Trump must know : Modi can hit back
US President Donald Trump hardened his stance on Friday saying there was no question of talks with India over bilateral trade agreement unless the tariff issue was resolved.
He was asked by an Indian reporter at the Oval Office, whether he expected talks to resume in the light of 50 pc tariff to be imposed on India, Trump replied, “No, not until we get it resolved”.
Meanwhile, in fast-paced developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval in Moscow on Thursday and agreed to visit India anytime this year.
Doval met Putin at the Kremlin after his discussions with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu. Both Doval and Shoigu spoke about the importance of the “very special relationship” between India and Russia amid uncertainties on the global stage.
Doval said India highly values its strategic relationship with Russia. Shoigu said, India and Russia are linked by “strong, time-tested ties of friendship”.
There is a possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjing, China, later this month. Putin knows, it was India which sided with Russia when war broke out with Ukraine and decided to buy Russian oil. At that time, Modi had told Putin that war is no solution in this era.
It is a fact that if Trump imposes 50 per cent tariff on India from August 27, it can create problems for India’s pharmaceutical, textiles and jewellery sectors. But this is temporary. Indian exporters and manufacturers will find new markets after sustaining initial losses.
Trump’s decision will also damage prospects of US manufacturers who have a stake in the vast Indian market. American exporters are worried that if Trump’s relationship with India worsens, American may have to bear the consequences.
People who know Modi’s style of working say, he does not waste time in unnecessary arguments. He is a ‘pucca Ahmedabadi’ and is adept at converting crises to opportunities. If India, Russia and China do come together on a single economic platform, they can become a big powerhouse and this can create problems for American businesses.
Vote theft : Why Rahul is unwilling to allege on oath ?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been making allegations about “vote theft” in recent weeks. He had promised to drop an “atom bomb” about how there has been vote theft in recent elections. Finally, he produced names and addresses of voters of Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bengaluru Central parliamentary constituency.
He alleged there was a theft of 1,00,250 votes in the constituency that Congress studied in Karnataka, which included 11,965 duplicate voters and 40,009 voters with fake and invalid addresses.
The Chief Electoral Officers of at least three states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana, asked Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed declaration with the names of “ineligible” persons included in voter lists and eligible voters who were excluded so that necessary action could be taken.
The CEOs said, Rahul Gandhi will have to declare on oath under rule 20 of Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, because any false declaration about electoral rolls is punishable under Representation of People Act, 1950.
The presentation that Rahul Gandhi gave at his press conference looked impressive and could provide good ‘masala’ for publicity. But there is a set procedure for challenging irregularities in polls. Every candidate knows, any election result can be challenged in the High Court by filing an election petition. One has to file a declaration on oath if one wants to challenge irregularities in electoral rolls. Rahul didn’t do either of these two.
The most important point to note: casting of votes in Indian elections is a secret process. Nobody must know who cast a vote for which candidate. How can Rahul Gandhi claim that the names of electors that he read out at his presentation voted for BJP?
Secondly, Rahul Gandhi should have filed his complaint before the Election Commission. It is the EC which can declare which voter is fake and which one is real. In Tejashwi Yadav’s case, the RJD leader was initially claiming that his name was missing from the electoral roll, but later it was found that he had two voter cards.
The most interesting part is: Rahul Gandhi and his party and other allies have been opposing SIR (special intensive revision) of electoral rolls in Bihar. If Election Commission does not carry out intensive revision, how can the electoral rolls be corrected? If Rahul Gandhi alleges there are discrepancies in Karnataka electoral rolls, then how can he object to checking of voters’ lists in Bihar?
Trump’s tariff war : Unfair, Unjust, Unreasonable
After imposing an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, US President Donald Trump has hinted that more “secondary sanctions” could be imposed. Asked by a reporter why India has been singled out for additional sanctions at a time when other countries, like China, are buying Russian oil, Trump replied: “It’s only been 8 hours. So let’s see what happens. You are going to see a lot more. You’re going to see so much secondary sanctions”.
The executive order imposing 25% additional tariff on imports from India mentions matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other trade laws, and claims that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
The total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent. While the initial 25% duty comes into effect from August 7, the additional tariff will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported by the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions.
In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming Trump or the US, said India would never compromise on the interests of its farmers, even if it means facing economic consequences. Speaking at an event, Modi said, “For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready for it.”
The US had been insisting on India opening up its agriculture and dairy sectors during negotiations on India-US trade bilateral agreement, but India has resisted this move.
On Trump’s latest additional tariff, Ministry of External Affairs has said, the US move was “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. In an official statement, the MEA said, “The United States has in recent days targeted India’s oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India.”
“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on Prime Minister Modi’s proposed visit to China, his first after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China on August 31. There is a possibility of Modi meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. Already Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have visited China recently. There has been a thaw in bilateral tension and China has allowed resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indian pilgrims.
In Moscow on Thursday, Ajit Doval met Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and discussed strategic issues. India is the second largest buyer of Russian oil. 42 per cent of Indian oil imports are from Russia. India also purchases 40 per cent of its defence equipment from Russia. Trump wants India to buy oil and defence equipment from the US in place of Russia, but Doval’s Moscow visit is a clear indication about India’s intent. The interesting part is that at a time when Doval is in Moscow, Trump’s special envoy on Ukraine Steve Witkoff has also arrived in Moscow to meet Putin.
Dharali : Do not mess up with nature
Seventy people were airlifted from flash flood-hit Dharali in Uttarakhand by the Army till Thursday morning, while over 50 are still missing. Due to road breaches and bridge collapse, rescuers are finding it difficult to reach Dharali which was ravaged by Kheerganga river on Tuesday. Road access has been disrupted in Linchigad, Bartwari, Gangrani and Dharali and restoration efforts are going on by Army engineers. Chinook and Mi-17 helicopters are ferrying rescue teams and equipments to Dharali.
Questions are being raised whether the flash flood took place because of cloudburst or breaking up of a glacial lake. The moot question is whether the disaster was man-made because of illegal constructions.
Similar flash flood had occurred in Dharali several times in the past.
In 1978, the first flash flood came in Dharali but no major damage was caused because the riverbank of Kheerganga was neither over-populated, nor were there hotels, buildings and other constructions.
In 1978, when flash flood came along with big boulders, the river flow was stopped, it changed direction. Gradually, people started building homes and hotels on the surface where the river had deposited mud and stones. Hotels and a market came up.
Another flash flood came in 2018. Even then, not much damage took place because the debris and flood water flowed away. On Tuesday, the flash flood came at full speed and instead going in a curve towards the valley, it took the straight route, that is the river’s original route, smashing buildings and other constructions in its path.
Nature can be a blessing if we live with it in harmony. If we try to obstruct nature’s path, it will be a curse. This is the message that Dharali has given to all of us.
Unchecked constructions and unregulated development, both in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, pose risks to human life. People have now begun to realize this.
Our Himalayan region is quite eco-sensitive. It stands on the brink of danger. There is need for taking measures for its protection and conservation.
Experts agree that if there is deforestation and unchecked constructions in the hills, in the name of promoting tourism, nobody can prevent disaster. Nature will react if we carry on with unregulated development in hilly region. There can be cloudbursts and glacial lakes can break, causing landslides and flash floods. If permissions for construction are granted due to negligence and nature is tinkered with, we may have to face nature’s fury and backlash.
How serious is Trump’s tariff threat ?
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reached Moscow on Tuesday to hold talks on strategic partnership, defence, and security cooperation between India and Russia. He is expected to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose additional tariff on India for buying Russian oil. In an interview to CNBC, US President Trump said, “India has not been a good trading partner, because they do a lot of business with us, but we don’t do business with them. So we settled on 25% (tariff), but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil. They’re fuelling the war machine. And if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy.”
Trump also accused India of making profits from Russian oil by selling it to other countries. Reacting to this, Indian External Affairs Ministry in an official statement said, India’s imports are “a necessity compelled by the global market situation”. The ministry said, nations criticising this are themselves “indulging in trade with Russia” even when “such trade is not even a vital compulsion…. Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment,” the official statement said.
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has delivered a sharp warning to Trump cautioning that the move to impose high tariffs on India could strain India-US relationship at a crucial time. She warned Trump not to give a pass to “adversary” China and “burn” relations with an ally like India.
Nikki Haley is a senior Republican leader. In the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, she came in second after Donald Trump. In a rejoinder to Trump, Nikki Haley asked why his administration has given a 90-day pause in tariff to China, which is the No.1 buyer of oil from Russia and Iran?
Nikki Haley’s advice seems to be quite interesting. Trump is a trader. For him, relationships or friendships do not matter. Elon Musk is a shining example of this. During the US presidential elections, Musk helped Trump win the polls by extending monetary support, joined his campaign and promoted Trump in the US media.
On a minor issue, he had a spat with Trump, and the US President threatened to send him back to South Africa. Trump went to the extent of threatening to destroy his Tesla group by imposing heavy taxes. This is typically Trump’s style of business.
For him, any country not ready to do trade or lower tariff, bowing to his demands, will be subjected to allegations and threats. Also, if any country sticks to its stand nonchalantly, Trump can also acquiesce. This is how a cunning trader works.
The reason behind flash floods in Uttarakhand
With the NDRF, ITBP, Army, Air Force and BRO rescue teams working in full swing, more than 190 people have been rescued so far from Dharali, located at 8,600 feet above sea level near Uttarkashi.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Dharali, near Harshil, on Wednesday to oversee relief work. A sudden cloudburst on Tuesday wrought havoc washing away an entire village destroying dozens of houses, hotels and shops.
Official sources put the death toll at 10 and this figure may rise with dozens feared washed away by Kheer Ganga river. Search is going on with the help of IAF Chinook choppers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi is personally monitoring the rescue and relief operations.
Dharali village is a tourist spot located between Gangotri and Harshil. The Kheerganga river emerges from Sapta Taal, 3 km away from Harshil. At least five hotels and dozens of houses have been washed away in the flash flood.
Climate expert Soumya Dutta recalled that Dharali village was washed away during the 2013 Kedarnath flash flood tragedy. Geologist Naresh Pant described cloudburst as a natural phenomenon, but it wreaks havoc because of the growth of habitations on riverbanks.
The frightening images of Dharali clearly show the helplessness of humans in the face of nature’s fury. In a matter of 30 seconds, Dharali, a thriving village full of tourists, was converted into a home of the dead. This natural disaster has forced scientists to study why there has been a spate of cloudburst in Himalayan region in recent years.
Cloudbursts have been reported in places like Shimla, Manali, Kullu and Mandi of Himachal Pradesh too. The number of cloudbursts in July this year is almost double compared to cloudbursts in the last five years. Home Minister Amit Shah had set up a committee of geologists from four institutes last week to study the reasons behind frequent cloudbursts in the Himalayan region. This committee is expected to give its report within a week.
Unfortunately, this disaster happened before the report was submitted. In 2013, when Kedarnath tragedy took place, and homes and hotels were washed away like cards in flash flood, the government had then announced that no construction will be allowed near rivers in Himalayan region. But unplanned constructions continued. Secondly, global warming has led to frequent incidents of cloudbursts.
In the Himalayan region, glaciers are melting at a fast rate and glacial lakes are forming. The Central Water Commission report has identified 67 such glacial lakes whose surface areas have increased by more than 40 per cent. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are bearing the brunt of such disasters. Neighbouring areas in Bhutan, Nepal and China also face the same risks from glacier lake outburst floods. All these countries will have to sit together to prepare a joint strategy to deal with natural calamities.
Will Trump bomb Iran again?
Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa (religious decree) against US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, calling them “enemies of God”. He has said, “any cooperation or support to such persons by Muslims or Islamic states will be considered as ‘haraam’ (forbidden). All Muslims across the world must make these two enemies regret their words and mistakes”.
Meanwhile, Iran has begun work at its Fordow nuclear site, which along with two other nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan were bombed by US Air Force B-2 bombers with more than a dozen bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles launched from a US submarine.
Satellite images collected by Maxar Technologies on Sunday showed ongoing activity near the ventilation shafts and holes caused by the airstrikes at Fordow uranium enrichment complex. US President Donald Trump claims the three nuclear sites have been “obliterated”, but Iran claims it had already shifted its stocks of enriched uranium to safer places before the airstrikes.
In the past, Islamic clerics had issued ‘fatwas’ against Netanyahu, but this is the first time that a ‘fatwa’ has come out against Donald Trump. The US President does not care two hoots about these ‘fatwas’. He has claimed that he saved Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from death.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Why would Khamenei say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the war with Israel, when he knows that his statement is a lie. As a man of great faith, he is not supposed to lie. His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear sites were obliterated, and I knew exactly where he was sheltered, and would not let Israel or the US armed forces…terminate his life. I saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death, and he does not have to say, ‘thank You, President Trump’ ”.
Trump claims he is trying to lift all past sanctions against Iran, but Iran is showering abuses on him. Trump is after all Trump. He does not lose time in giving threats. Trump has said if Iran continues to collect enriched uranium, he would not hesitate to bomb its nuclear sites again.
Trump’s message is clear. He wants Iran to come to the negotiation table or face consequences. Trump is a trader and he only understands the language of trade.
Munir is back in game : Openly supports terrorists
There is another trader active and he is Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir. He only trades with terrorists and uses them for his own nefarious ends.
Munir has said, his army will continue to support terrorists in Kashmir. He quoted the Holy Quran, Islamic verses and Mujahideen. On April 15, a week before the Pahalgam massacre, he differentiated between Hindus and Muslims and expounded Jinnah’s two-nation theory. On April 22, Hindu tourists were singled out for their faith and killed by terrorists in cold blood in Pahalgam.
Now, Munir has poured venom against India again. At the passing out parade of Pakistan Naval Academy, Asim Munir said, he is following Allah’s order by supporting the jihadis in Kashmir. Munir quoted verses from Holy Quran and promised continued support to terror in Kashmir.
Those who advocate talks with Pakistan should listen to what Asim Munir said. Munir and his army can be compared to a dog’s tail, which can never straighten on its own.
A few weeks ago, Munir’s army got a sound thrashing from Indian armed forces and yet he has not stopped supporting terrorists in Kashmir. The wounds of Munir’s army have not even healed and he has already become feisty. Even the Pakistani air bases that were bombed by Indian Air Force are yet to be fully repaired, but Munir is raring to fly in the air.
Munir has not been punished yet for his crimes against humanity, and he is openly supporting terrorists. Asim Munir’s trade thrives on peddling lies.
The Field Marshal thinks his uniform will radiate shine he makes tall claims. He must remember that India has clearly said that any act of terror by Pakistan on Indian soil shall be deemed an act of war. Indian missiles can reach any corner of Pakistan.
If Pakistan carries out any fresh misadventure, no amount of nuclear blackmail will succeed this time, nor will America listen to its requests.
Gangrape : Mamata must ask her leaders to keep their mouth shut
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is embroiled in intra-quarrels over the ghastly gangrape of a law students inside the Law College premises by three persons said to be close to TMC. Her loudmouth MP Kalyan Banerjee remarked, “what police can do if a man rapes his girlfriend inside a college?”
TMC immediately disassociated from his remark and has issued him a show cause notice. Kalyan Banerjee’s bete noire, another TMC MP Mahua Moitra retweeted the show cause notice on her X handle, and soon the two started a barrage of personal attacks.
Another TMC leader Madan Mitra got a show cause notice when he remarked, “If that girl hadn’t gone, this wouldn’t have happened. If she had informed someone or taken two friends along, this could have been avoided.”
A nine-member Special Investigation Team has been set up to probe the incident. Kolkata Police has seized the cctv footage which shows the rape survivor girl students being dragged by the rapists. The medical report has confirmed injuries to her body.
Law students and lawyers staged protests in Kolkata demanding justice. A BJP factfinding team from Delhi met the college vice-principal and police commissioner on Monday. BJP leaders alleged that the gangrape victim has been kept in hiding by police. State minister Shashi Panja alleged, BJP is trying to score political gain.
Mamata Banerjee is now handing this issue carefully. Last year, when the R G Kar hospital medical student was gangraped and killed, there was a huge outcry in Bengal. Since then, she has since learnt a lesson and this time, she has swiftly taken action by arresting the three accused. She did not bother when it was found that all the three belonged to her party.
The Trinamool supremo has a problem in hand. She is facing a challenge as to how to keep her own party leaders in check, particularly the loquacious Kalyan Banerjee. When Mahua Moitra objected to his ‘misogynistic’ remark, Kalyan Banerjee immediately raised questions about her recent marriage and honeymoon.
The question is: Who is giving protection to Kalyan Banerjee? A daughter of Bengal was gangraped, it was a serious issue, there is already public outcry and Trinamool Congress leaders are busy making outrageous remarks. This will harm Mamata politically in the long run.
Was Trump-brokered Iran-Israel ceasefire planned in advance?
After 12 days of intense bombing and missile attacks, life is now returning to normal both in Tel Aviv and Tehran as the US-brokered ceasefire now appears to be holding. People in both countries have been asked to come out of the bunkers. Airspace in Middle East has now reopened with international flights resuming.
At the Nato summit in Europe, US President Donald Trump, claiming credit for the ceasefire, said, “The US hit on Iran ended the war…Iran’s nuclear programme has been put back by decades..” Asked if US would strike Iran again if it rebuilds its nuclear enrichment program, Trump replied: “Sure”.
Trump lashed out at the US media, naming CNN and New York Times, after an intelligence report prepared by the Defence Intelligence Agency got leaked, which stated the American B-2 bomber strikes did not damage the core components of Iran’s nuclear program. Trump called the CNN and NYT reports as “fake news” and claimed that the US strikes “were one of the most successful military strikes in history…The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed.”
Meanwhile, Iran has claimed that it has secretly moved most of its enriched uranium to an undisclosed location before the US B-2 bomber strikes.
Questions are being raised on whether US had advance information when Iran fired 13 missiles at the US air base in Qatar, because no major damage was reported. US air force had removed all its fighter planes from the base. Was it mere posturing? Why did Trump give six hours’ time to Iran and Israel to enforce ceasefire? Did he want to give time to both to square up?
Trump has also said that he is not interested in a “regime change in Iran” because it could create more anarchy. He said, Iranians were good businessmen, they know how to bargain and Iran has huge stocks of oil.
In the last 12 days, Trump took U-turn several times. Sometimes it appears as if US attack on Iran nuclear sites was pre-scripted. Iran’s missile attack on US air base in Qatar also appears to be somewhat scripted. Israel is happy because the US has destroyed Iran’s enriched uranium stocks. Iran is happy because it has taken revenge by attacking US air bases in Qatar and Iraq. Trump is happy because both Iran and Israel accepted his ceasefire deal.
But some scenes in this ‘happy ending’ film raise several questions. Iran knew beforehand that American would use its most powerful GBU bombs on its nuclear sites. Iran claims it shifted its enriched bomb-grade uranium elsewhere.
When Iran fired missiles at the US air base in Qatar, all except one missile were easily intercepted and neutralized. The lone remaining missile fell at a deserted spot. Neither the US, nor Qatar faced any damage. It is clear, the US knew where Iranian missiles will be fired and when. All aircraft and ammunition were removed from the US air base beforehand.
It now seems that even the ceasefire plan was prepared in advance. Were these countries engaged in a drama, for public consumption? It is difficult to say. The manner in which the 12-day missile war began and ended naturally raises questions.
Rahul Gandhi’s charges against EC are baseless
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while sharing a news report, alleged on social media that the number of voters in Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis’ Nagpur South West constituency grew by eight per cent in five months. He said, “some booths saw a 20-50 per cent surge. Booth level officers reported unknown individuals casting votes. Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address. And the EC? Silent- or complicit.”
Fadnavis immediately rebutted the charges with a jibe, “jhoot bole kauva kaate, kale kauve se dariyo”.
The chief minister gave statistics from other constituencies like Nagpur West, Nagpur North, Malad West and Mumbra, where voters turnout increased by over 8 per cent between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates won.
Fadnavis said, there are more than 25 constituencies where voters increased by more than 8 per cent between LS and Assembly polls, and in several of them, opposition parties’ candidates won.
Rahul Gandhi had been levelling allegations about malpractices in Maharashtra elections since his alliance lost the assembly polls nearly 18 months ago. The Election Commission has replied to his party’s allegations in detail thrice. Rahul Gandhi has now levelled fresh charges.
The fact is, there has not been a rise in number of voters in Fadnavis’ constituency alone. It rose in those constituencies too, where Congress and its allies won. Denigrating the Election Commission deliberately has become a fad for Rahul Gandhi and this is not good for our democracy.
How Trump proved Asim Munir to be a Pappu
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had been waxing eloquently after his luncheon meeting with US President Donald Trump, is now facing the ire of his own people on the streets of Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad. Pakistanis are asking who gave the bright idea to Asim Munir to recommend a Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. The Pakistani army-political establishment is silent.
Thousands of protesters, both Shia and Sunni, swarmed the streets of Karachi after Trump’s US Air Force B-2 bombers bombed Iran’s three nuclear facilities. The protesters were hurling abuses at Asim Munir, PM Shehbaz Sharif, Trump and Israeli President Netanyahu.
Protesters demanded why Pakistan sided with the US before it bombed the nuclear sites of a friendly Islamic neighbour state. Pakistan, they said, has now become a laughing stock in the eyes of the entire Islamic world.
The ruling establishment, the army and the elite of Pakistan had been singing paeans for Asim Munir, when Trump invited the Field Marshal to lunch with his top associates. They were chortling on how American has lent its full support to Pakistan, in its conflict with India. Questions were being raised about Prime Minister Modi’s personal friendship with Trump. The impression was being given to the public that Trump embarrassed India multiple times, and finally hugged Pakistan.
After the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, it is now clear how Trump made a monkey out of Asim Munir. The Pakistani establishment had been praising Trump as its “Abbajan” (guardian father) and was openly recommending Trump’s name for Nobel Peace Prize for bringing about ceasefire between India and Pakistan. All these hopes were dashed to the ground, when B-2 bombers ‘obliterated’ Iran’s three nuclear sites. Now, the Pakistani reactions range from “Tauba Tauba” (Forgive, Oh God!) to “We have been cheated”.
Leaders who were describing Trump as a peacemaker are now calling his action ‘barbaric’. Leaders who described Trump as “an angel of peace” are now describing him as “Maut Ka Saudagar”(Merchant of Death) within a span of 24 hours.
If Asim Munir was having the impression that Trump left G-7 summit midway and came to White House to host him for lunch, then, I think, there can be no fool bigger than him If Munir could not assess that Trump wanted Pakistan to shut its mouth when he bombs Iran, then one should naturally question Munir’s intellect.
In my ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ show telecast last weekend, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi bluntly said, “Trump will now make Munir dance to his tunes and Munir will do so”.
The problem is, because of Munir’s gaffe, the entire state of Pakistan had to dance to Trump’s tunes. Those who claimed to be champion of diplomacy have lost their sheen. American Air Force planes used Pakistan’s air space to bomb Iran. They used Pakistan’s 1,000 km-long border with Iran, leaving Asim Munir helpless. Everybody now agrees that Prime Minister Modi did the right thing. He spoke to Trump on phone for half an hour and declined to go to the White House.
Trump’s Big Gamble : He will have to tread carefully
On a day of dramatic developments, US President Donald Trump announced a three-stage “complete” ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but the ceasefire did not appear to hold because hours later Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel after the deadline hour.
Earlier, Tehran witnessed one of its worst nights on Monday when several loud explosions were heard, but after 4 am local time, the situation remained calm and no more attacks took place.
Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, if Israel stops attacks, Iran will also cease firing missiles into Israel.
On Monday evening, US President Donald Trump announced to the world that both Iran and Israel have agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to take effect in six hours. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social : “CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!”.
Trump wrote: “Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World.’
The ceasefire brokered by US and Qatar, came into effect hours after Iran fired missiles at the US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, in retaliation over the bombing of three nuclear plant sites by American B-2 bombers. Iran claimed the missile attacks matched the number of bombs dropped by US air force on Sunday.
Soon after Iran attacked American bases in the Gulf, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait closed their airspace throwing international air flights passing through the Middle East in a spin.
Donald Trump has played a big gamble, first by bombing Iran’s three nuclear sites using American B-2 bombers, and then announcing a ceasefire between the two warring nations, that may or may not hold.
If Trump’s gamble of “peace through strength” succeeds, it will be one of the biggest achievements of US foreign policy in recent decades. The nuclear threat from Iran will cease and Trump may be hailed as a hero.
But if Trump’s gamble backfires, the whole of Middle East will be thrown into a cauldron of fire and unrest. Trump may be forced to send the US army into war, which he had been trying to avoid till now.
One should remember, Trump had won the US presidential elections on the promise that America’s army would not enter into any fresh conflict anywhere in the world.
Trump’s problem is not that many countries of the world have criticized him for sending US bombers to “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear sites. Trump’s main problem is that if Iran retaliates with full force, American will be mired in another Middle East war, that is not going to end soon.
It could become difficult for Trump to reply to questions that will be raised from his MAGA (Make America Great Again) brigade of supporters. Iran will target American forces in the Gulf. Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi insurgents are not dead. They may carry out more strikes.
In that scenario, nobody can predict what China will do. In the coming days and weeks, President Donald Trump will have to tread carefully, step by step.
Can Trump dethrone Khamenei ?
On the sixth day of Iran-Israel conflict, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave a warning at dawn on social media, addressed to Israel, saying: “The battle begins. ..We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy.” A few hours earlier, US President Donald Trump called Ayatollah Khamenei “an easy target”.
On Truth Social account, Trump wrote, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” In a follow-up post, Trump write in all caps: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”.
Trump has suddenly taken up a hawkish posture and there are reports that the Pentagon is planning to attack Iran. Trump, while abruptly leaving the G7 summit, had said, “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate with Iran…I want an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.”
The reason: US and Israel fear that Iran is on the verge of making an atom bomb and both the allies are not going to allow this to happen, at any cost. If Iran refused to sign a deal to end its nuclear programme, which Trump describes as ‘unconditional surrender’, and stop firing ballistic missiles at Israel, the US army will launch an all-out attack on Iran.
Two US aircraft carriers are already present in the Gulf. A third aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is on its way to Middle East from the Pacific. Israel has said, it has three objectives: One, to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability, Two, to damage Iran’s ballistic missile power and, Three, bringing a change of regime in Iran. Until these three objectives are not reached, Israel is unwilling to stop the conflict.
If America joins the war, there will be destruction on a large scale. Trump is busy attending meetings in the Situation Room in White House to chalk our plans for a major military operation.
There is possibility of America dropping a deep bunker buster bomb on Iran’s nuclear enrichment plant in Fordow. This is considered Iran’s safest nuclear installation built beneath a hill, nearly 80 to 100 meter deep inside earth. The only weapon that can bust this underground installation is GBU-57 bunker busting bomb, which only the US has. It is a 13,608 kg precision-guided bunker buster bomb developed for the US Air Force. GBU stands for Guided Bomb Unit. Only the Northrop B-2 Spirit, a heavy strategic bomber known as Stealth Bomber, can carry this precision-guided bomb.
The US has already deployed 26 warships in the Middle East, and with three aircraft carriers, the stage is being sent for a major attack on Iran. Normally, during any conflict in the Middle East, Israel used to have an upper hand. Israel never allowed its enemies to cause any major damage because of its famed Iron Dome. Bu this time, Iran has sent a huge number of drones and missiles to attack Israel. While Israel claims it neutralized nearly 91 per cent of the missiles, the remaining have caused huge damage in residential areas.
All eyes are now on what big step Donald Trump is going to make in this war of nerves with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has to decide whether to end the conflict by brokering a ceasefire, or join it.
Trump wants to give one last chance to the Ayatollah, but time is fast running out. Trump wants to defang Iran’s nuclear capability. As US President, he is the commander-in-chief of US Armed Forces, but he does not have an experienced team to guide him. Personally, Trump is a good administrator and handle any situation, but to launch a war against Iran will be a big decision.
Till now, Trump’s policy during his two terms as President had been to avoid getting embroiled in direct conflicts. If Trump wants, he can force Israel to call a ceasefire, but the abruptness with which Trump cut short his G7 stay in Canada, gives some other indications. He is not going to give Iran another chance.
This was clear when he publicly snubbed French President Macron who had been saying that Trump is working on a ceasefire. Trump has made full preparations, and Israel is keenly awaiting Trump’s final decision.
With lies exposed, Asim Munir now faces protest in US
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump over lunch later today in Washington. Munir is on a five-day US visit. Experts say, Munir will be discussing not only India-Pakistan related issues but also matters relating to crypto, critical minerals and counter-terrorism.
A group of overseas Pakistanis staged a protest against Munir at a hotel in Washington DC. They shouted slogans describing him as a mass murderer of Pakistanis (Pakistaniyon Ke Qatil). Videos of the protest were shared on social media by Tehreek-e-Insaaf supporters, who wrote, “Asim Munir, your time is up. Pakistan will rise”.
Leader of Opposition in National Assembly and PTI leader Barrister Gauhar Khan said, “Our army chief is being insulted in the US, and on the other hand, Pakistani members of Parliament are making fun of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Our MPs are comparing Pakistan’s financial situation with Uttar Pradesh. At least Shehbaz Sharif should try to bring the country at par with the economy of Uttar Pradesh”.
General Asim Munir, after facing big reverses during the four-day India-Pakistan conflict, claimed victory, attended celebrations and forced the government to confer the Field Marshal rank on him. Later, Munir’s men spread a baseless news that he had been invited to attend the 250th anniversary US army parade by Trump.
The fact is, he was not. When the parade was on, Munir was sitting inside his hotel room. The world has come to know that Gen Munir was trying to hide the damages caused to his air bases by India during the conflict. Most of the air bases are yet to be repaired fully. Munir’s lie that Pakistan has shot down six Indian jet fighter planes was also exposed. 0International experts have rubbished each of the claims made by the Pakistan army. There is widespread anger against Gen Munir, and what is happening in Washington with Munir is only a reflection of this.
Tariff war : Is China the main culprit ?
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.
Global tariff war escalates : Investors, be careful
The global tariff war escalated on Tuesday with China threatening to “fight till the end” after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh 50 per cent tariff on Chinese imports, if China did not withdraw its retaliatory tariff of 34 pc. After Monday’s “bloodbath” on stock markets across the globe, Asian stock markets recovered on Tuesday regained only a fraction of previous day’s losses. On Tuesday, China’s commerce ministry said, “The US threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, and it once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the US”. In Mumbai, both Sensex and NSE made a robust recovery on Tuesday with major shares trading in the green. Yet, clouds of recession loom all over the world. Even people in the US are worried after President Donald Trump’s all-out tariff war. There were rallies in all the states of the US to protest against Trump’s policies to sack government staff and cut expenditure. America under Trump has launched a trade war against the rest of the world. None of the countries want a confrontation with the US, but they are being forced to offer resistance. The prevailing sentiment across the world is that the era of globalization will soon end and the world order will change. These sentiments are affecting the plunge in world stock markets. Indices on stock exchanges rise or fall on the basis of sentiment. China’s retaliation has had its effect. Looking from India’s point of view, two or three points need to be elaborated. One, the commerce ministry has sent five proposals to the ministry of finance to help Indian exporters and has suggested continuance of subsidy schemes along with raising bank credit. Two, India does not want a confrontation with the US on the tariff issue. India’s policy is to get the tariff reduced through bilateral negotiations, but this won’t be easy because Trump has already strengthened his position quite a bit as far as bargaining is concerned. Three, Trump is not going to stop after raising tariff alone. In the coming days, American demands will rise and the pressure will continue on economy and stock markets. India’s main concern is about those sectors where millions of farmers and workers are employed, like textiles, footwear and agriculture. The government of India is trying its best to protect the interests of these farmers and workers. In bilateral talks with the US, India will negotiate for low tariff for these sectors. As far as investors are concerned, there is nothing much to worry. The slump in stock markets will not continue for long. Experts say that there is no need to sell shares because of panic. On the contrary, now is the time to buy shares because of low prices. But it is not necessary to invest all your money in shares. For investors, the advice is on the lines of that famous Hindi movie song: “Ai Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo, Aage Hi Nahin, Peechey Bhi” (Be careful).
Bengal teachers : Can Mamata give jobs back?
The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the order of Calcutta High Court directing the CBI to probe the role of officials involved in creating ‘supernumerary’ posts of 6, 861 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and government aided schools. A “supernumerary post” refers to a temporary position created to accommodate an employee who is entitled to a regular post that is currently unavailable. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, however, made it clear that the probe into other aspects related to appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers in West Bengal’s state-run and aided school would continue. The apex court on April 3 had invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and staffers, terming the entire selection process as “vitiated and tainted”. On Monday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing teachers in Netaji Subhas Indoor Stadium, said, she would “rather go to jail but will not implement the Supreme Court verdict”. With assembly elections scheduled next year, Mamata Banerjee said, “as far as I am alive, no capable teacher will lose job”. She alleged that the image of her government was being deliberately tarnished in view of forthcoming elections. Mamata Banerjee said, she had “Plan A, Plan B and Plan C ready” for teachers even if she was forced to implement the court verdict. She told the teachers to carry on with their work till the Supreme Court notice comes, and if the court refuses job to them, she would arrange two months’ job for them. It is a fact that Mamata Banerjee’s woes would increase with the Supreme Court verdict. Already, her minister is in jail and teachers are on the streets, but Mamata is trying to give a political colour to the court verdict. She is saying that she would not accept the verdict and stand with the teachers. This could be a political compulsion. There is no other option left for her. The teachers realize this and most of them have started losing trust in Mamata’s promise. With Mamata claiming that no capable candidate will lose job till she is alive, teachers are asking this question: Once the Supreme Court verdict comes, how will she give them jobs? Mamata has no answer.
Hyderabad : Was Revanth Reddy misled?
Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy’s government has come under attacks from all sides, judiciary, Centre, environmentalists, students, academics, opposition parties and film fraternity, for its decision to auction 400 acres of disputed land at Kancha Gachibowli in Rangareddy district adjoining the University of Hyderabad. The Supreme Court has suo motu taken cognisance of reports of extensive deforestation in the disputed land affecting wildlife and water bodies by deploying heavy machinery. The apex court has directed Telangana chief secretary to immediately stop all activity in the area, till proper environmental impact assessment is done and necessary approvals are obtained. Meanwhile, Telangana high court has extended a stay on all kinds of activity on the disputed land, following PILs filed by an NGO and University of Hyderabad students’ union. The Ministry of Environment has sought a detailed report on deforestation on 400 acres land from the state government’s forest secretary. The moot question is: trees on 400 acre of forest land were cut in the name of development. Nobody can justify this. Experts say, there are 75 species of plants and 233 species of animals and birds in this forest. Several endangered animals and birds are found in this forest. This forest provides valuable oxygen to the people of Hyderabad. If this forest is lost, Hyderabad and its surrounding areas will fact tremendous heat during summer with a possible rise by 3 degrees Celsius. Probably, this was the reason why Supreme Court put a halt to deforestation on this land. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is unable to give clear replies to charges as to why bulldozers were used at midnight to raze the forest. If the land was required for development, it could have been done during daytime.
Trump’s tariff : challenge or opportunity?
The US stock market crashed on Thursday after President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade tariffs raised fears of an all-out trade war across the world and a looming global economic recession. The Wall Street benchmark indices ended with the largest single-day percentage losses since 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crashed 1,679 points or 3.98 per cent, while S&P 500 fell by 275 points or 4.84 per cent. The Nasdaq Composite fell by 1050 points or 5.97 per cent lower. Chinese commerce ministry demanded that the US must withdraw 34 per cent additional tariff and threatened to initiate countermeasures. After Trump imposed 26 per cent tariff on India, the Commerce Ministry in a guarded statement said, it is in close touch with industry and exporters, and it is assessing the situation while taking feedback from stakeholders. Indian goods imported by the US will now become costlier. This could result in lesser demand from the US and lesser exports to America. But the positive sign is that huge tariff has been slapped by Trump on countries which are our competitors in export. This could result in rise in export of Indian textiles and electronic goods, because high tariffs on China, Thailand and Bangladesh could give advantage to India in trade with US. Machinery, toys, automobiles are areas where India may increase its production and export to the US. India has got a good opportunity, but to achieve that, India will have to concentrate more on ‘ease of doing business’ and strengthen its logistics and infrastructure. Trump’s tariff can have negative effect on our textile, diamond, automobile and steel sectors, but he has spared India’s pharmaceutical, semiconductor, copper and some energy sectors like oil, LNG and coal.
Waqf Bill : Now it’s a law for all
Parliament has put its seal of approval on the Waqf Amendment Bill, with Rajya Sabha, in a late-night sitting, passing the Bill with 128 votes in favour and 95 votes against. The Bill will become law after the President’s assent. Meanwhile, Congress, other opposition parties and Islamic clerics have threatened to challenge the law in court. There was tight security in several cities across states in view of Friday prayers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his tweet, described the passage of the Bill as “a historic moment” and hoped that this would bring transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties. The biggest challenge in getting the Bill passed was on the issue of getting support from BJP’s allies Janata Dal(U) and Telugu Desam Party. Both these parties were shown the bogey of losing crucial support of Muslim votes. But both Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar understood the mood of the nation and extended support to the Bill. One consequence of this will be that no opposition leader will now question the stability of Modi government. The passage of this Bill will also have consequences on elections in Bihar and West Bengal. For Mamata Banerjee, Muslim support is essential. She has promised Muslims that the day would come when this Bill would be repealed. This could be her line of thought and there should be no problems if Islamic clerics stage protests on the streets. The problem is, when some people say that even after Parliament passes the bill and if Supreme Court upholds its validity, they would not accept this law. Those who oppose rule of law, Parliament and Constitution, deserve to be punished.
SC verdict : A big setback for Mamata
In a major setback for Mamata Banerjee’s government, the Supreme Court has concurred with the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel the recruitment of over 25,700 teachers and non-teaching staff, done in 2016. While dismissing the appeals of West Bengal government and West Bengal School Service Commission and 125 successful candidates, the bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar said, the entire selection process “has been vitiated and tainted beyond resolution”. The apex court said, “manipulations and frauds on a large scale, coupled with attempted cover-up, have dented the process.” Reacting to the verdict, Mamata Banerjee said, she does not agree with the apex court’s ruling and if more than 25,000 teachers are removed from their jobs, it would adversely affect the education system. “Who will then take the responsibility?”, she asked. Mamata Banerjee said, ” those who indulged in the scam are in jail, but it is not correct to punish all because of the crime of a single person.” I am surprised to find Mamata Banerjee refusing the accept the Supreme Court verdict. This is not the first time that the apex court has cancelled appointments by a state government. The apex court has clearly said there was large-scale cheating and fraud in the selection process. What will happen to those who were selected through this dishonest process? They will lose their jobs. Similar things have happened in the past. Frauds take place due to political connivance. But ultimately the losers are those poor people who lose their jobs. This should stop.
Trump expose : US funded move to destabilize Modi
US President Donald Trump has stirred a hornets’ nest by questioning former Biden administration’s move to provide $21 million to India for the ostensible reason of enhancing “voter turnout”. Addressing a summit in Miami on Thursday, Trump said, “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government… This is a total breakthrough.”
At his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?”
Let us try to interpret the message that Trump was trying to convey. He wants to tell that the money that was funnelled through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was used to defeat Narendra Modi and his party BJP in last year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Trump’s remarks came a few days after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire Elon Musk, stopped USAID funding to different countries to the tune of $ 486 million. DOGE released a list of funds that were channelled through USAID to different countries of the world for various purposes. Out of this, $21 million was earmarked for boosting “voter turnout” in India.
DOGE also said, $29 million was earmarked for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh”, where former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was unseated after a violent nationwide agitation led by students and backed by the main opposition BNP and Islamic fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami. At that time, there were allegations that the US “deep state” was involved in ousting Sheikh Hasina from power.
Trump’s remarks had a political fallout in India. It is known to all that much of the USAID funds are channelized through outfits floated by another billionaire George Soros. Soros is on record of having said that that he wanted to encourage moves to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The USAID money that was earmarked was to persuade Dalit and OBC voters in India to come out and take part in voting. At around the same time, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised his demand for a nationwide caste census. Rahul Gandhi went to the US where he said, “democracy has been under attack in India, and it has been very badly weakened.” At that time Rahul Gandhi had met several top officials of the Biden administration and US lawmakers.
After Trump’s remarks, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that Trump has confirmed that $21 million was given to influence voters’ turnout in India. “We have all along been alleging that Rahul Gandhi was trying to weaken Indian democracy and what Congress has done is a matter of disgrace for the country “, he said.
Congress described Trump’s claim as “nonsensical”. In a hard-hitting post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded a white paper from Modi government about USAID support given to various government organizations and NGOs in India.
What Trump has said leaves no scope for doubt. The fact is, USAID funds came from America to India in the name of increasing voters’ turnout, but they were used to destabilize Modi government. I salute the sagacity of the voters of India who were not influenced by this campaign funded by the US. The people of India voted Modi to power for the third time.
It is an open secret that Rahul Gandhi and his party benefited and Congress tally in Lok Sabha increased. What Trump has revealed is a clear admission that the US government has been bringing about changes in governments in other countries by funnelling money. The same was sought to be done in India, but that move failed. What happened in our neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent months is known to all.
Trump has put a full stop to this game. The US President does not want to spend his government’s money on destabilizing governments in other countries. This is a 360-degree turn in US policy. You can see its effects in Ukraine.
Former President Biden’s administration was providing massive support to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was getting military and monetary support from the US in his war against Russia. The US gave $300 billion support to Ukraine, but now Trump has taken a U-turn and has opted to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Why is opposition peeved over Trump praising Modi
At around 2.30 am IST, when most of the people in India were sleeping, US President Donald Trump was praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House after official level discussion. The warmth with which Trump greeted Modi, the US President pushing the chair for the Indian PM to sit on and sign, and the effusive praise for Modi was a sight to watch.
Replying to a question at the joint press conference, Trump said, “he (Modi) is a tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator. There is not even a contest.”
Welcoming Modi with a warm hug, Trump said, “We missed you a lot”. The US President also said: “He (Modi) is doing a really great job in India. Everybody talks about him. He is doing a really fantastic job. He’s a great leader”. While presenting a book “Our Journey Together” to Modi, Trump wrote: “Mr. Prime Minister, you are GREAT”.
Naturally, such words of praise coming from the President of the world’s most powerful nation for Modi, has caused a lot of heartburn to political rivals in India.
The joint statement issued after Modi’s official meeting with Trump, named Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism. “The leaders called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks”, the statement said.
Peeved over this, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described the India-US joint statement as “one-sided, misleading and against diplomatic norms”. Trump announced that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana would be extradited to India, describing him as and “evil” and “a very violent man”. Trump added, “there are more to follow and we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India.”
On Bangladesh, when a reporter sought Trump’s views on whether the Biden government carried out a regime change in Bangladesh, Trump denied that the US “deep state” played any role. Trump said: “There was no role for our deep state. This is something that the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time, frankly I have been reading about it. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.”
Trump’s remark about Bangladesh is quite important. In the recent past, during his election campaign, the US President had raised concerns over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh by Islamic jihadis. Trump, at that time, had issued a warning to Islamic jihadis active in Bangladesh.
The newly appointed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had also condemned atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s interim goernment headed by Mohammed Yunus had promised to keep the Islamic jihadis on leash, which it has not done. On the contrary, violence against Hindus has increased in Bangladesh. Now, Trump has clearly indicated that he considers Modi “capable of handling Bangladesh”.
On deportation of illegal Indian migrants by the US, Modi clearly said at the joint press conference that India had no objection if Indian nationals who have illegally entered the US are deported. Modi described illegal human trafficking as a global problem in which poor and middle class Indians shell out big money to human trafficking gangs to enter America. Modi said, such gangs must be smashed.
At the joint press conference, one question was asked about Gautam Adani, Rahul Gandhi’s pet issue. When an American journalist asked Modi whether he had discussed with Trump the issue of a US Federal Court indicting Gautam Adani, Modi replied that as a Prime Minister, for him every Indian is part of his family, but “when two heads of government meet, they do not discuss issue relating to individuals.”
The problem is, whenever Modi wins laurels outside India, some of our own people here get peeved. For Rahul Gandhi, the ghost of Gautam Adani was the only issue that he noticed during Modi’s US trip. I think Modi gave a stinging reply on the Adani issue. Why should two heads of governments discuss Adani at their meeting when there are other more pressing issues on the table?
Rahul Gandhi and his followers did not notice the warmth with which Trump welcomed Modi, praised him as a “tough and better negotiator” and wrote about Modi, “you are great” on a book. If the US President writes and says good things about our Prime Minister, should we be happy or peeved? What Trump said about Modi is an honour for India. It is a fact that both Modi and Trump have pressing domestic issues on their hands, which are more important. Both leaders have been re-elected by the people. Both leaders have promised economic progress for their people. Both aim to take their nations to the pinnacle of prosperity. There will be negotiations and bargaining during talks and such issues are not sorted out in a day’s meeting. India-US relations are stronger than before. We should trust Modi. He is capable of dealing with Trump.