India Reaffirms Support For Palestine, Backs Negotiated Two-State Solution :: Both sides discuss new areas of cooperation

 India reaffirmed its consistent support for the Palestinian people and a negotiated two-state solution for the region during talks between Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa, and Overseas Indian Affairs) Sripriya Ranganathan and Palestine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. 

Ranganathan, who is on an official visit to Palestine, called on Shahin on Tuesday and discussed the full range of India-Palestine relations, with a focus on developments in Gaza, humanitarian needs and India's longstanding development partnership with the Palestinian people.

The meeting marked Ranganathan's first engagement during her official visit to Palestine.

The Indian Representative Office in Ramallah, in an official statement, said that the two sides discussed India-Palestine relations, the situation in Gaza, humanitarian assistance and India's development partnership with the Palestinian people.

"Secretary reaffirmed India's consistent support for the Palestinian people and negotiated two-State solution," the statement said.

Ranganathan also conveyed India's concern over the "grave humanitarian situation in Gaza" and stressed the need for the "safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance" to civilians.  

"She reiterated India's support for efforts towards peace and stability and for a lasting political resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," the statement added.

The two sides also reviewed India's development and humanitarian assistance to Palestine, including ongoing initiatives in health, education and capacity-building.

They discussed new areas of cooperation where India's development experience could help address the needs of the Palestinian people.  

During the meeting, Shahin recalled Ranganathan's first visit to India in January this year and expressed appreciation for India's continued support through development projects, capacity-building programmes, scholarships, humanitarian assistance and contributions to Palestinian institutions and UN agencies.

"Progress on the Government of India-funded Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy and the anticipated cooperation with the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute came in for special attention during the discussions," the statement further said.

Modi Govt destroys ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ::: A mega win for 'zero tolerance' policy towards cross-border terrorism

In a major breakthrough security agencies have carried a major multi-state crackdown against the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) ahead of Independence Day and busted its terror syndicate. 

Officials say under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, as many as 253 people were detained across 14 states.  

Independent sources say Bhatti operates from the UAE, used social media as a recruitment ground.

He tracked those who liked or commented on his posts and then would reach out to some of them and initially offered small amounts of money for seemingly simple tasks. 

There were over 80 FIRs and 200+ arrests recorded against SBN as part of the 'zero tolerance' policy towards cross-border terrorism.

In a post on X platform, Home Minister Shah said 

“the Modi govt destroyed the ISI-backed terror group Shahzad Bhatti Network ahead of Independence Day and thwarted its plans for subversive attacks by arresting more than 200 operatives. 

"Indian security forces ripped apart the network by launching coordinated operations across different locations in 14 states upholding a brilliant example of India's zero-tolerance towards terrorism. 

Substantial recoveries, including IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, live cartridges, and CCTV cameras used for espionage, were made from the ISI-funded group. The network was involved in several terrorist activities.”

Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based, ISI-backed terror syndicate linked to grenade, IED and petrol bomb attacks and targeted killings across India. 

SBN has also been paying local conduits to recce police, defence and religious sites, and to install CCTV cameras for espionage.

To counter SBN-linked disruptions planned around Independence Day, a coordinated multi-state operation was carried out on August 12 using a real-time intelligence-sharing system with State Police forces. 

It led to 253 detentions across 14 states — 

Uttar Pradesh (62), 

Haryana (52), 

Delhi (51), 

Punjab (44), 

Rajasthan (15), Maharashtra (8), Uttarakhand (5), Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar (3 each), and Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and Kerala (2 each) — with fresh FIRs registered in Delhi and Karnataka.

 Recoveries include IEDs, grenades bearing Pakistan Ordnance Factory markings, pistols, live cartridges and espionage CCTVs — confirming the network’s direct cross-border links.

Security agencies reaffirm Govt of India’s zero tolerance for cross-border terror and continued coordinated action to dismantle SBN’s networks nationwide.   

Shahzad Bhatti is a Pakistani gangster backed by ISI.

He reportedly has the kind of social media following usually associated with influencers. 

Around 2.5 lakh people follow him on Instagram, and more than 4.5 lakh on Facebook. 

The Pakistani gangster was using online reach for something sinister — finding young men in India and allegedly drawing them into a network involved in bombs, explosives and espionage.

'Dimagi Naxals' consider "fragrance of Indian soil inferior"... they believe Machiavelli is superior to Chanakya and Shakespeare to Kalidasa : BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe

In a hard hitting article, senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe has said:

"They (Dimagi Naxals) do not recognise Indian traditional knowledge systems, but take pleasure in pooh-poohing it. Talking about heritage and traditions amounts to backsliding in their view".   

He also says: "Machiavelli is superior to Chanakya and Shakespeare to Kalidasa. They relish describing Ganga as Ganges and Hanuman as monkey-god. They care two paise for India’s ancient culture, much less for Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

"If you eulogise these epics, they would brand you as sectarian", writes Sahasrabuddhe in his column to 'The New Indian Express'.  

He also diagnosed that though difficult to pin-point, a large numbr of them have entered media and academia.  

Thus he wrote: "Unlike the mostly-forest-dwelling Naxals who openly espoused violence, urban Naxals and dimagi Naxals provide intellectual arsenal. 

Whether it’s the Congress, the BJP, or any regional party in power, they oppose government systems—openly or clandestinely. They try to be seen as anti-establishment even when they themselves take advantage of the establishment at times.

"The PM’s word of caution is timely, too, as Naxals and their sympathisers are increasingly getting frustrated. But though the reference hit a chord, like urban Naxals, it’s not easy to identify 'dimagi Naxals' —a term that may be loosely translated as ‘thought anarchists’. 

Many such people have made deep inroads into media, academia and intelligentsia."  

Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, who also served as the President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) from 2018 to early 2024, further says:  

"The first and the most dreadful symptom is an oblique acceptance of violence and anarchy as pathways towards revolution. 

They may not openly indulge in violence, but somewhere down the line, they also don’t entirely reject violent ways. 

Naxals indulge in open violence and dimagi Naxals try to theorise on it. 

They believe violence is essential to establish deterrence. It was Charu Mazumdar’s conviction that “he who has not dipped his hands in the blood of class enemies is not worthy of being called a communist”. 

Former Rajya Sabha MP 

He further notes:

"Destruction is the key to this so-called revolution. 

Dimagi Naxals believe in abiding by what B R Ambedkar described as the “grammar of anarchy”. 

In a passionate appeal at the last meeting of the Constituent Assembly, Dr Ambedkar had said, “Now that we have constitutional methods at our disposal, we must use them to obtain the socio-economic objectives set for our country.” 

"Yet, while proclaiming themselves as parts of the civil society, dimagi Naxals turn a Nelson’s eye on many things uncivil and indecent. According to some of them, the more aggressively one uses cuss words, the greater revolutionary he or she is."  

 

The former Rajya Sabha MP defines quite accurately - 

"All those who consider patriotism a bad word essentially belong to the category. 

They are even more set against the notion of cultural nationalism because, in the Indian context, the mainstream of our culture flows parallel to Hindu ethos." 

Dr Sahasrabuddhe is also quite candid in his observations.

"To many who belong to the category, India is a conglomeration of many nations. Many of them believe that states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh should be considered nations by themselves. To them, India became united thanks only to British rule." 

"Many of them are hell-bent upon stretching diversity to give fillip to divisiveness and fragmentation-ism. The Indian Army, to them, is an oppressive force. 

"They are convinced that holding candles and marching along the Indo-Pak border will help withering away the frontier."

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Bangladesh's request to India on energy crisis, New Delhi says the matter "was being examined" ::: " requests for Hasina's extradition are being examined as part of our established processes"

 On Bangladesh’s request for India’s assistance in dealing with its ongoing energy crisis, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter was being examined.

“We have an ongoing energy cooperation with Bangladesh. As far as the additional request is concerned, we are examining this given our own requirements, given our refining capacity, as also the availability that is there on our side,” Jaiswal told reporters. 

Asked about a recent report by a UN Security Council body pointing to attempts by al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to establish cells in Bangladesh, 

Jaiswal said terrorism and security concerns were a “common scourge”.

“We want to fight this problem together,” he said.  

India on Tuesday (Aug 18) made it clear that it wants “positive, constructive and forward-looking” relations with Bangladesh based on “mutuality of interests and reciprocity”.

The remarks are vital as they come amid uncertainty over Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to New Delhi.

Jaiswal made the remarks at his bi-weekly media briefing while responding to questions on the recent strains in India-Bangladesh ties especially following former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s virtual media interaction from New Delhi on August 5.

Following the interaction, Dhaka reiterated its demand for Hasina’s extradition and sought to link the issue with Rahman’s possible visit to India.

Jaiswal said:

“India desires positive, constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh based on mutuality of interests and reciprocity" 

“Our position on the press conference by the former Bangladesh prime minister needs no repetition. 

On the issue of extraditions, our consistent position has been that these requests are being examined as part of our established processes,” he added.  

The Bangladesh foreign ministry had strongly objected to the event, saying it was “outraged” that the interaction was allowed despite Dhaka conveying its concerns to New Delhi over its possible impact on bilateral ties.

Sheikh Hasina, 78, was ousted from power in August 2024 following violent student-led protests. She has been staying in India since fleeing Dhaka on August 5 2024.

Amid the continuing strain, India has invited Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit to be hosted in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

The summit is expected to deliberate on several pressing global issues, including the economic consequences of the ongoing West Asia crisis. 

Bangladesh has raised the bogey of extradition of Sheikh Hasina. 

On the possibility of India and Bangladesh working together on sharing the waters of the Teesta river, Jaiswal said water-related issues are discussed through established bilateral mechanisms.

The Teesta is the only one of the 54 rivers shared by India and Bangladesh over which the two countries have not reached a water-sharing agreement. “All water-related collaborations and discussions are handled by the bilateral Joint Rivers Commission and other structured dialogue mechanisms,” Jaiswal said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the credibility and robustness of India’s election machinery are “well-established facts globally” after US President Donald Trump cited India’s electoral system while pushing for mandatory photo identification for voters in the United States.

“I have no specific comment to make on the remarks. I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India's election machinery are well-established facts globally,” Jaiswal said.

Trump had on Tuesday invoked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while renewing his demand for mandatory voter identification in the US and urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.

“Earlier this month, India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration, how can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID?” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

ends 

"Following 2023 ethnic clash, we were compelled to take up arms," surrendered Meitei militants in Manipur :::: CM Khemchand Welcomes 46 KCP-Taibanganba Cadres

Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, Aug 18, welcomed 46 cadres of KCP-Taibanganba back to the mainstream and urged them to embrace peace and normal life at a Home Coming Ceremony held at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal.

Militant leader Taibangamba said people had also been suggesting that the group return to the mainstream. He said the group listened to the people’s appeal, adding that they consider the voice of the people as the voice of god.

The programme was attended by senior ministers, civil administration officials, DGp, Manipur Police personnel, security forces and other dignitaries.

Welcoming the cadres, the chief minister urged them to reunite with their families and communities and contribute positively to the development of Manipur. He also encouraged them to make constructive use of the opportunity for reintegration and contribute towards lasting peace, reconciliation and restoration of normalcy in the state.

During the ceremony, the 46 cadres surrendered 20 arms, 216 rounds of ammunition and three explosives.

Speaking to reporters, KCP chairman Taibanganba said the group had been in the mainstream before the crisis began in May 2023. 

However, following the outbreak of the crisis, they were compelled to take up arms again to protect and guard the people, he said.

He said the group decided to return to the mainstream once again as normalcy is gradually returning to the state.

ends 

Nayi season; nayi chehre !! ::: BJP's two new Muslim faces academician Tariq Mansoor and new Minority wing chief Kunwar Basit Ali may emerge game changers

One thing is certain. The days of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain as Muslim faces of BJP are practically over.

Nayi season; nayi chehre (faces) ! 

Modi and Tariq Mansoor, party's new national vice president

For the BJP, Uttar Pradesh presents a challenge. 

Muslim voters account for roughly 20 per cent of the population and are electorally significant across regions. 

The party has made repeated attempts in recent years to woo sections of the community, particularly Pasmanda Muslims (socially and economically marginalised Muslim groups).

Mansoor and Ali’s appointments in Team Nabin now give that outreach a more visible face.  

Not only in UP, even in the rest of India - there has been a sharp decline in number of Muslim legislators and MPs in the last decade and even in the last 20 years.  

We may say the decline in the number of Muslim MLAs has a direct correlation with the acceptance and the rise of Hindutva politics in national mainstream.  

L K Advani's Rath Yatra - 1990 

The general argument is the impact of the communally surcharged atmosphere after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 could be directly felt in the Assembly elections that took place in Madhya Pradesh in 1993.  

Not a single Muslim MLA was elected in Madhya Pradesh that year.

This was unprecedented. 

In terms of number yet again, In UP there were 628 Muslim MLAs by 2022.

Total legislators in the state then stood at of 7,389. Hence, over 8 per cent were Muslims while population figures of UP vis-a-vis Muslims stood at 15.5 per cent. 

Another Hindutva-stronghold state Gujarat has had only 39 Muslim MLAs out of 2,296 until 2017—just 1.69 per cent. The Muslims constituted 8.6 per cent of the state’s population.

 

Uttar Pradesh BJP Minority Morcha chief Kunwar Basit Ali is now new national chief of the saffron party's Minority Morcha. 

These new appointments point to a strategy that goes beyond mere UP calculations. The larger arithmetic and permutation-combination is about whether the BJP can make even limited gains among Muslim voters in a state where the community has traditionally remained outside its electoral coalition.

Although Muslims have increasingly voted in a unified way since the 2019 general elections, political and social mobilization highlights divisions along sub-identities like caste and sect.  

Muslim caste hierarchies and other sub-identities such as sect have also become important topics of political conversations. 

This raises pressing questions for electoral dynamics. 

Hence, many suggest in more ways than one, the idea of a coherent Muslim voting bloc  is over.

And if this is so - it suits BJP.

Intellectuals often pose questions like - do group-based solidarities around religion and caste exist for Muslims?

Now from BJP's point of view - Mansoor’s elevation is particularly significant because of his profile. 

A former vice-chancellor of AMU, Aligarh he brings an academic background and a degree of social standing.

He is a new comer that way, having joined the Lotus party in 2023. He was spotted by top leaders because he is "different" from the BJP’s traditional Muslim leadership in the province.  

BJP hopes to break the pattern:

In 2020 Bihar elections, about 77 percent of Muslims voted for the Mahagathbandhan.

In the 2021 West Bengal elections, 75 percent of Muslims voted for the Trinamool Congress. This was not the case in 2026; and the outcome is well known.  

In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections, which BJP retained after a fierce battle, as high as 79 percent of Muslims - according to studies - voted for the Samajwadi Party.

This number swelled in favour of Akhilesh Yadav-led party in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and hence BJP paid a bigger price. The Muslim candidates of SP did extremely well in the parliamentary elections. 

How the magic worked?  

SP fielded just four Muslims :: and all four won.  

Zia Ur Rehman (Sambhal), Afzal Ansari (Ghazipur), Iqra Hasan (Kairana) and Mohinullah Nadvi (Rampur). 

The BSP fielded 10 Muslims. They lost and the vote share they took was marginal leading ultimately to BJP's defeat in many constituencies. 

ends 

Satyendar Jain among 6 arrested in Delhi Jal Board's Rs 1.52 crore tender scam

 Satyendar Jain among 6 arrested in Delhi Jal Board's Rs 1.52 crore tender scam

AAP's Satyendar Jain, ex-Delhi Jal Board CEO among 6 arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau in Rs 1.52 crore scam   

It is alleged that the proposed pilot study was not conducted and that the tender included restrictive conditions on the technology and materials to be used. 

It said key parameters for treated wastewater were left out and technical specifications were changed, allegedly causing significant financial loss to the government.

The other accused arrested in the case are former Delhi Jal Board CEO and IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai, former contractual consultant Ankit Srivastava, AN Enterprises proprietor Nagendra Yadav, Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd owner Raja Kumar Kurra and Srijanhar proprietor Pankaj Verma.  

The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch on Tuesday arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Kumar Jain along with five others in connection with alleged corruption and irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board’s sewage treatment plant tendering process, with the agency alleging a Rs 1.52 crore bribe trail involving a former board CEO.  

The case was registered following a complaint by the Directorate of Vigilance regarding alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process for the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants operated by the Delhi Jal Board.  

The arrests were made in connection with an FIR registered on May 11, 2024, over alleged large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process for the augmentation and upgradation of sewage treatment plants under the Delhi Jal Board.  

According to the Anti-Corruption Branch, the investigation found that the tender allegedly contained restrictive technical specifications and conditions designed to favour a particular technology provider, Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd.

The alleged manipulation restricted competition and gave an undue advantage to the selected private company. 

Tender conditions, corrigendums and other related documents were allegedly exchanged among them before being incorporated into the Delhi Jal Board’s sewage treatment plant tender notice.  

The investigators said the evidence pointed to an alleged nexus between private individuals and public functionaries to influence the tender conditions in favour of Euroteck Environment Pvt Ltd.

The financial investigation has also allegedly revealed the movement of funds in the form of commission or bribes through intermediary entities, including Srijanhar and AN Enterprises.

According to the officials, substantial amounts were transferred to the proprietorship concern of Nagendra Yadav from entities linked to the private technology provider, followed by further transfers to government officials and their relatives.

ends