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First I2U2 projects to promote agricul- ture, Russia-China ties under stress? food, green energy in India
By Deepika Bhan
The happenings in Maharashtra have thrown up several questions. Is it really a rebellion against a dynasty or a political tussle to get power? Eknath Shinde has made it a fight for “setting the party on the right path”, which clearly means a return to its late supremo Bal Thackeray’s core Hindutva ideology, giving up on the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) alliance and going back to the “old friend”, the BJP. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s dwindling camp and his MVA partners have accused the BJP of engineering the plot. As the political tussle rages, the country is watching the unravelling saga, which may have a bearing upon the system of dynasts in vogue in a number of political parties. Whatever the result, it may set a new course in the political setup of the country.
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But the big question is: Can India shake off dynasty politics?
Some of India’s most powerful political families include the Gandhis, Tamil Nadu’s Karunanidhi family, Uttar Pradesh’s Yadav family, Bihar’s Lalu Prasad dynasty, Kashmir’s Muftis and Abdullahs, Punjab’s Badals, Haryana’s Chautalas, Hoodas, Jindals and Bishnois, Jharkhand’s Sorens and Jogis, Scindias in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Thackerays and Pawars in Maharashtra, Sangmas in Meghalaya, Karnataka’s Deve Gowda and Yediyurappa families, the NTR and YSR families of Andhra ... The list is very long. Can these political parties exist without the families that have been controlling them? Can we imagine the Congress without the Gandhis, National Conference without the Abdullahs, RJD minus Lalu or the Samajwadi Party without MulayamAkhilesh, TRS without the Raos, etc, etc? In fact, It may be a difficult proposition, perhaps in most of these parties the family without the party seems to be an unacceptable concept. The party without the family nameplate, or the owner family sans the party, both seem like impossible ideas. Except for the Congress, which briefly had two non-Gandhis at the helm, the rest have not deviated from the family ownership pattern. These parties have seen family feuds, some breaking away and joining rivals or forming new parties, but the family’s hold has not been diluted. Non-family leaders keep trudging along, bowing to the dynasty and fading away in the course of time.
Challenge to the dynasty
The sudden implosion in
First I2U2 projects to promote agriculture, food, green energy in India
New York, July 15 (IANS): The first projects of the I2U2 will be located in India and help with agriculture, food and green energy, according to the joint statement of the four leaders after the group’s launch. Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi along with his Israeli counterpart YairLapid and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan along with the US President Joe Biden launched the Middle East Quad known as “I2U2” from the initials of the participants. The UAE will invest $2 billion in the agriculture and food project that aims to “maximise crop yields and, in turn, help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East,” the statement said on Thursday. Biden claimed that the project that will utilise US and Israeli expertise “has the potential to sustainably increase India’s food yield in the region threefold in just five years”. Gujarat will be the beneficiary of the 300 megawatt wind and solar energy programme and projects like that “have the potential to make India a global hub for alternate supply chains in the renewable energy sector,” the statement added. Speaking through a videolink from India, Modi said, “The I2U2 has established a positive agenda from its very first summit on Thursday.” “We have identified joint projects in several areas and have also made a roadmap to take them forward,” he added. The I2U2 will work in six areas -- water, energy, transport, space, health and food security -- combining the expertise and the resources of the four nations, Modi said. With political and strategic divergences among the four countries, the emphasis was on economic and technical cooperation. Unlike in the Indo-Pacific region, where the other Quad of India -- the US, Japan and Australia -- face direct aggressive conduct by China, in the Middle East the challenge for I2U2 is from China’s Belt and Road initiative to extend its power more subtly through predatory lending and trade practices. The US President, who was present in person with Lapid in Jerusalem for the launch, said, “The first two projects that we’re tackling together on food security and clean energy are designed to take on two of the most urgent crises affecting people around the globe: food insecurity.” “Our nations represent some of the most innovative, technologically capable, and entrepreneurial people on the planet,” he added. The mobilisation of the strength of the I2U2 nations can be seen in the two projects in India. UAE will invest $2 billion in the agriculture and food project, and the US and Israeli private sectors will lend their expertise while India will provide the land facilitating farmers’ integration into food parks, the joint statement said. The project will “develop a series of integrated food parks across India that will incorporate state-of-the-art climate-smart technologies to reduce food waste and spoilage, conserve fresh water and employ renewable energy sources,” it added. For the $330 million Gujarat wind solar electricity project that is to be complemented by a battery energy storage system, UAE-based companies are exploring opportunities to serve as “critical knowledge and investment partners,” the statement said. The US Trade and Development Agency has funded a feasibility study for it and the US and Israel are to work with the UAE and India to highlight private sector opportunities, it added. “Indian companies are keen to participate in this project and contribute to India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030,” it said. UAE President said that he wanted to “emphasise the importance of giving priority during the coming time to research and development, healthcare and space”. Among the future projects mentioned is providing vaccines -- something that has been a focus area for the other Quad in the Indo-Pacific. While putting the spotlight on food and energy security, the joint statement laid out an ambitious agenda ranging from infrastructure for better physical connectivity in the region to financing start-ups, with waste treatment in between. The I2U2 statement detailed them: “We intend to mobilise private sector capital and expertise to modernise infrastructure, advance low carbon development pathways for our industries, improve public health and access to vaccines, advance physical connectivity between countries in the Middle East region, jointly create new solutions for waste treatment, explore joint financing opportunities, connect our startups to I2U2 investments, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies, all while ensuring near- and longterm food and energy security.” Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena has stunned political observers. Can an entrenched dynasty be challenged this way? Perhaps Eknath Shinde has shown the way. A ‘courageous’ move that has all the BJP’s backing. Uddhav Thackeray’s Man Friday is now the rebel. Fifty-six years after the party was formed, the Thackerays are on the brink of losing their Sena. It was on June 19, 1966, when Bal Thackeray formed the party that later made Hindutva its core ideology. Ironically, it is in its founding month that the party is wracked by a coup that is based on the allegations that Bal Thackrey’s son Uddhav and grandson Aaditya deviated from the core ideology and went with those whom the founding father had all along opposed. With support for him growing from within the party, Shinde wants to name his faction as Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray. The tussle within the party is heading towards a legal finish, the result may be whatever, but Shinde has shown that dynasties can be challenged.
Wake-up call for all dynasts
Maharashtra is a wake-up call for all those who believe that political inheritance and dynastic rule can fetch dividends for all time to come. Rebellions can happen and Shinde has shown the way. The Congress has seen the G-23 rise, even though it has failed to produce results. On the other hand, the dissenting leaders are slowly ebbing away. Kapil Sibal quit the Congress after he was denied a Rajya Sabha ticket, veterans Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, etc. find no major role in the party now. The Congress continues to depend on Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra Gandhi, even as questions are being repeatedly raised on their ability to lead the party to election victories. Those who felt ‘suffocated’ left the party and some of them are doing very well in their new political addresses, notably Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. But they chose to move out rather than rebel within the party. Dynastic politics is not the hallmark of just the Gandhi family; it is now an integral part of politics in the country. Almost all the states have their own share of parties led by dynasties. In most of the regional dynasty-led parties, voices are raised from time to time, but the rebels just move away to join other parties. The iron grip of the regional satraps on their parties does not allow anyone outside the family to rise. The BJP has been raking up the ‘vices’ of dynasty politics and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently attacking the Gandhis and the regional dynasties. “Democracy in the country will be strengthened only when all political parties shun dynasty politics and allow the youth of the country to reach the top,” Modi said, terming dynastic politics as a challenge to democracy.
Watershed moment
Will the Shinde rebellion help rewrite Shiv Sena history? The party saw its first rebellion when Chhagan Bhujbal left the Shiv Sena in 1991, upset that the leadership did not appreciate his work for the party. Bal Thackeray was leading the Sena when Bhujbal broke away with 18 MLAs to support the Congress, which was then in power in Maharashtra. But 12 of the 18 rebels returned to Thackeray’s fold on the same day. Then in 2005, Narayan Rane left the party; in 2006, Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin Raj also left and formed his own political outfit, namely, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Shinde’s rebellion, however, is totally different from the earlier ones. After securing the support of a majority of the MLAs, his sole demand is a “return to Hindutva” and the dissolution of the MVA combine as it is “annihilating” the party. Will Shinde be able to lead his rebellion to its logical end? That’s the million-dollar question today, but his action is a warning to all other dynasts.
(Deepika Bhan can be reached at deepika.b@ians.in)
Russia-China ties under stress?
By Asad Mirza
Recent events in Ukraine and Taiwan are once again testing the Russia-China ties, as neither has commented upon or shown support to each others actions in different theatres of action. Two time-tested allies, though differing ideologically at present but firmly rooted in the same political ideology roots and having faced several crises together, supporting each other at regional and international level through political brinkmanship are facing a new stress. Though each of them deny publicly of supporting each other, yet no one can discount the secret deals which help further cement their ties. To boost the bilateral ties and trade, a new cross-border bridge between Russia and China was inaugurated on June 10 in the Far East in a bid to further boost bilateral trade between traditional Communist friends, besides countering rising US-led sanctions over Taiwan and Ukraine. Kremlin’s representative in the Russian Far East, Yuri Trutnev, described the bridge as carrying a special symbolic meaning in today’s divided world. While Russia’s Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said that the bridge would help increase bilateral annual trade between the two countries to more than 1 million tons of goods. Russian authorities claim that the bridge would bring Moscow and Beijing closer together by expanding trade. China’s Vice Premier Hu Chunhua also welcomed the development, saying that Beijing seeks to deepen practical cooperation with Russia in all areas. Russia announced in April it expected commodity flows with China to surge, and trade with Beijing to reach $200 billion by 2024. China is a major purchaser of Russian natural resources and agricultural products. The development comes amid Western criticism of Beijing’s refusal to condemn Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine while also censuring US-led sanctions against Russia and acting arrogantly against Taiwan.
China-US Ties
It seems as if Chinese tensions with the US are taking a turn for the worse. On June 10, Chinese and US defence ministers held a tense meeting, clashing over Taiwan. Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that Washington would do its part to manage tensions with China and prevent conflict. US President Joe Biden declared last month that his country would get involved militarily should China attack Taiwan, although his administration has since claimed that American policy on the issue has not changed. On his part Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe warned Austin that Beijing will “not hesitate to start a war” if Taiwan declares independence. The Chinese minister vowed that Beijing would “smash to smithereens any ‘Taiwan independence’ plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland”, and also “stressed that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan... Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail”.
Russia-China Ties
The new bridge further underlies the growing strengthening of relations between China and Russia, albeit with some reservations from both sides. So far, China has not given any public expression of support for Putin’s ‘special military operation’. Xi himself has subsequently stated that China is ‘committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries’. Though Russia has asked for military aid from China but no response has been forthcoming at least publicly, so far. Neither does it seem that China wants to risk being involved in trade wars with the West. Chinese companies, particularly those established in the US, appear to be equally circumspect about breaking US sanctions. Putin’s war in Ukraine has highlighted the resilience and also the limitations of Sino-Russian partnership. Far from being an “arc of autocracy”, this could be described as an interests-based relationship between strategically autonomous powers. Also more rhetorical than time and action tested. Foreign policy coordination between China and Russia is limited by their different views of global order. Beijing wants a stable international system, skewed in its favour, whereas Moscow thrives on disorder and uncertainty. Xi Jinping aims to preserve the Sino-Russian partnership while maintaining ties with the West. But Beijing’s balancing act will become harder to sustain as the war continues. The balance of power within the bilateral relationship has tilted sharply towards Beijing. Russia is more reliant on China than ever. The long-term outlook for the relationship is unpromising. At their Beijing summit in February 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed a “friendship without limits”. Yet Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Chinese response to it, has exposed the limitations of the Sino-Russian partnership. Far from being an “axis of authoritarians”, as described by western observers, this is a traditional great power relationship centred in strategic calculus. Chinese and Russian interests diverge in key respects, and the war has highlighted contrasting visions of global order and disorder. Xi Jinping has attempted to chart a “neutral” course that maintains the partnership with Russia but protects China’s global interests. This balancing act might become harder to sustain if the Ukraine war drags on. Both sides value the partnership as too important to fail. But over time, its strength may erode. As both pursue different global ambitions, the cohesions may become fewer. The relationship will become increasingly unequal and dysfunctional, and would be defined principally by its constraints.
China’s regional ambitions
Meanwhile, Central Asia has become of increasing strategic importance to China as a result of the RussiaUkraine conflict, which has pinched direct supply chain routes between China and the EU. It is just like how Russia views Ukraine and other former Soviet republics in its immediate neighbourhood. China has invested much in C+C5 alliance, supported by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in terms of security and trade. The trade aspect also includes the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Russia as well as C+C5 members Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan is an observer nation and expected to join the block soon. Interestingly, China has a Free Trade Agreement with the EAEU but has not yet agreed tariff reductions. When it does, regional China-Central Asian trade will increase significantly. While at its core is the issue of Afghanistan, the C+C5 is intent on becoming an institutionalised regional voice. While the C5 already have their own dialogue arrangements with Russia, which also includes infrastructure developments and trade, the China format allows them some ability to compare as well as cooperate. Given the issues between Russia and the European Union right now, winners will be China and the C5 states. Thus, though for the time being China will continue to support Russia, and may not give-up the ideological common ground militarily but economic factors may impel it to overlook Russian interests in certain matters, as it continues to consolidate its global power and also in the central Asian region guided by its economic goals.
(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs)
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS):
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday. The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted: “The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri @mieknathshinde and the Deputy Chief Minister Shri @ Dev_Fadnavis called on PM.” Earlier on Saturday, before meeting PM Modi, Shinde and Fadnavis addressed the media here. Answering a question about portfolio allocation, Shinde said:
“Tomorrow is Aashadhi Ekadashi. We (Shinde and Fadnavis) will meet in Mumbai after that and then discuss portfolio allocation.” Asserting there is no political agenda regarding the first visit to the national capital with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after forming the government in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the portfolio allocation would take place after Aashadhi Ekadashi that falls on Sunday. Responding to a question if the government will last (the remaining) two and a half years (term of the assembly), Shinde claimed, “We will not just last the remaining term but also win the next polls with 200 MLAs.” Since landing in Delhi on Friday evening, both Fadnavis and Shinde called on President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and also BJP president J.P. Nadda as part of what they termed as “courtesy meetings”.
Army carries out rescue ops for Amarnath Yatris at Baltal
Srinagar, July 9: The Indian Army is continously carrying out rescue operation for the Amarnath Yatris injured in the cloudburst at Baltal in Kashmir. The Army in a statement on Saturday said the rescue team immediately rushed to the site after getting information about the casualties. “An Infantry Battalion led by Colonel along with Quick Reaction Teams, an additional company worth of personnel from Sector RR and a team from Special Forces reached the holy Amarnath cave along with specialised rescue equipment to undertake the rescue operation,” the Army said. “Through the night, Commander Sector RR & CO Infantry Battalion oversaw and coordinated rescue operations from the holy cave and Nilagrar. Medical resources at holy cave and Nilagrar were activated
New Delhi, July 11: India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country in 2023, according to a UN report. More than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries: Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania. Disparate and additional resources deployed. Nine surveillance detachments with hand held thermal imagers, night vision devices and other night sights were also deployed for search operations.” “Two ALH helicopters were moved for casualty evacuation at holy cave, however owing to bad weather, night landing at the Amarnath cave was unsuccessful. Two Through Wall Radars and two search and rescue dog squads were also moved to the holy cave for rescue operations.” The Army said that the search, rescue and medical effort continued early Saturday morning. “At 6.45 a.m. the first ALH landed at site to commence evacuation of the injured. A total of 15 dead and 63 injured Yatris have been rescued. Both Army and civilian helicopters are carrying out relentless sorties to evacuate the injured and the dead.” “The medical treatment of the injured Yatris (pilgrims) is ongoing. A total of 28 patients have been evacuated from the holy cave to Nilagrar advanced dressing station. After stabilising, 11 persons have further been moved to SKIMS Srinagar in civil helicopters for treatment. Fifteen bodies have been moved from holy cave to Nilagrar.” “Stranded Yatris are being escorted by Indian Army personnel till Baltal since the track is slushy and slippery. Simultaneously search was also commenced early morning at Amarnath Nar at Sangam for any possible casualties,” the Army added. Lt General ADS Aujla, GOC Chinar Corps and Major General Sanjiv Singh Slaria, GOC Kilo Force, visited the Amarnath cave early Saturday morning to review the rescue and medical efforts being undertaken by the Indian Army. The GOC Chinar Corps also interacted with the Yatris and locals and assured of all possible help from the Indian Army. “Citizens are advised to contact Army helpline number + 919149720998 for assistance/enquiry. Callers are also advised to have details of Yatris such as name, Yatra registration/RFID number, contact number, Aadhaar number and the last known location and time.” “The Indian Army is committed to assist the Yatris in all possible ways and under all circumstances. The rescue and medical efforts will continue through the day and details will be updated for general information of the public.”
growth rates among the world’s largest countries will re-order their ranking by size. In 2022, the two most populous regions are both in Asia: Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 2.3 billion people (29 per cent of the global population), and Central and Southern Asia with 2.1 billion (26 per cent). China and India, with more than 1.4 billion each, accounted for most of the population in these two regions. The world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion on November 15, 2022. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100. Population growth is caused in part by declining levels of mortality, as reflected in increased levels of life expectancy at birth. globally, life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019, an increase of almost 9 years since 1990. Further reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.2 years globally in 2050. Life expectancy at birth for women exceeded that for men by 5.4 years globally, with female and male life expectancies standing at 73.8 and 68.4, respectively. A female survival advantage is observed in all regions and countries, ranging from 7 years in Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.9 years in Australia and New Zealand.
Punjab Police conduct statewide search operation against drugs, gangsters
Chandigarh, July 9: In order to infuse fear among the anti-social elements and instill a sense of safety and security among the common people, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday led to conduct cordon and search operation in all 28 police districts. DGP Yadav, who was joined by ADGP (Law and Order) Ishwar Singh in Mohali to conduct the operation, said with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government adopting zero-tolerance policy against drugs and gangsters, such operations would continue. “Since, we have tightened the noose around drug smugglers and gangsters, I would warn such anti-social elements to voluntarily leave the state otherwise the Punjab Police will deal them with a heavy hand,” the DGP said. Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the operation, the DGP said the topmost priority of the government is to further strengthen the fight against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free state, besides eliminating gangster culture, maintaining law and order, and detection of crime. He said basic policing which includes keeping vigil in vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation would be revived and police stations will be upgraded. Answering a query on harassment of residents with this operation, he said the operation is being conducted for residents’ safety and security and residents welfare societies were also taken into confidence before conducting this operation. “We have strictly instructed all the police personnel to deal with every resident in a friendly and polite manner while conducting door-todoor checking during the course of this operation,” said DGP Yadav. Meanwhile, such operations will also help in activating and mobilising the police force by making direct contact with the public.
27 newly-elected Rajya Sabha members take oath
New Delhi, July 8: Twenty-seven newly elected Rajya Sabha members, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, took oath on Friday. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Mukul Wasnik, RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary and BJP’s Surendra Singh Nagar are prominent names among the members who took oath. The members elected to the Rajya Sabha during the recent biennial polls took oath in the presence of Chairman of the House M. Venkaiah Naidu in the chamber of the Upper House. These 27 members from 10 states took oath in 10 languages - 12 in Hindi, four in English, two each in Sanskrit, Kannada, Marathi and Oriya and one each in Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. Four of the 57 newly-elected members have taken oath recently. During an interaction with some leaders and members of the House after the oath taking ceremony, Chairman Naidu clarified that those elected members who are still to take oath also can vote in the Presidential election on July 18. Naidu further elaborated that from the date of the notification of the winners in the elections to Rajya Sabha, they are deemed to be Members of the House and making oath/affirmation is only a prerequisite for the newly elected members to participate in the proceedings of the House and of its Committees. Others who took oath are Vivek K. Tankha, K. Laxman, Laxmikant Vajpayee, Kalpana Saini, Sulata Deo and R. Dharmar. Fourteen of the 57 members were re-elected to the House. Naidu informed that the ensuing Monsoon Session of the House will also be held as per the Covid-19 protocol conforming with the social distancing and safety norms. Naidu urged the members to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House through meaningful deliberations and abiding by the rules and conventions. Rajya Sabha Chairman advised the members to make proper use of the ample opportunities that will be available under various instruments of the House and to attend the House regularly during the sessions.
300 women police officers to attend all-India summit in Shimla
Shimla, July 8 (IANS): The Ministry of Home Affairs through the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) will be hosting the 10th National Conference of Women in Police on August 5-6 in Shimla in association with Himachal Pradesh Police amid the attendance of 300 officers, Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Kundu said on Friday. The national summit is being organised bi-annually by the BPR&D in collaboration with states since 2002. The conference provides a platform for women police officers across ranks to share their experiences, issues relating to women-specific service condition, showcase achievers among women police officers and share best practices to address crime against women. The summit is also a platform through which leadership qualities and abilities of women police officers are enhanced. At the conclusion of the conference, a policy paper is prepared for follow by the Central government and the state governments. The first conference, held in 2002, was a monumental moment. It was inaugurated by L.K. Advani, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. It led to the construction of toilets and restrooms for women in each police station across the country. In the upcoming two-day conference, various sessions related to work, service conditions of women, interventions on tackling crimes against women and work life balance issues will be discussed. As per the past practices, the conference is inaugurated by the Union Home Minister and attended by Supreme Court judges, women ministers in the Union Cabinet, among other dignitaries. Around 300 women police officers and personnel from states, UTs and Central police forces are expected to participate in the event.
