CSAP Daily-CA 24-11-2020
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The Assam Tribune Analysis 24-11-2020 ARTICLE CONTENTS 2014-29 period ‘very important’ for India, says Modi Javadekar criticises ‘TRP-centric’ journalism US provides missiles, renews pledge to defend Philippines Indian FS Shringla to visit Nepal on November 26 ‘Afghanistan may become hotbed for Uighur ultras’ India’s Venus mission attracts international payload proposals Rajkiran Rai elected IBA chief Govt plans to set up charging infra at 69,000 petrol pumps Momentum of economic reforms will continue, FM assures industry Govt likely to announce nat’l master plan soon: DPIIT Secy Quami Ekta Week observed in Imphal Subdued Seng Kut Snem held Tarun Gogoi passes away EDITORIAL DISCUSSION End of an era Revisiting problem of tribal land alienation Lachit Borphukan and Assamese regionalism GENERAL STUDIES 2: GOVERANCE 1. 2014-29 period ‘very important’ for India, says Modi Asserting that the 2014-29 period between the 16th to 18th Lok Sabha is “very important” for a young democracy like India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the last six years have been “historic” for the country’s development and a lot remains to be done in the remaining period. As the age of 16, 17 and 18 years is very important for the youth, so is the time between the 16th and the 18th Lok Sabha for a young nation like India, he said while digitally inaugurating 76 multi- storeyed flats in the National Capital for Members of Parliament. The 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19) has been historic for the country’s progress, and the 17th Lok Sabha has already become a part of history due to a number of decisions it has taken, he said, referring to the passage of landmark legislations aimed at reforming farm and labour sectors besides abrogation of Article 370 and the citizenship law. “I am confident the next Lok Sabha (2024-29) will also play a very important role in taking the country ahead in this new decade... There is so much for the country that we have to achieve. Be it ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign, or eco nomic targets or many other pledges like these, we have to achieve them during this period,” he said to an audience of parliamentarians, including ministers and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. People of Jammu and Kashmir have also joined the mainstream of development, with many new laws coming into effect in the Union Territory for the first time, he said in a reference to the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted the erstwhile State a special status. “It is our responsibility that when history evaluates different terms of Lok Sabha, this period is remembered as a golden chapter in the nation’s development,” Modi stated. The second term of the Modi government is scheduled to end in 2024 when the next general election will be held. The ruling BJP has already set its sight on the next Lok Sabha polls with its president JP Nadda set to undertake a 120- day nationwide tour to tone up the saffron party’s organisational machinery with a focus on regions and seats where it had not done well in 2019. In his speech, Modi referred to the GST rollout, enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and a law proposing death sentence for those convicted of raping children as among the major achievements of his government’s first term between 2014-19. India now has resources and a strong resolve to fulfil the dreams of its 130 crore citizens and attain the goal of self-reliance, he said. Asserting that the country’s “new mindset and mood” is reflected in the composition of the 16th Lok Sabha, which had over 300 first-time MPs, and the current lower house, which has 260 MPs elected for the first time, the Prime Minister noted it has over 400 parliamentarians who are in their first or second terms. The current Lok Sabha also has a record number of woman MPs, he added. Parliament’s performance is at its best in two decades, Modi said. MPs have focussed on “product and process” as well be passing more Bills and also debating more, he added, noting that they engaged in two-three hours of debates in passing more than 60 per cent of Bills in the last Lok Sabha. On this occasion, he also greeted Birla on his 58th birthday and lauded him for his focus on quality while saving time in running the House. 2. Javadekar criticises ‘TRP-centric’ journalism Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on Monday disapproved of “TRP-centric journalism”, saying meters installed in 50,000 houses cannot measure the opinion of crores of people. He also asserted that the freedom of press has to be preserved at any cost in a democracy but media should remember that freedom comes with responsibility. “TRP-centric journalism is not good. The meters installed in 50,000 houses cannot measure the opinion of 22 crores. We would expand its circumference so that we know what the people watch and what they wish to watch,” he said at an IIMC event. He advised media students not to be trapped in sensational or TRP-centric journalism and asked them to imbibe the skills of healthy journalism, ensuring that anything good happening in society also becomes news. Inaugurating the orientation programme of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) for the academic session 2020-21, Javadekar stressed that people should welcome the change emerging in the education sector through digital technology and draw benefit from it. The minister said that the freedom of press has immense value in a democracy and it has to be preserved at any cost. “But we should keep in mind that freedom comes with responsibility. Therefore, every one of us has to be responsible. As a journalist, you understand both the aspects of the story, but your reporting should lead society in the right direction,” he said at the virtual event. The minister said journalism is a responsibility, “not a tool to mislead people”. There is no need for any drama or sensation if your story is based on facts. There are plenty of constructive stories in society, but sadly nobody in the media has time to publish them, he said. Javadekar said the first lesson of journalism is that everything impacting the lives of people is news and it should find adequate space in the media. In this regard, he listed several schemes of the Central government that have helped citizens. The minister said fibre connectivity in about two lakh villages has transformed the lives of millions of people in rural areas. “One can now watch 104 channels and 50 educational channels free of cost through the Doordarshan free dish. Three hundred community radio stations offer new opportunities to local artists and a change is clearly visible in those areas. “About 2.5 crore people have received houses under Pradhanmantri Grameen Aawas Yojana. “About 12 crore people have received toilets. Equally, eight crore gas connections have been provided under Ujjawala Yojana. Forty crore people have bank accounts now and about 50 crore people have the facility of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Is this all not news?” he asked. “I say, other happenings are also news, but these too are news. Contribution to the growth of society is the duty of journalism,” the minister added. Apart from Director General of IIMC Professor Sanjay Dwivedi and Additional Director General K Satish Nambudiripad, all faculty members of IIMC from regional centres and students joined the orientation virtually. GENERAL STUDIES 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. US provides missiles, renews pledge to defend Philippines President Donald Trump’s administration provided precision-guided missiles and other weapons to help the Philippines battle Islamic State (ISIS) group-aligned militants and renewed a pledge to defend its treaty ally if it comes under attack in the disputed South China Sea. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien represented Trump in the ceremony on Monday at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, where he announced the delivery of the cache of missiles and bombs to the Philippine military. Trump pledged to provide the USD 18 million worth of missiles in a phone conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in April. O’Brien expressed condolences to the Philippines after back-to-back typhoons left a trail of death and devastation in the country and outlined US help to the country battle the coronavirus pandemic. The US assistance projects normalcy in Washington’s foreign relations as Trump worked to challenge the results of the November 3 presidential election, claiming he was a victim of fraud. Duterte had asked Filipino Americans to vote for Trump but congratulated Joe Biden, through his spokesperson, for winning the election. O’Brien has represented Trump in a recent online summit between the US and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and an expanded East Asia summit of heads of state attended by China and Russia that was also held by video and hosted by Vietnam. In his remarks at the turnover of US missiles in Manila, O’Brien cited the Trump administration’s role in the defeat of the ISIS group in the Middle East and last year’s killing of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in Syria, and renewed its commitment to help defeat ISIS-linked militants in the southern Philippines. 2. Indian FS Shringla to visit Nepal on November 26 India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will arrive here on Thursday on a two-day official visit to Nepal during which he would hold talks with his Nepalese counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal and discuss wideranging areas of bilateral cooperation.