress led UDF who interacted with SNCLavalin. But CBI has chosen Pinarayi Vijayan alone as accused," the High Court said.

The charges of a scam were raised by the next UDF government that was led by the Congress which said the contract had been assigned without any bidding process and was inflated to benefit the Canadian firm. “The CBI wrongly picked and chose Pinarayi Vijayan without any material in the case,” Justice P Ubaid said.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve appeared on Vijayan’s behalf. The Court also found no evidence against Vijayan as it pronounced its verdict in a revision petition filed by the CBI in 2014 which sought to challenge the release of the minister along with six others in the case.

In 2013, Vijayan was discharged by a CBI court along with six others from the case which said the agency had failed to provide any evidence of his role in the alleged scam. The CBI then appealed against that verdict and lost its case today.

Soon after the verdict, Vijayan said with a smile, "“The case was politically motivated. I am happy that truth has won…There has been a constant witch-hunt against me. They tried to witch-hunt CPM through me... Everyone knows that CBI 82

did this because of the political pressure on them. From the federal government as well " His relief was evident as sweets were distributed to with media persons, soon after his address.

Pinarayi Vijayan born 24 May 1945 is an Indian politician who is the current Chief Minister of Kerala, in office since 25 May 2016. Vijayan was born in a poor family in Pinarayi in Malabar district (present-day Kannur District), as the youngest son of Koran and Kalyani. After graduating school, he worked as a handloom weaver for a year before joining for Pre–university course in the Government Brennen College, Thalassery. Subsequently, he completed his degree course from the same college A member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he was the longest serving secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI (M) from 1998 to 2015. He also served in the government of Kerala as Minister of Electric Power and Co-operatives from 1996 to 1998.

Pinarayi Vijayan entered politics through student union activities at Government Brennen College, Thalassery. He eventually joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964. Vijayan became Kannur district secretary of the Kerala Students Federation (KSF), which later became the Students Federation of India (SFI). He went on to become the state secretary and subsequently the state president of KSF. He then moved on to Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF), which later became the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He became the president of the state committee. During that period, when communists in Kerala were organizing the political activities from different hide-outs, Pinarayi Vijayan was imprisoned for one and a half years.

Later Vijayan was elected as the president of the Kerala state co-operative bank. During the emergency, he was arrested and tortured by police. He became the Kannur district secretary of the CPI (M) when M.V. Raghavan left the party over the ‘alternative document' row. Within three years, he became a member of the State secretariat. He was elected to the Assembly in 1970, 1977 and 1991 from Koothuparambu, in 1996 from Payyannur and in 2016 from Dharmadom. He was the Minister for Electric power and Co-operatives in the E.K. Nayanar ministry from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, he became the state secretary of the CPI (M), following the death of the incumbent Chadayan Govindan. He was elected to the politburo of the CPI (M) in 2002.On 26 May 2007 the CPI (M) suspended Pinarayi Vijayan and V. S. Achuthanandan from the politburo for their public remarks on each other. Pinarayi was reinstated into the Politburo later.

Vijayan won a seat in the May 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election as the CPI (M) candidate for Dharmadom constituency and was selected as the leader of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and became the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.

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The verdict has come as a big boost to the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which has been under attack by the Congress-led Opposition, that has been alleging, among other things, the health minister KK Shailaja of nepotism.

The verdict arrives at a time when the centre is being regularly accused by opposition parties of using the CBI to punish political rivals. CBI is going to approach the Apex court.

The incumbent BJP led Hindutva government seems to be exercising full control over the supreme court judges to enact judgment according to whims and fancies of the RSS, the ‘mother’ of Hindutva extremist political outfits targeting Islam and Muslims. The latest “judgment” of Apex Court on Muslim divorce practices reveals that without ambiguity. Apparently, majority of judges of Supreme Court for whatever reasons, unfortunately toes the RSS-BJP’ communal line in judgments to insult Islam and Muslims. Indian core media are tuned to antiIslamism as part of their anti-Pakistan tirade. The judgment is also a part of that smear campaign against Islam and Indian Muslims. .

The case concerning Babri Mosque, pulled down by Hindutva criminal elements like wild beasts, is in the Supreme Court and the Modi regime obviously is doing everything possible to make Hindutva judgment on that issue.

What exactly the judges going to do in the illegal case is matter of concern.

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Chapter- 13: Purpose of judiciary: Indian Judicial system needs to become efficient, trust worthy and respectable!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

Preamble

Law is supreme in a society and nation and has to be handled with utmost care, is not meant to be mishandled and mutilated by lawyers or judges or governments themselves the way they want mainly because they want to mint money from courts by all means.

Judiciary is not cricket and justice cannot be delivered in a match fixing mode practiced in cricket matches. In cricket, bowlers and fielders jointly offer 50, 100, and 200 etc score to the “needy: batboys on prior agreement between the cricket boards and 84

corporate mafias and obviously on huge payment basis. But Judiciary cannot function like hired fixing agents in as in cricket.

For the people, Judges are honest people. Judges cannot but be honest people to raise the trust of the society in laws. By misbehaving, judges bring down the prestige and status of judiciary as vanguard of truthful justice system.

Honest lawyers have b to be promoted as the state policy so that that impacts positively on judicial process. .

Introduction Judiciary of a nation is the ultimate hope of people and therefore has a big responsibility as it should guide the nation honestly and with distinction. Judgments should be genuine in order to strengthen and make the system function much better than that exists.

Unfortunately, judicial system is corrupt globally and encouraging faulty judgments and suspicions in the public mind about reliability of justice system. One gets the impression- rightly so- that money can buy favorable judgments from honorable judges.

That is devastatingly horrible thing to happen to judiciary. The result is judiciary and judgments, like any other domains, are controlled by mafia and frauds in and around courts.

Unfortunately, India is a top corrupt nation with faulty, corrupt system, developed by government after government, catering for the welfare of the rich and corporate lords, spoiling the image of the nation. This image has badly affected even judiciary wherefrom people expect full, guaranteed and genuine justice.

Like elsewhere, Indian courts, from down local to the Apex Court, cases in abundance have been pending mainly because most of them are fake and false and advocates and at times judges keep postponing the cases just like that. Lawyers and judges waste their time as well as the courts.

First of all fake cases should not be entertained by the courts and at the document writing level, veracity of the facts should be ascertained before documents are allowed b document writers to produce documents and the document registration offices should also verify if the facts presented as facts are really true. Verification process might take some time but that is worth the trouble because by that precious time of courts can be saved to argue real cases. Today any rogue can produce fake documents and register them at the offices by paying bribes everywhere, thereby causing problems for the judiciary. Lawyers aid the rogues to produce fake documents and judges allow the 85

cases to proceed on fake documents seeking just “some” proof that could easily be presented y by the advocates and the judges who were lawyers before just oblige the lawyers to go ahead.

A big show of lies and mischief and totally farce!

Courts should verify the facts of a case even of complicated ones before delivering judgments because judgment needs to be truthful and entirely valid. Lower courts quickly deliver judgments deliberately wrong expecting the higher courts to study the cases and of the needful Courts should use the services of honest intelligence that cannot be bribed or influenced by the “concerned” persons to ascertain the facts before judgments are passed.

Chief Justice should not ignore the truth about why and how cases are delayed and why there are thousands of unresolved cases in all courts.

Judiciary Judiciary is lifeline of legal societies and hence it has pivotal role to play in every country. Hence courts are places meant for worship by those who handle law. Courts aren’t just the money making spots. Spot fixing in courts against the constitution is immoral and illegal.

The importance of judiciary in any system of government cannot be disputed or questioned chiefly because without it system can collapse. It is well known that flaws in judicial system or delivery of justice, including negative phenomena, can harm the proper functioning of jurisprudence and badly hamper genuine judgment delivery without favor and nepotism and without getting involved in corrupt practices.

The need for honest and truly secular judges without involvement in any corruption issues needs not over stressed. Quality of judges determine quality of proceedings and speedy judgments Judiciary suffers from all sorts of drawbacks in developed as well as developing nations.

Any negative phenomena in judiciary can negatively affect the life of a given society by encouraging even the creation of fake governments. Courts are essentially meant for the rich people to pursue their greedy projects, targeting the poor and common people.

People have to think about the cost factor as well as lengthy processes. This fact should change in any modern democracy, including developing and developed nations. .

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There is a general understanding in the public domain that money can make law salute the criminals and frauds and without money none can get justice from courts. This public impression is devastating for any system of government as it harms the legal system.

The Judiciary interprets the Constitution as its final arbiter. It is its duty as mandated by the Constitution, to be its watchdog, by calling for scrutiny any act of the legislature or the executive, who otherwise, are free to enact or implement these, from overstepping bounds set for them by the Constitution. It acts like a guardian in protecting the fundamental rights of the people, as enshrined in the Constitution, from infringement by any organ of the state. It also balances the conflicting exercise of power between the centre and a state or among states, as assigned to them by the Constitution.

The term "judiciary" is also used to refer collectively to the personnel, such as judges, magistrates and other adjudicators, who form the core of a judiciary (sometimes referred to as a "bench"), as well as the staffs that keep the system running smoothly.

The judiciary - also known as the judicial system or court system - is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary generally makes laws for the nation and provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. In some nations, the judiciary can make law, known as Common Law, by setting precedent for other judges to follow, as opposed to Statutory Law made by the legislature. The Judiciary is often tasked with ensuring equal justice under law. In some nations, under doctrines of separation of powers, the judiciary generally does not make law as law making is the responsibility of the legislature or enforce law which is the responsibility of the executive. Judiciary rather interprets law and applies it to the facts of each case.

Indian Judiciary

The Indian Judiciary administers a common law system of legal jurisdiction, in which customs, precedents and legislation, all codify the law of the land. It has in part, inherited the legacy of the legal system established by the then colonial powers and the princely states since the mid-19th century, and has partly retained characteristics of practices from the ancient and medieval times.

The system has judiciously promoted a corrupt national judiciary.

There are various levels of judiciary in India – different types of courts, each with varying powers depending on the tier and jurisdiction bestowed upon them. They form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, with the Supreme Court of India at the top, followed by High Courts of respective states with district judges sitting in District Courts and Magistrates of Second Class and Civil Judge 87

at the bottom. Courts hear criminal and civil cases, including disputes between individuals and the government. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government according to the Constitution of India.

While pronouncing decisions under its constitutional mandate, it is expected to remain unaffected by pulls and pressures exerted by other branches of the state, citizens or interest groups. And crucially, independence of the judiciary has been held to be a basic feature of the Constitution, and which being inalienable, has come to mean - that which cannot be taken away from it by any act or amendment by the legislature or the executive. This independence shows up in the following manner: No minister, or even the executive collectively, can suggest any names for appointment as judges, to the President, who ultimately decides on appointing them from a list of names recommended only by the collegium of the judiciary. Nor can judges of the Supreme Court or a High Court be removed from office once appointed, unless an overwhelming two-thirds of members of any of the Houses of the Parliament back the move, and only on grounds of proven misconduct or incapacity. A person who has been a judge of a court is debarred from practicing in the jurisdiction of that court.

In many jurisdictions the judicial branch has the power to change laws through the process of judicial review. Courts with judicial review power may annul the laws and rules of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher norm, such as primary legislation, the provisions of the constitution or international law.

Judges and Lawyers Judges occupy a very special status in any political system. Unlike other professionals, including teachers, medical doctors and persons engaged in examination works, etc, where there is a possibility of favoritism, nepotism and corruption, judges cannot be biased nor afford to be insincere in their duty in any manner.

A judge presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges.

The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open court. The judge hears all the ‘witnesses’ and any other ‘evidence’ presented by the lawyers or barristers of the case, assesses the ‘credibility’ and arguments of the parties, and then issues a ruling on the matter at hand based on his or her interpretation of the law and his or her own personal judgment.

In some jurisdictions, the judge's powers may be shared with a jury. In inquisitorial systems of criminal investigation, a judge might also be an examining magistrate. In India at district levels, district collectors or equivalent officiate as district magistrate as well.

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India follows the British system of justice. Some aspects have been borrowed from USA. But we have not made efforts to make our judicial system genuine as we make the same blunders as the western systems commit in order to protect the big criminals as lawyers and judges joint play mischief.

Judges should be differentiated from lawyers. A law student can become a law teacher in nay institution but that cannot be extended to a law becoming a judge in the field of court law.

That is cause of all problems Indians suffer for too long - created partly by politicians, partly by the governments and elected representatives of people, partly by the parliament and state assemblies, partly by the media lords, partly by mafias, partly by illogical police, partly by the judiciary and partly by the helpless people of India.

Judiciary can do a lot for the benefits of people and nation of India.

Understandably, there are many people, including lawyers who are interested in meeting select judges and senior lawyers possibly trying to fix cases on huge down payments.

Judges are not like administrators or teachers or any category of people who manage things. They are highly responsible and hence highly respectable people who are the s conscience keepers of the nation and society. Judges cannot be compared with officals politicians, MPs or MLAs, or ministers or cricketers - primarily because generally they tell lies, cheat people, play mischief and don’t deliver and incapable of deliver justice to people. Judges have the power to ruin or upgrade the fate of humans. Hence judges are serious people.

Financial dependence

Apart from appointments of judges, government also controls the budget of the judiciary.

Naturally government indirectly controls judiciary and even judgments of major cases.

Budget of the judiciary in many transitional and developing countries is almost completely controlled by the executive. The latter undermines the separation of powers, as it creates a critical financial dependence of the judiciary. The proper national wealth distribution including the government spending on the judiciary is subject of the constitutional economics. It is important to distinguish between the two methods of corruption of the judiciary: the state (through budget planning and various privileges), and the private.

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In some countries and jurisdictions, judiciary branch is expanded to include additional public legal professionals and institutions such as prosecutors, state lawyers, ombudsmen, public notaries, judicial police service and legal aid officers. These institutions are sometimes governed by the same judicial administration that governs courts, and in some cases the administration of the judicial branch is also the administering authority for private legal professions such as lawyers and private notary offices. Such interdependence makes judiciary vulnerable to the state control mechanism.

Slow judgments Lack of state responsibility in establishing an effective honest judicial system is a major reason why the system has acquired planet of lacuna, Indian courts have millions of pending cases owing to lack of judges and lengthy procedures. On an average about 20% of the sanctioned positions for judges are vacant, whereas the annual increase in pendency is less than 2%. In 2015, it was reported that there were close to 400 vacancies for judge's post in country's 24 high courts. Arrears in the Supreme Court have mounted to around 65,000. There are some 30 million cases in various courts. Budget allocation for judiciary is a miserly 0.2 per cent of the gross domestic product. The judge-population ratio is 10.5 to one million, which should be 50 to one million.

If the vacancies were filled, pendencies would go down and make the justice system deliver efficiently. Traffic challans, police challans and cheque bounce cases make up nearly half of all pending cases.

The government has been the largest, single party litigating before the courts, and has kept adding cases to the over-burdened courts despite losing most, and then on losing, has relentlessly taken them to the next court, much of this being avoidable, according to the Law Commission.

The vast number of cases pending in the Supreme Court as well as the other lower courts has defeated the very purpose of the judicial system.

For justice delayed, is in effect justice denied.

Pendency Delay in judgments by prolonging the hearing for too long in repeated adjournments, is just one issue that readily make judgments corrupt. Lawyers make huge money by helping their clients with lies, fake documents and false evidences is another important issue. Courts’ disability to comprehend the truth on the basis of real facts rather than going by concocted proofs and evidences is another issue.

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To reduce pendency, 'Fast-track courts', 'Evening courts/Morning courts' were set up and have met with mixed success so far. 'Mobile courts' are being set up to bring 'justice at the doorsteps of litigants of far-flung remote and backward rural areas.

However, Lok Adalats an informal, alternative mechanism has been a phenomenal success in tackling pendency, especially in pre-litigation matters, settling fresh cases before they become full-blown disputes and enter the courts.

But the most significant fault or lacuna lies in the very selection process of judges for higher courts, where honesty and truthfulness of judges should be the top priority.

This article argues for a special stream of direct judges to handle serious cases. .

A healthy judiciary in all respects is a positive sign any nation can be proud of as its major achievement.

It is a crucial issue and making judiciary work honestly should be the priority of every government in the world so that a society behaves well and works in the best traditions.

Now- a-days, officials punish the subordinates or workers, teachers, etc at times arbitrarily and the affected persons have to approach the courts for justice. Courts generally cancel the said official orders or refuse to do that, but they never take any punitive measures against the officials for wrong actions or with vengeance. If the officals are found wrong in their punitive actions, suspension or dismissal, etc, they should also be punished for causing agony to the affected persons. Such counter measures by the courts will a long way in reducing wrong actions against ‘small� people.

Some of the issues that are raised here were discussed earlier in another article.

Another article would be necessary to elaborate the judgmental lacuna in some details.

A positive note: since there are good and honest judges the system functions continuously, notwithstanding pressures from the lawyers and money lords. However, all efforts need to be made to make the judicial system work as perfectly as possible with truly independent, honest and committed judges so that every judge is trustworthy.

Concerns and hypocrisy Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur India has asked the government to speed up process of appointment of more judges to deliver judgments without delay. He sought to link huge backlog of cases and vacancies in the judiciary, saying due do the delay in filing up vacancies the cases keep piling up in various courts. He has flagged the issue several times publicly on many occasions.

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Once again highlighting the issue of vacancies in the judiciary and huge backlog of cases, Chief Justice of India T S Thakur said the process of appointment of judges must be accelerated. TS Thakur was addressing the first state conference of judicial officers, organised by the Chhattisgarh High Court and the State Judicial Academy in Bilaspur.

The CJI has flagged the issue in his public speeches on many occasions in the recent past. "There are 12 judges per 10 lakh people in the country and at least three crore cases are pending in the courts. There is a need to speed up the process of appointment to vacant posts of judges," Justice Thakur said.

As per the Law Commission's report in 1987, 40,000 judges were needed then, but even today the strength of judiciary was only 18,000, he said. If the situation did not change, the figure of pending cases would cross five crore in the next 15-20 years, and crores of people would be deprived of justice, the CJI said.

As per the Law Commission’s report in 1987, 40,000 judges were needed then, but even today the strength of judiciary was only 18,000, he said. If the situation did not change, the figure of pending cases would cross five crore in the next 15-20 years, and crores of people would be deprived of justice, the CJI said. Appointments can be made gradually by setting a target for the next five years, Thakur said, adding that he had expressed his concerns on the issue with the Prime Minister too.

Appointments can be made gradually by setting a target for the next five years, Thakur said, adding that he had expressed his concerns on the issue with the Prime Minister too. --- The foremost attribute of judiciary is honesty, he said. "If any person, belonging to any sector, is not honest, then he must be a trader ("dukandar"). An arbitrator should not be a trader and is not supposed to sell judgment. Therefore, honesty is the foremost quality needed in the judiciary," the CJI said.

A good judge is the one who gives a patient hearing to both the sides before dispensing justice, Justice Thakur said. As per the Law Commission's report in 1987, 40,000 judges were needed then, but even today the strength of judiciary was only 18,000, he said.

Appointments can be made gradually by setting a target for the next 5 years, he said.

However, Justice Thakur refuses to recognize the critical truth about huge fake an d false cases in the courts wasting the valuable time of courts and judges. In many cases genuine cases are not taken up. CJI also declines to admit the corruption in the courts, especially judges. As lawyers are mediating to influence the judges by sharing money the culprits offer to them.

State crimes in Jammu Kashmir and silent judiciary

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Judiciary’s blind eye on genocides of Kashmiris That judiciary is entirely controlled by the government could be gauged by the way it ignores genocides of Muslims in Kashmir by Indian (occupation) forces. At least the apex court should have questioned the logic of killing Muslims of Kashmir who seek sovereignty back from aggressors and occupiers on false claims and pretexts.

There are two important issues affecting normalcy of Indian system and judicial neutrality: Babri Mosque and Kashmir. In both issues, judiciary is either weak or subservient to the government.

When we talk about problems of judiciary and judges, we must also talk about the pathetic plight of Muslims in Jammu Kashmir, now under Indian control. Jammu Kashmir had been a soverign nation and India’s neighbor before India, after its independence from Great Britain, invaded and occupied it.

Judicial inaction against state crimes in occupied Kashmir is a case of serious concern.

Indian forces have killed over 100,000 innocent Kashmir Muslims in its efforts to silence them and end their legitimate struggle for freedom from Indian yoke.

Courts do not take up the plight of Kashmiri Muslims Kashmir which is under heavy military occupational control. While Hindus are treated as state guests, Muslims, including the children are ill treated even on streets by the police and military forces controlling the capital and elsewhere. NO one questions the Indian logic.

Kashmiri Muslims can be treated the way the military likes in Kashmir. The governor has given the permission to ‘squeeze’ the Kashmir Muslims as much as they can be and make Hindus happy. The Kashmiris reeling under state torture mechanisms in various jails in Jammu Kashmir and India main have been reported in these columns. It is no more secret that Kashmiris and other Muslims are ill-treated by authorities in Indian jails and crudest interrogative methods are being administered on Kashmiris in Tihar jail.

If police suspects any Muslims they are arrested and tortured in jails and force them to ’admit’ that they are terrorists and they are trained in Pakistan. Khursheed Ahmed Lone, arrested in 2005 on fictitious charges of now famous “suspected terrorist” in Srinagar underwent punishment in jail without proper trial but was letter “picked-up” by Maharashtra police from Srinagar jail, but nothing is known about his fate. The accused has been implicated in a number of other prefabricated cases. His incarceration in Mumbai is affecting the trial of Shabir Ahmed Bukhari of Kreeri Patan, (a law graduate), Shakeel Ahmed Sofi Abdul Rashid Kahan, his wife Roshni, Rouf Ahmed, Waheed Ahmed Dar, Abdul waheed Dar and Muhammad Maqbool Beig.

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Khursheed who was lodged in central jail Srinagar was taken to Mumbai by the sleuths of Anti Terrorism Squad Maharashtra. Since then the local courts have been asking the Maharashtra government to produce him for trial in Srinagar but the orders have been thrown to winds.

The Judge requested the officials to look into the matter personally and direct the concerned officers to produce the accused before this court on August 13. Seven more accused persons are facing trial along with the accused in four other cases. “Non production of the accused is stalling the proceedings in all the four cases. The other accused are unnecessarily suffering for no fault of theirs.

The judge hopes the directions would be carried out with positive response. Khursheed Ahmed Lone son of Abdul Gani Lone of Sopore, a fruit trader was arrested by police at Srinagar on the ‘suspicion’ of providing logistic support to two suicide bombers who were killed in an “encounter” with police near Dalgate in the capital Sri Nagar, hours before the then PM Manmohan Singh was scheduled to address a gathering at Sher-eKashmir Cricket Stadium at Srinagar in 2005.

All judicial directions in this regard are gathering dust. The accused has not been produced before the court till date.” When a judge is powerless what about the ordinary Muslims in the country?

Once the JK State President of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) reiterated that Kashmiris (Muslims) should leave Jammu and go to the Kashmir valley, immediately. “Those Kashmiri touts of National Conference, PDP, and Geelani”, who have constructed houses in Jammu region should immediately vacate the land in the summer capital and go back to Kashmir.

Ultra communal outfit BJP considers and says that Congress, like PDP, NC, CPI, CPI (M), and PDP and all other Kashmir-based politicians and separatists have communal mindset. Taking a dig at former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, it was said, “It was during his minority status regime that all the Jammu-based Congress ministers joined hands to appease fanatics and reversed land transfer order under which 8000 kanals of land at Baltal had been transferred to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for creating “facilities” for the pilgrims.” The BJP State President has repeatedly threatened “Kashmiri touts” of “dire consequences” if they don’t quit the Jammu forthwith.

Interestingly, today the Kashmiri touts of PDP runs a government in JK with BJP support and with a Hindu as deputy CM. .

Obviously, the fact that the reversals they received in their secret dealings to steal the forest land for temple structure constructions have not been tolerated by Hindus who do everything according to their wishes in India and therefore felt shaken and rather 94

threatened by this, has made them agitate over the issue to get the land back for temple purposes.

Can Indian judiciary also be insensitive to human sufferings and play into the hands of the regime and admit political victimization of Muslims and anti-Kashmirism and antiMuslims in the country?

All these year of brutality, genocide, rape and crime and illegal dealings in Kashmir by occupying Indian government, Kashmiris have not yet openly asked the Indian terrorist forces to QUIT KASHMIR�, but now Hindus in Jammu have , especially the Hindutva outfit parties have done so by asking Kashmiris to quit Jammu.

Theory vs. practice The legal premises or thesis no innocent should be punished but as many guilty persons as possible can escape a possible punishment is not a healthy argument.

How can a corrupt and dishonest lawyer become an honest and lawful after becoming a judge or justice? How can corrupt judge be expected to deliver honest judgments? No wonder corruption has become a part of Indian justice delivery system and jurisprudence.

When dishonest lawyers become judges they continue to mint money and this explains as to why many judges are being caught across the globe in bribery scandals.

Won’t there be murder of judgments in courts? Why politicians and top bureaucrats boldly take bribes and make illegal wealth so openly?

When corrupt and greedy lawyers are the judges in courts, people cannot expect real and honest judgments Can thieves and criminals become police and judges? But that perhaps is happening.

The judiciary and jurisprudence has fallen a mute victim (Your lord!).

Politicians and government functionaries take undue advantage of this disastrous lacuna, detrimental to the honest upbringing of a society. .

Of course, suggestion is made here that Indian system would be fair and honest if lawyers are not promoted as judges as has been the case hitherto but judges are trained right from the beginning after their excellent degrees in law (unlike the shameful practice of undergoing a law course just for obtaining degrees without proper attendance, at times on payment basis to practice law) as future hopes of Indian honest and fair judges to uphold pride and dignity of judiciary. Much more is required to make the system work honestly.

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Corruption in courts at high levels, involving judges is a serious concern. Bribery for judges is very serious crime. But when judges accept or demand bribes for ‘favourable’ judgments they become criminals. Just like politicians and bureaucrats do, Judges use middlemen for making quick wealth as they won’t be caught or punished for disproportionate asset cases.

That makes the entire system of a nation suspicious and dirty.

Hence judges have to be saved from dishonesty and discredit they may suffer due the presence of wrong or corrupt or extremely self-centered judges among genuine judges.

Judicial review Judgment means truth. It can’t be otherwise under any circumstances.

Unfortunately, the nation is upset that judges and judgments generally go by the demand of the stronger party and who can offer more money. Media also play disastrous role in arm-twisting judges to deliver judgments to support the cause of the majority people.

Judges constitute a critical force for interpretation and implementation of a constitution, thusde facto in common law countries creating the body of constitutional law. For a people to establish and keep the 'Rule of Law' as the operative norm in social constructs great care is taken in the election and/or appointment of unbiased and thoughtful legal scholars whose loyalty to an oath of office is without reproach.

If law is to govern and find acceptance, generally courts must exercise fidelity to justice which means affording those, subject to its jurisdictional scope the greatest presumption of inherent cultural relevance within this framework.

In the US during recent decades the judiciary became active in economic issues related with economic rights established by constitution because "economics may provide insight into questions that bear on the proper legal interpretation". Since many countries with transitional political and economic systems continue treating their constitutions as abstract legal documents disengaged from the economic policy of the state, practice of judicial review of economic acts of executive and legislative branches have begun to grow.

In the 1980s, the Supreme Court of India for almost a decade had been encouraging public interest litigation on behalf of the poor and oppressed by using a very broad interpretation of several articles of the Indian Constitution.

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When a Chief justice of India is shamelessly taking bribes in cores to deliver a favorable judgment, one can gauge the damage already in judiciary by all concerned.

Since corruption level in judiciary has also been alarming, giving other spheres impetus to go on rampage in corrupt practices, not very long ago the Indian Supreme Court sent out a loud warning to the high and mighty, including politicians, not to try to change the course of judicial proceedings with corrupt practices and said any such attempt would be dealt with an iron hand. "Please keep corrupt practices away from judiciary. At least this institution should be spared," a bench of Justices T S Thakur and Rohinton F Nariman said while hearing a petition by mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, who is accused of paying a bribe of Rs 10 crore to a trial judge for getting bail. Reddy approached the court seeking that two cases filed against him — one for illegal mining and another for bribery — be heard together as the facts and evidence of the cases arose from the same offence.

Knowing the role money plays in judgments, Reddy submitted that the two cases against him were related and should be tried together, possibly to “deal” with the cases by money. He said his defense would be exposed if the cases were not clubbed together. "What defence can a person have for bribing a judge," the bench asked.

The CBI has alleged that trial judge T Pattabhirama Rao granted bail to Reddy after the mining baron agreed to pay Rs 10 crore. The judge was later suspended by the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the CBI filed an FIR against him, his son and five others including Reddy.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was released from a Bangalore jail on disproportionate wealth early this year by a Judge by falsely commuting the accounting to show that Jayalalithaa has no case at all- this the judge later admitted .

Expressing concern over attempts to bribe judges, the bench said, "People are having so much money that they are now bribing the greedy judges. When money comes in abundance, then people don't know what to do with the money. They try to subvert the entire system and judicial process. Anyone who plays with the court system must be dealt with heavily. This virus has to be eliminated." It added that people who adopted corrupt practices like bribing a judicial officer were actually attempting to hijack the system.

The bench asked the counsel appearing for Reddy how much money was paid to the judge. The lawyer tried to skirt the question but the bench insisted on knowing the amount. "Don't feel embarrassed to tell the amount," the bench said. The counsel said the allegation against his client was that he paid Rs 10 crore.

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In a shocking disclosure, a special CBI judge said on Aug 17, 2014 that the high-profile accused in the alleged Syndicate Bank bribery case had sought to influence her.

"Please tell your clients to stop sending love letters to me. I am already from a well off background, if you don't stop this act, I will direct CBI to take action against you," Special CBI Judge Mrs. Swarana Kanta Sharma said. The woman judge warned of action against the accused for making attempts of "influencing" her by writing "love letters" to her. The court made these strong remarks while remanding the bank's suspended CMD Sudhir Kumar Jain and others to judicial custody till August 29. It was an open court and the judge refrained from elaborating on the attempts of the accused to influence However, she strictly directed the defence counsels to make their clients behave. It was not clear if her remarks were against some of the accused or against all the accused in the case.

The arrest of Sudhir Kumar Jain is one of most high profile cases involving a serving state-run bank chief in over two decades. CBI officials had said that Jain was arrested from Bangalore when one of his relatives, a chartered accountant, was taking Rs 50 lakh as bribe from a private company. Two companies for which Jain allegedly raised the credit limit are Prakash Industries and Bhushan Steel, which are being probed by the CBI in the coal block allocation scam, officials at the agency had said. Bhushan Steel Vice Chairman Neeraj Singal, Chief Financial Officer of Bhushan Steel Arun Agarwal, Vineet Godha, Puneet Godha and Vijay Pahuja were the other accused who were sent to judicial custody. Jain, who was suspended as chairman and managing director after his arrest early this month, and Singal were produced in court after expiry of their judicial custody while the other accused were brought from jail on court's production warrants.

The court, on August 12, had issued production warrants against them. The CBI has filed two cases against Jain -- accusing him of receiving a bribe of Rs 50 lakh through conduits and abusing his official position to enhance the credit limits of some companies in violation of laid-down procedures. Singal was arrested by CBI on August 7, hours after the court had issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against him and a middleman, Purushotam Totlani in the case. On August 2, CBI had arrested six accused, including Jain and Agarwal.

Chief Justice of Karnataka Subhro Kamal Mukherjee on 07th July 2016 confirmed what he had said in court a day earlier: someone had offered him money to deliver a favourable judgment. “Whatever I have revealed in the open court hall is true,� he told Express. Asked what action he was planning against the bribery attempt, he said recusal from the case was action enough. The sensational disclosure that a Bengalispeaking person had visited his house and tried to bribe him has brought forth shocked responses from the legal fraternity.

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Advocates’ bodies are urging the judiciary to take up a suo motu case and conduct an inquiry to identify the person who had tried to influence the justice system. C Shivaramu, president, Advocates’ Association of Bengaluru, described the incident as unfortunate. “Immediate action is called for against the visitor and those behind the visitor,” he said. “Such interference can be curbed if the culprit is suitably punished.”

Karnataka State Bar Council Chairman A R Patil had heard about Mukherjee’s disclosure. “I don’t know whether the Chief Justice has filed a complaint with the police.

But dubious visitors should not be allowed near judges,” he said. Mukherjee made the sensational disclosure as he was hearing a revision petition filed by Umrah Developers against the Revenue Department and the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district.

After telling the court a visitor had tried to buy a favourable verdict, he rescued himself from the case, and told a senior counsel to take a photocopy of the visiting card the visitor had left behind. CBI claimed to have recovered Rs 21 lakh in cash from Jain's residence besides gold worth Rs 1.68 crore and documents of fixed deposits of up to Rs 63 lakh. In the two FIRs, CBI has named Singal, Ved Prakash Agarwal, Chairman-cumManaging Director of Prakash Industries, Pawan Bansal, chartered accountant, Vineet and Puneet Godha (relatives of Jain), Vijay Pahuja, Totlani and Pankaj Bansal. The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy under the IPC. Story involves investigation of crimes committed by Judges is On-Line-Publicized with avowed Patriotic intention to weed-out corrupt Judges on one-hand & on the other to improve Quality of Justice as well as to enhance Confidence of General Public in Judiciary.

Only CBI is authorized to investigate Crimes committed by Judges; the Jurisdiction of State Police of any State is barred.

The gist of story is flashed to all Members of Parliament to enable them to discuss in Parliament to find ways & means to reduce and if possible to eradicate Corruption in Judiciary. It enables every MP to discuss vote for National Judicial Services Bill, to amend Judges (Judicial Officers' Protection) Act, & other such laws so as to bring the erring Judges within the reach of Common Law. With full evidence, court records, live cases, and admittance to crimes by the judges themselves.

Judicial corruption as constitutional sin When judges are reported to b taking bribes to settle cases, when a former Chief Justice is caught involved in corrupt practices to the tune of crores of Indian currency, 99

very little the people can trust judiciary’s ability to be honest. From discreet nature judiciary corruption has become open. In public as many top politicians get out of prisons and when judges write fake judgments in their favor, obviously on payment basis.

Judgments are being sold just like some government decisions and orders come out on similar conditions favoring compote lords and important persons controlling the elected governments. . . .

Is it justice?

Corruption, common not just in third world but even in western countries, has affected even military and judiciary. Bribery, being practiced by most people, has harmed the poor and common people the most. There is some hope that judiciary can help and save them. Rulers and parliaments, themselves are basically corrupt, don’t wish to reform the corrupt system.

Corruption is rampant in India's courts. According to Transparency International, judicial corruption in India is attributable to factors such as "delays in the disposal of cases, shortage of judges and complex procedures, all of which are exacerbated by a preponderance of new laws". Most disturbing is the fact that corruption has reached the highest judicial forum i.e. Supreme Court of India. Some notable cases include: In December 2009, legal activist and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan stated in court, "out of the last 16 to 17 Chief Justices, half have been corrupt. In November 2010, former Law Minister, Shanti Bhushan echoed Prashant Bhushan's claim.

Not many people are happy with the judiciary and judges for their apparently faulty judgments and reasons for this state of affairs could be several. Reliability of judgments is questioned.

There have been allegations that judges with doubtful integrity are elevated within the higher judiciary and campaigns held for their impeachment have not been successful. In November 2011, a former Supreme Court Justice Ruma Pal slammed the higher judiciary for what she called the seven sins. She listed the sins as: Turning a blind eye to the injudicious conduct of a colleague; Hypocrisy – the complete distortion of the norm of judicial independence; Secrecy – the fact that no aspect of judicial conduct including the appointment of judges to the High and Supreme Court is transparent; Plagiarism and prolixity – meaning that very often SC judges lift whole passages from earlier decisions by their predecessors and do not acknowledge this – and use longwinded, verbose language; Self Arrogance – wherein the higher judiciary has claimed crass superiority and independence to mask their own indiscipline and transgression of norms and procedures; Professional arrogance – whereby judges do not do their homework and arrive at decisions of grave importance ignoring precedent or judicial principle; Nepotism – wherein favors are sought and dispensed by some judges for gratification of varying manner 100

In 2011, Soumitra Sen, former judge at the Calcutta High Court became the first judge in the India to be impeached by the Rajya Sabha for misappropriation of funds.

In recent years scandals about lack of integrity have besmirched the reputation of the judiciary. The sub-ordinate judiciary works in appalling conditions. Any reform undertaken must be in its totality rather than in isolation.

On 12 January 2012, a Supreme Court bench said that people's faith in judiciary was decreasing at an alarming rate, posing a grave threat to constitutional and democratic governance of the country. It acknowledged some of the serious problems of a large number of vacancies in trial courts, unwillingness of lawyers to become judges, and the failure of the apex judiciary in filling vacant posts of HC judges.

Apex Court wanted to seek answers from the government on amicus curiae's suggestion that access to justice must be made a constitutional right and consequently the executive must provide necessary infrastructure for ensuring every citizen enjoyed this right. It also wanted the Government of India to detail the work being done by the National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms.

There have been cases where ordinary citizens have been charged for espionage while overstaying their visa or straying across the international land or maritime boundary and languishing in prison for years due to the slow redressal process.

Why intelligent persons ignore law as profession

The judicial system should make judges a class apart- trust worthy and adorable. There could be honest and hardwiring people in every walk of life, every field and that is how the system functions even with drawbacks. But in judiciary every judge must be genuine and responsible for the society and hence they have to be accountable for their actions.

Lack of talent Judiciary is no longer attracting the best legal talent because of disparity in the income of bright young lawyers and the emoluments of judicial officers. In order to attract persons of the right caliber to the judicial cadre, System must keep enhancing salaries, improve their service conditions, particularly of the trial court judges.

Small step Judges want to get a plot from the housing society by misusing their position. A story involves is of a (Microscopic) Housing Society consisting of 867 judges out of total 2600 public/government servants. The membership is not compulsory inter alia is restricted only to "Employees of Karnataka State Judicial Department" but on voluntary basis. The aims and objects of Judges becoming members of this society is to get a PLOT of land 101

in exchange for PLOTS viz., misusing their positions including their offices to further the illegal aims and objects of the society.

What Crimes have they Committed, necessitating Peoples' Resolution?: The "Long & Short of Crimes Judges have committed" is this that if were to be committed by any ordinary persons/Advocates/Ministers; same would have been languishing in Jail. The Corrupt Judges, plotters for the heck of a PLOT of land have made many conspiracies (PLOTs); to defeat laws of India, Rendered & Secured fraud judgments, legalized illegals. Evidences of crimes perpetrated on Laws, Govt. & Court are adduced by themselves. They admit that JUDICIAL LAY-OUT or Judges Slum is a result of not only Fraud Judgments but also of Un-Holy Alliance of Judiciary with Govt. of Karnataka (if not Legislature also) and corporate lords since 1985. Few cases are alive in Supreme Court & High Court (which are well informed in this website/CD); which cases inadvertently prove our earlier statements. Estimated amount involved is Rs. 17 Lakh Billion.

It is most unfortunate that Judicial Emp. HBCS which should have been model to other Housing Societies has itself become the Leading Law breaker without the least fear or Care for Law; Propriety or Public Interest. It has indulged in acts of Favor, Cronyism and capricious indifference to Law at Will, obviously under the hubris that having S.C & H.C. Judges as its Members & beneficiaries will ensure immunity to all its Illegal acts.

What is more disquieting is the Readiness with which sitting S.C & H.C Judges who are not "Employees" under any Government but are Constitutional functionaries, should have eagerly become members of Employees HBCS and obtained sites. Having registered office in Karnataka high Court building itself invoking "Awe & Terror in the Minds of various Government Agencies”, who have to take action against the Society as per law, do not create an atmosphere of Fairplay, Straightforwardness or Impartial dispensation of Justice".

The Investigations reveal that this Society’s Illegal activities have topped list of Cheating & Frauds in this Country; by the way society has violated Gravest-of Grave Laws the Judicially -Out, has become Mother of all illegal activities. Committee has received complaints that stating that other Societies have also indulged in similar illegal Activities.

Therefore to take stringent action against illegal activities of Karnataka state Judicial department Employees’ House Building Co-operative Housing Society, it was recommended to supersede the Society forthwith & to initiate Criminal prosecution against persons who are responsible for such nefarious Activities.

Such actions would go a long way to streamline the anti-corruption campaign in judicatory

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Need for Indian Judicial Service (IJS) At par with IAS, IFS, IPS, there is a need for an institution like Indian Judicial Service (IJS) to train and recruit the judicial personnel- the judges, mainly. The process of final selection of judges of all levels should be rigorous so people stop suspecting the judges and judges deliver genuine justice to nation and people. .

India should do away with the practice of appointing senior lawyers as judges, which has not worked well as malpractices and corruption have become rampant and prevalent at all levels. Judgments encourage corruption especially at lower courts. Only rich or people with a lot of money alone can approach the upper or lower courts.

Government should ensure the Indian Judicial Service serves the cause of speedy and genuine justice to the people while Indian Judicial Service should ensure that only persons of integrity are selected for the top ranked jobs in judiciary and, therefore, the nation. Top judges of Supreme and High courts who make the Indian Judicial Service commission should certify that the personnel chosen are indeed fit for the top judiciary jobs.

Judicial Commission of India (JCI) In order to make the judicial system function better, Apart from the existing Law Commission India also needs another more important Judicial Commission of India to facilitate speedy functioning of Indian Judicial Service that would produce talented but honest judges of IJS. Judicial Commission of India would also appoint or recommend for appointment of judges from among en eminent but honest with track record as judges. It would also take punitive measures – dismissal, suspension or demotion, etc - against the judges if they are found to be corrupt, dishonest and show nepotism in judgments, among other matters appropriate with respecting Indian law.

It should also focus on the quality improvement of proceedings and judgments and honest profile of advocates.

Observations From what has been said above one thing becomes very clear to us. Criminals cannot be police officers and frauds and manipulators cannot be judges at any level. Innocent cannot be punished but culprits cannot escape.

Of course, corruption is rampant and all pervasive. Whole thing started with political corruption and nepotism in societies, permitted by the government and state where 103

judiciary remains a mute witness without having power to intervene on its own. This helplessness where corruption cum nepotism enjoys respect in offices has rendered judiciary a rather weak domain that could be manipulated by one and sultry is growing in alarming proportion.

Political corruption has percolated into every domain of societal interaction, badly affecting the judiciary as well as lawyers and judges, among others, are engaged in corrupt practices with state protection Entire system has become totally rotten. It appears there is no visible remedy to set things right because everyone seeks to mint money by all means.

In such a system, people at large are obviously fast losing faith judiciary, judges and doubt judgments. And that is indeed a devastating trend a demoralizing society can witness world over. The belief that money can win – and is winning- even the most difficult court cases because it can engage not only the top lawyers but also buy the judges is not a wrong preemption and not a healthy sign of any normal civilized society.

Common people cannot afford to approach higher courts and hence judgments in lower courts also have to be truthful and credible.

It can’t be denied that a few genuine advocates have made themselves into good judges as well. They do deliver genuine unbiased judgments. But that is not the case in many cases where judges use constitution to validate certain hypothesis to help even the known criminals and international frauds.

Reports say a former Chief Justice of India by name Balakrishnan was reportedly involved in expensive corruption deals. Many judges are named as bribe takers. Some judges have misused their power to get lands and housing plots. (Government should consider giving permanent residence for the Chief justice and land to judges free cost if they do not have their houses or lands for housing so that this class could saved from chasing “sources” for houses or lands) In order to loot the nation’s resources and promote bribery-dowry system, Indian politicians have done away with what is very dear to a nation: honesty and truth. That is the crux of negative predicaments of Indian nation. A parliament of rich and agents of corporate lords cannot be honest. The rich lawyers, who become judges by immoral means and after playing all sorts of mischief with the common people that approach them with genuine problems for help, cannot honestly decide the fate of Indian nation, either.

Judiciary should serve the cause of justice delivery by way of honest judgments. For this to happen, judges should be honest.

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The system has spoiled judges with a very few exceptions. Good crops of judges alone can deliver the most genuine judgments to make a nation proud of its judiciary system, its capacity to deliver true judgments.

India always looks to get guidance from western countries. Since they all are also promoting corrupt judiciaries, there is no need to expect western ‘democracies’ to launch the necessary judicial reforms by preparing judges in a special stream.

India could initiate steps to make the judicial system really credible and judgments very genuine. India could urgently create Judicial Commission to promote good lawyers and create real judges not from the best of lawyers as the practice now but from among the direct recruits as judges. The said commission should have top luminaries of law and top judges who served the nation with dedication and dignity and without getting involved in any immoral disputes or bribery scandals - officially or otherwise, Judges with genuinely clean image would be in the commission in order to save judiciary and jurisprudence.

The recruits as new judges also should have enough experience in watching and commenting on proceedings and judgments for a number of years before being appointed as judges at higher courts and they should be rigorously tested before appointments so that they don’t become a part of old system of corrupt judiciary. .

During probation their professional movements should be carefully watched, monitored and evaluated by a team of highly experienced specialists so that judges are really worthy leaders in law.

The Judicial or Law Commission should not have any bureaucrats or politicians like law minister etc, for; they could influence the legal process or selection process of judges.

Only law secretary could be there, if need be.

There could be two streams in law education - one stream be meant training for lawyers and another for the creation of trust worthy judges. Training for judges could be undertaken by Judiciary Commission or law academy of efficient judges and academicians who oppose corruption of any kind. .

Genuine judges and judiciary alone can serve and save the nation from going decay.

The fictitious case of Babri Mosque is still pending judgment possibly because the federal government, responsible for the destruction of the Mosque by Hindu communal elements as per the plan of RSS, is creating hurdles to the court to believer judgment.

Essentially anti-Muslim Indian government’s attitude has been one of “we decide” the Mosque issue.

Judicial Judgment should not be mistaken for cricket umpire’s ruing meant to support a team, although even a few judge s of Apex Court, like the governments, has a lot of sympathies for fake cricketers and endorse their false bogus records.

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---------------Chapter- 14: India: AIADMK likely to expel VK Sasikala at general council meeting in September!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ______

As Tamil Nadu governor Rao refused to ask the CM Palanisamy to test his majority on the floor of the house as demanded by DMK and Sasikala-Dinakaran and family, Dinakaran is annoyed. “Chinnanna” , nephew of Chinnamma Sasikala, jailed for rampant corrupt operations, looting the resources belonging to Tamil people.

The ruling AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 234-member state Assembly with one vacancy caused by the death of CM and party supremo J Jayalalithaa from RK Nagar. The splits in the party, latest by the Dinakaran group, have created a sort of instability and instability of the government in the state.

Currently, 19 AIADMK MLAs have sided with Dhinakaran game plan and are camping at the neighbouring union territory of Puducherry after meeting Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao, and expressing lack of confidence in the chief minister.

As 19 MLAs of AIADMK loyal to sidelined party deputy-chief TTV Dhinakaran continued their rebellion within the party, Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswamy called a meeting which decided to convene the party's general council. A decision to remove jailed party general-secretary VK Sasikala from the post is likely be taken at the general council meeting. The general council and executive meeting of AIADMK will be convened on 12 September.

Dinakaran, still hoping to take over power in Madras Fort to mint crores of money and illegal wealth, trying to oust the CM Palanisamy in order to quickly assume power at eh Fort and help aunt and chinnamma Sasikala in the jail who seeks all privileges that were extended to former CM Jayalalithaa. Dinakaran, however, does not want DMK to use the confusion in the ruling party, created by him and his “akka” (sister).

On 20 August, when the two factions of the AIADMK, led respectively by Palaniswamy and current Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam merged, party leader R Vaithilingam said steps would be taken to sack Sasikala from the party, a demand raised by the Panneerselvam faction for the unification.

Not recognizing both Sasikala and Dinakaran and their extended family, the Palaniswamy camp has rejected these decisions, saying Dhinakaran had been removed as deputy general-secretary on 10 August, and hence sackings and appointments ordered by him were not valid.

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Reportedly she goes out of jail in Bangalore presumably for shopping and site seeing, and Karnataka government is unable to take punitive measures against the jail authorities and Sasikala.

Whether or not she is responsible for the early death of her “akka” CM Jayalalithaa under suspicious circumstances, she has planning to execute her dream of taking very tactfully both the strong ruling party and government but the serious corruption charges and jail life presented by the Apex Court denied her that opportunity.

Having lost hopes of being made the CM of the state, Dinakaran has split the ruling party by weeding away some 18 MLAs he thought the TN governor would either call for a floor test or dismiss the government, Dinakaran and DMK and some more parties have met the President in New Delhi to ask the CM Palanisamy to prove his majority.

Dinakaran who is now out of jail and Sasikala who is in jail are deeply upset that their conspiracy has not worked in their favor and O. Panneerselvam is back in power and their temporary nominee Palanisamy has taken a position that is against the interests of secret plans of Sasikala -Dinakaran and family. Now a new brother of Sasikala is seen on the TV channels seeking power for Dinakaran to promote the joint family interests.

Leaders of four opposition parties met the governor to press for convening a meeting of state assembly but he said the party has not lost its majority as none of the 19 MLAs has resigned from the ruling party nor were removed by the party. As such, the ruling party still has the majority and that could even be proved in the assembly.

Following Governor Rao’s rejection of the pleas of DMK and Dinakaran to get the floor test in the assembly, the rebel MLAs have lost the steam but they continue to enjoy life at a posh Pondicherry resort. The TN minister Jayakumar who successfully mediated between the OPS and EPS faction for reunification, ahs cautioned them that they are on the wrong path behind Dinkaran and if they stop following the Sasikala-Dinakaran’s conspiratorial footsteps to pull down the government, they would be taken back to the party.

Governor Rao explained that he cannot accept the argument that Palanisamy government has lot majority since the 18 rebel MLAs are still in the party, they have not left the party, nor joined any other party nor launched a new party.

Further, if take a democratic decision, then CM Palanisamy has got the support of about 115 MLAs and just 18 MLAs cannot decide the fate of government that has majority of party MLAs with it.

Moreover, Dinkaran keeps saying that he has no plan to pull down the elected Amma government. This means the government would not fall after the floor test and Dinakaran is only playing dirty tricks.

CM Palanisamy convened the meeting of MLAs and MPs at the party HQ. Convened by Palaniswamy and attended by senior party functionaries and 107

ministers, Monday's meeting also discussed Dinakaran’s recent shuffling of the party ranks, the sources said. Monday's meeting, which some of the party MLAs and MPs did not attend, also discussed the validity of the appointments made by Sasikala before going to jail in the Rs 66.6 crore disproportionate assets case.

Steps would be taken to consider removing Sasikala as the chief of the party at the meeting of the general council, the apex body of the AIADMK, sources added.

Unfazed by the attack from the chief minister's camp, Dhinakaran continued to reshuffle party ranks. As part of his efforts to punish those who are not behind him, Dhinakaran had removed Palaniswamy as the party's Salem district secretary on Sunday, besides sacking many other ministers from party posts. Among others, Dhinakaran sacked cabinet ministers P Thangamani and SP Velumani as district secretaries of Namakkal and Coimbatore, respectively. He also removed their colleague M Natarajan as the district secretary of Tiruchirappalli City unit.

Interestingly, these days as a self appointee dictator Dinakaran, on the strength of Sasikala’s appointment of him as her deputy in the party, keeps removing party functionaries with his own supporters However election commission has not recognized her appointment as AIADMK’s GS and hence his claim being the deputy GS of Sasikala is invalid too.

As purge continued, Dhinakaran sacked a member of Parliament Tiruchirappally secretary T Rathinavel too. Thangamani and Velumani, besides former ministers V Murthy, TKM Chinnaiah, BV Ramana and Mukkur N Subramanian were also removed by Dhinakaran as AIADMK organisation secretaries. Apart from announcing the reshuffling of other party units, Dhinakaran has removed MPs KR Arjunan and SR Vijayakumar as secretaries of Nilgiris and students’ wing secretaries.

All the changes were being made by chinnanna with the approval of party Chief chinnamma VK Sasikala, Dhinakaran said in a statement. Sasikala was appointed the interim general-secretary of the party by the general council at a meeting held on 29 December 2016, days after the demise of late chief minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa.

AIADMK would ask the Election Commission to declare the interim poll of the AIADMK null and void as it was a conspiracy by the Sasikala family. The erstwhile Panneerselvam faction had earlier approached the Election Commission against Sasikala's appointment as party chief last year. Meanwhile, sources in the unified AIADMK said a team of ministers might approach the Election Commission to withdraw the affidavits filed in favour of Sasikala by the Palaniswamy camp before the merger. They might leave for Delhi soon, accompanied by aides of Pannnerselvam, they added.

Apparently, CM Palanisamy has the support of majority of the party MLAs and as such she still enjoys majority. Jayalalithaa did not trust both Sasikala and Dinakaran as their extended family began controlling the government. In fact Jaya has expelled the Dinkaran and she refused to him an audience till her last breath.

Dinakaran merged all of sudden when Sasikala was taken to jail.

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Any change in the government at this juncture may not be in their interests of the state and people. Continued uncertainty will only help the corrupt forces waiting in the wings to make wealth illegally.

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Chapter- 15: India: Sasikala, Dinakaran threaten unified AIADMK. Will they support DMK to pull down AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ____________

In Tamil Nadu as elsewhere in the country, corruption plays pivotal role in politics. As the problems of rung party increasing, corruption in the state keeps playing devil’s role at all levels. No one can do anything without adequately bribing the “concerned”.

Indian system permits that, unfortunately. By 202o – the cut year for the federal government to make a new India - the situation could be even worse.

Dinakaran, nephew of jailed Sasikala, removed by former CM Jayalalithaa from the ruing AIADMK for corrupt and suspicious activities, and was nowhere until recently, is now doing all talks in the media, seeking to take over the ruling party and government. Having pulled a few MLAs form the ruling party, he is threatening the government’s tenure.

Death of Jayalalithaa has exposed the real disunity in the ruling party as among those who didn’t get any ministerial berths or other favors from her but could not revolt against her are not against the weak government today.

The faction led by jailed Sasikala and her brother Dinakaran who used the arty and Jayalithaa’s position to increase their illegal wealth, is busy wooing as many MLAs as possible to their side from the ruling AIADMK to weaken the government and force the CM Palanisamy to step down so that Dinakaran could rule the state on behalf of her dear sister, the self-proclaimed Chinnamma.

The MLAs supporting Sasikala and Dinakaran continue to enjoy five-star life at a tourist resort in Pondicherry and obviously they are also paid huge sum by Sasikala possibly from the Jayalalithaa’s money. The happy MLAs enjoy fast food and slow walk on the beach, play all sorts of games, consume free liquor, etc, Earlier, Sasikala had kept all MLAs in a resort on the outskirts of Chennai.

As Sasikala and Dinakaran played big role in dividing the ruling AIADMK by throwing out former CM O, Panneerselvam, former CM jaya’s closest party member 109

and appointing their favorites as party functionaries. In fact the MLAs who are now behind the Sasikala and Dinakaran were opposed to Jayalithaa policy of making appointing according to her wishes, especially OPS whom she preferred to be the acting CM. The meeting discussed the issue of 19 (allegedly 22) legislators giving a letter to Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao withdrawing their support to Chief Minister E. Palanisamy and wanting a new Chief Minister.

As the rival Sasikala/Dinakaran faction tried to woo more MLAs to their side to threaten the ruling government, the united All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) on Monday the August 28 met at the party HQ and passed a resolution to expel VK Sasikala and TTV Dinakaran, so-called General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary respectively permanently. It has also been decided to take back AIADMK official media “Jaya” and “MGR” from Dinakaran. The meet under Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam passed four resolutions and invalidated all orders passed by Sasikala and Dinakaran. As per the resolution, AIADMK party mouthpieces Namadhu (Our) MGR and Jaya TV will be retrieved legally.

Ever since the faction led by Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami sidelined him, Dinakaran has been trying to establish his supremacy within the party as its “Deputy General Secretary” appointed by Sasikala before going to the jail.

Dinakaran had on Sunday dismissed Palaniswami as the party’s Salem Suburban District Secretary. Earlier he had sacked several party officials like former Minister S Gokula Indira, Chief Whip S Rajendran and others and also expelled from the party Rajya Sabha Member R Vaithialingam.

Officially the AIADMK had broken into two factions – one led by Panneerselvam and the other by Sasikala after the demise of chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Post the merger on August 22 between two factions – one led by Panneerselvam and the other by Palaniswami, the duo also announced that steps would be taken to sack Sasikala from the party post and also from the party.

Ex finance minister Jayakumar had offered to give his post to OPS for a merger formula and he has done so as part of his efforts to successfully bring the factions together. In fact, he is one of best leaders who worked tirelessly for the merger and as such he deserves accolades for that.

The Election Commission has recognised only these two factions at the time of the bypoll for the R K Nagar constituency. The bypoll got postponed on the grounds of money play in bribing the voters. Subsequently, a third faction emerged under Palaniswami as it developed differences with Sasikala-Dinakaran faction which ridiculed Palanaismami as a traitor and one who entered the top job by back door. But Palanisamy replied that Dinakaran was removed by Jayalalithaa and he is not a member of the party.

The resolutions have angered the Dinakaran and his MLA supporters. On 29 December 2016, the AIADMK which, after the sudden death of CM Jayalalithaa, was taken over by Sasikala Natarajan who had worked in Jaya’s house passed a 110

resolution to work under the leadership of Sasikala. Jayalithaa had kicked Sasikala out of her Poes garden for some time before the CM pardoned her to return to her house. Most MLAs wanted to save the party and government and thought Sasikala is sincere about that, not knowing her hidden agenda to promote herself and family and mint more money as CM. She punished those whom Jayalithaa promoted.

As resolutions nullify all the decisions made on August 10.by party “deputy general secretary” T.T.V. Dinakaran they would have no legal impact as his own appointment was also announced null and void. The AIADMK meeting at Chennai's Royapettah was held today. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy and O. Panneerselvam were present in the meeting.

On August 26, Dinakaran said that all those MLAs supporting him will teach a lesson to those who want to evict Sasikala.

Over the last few days, many MLAs of the AIADMK have pledged support to Dinakaran taking the strength of his camp to 21. The anger within the EPS over its merger with the Panneerselvam camp was evident as the MLA publically chided the Chief Minister for his decision.

While the DMK and the Congress have been urging the Tamil Nadu Governor to direct Palanisamy to prove his majority in the House, no decision on the same has been taken yet.

Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao is expected to return to Tamil Nadu shortly, after which he is likely to ask Palanisamy to take a floor test. This would be the second time in six months that the State Assembly would witness a floor test, if it happens.

Inordinate delay in bring the two factions together helped the Dinakaran to woo some MLAs to his side. Dinakaran thought the factions would never come together and when they did rejoined to revive the AIADMK, Dinkaran is annoyed.

Now he is eager to destabilize the government and might even support the DMK to pull down the ruling government, though the “Chinnanna” Dinakaran says he doesn’t have any such hidden agenda. This double talk has worried the people who want a normal government to function properly to make policies to promote their genuine interests, take steps to end corruption.

DMK demands the Governor to convene an assembly session for the government to prove its majority. Dinakaran wants the CM Palanisamy to step down.

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Chapter- 16: India: Tamil Nadu politics: Sasikala-Dinakaran duo weakened ruling AIADMK! 111

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _______

People of Tamil Nadu as well as entire nation are concerned about the conspiratorial death of their beloved leader and CM of the state J. Jayalalithaa who had given everything in her life to make very strong the ruling AIADMK party, had left behind by her leader and the founder of MGR. It appears the sudden end of one of most popular politicians- if not the most important and most popular regional leader at that- Jayalalithaa was the preplanned operation very tactfully executed by Sasikala and Dinakaran who used their relatives even to treat Jayalalithaa at Poes Garden leading to her irregular heath conditions and eventual hospitalization to breath last.

The hidden agenda of the f duo was to take over the government, the rich ruling party and the wealth and cash of Jayalalithaa as she had no husband or children to claim that- she has only distant relatives whom she did not let live with her in her Poes Garden bungalow in Chennai which is valued about 100 crores.

Not only the Opposition DMK but even Sasikala-Dinakaran duo has been focused only on the Madras Fort- the seat state administration. When the ambitious planner Sasikala was sent to jail for their financial crimes, she quickly made her own nephew Dinakaran who had been removed by Jayalalithaa from the party long back, to take over the party as her Deputy and he managed to collect a few MLAs, who opposed – rather hated- both Jayalalithaa and her CM nominee Pannerselvam, to execute his own project of becoming the party- government chief.

Like Sasikala, Dinakaran was also in hurry to take power and wealth of Jayalalithaa and AIADMK. Both consider the state – not just the ruling party and government- as their own private property and apparently they just waited for the exit of Jayalalithaa to execute their plan by using the party leaders who are grief slicken owing to the sudden demise of their leader without leaving any truly worthy leader to be accepted by the people.

Sasikala very systematically used the opportunity, most likely created by her and her people, including in the Apollo hospital, to easily step in to the Jaya’s shoes.

Of course, there is no clear v cut proof for fixing Sasikala for the shocking demise of former CM Jayalalithaa, who had been not an ordinary chief minister or usual leader.

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Hopefully the Justice Arumugasamy whom the Tamil Nadu government has appointed to probe the death of Jayalalithaa would reveal the whole truth about everything concerning her last part of her political life and her government as well as her death People have the right to know whole truth about the real cause of their charismatic leader Jayalalithaa’s death-when and how did she die?

Sudden death of Jayalalithaa did crate a vacuum in Tamil nadu politics, especially in the ruling AIADMK and government and it looked without her the part would not survive longer. But Sasikala and Dinakaran have further harmed the party by their conspiratorial political operations. So much so, if elections were to take place today, the DMK, waiting in wings, would emerge victorious as their vote share in the assembly poll was very close to that of AIADMK under powerful Jayalalithaa who opted to face the electorate without any political coalition with BJP or any other big parties.

But on 5 December 2016, to the surprise and shock of many of her followers, Jayalalithaa passed away. While the doctors said that Jayalalithaa suffered a massive cardiac arrest, the whispers surrounding the circumstances and nature of her death refused to go away.

On 25 September 2017, the Tamil Nadu government constituted an inquiry commission headed by Justice A Arumugasamy to look into the circumstances leading up to the death of the former chief minister.

One thing is becoming clear by now to the public that none met Jayalithaa in the Apollo Hospital during her treatment for 75 days. Days after startling claims made by Tamil Nadu forest minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan that no state minister was allowed to see the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa when she was in the hospital, and that they had lied to the public about seeing her in the hospital, AIADMK imposed a gag order on its ministers to not talk about events related to Jayalalithaa’s days in hospital.

In his comments, Sreenivasan had said, "We would have told lies that she (Jayalalithaa) had idlis and people met her. The truth is that nobody saw her," adding that even the national leaders used to sit in Apollo Hospital’s chief Pratap Reddy's room along with the AIADMK ministers.

Sreenivasan claims were refuted by Tamil Nadu minister Sellur K Raju, and state law minister CV Shanmugham evaded the question asked by the media. The state forest minister had also claimed that only Jayalalithaa’s 113

close aide VK Sasikala used to meet her. However, Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran said that after 1 October 2016, even Sasikala was not allowed inside Jayalalithaa's room.

Incidentally, Sreenivasan in March this year had given clean chit to Sasikala and her family members saying that there was nothing suspicious about Jayalalithaa’s treatment or death.

Reacting to Sreenivasan’s allegations, Dhinakaran has demanded a CBI probe into Jayalalithaa’s death. Talking on the issue, he said, "Only when there is a CBI probe, can the ministers, who are making contradictory remarks (on meeting Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised), be questioned."

In the past, Dhinakaran had accused the state government of trying to use "the doubts over Amma's (Jayalalithaa) death" to "divert" the attention from its misgovernance. He had also warned that the Palaniswamy government would be sent home soon.

Palaniswamy and Dhinakaran are engaged in a tussle for power, with the latter accusing the chief minister of "betraying" Sasikala, who had nominated him to the top party post in February, following a revolt by Panneerselvam, reported PTI.

On 22 September 2016, Jayalalithaa was rushed to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital due to illness. During her stay, the government and hospital periodically released information stating that the AIADMK chief was on the road to recovery.

Initiating such a probe was a key pre-condition of former rebel AIADMK leader and now Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam for merging the party faction led by him with the one led by chief minister Palaniswamy. The two factions had merged on 21 August. However, all doesn't seem well within the newly united AIADMK with former AIADMK MP KC Palanisamy submitting an affidavit before the Election Commission of India stating that an election must be held for the post of the party’s general secretary.

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Following the unification of the two factions led by chief minister Palaniswamy and his deputy Panneerselvam, a decision was taken at the party’s ‘general council’ to form a new organisational hierarchy sans the post of general secretary.

The latest move seems to be the result of an inner power struggle between Panneerselvam and Palaniswamy.

However, nothing can be said with absolute certainty at this point as reported in the media that some people think that Palanisamy was fighting a battle on Panneerselvam’s behalf to ensure that the latter eventually emerged as general secretary of the AIADMK, others think that the ex-MP’s intention was to draw attention to the neglect that some of those like him were feeling due to the diminished role of Panneerselvam in the reorganized party structure.

Meanwhile, controversial AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, who has been sidelined by the party top-brass, was on Monday booked by the Chennai police for distributing pamphlets allegedly containing defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisami..

Dhinakaran, along with 10 others including former MLA Venkatachalam and local AIADMK functionary Saravan, were detained on the basis of a complaint that was filed, alleging that the pamphlets were being distributed outside a hall where the CM was holding a meeting. The pamphlets contained "derogatory remarks" against the prime minister and the chief minister, the police said.

Dhinakaran and his loyalists P Vetrivel, one of the 18 AIADMK MLAs recently disqualified from the Tamil Nadu Assembly under the anti-defection law, and V Pugazhenthi have also been named as accused in the case, the police said.

This is the second case slapped against Dhinakaran, who is engaged in a tussle for power with Palaniswami, by the state police.

Earlier, the sidelined AIADMK leader, along with Tamil actor and party functionary Senthil, had been booked for allegedly making defamatory remarks against P Kumar, the party MP from Tiruchirappalli. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had restrained the Tiruchirappalli police from arresting them.

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Responding to the latest case against him, Dhinakaran alleged that it was filed since his rival Palaniswami "is the police minister".

The chief minister also holds the Home portfolio, under which comes the police department. "This government is anyway going to fall. They are doing such these things since he (Palaniswami) is the police minister...Let them do what they want. The AIADMK supporters and the people are going to send them home," Dhinakaran told reporters in Chennai.

A year after the death of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, her nephew J Deepak on Monday said the Z plus security personnel were not present at Apollo Hospital when she was admitted there.

In an interview to Tamil television channel Thanthi TV, Deepak, the son of Jayalalithaa's brother, said that she was provided Z plus security and while he had visited Apollo Hospital for 60 days during her 75-day stay, he never saw the central security and wondered why it was removed.

"No minister visited Jayalalithaa when she was in the hospital," Deepak said.

Jayalalithaa's close aide of several decades the jailed VK Sasikala had looked after the former very well, Deepak said. He said during her hospital stay starting 22 September, 2016, Jayalalithaa was conscious only for three days.

Deepak said that his aunt was not conscious when Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited her, though it was officially said Jayalalithaa showed thumbs-up sign to Governor Rao. "I haven't signed any papers in Apollo Hospital. Sasikala has signed the papers in the hospital," Deepak said.

According to him, as a relative of Jayalalithaa, he had given the oral sanction to stop the life support systems like ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine. He also said delinking Sasikala and Dhinakaran from AIADMK is good for the party.

Of course, there are so many questions to the issue puzzling the public and will the Justice find answers to all of them?

That is indeed one million dollar question.

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Chapter- 17: Amid Dokalam standoff, Narendra Modi meets Xi Jinping in China briefly!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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Even as the debate on who won the Dokalam standoff still remains inconclusive, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to China to attend the BRICS in Xiamen and went up to Chinese President Xi Jinping to shake hands on the venue stage.

The Chinese and the Indian troops were engaged in a standoff since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese Army. On August 28, India's External Affairs Ministry announced that New Delhi and Beijing have decided on 'expeditious disengagement' of their border troops in the disputed Dokalam area.

Notwithstanding the Dokalam standoff, which had put ties between the two countries under strain, Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting on September 05.

Modi and Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting 73-day face-off between their troops in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector.

Modi, who attended the BRICS Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue earlier in the day, met on prior arrangement President Xi on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen.

During their meeting, Modi congratulated Xi on a 'very successful' BRICS Summit. "China is prepared to work with India to seek guidance from the five principles of Panchsheel," XI Jinping told PM Modi. Xi added that India and China are each other's major neighbours; we are also two of the world's largest and emerging countries. The two leaders reaffirmed the understanding reached at Astana to not allow differences to become disputes.

PM Modi, accompanied by a large team including senior officials National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, met the Chinese leader just before his travel to Myanmar from this port city. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were forward looking and constructive.

Speaking to media, Jaishankar said, "The two leaders reaffirmed that it is in the interest of both India and China to have good relations and felt that there should be closer communication between the defence and security personnel of India and China‌ It was a forward-looking conversation and not a backwardlooking one," Jaishankar said when asked whether Doklam stand-off was left behind by the two sides. He also said that important point made during the meeting was 117

peace and tranquility in the border area is a prerequisite for further development of a relationship.

India says there was a forward-looking and constructive approach taken by both sides. “Counter terrorism’ related issues were taken up during the course of BRICS, they were not discussed at this meeting. An important point made during the meeting was peace and tranquility in the border area is a prerequisite for further development of a relationship. There was a sense that if a relationship is to go forward then peace and tranquility on border areas must be maintained.

Interestingly, Modi and Xi kept on shaking their hands almost mutually for a long time as if they want to signal to restart the standoff left abruptly owing to the summit. .

The end of a standoff between India and China over a remote road on the Doklam plateau has prompted a vibrant discussion about the lessons learned. The emerging consensus in New Delhi is that India “won” and China “lost.” it remains unclear that India “won.” India’s strategic experts talked about India’s is willingness to challenge China and standoff is even viewed as providing a model that other states can use to counter Chinese coercion. If others stand up, China will back down.

Nevertheless, this consensus is misplaced. And the usual cricket analogy of winning and losing obscures much more than it reveals.

From India’s point of view, the status quo ante of June 2017 was restored, a victory. Yet from China’s perspective, Indian forces withdrew from Chinese territory (also claimed by Bhutan, but not by India). Moreover, on the ground at the site of the confrontation, Indian forces pulled back first. Meanwhile, Chinese forces still remain in Doklam, even if Beijing chose not to press ahead with the road extension that sparked the standoff.

There is also no indication from Chinese or Indian statements that China had to make any concessions to convince India to withdraw its troops. China’s claims and behavior will not change, noting that China would “continue with its exercise of sovereign rights” in the disputed area. In other words, China will still conduct patrols in Doklam and maintain the portions of road that had been built before the standoff started in early June.

Despite the triumphalism from some voices in New Delhi, India likely learned that Beijing does not back down immediately or without sustained effort. The disengagement at Doklam took more than ten weeks of diplomacy, much longer than previous confrontations along the China-India border in 2013 and 2014, which lasted only a few weeks.

China also had other reasons to seek de-escalation, none of which can be attributed to India’s intervention. An active confrontation would have cast a pall over the upcoming BRICS summit that China is hosting in Xiamen in early September. Russia, the leader of the BRICS, would have asked China not to escalate now and China obliged. And on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 118

19th Party Congress, Xi Jinping likely wanted to avoid any risky escalation that could affect the significant transfer of power that will occur. Once these events pass, however, China may be less constrained and more willing to tolerate risk on the border with India.

The Indian intervention also does not offer a “model” that other states can apply elsewhere for countering China’s assertiveness. India enjoyed tactical superiority at the site of the standoff, leveraging its well-developed forward position at Doka La and reserves of much larger forces based permanently in Sikkim. These advantages likely played a role in limiting China’s response.

Moreover, even if India scored a tactical win by thwarting China’s road extension, it may have lost at the strategic level. Ironically perhaps, India’s actions underscored to China the importance of enhancing its military position in the Doklam bowl. Before the standoff in June, China’s permanent presence in the area had been quite limited. China had maintained a road in the area for several decades, but did not garrison any forces. In contrast, India has maintained and developed a forward post at Doka La adjacent to Doklam.

India justified its action based on its commitments to Bhutan under a 2007 treaty. India has chosen to confront China at Doklam and China may well seek to rectify this tactical imbalance of forces by bringing in forces. In fact, China began to station forces (zhushou), to troops deployed to Doklam after the standoff began.

China would likely build facilities farther away from India’s position at Doka La, making it more challenging for India to intervene and block China next time. When India challenged China’s construction crews in June, it only had to move its forces a hundred meters from the existing border. But in the future, India may be faced with the uncomfortable choice of risking much more to deny China a greater presence farther inside Doklam or accepting it. So, even if India won this round, it may not win the next one.

China may have achieved some of its political objectives, whose importance overshadows the standoff over the road. Bhutan, always worried about being caught between its much larger neighbors, may become more reluctant to test China on territorial issues to avoid being drawn into a conflict between India and China.

If China seeks to address the tactical imbalance in Doklam in the future, India may be less successful using the same method to deter China again.

Take, for example,. The Doklam “model” would suggest that if China sought to build a permanent presence on the reef Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the USA could stop Chinese land reclamation by intervening on behalf of the Philippines to block Chinese dredgers. Yet unlike India’s open support of Bhutan’s claim to sovereignty over Doklam, the USA maintains a position of neutrality on the sovereignty of the contested land features in the South China Sea and around the world. Indo-US strategic partnership is not reliable.

Faced with finances for all its terror wars, USA is cautious about intervening in China’s territorial disputes directly, especially if states opposing China in 119

territorial disputes actively seek greater material support from Washington. China would view such a change in US policy as a significant challenge to all its territorial disputes with neighbors and react harshly to probe U.S. resolve, perhaps even taking limited military action to deter the USA from carrying out its new policy.

The narrow definition of the issue permitted troops to disengage without letting the more complicated problems prevent de-escalation. China and India - two nuclear-armed powers - avoided letting a small confrontation escalate into a much wider and more dangerous conflict. So the frame of winning and losing is misplaced.

The genius of the Doklam disengagement is that diplomats defined it in narrow and specific terms, focusing only on the forces at the “face-off site.” Larger issues, such as the location of the tri-junction between China, India and Bhutan, along with China and Bhutan’s competing claims to Doklam, were left off the table.

By not disclosing the terms under which the standoff ended, diplomats also allowed each other to save face.

Given that China will continue to press its territorial claims against India and Bhutan, as well as in the East and South China Seas, policymakers should be wary of learning the wrong lessons from the disengagement at Doklam.

The focus should now shift to how diplomacy can be employed to avoid military confrontations and reduce opportunities for conflict.

India wants the Chinese help in important matters and as such would not dare launching a terror war on China even if the latter would occupy a part of Indian territory.

Both occupy parts of Jammu Kashmir.

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Chapter- 18: Pivot to Asia and Chinese response!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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Under the Afghan-US security pact, established under Obama’s Asian pivot, Washington and its NATO partners have established a permanent military presence in Afghanistan, with military facilities located close to China’s Western frontier. The pact was intended to allow the US to maintain their 120

nine permanent military bases, strategically located on the borders of China, Pakistan and Iran as well as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

US military presence, however, has not prevented the expansion of trade and investment relations between China and Afghanistan. A strategic partnership agreement was signed between Kabul and Beijing in 2012.

Afghanistan has observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Moreover, neighboring Pakistan – now a full member of the SCO– has established close bilateral relations with China. And now Donald Trump is threatening Pakistan, which for many years has been the target of America’s “undeclared drone war”.

In other words, a shift in geopolitical alignments has taken place which favors the integration of Afghanistan alongside Pakistan into the Eurasian trade, investment and energy axis.

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and China are cooperating in oil and gas pipeline projects. The SCO of which Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are full members is providing a geopolitical platform for the integration of Afghanistan into the Eurasian energy and transport corridors.

China is eventually intent upon integrating Afghanistan into the transport network of Western China as part of the Belt and Road initiative.

Moreover, China’s state owned mining giant, Metallurgical Corporation of China Limited (MCC) “has already managed to take control of the huge copper deposit Mes Aynak, which lies in an area controlled by the Taliban.

Already in 2010, Washington feared “that resource-hungry China will try to dominate the development of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth which would upset the United States”… After winning the bid for its Aynak copper mine in Logar Province, China clearly wants more” Chinese mining conglomerates are now competing for strategic control of the global Lithium market, which until recently was controlled by the “Big Three” conglomerates including Albemarle’s While the Big Three dominate the market, China now accounts for a large share of global lithium production, categorized as the fourth-largest lithium-producing country behind Australia, Chile and Argentina. Meanwhile China’s Tianqi Group has taken control of Australia’s largest lithium mine, called Greenbushes. Tianqi now owns a 51percent stake in Talison Lithium, in partnership with North Carolina’s Albemarle.

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This thrust in lithium production is related to China’s rapid development of the electric car industry: China is now “The Center of Lithium Universe”.

China is already the largest market for electric cars. BYD, Chinese company backed by Warren Buffett, is the largest EV manufacturer in the world and Chinese companies are producing the largest amount of lithium chemicals for the batteries. There are 25 companies, which are making 51 models of electric cars in China now. This year we will see over 500,000 EVs sold in China. It took GM 7 years to sell 100,000 Chevy Volts from 2009. BYD will sell 100,000 EVs this year alone!

The size of the reserves of Lithium in Afghanistan has not been firmly established. Analysts believe that these reserves which are yet to be exploited will not have a significant impact on the global lithium market. Like Bush Junior and Obama, incumbent Trump also doesn’t seek to end terror wars and occupation and genocides in Afghanistan.

China is a major trading and investment partner with Afghanistan (alongside Russia and Iran), which potentially encroaches upon US economic and strategic interests in Central Asia.

China’s intent is to eventually integrate land transportation through the historical Wakhan Corridor which links Afghanistan to China’s Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region.

Afghanistan’s estimated $3 trillion worth of unexploited minerals, Chinese companies have acquired rights to extract vast quantities of copper and coal and snapped up the first oil exploration concessions granted to foreigners in decades. China is also eyeing extensive deposits of lithium, uses of which range from batteries to nuclear components.

The Chinese are also investing in hydropower, agriculture and construction. A direct road link to China across the remote 76-kilometer border between the two countries is in progress.

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Chapter- 19: India: Tamil Nadu politics: Sasikala must quit AIADMK! -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal 122

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The era of confusion and uncertainty that prevailed in Tamil Nadu since the death of the then CM Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu seems to have receded, if not disappeared, as the two major factions of the ruling AIADMK – Amma AIADMK of E. Palanisamy and Puratchithalaivi Amma AIADMK of O. Pannerselvam - have decided, after a prolonged drama for months, to forget their animosity and run the government and party jointly.

But the new arrangement has upset the jailed Sasikala and relatives.

Sasikala wanted special privileges the jail in Bangalore at par with those enjoyed by the former CM Jayalithaa. She also wanted to control the party and Jayalalithaa government by being in the jail for her financial crimes against Tami People, whose wealth she and her relatives have looted by staying at Poes garden house of Jayalalithaa for years. .

With the two major factions of the ruling AIADMK having come together and formed a unified government in Tamil Nadu with O.Panneerselvam as Deputy CM, the writing on the Tamil wall is crystal clear: so-called Chinnamma and her chinnamma must quit the Party and the posts they have acquired following the untimely death of Jayalalithaa.

People of AIADMK and Tamil Nadu have rejected the opportunistic politics of Sasikala and her family. They must end political theater and quite the state but leaving behind the wealth they have amassed illegally by misusing Jayalithaa and heir Poes garden bungalow.

Panneerselvam, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu who headed rebel AIADMK faction before the merger, was administered the oath of office and secrecy in Chennai by Governor Vidyasagar Rao. He was interim chief minister twice when Jayalalithaa stepped down due to cases against her, and then chief minister following her death on December 5, 2016. His close aide K Pandiarajan was swornin as minister for Tamil official language and Tamil culture.

As Jayalithaa died, on mysterious circumstances, Sasikala and her brother Dinakaran were not in the party posts and both were kept away from party and government. By Jayalalithaa who knew very well about the Sasikala family.

By using the sudden illness of CM Jaya and her admission in the Apollo Hospital, the Sasikala and her gang took control of the party and government and she planned to take both the party and government into her own hands and end Jayalithaa rule. Sasikala and Dinakaran and some AIAMDMK MLAs and ministers hated OPS because Jayalalithaa chose him to head the government in her absence in the jail and did not trust them at all.

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Now OPS is back in the government as Deputy CM and all tricks of Sasikala and Dinakaran and a few anti-Jayalithaa people who are now with Dinakaran and Sasikala A few Sasikala supports have emerged al of a sudden one of them is Pukazhendi who wanted to control the government and party but now in despairs as OPS and EPS have joined and highly disappointed Pukazendi is angry as he seems to be controlling some parts of finances of Sasikala and arranging for special privileges in jail for the prisoner Sasikala. .

With the two major factions of the ruling AIADMK having come together and form a unified government in Tamil Nadu the writing on the Tamil wall is crystal clear: so-called Chinnamma and her chinnamma must quit the Party and the posts they have acquired following the untimely death of Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala, who over night declared herself as “chinnamma” (little mother) to fool the grief struck people of Tamil Nadu particularly the AIADMK party cadres, quickly acted to take over the party and arranged her own swearing in ceremony as CM on the eve of her jail life, and also threw OP Pannerselvam from the party.

Had Sasikala allowed OPS to continue as CM and party treasurer, there would have been a smooth functioning of government and party. But Sasikala and her large family had ulterior motives and she is now in jail while OPS is back in the government and party.

Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam said Steps will be taken to remove AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala by convening the general council meeting. Vaithilingam, a leader of the Palaniswami camp, addressing the merger meet at the party headquarters here, said measures will be initiated soon to remove Sasikala. By making the announcement, the Palaniswami camp has conceded a key demand of the Panneerselvam faction for the merger that took place today. Vaithilingam, a former minister, was named party deputy coordinator just before he addressed the meet.

Ahead of the merger, an AIADMK functionary Avadi Kumar told reporters that it was the general council which elected Sasikala and any subsequent action in respect of her expulsion can be taken only by it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured all possible support to the E K Palaniswami government of Tamil Nadu in which O Panneerselvam was inducted as Deputy Chief Minister following merger of two AIADMK factions. Soon after the swearing-in, Modi congratulated Panneerselvam and others who took oath. "Centre assures all possible support to CM Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami & Dy CM Thiru O Panneerselvam for the growth of TN," he added in another tweet.

Of course, now it is the end game for “chinnamma and chinnanna” in Tamil politics and Tamil Nadu.

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Instead of further precipitate the issue Sasikala would do better by leaving the ruling party one for all. She must also direct the MLAs who are supporting her to rejoin the ruling AIADMK as the party does not belong to her.

Disproportionate assets: Supreme Court dismisses jailed Sasikala's plea to review conviction!

The fate of the jailed and ousted AIADMK leader VK Sasikala is now finally sealed as the Supreme Court on August 24 th dismissed the plea filed by her and associates, who, almost pleading being innocent people, sought the court to review of her conviction in the disproportionate assets case. The Supreme Court on February 14 had convicted Sasikala in the case and sentenced her to four years imprisonment. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was also an accused, but she died in November 2016 and hence her case was closed.

Act of false bravado by Dhinakaran

In the musical chairs game of loyalty and betrayal that is playing out in the AIADMK, RB Udhayakumar's character or the lack of it will stand out.

In January, as the leader of the Amma Peravai (Jayalalithaa Federation) within the AIADMK, he was the first to demand that O Panneerselvam be replaced as chief minister by VK Sasikala. OPS was so upset with Udhayakumar that he even complained bitterly to Sasikala about it then.

But a lot of polluted water has flown in the Cooum since then. On Wednesday, revenue minister Udhayakumar has metamorphosed into an Edappadi Palaniswami supporter, who has no issues with OPS making a homecoming, while Sasikala is sought to be sidelined. So in the shifting sands of the AIADMK churn, TTV Dhinakaran has now sacked Udhayakumar.

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Sources say Udhayakumar was also suspected of trying to sabotage Dhinakaran's Melur public meeting near Madurai last week.

Udhayakumar isn't the only one. It is a pink slip season in the AIADMK, with Dhinakaran sacking all those seen as betraying his aunt. Among them Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithialingam who announced on Monday that Sasikala will be expelled soon. Vaithialingam utterances are seen as high treason because after he lost the assembly election last May, Sasikala reportedly played a critical part in pushing his case with Jayalalithaa to send him to Parliament in June.

But removing leaders from party positions is only an act of false bravado by Dhinakaran, given that his rivals have already declared his appointment null and void. Both factions — the AIADMK (Ruling) and AIADMK (Sasikala) — are busy scoring goals without realising that the AIADMK, as an entity, is scoring several self-goals.

After the merger of the OPS and EPS factions on Monday, Dhinakaran fired the salvo when he got 19 of his camp MLAs to convey to the Governor Vidyasagar Rao that they do not have any confidence in EPS as chief minister. It is clear that Sasikala, who gave EPS the top job on a platter in February, feels the pain of the knife in her back and wants to show him the door.

Plan A then is to create a wedge in the ruling camp by offering the chief minister's post to another leader. Dhinakaran campers suggested that KA Sengottaiyan, education minister and a leader senior to EPS in the AIADMK take over as the chief minister. VK Dhivakaran, Sasikala's brother, thought Assembly speaker P Dhanapal would be an apt choice. There is an element of caste politics also playing out as Sengottaiyan is a Gounder like EPS and 126

would continue to command the community backing while Dhanapal is a Dalit. The family is banking on the support of 30 Dalit legislators of the AIADMK, by rooting for Dhanapal.

Plan B is to put pressure on the governor. Giving in 19 identical letters to Raj Bhavan was to tell the world that EPS regime is in a minority. The DMK also has asked the Governor to take cognizance of the situation. The Congress has asked Vidyasagar Rao to make EPS prove his majority on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Plan C will kick in if EPS proceeds on the decision to oust Sasikala. Sources say at least ten ruling camp MLAs including three ministers, will raise the banner of revolt should that happen. They are perhaps the MLAs who Dhinakaran has referred to as his "sleeper cells". EPS himself will be circumspect about acting against Sasikala, knowing it could well cost him his chair.

Plan D will be enforced if Plan A flops and the Governor asks EPS to show numbers. Dhinakaran will have to manoeuvre his way through the antidefection law to ensure that his camp MLAs do not get disqualified. Which is where the Sasikala clan would hope softening Dhanapal with the lure of the chief minister's post would make him take a more lenient position.

But would it be so easy for the AIADMK legislators, for years fed on an antiDMK position, to join hands with MK Stalin to bring down a government that was formed by Jayalalithaa? Perhaps not which is why this will be Dhinakaran's last resort. At the same time, he realizes the urgency to capture the party structure so that he can edge out EPS and OPS in the long run.

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However, what the ruling camp enjoys is the Centre's backing and that worries the Dhinakaran camp as well. Sasikala's nephew continues to be under a cloud in a FERA case and many in Tamil Nadu's political system wonder if he will soon get a knock on the door from a vigilance team.

Since resort politics is the new normal, Dhinakaran has moved his MLAs to the Windflower resort in Puducherry, to keep them safe from poaching.

Reports indicate that the EPS camp would try to woo at least half a dozen of them besides also trying to split the eight member Congress legislature party.

Talk of political survival and furious headcount dominate the discourse in the AIADMK government, with little care for matters of governance, making it a case of present tense for Tamil Nadu.

Congress joins DMK to demand floor test

The six-month old Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS) government, which joined hands with O Panneerselvam faction, continues to face uncertainty in Tamil Nadu a day after 19 AIADMK MLAs expressed anguish over the merger and removal of VK Sasikala from the party.

Congress on Wednesday came out in support of Opposition DMK in requesting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to direct Palaniswamy to prove his majority. This comes after DMK working president MK Stalin wrote a similar letter to the governor, AIADMK supporters burnt effigies of former deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran outside the resort where 19 rebel MLAs have been lodged.

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The role of the Tamil Nadu governor has now achieved prominence since the 19 legislators loyal to Dhinakaran met Rao on Tuesday to withdraw their support from the chief minister. The MLAs reportedly told Rao that Palaniswamy had "forfeited" their confidence and that of the public, and urged him to "intervene and institute the constitutional process."

The rebel MLAs asserted that they were opposing Palaniswamy's action of making the 'betrayer' Panneerselvam deputy chief minister.

"You will have to wait and see how we are going to change the chief minister," Andipatti MLA Thanga Tamil Selvan. However, he claimed that the rebel MLAs were not opposed to peace talks. Meanwhile, Dhinakaran used his powers to remove several district functionaries and revenue minister RB Udayakumar from their party posts and appointed his supporters; He expelled R Vaithilingam from the primary membership of the party on Tuesday after the Rajya Sabha MP announced steps to oust Sasikala from the post of general secretary.

Following the disciplinary action against Vaithilingam, clashes were reported in his hometown Thanjavur. Vaithilingam remained unaffected, saying that Dhinakaran's decision would be "invalid" since his appointment itself had been challenged before the election commission. Dhinakaran is expected to address the media on Wednesday.

In the 234-member Assembly, the AIADMK has 134 MLAs, excluding the Speaker. Late chief minister Jayalalithaa's RK Nagar constituency seat is still vacant. According to the rules of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, 24 MLAs, which constitutes about 10 percent of the total strength of the House, are needed to move a no-confidence motion. This means the 19 MLAs are not enough to successfully demand a trust vote.

Demand for floor test

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In a letter to Rao, Stalin said that "an unprecedented constitutional crisis" erupted after identical letters were given by 22 MLAs to the governor expressing lack of confidence in the chief minister. Citing a similar occasion when the governor of Karnataka had directed the then chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to prove his majority in the House, he demanded an early floor test.

The rebel MLAs were taken to a luxurious resort in the neighbouring Puducherry, similar to how over a hundred MLAs were herded in a Koovathur resort in February following the rebellion by then chief minister Panneerselvam. However, Selvan claimed that the MLAs were there "to take rest."

Sasikala's brother V Divakaran pitched Assembly speaker P Dhanapal's name for the chief minister's post, a move seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between senior leaders of the ruling establishment. He told reporters at Mannargudi that the Palaniswamy government has been reduced to a "minority" and lost the moral right to be in office.

Even though the merger of both the factions brought joy to the party workers, it disappointed the local leaders of OPS camp, with Semmalai not excluded from the Cabinet. The former minister was the only ruling party MLA who supported OPS in Salem district. With the backing of 14 former MLAs, OPS had received major support from the district.

Given these developments, it is clear that the political stability the AIADMK intended to bring in the Tamil Nadu government was an illusion and the merger is yet to become an accepted reality.

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Chapter- 20: India: Justice Arumugasamy to probe former CM Jayalalithaa’s mysterious death!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

As mystery surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death haunts the ruling AIADMK leaders who now make contradictory statements on the state of health of their beloved leader who had made big in Tamil Nadu politics and government, the demand for a thorough investigation about that increased in recent days as one minister revealed that none had met the then TN CM in the hospital to know her real condition and they all were lying to the public on her stable conditions.

Doubts of serious nature have been raised over the events leading to Jayalalithaa's hospitalization on 22 September, 2016, and her death by various quarters with Opposition parties including the DMK demanding a CBI probe.

Under pressure form various quarters, Tamil Nadu government on September 25 has set up an inquiry commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's death, amid renewed demands for a thorough investigation after a state minister claimed their party leaders had lied about her health condition.

Justice (Retd.) Arumugasamy will head the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa on 5 December 2016 after 75 days of treatment at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. An official release said: "To conduct inquiry and submit a report on the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, an inquiry commission headed by retired high court judge Justice Arumugasamy has been constituted." A government order had been issued for this purpose, it added.

The probe into the AIADMK supremo's demise was a key pre-condition of rebel leader and now deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam for the merger of two factions led by him and Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Four days ahead of the merger, Palaniswami had on 17 August announced that a commission of inquiry would go into the death of Jayalalithaa. After Panneerselvam had made a demand for a probe claiming there were doubts in the minds of people, Apollo Hospitals had arranged a media conference in February last seeking to put to rest any such apprehensions.

A team of doctors, including UK-based specialist Richard Beale, who had treated Jayalalithaa, had explained in detail the medical attention given to her during hospitalization.

Monday's announcement by the government came amid renewed demands by Opposition parties for a probe after forest minister Dindigul C Srinivasan last week told 131

a public meeting in Madurai that AIADMK leaders had lied about Jayalalithaa's well being during her hospitalization. He had claimed that they had only repeated what Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala wanted them to say. The minister had also demanded that the Sasikala camp make public the video evidence which it claimed to possess on the treatment of the late leader.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals for fever and dehydration on 22 September, 2016. After a prolonged hospitalization for 72 days, she had died on 5 December, 2016 following a supposed cardiac arrest.

The government's announcement came even as sidelined former AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran asserted he would submit before any probe agency a video of Jayalalithaa shot by his aunt Sasikala. He also sought an inquiry commission headed by a serving senior judge.

Ill-fated Dhinakaran said his family was in possession of a video of hospitalised Jayalalithaa shot by Sasikala and was ready to submit it before any probe agency, including the CBI. He claimed it had not been released so far since Jayalalithaa at that time was clad in a "nightie". "Amma (Jayalalithaa) had lost a lot of weight... it was a video shot by my dear aunt (Sasikala) herself. You all know none would have seen Amma in a nightie, not any functionary. Even when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Amma following her accident in 1989, she was fully attired... she always maintained that dignity," Dhinakaran said. He told reporters that the said video of Jayalalithaa, attired in a "loose nightie", was shot by Sasikala after the former was shifted from the ICU to a room in the hospital.

According to Dhinakaran, when the Opposition had earlier raised doubts over Jayalalithaa's treatment and death, Sasikala had suggested that "we ourselves should seek a judicial probe" into the matter. "If that video is released by us now, there would be a debate on its authenticity," he said, adding it could be given to the probe panel. "We are ready to submit it at an appropriate forum, whether the CBI or even Interpol. We have nothing to fear," he said.

Srinivasan had also claimed that out of fear of Sasikala, they had publicly stated that Jayalalithaa ate idlies, consumed tea and was given sweets. No one was allowed to meet the late chief minister. Whoever came, would be briefed by Sasikala's relatives that she was "all right", he had said seeking the pardon of public.

Ever since Jayalalithaa's death, there have been hints of foul play over her death, with critics pointing fingers at the now jailed Sasikala. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had announced the government's decision to set up an inquiry commission to be headed by a retired High Court judge to go into the death of Jayalalithaa.

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Tamil Nadu Minister for Forests C Sreenivasan admitted on Sep, 23 2017 to lying about Jayalalithaa's health, seeks people's apology. C Sreenivasan has sought people's apology for "lying" about the health condition of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa when she was admitted in Apollo Hospital.

Speaking at a public meeting in Madurai, around 500 km from Chennai, on Friday night Sreenivasan said: "We would have told lies that she (Jayalalithaa) had idlis and people met her.

The truth is that nobody saw her." Sreenivasan said he is seeking apology from the people now for "those lies".

According to him, everyone in the government and in the ruling AIADMK party "lied about the people" who had met Jayalalithaa in Apollo Hospital, where she was admitted on 22 September last year. Sreenivasan said even the national leaders used to sit in Apollo Hospitals Chief Pratap Reddy's room and the AIADMK ministers would also be seated in that room. "We all lied then so that the party's secret does not get leaked," Sreenivasan said. He said nobody met Jayalalithaa in her hospital room.

Former CM and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo on the night of 22 September and died in the hospital on 5 December. During the period of stay, the information from the government and the hospital about her health condition was scarce.

Most of the communication about her health condition stated that she was on the road to recovery and was doing well. He said it was only V.K. Sasikala - a close aide of Jayalalithaa for several years - who used to meet Jayalalithaa.

Reacting to the charge, TTV. Dinakaran, nephew of Sasikala, said after 1 October, 2016 even Sasikala was not allowed inside Jayalalithaa's room. He said on the instruction of doctors Sasikala would go inside Jayalalithaa's room for two minutes. Dinakaran and his supporters ask the CM Palanisamy to resign the post as it was given by Sasikala but they forget the fact that she did not offer the CM post ot him just like that but when the court and Governor refused to swear her in, she had to choose one among the supporters and Palanisamy into the picture, otherwise he might be a minister, if at all.

Sasikala/Dinakaran’s dream of taking over the ruling AIADMK, Jaya government, and entire Tamil Nadu its huge wealth for use by the Mannargudi gang could not materialize.

Sasikala and Dinakaran have been thrown out of the party. In fact, Jayalalithaa had removed him from primary membership long ago for his corrupt politics and Sasikala was never given nay post either in the party or in the government in any manner. Soon after Jayalalithaa death, Sasikala assumed the party supremo and was eager to quickly become the CM too so that she could enjoy the privileges in her jail of being a CM. She was sure that the Supreme Court would certainly punish her for her financial-wealth crimes and send her to jail. Her money, made illegally by being in Jayalalithaa‘s Poes garden, could not save her from going to jail.

Observation 133

The investigation commission has not been given any time limit or references and so the Justice would be free to take enough time to investigate the matter.

Many political leaders like DMK leader Stalin and PMK leader Anbumani have asked for CBI probe to bring out all facts to the public. They also expressed concern that the government could not appoint a sitting judge to probe the case so as to be impartial.

In fact, through such concerns are understandable, it Is not necessary, however, to trust only a sitting judge or gong for CBI, for anybody can be influenced by the central government that controls all courts and judges.

Let the probe go on and the judge summit his finds to the government. Meanwhile, the TN government also should ask the intelligence wing to gather related facts for the investigation and pass on to the justice.

The federal government, in the mean time could ask the CBI to secretly investigate the case and submit its report also to the Justice for a consolidated final verdict.

This multi-approach could prove to be fast truthful and realistic.

However, the central government should not use the CBI report as a tool to force the AIADMK to make the ruling BJP a partner in the forthcoming local and other polls in the state. .

Jayalalithaa opposed any truck with BJP that would help the Hindutva forces spread their poisonous tentacles across the state. .

_______ Chapter- 21: Why does America not want to end state terror occupation of Afghanistan?

-DR. Abdul Ruff Colachal

_______

In simple language the answer is that America does not want to quit Afghanistan for “strategic reasons�.

It is a fact that USA determines, decides and guides policies for entire globe directly, including its foes Russia, China, Iran and others indirectly. Regional tensions owe their continuation entirely to the efforts of USA. Washington controls both Indi and Pakistan in South Asia as much as it manipulates the policy of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Iran is also pursuing exactly what USA wants.

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Launch, prolongation and end of terror wars depend entirely on USA. War on Afghanistan, launched by Bush Jr. and prolonged by Obama is still going on under Trump who also does not want to end the NATO state terrorism in Afghanistan.

Before Bush Jr, his daddy Bush Sr. launched his war on Iraq in order to continue to controlling the energy resources and Bush Jr. just continued his father’s war in Iraq and extended it to other Muslim nations to drink Islamic blood.

So the question if USA would end its longest war in Afghanistan as a reply to Russian demand for dismantling of NATO appears to be an irresolvable puzzle.

At the outset it should be clear to the keen observers on intentional politics that ending terror war in Afghanistan would automatically lead to a chain flow of similar actions in other occupied Muslim nations. That would create essential background for peace in the world.

True, Afghanistan, like Pakistan and Iraq, Libya and Syria, is destabilized and USA decides what the Pakistani regime and military must or must not do. . Unknown to the broader public, Afghanistan has significant oil, natural gas and strategic raw material resources, not to mention opium, a multibillion dollar industry which feeds America’s illegal heroin market. These mineral reserves include huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and lithium, which is a strategic raw material used in the production of high tech batteries for laptops, cell phones and electric cars.

Much before he assumed power at the White House, Trump began ringing terror bell. Americans just got rid of Democrats led by ultra hawkish Hillary Clinton who sought to make Israel an abnormal super power in West Asia to terror-gaze on Arab and Persian lands. She ha sno sympathy for the Palestinian children whom the fascist Zionist military keeps killing but also calls them terrorists while Israel that occupies and terrorizes Palestinians is called the “victim” who face extinction.

Clinton, true to her imperialist mindset, has no sympathy for Palestine women and children and she only promotes the ongoing criminality by Israel.

US war on terror or Islam?

Certainly USA and its strategic allies fight against Islam and Muslims.

Today the terror wars going on are a purely permanent anti-Islamic war. No one needs to doubt that.

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When Bush Jr. launched war on terror he indeed meant a permanent war on Islam but since he sought the support of many Muslim nations like Saudi led Gulf nations, Pakistan and Turkey, in his war on Islam, he very tactfully concealed the truth under “war on terror�. That approach was successful as the Muslim nations continued to support US terror war on Islam and energy rich Islamic world and global Muslim populations have been slashed to a level of US liking to make antiIslamic media lords enjoy with their success.

As the leading traders in terror or fascist goods, USA and Israel feel safe and why should then they go for international peace when they launched the attacks on Islamic world to create insecurity and tensions in the Islamic world?

US Presidents take notes from the Neocon experts who ask them to proceed with terror wars for energy and route resources, slashing of Muslim populations, among many other reasons, including saving NATO from getting dismantled.

The decision of the Trump regime to extend the terror warn Afghanistan further by adding more troops, like the very act of Sept-11 hoax and invasion of the nation of brave Afghans, has got two major reasons: economics and politics.

It should be self-evident that the war against Afghanistan and the broader war on terror, like every war that the US has engaged in since the end of World War II, is as much a war about race and white supremacy as was the Civil War. The fact that the terror war of NATO was presided over for eight years by the first African American president, who in his last year in office dropped 26,171 bombs exclusively over populations of people of color) does not alter the fact that it is a racist war but anti-Islamic one.

The terrorism operations have dismissed the crimes taking place in the USA a a regular basis dominated by the US culture silence guns. The violence that is seen in American streets is a direct and inevitable result of the violence of the county's wars outside.

The Obama regime's determinations that any male 14 years or older found dead in a drone strike zone is a "combatant" makes crimes insignificant in the society. Media blast the terror news in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, etc. The consequence of these naughty policies is the summary killings of innocent young men without identity as to who they are and where they live, in American cities as well as in places far way.

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The racial profiling that results in the killings of unarmed black citizens

by American police, even under black Obama, is the domestic expression of surveillance by drones of the "patterns of behavior" that trigger the "signature strike" executions of countless people of color in NATO wars abroad..

A nation which continues year after year to spend more and more tax money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

There is no serious discussion of racism in the United States today, or of providing healthcare and education and basic human services that does not address the ever expanding cost of the present war.

Afghanistan and Trump phenomenon

Now it is the domestic-foreign war of US presidents personally and collectively with the backup of global anti-Islamic media lords. Obama fought the war for Bush Jr. as well. In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. noted: “If the

nations of Asia, Latin America and Africa are strong and free, the black man in America will be safe and secure and free to live in dignity and self-respect.".

But black Obama after becoming free began attacking African nations.

Trump calls for escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Why? Is it part of the Western war on Islam, or “Global War on Terrorism”, going after the bad guys, or is it something else?

Trump is on a racist rant. His speech on August 21 calling for more war is hate speech, pure and simple.

President Trump announced that the 17 year old war in Afghanistan will go on pretty much as it has- a permanent NATO war. And the establishment fearing Trump would call for ending the terror wars breathed a sigh of relief.

Trump's tolerance of the use and celebration of overt symbols and slogans associated with hatred, slavery, anti-Semitism and genocide offended all but his most fanatical base. Members of his own party, many who had stood by Trump through other scandals, took steps to distance themselves from his statements, if not from Trump himself.

When that war began in October of 2001, Vice-President Richard Cheney suggested that the US would eventually take it to forty to fifty other nations, an expanding war that he predicted "may never end" but would 137

"become a permanent part of the way we live." Like Cheney, Trump also urges Americans to set aside the issues that divide us and unite behind an ‘endless war of aggression’ against a people (Muslims) who never meant us harm.

Trump said to general applause, the healing balm that should bring Americans together, will be a continuing “commitment” to prolong a seventeen year old war. His primetime address on the war maybe meant for the national unity that he had seemed in the days before and after to disdain: "Loyalty to our nation demands loyalty to one another.” Obviously Trump has borrowed the hated-idea from fanatic nations like Israel and India.

Today few seem to pose that question—the reason being perhaps less that people don't see this war as a mistake, than because they can't imagine that there will ever be a last soldier to die in it.

In the name of terrorism, anti-terrorism, counter insurgency etc, USA and it anti-Islamic allies kill only Muslims and use Muslim rulers, leaders and agents also to kill Muslims.

Enter Trump Donald Trump is finally “presidential” again, pundits insist, now that he is ratcheting up another US war. In a speech on August 21, the far-right US president did an about-face, announcing that the war in Afghanistan, which for years he has harshly condemned, will be seeing a surge in its 16th year.

Trump did not reveal many specifics, but reports suggest his administration will deploy 4,000 more soldiers to the country in addition to the roughly 8,400 US troops and 5,000 other NATO forces already there.

Like clockwork, pundits responded to the news by rushing to praise Trump for his “presidential” decision. There is nothing quite as presidential as expanding an unending war that has left many thousands of Muslim civilians dead.

The response from the commentariat echoes similar proclamations just four months ago, immediately lionizing Trump for launching 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian air base in April (in an attack that effectively helped ISIS).

At the time, of 47 major US newspaper editorials on the strike, just one opposed it. Trump’s rocket attack was even sexualized by MSNBC‘s Brian Williams. This time, in response to another military escalation, pundits were 138

more aware, even self-critical, of the cartoonishness of reflexively praising presidential violence. But they did it anyway.

Terror policy was common for both Bush and Obama and it may not be different under Trump. Trump’s Presidential Afghanistan Speech.

Miller, who directed Afghanistan and Pakistan policy on the National Security Council for both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, declared that Trump’s address “was one of Donald Trump’s finest moments as president.” “Trump’s nationalism, which I otherwise find objectionable, has led him to a keener and better appreciation of how to speak about war than Obama,” Miller added (a palpable demonstration of the intersection of the far right and establishment center that has been dubbed with tongue in cheek the fish hook theory).

Washington think tanks, replete with revolving doors between the US government and so-called civil society, were likewise enthused.

Retired Gen. John Allen oversaw the war in Afghanistan from 2011 until 2013 before moving to Brookings, praising Trump’s reversal. “Our new leader made the presidential call,” “Donald Trump Making Afghanistan and America Safer” and “Donald Trump Makes Right Moves in Afghanistan.” “We would especially commend Trump for making a difficult and very presidential decision about future American policy,” crooned O’Hanlon and Allen.

Trump’s Afghanistan speech “was quite good.” it “seems a pretty conventionally hawkish policy,” and wrote of “the unifying potential of Trump’s nationalism.” “It’s hard not to seem presidential when giving a speech like this,” Lowry continued. “If Trump had done nothing but give teleprompter speeches since his inauguration, he’d be about 10 points higher in the polls.”

Some of the most fanatic neoconservatives are warming to Trump. Proud self-declared “American imperialist” Max Boot, who excoriated Trump during his presidential campaign, came out swinging in his defense in the pages of the US newspaper of record. “ Very cool and cunning cruelty! Indeed! Only a super power can do that. Only the anti-Islamic media lords can propagate anti-Islamism, Islamophobia to encourage the NATO and allied militaries to keep killing Muslims mercilessly, without any sympathy for humanity.

Credit must be given to the power minds of Americans and Israelis.

America has succeeded in its objectives: slashing of Islamic populations, 139

terrorizing Muslims, weakening and destabilizing Muslims ad their nations, looting the wealth of energy rich Arab nations whose leaders keep their wealth in western capitals, and present Muslims as terrorists and Islam as a terrorist religion.

Very cool indeed!

From destruction to nation-building in Afghanistan Afghanistan has natural resources. The implication of Trump’s resolve is to plunder and steal Afghanistan’s mineral riches to finance the “reconstruction” of a country destroyed by the USA and its allies after 16 years of war, i.e. “War reparations” paid to the aggressor nation? An internal 2007 Pentagon memo, suggests that Afghanistan could become the “Saudi Arabia of lithium.” What this 2007 report does not mention is that this resource base has been known to both Russia Soviet Union and China going back to the 1970s. While the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani has called upon President Donald Trump to promote US investments in mining, including lithium, China is in the forefront in developing projects in mining and energy as well as pipeline projects and transport corridors.

Right-wing strategists were not the only ones praising Trump’s Afghanistan surge. Their neoconservative counterparts in Congress were similarly enthused. Hard-line hawk John McCain—to whom Democratic lawmakers just gave a standing ovation—likewise “commended President Trump for taking a big step in the right direction with the new strategy for Afghanistan,” and called for Trump to “conduct himself as a wartime commander-in-chief.”

In coverage that was more balanced in cosmetics, albeit not political substance, CNN portrayed the speech as a largely welcome development, framing it as a matter of the collective good: “Trump to Ask Americans to Trust Him on Afghanistan.”

Just weeks before, the Trump administration had been openly acknowledging the US war in Afghanistan was at least partly motivated by access to the large South Asian nation’s “vast mineral wealth,” nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits “The speech will test the President’s capacity to convince Americans that he has settled on the right course of action on a major national security issue, and to unify the nation around it”.

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The Afghanistan address, Collinson added, “Represents a chance for Trump to leverage the symbolism of his office to stabilize a presidency that has threatened to spin out of control over the last two weeks.” Escalating war could help Trump “stake out a more conventional presidential posture.”

A handful of journalists, joked that Trump is being complimented as “presidential” simply for reading from a teleprompter: Importantly, some media outlets highlighted Trump’s hypocrisy, drawing attention to the fact that he had campaigned—albeit inconsistently—on a pledge to withdraw from foreign wars, not to ramp them up Yet the contrasts between the punditry’s response to Trump’s Afghanistan’s speech and its outrage in July, when the president ended a CIA program that had for years strengthened ISIS, Al Qaeda and other extremist groups in Syria are extremely stark.

One cannot help but observe that, when Trump is unpopular, he can miraculously reverse his fortunes by supporting a war. Trump no doubt understands that after, say, refusing to condemn neo-Nazis and drawing a ludicrous false equivalence between racist fascism and the antiracist resistance to fascism, he need only wrap himself in US military might and pundits—even ones who excoriated him mere days before—will suddenly praise him as a “presidential” imperial leader.

A very few journalists deserve credit for using the term “presidential” in its literal sense, not as a euphemistic stand-in. “If Donald Trump sounded presidential on Afghanistan, it is because he is repeating his predecessors’ mistakes.” “TBH, pledging thousands of troops to Afghanistan *is* the most presidential thing Trump has done. And I mean that in the worst way possible.”

After all, waging war in Afghanistan is a tried-and-true American tradition, going back to President Ronald Reagan’s 1983 Oval Office meeting with the mujahideen and the lionization of “anti-Soviet warrior” Osama bin Laden Trump is indeed continuing a trajectory established by numerous presidents before him. Corporate media could do a far better job of interrogating whether or not that’s a good thing.

TBH, pledging thousands of troops to Afghanistan *is* the most presidential thing Trump has done. And I mean that in the worst way possible.

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War for business The US military bases are there to assert US control over Afghanistan’s mineral wealth. According to Foreign Affairs, “there are more US military forces deployed there Afghanistan than to any other active combat zone”, the official mandate of which is “to go after” the Taliban, Al Qaeda and ISIS as part of the “Global war on Terrorism”.

Why so many military bases? Why the additional forces sent in by Trump?

George W. Bush, not only started this seemingly endless war as a response to an act of terrorism, but also another one in Iraq that, if anything, was an even greater travesty than this one. Barack Obama then not only kept Mullen on— along with Bush Defense Secretary Robert Gates—but increased American troop levels in Afghanistan at a point when (if he is half as smart as his supporters think he is) he had to know he was sending them on a fool's errand.

Nor is the current willingness to risk the lives of American military personnel in pursuit of quixotic policy goals confined to the Trump Mad House. Strategists have noted the similarities between Trump's plans and the proposals of former Vice President Joe Biden, currently said to be contemplating another presidential run in 2020. Likewise, Obama Administration assistant secretary of defense Derek Chollet has allowed that, "To be honest,” the Trump plan is “probably pretty close to what a Hillary Clinton would do." And let’s face it, while Bernie Sanders has occasionally indicated a desire to alter the direction of U.S. foreign policy, he too has offered few specifics about breaking with the course of the last decade and a half.

The unspoken objective of US military presence in Afghanistan is to keep the Chinese out, i.e hinder China from establishing trade and investments relations with Afghanistan. More generally, the establishment of military bases in Afghanistan on China’s Western border is part of a broader process of military encirclement of the People’s Republic of China i.e naval deployments in the South China Sea, military facilities in Guam, South Korea, Okinawa, Jeju Island, etc.

US arms and global terrorism The USA is top dealer in terror goods and sells them to both developed and developing nations. It sells advanced and high precision terror gds to the western powers and gifts them to Israel to fuel crisis in West Asia, while 142

it sells ordinary, unused and outdated terror gods to third world countries with conditions. The US economy thrives on the sale of terror goods to the “needy” and it wants perpetual crises everywhere so that its terror goods are needed by most countries, including arms thirsty and favors seeking India.

When the USA - world’s only superpower as well as top veto member deals in terror goods all other military powers also follow its footsteps, making huge profits for financing terrorism operations globally.

As the super power controlling entire universe almost single handedly with support from its allies and terror partners, American ruling class does not want to end the terror war in Afghanistan that was started in 2001 on the fake charge of terrorist attack in USA by one strong ‘super man’ called Osama bin Laden, who worked as CIA operative, went to New York airport, took away not one but three aeroplanes and hit the targets of his choice.

Remember USA has the finest surveillance system in the world along with global CIA network, and a long bearded man could do all this is obviously a big, rather crude joke on educated America and world. There is no real threat to USA and its allies like Israel but they pretend to be innocent powers and claim to be terror victims.

Very cool!

Pakistan's National Assembly has passed a resolution dismissing US President Donald Trump’s South Asia policy and condemned his accusations that Islamabad was prolonging the war in Afghanistan. The resolution was adopted unanimously after the Speaker presented it on the floor. The House denounces the complete disregard of Pakistan's sacrifices by the USA. Speaking before the Assembly, Asif urged the government to consider postponing any visits by US delegations to Pakistan or by Pakistani officials to the United States and closing off “ground and air lines of communication through Pakistan”.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s foreign office announced that it had postponed a visit by US acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells to discuss Washington’s new Afghan policy, but at the time did not provide a reason.

Trump accused Pakistan of harboring “agents of chaos” and providing safe havens to militant groups waging an insurgency against the US-backed government in Kabul.

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Pakistani officials bristle at what they say is a lack of respect from Washington for the country’s sacrifices in the war against militancy and its successes against groups like Al Qaeda, Islamic State or the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistan estimates there have been 70,000 Pakistani casualties in militant attacks since it joined the US war on terror after the 11 September, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Successive US administrations have struggled with how to deal with nuclear-armed Pakistan. Washington fumes about inaction against the Taliban, but Pakistan has been helpful on other counterterrorism efforts, including against Al Qaeda and Islamic State.

The United States also has no choice but to use Pakistani roads to resupply its troops in landlocked Afghanistan. US officials worry that if Pakistan becomes an active foe, it could further destabilize Afghanistan and endanger US soldiers.

“Afghanistan, the US and its allies should close their borders to leaders of terrorist, militant groups carrying out acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” Asif told the Assembly. He added that Pakistan was concerned about Islamic State flourishing in Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan.

Pakistani officials and media have also raged about Trump’s calls for India’s increased involvement in Afghanistan.

Asif termed an increased role for New Delhi in Kabul “highly detrimental to regional stability” and accused India of supporting terrorism and “destabilizing politics in the region”.

In response to warnings that Washington might cut aid to Pakistan, Asif rejected the importance of American dollars, saying that Pakistan has lost more than $123 billion to terrorism since the 11 September attacks.

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Any effort to isolate Pakistan would face problems from China, which has deepened political and military ties with Islamabad and invested nearly $60 billion in infrastructure in Pakistan.

The relationship between Islamabad and Washington has endured periods of extreme strain during the past decade, especially after Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was found and killed by US Special Forces in Pakistan in a 2011 raid.

Observation 17 year old US led NATO terror war on Afghanistan is nowhere near the end and there is no hope the USA would soon conclude the terror wars. After Obama’s escalation, trump is also making surges in US forces occupying Afghanistan.

Scheming and operation are the hallmark of US foreign policy while terrorism is the key tool it successfully employs along with its secret ally Israel to terrorize the world.

Sixteen years on into what the USA proudly launched the "War on Terror" – a civilizational war on Islam- a few things have become clear.

From a military point of view, Americans have established the fact that when their military invades other countries, even if they may not be able to win, they cannot be driven out militarily—seemingly they can stay endlessly.

And on the political side, Americans with huge man-military-missile terror power, can’t lose—which is to say that no president can or will acknowledge the obvious fact that whatever merit sending troops to Afghanistan may or may not have once had, the interests of the nation are not well served by their continued deployment there.

And so the state terror forces must stay on, seemingly endlessly to accelerate the war and tensions. When he was an anti-Vietnam War protestor, former Secretary of State John Kerry once famously asked, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Curiously enough, there has been a simmering conflict launched by antiIslamic forces and nations that spread the word of hatred for Islam and Muslims.

This global gang led by USA and Israel has involved all religions, including some Muslims who hate and fear Islam for its strict laws for human survival. NATO 145

fascism along with its non-Nato allies jointly works to target Islam and also to terrorize, dehumanize and demoralize the humanity.

Even feeble attempts by the public calling for the USA to cut American losses in what is already the longest war in American history has not reached the hard core strategists in Washington and their ruling masters.

Unfortunately, however, the Pentagon experts and their media comrades in anti-Islam war want the war tog on endlessly as any end would reduced the self-importance of US power and therefore ask Trump to send more troops to Afghanistan to "create political capital" and "better leverage" in the negotiations with the government, Pakistan and Taliban, among other stackers.

USA searches and invents more and more reasons to continue o terror wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere. In other words, these new troops—along with all of the old ones—are designed to be pawns in a geopolitical game seeking “good behavior” and “certain standards” from Pakistan and Afghanistan so that USA could openly admit: "we can’t kill our way to victory." .

If Donald Trump has been good for one thing—and granted that's a big "if"— it’s that he's almost single-handedly revived political protest in this country. If all of those people absolutely fed up and appalled with his antics would turn their attention toward the disastrous military policy over which he now presides, we'd have the makings of a major antiwar movement. So, if you hate the Donald, please hate his war.

Was slashing of Islamic population and looting resources of Islamic world and destabilizing of Islamizing Afghanistan and energy rich Arab world globally alone the cause of the Sept-11 hoax in USA that was secretly engineered by the strategists of USA-Israel terror twins and meticulously executed by their pre-paid agents?

If Generals Lee and Jackson of the 19th century who served under Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the cause of slavery and white supremacy deserve the censure of history and the scorn of every person of good will, much more the NATO generals who serve the hateful and vile agenda of Trump and his predecessors.

To give Trump his due, one truth that he told in his celebrated speech is that those "who slaughter innocent people will find no glory in this life or the next.

They are nothing but thugs and criminals and predators, and that's right— losers." That means the NATO forces forefeet their right for honors in this life or the next.

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The makings of a major antiwar movement in USA are at infant stage as the regime in Washington uses its power to weaken that mass movement. Ending wars would invariably end regional conflicts. The US people are absolutely fed up and already appalled with President Trump's antics so early but they are not encouraged to turn their attention toward the disastrous pro-Zionist US military policy over which he now presides.

Those thousands of good people who took to the streets to denounce the celebration of terror wars, racism and hate in its archaic and discredited forms need to seek the courage to demand an end to them in its present, most virulent form. Together Americans and other peoples of NATO countries need to demand a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and reparations for all the nations that have suffered US aggression in the so-called War on Terror.

End of occupation and genocides in Afghanistan would mean dawn of peaceful environment for development and prosperity. The discredited institutions of slavery, capitalism, fascism, Nazism, Zionism, racism and fanaticism need to be dismantled for creating a peaceful environment for development and prosperity. It is doubtful if they would die down on their own as a natural phenomenon in the near future. It is quite possible nuclearized Israel would be beggar state once again.

There are, however, manifestations of hatred and racism that continue to be tolerated and celebrated even in the most polite, progressive and politically correct venues and these need be called out as well.

----------------

Chapter- 22: Bomb scares across Russia prompt mass evacuations!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ________

Since September 09 Sunday, more than a dozen cities have been hit with a string of bomb scares, leading to mass evacuations at train stations, malls and other public places. In Moscow, around 10,000 people were evacuated from eight schools, the RBC news outlet reports, citing an unidentified official in law enforcement.

A wave of bomb scares has been largely ignored by Russian state television, with none of the prime-time news shows mentioning the incidents on Wednesday.

Dozens of buildings including schools and malls in more than 12 Russian cities have been evacuated since Sunday after authorities received a series of anonymous bomb threats, the Interfax news agency reports. Interfax cited a law enforcement official in 147

Chelyabinsk as saying that the evacuations were prompted by bomb scares across cities in Russia. "There's reason to assume this was all organized abroad," the official was cited as saying.

St. Petersburg has become the latest city in Russia to be targeted by suspected bomb threats with evacuations taking place in malls across the city, the Rosbalt news agency reported.

Witnesses told Rosbalt on Thursday that central St. Petersburg’s Galeria shopping complex and 12 other malls in the city were also being cleared. The news was confirmed by the local Fontanka.ru outlet. An unnamed law enforcement source told the outlet that authorities are trying to verify the bomb threats.

The wave of evacuations began in Omsk early on Sunday, when law enforcement cleared several cinemas, schools, malls and City Hall, Interfax reports.

That evening, eleven buildings were also cleared in Ryazan after authorities received phone calls warning a bomb had been planted in several malls. On Monday, similar actions were taken in Chelyabinsk and Kopeisk, Ufa and Stavropol, which received as many as 42 bomb scares, Interfax reports.

The bomb scares continued on Tuesday when all schools in Perm were evacuated, alongside several malls and a bus and train station, Interfax reports, citing local journalists. Government buildings were also ordered to be emptied in YuzhnoSakhalinsk, and bus stations were evacuated in Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg, according to Meduza. Meduza cited law enforcement in some regions as saying the evacuations were the result of drills.

A wave of bomb scares has led to tens of thousands of people being evacuated throughout the country, but the news has been ignored by Russian state television.

Since Sunday, cities across Russia have conducted evacuations after receiving anonymous bomb threats. On Wednesday, evacuations took place in Moscow at malls, including the GUM department store on Red Square, train stations, universities and hotels. The state-run TASS agency said 50,000 people were evacuated, while Interfax put the number at 100,000. In Moscow, more than 100,000 people were evacuated on Wednesday from malls, including the GUM department store on Red Square, train stations, universities and hotels, the Interfax news agency reported.”

But state television, through which most Russians get their news, has barely covered the evacuations. Out of the state-run television channels, only Rossia-1 mentioned the evacuations, the Bell said, citing data from the media-monitoring company Medialogia. The news did not make it into any of Russia's primetime news programs, including Rossia-1’s “Vesty” and Channel One’s “Vremya” news shows. Only Rossia 24, Russian Public Television (OTR), RBC and the opposition-leaning Dozhd channels ran segments on the mass evacuations.

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The bomb threats began in Omsk and Ryazan on Sunday, and were followed by anonymous phone calls in half a dozen Russian cities on Monday. By Tuesday, the threats had reached Siberia and the Far East, forcing the evacuation of an estimated 45,000 people in cities including Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. On Wednesday around a dozen cities throughout Russia evacuated schools, stations, airports and government buildings.

There has been little official information about the wave of bomb threats, with some media citing local law enforcement officials as saying they are drills. Other media cite anonymous sources as saying the phone calls are being made online from abroad.

An unnamed source close to the security services told RBC the calls have been tracked to an IP-address in Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia was rocked by a series of small-scale attacks and arrests this year after a bomber detonated a homemade device on the St. Petersburg metro in April, killing 16 people and wounding dozens.

A few analysts say the Irma hurricane has made the Trump regime happy or at least not unhappy. _________________

Chapter- 23: Anti-terrorism row: Pakistan’s response to US accusations!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _________ Too late and too little and not enough- that is what Pakistan has been to USA for years of their secret capitalist ties based on crimes. While Pakistan seeks more money and military goods, USA wants Pakistan to kill more and more Muslims.

Islamic Pakistan has been a post-paid and willing ally of US led NATO in their antiIslamic war to reduce Islamic populations globally and loot their resources. Many third world countries, including India, pay regular “royalties” to Washington for its “services” and from those collections of money USA pays its junior allies, like Pakistan, in terror related operations to kill Muslims and bring shame to Islam.

Pakistan has been a loyal partner of terrorism even before Bush Jr. asked and used Islamabad to serve the imperialist cause to destabilize a fast Islamizing Afghanistan, among other services. Refusal to obey the big boss the Uncle Sam would entail punitive measures against Pakistan would be disastrous to Pakistani rulers themselves. Islamabad did not want India to benefit from any clash between USA and Pakistan though USA openly attacks Islamabad for “deficit” of services.

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American strategists have profitably used Indo-Pakistani conflict over Kashmir that both occupy along with China, and India driven Pakistani mindset to bully Islamabad to do whatever Washington wants illegally and take all blames and insults as its cruel fate.

For everything money does matter and USA as well as Pakistan knows that. India looking for “opportunities” to laugh at Islamabad and Islam, quickly uses all available spaces to make fanatic Hindus happy.

Even though Pakistan goes all out to make its western boss USA happy, US president has made it a point to criticize Pakistan for “not doing enough” in murdering Muslims inland and shamelessly threatens to withhold the “aids” in military terror goods.

For USA, terrorism and counterterrorism are the inter-playable drama as it promotes both in real intent so that terrorism stays forever so as to deny Russia any opportunity to demand dismantling of terrorist NATO. USA reiterates its will to sustain NATO to face any future “threats” like terrorism and thus terrorism is allowed to say forever.

Western media enjoy repeating the joke that Pakistan takes US money but doesn’t kill Muslims as it is insincere to the US cause of anti-Islamism.

Islam and anti-Islamism cannot coexist. Even Pakistan which possible exists only on money from the west as service charges is not sure of this.

At times, Pakistan resents the US attitude towards it south Asian ally that has sacrifices so much for protecting US interests in the region.

Trumpish claim Trump says those countries like Pakistan that sustain themselves thanks to US coins must serve the cause of US supremacy. His logic is Pakistan must do exactly what Washington asks it without questions as the have no full sovereignty to make policies independently.

President Trump’s claim of “paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars” was said to be “misleading”. The statement said the money given to Pakistan was reimbursement of the “part of the cost of ground facilities and air corridors used by the United States for its operations in Afghanistan” and not any “any financial aid or assistance”.

The NSC called for recognition of the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the fight 150

against terrorism in terms of tens of thousands of civilian and security personnel martyred and $120 billion in economic losses suffered by the country’s economy. It warned that scapegoating Pakistan for failures in the Afghan war would not help in achieving the objective of stabilizing war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Recently, Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s allegations of insincerity and duplicity in the fight against “terrorism” and set conditions for future counterterrorism cooperation with USA and Kabul, specifically the removal of “hideouts” in eastern Afghanistan. These hideouts were created by USA for its own purposes.

Can’t USA and India do that? Why do Americans need Pakistani help in what it can do much better in Afghanistan which is under its military control? Already USA and India have collaborated to destabilize Pakistan which is supposed to develop a truly Islamic state and promote the genuine interests of Muslims now Pakistan promotes the interests of USA and rich Pakistanis.

Anti-Islamism and Pakistan Is not Pakistan betraying Islamic faith and tenets by serving the anti-Islamic west in killing a Muslims? Taking bribes from USA for attacking Muslims does not augur well for Islamic faith.

USA forced Pakistani military regime to engineer a terror attack a mosques in the capital- Lal Mosque attack would tell the story of how badly degraded Islamic Pakistan!

Alternatively, why can’t the Pakistani regime tell the Americans straight in their fascist dirty faces that it won’t anymore serve the causes of anti-Islamism or kill Muslims as that goes against the goals set by the founder Mr. Jinnah?

Calculating all future terror operations globally, USA-Israeli fascist terror twins had very tactfully engineered the Sept-11 hoax and quickly blamed on the final and true religion of the world Islam and “so-called fundamental Islamic terrorists”, hoping for attacks on energy rich Islamic world and consequent exodus of Muslim populations to throng to join Christianity and Judaism. While genocides of Muslims, looting of their valuable resources, destabilization of their nations have happened, but the trick to convert the terrorized Muslims into their own religions did not happen. Mainly because Muslims do not consider other religions and others better in any way. They are the same or even worse than Muslims.

So, USA and its new strategic ally India are forcing Islamabad to kill Muslims indoors as they all are terrorists.

USA does let Pakistan chart its own Islamic policies that benefit common folks and 151

help improve the nation’s prestige. The government’s formal and comprehensive response to the Trumps policy on Afghanistan and South Asia came after a meeting of the Pakistani National Security Committee (NSC), which was chaired by the new incumbent PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and attended by ministers for defence, foreign affairs, finance, and interior, the national security adviser, services chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies and military operations.

NSC statement The statement issued after the NSC meeting was a detailed rejoinder to all elements of concern in the new US policy and President Trump’s arrogant speech as the big boss — the allegations about sanctuaries, claims about taking billions and billions of dollars in aid from Washington, fears about nuclear security, and the formalization of India’s role in Afghanistan.

In fact, the NSC was specially convened for deliberations on the US policy and formulating the ‘comprehensive response’. The government had earlier given a preliminary response to the policy after a meeting of the federal cabinet. The army too had expressed its views through a statement after a meeting between Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa and US Ambassador David Hale.

The bottom line of the response is that Pakistan remains committed to international efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan, but it also wants its concerns to be addressed, including the main issue of sanctuaries on Afghan soil.

The demand for elimination of “sanctuaries”, originally created by the occupation forces of Pentagon-CIA duo under Nato was thrice mentioned in the unusually long statement. Counterterrorism cooperation with the US and Afghanistan, the NSC said, was contingent upon: “focusing on core issues of eliminating safe havens inside Afghanistan, border management, return of refugees and reinvigorating the peace process for a political settlement in Afghanistan.”

At another point, the NSC underscored that it would “more specifically” want “effective and immediate US military efforts to eliminate sanctuaries harboring terrorists and miscreants on the Afghan soil, including those responsible for fomenting terror in Pakistan”. Separately, it said: “Pakistan is committed to not allowing its soil to be used for violence against any other country. We expect the same from our neighbours.”

In his speech, President Trump renewed the fears of nuclear security when he identified as a major US interest in Afghanistan and Pakistan the effort to “prevent nuclear weapons and materials from coming into the hands of terrorists”. The NSC dismissed those apprehensions as baseless and reminded that Pakistan has an internationally-recognised “robust and credible command and control system” and it is “a responsible nuclear weapon state”.

US false accusation

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The committee went to lengths to reject the US accusation of terrorist sanctuaries on Pakistani soil that was also rebuffed in the preliminary statement as “false narrative”. It was said that Pakistan’s indiscriminate action against all terrorist groups was proven by the improved security environment in the country. Pakistan’s commitment to fighting terrorism, it maintained, was also demonstrated by its counterterrorism cooperation with the US in the past, something which was also acknowledged by Trump. “We consider the lives of the citizens of other countries as sacrosanct as those of our own,” the statement said.

President Trump’s claim of “paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars” was said to be “misleading”. The statement said the money given to Pakistan was reimbursement of the “part of the cost of ground facilities and air corridors used by the USA for its operations in Afghanistan” and not any “any financial aid or assistance”.

The NSC called for recognition of the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism in terms of tens of thousands of civilian and security personnel martyred and $120 billion in economic losses suffered by the country’s economy. It warned that scapegoating Pakistan for failures in the Afghan war would not help in achieving the objective of stabilizing war-ravaged Afghanistan.

US terror sanctuaries While announcing the new Afghan policy ─ which calls for greater troop deployment and Indian involvement in Afghanistan ─ Trump had dramatically “lambasted” Pakistan for offering for offering safe havens to “agents of chaos”.

Terrorists from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan carry out attacks on Pakistani border posts and, according to the ISPR, multiple attacks attempted on the night of Aug 13 were foiled because of improved security arrangements.

The US military power had already signaled its willingness to address the issue of removal of “safe havens” in Afghanistan from where terrorists have been launching attacks in Pakistan. In the first statement issued by the State Secretary Rex Tillerson after President Trump’s speech, it had been said that it was “vital to US interests that Afghanistan and Pakistan prevent” terrorist sanctuaries”.

Pakistan has long demanded action against those US “sanctuaries”, but there has been no serious action so far, except for a brief campaign after the Army Public School tragedy in December 2014. Several “terrorists” wanted by Pakistan reportedly move freely within Afghanistan and, at least according to one statement by former TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, after he surrendered to security forces earlier this year, the “terrorists” were given special identification documents by the Afghan authorities to facilitate their movements there.

India’s favorite destabilization role In very categorical terms, the NSC expressed its reservations about the role 153

assigned to India in the new regional policy that extends from economic assistance and development in Afghanistan to peace and security in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Pakistan fears that India with its new role would work to exacerbate Pakistani security concerns, making it weak and vulnerable so that USA could impose its dictates and threaten to stop military terror aid. Questioning the role given to India, the NSC said: “India cannot be a net security provider in the South Asia region when it has conflictual relationships with all its neighbours and is pursuing a policy of destabilising Pakistan from the east and the west.”

The committee also pointed towards Indian interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries and use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. “The committee condemned state-inflicted repression on the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated Pakistan’s continued diplomatic, political and moral support for their struggle for self-determination,” the statement said.

Pakistan’s worries about Indian role would be a major irritant in Pak-US engagement on the new policy. Secretary Tillerson had said the US would engage with Pakistan “in a very serious and thorough way on its expectations and the conditions that go with that”.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif was earlier scheduled to travel to the US for bilateral talks with Secretary Tillerson next week, but the trip has been delayed for a later date after his tour of China and other friendly countries.

Observation USA as super power always showcases its prowess above all powers. In every word US leaders signal the US superiority. Trump’s utterances are just a part of that nonsense.

From the NSC response, two key concerns of Pakistan can be gleaned. First, the Trump strategy appears to be an endorsement of perpetual war in Afghanistan, when it has long been clear that only “a politically negotiated outcome”, in the NSC’s words, can work.

Pakistani leadership says US President Trump’s so-called South Asia strategy is a worrying indication of the strategic chasm between Pakistan and the USA. With words and phrases such as “outrightly rejected”, “scapegoat”, “grave challenge”, “Afghan war cannot be fought in Pakistan” and “India cannot be a net provider of security” sprinkled across the statement, the NSC has conveyed its unhappiness, perhaps even alarm, at the Trump strategy.

The so-called South Asia strategy puts the onus on Pakistan to act without offering 154

to address any of this country’s regional security concerns. Specifically, the Trump administration’s silence on anti-Pakistan militant sanctuaries in eastern Afghanistan and its encouragement of India to play a greater role in Afghanistan amount to a puzzling disregard of Pakistan’s concerns.

Why is Pakistan expected to act first to advance other powers’ interests and only then its own?

Pakistan does not want material or financial assistance from the US, but needs to be trusted and treated with respect, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa told US Ambassador David Hale. The two had a meeting at the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where Hale briefed Gen Bajwa on the US’s new South Asia policy announced by President Donald Trump a day earlier, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations ─ the military’s media wing.

According to the ISPR statement, the COAS highlighted the importance of peace in Afghanistan for Pakistan and highlighted the efforts made by Pakistan to that end.

During the meeting, Asif had told the ambassador that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

But USA is not at all interested in ending terrorism or containing terror networks that it promotes and finances.

The whole Trump idea of new attack on Pakistan is to force it to drop China and become more trusted terror partner of USA in killing Muslims on payment basis.

Why should Pakistan continue to sub serve USA and its fascist allies that target Islam? Pakistan had earlier also criticized USA but it only wanted more terror goods from USA and Afghanistan. India would not let USA throw its used terror goods from Afghanistan to Pakistan.

India as well as USA is eager to see Pakistani Muslims killed by Pakistani military.

India has got a point to prove but what about USA? _____________

Chapter- 24: Rising Russo China relations -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

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Today, if at all any two big powers share territories and conduct trade mutually beneficially and they do not have any serious problems, then, Russia and China fit the bill. The bilateral ties between two veto members and former communist states in Europe and Asia have been improving tremendously.

End of Cold War and NATO targeting Russia and China in fact brought them together. There have been mutual visits by leaders from both nations on a regular basis. In fact, Chinese president visits Moscow as many times as possible and each time at least a new deal of economic substance gets inked between them.

Chinese President Chinese President Xi Jinping is now in Moscow before he travels to Germany to take part in an upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Chinese president is making a two-day stop in Moscow on his way to Germany, where a G20 summit is scheduled for later this week. According to Russia’s ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, during the visit China and Russia will sign multiple contracts for the collective worth of over $10 billion in various fields.

Ahead of his visit, the Chinese leader gave an interview to Russia’s TASS news agency, in which he particularly focused on the issue of deployment of the US THAAD missile defense systems to South Korea. Xi criticized the move as “disrupting the strategic balance in the region” and threatening the security interests of all countries in the region, including Russia and China. He also reiterated that Beijing is urging Washington and Seoul to back away from the decision to deploy THAAD systems to the Korean peninsula.

Putin and Xi already held an informal dinner at the Kremlin. The two leaders exchanged views on Syria as well as issues relating to the Korean Peninsula, where they agreed to “jointly push for a proper settlement… via dialogue and negotiation,” according to Chinese state news agency, Xinhua.

The Chinese leader also

emphasized the need to boost cooperation and “steadfastly support each other in pursuing their own development paths and defending their respective sovereignty, national security and development interests,” Chinese media reported.

Economic cooperation and trade is the most wide-ranging area in Russo-China cooperation and enjoys great potential. Before his departure for the state visit to Russia, Xi said, "Our two countries have built a high level of political and strategic trust… I believe the visit will lend new impetus to the growth of bilateral relations.”

He also expressed hope that the G20 will continue to uphold the spirit of 156

partnership for win-win cooperation. It is the two leaders’ third meeting this year, and deals worth $10 billion are expected to be signed this time.

President Putin has described the meeting as a major event in bilateral relations that have been growing and deepening for years ever since USA and EU slapped economic sanction on Moscow for annexing (rather retaking) Crimea which had been an integral part of Russian empire for centuries before it was shifted to Ukraine for administrative reasons by then Soviet President Khrushchev.

As a sign of closer relationship, Putin will bestow upon Xi one of Russia’s utmost honors, the order of St. Andrew the First-Called, for his extreme efforts towards bolstering friendship and ties between peoples of Russia and China.

Xi’s meeting with Putin will be the third of its kind this year.

Less than a month ago, Putin and Xi met in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. At that time, Putin called the upcoming meeting in Moscow “a major event in bilateral relations,” noting that it would have a “significant” impact on bilateral ties.

Before the Astana meeting on June 8, Xi had hosted Putin in Beijing during the high-level ‘One Belt, One Road’ forum, which brought together dozens of heads of state in May to discuss international cooperation.

During Xi’s visit to Moscow, scheduled for July 3-4, Russia and China will sign several contracts worth a total of $10 billion, as well as more than a dozen intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in various fields

Strategic partnership

Beijing is Moscow’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 14.3 percent of Russia’s foreign trade turnover. Between January and April of 2017, the volume of trade between the two countries grew by 37 percent, reaching $24.5 billion.

Germany is Russia’s second biggest partner, with nine percent of Russia’s total trade volume Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their strategic partnership on the international stage, Li noted, adding that they have been jointly pushing for political solutions to the Korean nuclear issue and the Syrian crisis.

Moscow and Beijing are determined to align positions on pressing international issues. Close ties allow the countries “to pursue a rather close course on various aspects of the agenda of international organizations, including the United Nations,” according to the ambassador. “When good intentions framed in lofty words lead to chaos, the collapse of states and, in the long run, to bloodshed and 157

numerous human casualties, the role of stabilizers, of the factors that may have a cooling, stabilizing effect on the generally turbulent international situation is very important.

And Russian-Chinese relations are, to my mind, such a stabilizing factor, said the ambassador.

Uniform stance

North Korea has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it claims is capable of hitting anywhere in the world. The Hwasong-14 ballistic missile reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers (1,741 miles) and hit its target precisely after flying for 39 minutes, the report said.

The latest test comes just hours after US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to exert added pressure on North Korea over its missile and nuclear development programs.

On June 3, the United Nations Security Council imposed a fresh array of sanctions on North Korea in response to a number of missile tests carried out by Pyongyang this year.

North Korea accuses the United States of plotting with regional allies to overthrow its government. Pyongyang says it will not relinquish its nuclear deterrence unless the United States ends its hostile policy toward North Korea and dissolves the USled UN command in South Korea.

Moscow and Beijing have called for a simultaneous freeze on North Korea's missile tests and large-scale military drills by the United States and South Korea. Both countries made the demand in a statement released after Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin and the USA and South Korea refrain from carrying out large-scale joint exercises," foreign ministries of the two countries said in a joint statement. "Parallel to this, the opposing sides should start negotiations and affirm general principles of their relations including the non-use of force, rejection of aggression and peaceful coexistence," the statement said.

It also demanded that the United States immediately halt its controversial deployment of an anti-missile system, known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to South Korea.

North Korea missile launch breach of UN resolution Separately, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called North Korea's latest test launch of a ballistic missile a breach of a UN Security Council resolution.

Ryabkov said tensions with Pyongyang risked leading to catastrophic developments

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and that the missile launch showed that the only way forward was to organize multilateral talks with North Korea.

Unsettled by North Korean missile and nuclear programs, the United States has adopted a war-like posture, sending a strike group and conducting joint military drills with North Korea’s regional adversaries Japan and South Korea.

USA and China

Chinese President Xi Jinping has raised concerns with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, regarding “some negative factors” affecting Sino-American relations.

In a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Monday and before setting off for Russia, President Xi enumerated several factors adversely affecting the Beijing-Washington ties. Xi expressed Beijing’s displeasure with the recent approval by the US to sell $1 billion worth of arms to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers part of its territory.

President Trump, who had previously questioned the “One China” policy, has reassured President Xi of continued US commitment to the practice. Trump has also more recently sought to court the Chinese president, including by inviting him and his wife to his private estate in Florida in May. Xi told Trump that his government expected Washington to continue managing relations on the basis of the “One China” principle, i.e. recognizing Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

In a telephone conversation, Xi also discussed the US sanctions against a Chinese bank over its dealings with North Korea. The US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on the China-based Bank of Dadong and several Chinese nationals on Thursday for having “illicit” financial activities with North Korea.

The recent sailing of a US destroyer within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit of an island claimed by China in the South China Sea was also another issue raised by the Chinese president.

The maneuver by the US guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem was earlier denounced by Beijing as a “provocation.”

Xi also expressed his opposition to the US deployment of an advanced missile system on South Korea. He warned that China and Russia would take “necessary measures” either together or independently to protect their interests with regard to the deployment of the system. “The US deployment of an advanced anti-missile system in South Korea gravely harms the strategic security interests of China, Russia, and other countries in the region,” Xinhua quoted Xi as having told Trump.

“Beijing and Moscow are steadfastly opposed to the THAAD deployment and seriously suggest that relevant countries stop and cancel the installation,” he added, referring to the missile system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), by its acronym.

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Both China and Russia have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the deployment and argued that the controversial missile system disrupts the regional strategic balance.

South Korea decided to host the missile system last year to deter perceived threats from North Korea. The US opposes North Korea’s missile and military nuclear activities, which Pyongyang says act as a deterrence against potential invasion by its adversaries.

Global growth continues to gather momentum, as both developed countries and emerging markets show stronger economic performance. However, grave challenges remain. Therefore, it is particularly important for the G20 to play its role as a premier forum for international economic cooperation. This evening, within Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit, there will be an informal dinner for President Putin and Xi Jinping at the Kremlin� It will have an unusual format of the meeting: the leaders will meet Russian and Chinese representatives of the public, businesses and media, who will briefly inform Putin and Xi Jinping on their cooperation,� added Peskov.

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Chapter- 25: India: Cricketism and terrorism: Disappointed by defeat, India rock-attacks Australian cricket team in Assam!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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Cricketers are part of a large scale gambling unit spread across the globe, committing even money laundering crimes. However, India worships these frauds who get 100s and 50s etc by mutual fixings and mafia fixings. The way Indian regime ahs promoted cricketers as state gods by offering them prestigious national awards and even buying intentional awards from other countries for select cricketers has emboldened Indians to attack the foreign cricketers if India is by chance defeated in India in spite of official fixings with the visiting teams. .

For the fanatic sections of Indians cricket win means defeat of Pakistan and Bangladesh in one go. India achieves this feat by using Bangladesh and others.

The bus attack on Australian cricketers in Assam reminded the world of Mumbai Taj attack and even Sept-11 attack in New York. Of course, these

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days, there are no terror attacks in India and hence the bus attack becomes important. .

Rocks were thrown at Australian team bus after they thrash India in 2nd T20 to level series in Guwahati in Assam, North Eastern India. India has punished the Australians for not respecting the sentiments of Indian fans who thronged to see their heroes shine at the crease but Kolhi was sent back with a nice duck as soon as he came to the crease and none of the batboys could get through the Australian English test in T20.

Shock treatment After making Indians merry with bat and ball, as per their understanding, Australians administered a shock treatment to the hosts who are always very kind and generous with the supply of liquor, etc, besides huge cash.

The second t20 did not go as Indians wanted.

In fact, Indians fanatics had expected good score for Kolhi and Rohit as their right as the hosts, but Australians denied that and did not let them stay at the crease for more than minutes to hit 6s and 4s.

Not only that. Doni, like Kolhi and Rohit, being pampered to be recipient of Bharatratana or a little smaller awards for their “fantastic� cricketism, were, for a change, not entertained by Australian bowlers,.

That is indeed amazing because generally the bowlers should offer a minimum of 140 runs in T20 to the first bating team. When the top batboys collapse the tail-enders are offered good scores which the media report as their heroism.

In fact, Doni comes at No 6 or 7 so that he can get the extra runs that the top batboys could not get. But Australians , who showed sympathy for Sachin Tendulkar to help him and Indian government to offer Bharatratna to a cricketer-gambler, by offering him Australia’s top civilian honor meant to Pure Australians, the Order, co cannot offer even 25 runs to Doni. .

Not even Pandya, whom other team bowlers promote in big way, was offered any good score. No, Australians did according to a plan just like the who engineered and committed Sept-11 hoax. .India expected Australians to opt to bat first as they did in the first T20 but they opted to bowl and began their attack with full intense.

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All through entire Australian team and their coach were amazingly very cooperative with Indian team and BCCI as they work for India in IPL, denying Kolhi, Rohit and Doni their due runs shocked India and hence the simple punishment. None of the players was killed or seriously wounded only they were terrorized. They were terrorized so much that they could not even sleep properly, fearing there could be a terror attack on the hotel where they were staying for the match.

Nightmares hunted them throughout.

Opener Aaron Finch tweeted out an image showing a broken window in the bus. “Pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel!!,” said Finch in his tweet.

It was Australia's first win in eight T20 games against India and lines up a tantalizing finish to the series in Hyderabad on Friday.

Crushing defeat

For India cricket is a major gambling, possibly bringing more money than from lottery sales but obviously less than that comes from liquor sales. India simply can’t tolerate defeats in cricket and hence opts for fixed matches for 100s, 50s etc and series wins. Foreign teams willingly help India shine because of the huge money they receive form Indian money lords for plying for the IPL. Cricket commentators are well paid to praise Indian batboys and captains.

India had a forgettable outing with both bat and ball as Australia bounced back in the T20 series with a crushing eight-wicket win in the second game here today. Rookier pacer Jason Behrendorff (4/21) ripped through the high-profile Indian batting to restrict the home team to a below par 118 at the Baraspara Stadium, which hosted its first international match tonight.

Australia swept to a crushing eight-wicket victory over India after Moises Henriques and Travis Head piled on an unbeaten 109-run partnership for the second wicket to level the three-match series. Australia needed only 15.3 overs to reach 122-2 in reply, after Jason Behrendorff had taken a career-best 4-21 to bowl out the hosts for a paltry 118 runs. Adam Zampa chipped in with two wickets for 19 runs.

Henriques scored 62 off 46 balls, including four fours and four sixes, while Head made 48 with the help of five fours and a six. Warner (2) and 162

Aaron Finch (8) fell early in the chase as Australia was reduced to 13-2 in the third over, with Jasprit Bumrah (1-25) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-9) respectively taking the wickets.

Later, Travis Head (48 off 34) and Moises Henriques (62 off 46) shared an unbeaten 109-run stand off 76 balls to fire Australia to a series levelling win in just 15.3 overs. The victory was also Australia's first over India in eight T20 Internationals. The series decider will be played in Hyderabad on Friday. The left hand-right hand combination of Head and Henriques took the game away from India after the visitors lost their dangerous openers, David Warner and Aaron Finch, by the third over.

Australians made both the ball and bat speak for their government.

India's hopes of defending a small target were dashed as their spinners, Kuldeep Yadav (0-46) and Yuzvendra Chahal (0-29), struggled in dewy conditions. Henriques and Head were watchful early on, but opened up later in the innings to put on 50 runs off just 41 balls, and then bring up the 100 partnership off 73 deliveries.

Earlier, Behrendorff took three wickets in the space of eight balls to stun the capacity crowd at the Barsapara Stadium. It became the 49th venue in India to host international cricket, but Australia didn't provide much for the crowd to celebrate after asking the hosts to bat. “I have been working hard to play for Australia and I love every minute of it,” Behrendorff said. “The whole Indian team is a class team. It feels nice to take a few wickets and get to a great start. I can't wait to do it again at Hyderabad.”

Behrendorff trapped Rohit Sharma (8) lbw and then caught a return catch off Virat Kohli (0) as the duo fell in the space of three balls in the first over.

It was Kohli's first-ever duck in international T20 cricket.

Manish Pandey (6) then edged behind off him in the third over. India was stuttering at 27-4 in the fifth over as Shikhar Dhawan (2) holed out off Behrendorff, with Warner taking an exceptional catch at long off, running backwards. Behrendorff's figures were the best for Australia against India in T20 cricket. He improved on Nathan Bracken's 3-11 at Melbourne in 2008.

Kedar Jadhav (27) and MS Dhoni (13) put on 33 runs for the fifth wicket.

But both were accounted by Zampa (2-19) in quick succession.

India was reduced to 70-7, before Hardik Pandya (25) and Kuldeep Yadav (16) added 33 runs to take the score past 100 in the 17th over.

Pandya was out caught off Marcus Stoinis (1-20) in the 18th as the runs came in a trickle, offering an easy target for the tourists.

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Interestingly, Indian newspapers and TV channels and even social media did not even mention this terror attack attempt, mainly because India claims to be terror victim and wants a seat on UN Security Council on that account. But any debate on the subject would put PM Modi’s foreign tour program in jeopardy.

So, does it mean foreign teams would stop coming to India to play with nice terror free Indians?

Australia defeated India convincingly in the second T20 International in Guwahati to level the series 1-1. But in a rather unfortunate turn of events, the Australian team bus was attacked with a rock when they were going back to the hotel.

This is undoubtedly a grave security breach and BCCI and local security agencies will have lot of explanation to do regarding it.

Mild local condemnations Indian women cricket team’s captain Mithali Raj strongly condemned the stone-pelting incident on the Australian team bus saying it was not ‘in good taste’. She said: “People should be able to strictly see it likewise & not beyond that.”

Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin condemned the stone pelting incident on the Australian team bus, saying that it was not at all acceptable.

Taking to Twitter, Ashwin said that the stone thrown on the Aussies bus showed the nation in bad light and, therefore, it was important for all the people to act in a more responsible way. ‘The stone thrown at the Aussie team bus shows us in bad light, let's all act more responsibly. A vast majority of us are capable of that,’ the off-spinner tweeted.

A rock was thrown at the Australian team bus as they returned to the team hotel from the Barsapara Cricket Stadium following their eight-wicket win in the second T20I of the three-match series in Guwahati.

The rock, believed to be a big size of a cricket ball, was thrown at a window on the right-hand side of the bus while it was returning from the stadium. It should be noted that no injuries were caused to any of the players or the support staff.

Meanwhile, Assam's Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma apologized for the incident, adding that a strict action would be taken against the guilty.

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‘Our deep apologies... People of Assam never endorse such behavior .we will punish the guilty,’ he wrote on Twitter.

India and Australia will now head to Hyderabad to lock horns in the series-decider T-20 match of the three-match series, which is to be played on October 13 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Cricket is promoted by the regime and so any criticism of criticism amounts to criticism of the regime and state.

Cheating and gambling is the birth right of most in India. Criminal activities too.

Criticism of Indian action is not appreciated by the regime and any criticism of cricket fixings cannot be tolerated by New Delhi which treats cricket as a religion with gods at the cease to promote the false prestige of the nation.

Even sedition charges could be slapped on those who dare criticize cricket fixings that bring a lot of money to the regime just like liquor sales.

Media lords would demand murder of all those who dare criticize India. .

Notwithstanding the calculated defeat the guests offered to India, Australian government is happy with India for its huge direct investments, apart from high expenses of education there by Indians.

On request form New Delhi, Australia come to the rescue of Indian batboys in getting them national awards by offering them their own awards first.

Much more.. But Australian crickets are in India as India’s official guests. ___________

Chapter- 26: Why this endless, senseless Hamas-Fatah feud?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

________

Any struggle for freedom and sovereignty requires solid unity to face the arrogant occupation power successfully.

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Unfortunately, Palestinians, fighting not just for freedom from Israel but also for internal power and money for existence, have not been able put up a united fight against the occupier-aggressor Israel. That makes the terror job of Zionism (cum Pentagon) rather easy.

Israel now under Netanyahu keeps drawing Palestinian blood.

The course of tensed Hamas-Fatah relations inside Palestine is the result of vacuum in their minds and hearts and sheer madness to behave without logic but that reality in fact reveals the real state of affairs of Islamic community globally particularly Muslim nations in West Asia where Israel, the arch foe of Islam, calls all the shots. Their mindless infighting even as they are being fatally crushed by USAIsrael terror twins in fact repulses and sickens the mankind.

So, Fatah and Hamas factions, rather meaningless opposite political outfits in an occupied nation, treat each other as their main enemy to be wiped out of Palestine territories, leaving behind in tact the Israel and criminalized Jewish leaders. That is exactly what Israel and its allies like USA expect from the perpetual feud inside the tiny Palestine territories. .

This fatal approach of killing each other by themselves in order to strengthen the factions existing in a territory without sovereignty and under permanent duress and terror attacks by Israel is obviously seen by USA as their “historic” victory.

By strenuous efforts, Israel has literally created a two nations’ territory in Palestine. While the so-called Islamist Hamas rules the tiny Gaza Strip, pro-west Fatah controls the other tiny stretch West Bank.

The great divide between the two took place in 2007 when Hamas won the general poll but Israel, USA and Fatah not only jointly rejected the results but also ignited troubles in Palestine, leading eventually to a civil war that killed many Palestinians, thereby making USA, Israel happy.

Fatah, which now controls the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, and the Islamist group Hamas, which wrested control of the Gaza Strip in a civil war in 2007 after the poll, have waged a low-intensity conflict for over a decade.

Between flare-ups, the two have often responded to the will of their people by announcing various unity agreements. None of these agreements have led to actual national harmony, and Sunday’s surprise announcement that Hamas had dissolved its administrative committee in Gaza and agreed to reconciliation is unlikely to defy the precedent.

Nearly a decade of infighting and efforts for recompilation went on as Israel strengthened its position in Palestine, Palestinians without anything to live on lost hopes of the goodness coming from the government. Israel began targeting women, old people and children as collective punishment for seeking sovereignty.

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The last Palestinian legislative election was held in 2006, when Hamas won a surprise victory that laid the ground for a political rupture. The group fought a short civil war with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement in the Gaza Strip in 2007, and since then Hamas has governed the territory.

Numerous attempts since 2011 to reconcile the two movements and form a power-sharing unity government in Gaza and the West Bank have failed. They agreed to form a national reconciliation government in 2014, but Hamas’s shadow government has continued to rule Gaza.

In recent times, both Fatah and Hamas began talking for a unity government but nothing came out as Hamas is not really winning for compromises. People continue to suffer while employees do not receive their salaries as Israel collects the taxes form Palestine and keeps them to use as a powerful bully to silence the Palestinians, being besieged by Israel and Egypt through terror blockades.

Palestinians both Fatah and Hamas live like Israeli prisoners as Isreali military-police establishments target them, while the UNSC, mandated to protect entire world, looks the other way as it is also eager to kill the Palestinian race. . .

Very recently, the factions met to sort out their differences and come together to face the reality together. Of the demands Palestinians often make of their leaders, reconciliation between their two largest political factions perennially tops the list.

Economic strains

Israel, backed by USA and NATO allies, control Palestine and decides all policies for them, collects taxes and keep them with it, making the Palestinians go angry and angry. Many poor Palestinian workers are being hired for cheap labor by Israel to construct illegal settlements inside Palestine territories. Besides, the PLO and Fatah stop paying the money to Gaza Strip pay the salary, among other charges.

Egypt has been brokering talks with Fatah to implement a deal signed in Cairo with Hamas in 2013 to end the dispute and form an interim government before elections. In July this year it emerged Hamas was seeking a rapprochement with the Palestinian leader once regarded as its greatest enemy, as the Islamist group faces unprecedented challenges from all sides.

Hamas’s leadership held talks with Mohammed Dahlan – the exiled former Fatah leader in Gaza whose supporters Hamas defeated in the 2007 civil war – in the hope he could persuade Egypt to come to the aid of Gazans struggling under Israel’s decade-long economic blockade.

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Hamas’s position has been weakened by developments in the region, including Saudi-led moves against Qatar, once a major financial contributor to Gaza. The group is also under further pressure from an aggressive policy implemented by Abbas, who governs in the West Bank. In June he asked Israel to significantly cut its electricity supply to Gaza’s 2 million residents.

The electricity crisis comes on top of Gaza’s many other woes. Abbas has also cut the salaries of thousands of former Palestinian Authority employees, many his supporters, who he had instructed not to work for the Hamas government.

Meanwhile, like a wild beast without rules, Israel’s increasing restrictions on exit permits for Gaza residents, an escalating sewage crisis that is contaminating the strip’s beaches and high levels of unemployment are all contributing to a mounting sense of exhaustion.

Some polls show that if parliamentary elections were held now, Hamas would win them in both Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the seat of Abbas’s Palestinian Authority.

Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah and the president of the PA, responded with an unprecedented show of force. He cut off payments for electricity to the Gaza Strip, effectively plunging the impoverished coastal enclave into darkness.

Hamas refuses to interact with Israel, so the PA has subsidized parts of Gaza’s electricity input since 2007. Abbas also slashed the salaries of his out-ofwork PA employees in Gaza, cut payments for Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails, reduced medical-supply shipments, and announced that over 6,000 PA workers would be forced into early retirement. These wide-ranging sanctions were the toughest Abbas had ever levied against Hamas, let alone his own people.

USA and Israel arm twists PLO leaders Abbas to terrorize the Palestians in Gaza Strip and from the start, Abbas made his demands of Hamas clear: dismantle the administrative committee, bring Gaza back under the PA’s control, and prepare for national elections. Hamas countered by insisting it wouldn’t budge until he rescinded his crippling sanctions. For months, the two appeared to be stuck at a familiar impasse until Sunday’s announcement in Cairo, where Hamas seemingly buckled to all of Abbas’s demands.

Publicity stunt?

Maybe for publicity stunt, Hamas says it is willing to dissolve its Gaza administration, 10 years after it fought a bloody war with Fatah. Hamas has agreed to hold talks with the rival Fatah movement, dissolve the Gaza administrative committee and hold general elections, in a deal to end their long-running feud in the Palestinian territories, the group has said in a statement.

A senior Fatah leader, Mahmoud Aloul, welcomed the Hamas pledge but told Voice of Palestine radio: “We want to see that happening on the ground before we 168

move to the next step.” Hamas said in its statement that it agreed to dissolve the administration running Gaza, allow the reconciliation government to carry out its duties in the territory, to hold elections and enter into talks with Fatah.

The likeliest explanation for Hamas’s sudden shift is the change in its leadership. Earlier this year, the results of the group’s secret internal elections were announced as Ismail Haniyeh, a former prime minister in the unity government of 2007, and Yahya Sinwar, a hardline leader of Hamas’s military wing, became the number one and number two leaders of the faction. Both represent a shift in Hamas’s center of gravity from the exiled political class abroad back to the Gazabased military leadership. Initially, their rise left many concerned that another war with Israel was inevitable. Sinwar, in particular, was a wild card: he arose within Hamas’s military wing by weeding out—and personally executing—collaborators, and played a prominent role as a military leader in the 2014 war.

Due to the Zionist target, Gazans live in abject poverty, endure substandard water and health conditions, and face astronomic unemployment rates. In the past, they’ve rallied behind their Hamas leaders in times of crisis, but those days seem far away.

Israel inspired Fatah’s bloody campaign against Hamas in the 1990s and 2000s, demonstrates the severity of Hamas’s plight.

In January, over 10,000 took to the streets outside of one of Hamas’s electricity offices to protest the Hamas group’s policies.

Public discontent with both Hamas and the PA is now more common, and Hamas’s new leaders have felt the pressure. Sinwar, whose duties within the Hamas organization involve administrating Gaza Strip, has turned pragmatic in his time in office.

Sinwar, especially, has reached out to anyone and everyone for help. This includes Mohammad Dahlan, the former Fatah security chief in Gaza, who negotiated a deal with the Egyptians and Emiratis to get fuel and money into the Strip. That Sinwar would seemingly reconcile with Dahlan, the architect of Viewed in this light, it seemed only a matter of time until Hamas either acquiesced or sparked another war with Israel. In the past, financial pressure has caused Hamas to lash out violently.

Weeks before the Zionist terror 2014 war, Hamas members raided and closed local banks in Gaza. Yet for now, the group’s new leadership has surprisingly opted for the former, though not without attempting to stick it to their Fatah rivals.

Announcing their openness to reconciliation just days before Abbas is expected to meet with President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly will put the PA leader in a bind. A similar reconciliation agreement in 2014 all but ended the John Kerry-led dramatic peace process;

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Abbas, 82, is backed by the west and now 12 years into what was to be a four-year term. He is an unpopular leader according to opinion polls. He has no clear successor and there are no steps being taken toward organizing a presidential election.

Abbas cannot expect the United States to agree to his negotiating terms if he’s just inked another agreement with Hamas- an Israeli designated terror group.

Hamas appears to be attempting to corner Abbas. With his demands ostensibly met, Hamas will turn up the public pressure on him to ease his campaign against Gaza. This puts Abu Mazen Abbas and Fatah to the real test. The longer his sanctions remain in place, the more everyday Palestinians will begin to wonder why he hasn’t lifted the pressure against his own people in West Bank. Abbas is likely to slow-roll his response in order to buy himself time with Trump before likely countering by insisting his demands weren’t actually met, issuing further demands he knows Hamas can’t meet, or committing to a new round of negotiations.

In March, Hamas announced the formation of the administrative committee, a quasi-governmental body that would ostensibly assume more functions of a state.

Fatah leaders reacted with outrage, accusing Hamas of forming a shadow government that would “perpetuate the division instead of promoting reconciliation.”

Observation Neither side will be able to bridge the ideological divide or forget their bloodsoaked history anytime soon. If actual unity was possible, the two Palestinian factions would have likely found the formula in their previous agreements: Mecca in 2007, Sana’a in 2008, Cairo in 2011, Doha in 2012, Cairo again in 2012, and the Shati refugee camp in 2014.

The reality looks bleak as Hamas is unlikely to ever truly give up its military control over Gaza. The faction wants Abbas to pay for the costs of governing. Abbas wants total acquiescence and disarmament. Ultimately, there’s no middle ground here. Sunday’s announcement is just another move in a decade-long game of chess where everyday Palestinians continue to pay the price.

For one, all unity talks are less about unity and more about finances.

Genuine desire for freedom and sovereignty is missing in both West Bank and Gaza.

This emboldens the Zionist military forces to keep terror attack the besieged Palestinians, killing even children. The firing of the toy missiles into empty lands of Israel only harmed Palestine cause further.

Only third rate fools repeat the nonsensical mistakes.

_____________ Chapter- 27: Climate change: Hurricane Irma slams Caribbean islands!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

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____

World leaders are insincere about the dangers of the climatic disorder and change as a result of which people are getting killed by natural calamities. .

Terrific Hurricane Irma sowed a trail of deadly devastation through the Caribbean on Wednesday the 06 September, reducing to rubble the tropical islands of Barbuda and St Martin and claiming at least seven lives. One of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record, the dangerous Category Five hurricane was churning off the north coast of Puerto Rico in the night, on a potential collision course with south Florida where at-risk areas were evacuated.

Category Five is the highest on the scale for hurricanes in the Atlantic and hurricanes of this intensity are rare. They can cause severe flooding, tear off roofing, shatter windows and uproot palm trees, turning them into deadly projectiles.

Irma was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 185 mph (295 kph) as it followed a projected path that would see it hit the northern edges of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on Thursday, continuing past eastern Cuba before veering north for Florida. As of 0000 GMT, the eye of the storm was just north of Puerto Rico and the hurricane was moving west-northwest at 26 kilometres per hour.

Hurricane Irma lashed Puerto Rico with heavy rain and powerful winds Wednesday night, leaving nearly 9, 00,000 people without power as authorities struggled to get aid to small Caribbean islands already devastated by the historic storm.

Warm water is fuel for hurricanes, and Irma was moving over water that was 1.8 degrees (1 degree Celsius) warmer than normal. Four other storms have had winds as strong in the overall Atlantic region, but they were in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico, which usually have warmer waters.

Hurricane Allen hit 190 mph (306 kph) in 1980, while 2005's Wilma, 1988's Gilbert and a 1935 great Florida Keys storm all had 185 mph (298 kph) winds.

Significant effects were also reported on St. Martin, an island split between French and Dutch control. Photos and video circulating on social media showed major damage to the airport in Philipsburg and the coastal village of Marigot heavily flooded. France sent emergency food and water rations there and to the French island of St. Bart's, where Irma ripped off roofs and 171

knocked out all electricity. Dutch marines who flew to St. Martin and two other Dutch islands hammered by Irma reported extensive damage but no deaths or injuries.

The French part of St Martin — a pristine resort known for its vibrant nightlife — suffered the storm's full fury: at least six people died and 95 per cent of dwellings were decimated. Officials said: “It's an enormous catastrophe. Ninety-five per cent of the island is destroyed…I'm in shock. It's frightening.”

To the southeast, Barbuda, part of the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, suffered “absolute devastation” with 95pc of properties damaged, and up to 30pc demolished, according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

“Barbuda now is literally rubble,” Browne said. One person is known to have died on the island of 1,600 residents, apparently a child whose family was trying to get to safer ground.

More than half of Puerto Rico's population of three million is without power, with rivers breaking their banks in the centre and north of the island where Governor Ricardo Rossello activated the National Guard and opened storm shelters sufficient to house up to 62,000 people.

By evening, the centre of the storm was about 50 miles (80 kilometres) north of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and heading west-northwest at 16 mph (26 kph). More than half the island of Puerto Rico was without power and nearly 50,000 without water, the US territory's emergency management agency said. Fourteen hospitals were using generators after losing power, and trees and light poles were strewn across roads. The tiny island of Culebra reported sustained winds of 88 mph (142 kph) and wind gusts of 110 mph (177 kph).

Nearly every building on the island of Barbuda was damaged when the eye of the storm passed almost directly overhead early Wednesday and about 60 percent of the island's roughly 1,400 people were left homeless, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told AP. "Either they were totally demolished or they would have lost their roof," Browne said after returning to Antigua from a plane trip to the neighbouring island. "It is just really a horrendous situation."

Roads and telecommunications systems were destroyed and recovery will take months, if not years. A 2-year-old child was killed as a family tried to escape a damaged home during the storm, Browne told AP.

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Irma follows hot on the heels of Hurricane Harvey which devastated swaths of Texas and Louisiana in late August. Irma was hitting the Caribbean even as two other tropical storms, Jose in the Atlantic Ocean and Katia in the Gulf of Mexico, were upgraded to hurricane status. Florida rushed to prepare for a possible direct hit on the Miami area by the Category 5 storm with potentially catastrophic 185 mph (298 kph) winds.

With forecasters warning of catastrophe, including surges of up to 7.6 meters above normal tide levels, people evacuated tourist areas, stocked up on provisions, and packed into shelters across an area stretching as far north as Florida. The Sunshine State is expecting to face the brunt of the storm from Friday night. Florida Governor Rick Scott said Irma, coming barely a week after Harvey claimed some 60 lives, posed “a severe threat to the entire state.”

Gas stations between the Florida Keys and Miami ran out of gas, while nearly all local supermarkets had sold out of bottled water, with fights breaking out among shoppers in some stores. There's no water, no milk, there are very few cans — and no cat food.

Tourists in the popular Key West islands were packing their bags on a mandatory evacuation order, with a similar order for residents due to follow.

“We're emphatically telling people you must evacuate, you cannot afford to stay on an island with a Category Five hurricane coming at you,” said Monroe County emergency operations centre director Martin Senterfitt.

Panicked residents stripped shelves bare in Miami as they rushed to stockpile everything from bottled water to sandbags before Irma strikes.

Tourist Pauline Jackson, a 59-year-old registered nurse from Tampa, Florida, puffed on her last cigarette as a San Juan hotel prepared to shutter its doors ahead of the storm. "I'm in a hurricane here, and when I get home, I'll be in the same hurricane. It's crazy," she said.

28 cruises had been cancelled, shortened or had their itineraries changed as a result of the hurricane. Tropical Storm Katia formed in the Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's coast and rapidly became a hurricane. It had sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and Mexico's government issued a hurricane watch for the coast of Veracruz state from Tuxpan to Laguna Verde. Katia was about 190 miles (306 kilometres) north-northeast of the city of Veracruz on Wednesday night and was expected to drift toward the coast Thursday, the hurricane centre said.

French President Emmanuel Macron earlier warned the final toll would be “harsh and cruel.” Guadeloupe prefect Eric Maire called the situation in St 173

Martin “dramatic,” saying the island — which is divided between the Netherlands and France — was without drinking water or electricity, and warning the death toll was almost certain to rise.

President Donald Trump this week approved an emergency declaration for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. That means the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies can remove debris and give other services that will largely be paid for by the US government. Trump also declared an emergency in Florida, and authorities in the Bahamas said they were evacuating six southern islands. Trump declared a state of emergency in Puerto Rico as well as the US Virgin Islands and Florida where he said the outlook was “not good.” Trump spoke by telephone with the governors of all three areas to assure them of the federal government's support.

In Cuba, a state of alert was declared in several eastern and central provinces, with at-risk residents advised to move in with relatives or reach government shelters. Haiti's northern coast was on hurricane alert, although in the town of Cap-Haitien residents appeared mostly unaware of the impending storm.

The US National Weather Service said Puerto Rico had not seen a hurricane of Irma's magnitude since Hurricane San Felipe in 1928, which killed a total of 2,748 people in Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico and Florida. Puerto Rico's public power company has cut back on staff and maintenance amid a decade-long economic crisis and the agency's director warned that some areas could be without power from four to six months because the infrastructure has already deteriorated so badly.

EPA officials said their biggest concerns were oil spills and power disruptions to water supply systems. "No matter what precautions we take, the coastal flooding will impact oil tanks," said Catherine McCabe, a regional administrator.

Another concern was the 20 Superfund sites in Puerto Rico and the three in the US Virgin islands, given that most were near the coast, she said. She said EPA officials in New Jersey were on standby to fly down after the hurricane passed through. State maintenance worker Juan Tosado said he was without power for three months after Hurricane Hugo killed dozens of people in Puerto Rico in 1989.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Irma's winds would fluctuate, but the storm would likely remain at Category 4 or 5 for the next day or two as it roared past the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, the Turks & Caicos and

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parts of the Bahamas. Evacuations from high-risk areas were ordered throughout the path of the storm.

Soon Irma is expected to hit Florida, where Governor Rick Scott said he planned to activate 7,000 National Guard soldiers by Friday and warned that Irma is "bigger, faster and stronger" than Hurricane Andrew. Andrew pummeled south Florida 25 years ago and wiped out entire neighborhoods with ferocious winds. Experts worried that Irma could rake the entire Florida east coast from Miami to Jacksonville and then head into Savannah, Georgia, and the Carolinas, striking highly populated and developed areas.

Because of the uncertainty in any forecast this far out, authorities in Miami held off for the time being on ordering any widespread evacuations. The mayor of Miami-Dade County activated the emergency operation centre and urged residents to have three days' worth of food and water.

The State Department authorised voluntary evacuation of US diplomats and their families from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba, where the storm was expected to arrive by Friday. Hurricane Jose posed no immediate threat to land but meteorologists warned the storm's path could change. Jose had winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and was quickly strengthening.

Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said his government was evacuating six islands because authorities would not be able to help anyone caught in the "potentially catastrophic" wind, flooding and storm surge. People there would be flown to Nassau in what he called the largest storm evacuation in the country's history. The northern parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti could see 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, with as much as 20 inches (50 centimeters) in the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

While the Caribbean nations in Irma's path have sounded alarms about climate change, Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, which Irma is also expected to hit, has been skeptical of the link between human activity and global warming. The next worst climate change denier to trump, Florida Governor Rick Scott, is telling everybody to get out of Florida because of Irma.

Observation Climate change is a real problem and it requires all of us to leave a sustainable planet to the next generation.

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Last week at a meeting to discuss infrastructure aid, the prime minister of St. Lucia, which lies to the south of Irma's path and has offered to serve as an evacuation point for its neighboring islands, implored developed nations to help the Caribbean to combat the effects of climate change.

PM Allen Chastanet said Small Island Developing States (SIDS) stand to sustain some of the most severe damage from climate change if larger, wealthier nations don't accept climate scientists' consensus that human activity contributes to global warming, and work to reverse the impact of greenhouse gases. The catastrophic damage brought in 2016 by Hurricane Matthew, a Category 5 storm that left Haiti with its worst humanitarian crisis since the earthquake that struck the country in 2010. There is no greater example of that than what took place in Haiti. Did we not know that Haiti was in a hurricane belt? Did we not know that there was clearly a trend of increasing storms?

When Trump announced that he would stop implementing the Paris accord, declaring it "a bad deal" for Americans, the USA ended its contributions to the UN Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. The decision was met with shock by leaders in the Caribbean, where islands are especially at risk for the rising sea levels and intense hurricanes brought by global warming.

The Caribbean is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to the escalating effects of climate change. The socio-economic consequences from rising sea levels and temperatures, increasingly violent storms and severe droughts, oil spills, mismanagement of waste, and coral bleaching are having mounting consequences, and left unchecked threaten the very viability of the region's economies and societies, and the health and welfare of Caribbean people.

While hurricanes are naturally occurring weather events, climate change has contributed to the severity of recent hurricanes and tropical storms, as noted by the tourism group. "Unfortunately, the physicality is very clear," said climate scientist Anders Levermann of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in a statement to Bloomberg. "Hurricanes get their destructive energy from the warmth of the ocean, and the region's water temperatures are super elevated."

President Donald is not known for his sensibility towards the fast developing climate change. Trump's unwise decision to abruptly withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change has harmed the resolve to fight climate disorder, annoyed the Green Peace groups and it was met with dismay among Caribbean leaders.

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Some of the small Caribbean islands that are expected to suffer the most damage from Hurricane Irma have had some of the loudest voices in recent months regarding the effects of climate change—and the harm being done by leaders including President Donald Trump, who withdrew the USA from the Paris climate accord in June. Images of the storm's destruction on St. Martin, Anguilla, and Barbuda released yesterday confirmed many Caribbean leaders' disturbing worries and concerns.

We call upon all local governments across the nation to continue to pass rules and regulations that protect our climate. As most of the world moves forward, our nation cannot sit idle and lag behind.

Many people have dies and thousands have been injured and evacuated.

UNSC must wake up to protect and secure the troubled zones form the future hurricanes _______ Chapter- 28: Dokalam standoff and Jinping-Modi brief meeting in China!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

________

Even as the debate on who won the Dokalam standoff still remains inconclusive, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to China to attend the BRICS in Xiamen and went up to Chinese President Xi Jinping to shake hands on the venue stage.

The Chinese and the Indian troops were engaged in a standoff since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the construction of a road by the Chinese Army. On August 28, India's External Affairs Ministry announced that New Delhi and Beijing have decided on 'expeditious disengagement' of their border troops in the disputed Dokalam area.

Notwithstanding the Dokalam standoff, which had put ties between the two countries under strain, Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting on September 05.

Modi and Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting 73-day face-off between their troops in the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector.

Modi, who attended the BRICS Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Dialogue earlier in the day, met on prior arrangement President Xi on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen.

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During their meeting, Modi congratulated Xi on a 'very successful' BRICS Summit. "China is prepared to work with India to seek guidance from the five principles of Panchsheel," XI Jinping told PM Modi. Xi added that India and China are each other's major neighbours; we are also two of the world's largest and emerging countries. The two leaders reaffirmed the understanding reached at Astana to not allow differences to become disputes.

PM Modi, accompanied by a large team including senior officials National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, met the Chinese leader just before his travel to Myanmar from this port city. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said that the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were forward looking and constructive.

Speaking to media, Jaishankar said, "The two leaders reaffirmed that it is in the interest of both India and China to have good relations and felt that there should be closer communication between the defence and security personnel of India and China… It was a forward-looking conversation and not a backwardlooking one," Jaishankar said when asked whether Doklam stand-off was left behind by the two sides. He also said that important point made during the meeting was peace and tranquility in the border area is a prerequisite for further development of a relationship.

India says there was a forward-looking and constructive approach taken by both sides. “Counter terrorism’ related issues were taken up during the course of BRICS, they were not discussed at this meeting. An important point made during the meeting was peace and tranquility in the border area is a prerequisite for further development of a relationship. There was a sense that if a relationship is to go forward then peace and tranquility on border areas must be maintained.

Interestingly, Modi and Xi kept on shaking their hands almost mutually for a long time as if they want to signal to restart the standoff left abruptly owing to the summit. .

The end of a standoff between India and China over a remote road on the Doklam plateau has prompted a vibrant discussion about the lessons learned. The emerging consensus in New Delhi is that India “won” and China “lost.” it remains unclear that India “won.” India’s strategic experts talked about India’s is willingness to challenge China and standoff is even viewed as providing a model that other states can use to counter Chinese coercion. If others stand up, China will back down.

Nevertheless, this consensus is misplaced. And the usual cricket analogy of winning and losing obscures much more than it reveals.

From India’s point of view, the status quo ante of June 2017 was restored, a victory. Yet from China’s perspective, Indian forces withdrew from Chinese territory (also claimed by Bhutan, but not by India). Moreover, on the ground at the site of the confrontation, Indian forces pulled back first. Meanwhile, Chinese forces still remain in Doklam, even if Beijing chose not to press ahead with the road extension that sparked the standoff.

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There is also no indication from Chinese or Indian statements that China had to make any concessions to convince India to withdraw its troops. China’s claims and behavior will not change, noting that China would “continue with its exercise of sovereign rights” in the disputed area. In other words, China will still conduct patrols in Doklam and maintain the portions of road that had been built before the standoff started in early June.

Despite the triumphalism from some voices in New Delhi, India likely learned that Beijing does not back down immediately or without sustained effort. The disengagement at Doklam took more than ten weeks of diplomacy, much longer than previous confrontations along the China-India border in 2013 and 2014, which lasted only a few weeks.

China also had other reasons to seek de-escalation, none of which can be attributed to India’s intervention. An active confrontation would have cast a pall over the upcoming BRICS summit that China is hosting in Xiamen in early September. Russia, the leader of the BRICS, would have asked China not to escalate now and China obliged. And on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th Party Congress, Xi Jinping likely wanted to avoid any risky escalation that could affect the significant transfer of power that will occur. Once these events pass, however, China may be less constrained and more willing to tolerate risk on the border with India.

The Indian intervention also does not offer a “model” that other states can apply elsewhere for countering China’s assertiveness. India enjoyed tactical superiority at the site of the standoff, leveraging its well-developed forward position at Doka La and reserves of much larger forces based permanently in Sikkim. These advantages likely played a role in limiting China’s response.

Moreover, even if India scored a tactical win by thwarting China’s road extension, it may have lost at the strategic level. Ironically perhaps, India’s actions underscored to China the importance of enhancing its military position in the Doklam bowl. Before the standoff in June, China’s permanent presence in the area had been quite limited. China had maintained a road in the area for several decades, but did not garrison any forces. In contrast, India has maintained and developed a forward post at Doka La adjacent to Doklam.

India justified its action based on its commitments to Bhutan under a 2007 treaty. India has chosen to confront China at Doklam and China may well seek to rectify this tactical imbalance of forces by bringing in forces. In fact, China began to station forces (zhushou), to troops deployed to Doklam after the standoff began.

China would likely build facilities farther away from India’s position at Doka La, making it more challenging for India to intervene and block China next time. When India challenged China’s construction crews in June, it only had to move its forces a hundred meters from the existing border. But in the future, India may be faced with the uncomfortable choice of risking much more to deny China a greater presence farther inside Doklam or accepting it. So, even if India won this round, it may not win the next one.

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China may have achieved some of its political objectives, whose importance overshadows the standoff over the road. Bhutan, always worried about being caught between its much larger neighbors, may become more reluctant to test China on territorial issues to avoid being drawn into a conflict between India and China.

If China seeks to address the tactical imbalance in Doklam in the future, India may be less successful using the same method to deter China again.

Take, for example,. The Doklam “model” would suggest that if China sought to build a permanent presence on the reef Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the USA could stop Chinese land reclamation by intervening on behalf of the Philippines to block Chinese dredgers. Yet unlike India’s open support of Bhutan’s claim to sovereignty over Doklam, the USA maintains a position of neutrality on the sovereignty of the contested land features in the South China Sea and around the world. Indo-US strategic partnership is not reliable.

Faced with finances for all its terror wars, USA is cautious about intervening in China’s territorial disputes directly, especially if states opposing China in territorial disputes actively seek greater material support from Washington. China would view such a change in US policy as a significant challenge to all its territorial disputes with neighbors and react harshly to probe U.S. resolve, perhaps even taking limited military action to deter the USA from carrying out its new policy.

The narrow definition of the issue permitted troops to disengage without letting the more complicated problems prevent de-escalation. China and India - two nuclear-armed powers - avoided letting a small confrontation escalate into a much wider and more dangerous conflict. So the frame of winning and losing is misplaced.

The genius of the Doklam disengagement is that diplomats defined it in narrow and specific terms, focusing only on the forces at the “face-off site.” Larger issues, such as the location of the tri-junction between China, India and Bhutan, along with China and Bhutan’s competing claims to Doklam, were left off the table.

By not disclosing the terms under which the standoff ended, diplomats also allowed each other to save face.

Given that China will continue to press its territorial claims against India and Bhutan, as well as in the East and South China Seas, policymakers should be wary of learning the wrong lessons from the disengagement at Doklam.

The focus should now shift to how diplomacy can be employed to avoid military confrontations and reduce opportunities for conflict.

India wants the Chinese help in important matters and as such would not dare launching a terror war on China even if the latter would occupy a part of Indian territory.

Both occupy parts of Jammu Kashmir.

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