India

'Dhaka Tribune' has published the perspective article of Partha S. Ghosh, Senior Fellow of New Delhi-based Institute of Social Sciences. This article says that if BJP wins in West Bengal, the political challenges for Sheikh Hasina will increase manifold.

This article states that Narendra Modi's 'Hindutva' and Sheikh Hasina's 'secularism' are fundamentally opposite.

According to the article, BJP's star campaigner PM Narendra Modi for the West Bengal assembly elections starting 27 March 2021 is talking of Hindu-Muslim division, which has never been seen before in the politics of West Bengal.

It reads, "Hindutva took an entry into Bengal politics after the Modi-led BJP came to power in 2014. Recently, BJP registered a strong presence in Bengal politics and won 18 of the 42 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.''

This article states that India's neighboring country Bangladesh will have to think about the voting of the eight phases of West Bengal and then the results of May 2, 2021.

Partha S. Ghosh recalls in the article that Bengal remained a symbol of peace when other parts of India were reeling from Hindu-Muslim riots after Partition.

He writes, "There are clearly opportunities for Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, but if we go in depth, serious contradictions emerge. Bangladesh is happy with India because it is benefiting financially. Its exports with India have registered 300% growth. India is also happy because Bangladesh is preventing the northeast militants from using their land but beyond these points of confluence there is a vast and dangerous sea.''

"If BJP gains power in West Bengal, the political challenges for Hasina will increase manifold." The good things of the joint statement of Hasina-Modi will be of little importance.''

"Relationships can deteriorate because neither Narendra Modi nor Amit Shah understand the regional mindset of South Asia." For him, foreign policy is domestic politics in a way. We all know how domestic politics is.

The 'Dhaka Tribune' has given place to an interesting news related to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim of Satyagraha for the freedom of Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Tribune reported that a convener of the Indian National Congress has filed an RTI to seek information related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrest in support of Bangladesh's independence and claims of going to jail.

According to the news, Saql Patel, convenor of INC's social media department, has tweeted that he has submitted an RTI application to the Indian Prime Minister's Office on Friday, 26 March 2021.

Saral Patel wrote in the tweet, "I am curious to know under which Indian law he was arrested and in which jail he was kept." Are you not curious? ''

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, March 26, 2021, at a program organized on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence that he and many of his comrades had performed 'Satyagraha' for the freedom of the people of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka on Friday, 26 March 2021 on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.

At the same time, protests against his visit took place in Chittagong, Bangladesh, during which at least four people have died in violent clashes with the police.

According to BBC Bangla, a policeman has confirmed that the four injured were taken to the hospital following which they died in the hospital.

There were also demonstrations in Dhaka

Earlier, on Friday, March 26, 2021, there were protests in Baitul Mukarram area of ​​Bangladesh's capital Dhaka after Friday prayers against Prime Minister Modi's visit.

During this, there was a clash between police and protesters in which many journalists were also injured.

According to Bangladesh media reports, a protest march came out of the Hathazari madrasa after the Jumah prayers in Chittagong, which was followed by violent clashes.

Many people were injured in these clashes with the police.

A Chittagong Medical College official told the BBC Bangla service on condition of anonymity that at least four injured people brought to the hospital have died.

Mufibur Rahman Hamidi, leader of the Hifazat-e-Islam organization, has confirmed that some of his protesters have died.

He claims that the police opened fire on the protesters. However, this has not been independently confirmed.

Stone pelt at the police station

Quoting policemen, Dhaka newspapers reported that some people pelted stones at the Hathazari police station during the demonstrations.

Police fired in the air to flee violent protesters, injuring several people.

In the last few days, many Muslim leaders and leftist organizations have been holding rallies in protest against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claims that 'Sheikh Mujibur Rahman struggled for a secular nation while Modi is communal'.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka on Friday, 26 March 2021 at the invitation of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He has come here to participate in a program organized to mark the 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that 'President Joe Biden discussed the challenges posed by China with leaders of India, Japan and Australia' at the first meeting of the Quad countries.

Jake told the press that this virtual meeting was not focused on China, but it also discussed the East and South China Sea.

In the eyes of the United States, this group named Quod has been created to counter China's growing military and economic power in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, increasing mutual cooperation will be the main objective of this group.

It has been reported that in the first meeting held on Friday, March 12, 2021, the leaders of America, Japan, India and Australia talked about working together against COVID-19. At the same time environmental and safety issues were also made part of the dialogue.

After the first meeting, these so-called Quad countries said in a joint statement, "We are trying to create an area that is independent, open, inclusive, healthy, democratic, and which is" forcefully " Do not be impressed.''

It has been reported that there has been talk of forming a partnership related to the COVID vaccine in the four countries, which will aim to speed up the delivery of the COVID vaccine, so that the corona epidemic can be brought under control as soon as possible. It has been claimed that this partnership will help the countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The White House has said that the US will fund Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer Biological E Ltd to produce at least one billion doses of the COVID vaccine by the end of 2022, to increase its capacity.

Apart from this, Japan is also talking about giving concessional loans to India, so that India can make and export as many vaccines as possible.

The statement also said that the Quad countries have formed a working group to deal with climate-related issues, so that the Paris Climate Agreement can be vigorously complied with. In due course, the group will also issue a statement about diversification of technology, telecom and equipment suppliers between these countries.

China has said that 'exchanges and mutual cooperation between countries should be to improve mutual understanding and trust, not to harm a third party and its interests'.

The statement came from China on Friday, March 12, 2021, hours before the first meeting of the 'Quad Group' between India, the US, Australia and Japan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Chao Lijian said in response to a question related to the quad-meeting, "We hope that these countries will take care of openness and inclusiveness, so that all is well." Apart from this, they will avoid creating any 'exclusive block' and will do the same works which are compatible with regional peace and stability. ''

The first meeting of the Quad Group was very closely covered in China. China's official media has written several reports on this, widely describing it as 'an effort led by the US to stop China from joining together'.

At the same time, some Chinese experts have advised to spend less energy on this meeting and said that 'there is no need to take a quad meeting more seriously'.

Colonel Chow Bo, a former senior People's Liberation Army who is also a noted commentator on strategic affairs in China, said in a conversation with the government broadcaster 'China Global TV Network' that "China should not take it too seriously."

He said, "I can give you my comment on the quad in one sentence." None of these four countries would want to sacrifice their own interests (in relation to China) for the interests of the other three countries.''

He said this while citing the existing trade relations with China of the four countries.

He said, "If you ask the four countries involved in the quad," Are you against China "or" are you an anti-China club ", they flatly deny it. In such a situation, my conclusion is that the quad is definitely established because of China, but they cannot say that it is against China. If it is seen as a military alliance, India will categorically deny it completely.''

"Quod is still evolving and taking shape." But at present it is not decided which path it will go, military or economic.''

However, a high-level meeting is scheduled to take place between China and the US on 18 March 2021, in which representatives of the foreign ministries of the two governments will talk among themselves. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has called it a 'high-level strategic dialogue'.

China has said that it wants to negotiate with the Biden administration afresh, but it has laid the blame for the strained relations of the last four years on the US itself.

At the same time, the Biden administration has indicated in its statements so far that it can continue some policies of the previous administration with respect to China.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Chao Lijian, China's position on the US-China relationship is quite clear.

He said, "We want America to see its relations with China in a purposeful and rational manner." Overcome the Cold War situation and learn to respect China's sovereignty, security and development interests. At the same time, it should stop interfering in China's internal affairs.''

The Modi government at the Center in India will bring a new law to regulate social media and digital content in the next three months. Law Minister of India Ravi Shankar Prasad and Communications Minister of India Prakash Javadekar announced this at a press conference in Delhi.

Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Social media is doing business in India, they have done good business and strengthened the Indian people. But at the same time there have been complaints of irresponsible use of social media for the last several days.

According to the Modi government, over the past few years, there have been many complaints on social media like promoting violence, sharing obscene content, using other country's posts, the government has brought new guidelines to deal with it and in three months it A law will be made for this.

What are the guidelines?

Explaining the guidelines, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Social media is divided into 2 categories, one intermediary and the other signifcant social media intermediary. We will soon issue a notification of the user number for this. ''

"If a complaint is made about the dignity of the users, especially the dignity of women, then the content has to be removed within 24 hours of making the complaint."

He said that the law of significant social media will be implemented in three months.

Apart from this, social media companies will have to make a grievance redressal mechanism and also make the name of the officer handling the complaints public. This officer will register the complaint in 24 hours and resolve it in 15 days.

He said that Significant Social Media will have to appoint Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Content Person and a Resident Grievance Officer, all of which will be in India. Apart from this, they will also have to issue a report related to the disposal of complaints every month.

Account verification will be necessary

Modi government said, furthermore, to ensure that fake accounts are not created on social media, companies will be required to make the verification process mandatory.

Who has made a post on the social media platform, the company has to give this information on the court's order or the government's asking.

Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "On asking any court or government, they have to tell who started a post. If started from outside India then who started in India. This should be in relation to India's sovereignty, national security, relations with foreign states, rape etc. ''

However, social media companies have often argued that in order to provide such information, they have to break the end to end encryption and save the user's data, which would violate their privacy. End to end encryption means that no third (even company) can hear or read the conversation between two people.

In response to a question related to how the company can provide this information, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We are not asking to break encryption, we are just asking who started it."

He cited some guidelines of the Supreme Court that these steps are necessary to prevent the spread of pornographic material, rape, gang rape videos. Apart from this, he said that many news reports of social media posts have also come out from outside the country.

Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the purpose of all these rules is to give more power in the hands of the people. Talking in detail on this, he said, "If a significant post is removed, the company will have to give a reason for it."

He said that all these things will be asked by the platforms to create a mechanism.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also gave users data on different social media platforms. According to him, there are 53 crores of WhatsApp in India, 44.8 crores of YouTube, 41 crores of Facebook, 21 crores of Instagram, 1.75 crores of Twitter users.

Also rules for OTT and digital platforms

Modi government will also bring legislation to regulate OTT platform.

India's Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar said, "There will be a three-tier mechanism for the OTT platform. OTT platforms and digital media will have to provide information about themselves, and they will have to create a grievance redressal mechanism.

According to Javadekar, the government had earlier met OTT companies and asked them to create a self-regulation but they could not do so.

OTT and digital news platforms will have to provide their details as they work from where the new rules come. Apart from this, a portal will have to be created for redressal of grievances.

Javadekar said that like TV and print, a regulatory body will be created for digital, which can be headed by a retired judge or eminent person.

He said, "Just as an apology is made on TV for making a mistake, the same has to be done for digital."

Apart from this, the content will have to be classified according to age and will have to provide parental lock.

He said that where immediate action is required, a monitoring mechanism will be created at the government level for such cases.

The CBI has filed a charge sheet on 18 December 2020 in the gang rape and murder case of a Dalit girl in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The CBI officials have also imposed sections of gangrape and murder on the four accused, Sandeep, Lavkush, Ravi and Ramu, for the crime committed with a 19-year-old Dalit girl.

According to the news agency PTI, the counsel for the accused told that the local court of Hathras has taken cognizance of the case.

The CBI was investigating the case under the supervision of the Allahabad High Court and CBI officials probed the role of accused Sandeep, Lavkush, Ravi and Ramu in the entire case.

The four accused are currently in judicial custody. CBI officials said the four were also subjected to separate tests at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Apart from this, the CBI investigation team also talked to the doctors of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. This is the same hospital where the deceased was treated.

The Hathras gang rape case came up for discussion not only because of the barbarity of the criminals, but also in the Uttar Pradesh police, without the permission of the family of the deceased and there was a dispute over the funeral of the girl in his absence.

In addition to the Uttar Pradesh police, the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh was also severely criticized in this case.

Later, the Uttar Pradesh government had told the court that the girl was cremated in a hurry due to fear of deteriorating the situation of justice in the area.

The 19-year-old girl belonged to a Dalit family while the four accused belong to the upper caste.

In this whole case, the confusion of caste-system prevailing in Uttar Pradesh was also revealed when Mahapanchayat was called in some villages in favor of the accused.

Not only this, questions were also raised about the girl being gang raped. In addition, the Uttar Pradesh government had for some time banned the media's entry into the victim's village.

In this case, the Uttar Pradesh government had talked about getting narco test of the family of the victim, which was also disputed because the narco test is usually from the accused party.

A Special Investigation Committee (SIT) was finally formed after allegations of lewd attitude on the Uttar Pradesh government and administration. However, the investigation was later handed over to the CBI.

India has rejected the proposal passed in the meeting of foreign ministers of member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), an organization of Islamic countries. Kashmir has also been mentioned in this proposal.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that India's reference in the resolution passed in the OIC is factually incorrect, unreasonable and inappropriate.

There was a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC on 27 and 28 November 2020 in Niamey, the capital of Niger, and Kashmir is also mentioned in the resolution passed in this meeting.

Pakistan is also a member of the OIC. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi attended the meeting and raised the issue of Kashmir loudly.

Pakistan is happy with the mention of Kashmir in the resolution passed in the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC. This proposal is being called Niamey Declaration and Pakistan has welcomed it.

India ended Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019. Since then Pakistan has been raising this issue on the international stage but so far there has been no concrete success. OIC has also not been very active about this till now.

Regarding the proposal passed in the CFM of OIC, India's Foreign Ministry has said in its statement, "We are factually incorrect, inappropriate and unreasonably passed in the OIC's 47th CFM in Niger's capital Niamey, India. Let's dismiss the mention of We have always said that the OIC has no right to speak on India's internal affairs. Jammu and Kashmir is also an integral part of India and the OIC has no right to speak on it.''

India has said in its statement, "It is regrettable that the OIC is allowing any one country to misuse its platform." The country that the OIC is allowing to do so has a disgusting record of religious tolerance, extremism and injustice with minorities. That country is always engaged in anti-India propaganda. We are seriously advising the OIC to refrain from saying such a thing about India in future.''

Kashmir has also been included in the resolution passed at the meeting of foreign ministers of the OIC member countries in Niamey.

However, Kashmir was not included in the OIC's CFM agenda. It is being said that due to the stubbornness of Pakistan, it has been included only. The resolution said that the OIC's stand on the Kashmir dispute has always been that it should be resolved peacefully as per the UN Security Council resolution.

However, it is also being said that the mention of Kashmir in the proposal of OIC is a ritual and it is not surprising for India. Despite the pressure from Pakistan, Kashmir was not included as a separate agenda in this meeting.

The OIC is dominated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pakistan's relations with these two countries are deteriorating. Saudi Arabia wants Pakistan to pay its debts quickly. Especially since when Pakistani PM Imran Khan tried to create an organization with Turkey, Iran and Malaysia parallel to the OIC. Last week, the UAE temporarily banned the issuance of new visas for Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also raised the issue separately in the OIC meeting with the UAE Foreign Minister but no concrete assurance has been received so far.

Is Kashmir a victory in the Niamey Declaration?

This meeting was held in Abu Dhabi in March 2019. In this meeting, the then Foreign Minister of India Sushma Swaraj was also called by the UAE.

Pakistan had opposed the calling of Sushma Swaraj and boycotted the inauguration ceremony. Sushma Swaraj then addressed the CFM meeting of the OIC.

There was no mention of Kashmir in the resolution passed in this meeting. It welcomed the decision of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in which he sent back Wing Commander Abhinandan of India.

Kashmir is nothing new in the proposal that comes after the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of OIC. It has been mentioned before also. This time the proposal is being called Niame Declaration. Its operative paragraph eight states that the OIC wants the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to be peaceful as per the UN Security Council resolution and it has always been the same.

This was the first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC after the end of special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019. Pakistan hoped that this time a strong statement would be issued against India, but this did not happen.

Pakistan's Ambassador to India Abdul Basit has posted a video on Twitter and he has said many things about Niamey Declaration.

Basit has said, "This was the first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the OIC after August 5 and we were hopeful that some strong statement about India would be issued." We felt that India's decision would be condemned but it did not happen. There is nothing very happy for Pakistan in the Declaration.

He said, "The way Kashmir is concerned about Palestine, Azerbaijan and terrorism in this Declaration does not belong to Kashmir. Compared to last year, we can be happy that this time, at least it has been mentioned. India should have condemned what it did on August 5, but it did not happen. Niger has good relations with India and the convention center in which this conference took place is made with the help of India only.

The Maldives is also a member of the OIC. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid attended the meeting. Abdullah posted a tweet on November 27, 2020 in which pictures of that conference center in Niamey were posted. With these pictures, Abdullah wrote in his tweet, "OIC's 47th CFM meeting is being held at the beautiful Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Center in Niamey. When the world is facing many challenges and crises, these can be faced together. ''

However, Pakistan is considering its victory with the mention of Kashmir. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has tweeted, "The inclusion of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in the Niamey Declaration suggests that the OIC has always stood by the Kashmir issue."

Ever since India abolished the special status of Kashmir, Pakistan has been calling for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC member countries but to no avail.

In August 2020, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had threatened to withdraw from the OIC and raise the Kashmir issue. This angered Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had to issue an explanation. But by then the situation had deteriorated and Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had to visit Saudi to handle it.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has passed away. His son Faisal Patel said on Twitter that he breathed his last at 3.30 am on 25 November 2020.

Ahmed Patel, 71, was infected with the Corona virus about a month ago. He died in a hospital in Gurgaon adjacent to Delhi.

Faisal Patel also wrote that "I request all my well-wishers to strictly follow the rules of the corona virus at this time and be firm about social distancing and avoid going to any mass event".

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lamented the demise of Ahmed Patel, writing that "the role of Patel known for his sharp mind in strengthening the Congress will always be remembered".

Congress President Sonia Gandhi wrote in a condolence message that "as Ahmed Patel I have lost a colleague whose whole life was devoted to the Congress ... I have lost a trusted colleague and a friend".

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted the death of Ahmed Patel and wrote - "It is a sad day." Ahmed Patel was a pillar of the party. He always lived for the Congress and stood by the party in the most difficult times. We will miss them. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz and his family. ''

Ahmed Patel was the treasurer of the Congress Party. He was also the political adviser to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. He was also the Parliamentary Secretary to Rajiv Gandhi in 1985.

He was appointed as the treasurer of the Congress Party in 2018. Patel, an eight-time MP, was elected to the Lok Sabha thrice and to the Rajya Sabha five times. The last time he went to Rajya Sabha in 2017 and this election was very much discussed.

In 1986, Ahmed Patel was sent as the President of Gujarat Congress. In 1988 he was made the secretary of the Jawahar Bhavan Trust run by the Gandhi-Nehru family. This trust provides funds for social programs.

Gradually, Ahmed Patel made his way to the nearest corner of the Gandhi-Nehru family. He was as loyal to Rajiv Gandhi as he was to Sonia Gandhi.

Ahmed Patel was born on 21 August 1949 as the child of Mohammad Ishaq Patel and Hawaben Patel in Piramal village of Bharuch district in Gujarat.

Bharuch used to be a Congress stronghold in the 80s. Ahmed Patel became a three-time Lok Sabha MP from here. Meanwhile, in 1984, Patel was knocked out as Joint Secretary of Congress in Delhi.

He soon grew in the party and was made parliamentary secretary to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh wrote on Twitter that an integral friend was a reliable companion.

He wrote, "Ahmed Patel is no more. An integral friend went the reliable companion. We have been together since 1977. He reached the Lok Sabha, I was in the Legislative Assembly. For all us Congressmen, he was the medicine of every political merge. Soft-spoken, tactful and always smiling was his identity. No matter how angry he was, he had this ability, he used to send it after satisfying him. Away from the media, but involved in every decision of Congress. One could learn to speak bitter words in very sweet words. The Congress party can never forget his contribution. Ahmad bhai be immortal.''

Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has expressed grief over the death of Ahmed Patel by tweeting.

He said in his tweet, "I am deeply saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel. His son Faisal used to talk daily. May his soul rest in peace. Ahmad Patel was the leader of the quietest, quickest and focussed political mind." There is no talent like him. It is a big loss for the Congress. I spoke to Ahmed Patel several times during my illness.''

The Allahabad High Court in India has said that the citizens of the country have the constitutional right to choose a partner of their choice irrespective of caste, religion or creed.

According to the English Daily News Paper Hindustan Times, the court also said that the last two decisions objecting to conversion to get married were not good according to the law.

The two-judge bench of Justice Pankaj Naqvi and Vivek Agrawal of Allahabad High Court said this while hearing the plea of ​​Salamat Ansari and his wife Priyanka Kharwar alias Alia, who are from Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka had converted her religion and her father complained to the police about this. Both the spouses took refuge in the court to quash the police action.

The Hindustan Times writes that the decision was given by the court on 11 November 2020 but it has been made public on 23 November 2020.

According to Hindustan Times, now that the Uttar Pradesh government was working on a plan to make a law related to conversion for marriage, this decision of the High Court may cause problems for it.