100 days of Modi Sarkar – Day 35

Day 35 of Modi Sarkar
Day 35 of Modi Sarkar

Modi Government Work - Day 35

RSS leader Suresh Soni addressing BJP’s boot camp compared the election victory of 16th May with Independence Day, when British left India. It is probably a small matter that even after this “second Independence” fear of Chinese incursion continues to haunt India’s security agencies. Reports suggest Chinese made a fresh bid to enter Ladakh through water way on Friday before being pushed back by Indian forces.

Governance:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Sriharikota today. He will witness launch of ISRO’s PSLV C23 Satellite from there tomorrow. Prime Minister tweeted to convey that he is looking forward to interact with India’s eminent space scientists. Modi also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to give boost to space programmes. He was taken to the launch pad and scientists briefed him about what to expect tomorrow.

Modi on his way had a brief stop at Chennai. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa met him for a short meeting. Incidentally Jaya had declined to attend Modi’s swearing in ceremony as Sri Lankan President Rajapakse was invited there.

Defence:

Modi sarkar is looking to boost India’s depleted weaponry. The long term goal is to make India self-sufficient to produce its own weapons and fighter jets but as of now government is looking to import them from Western countries.

Government has already indicated that FDI cap of 26% in procurement of defence equipment is likely to be relaxed with possibility of 100% foreign investment in some projects. Now countries like Russia, France, UK and USA are making beeline to Indian shores to hard sell their products. French foreign minister Laurent Fabius will look to ink the deal to sell Rafale fighter jets to India. He is reaching New Delhi tomorrow and will meet both Jaitley and Modi.

Soon after that US Republican senator John McCain will visit India to convince Modi to buy weapons from makers like Boeing and Raytheon. UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is slated to visit later next month.

While Modi sarkar is looking to increase FDI cap, there are apprehensions that it may lead to compromise of national security. Former Defence Minister A K Anthony has denounced the move as suicidal. Thus any possible step in this direction by Modi is likely to face stiff resistance from opposition.

China’s provocation:

Even when Indian Vice President Hamid Karzai is currently visiting China, they are continuing to provoke Indians across multiple forums. After publishing a map which showed Arunachal Pradesh as part of China, now red army has made an unsuccessful bid to enter Ladakh through Pangong Lake. Multiple attempts have been made so far but India has thwarted them thanks to new technologically advanced boat imported from US.

Chinese boats were given support by red army flanking the banks of the lake. This is a new strategy by China to put pressure on India’s military and political establishment. Many believe this is a counter tactics to India’s growing intimacy with Japan.

Meanwhile, Hamid Ansari will meet his counterpart Li Yuanchoa tomorrow. India in all likelihood will raise issues of Chinese provocation with its top leadership. Commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman is accompanying Ansari in this 5 day tour. She will meet her counterpart tomorrow and some trade treaties are likely to be signed between the two countries.

Indians in Iraq:

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met families of workers currently abducted in Mosul. She expressed her concerns to the families and said that government is trying its level best to reach out to the workers. Government so far has tried to use NGO’s like Red Crescent to communicate with kidnapped workers but efforts haven’t yielded much success.

Apart from the warship stationed in the Persian Sea Modi sarkar has sent three Air India planes for emergency evacuation. Government is looking to initially evacuate all willing Indians from relatively trouble free zone as there is a threat of the war to spread further.

Economy:

India has written a fresh letter to Switzerland asking them to provide names of all the citizens who have black money stashed in Swiss banks. Recently there were some rumours that Swiss authorities have shared some names with their Indian counterpart. However Finance Minister Arun Jaitley later clarified that he is not aware of any such development.

Bank of America in a report has predicted that Modi sarkar may announce a cut of 2% import duty on gold. UPA government had increased import duty on gold last year to reduce mounting current account deficit.

CAG in its draft report to Department of Telecommunication has recommended that broadband spectrum allotted to Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio should be scrapped. CAG alleges that there were obvious signs of malpractice which Telecom department failed to detect earlier. It is to be seen if Modi government follows CAG’s recommendation. Mukesh Ambani has high hopes from Reliance jio to usher in telecom revolution.

Respite for students:

DU has clarified those B Tech students who enrolled for the four year course will be allowed to complete their degree in four years. Earlier there were rumours that B Tech course may be changed to BSC in order to finish it in three years. Decision about fate of students studying BMS will be taken tomorrow.

Tomorrow cut off list for DU colleges will be out. Officials worked overtime in Sunday to change documents etc. so that there are no hurdles in transition from four year undergraduate programme to that of three years.

Patriarch’s praise:

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani today addressed orientation programme arranged for first time MP’s of the party. He heaped lavished praise on Narendra Modi comparing him to a batsman who has captained his side in his first test and also scored 300 runs. Advani shared many stories from his long parliamentary life to encourage newbies.

Advani today latched onto veteran Congress leader A K Anthony’s comments that the grand old party should be careful against minority appeasement. The patriarch who termed the coin “pseudo secularism” hailed Anthony’s comments as honest soul searching and expressed hope that other Congress leaders also endorse that view. He asked the first time MPs to work towards becoming second time MP and said that party should be in power for atleast 10 years. Advani put the onus on party colleagues to explain to the electorates the tough decisions Modi sarkar may take to stabilize the economy.

Earlier in the day senior RSS pracharak Suresh Soni addressed the camp. He got tad carried way when he compared 16th May 20014 with 15th August,1947 much to the amusement of listeners. Soni also asked everybody to follow Sangh’s ideals although many BJP MPs are not members of RSS!!

 

Finally, a look at the key economic parameters as of today…

Indicators Value Rise/ Fall
Sensex 25099.92 37.25
Nifty 7508.80 15.60
Rupee/ Dollar 60.09 -0.05
Gold 27,672.00 5.00
Silver 44,529.00 -127.00
Brent Crude 6364.00 -21.00
WPI (May) 6.01% 0.81%
CPI (May) 8.28% -0.31%

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Two Years of Modi Sarkar 
One Year of Modi Sarkar
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