My Opinion

US President Donald Trump has practically admitted that his remarks against India have worked adversely. He has admitted that he could not force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept his demands. Trump has publicly admitted that his 50 pc tariff move has alienated India from the US.
On Friday, Trump wrote on social media, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together! President Donald J. Trump.” The remark was sarcastic, and, one the same day, while talking to reporters, Trump did his U-turn act.
Trump said: “I don’t think we have (lost India to China). I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil, as you know, from Russia. And I let them know that.”
Trump extended an olive branch towards India. He said, “I always will, I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great Prime Minister, he is great….I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment, but India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about.”
In Delhi, Prime Minister Modi reacted on X on Saturday: “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
Donald Trump’s comment on Truth Social platform was no doubt sarcastic. It appears to be borne out of frustation. It also reflects his admission of mistake. For the first time, Trump gave the global power certificate to China and admitted that he is worried about India, Russia and China coming together.
Trump knows it is he who is responsible for pushing India towards China, but he is never going to admit that. The entire world has seen the excesses committed by Trump on India. He provoked Modi, tried to bully him, but the Indian Prime Minister was neither shaken, nor did he give in.
India’s reply was precise, calculated and targeted. American experts had been saying for last several days that it is Trump who converted an old friend like India into an enemy. Trump admitted his action through his social media comment.
The question is: Is the chasm between India and the US deep? Is it permanent? There are many in the US administration who say that Trump has a blow hot, blow cold habit. He has probably realised that breaking off friendly ties with India will prove to be a loss. None should be surprised if Trump changes his tune after some days, as he did on Saturday.
But India’s stand is quite clear. India-US relationship does not depend on the mood and fads of an individual. Today, the world is witnessing a changed India. It is not going to compromise on the issue of self-respect.
Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

By displaying its diplomatic, economic and military might, China has directly challenged the United States. With Chinese President Xi Jinping leading the military parade, and 26 world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Kin Jong-un, watching, the Chinese army displayed its intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, hypersonic missiles, underwater drones and stealth fighter jets at the Military Day celebrations.
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media: “The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and “blood” that the United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory…. May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
Addressing the parade, Xi Jinping said, China is a great nation that “is never intimidated by any bullies” in an apparent veiled reference to the US, and warned that China is “unstoppable”.
Speaking to media, Donald Trump said, “ … China needs us much more than we need them….We have the strongest military in the world, by far..They would never use their military on us — believe me, that would be the worst thing they could ever do.”
Trump said, he did not see China as a danger, “not at all… America is a big and powerful nation..We are better off economically, and we are now getting money because of tariff. I ended seven wars through dialogue.”
There is no doubt that the US is the world’s biggest military power and a strong economy, but what was the need for Trump to say all this?
Even US experts are worried over the lofty claims being made by Trump. The US President has left diplomatic niceties far behind. He has openly said that Xi Jinping, Putin and Kim Jong Un are “conspiring” against the US.
Such a remark does not behove the US President. What was the need to say that the world cannot run without America? Trump is not alone in making such claims. The North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un also considers his country as a superpower.

Security, Secrets and Concerns of Putin

North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un was the talk of the town at the Chinese military parade. He arrived in his special armoured train ‘Sunshine’ to Beijing railway station. He brought his daughter Kim Ju Ae to watch the parade. The special train with 20 coaches is equipped with anti-tank guided missile, surface-to-air missile and machine guns. The train is protected with armoured plates which can withstand tank shells. It chugged into the station at a speed of 60 km per hour.
Political pundits speculate that Kim is grooming his daughter as his successor, in line with the Kim dynasty. Russian President Vladimir Putin took Kim in his special Aurus car to the bilateral talks venue. He thanked Kim for providing Korean soldiers to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war. Kim’s staff polished all glasses, tables and chairs after the meeting to remove all traces of their leader as a security measure.
It was the second time in two days that Putin invited a foreign leader to sit with him in his car, to avoid his conversation being bugged. On Monday, he had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sit in his car, and on Tuesday, it was Kim Jong-un’s turn to sit in the car. Both the leaders spoke for more than 50 minutes.
Another interesting point: Kim’s staff removed all biological traces from the washroom and toiler that the leader used in Beijing. Putin’s staff did the same when he met Donald Trump in Alaska.
In today’s technological age, presence of physical traces of any leader can be fully analysed to derive health related information. All such traces and evidences are therefore removed after the leader leaves the place.

Floods : Be ready to tackle foodgrain crisis

Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and now Delhi have been ravaged by flood, cloudbursts and landslides causing death and devastation. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited flooded areas of Punjab and met farmers who showed him samples of damaged crops in Gurdaspur. Most of the rivers are in spate and the Yamuna is still flowing above danger level in Delhi. Delhi’s Wazirabad bridge has been closed to traffic.
The Yamuna, in spate, has inundated large areas in Haryana and Mathura in UP. The Yamuna was flowing hardly 600 metres away from the famous Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. The entire Parikrama route has been inundated. Flood water has entered most of the ashrams on the bank of Yamuna. Nearly 1,500 people have been shifted to relief camps. Areas near the Taj Mahal in Agra have also been inundated. Flood water has touched the boundary wall of Taj Mahal.
Punjab has been badly ravaged by flood. For the first time since 1988, all the 23 districts of Punjab have been affected by flood in Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. The situation has worsened in Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Moga, Barnala, Amritsar and Patiala. Standing crops on roughly 3 lakh acres have been damaged. 324 villages in Gurdaspur and 135 villages in Amritsar are now under water. NDRF, SDRF, army, BSF and Sikh organisations are working round-the-clock in rescue and relief work.
This year’s monsoon has broken all records. Never in the past had Delhi witnessed huge rainfall in the months of August and September. Rains have broken nine-year-old records in Punjab, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have witnessed one day’s rains equivalent to rainfall recorded during the entire season in past years.
The Centre is trying to provide all possible assistance to the affected states. After the monsoon season is over, one major crisis will be staring in the face.
Foodgrains production may witness a steep decline due to huge loss of crops over several lakh hectares. The government should be ready and must make all preparations to face such an eventuality.
Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

India, Russia and China, along with other member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) on Monday unanimously said, without naming the US, that the world will not tolerate “unilateral coercive measures including those of an economic nature, that contravene UN Charter and other norms of international law”.
It was a clear reference to steep tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on most of the countries of the world.
As pictures and videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping made it to the front pages of world newspapers and prime time of world news channels, the headlines were evocative.
“Xi, Putin And Modi Try To Signal Unity At China Summit”, wrote The New York Times, “Behind the smiles with Putin, Modi and Xi at China Summit”, said CNBC, “Car-rides and hand holding: Putin, Modi and Xi send Trump a message at China Summit”, said NBC News, “Xi, Modi and Putin share a laugh at security commit” , wrote CNN.
And what was the message from Xi, Modi and Putin? Without naming the US or Donald Trump, they said, the world will run on the basis of mutual cooperation and any country trying to disturb world order or browbeat others to break business chains, will not be tolerated.
The New York Times wrote: “Their display of friendship in China was aimed at projecting an alternative to US global leadership..”.
Russian Foreign Ministry posted the pictures of the three top leaders as its “Picture of the Day”. Putin, after a warm hug and handshake, went with Modi to the dais. He requested Modi to join him in his high-security vehicle Aurus Senat. Putin waited for ten minutes for Modi to come and join him in the vehicle. The two leaders had a long tete-a-tete even after reaching their venue for bilateral talks.
Xi Jinping supported India’s stand on terrorism and said that the friendship between India, China and Russia will prove to be the balancing factor in the new world order.
Pakistan is a member of SCO and most of the SCO countries condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sat and listened when Modi said, terrorism in any form will not be tolerated.
The outcomes of SCO Summit is a historic success for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy. Those who were saying that India’s foreign policy has failed, may have been shocked watching Modi, Putin and Xi meeting in a spirit of bonhomie.
Those who were claiming that Modi fears China, must have noticed how Modi said, in the face of the Pakistani Prime Minister on Chinese soil, that terror attacks will not be tolerated.
Those who were gratuitously teaching Modi the ropes of diplomacy must have noticed, Putin waiting in his vehicle for ten minutes for Modi to come and sit with him. Both the leaders had a tete-a-tete inside the car for nearly 50 minutes. Never had anybody seen such Putin in such a manner at any international gathering.
Those who were shouting, “Narender Surrender”, may have been shocked reading the statement issued by the US embassy in Delhi soon after the SCO summit was over.
It read, “The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century. This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defense and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey.”
Those who were dancing in joy when Trump imposed 50 pc tariff on India, thereby creating a crisis for Modi, will be worried watching Modi, standing with Putin and Xi Jinping, trying to bring some balance in world order.
Even Donald Trump had to write on social media giving excuses on why he imposed a steep tariff on India.
The moot point is: Those who were criticising Modi’s foreign policy, were, in effect, trying to show India in a poor light. They must understand, whenever matters relating to foreign policy arise, whether in the form of challenges from the US or China, the entire nation should stand united, whosoever may be the Prime Minister, whosever may be running the government. National interest is above all.
Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

The tariff war unleashed against India by US President Donald Trump appears to have indirectly led to a platform consisting of India, China and Russia. On Friday, Russia President Vladimir Putin spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on phone. According to Modi, Putin apprised him of the latest developments on the Ukraine front. Both the leaders spoke about the need for strategic relationship. Modi said, he was keenly awaiting Putin’s India visit.

In another interesting development, Chinese daily Global Times in its editorial has praised Prime Minister Modi and India. The newspaper article said it is a good development that Prime Minister Modi is going to visit China. This will encourage peace and stability in the region.

The editorial says: “As a Hindu proverb goes, ‘help your brother’s boat across, and your own will reach the shore’. A healthy China-India relationship brings positivde spillover effects to the region and the world. We welcome Prime Minister Modi to visit China with genuine intentions to improve bilateral ties and pragmatic cooperation plans, and to jointly usher in a new chapter of ‘the dragon and the elephant dancing together’.”

Meanwhile, US President Trump has put negotiations on India-US bilateral trade agreement on hold till the issue of tariff is cleared.

The manner in which Trump imposed 50 pc tariff on India makes one thing clear. That there was no deal by PM Modi with Trump, as is being alleged by people. Trump has claimed 32 times that he put pressure of trade deals on both India and Pakistan to accept a ceasefire. Trump did not mention about any deal.

It is now clear that Modi has not “surrendered” to Trump, as as being claimed by the opposition. On the other hand, Trump tried to provoke Modi at every step. But Modi maintained his dignity.

Trump to pressurize India consistently. he changed goal posts several times, but Modi did not compromise with national self-respect at any point.

Where are those people who were saying “Narender Surrender”. Where are those who were alleging that Modi had struck a tariff deal with Trump?

Trump continued to threaten India not to buy oil from Russia, and , on the other hand, he gave concessions to China. But Modi converted crisis to opportunity.

If India, Russia and China project a joint front, they can prcik Trump’s tariff balloon.

The most important point: the differences between India and China during the last five years have started vanishing courtesy Trump. The same China has now started speaking in favour of India. Where are those people who had been claiming that Modi’s diplomacy has failed?

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

In his first visit to China after the Galwan Valley clashes that took place five years ago, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other foreign ministers who are in China to take part in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ministerial meeting.
At the meeting, Jaishankar said, the terror attack in Pahalgam was deliberately conducted to undermine tourism in Kashmir and sow a religious divide. He made this remark as Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar looked on.
Shivshankar said, SCO was formed with the objectives of tackling terrorism, separatism and extremism, but the Pahalgam attack shows, the danger of terrorism continues. Jaishankar said, all countries should unite and take a strong stand to tackle terrorism.
The SCO summit is due to be held in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1 and there is a possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the summit.
At the ministerial meeting, the Chinese President said he was keenly awaiting the summit so that countries can unitedly work for peace and development. The summit in Tianjin is being held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japanese imperial power.
By raising the Pahalgam terror attack on Chinese soil, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has tried to convey a polite, but firm, message to both China and Pakistan. By mentioning Operation Sindoor, he revealed India’s intentions.
It is a fact that Pakistani armed forces have 81 per cent aircraft, missiles and other weapons from China. It is also a fact that during Operation Sindoor, Chinese experts were providing real time intelligence about our army movements to Pakistan.
India’s message is now clear. India does not want a war with China, but so long as Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism, there can be no bilateral talks.
The Chinese must know this clearly that India is a regional power and if the path to peace and development needs to be widened, China will have to work with India in the spirit of mutual trust, mutual respect and sensitivities.

1 crore jobs for Bihar youths : Is it an election stunt?

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet on Tuesday promised to provide jobs to one crore youths during the next five years. A proposal to this effect was approved by the state cabinet. A policy to this effect will be framed soon and a high-level committee will be set up.
Opposition parties described this as a ‘ chunavi jumla’(false electoral promise) on part of Nitish Kumar. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, with elections approaching, both BJP and JD-U can even promise the stars, but the people are not going to believe in false promises.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor said, Nitish Kumar has been the CM for last 20 years, but he never took up this matter seriously. JD-U spokesman Rajiv Ranjan claimed, eight lakh jobs were given in Bihar between 2005 and 2020, while 12 lakh jobs were given between 2020 and 2025.
By promising one crore jobs, it seems the team of Nitish Kumar and BJP is not going to leave any issue for the opposition before the elections. This team has been addressing all issues that Tejashwi Yadav had been rising for the last few months. Whether it is giving relief to Jeevika Didi (self-help groups) in the form of bank loans, or 35 per cent reservation to women from Bihar in employment, or raising monthly pension for senior citizens, widows and Divyang (specially abled) people from Rs 400 to Rs 1100.
It seems, Tejashwi Yadav will not have any issue left as the assembly poll date approaches nearer. He can only say that Nitish Kumar is in a semi-conscious state. He is demanding why Nitish Kumar is not coming forward and announce these schemes himself.
For Nitish Kumar, deterioration in law and order has become a big challenge. If the situation does not improve, all his efforts may go waste.

Girl’s self-immolation in Odisha : Stop shedding crocodile tears

In Odisha, the death of a 20-year-old college student by self-immolation in Balasore district has caused political tremors throughout the state. Biju Janata Dal and Congress supporters are staging protests in several districts demanding action. The second year B.Ed. student set herself on fire after facing continuous sexual harassment from her head of department in Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College.
Despite lodging a formal complaint and seeking help from the principal, her pleas were ignored, leading to the self-immolation. Instead of taking action against the HOD, the Principal pressurized the victim to withdraw her complaint.
The girl complained to the district collector, Superintendent of Police and the Education Minister, she even met the local MP, but her complaint was not heard. She also sent her complaint to the Chief Minister.
On July 12, tired after her efforts, she set herself on fire inside the college campus and was taken to hospital with 90 per cent burns. From Balasore hospital, she was shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. It was only then that the police swung into action and the accused professor Samir Kumar Sahoo and college principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh were arrested and sent to jail.
On Monday, President Droupadi Murmu visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to check about the condition of the girl, who finally succumbed to her injuries the same night. Police had to lathicharge Congress, BJP protesters outside the hospital.
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has promised to take stringent action against the culprits. Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, the girl had sent complaints to the CM, the state education minister and personally met the Balasore MP, and if timely action had been taken, her life could have been saved. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have also criticized the Odisha government for failing to save the life of the girl student.
There can be nothing sadder than a sexual harassment victim trying to seek justice by going from door to door, and then committing suicide. The system that is in place, did not wake up in time. The girl had sat on the college gates on dharna seeking justice. When nobody listened to her complaint, she set herself on fire at the college gate.
Neither the Chief Minister heard her screams, nor Naveen Babu heard her complaint, nor the State Women Commission woke up in time, nor was Rahul Gandhi present to extend his hand of support.
It was only when the girl died after battling for life, everybody woke up and tears flowed. Now, University Grants Commission has set up an inquiry committee, the Chief Minister is in tears and Priyanka Gandhi is express shock. Naveen Babu also woke up from his slumber.
What can happen now? The parents lost their daughter. Can she return to life? All the statements that have been made by political leaders are nothing but political drama.
So long as this drama will continue, the lives of daughters will continue to be made a pawn on the chessboard of politics and our sisters and daughters can never remain safe.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

In Qingdao, China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign a draft joint statement of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) after noticing that Pakistan, with the help of host China, had sought to remove any mention of Pahalgam massacre and instead wanted to add separatist activity in Balochistan.
Singh has exposed the hypocrisy of China and Pakistan on terror issue. Signing the joint statement would have amounted to diluting India’s consistent stand.
Singh said, India had been demanding that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terror acts, including cross-border terrorism, must be held accountable.
The Defence Minister said, India has made its position clear and our armed forces have destroyed the hideouts of the masterminds of the terrorists who had killed innocent tourists in Pahalgam.
Rajnath Singh’s speech was heard with rapt attention by Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. It was Rajnath Singh’s first visit to China since Operation Sindoor.
The Defence Minister said, the killers identified the religion of each of the victims and then shot them in cold blood. This was a sin against humanity and The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba took responsibility for this heinous act, he added.
In Islamabad, Pakistan is openly flaunting its connections with home grown terrorists. Pakistan’s Information & Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar attended the Sanobar think tank meet in Islamabad, which, among others, was also attended by Lashkar terrorist Qari Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh.
At the meeting, Qari claimed that all the buildings that were destroyed by India during Operation Sindoor have now been renovated.
What Rajnath Singh did at the SCO meet in China clearly reflects the power of New India. He exposed Pakistan’s support to terror and China’s cunningness while drafting the joint statement.
China had hoped India would not raise the Pahalgam issue and remain silent, but Rajnath Singh did not bother about diplomatic niceties. He showed the mirror to the leaders of both China and Pakistan. Rajnath Singh neither shook hands with the Pakistani defence minister nor did he look at him. Khawaza Asif looked stunned.
India has now decided to expose Pakistan’s terror activity at every international forum. There will be no question of showing diplomatic niceties to Pakistan on the issue of terrorism. India has made it clear any future terrorist act by Pakistan shall be considered as an act of war. Rajnath Singh has conveyed this message clearly to the rest of the world.

What is Bengal BJP’s problem with Jagannath Temple in Digha?

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee joined thousands of devotees at the Rath Yatra festival in Digha on Friday. The Rath Yatra began from the new Jagannath temple built at a cost of Rs 250 crore.
Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar described this as a “political drama”. He said, Mamata’s government was busy in Muslim appeasement for the last 14 years, but with state assembly elections due next year, she is now trying to attract Hindu voters.
Majumdar pointed out that in the recent Kaliganj assembly byelection, BJP got 74 per cent of Hindu votes. Another BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, Mamata’s partymen are now sending Jagannath prasad to the homes of voters.
Replying to this, Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee said, BJP had been harping on Hindutva theme for the last several decades, but by opposing the Jagannath temple, the party now stands exposed.
What is the problem with state BJP, if Mamata Banerjee builds a Jagannath temple in Bengal? What is wrong in Mamata taking out a Jagannath Yatra? Why should BJP object if Jagannath prasad is being sent to the homes of commoners. What harm will be done by this to Hindu dharma?
I think BJP leaders in Bengal are committing a mistake by opposing the Jagannath temple in Bengal. They are willy-nilly being caught in Mamata’s political trap.
If BJP leaders continue to criticize, Mamata Banerjee will get an easy handle to tell the people that BJP is insulting Lord Jagannath. She will tell the people that BJP has nothing to do with Lord Jagannath or the temple, and its sole aim is to oppose Mamata. The winners will be the people who will be getting Jagannath prasad sitting in their homes.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

The United States has decided to slap an unprecedented 104 per cent tariff on all goods imported from China after President Donald Trump’s 24-hour ultimatum to China to withdraw its retaliatory 34 per cent tariff on US goods ended. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, wrote, “China also wants to make a deal, badly, but they don’t know how to get it started. We are waiting for their call.” On Wednesday, China’s top leaders met to decide on measures as the trade war with the US escalated. The question is: Who is responsible for this? China has called on other countries to join hands to fight this tariff war with the US and force America to follow WTO (World Trade Organization) rules. But is Trump solely responsible? The roots lie in China. Trump is right when he says that American manufacturing industry has declined due to China and more than 6 million people have lost their jobs. America had become dependent on China for goods like microchips and semiconductors. It is also a fact that when China applied to join the WTO, the US supported China despite opposition from American trade unions. The then US President Bill Clinton announced China’s membership in WTO and gradually China captured most of the world market. In 2001, when China joined WTO, it was the world’s 7th biggest exporter, but eight years later, in 2009, China became the world’s largest exporter. In 2001, nearly 4 crore ship containers used to leave from China and come back, and this figure rose to 8 crore in 2006 and 13 crore in 2011. China deliberately kept itself in the category of developing nations to corner most of the advantages. China gives big subsidies to its companies while keeping its own market closed to other nations. It refrains from exporting raw materials and parts used for manufacturing electronics and other consumer goods. By doing this, China forces other countries to buy its products and leaves no scope for them to either produce or assemble them in their own country. Using this method, China captured practically the entire world market. The impression today that is being sought to be created is that the US has fired the first shot in the tariff war against China. But if you look at the origins of tariff and trade war, you will find that China is equally responsible for this. No country other than India knows this better. Chinese goods flood Indian markets at cheaper prices and they have caused a huge setback to Indian manufacturing sector. This began 24 years ago, when China became a member of WTO and set the narrative for low-cost manufacturing, setting up huge factories, forcing millions of workers to work at low wages for long hours and then dump these goods on the rest of the world. I remember, in 2003, I was in New York, and in the hotel where I stayed, almost every item was Made in China. China had practically occupied the American market and nobody opposed it at that time. Manufacturing in big countries like India and the US had to face heavy losses because of unfair trade practices by China. On the other hand, China achieved massive growth, but at the cost of fair play. It is unfortunate that nobody in India opposed this. Countries like India quietly followed WTO rules while China continued to damage our economy. At that time, our government was busy glorifying China for its swanky roads and huge factories. In 2014, when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, questions were raised about China’s unfair trade practices. ‘Make in India’ mission was launched and China was challenged in the area of manufacturing. But most of the countries of the world remained silent. Today, the situation has come to such a pass that China trades with 181 countries of the world, out of which 150 countries are facing trade deficit against China. There are only 43 countries whose trade deficit against China is slightly above 5 per cent. Economies like China, the US, UK, European Union and Mexico are in huge trade deficit against China. While China is responsible for this tariff war, the US and Europe are equally responsible for allowing China to have its way.

Mudra loans : Modi’s silent revolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said self-reliance is the key to India’s endeavour to become a developed country by 2047. During an interaction with Mudra beneficiaries on the occasion of 10th anniversary of this scheme, Modi said, “a silent revolution” named Pradhan Mantra Mudra Yojana was launched in 2015 to provide collateral-free microcredit of up to Rs 10 lakhs to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro-entrepreneurs. In the last ten years, Mudra loans were given to 52 crore beneficiaries and Rs 33.5 lakh crore loan was disbursed. Now, the government has increased the loan limit to Rs 20 lakh under new category ‘Tarun Plus’ for those who availed and repaid previous loans. Modi said, while opposition leaders allege that this is a government for the rich, the fact shows Rs 33 lakh crore were disbursed to small and micro-level entrepreneurs, thus creating job opportunities and helping economic growth. I have myself seen those days when it was impossible for poor people to get loans from banks and they had to take loans from moneylenders at exorbitant rates. Opening bank accounts and disbursing PM Mudra loans without collaterals is nothing short of a revolution. Anybody can change his or her life by taking interest-free loans and start entrepreneurships. This is a silent revolution where the economically weaker sections can prosper and we can reduce our dependence on imports by making products in India. This is nothing short of a “swadeshi revolution” and this was the message that Modi sought to convey.

Mahua Moitra Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai?

Internal squabbles among Trinamool Congress MPs came out in the open on Tuesday when BJP IT cell chief Amit Malaviya circulated WhatsApp messages and video showing TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee, Kirti Azad and Mahua Moitra embroiled in a nasty quarrel. The immediate provocation was the visit of a TMC delegation to meet the Election Commission. At the Nirvachan Sadan, Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee shouted at each other, and Moitra went to the extent of asking the BSF guards deployed there to come and arrest Kalyan Banerjee. A furious Kalyan Banerjee told mediapersons that he would never tolerate that “rude and uncivilized” lady and would rather quit the party if he was put under pressure. Kalyan Banerjee described Mahua Moitra as “that great international lady”. Banerjee then turned on his guns on fellow MP Saugata Roy for supporting Mahua and reminded him of how he was caught taking money in Narada scam. Roy said, he would speak to party chief Mamata Banerjee and demand that Kalyan Banerjee be removed from the post of chief whip of the parliamentary party. Kalyan Banerjee said, “I will quit politics if Didi (Mamata) tells me that I was wrong”. It is a fact that Mahua Moitra has the knack of getting embroiled in controversies. Kalyan Banerjee is right when he alleges that Mahua only wants to speak against Gautam Adani in Parliament and considers herself above party discipline. Earlier, Mahua was in the headlines because of her quarrels with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. At that time, Mamata Banerjee had given protection to Mahua Moitra and fielded her again from Bengal for Lok Sabha. But this time, asking BSF jawans to arrest a senior leader of her party in the premises of Election Commission, is an incident in which it will be difficult for Mamata Banerjee to tolerate. For the time being, Mamata Banerjee has directed all her party MPs to remain silent on this issue.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

This year’s Diwali will be a different one for our brave jawans and officers deployed near the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Nearly 50 per cent of troop disengagement has been completed in Depsang and Demchok by Friday evening, and the Indian Army plans to begin patrolling in coordination with the Chinese army in the two areas by October-end. Talks are going on over issues like ‘buffer zones’ which had been created earlier in the region with high altitude.

The disengagement in Depsang and Demchok will be over by October 28 or 29, and the patrolling from both sides, with prior intimation to avoid face-offs, will begin after mutual verification. Dismantling of temporary posts, sheds, tents and other structures and pullback of troops in Depsang and Demchok to pre-April 2020 position is going on and is being closely monitored both on the ground and from the air by using drones.

In Demchok, Indian troops are moving back towards the west from Charding Nullah, while Chinese army has withdrawn some of its vehicles after dismantling nearly a dozen temporary structures.

Two days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had discussed the border issue and it was decided to resume Special Representative level talks on solving the vexed India-China border dispute. Till last week, nobody could have imagined that troops of both sides would resume patrolling near the friction points in Ladakh so soon, and a tension-free Diwali would be celebrated by our brave jawans.

Prime Minister Modi had been roundly criticized by our opposition leaders for the last two years over the Ladakh border tension issue. Opposition leaders had been alleging that China has occupied a large part of our territory in Ladakh and Modi has “surrendered” before the Chinese. Modi never replied, nor got provoked over these allegations.

Modi preferred to work silently, used diplomatic techniques and displayed military power. He was neither in awe of the Chinese, nor did he bow down. I think Modi might have used the good offices of his friend Russian President Vladimir Putin for improving relations with China. It suits Putin if India and China join hands, and appear to stand with Russia.

Putin can then claim before the West that Russia is now a major power that is not isolated from the rest of the world. Those who have been making fun of Modi and asking questions on when he would show his “red eyes” at China, will now have red eyes.

If India-China relations improve, it will be a pain in the neck for Rahul Gandhi. Rahul will then realize that he made a mistake in trusting the Chinese more rather than believing in Modi’s claim.

The world is today abuzz with talks about the rapprochment between India and China and how the border issue in Ladakh was resolved through bilateral talks. This can be shown as an example to the European Union and other Western powers on how to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday put their seal of approval on the agreement between India and China on resuming patrolling near the friction points in eastern Ladakh. The two leaders also decided to resume Special Representative level talks to iron the vexed India-China boundary dispute. These talks have not taken place since 2019, when tension flared up in Dokalam and Ladakh. Both the leaders decided to take relations forward from a “strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges.”

The immediate outcome of the bilateral meeting could be that India would soon reopen its doors for Chinese investment, which Xi Jinping needs badly. But the pace of reopening investment shall depend on what happens on the ground in Ladakh and whether Chinese army implements the agreement sincerely. It was also decided in Wednesday’s summit meeting that India and China’s special representatives will discuss resuming Mansarovar pilgrim yatra.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and India’s Sherpa at BRICS Dammu Ravi were present with PM Modi at the meeting, while the Chinese President was assisted by Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Communist Party secretary Cai Qi.

Before the meeting began, Prime Minister Modi said, “mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual sensitivities” were essential for moving forward in bilateral relations. President Xi said, both India and China were two big economic powers and they should present an example of friendship to the rest of the world. Jinping said, both India and China want a multi-polar world and end Western hegemony.

The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi is an important one and it has ended five years of tense deadlock. One needs to revisit the background in which India-China friendly relations went on a downward spiral because of tension near LAC.

In Dokalam near the Bhutan border, when Chinese troops confronted the Indian army, our brave jawans stood their ground for 72 days and did not allow the Chinese troops to move an inch forward. China again broke mutual trust, when its army ignited tension in Ladakh. It built big infrastructures on its side of the border which posed a security risk for India. India became active on a war footing, built roads, bridges and tunnels near the border at breakneck speed and under PM Modi’s instructions, made mirror deployment of its troops to match Chinese buildup. It was then that the Chinese strategists realized that this was a new India, which was not going to be browbeaten.

In the last three years, Chinese army did not make any big transgression, and instead, sent feelers for resumption of trade and investment, even as talks on reducing border tension was going on. The downslide in investment and trade also affected Indian industrial sectors like electronics, pharma and chemicals, which were dependent on China for procuring raw materials.

Despite facing losses, India stood its ground saying that until and unless there is agreement on the border standoff, talks on other issues cannot be reopened. India did not bow despite economic losses. Ultimately, China understood and Indian diplomacy succeeded.

After several months of talks, China agreed for patrolling deal to be followed by disengagement. By reaching a deal, India and China have told the rest of the world that they were moving forward to normalize relations. Prime Minister Modi’s personal friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin helped in bringing about agreement.

Though such intervention are never admitted officially, one point is clear: India has told the world that it shall never compromise with its self-respect in any situation. This was underlined by PM Modi at Wednesday’s bilateral, when he said that peace and stability on the border was a top priority for both countries, but, in the next sentence, he said, that “mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensibilities” were of essence for improving relations. Modi’s message is clear: India wants good relations with its neighbours, but it will never compromise on the issue of self-respect.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was due to have a first bilateral meeting in five years with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan(Russia), a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing confirmed that India and China have “reached a solution on relevant matters” (in eastern Laddakh). He said, China would work with India to implement it, but declined to provide details.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had announced on Monday that both the countries have agreed on patrolling arrangements following negotiations to end the four-year-long standoff. Misri expressed hope that this may lead to eventual disengagement of armies deployed on both sides of Line of Actual Control and eventually a resolution of disputes that arose in 2020.

Details of the agreement that are unofficially available show that Indian and Chinese troops can now patrol within their borders in Depsang Plains and Demchok. Troops of both countries can patrol their areas twice a month. To avoid any chance of confrontation, each patrolling team on both sides will not have more than 15 soldiers. Troops of both countries can patrol by staying 200-300 metres away from LAC.

Under the agreement, Indian and Chinese army commanders will coordinate between each other before sending their patrolling parties. The objective is to avoid recurrence of confrontation that had taken place in Galwan valley in May 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers were martyred and a large number of Chinese troops were killed. In July, 2020, both armies had disengaged in Galwan and Hot Springs, and in 2021, they had withdrawn their troops in Gogra and Pangong Tso. But both troops are still locked in a close confrontation for the last four years in Depsang Plains and Demchok border points. Now, the agreement also covers both these areas.

In Depsang, Indian troops can patrol upto Point 10 and Point 13, which had come to a standstill during the last four years. Chinese army will withdraw its troops from Depsang and dismantle its sctructures.

According to the agreement, troops of both countries will withdraw from LAC during winter, and for better coordination, commanders of both sides will have meetings every month. Though official details are not available, one must understand the broad meaning behind this agreement.

One, Chinese troops will return from those areas they had occupied four years ago, and the status quo situation of April, 2020, will be restored. A plan has been prepared for resolving the border standoff that has created tension. Two, the adverse effects on India-China bilateral trade that had taken place following the border standoff, will now end in a phased manner. There are many industrial sectors in India that are dependent on raw material procurement from China. These sectors can now heave a sigh of relief. Three, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been frequently raising the China border issue at his public meetings, while AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had been alleging that Chinese troops have occupied Indian territory. These leaders will now lose an issue that they have been raising frequently. Four, it seems that Russian President Vladimir Putin played an important role behind the scenes to bring about a reduction in tension between Modi’s India and Jinping’s China. India and China are the founder members of BRICS group. By ending tension on the border, they have conveyed an important message to those parts of the world which are facing conflicts. For example, Ukraine and Middle East.

In his bilateral meeting with President Putin on Tuesday, Modi stressed on the point that “war cannot be a solution for any dispute and solution can be arrived at only through negotiations”.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has directed the UP Food Safety department to probe how banned Chinese garlic, that is considered harmful for health, is still available in markets. This was in response to a public interest litigation filed by a lawyer complaining that Chinese garlic is still being sold in markets despite the Centre clamping a ban on its import. Chinese garlic is considered a slow poison, because of excessive use of pesticide. The Food Safety department has sought two weeks time to test Chinese garlic in food lab and give its report.

The High Court directed that a Helpline WhatsApp number be issued in public interest so that people can send their complaints. Garlic is normally recommended for use by Ayurvedic doctors and dieticians, but the issue of banned Chinese garlic being sold in Indian markets is a case for worry. Earlier, there were controversies involving Chinese fake rice, Chinese fake eggs and Chinese fake noodles. All these products were declared harmful for health. China is the world’s largest garlic producer but its farmers use excessive pesticide to grow garlic. It is grown inside septic tanks, and there have been frequent reports of fungus being found in Chinese garlic. In Ayurveda, garlic is considered a medicine to enhance immunity for those suffering from blood pressure. One can well imagine what patients will face if they consumer Chinese garlic considered as slow poison. Let me share some tips with you about how to differentiate between Indian and Chinese garlic.

Indian ‘desi’ garlic are smaller in size, while Chinese garlic pods are bigger. ‘Desi’ garlic pods are slim and long. Chinese garlic look completely white, while ‘Desi’ garlic pods are yellowish. Chinese garlic have less smell, while ‘desi’ garlic pods have a strong smell. It is easier to remove the covering of Chinese garlic pods, while ‘desi’ garlic pods have several peels of covering and it takes longer to take out the pods. If you buy garlic from market, be careful to differentiate the Indian garlic from the Chinese one. The Chinese garlic may look cheaper while Indian garlic may cost more. My advice to all of you is: Do not be swayed by cheaper Chinese garlic.

Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook