The Evening Wrap: Rajasthan Governor has ‘fresh queries’

The Hindu Newsletter - The Morning Filter Monday 27, July 2020 [alt_text]( The Evening Wrap [Here are the biggest news stories of the day]( [alt_text]( Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. We hope you are staying safe. Rajasthan Governor has ‘fresh queries’ The political crisis in Rajasthan is still nowhere near resolution. Rajasthan Governor [Kalraj Mishra has once again returned](, with fresh queries, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s note seeking an immediate Assembly session. One may recall that the Governor had already once raised some objections to a previous recommendation for an Assembly session. Raj Bhavan sources tell The Hindu that Mishra has asked the State government to give clarifications on three points -- whether the MLAs can be given 21 days notice for the session, video-recording and live telecast of the session proceedings, and social distancing -- while returning the Cabinet’s request for convening an Assembly session. The fresh proposal sent to the Raj Bhawan had apparently stated that a special discussion on the Covid-19 pandemic would be held during the session, in addition to the introduction of six bills. It made no mention of a floor test. Gehlot has said that he has spoken even to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. “Spoke to the PM yesterday over Governor’s conduct. The Governor has once again sent us a six-page love letter,” he said, addressing reporters. Meanwhile, former law ministers Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid and Ashwani Kumar have written to Mishra asking him to follow the rules. “A Governor is bound to act on the aid and advice of Council of Ministers in convening the assembly. Any deviation from the established constitutional position would be an avoidable negation of your oath of office and will create constitutional crisis,” their letter said. Five Rafales on their way to India [ The five jets took off from Merignac airbase at Bordeaux in France ] The five jets took off from Merignac airbase at Bordeaux in France Five Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) [took off from France]( on Monday morning and will be inducted into the IAF on July 29 upon arrival. The immediate focus post-arrival would be on operationalisation of the aircraft, given the urgency of the ongoing tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. The IAF has said that the final induction ceremony will take place in the second half of August. “This is going to add a great deal of strength to our air power and defence preparedness. But it is also a powerful symbol of the strategic partnership between India and France,” said Indian Ambassador in France Jawed Ashraf in a video message. While there is no doubt that the deployment of these aircraft will significantly boost Indian air force’s combat capability, the jury is still out on the degree to which they can influence outcomes in the ongoing LAC tensions with China. Meanwhile, nearly a month after banning 59 Chinese mobile apps, the Indian government has banned the use of another 47 apps. Confirming the development, an IT Ministry official said the newly banned applications were essentially clones of the 59 applications banned last month. The main criterion for the latest ban were concerns over Indian data going back to the Chinese government. Step up infra investments to revive economy: RBI governor [ RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das during a press conference. File ] RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das during a press conference. File RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday [made a strong case]( for stepping up investments in the infrastructure sector to help revive an economy reeling under the impact of a pandemic. In his address to India Inc. at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event, Das said the private and public sectors have an important role in developing infrastructure that requires huge investments. Observing that the recent agriculture reforms have opened new opportunities, the RBI Governor said the farm sector is emerging as a bright spot. India needs policies for sustained increase in farm incomes, he added. Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,479,430 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 33,433. Another grim milestone has been reached, with the country now reporting in excess of 50,000 new cases per day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi [virtually launched]( “high-throughput” Covid-19 testing facilities in three cities -- Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata. “Due to right decisions taken at the right time, India is in a much better position than other countries in the fight,” Modi said at the launch. “The new testing facilities will give West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh more strength to fight Covid-19.” In Brief: The Supreme Court has given the UGC 48 hours to respond to a series of petitions filed by students challenging its July 6 circular directing varsities and colleges to complete the final exams by September 30 amid the pandemic. The court refused to stay the circular, but granted an early hearing on July 31. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continued his attack on the Centre over its handling of the China border crisis. [In a video posted on Twitter](, he said “he won’t lie even if his whole career goes to hell” as hiding “the truth” about China occupying Indian territory is "anti-national”. Claiming that the Chinese have occupied Indian land, he said bringing this truth to the notice of the people – rather than denying it -- is the patriotic thing to do. J. Persis, daughter of trader P. Jayaraj and sister of J.Benicks – the victims of alleged custodial torture by the police in Sattankulam in Thoothukudi district – [has been offered a job]( as Junior Assistant in the Revenue Department. Chief Minister Edapaddi K.Palaniswami handed over the appointment order in the Secretariat on Monday. A group of 131 prominent citizens, including retired judges, former bureaucrats, lawyers and activists have written to the Supreme Court asking it to reconsider its decision to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings against lawyer Prashant Bhushan. They have urged the court to withdraw it at the earliest in the interest of justice and fairness and to maintain the court’s dignity. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. Today's Top Picks [alt_text]( [COVID-19 and the plastic comeback]( [alt_text]( [After A.R Rahman, Resul Pookutty also bemoans ‘Oscar curse’]( [alt_text]( [The past and present of Kerala’s Padmanabhaswamy temple — Part II | The Hindu In Focus podcast]( [alt_text]( [Chilean couple, stranded in Kerala, live in makeshift tents]( You are receiving this email because you are a user of [thehindu.com]( If you do not wish to receive any such emails, [unsubscribe here.](mailto:rm-0b4y55csbf2f90kauhrxfebysa8hkhy@newsalert.thehindu.com?subject=Unsubscribe&body=You will be unsubscribed from our mailing list.) To ensure you continue to receive emails from The Hindu in your inbox, please add newsletters.th@newsalert.thehindu.com to your contact. 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