PM Modi pitches for removal of barriers in maritime trade ::::::: No transaction with NSO Group: Defence Ministry on Pegasus row

PM Modi pitches for removal of barriers in maritime trade

The Prime Minister pitched strongly for five basic principles based on trade, disputes, natural disasters, environment and connectivity. 

These were, Free maritime trade sans barriers so as to establish legitimate trade, Settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and on the basis of international law only, Responsible maritime connectivity, need to collectively combat maritime threats posed by non-state actors and natural calamities and need to preserve the maritime environment and maritime resources.

"हमें legitimate maritime trade से barriers हटाने चाहिए।....We should remove all barriers from legitimate maritime trade," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his historic 'presidential' address at the UN Security Council.

Secondly, he said, there must be a resolve that for all maritime disputes, solution ought to be obtained through peaceful means and by strictly adhering to 'international laws'.

"This is must to ensure mutual trust and confidence...This can ensure global peace and stability," he said without naming any country or bloc, but the reference was for China. 

The agenda of the discussion was: Enhancing Maritime Security - A Case for International Cooperation.

It was a new role for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. First Prime Minister of India to doso made it specially significant.

Presiding over the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Mr Modi said in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinkenthat - "We should remove barriers to maritime trade. Our prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade and also the free maritime trade is associated with the culture of India for time immemorial".

He maintained that barriers in maritime trades can pose a challenge to the entire global economy.  

However, at the same time, he was also realistic.

"This shared heritage of ours (oceans) is facing several types of challenges. Maritime routes are being misused for piracy and terrorism," he said.

Hindi....

The Prime Minister pitched strongly for five basic principles.

Free maritime trade sans barriers so as to establish legitimate trade, Settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and on the basis of international law only, Responsible maritime connectivity,

need to collectively combat maritime threats posed by non-state actors and natural calamities.

and need to preserve the maritime environment and maritime resources.

"Oceans are our shared heritage, maritime routes the lifelines of international trade

Oceans are our shared heritage and our maritime routes are the lifelines of international trade. These oceans are very important for the future of our planet," he said. 

No transaction with NSO Group: Defence Ministry on Pegasus row

New Delhi : The central government on Monday, August 9, asserted that the Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with the NSO Group Technologies.

The statement from Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, came in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question.

This is a significant statement as it comes in the midst of high voltage Pegasus snooping controversy and how the episode has continued to create pandemonium in both the Houses of Parliament since the beginning of the Monsoon session from July 19.

The Israeli NSO Group, which sells the spyware, has been under increasing attack globally following allegations that its Pegasus software was used for surveillance of phones of public leaders and journalists in several countries including India.

The government was specifically asked whether the government had carried out any transaction 

with the NSO Group Technologies.

The opposition parties led by Congress have been targeting the centre over the alleges snooping row.

Union IT and Communications Minister, Ashwini Vaishnawhad, had earlier categorically 

dismissed media reports on the use of Pegasus software to snoop on Indian leaders and other citizens,

The Minister had made a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha and maintained that "any sort of illegal surveillance" 

by unauthorised persons is not possible in India.

In Rajya Sabha, his statement was marred by tearing down of an official paper which led to suspension of

Trinamool member Shantanu Sen.

The petitioners including noted journalist N. Ram has since moved the Supreme Court.

The Chief Justice has said truth in the case ought to come out. The government has said that the opposition 

parties used the Pegasus row to stall parliamentary proceedings and sabotage the entire Monsoon session

of Parliament.

The first day of hearing on Pegasus row took place on Aug 5 in the Supreme Court.

“If you know that your phone is hacked, why are you not filing an FIR?,” asked the Chief Justice N V Ramana

at one point while some counsels for petitioners claimed their clients' phones have been “under surveillance”.

But there was a moment of embarrassment for petitioner N Ram and his counsel.

This happened when the Chief Justice said, the petition by N Ram says that the California Court has observed

that some Indian journalists and other persons were ‘also targets’.

“Where in the court order does it say this...We don’t see”.

A Bench of CJI, Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said while the ‘charges’ are serious,

no efforts seem to have been made by the affected people to file criminal complaints,

according to sources.

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