UK lab’s revelation in Skripal case

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

London will eventually have to apologize for its baseless accusations against Moscow in the Skripal poisoning case, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, after a UK military lab admitted it could not link the attack to Moscow.

“For us, the situation was appalling from the very beginning, and now, confirmation is gradually starting to come in that the insane accusations, made by the British side a few hours after the assassination attempt [on double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter], are baseless and groundless,” Peskov told journalists Tuesday. He was speaking shortly after the Sky News interview in which the head of the Porton Down chemical lab admitted his scientists had found no confirmation the A-234 (“Novichok”) chemical agent used in the poisoning came from Russia.

RT news

Italian president opens talks on forming new govt

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

The Italian president is opening formal consultations to see if any party or coalition can muster support to form a government after the inconclusive March 4 elections. President Sergio Mattarella will start consultations on Wednesday with the parliament speakers, followed by parties with the least political weight. On Thursday, the talks will continue with those winning the most votes, AP reported.

The populist 5-Star Movement was the party with the highest number of votes. However, the center-right coalition led by the anti-migrant League would control the most parliamentary seats. Neither force can govern alone. 5-Star leader Luigi di Maio says he is open to a government with either the League or the Democratic Party, but he ruled out governing with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, citing his tax-fraud conviction.

Steel Ministry and its PSUs Observe Swachhata Pakhwada

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Swachhata pledge being administered to the employees of the Ministry of Steel

Ministry of Steel and its Public Sector Undertakings observed Swachhata Pakhwada from March 16-31, 2018.  Employees in Udyog Bhavan office of the Ministry and in various Plants/Units of PSUs spread across the country participated in various activities organized during the fortnight.  In Ministry of Steel, the event was launched by administering Swachhata pledge to the employees of the Ministry on March 16, 2018.  During the fortnight, Cleanliness inspection of all the Sections was conducted by Senior Officers.  An Open House to seek ideas, suggestions and comments on the subject of Swachhata was organized in which employees of this Ministry participated actively.  A workshop on E-office and recording, upkeep and streamlining of files was also organized.

The Ministry has asked the Plants and units of the PSUs to carry out different activities including displaying Swachhata message on their websites, adhering to stipulated Swachhata parameters, initiating rating of different mills and units on Swachhata parameters and sharing major activities through YouTube/Instagram/FB/Twitter and mainstream media/Press Conference for wider dissemination.

Ministry of Steel ranks among the top 10 Ministries/Departments of Government of India, in the implementation of Swachhata related activities. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, which is the nodal Ministry for overseeing Swachhata related activities in the Central Government, has congratulated the Ministry and its PSUs for taking forward the goal of Swachh Bharat as envisioned by the Prime Minister.

New Greenfield Noida International Airport Progress Report 

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

New Greenfield Noida International Airport at Jewar picking momentum- Progress Report

Posted On: 03 APR 2018 8:53PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is committed to the building of airport capacity as part of its NABH (NextGen Airports for BHarat) Nirman initiative. Three key aspects of NABH Nirman are (1) fair and equitable land acquisition, (2) long-term master plan for airport and regional development and (3) balanced economics for all stakeholders. As part of NABH Nirman, MoCAcalled a meeting of all stakeholders to review the progress of setting up of Noida International Greenfield Airport at Jewar.

Fair and equitable land acquisition

Noida International Greenfield Airport is strategically located in respect of road distance about 72 km from IGI Airport, about 40 km from Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, about 28 km from Greater Noida, 65 km from Gurugram and 130 km from Agra. It is well connected via Yamuna Expressway that will serve domestic and international tourists to reach Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan.

MoCAhadgranted site clearance on July 06, 2017. The U. P. Government appointed Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) as the implementing agency on its behalf in October 2017. YEIDA obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence on January 11, 2018.  To expedite the implementation of Airport project, a Project Monitoring and Implementation Committee (PMIC) has been constituted on March 27, 2018.

Landmeasuring 5,000 hectares (ha) has been identified by YEIDA for the project, out of which 240 ha. belongs to the State Govt and rest is with private owners. The first phase of acquisition of land measuring 1,327 ha.for construction of Terminal buildings and Runways is expected tobe initiated in the month of June, 2018by the YEIDA for necessary arrangements have been made.

Long-term master plan for airport and regional development

Airports are gateways of global connectivity and form the corner stone of creating strategic economic hubs. Development of an airport leads to construction of commercial and residential real estate closer to the airport and can transform the economic geography of the region. A well-designed aero-city around an airport can become an economic engine in and of itself.

It was decided that the planning for the airport will take into account holistic planning of the urban area around the airport. Intra and inter-city connectivity with various modes of transport (linkages with the existing Delhi airport, Railways, metro, buses, autos, private vehicle connectivity, etc.) were identified to bring down cost and time involved for passenger and freight movement.

Balanced economics for all stakeholders

The airport is to be developed on Public Private Partnership model (PPP). A detailed discussion was held on the financial viability of the airport and various models of awarding the PPP concession were deliberated upon. The State government and YEIDA assured that funds for land acquisition are availableand the process is expected to proceed smoothly.

Stakeholders and conclusion

The meeting was attended by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Jayant Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri R N Choubey, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Prabhat Kumar, Chairman, YEIDA and other senior officials of the Central and the State government.

In the meeting, timelines have been fixed for various activities and responsibilities assigned. The UP government is planning to lay the foundation stone of Phase 1 of the project by October 2018.

PRESS INVITATION

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

INVITATION

Dear Sir/Madam,

You are cordially invited to cover the following event:

EVENT	:	Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhuwill deliver inaugural address at the Global Logistics Summit.
DATE	:	05.04.2018 (Thursday)
TIME	:	11:00 AM
VENUE	:	FICCI, Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi

INVITATION
Function:	Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for Redevelopment of Govt. of India Press, Minto Road by Shri Hardeep Puri, Minister of State (I/C) for Housing & Urban Affairs
Date:	04/04/2018(Wednesday)
Time:	3.00 p.m.(Please arrive by 2.45 p.m.)
Venue:	Government of India Press, Minto Road(DeenDayalUpadhyay Marg), New Delhi

Yours sincerely,

(Rajeev Kumar Jain)

INVITATION

Dear Sir/Madam

You are cordially invited to the following event:

Function          :           Secretary (Defence Production) Dr. Ajay Kumar will hold a curtain raiser press conference with regard to DefExpo India – 2018.

Date                :           04 April 2018.

Time                :           1200 hrs

Venue  :           Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.

Note:   All are requested to be seated latest by 1145 hr.

Yours faithfully

(Amit Ranjan Giri)

Udit Raj, a Dalit MP says Dalits` anger against Hon. Supreme Court not the BJP

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Udit Raj, a Dalit MP says Dalits` anger against Hon. Supreme Court not the BJP

                                             (Rahul Kumar Balley, Senior Correspondent)  

On  2nd April,2018 an historic call for Bharat Bandh was given by All India Dalit Organisations against dilution of SC/ST ACT by Hon. Supreme Court of India. The SC/ST Act enshrined in the Constitution of India is meant to protect poor, innocent, and defenseless Dalits.

Behn Mayawati, President of Bhujan Samaj Party(BSP), Ambedkar Mission Society, Valmik Sabhas, Ravidass Sabhas, Sikh Sabha supported Bharat Bandh. Lahori Ram Balley, Editor Bheem Patrika and trustee of Ambedkar Bhawan, Jalandhar posted a youtube video apprising about the vicious attentions of Modi government in diluting the SC/ST ACT. Ramvilas Paswan, Ramdas Athawale, Dalit Ministers in the Modi government, under suppressed voice, also condemned the dilution of SC/ST Act. Professor Vivek Kumar, an Indian sociologist and a pubic intellectual writes: “Today dalit assertion has transcended the national boundary & has reached international levels. The dalit diaspora that has remained invisible all these years has joined Indian dalits”. The Dalit Diaspora residing in various parts of the world hugely supported Bharat Bandh. This solidarity and unity of the minority organizations shows that the dalits can no longer be suppressed

There is no denying the fact that under the BJP, backed by RSS, atrocities against the Dalits multiplied. National Crime Bureau data shows horrifying figures of atrocities against Dalits in India. Dalits do not get justice because the law –enforcing agencies are controlled by the upper caste people.

Leaders of Hindu organizations such as RSS/VHP and their allies use abusive language against the Dalits. One side Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India claims a true well-wisher of the Dalits on the other side, leaders of RSS/VHP under the nose of Mr Modi`s government commit inhuman crimes against Dalits. Dalit men or women are not safe in the villages of India. Several gruesome killings of the Dalits in the past show the BJP is anti-Dalit political party. Mohan Bhagwat, head of RSS is anti-reservation. He is wants reservation should end.

Since centuries, Dalits are subject to various kinds of caste discrimination. Untouchability is rampant in many parts of the country. Dalit women are raped in a day light. Dalit men are bitten naked in the open market by the upper caste Brahmins. A dalit man is killed by upper caste people because he dared to sit on a horse. Marriage procession of a dalit bridegroom playing music was stoned by upper caste people. Brahmins are highly uncivilized, unsophisticated, and uncultured.

Udit Raj,  of the BJP claims on a national NDTV debate that the anger of the Dalits is against Hon. Supreme Court not the BJP. Such greedy, opportunistic persons deserve not to be called a DALIT LEADER. A day has gone when Udit Raj was advocating for reservation in the private sectors for the Dalits. Almost twenty years back he tonsured his head and embraced Buddhism. On the condition of anonymity his close previous associate of Udit Raj said: Udit Raj is a highly selfish  man. He always practiced a policy of ‘Use and Throw. He collected huge amount of money in the name of Baba Sahib Ambedkar while running All India Confederation of SC/ST organization. He is chameleon who can stoop to any level to capture power and money. Since the day he has been a BJP Member of Parliament he never raised voice in favour of the Dalits. The BJP/RSS leaders do not like him at all. He is as dead as a wood in the BJP.

Today, Dalits should not only be cautious about caste practicing Brahmins but also be alert and vigilant about persons like Udit Raj. He is neither an Ambedkarite nor a Buddhist. Brahmins are confusing this ACT with reservation. SC/ST Act has nothing to do with reservation.

Rahul Kumar Bali

Cell Number:91-11-9871080016

Email:rkbsooru@gmail.com; rahul@grfdt.org                                           

Events we are putting on at ICI.

ON APRIL 4, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENTEDIT

Dear Naresh Kumar, As we head into April, we wanted to share with you some of the upcoming events we are putting on at ICI. We are happy to welcome several distinguished lecturers, including: Manoranjan Mohanty, Michael Kugelman, David Ludden, Rohit Negi, and Silvia Lindtner. We look forward to having you join us. Please remember to register for the events by clicking on the respective links in the announcement below. You can always find a list of all our upcoming events on our Events page. Sincerely, The ICI Team A public talk with Manoranjan Mohanty April 2nd, 2018 @ 5:30pm – 7:00pm OROZCO ROOM, 66 W 12th Street, Room 712 An event by the India China Institute, co-sponsored by the Global Studies Program Drawing on Professor Mohanty’s more than three decades of research, this talk will focus on how China’s “reform and open door” policy evolved and helped achieve tremendous economic success. Professor Mohanty will also examine how this policy has generated serious social and environmental problems. In his recent book, ‘China’s Transformation: The Success Story and the Success Trap’, Mohanty argues that the consequences of this story of success and growth are so strong that it has been difficult for China to change its main development path and to achieve a desirable level of equity and sustainability. Professor Mohanty describes this as the “success trap” that China is currently grappling with. Manoranjan Mohanty is a renowned political scientist and China scholar whose writings have focused on theoretical and empirical dimensions of social movements, human rights, the development experience and the regional role of India and China. As Vice-President of the Council for Social Development (CSD) and Editor of CSD’s social science journal Social Change, published by SAGE, he brings a wealth of experience from both policy and practice perspectives.

A public talk with Michael Kugelman April 5th, 2018 @ 5:30pm – 7:00pm KLEIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 66 W 12th Street, Room 510 An event by the India China Institute, co-sponsored by the Global Studies Program and the Julien J. Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs (SGPIA) The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a $62 billion infrastructure project associated with Beijing’s broader Belt and Road Initiative. It entails new roads, power plants, and ports across Pakistan as part of China’s global effort to facilitate access to markets far and wide. CPEC has the potential to bring major benefits to Pakistan’s economy, but because of security and financial issues it is also fraught with risk. This lecture will examine CPEC’s prospects; discuss how it is perceived in Pakistan, China, India, and the US; and consider its strategic implications for both New Delhi and Washington. Michael Kugelman is the Asia Program Deputy Director and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, where he is responsible for research, programming, and publications on the region. His main speciality is Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan and U.S. relations with each of them. regularly writes for publications that include Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, and War on the Rocks. He is also a regular contributor to Axios’s Expert Voices platform. Additionally, he has published op-eds and commentaries for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Politico, CNN.com, Bloomberg View, Al Jazeera, and The National Interest, among others. A public talk with David Ludden April 9th, 2018 @ 6:30pm – 8:00pm KLEIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 66 W 12th Street, Room 510 An event by the Historical Studies at The New School for Social Research in partnership with the India China Institute, The horrors suffered by Rohingyas in Myanmar today – which now appear ever more frequently and graphically in the news – represent one brutal extremity of a kind of victimization that haunts countless people whose only crime is living in old spaces of human mobility that modern empires carved into national territories. Methodological nationalism justifies their precarity with histories that provide charters for national belonging, tying citizens firmly to specific places inside national borders. In a world covered by nations, human rights depend on that belonging. Old spaces of mobility can thus become perilous homelands where nations produce minorities as aliens eligible for marginalization, exclusion, and expulsion. Histories of mobile social space may implicitly disenfranchise their residents, but we need those histories to escape methodological nationalism and explore interactions of mobility and territoriality that generate globalization, at many levels of scale. All these post-colonial predicaments challenge any history of the Rohingya crisis, which I approach here through local histories of Global Asia around the Bay of Bengal. This talk is part of The Carol Breckenridge Memorial Lecture in South Asian History series. David Ludden is Professor and Chair in the Department of History at New York University. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1978, and served on the Penn faculty from 1981 until 2007, when he came to NYU. He has directed South Asia programs at Penn, the Social Science Research Council, the Fulbright Senior Scholars program (CIES), and NYU. He served as President of the Association for Asian Studies in 2002-3. His research focuses on very long-term histories of globalization in Asia, particularly as they concern trajectories of capitalist economic development, spatial inequity, natural environments, and changing material conditions in everyday life. A public talk with Rohit Negi April 18th, 2018 @ 6:30pm – 7:30pm OROZCO ROOM, 66 W 12th Street, Room 712  An event by the India China Institute, co-sponsored by the Global Studies Program at and the Environmental Studies Program. The expanded reproduction of rural livelihoods has led to an increasing number of households in the Indian Himalayas—especially in the state of Himachal Pradesh—route available surplus to nearby urban areas in search of speculative footholds. This paper is interested in the production of space and everyday lives concomitant to this process. Rohit Negi is with the School of Human Ecology at Ambedkar University Delhi. He has a PhD in Geography (Ohio State) and masters degree in Urban Planning (UIUC). Rohit’s research lies at the intersections of urban geography and political ecology, and his ongoing projects concern Delhi’s toxic air, and Himachal’s construction boom. A public talk with Silvia Lindtner April 23rd, 2018 @ 4:00pm – 6:00pm KLEIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 66 W 12th Street, Room 510  An event by the India China Institute, co-sponsored by the Global Studies Program. Since 2014, a series of Western media outlets from the Wired UK over the Economist to Forbes has begun to celebrate the city of Shenzhen in the South of China as a rising hub of innovation, a so-called “Hollywood for Makers” and “Silicon Valley of Hardware.” These media stories took up an idea that open source hardware advocates had been promoting for several years: that the city of Shenzhen had become crucial for the realization of one of the key promises of the maker movement, i.e. to prototype concrete alternatives to the pitfalls of the information society and contemporary capitalism. Just a couple years earlier, Shenzhen was largely known as a place of copycats and fakes that lacked creativity where ideas created elsewhere were simply executed and mass produced. What happened within the timespan of only a few years that changed Shenzhen’s image from demonstrating China’s continuous lag in technology innovation towards a place where alternatives to neoliberal capitalism could be prototyped? Silvia Lindtner is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan in the School of Information, with a courtesy appointment in the Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design. Lindtner’s research and teaching interests include innovation and technology entrepreneurship, making and hacking cultures, shifts in digital work, labor, industry, policy, and governance. This work unfolds through a deep engagement with issues of gender, inequality, and enactments of masculinity in engineering and computer science fields, politics and transnational imaginaries of design, contemporary political economy, and processes of economization. Lindtner draws from more than eight years of multi-sited ethnographic research, with a particular focus on China’s shifting role in transnational and global tech production alongside research alongside research in the United States, Taiwan, and Africa.