The Evening Wrap: No direction to provide flats to Rohingya in Delhi, says Centre

Hours after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Rohingya refugees would be allotted apartments and provided with police protection, the Ministry of Home Affairs has denied it. “With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA] has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi,” the MHA tweeted from its official handle. Earlier in the day, Puri, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, said the Rohingya refugees, most of them Muslims, would be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of the national capital. It was seen as a change in the stance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government’s policy on Rohingya. “India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge,” Puri tweeted adding, “In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection.” He also said the country respects and follows U.N. Refugee Convention 1951 and provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed. However, the Home Ministry clarified that it had only directed the GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) to ensure that Rohingya migrants would continue at the present location, since the Delhi Government proposed to shift them to a new location. “Illegal foreigners are to be kept in Detention Centre till their deportation as per law. The Government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a Detention Centre. They have been directed to do the same immediately,” the Home Ministry said referring Rohingya Muslims as “illegal foreigners” and not as “refugees”. Modi Government had previously tried to send back members of the minority from predominately Buddhist Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of whom have fled from persecution and waves of violence in their homeland over the years. Bangladesh has sheltered nearly a million Rohingya. As of early this year, around 1,100 Rohingya lived in Delhi and another 17,000 elsewhere in India, many of them working as manual labourers, hawkers and rickshaw pullers, according to estimates from Rohingya rights activist Ali Johar. He said some 2,000 people went back to Bangladesh this year, amid fears many would be deported. BJP Parliamentary Board | Nadda drops Gadkari, brings in Yediyurappa BJP president J.P. Nadda on August 17 effected a major organisational rejig of the Parliamentary Board, the highest decision making authority in the party, and the Central Election Committee (CEC) that goes into candidate selections, a rejig that is significant more for the exclusions than inclusions. Former BJP president and Roads and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has been dropped from the Parliamentary Board, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a member. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also been dropped from this body. Gadkari’s exclusion is particularly significant as he is a former president of the party, and the other two former presidents — Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh continue to be members. The exclusion of Gadkari follows the eviction of another former president, L.K. Advani, from the Board. The Board in its previous form had five vacancies due to the passing away of senior leaders Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and Ananth Kumar and the election of Venkaiah Naidu as Vice-President of India and Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot being appointed to that post. In the 11-member Board, not constituted since 2014, when Home Minister Amit Shah was party president, Nadda, Prime Minister Modi, Shah, Rajnath Singh and general seceretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh continue as before. In the vacancies thus filled, interestingly, the inclusions are former Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa, whose inclusion acknowledges the fact that he is unlikely to fade into the political sunset anytime soon and is still a force to reckon with in State politics. Yeddyurappa has also been made member of the CEC. Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also been appointed to the Parliamentary Board, with party sources saying it represents a bid to diversify the membership, as he belongs to a tribal community from Assam. The chief of the party’s OBC Morcha and Rajya Sabha MP K. Laxman who belongs to Telangana is another significant inclusion. For the first time ever in the party’s recent history, a Sikh member, Iqbal Singh Lalpura has been appointed to the Board, a nod to the protest movement against the farm laws (which the Union Government repealed) and the political exigencies in Punjab. Other inclusions are former MP from Mahendragarh in Haryana, Sudha Yadav. Her husband, Deputy Commandant Sukhbir Singh Yadav, of the Border Security Force (BSF), had died fighting Pakistani intruders during the Kargil war. Satynarayana Jatiya, former MP and former Union Minister in the Vajpayee Government is another new face. In the 15 member CEC, the surprise inclusion has been that of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis, an acknowledgement that he needed validation at the national level, in order to offset the disappointment felt by some quarters in Maharashtra BJP over him being overlooked as Chief Minister. BJP’s mahila morcha president, Tamil Nadu MLA Vanathi Srinivasan has also been made a member of the CEC. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and senior party leader Om Mathur are the other two members. Former Union Ministers Jual Oram and Shahnawaz Hussain have been dropped. Voters prefer to earn a dignified earning over freebies: Supreme Court Voters, if given a chance, will prefer to earn a dignified earning through welfare schemes such as MNREGA and create public assets in rural India. Freebies do not always decide the outcome of elections for political parties, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said there have been instances of parties losing elections in spite of their promises of freebies. “Given an opportunity, they (voters) will opt for dignified earning. For example, MNREGA offered dignified earning and also created public assets in rural areas. So, I don’t think promises alone decide the outcome of elections... There are instances of parties not being elected despite their promises,” Chief Justice Ramana said. The court was hearing a petition to curb the practice of offering or distributing “irrational freebies” at the cost of public money, especially in debt-ridden States during the run-up to elections. The court said its primary concern is about “the right way of spending public money”. The court indicated that promises of freebies come at a cost to the public exchequer. “At the end of the day, we must say there is no free lunch,” the Bench observed. The court is dealing with rival contentions raised in the case. On one side that freebies are a waste of public money and a sure road to economic doom for the country, while on the other hand that these are incentives and schemes to ensure public welfare. “We cannot stop political parties from making promises. But the question is what does a ‘valid promise’ exactly comprise? Can promise of electricity, water, a few units of power be considered as freebies? Can we treat promises of consumer products, electronics free of cost for all as a welfare measure?” the court asked. Chief Justice Ramana said freebies should not be confused with welfare schemes introduced by States. Senior advocate P. Wilson, for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, submitted that the Constitution empowered States to promulgate welfare schemes. The term ‘freebies’ cannot be interpreted to restrict States’ competence to provide welfare. The Bench noted that Article 38 of the Constitution mandates states to ensure the welfare of the people, “minimise inequalities in income and endeavor to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations”. The court said parties involved, including the Centre, state parties should come up with their opinions and recommendations on the issue of freebies which is getting more “complicated”. The court posted the case next week. In the previous hearing, senior advocate Vikas Singh, for petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, said States have ₹ 15 lakh crore debt. “Public money should not be misused by political parties whose only intention is to gain and retain power,” Mr. Singh said. Senior advocate Arvind Datar, also for the petitioner side, said “giving laptops, TVs and gold chains cannot be to promote Directive Principles of State Policy”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, agreed with the court’s proposal to form an expert body to recommend guidelines against freebies. 3 CISF commandos dismissed from service over security breach at NSA Doval’s residence Three CISF commandos have been dismissed from service and two senior officers of its VIP security unit transferred over a security breach at the residence of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval earlier this year, officials said on Wednesday. Doval is a ‘Z plus’ category protectee under the central VIP security list and the security cover is provided by the SSG unit of the CISF. The punitive actions have been taken after a court of inquiry established by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) into the February 16 incident held the five officers guilty on various counts and recommended actions against them. The officials said while three commandos of the Special Security Group (SSG) have been dismissed from service, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) heading this VVIP security unit and his second-in-command, a senior commandant-rank officer, have been transferred. The security breach took place at about 7:30 a.m. on February 16 when a man from Bengaluru attempted to drive his car into the high-security house of Doval in central Delhi. The three commandos, who have been dismissed, were present at the NSA's residence that day as part of the security detail. The man was intercepted outside the residence and was handed over to the Delhi Police. India is buying Ukrainian blood by purchasing Russian crude oil: Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Ukraine expected “more practical support” from India as it fights Russia’s military, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference that was held virtually, Kuleba argued that Ukraine has been a reliable partner of India but by purchasing crude oil from Russia, India is in effect buying Ukrainian blood. The strong remarks indicate a hardening of Ukrainian position as India continues to purchase Russia’s Ural crude to stabilise energy supply for its economy. “When India purchases Russian crude oil [at a discount], they have to understand that the discount has to be paid by Ukrainian blood. Every barrel of Russian crude that India gets, has a good portion of Ukrainian blood in it. We are friendly and open to India. I supported in evacuation of Indian students. We expected more practical support from India to Ukraine,” Kuleba said in response to a question from The Hindu. He referred to India and Ukraine as two democracies that have essential similarities and that “two democracies have to stand by each other”. Earlier, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had said that oil and gas prices are “unreasonably high” and pointed out that the traditional energy suppliers of Asia are “diverting” to Europe to deal with a situation where every country will try to address the high energy prices that have become a global challenge in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. “We are not doing it in a defensive way. We have been very open and honest about our interest. I have a country with a per capita income of $2,000. These are not people who can afford higher energy prices. It is my obligation...moral duty to actually get them the best deal that I can get from the world,” Dr. Jaishankar has said. The EAM explained that India is not trying to be “clever” in sourcing energy from multiple countries including Russia, and presented India’s position as “direct”, adding, “My sense is that the world accepts that as a reality.” The Ukrainian Minister acknowledged that India’s decision to continue with energy purchases from Russia has not “surprised” Kyiv but observed that the war in Ukraine is providing Russia with an opportunity to make money from energy trade. “Throughout human history, in every conflict, in every war, there are those who suffer from the war and then there are those who make money,” he said, pointing at the continuing energy sale by Russia to India. Referring to colonial history, the Ukrainian Minister stated that Asian countries suffered for centuries because of war and exploitation, and reminded that the tradition of neutrality, which has been followed by many countries like Indonesia and India since February, cannot be justified as Ukrainian women and children are perishing in the war. In Brief Aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday asked all Indian carriers to strictly enforce COVID-19 protocol, including mask mandate for passengers, in aircraft amid a rise in infections across the country. In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it will be conducting “random checks” in aircraft across the country to see if the COVID-19 protocol is being enforced or not. Airlines have to ensure that passengers are wearing face masks properly throughout the journey and there is proper sensitisation of passengers through various platforms, it mentioned. “In case a passenger does not comply with the directions, strict action will be taken by airlines against the passenger,” it added. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 17 AUGUST 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( No direction to provide flats to Rohingya in Delhi, says Centre Hours after Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Rohingya refugees would be allotted apartments and provided with police protection, the [Ministry of Home Affairs has denied]( it. [A boy looks on from a makeshift tent at the Rohinya refugee settlement area in Kalindi Kunj New Delhi on August 17, 2022. ] “With respect to news reports in certain sections of media regarding Rohingya illegal foreigners, it is clarified that Ministry of Home Affairs [MHA] has not given any directions to provide EWS flats to Rohingya illegal migrants at Bakkarwala in New Delhi,” the MHA tweeted from its official handle. Earlier in the day, Puri, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, said the Rohingya refugees, most of them Muslims, would be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of the national capital. It was seen as a change in the stance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government’s policy on Rohingya. “India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge,” Puri tweeted adding, “In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection.” He also said the country respects and follows U.N. Refugee Convention 1951 and provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed. However, the Home Ministry clarified that it had only directed the GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) to ensure that Rohingya migrants would continue at the present location, since the Delhi Government proposed to shift them to a new location. “Illegal foreigners are to be kept in Detention Centre till their deportation as per law. The Government of Delhi has not declared the present location as a Detention Centre. They have been directed to do the same immediately,” the Home Ministry said referring Rohingya Muslims as “illegal foreigners” and not as “refugees”. Modi Government had previously tried to send back members of the minority from predominately Buddhist Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of whom have fled from persecution and waves of violence in their homeland over the years. Bangladesh has sheltered nearly a million Rohingya. As of early this year, around 1,100 Rohingya lived in Delhi and another 17,000 elsewhere in India, many of them working as manual labourers, hawkers and rickshaw pullers, according to estimates from Rohingya rights activist Ali Johar. He said some 2,000 people went back to Bangladesh this year, amid fears many would be deported. BJP Parliamentary Board | Nadda drops Gadkari, brings in Yediyurappa BJP president J.P. Nadda on August 17 effected a major organisational rejig of the Parliamentary Board, the highest decision making authority in the party, and the Central Election Committee (CEC) that goes into candidate selections, a rejig that is significant more for the exclusions than inclusions. [Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. File] Former BJP president and Roads and Highways Minister [Nitin Gadkari has been dropped from the Parliamentary Board]( where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a member. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also been dropped from this body. Gadkari’s exclusion is particularly significant as he is a former president of the party, and the other two former presidents — Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh continue to be members. The exclusion of Gadkari follows the eviction of another former president, L.K. Advani, from the Board. The Board in its previous form had five vacancies due to the passing away of senior leaders Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and Ananth Kumar and the election of Venkaiah Naidu as Vice-President of India and Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot being appointed to that post. In the 11-member Board, not constituted since 2014, when Home Minister Amit Shah was party president, Nadda, Prime Minister Modi, Shah, Rajnath Singh and general seceretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh continue as before. In the vacancies thus filled, interestingly, the inclusions are former Chief Minister of Karnataka B.S. Yediyurappa, whose inclusion acknowledges the fact that he is unlikely to fade into the political sunset anytime soon and is still a force to reckon with in State politics. Yeddyurappa has also been made member of the CEC. Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also been appointed to the Parliamentary Board, with party sources saying it represents a bid to diversify the membership, as he belongs to a tribal community from Assam. The chief of the party’s OBC Morcha and Rajya Sabha MP K. Laxman who belongs to Telangana is another significant inclusion. For the first time ever in the party’s recent history, a Sikh member, Iqbal Singh Lalpura has been appointed to the Board, a nod to the protest movement against the farm laws (which the Union Government repealed) and the political exigencies in Punjab. Other inclusions are former MP from Mahendragarh in Haryana, Sudha Yadav. Her husband, Deputy Commandant Sukhbir Singh Yadav, of the Border Security Force (BSF), had died fighting Pakistani intruders during the Kargil war. Satynarayana Jatiya, former MP and former Union Minister in the Vajpayee Government is another new face. In the 15 member CEC, the surprise inclusion has been that of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis, an acknowledgement that he needed validation at the national level, in order to offset the disappointment felt by some quarters in Maharashtra BJP over him being overlooked as Chief Minister. BJP’s mahila morcha president, Tamil Nadu MLA Vanathi Srinivasan has also been made a member of the CEC. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and senior party leader Om Mathur are the other two members. Former Union Ministers Jual Oram and Shahnawaz Hussain have been dropped. Voters prefer to earn a dignified earning over freebies: Supreme Court [Voters, if given a chance, will prefer to earn a dignified earning]( through welfare schemes such as MNREGA and create public assets in rural India. Freebies do not always decide the outcome of elections for political parties, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said there have been instances of parties losing elections in spite of their promises of freebies. “Given an opportunity, they (voters) will opt for dignified earning. For example, MNREGA offered dignified earning and also created public assets in rural areas. So, I don’t think promises alone decide the outcome of elections... There are instances of parties not being elected despite their promises,” Chief Justice Ramana said. The court was hearing a petition to curb the practice of offering or distributing “irrational freebies” at the cost of public money, especially in debt-ridden States during the run-up to elections. The court said its primary concern is about “the right way of spending public money”. The court indicated that promises of freebies come at a cost to the public exchequer. “At the end of the day, we must say there is no free lunch,” the Bench observed. The court is dealing with rival contentions raised in the case. On one side that freebies are a waste of public money and a sure road to economic doom for the country, while on the other hand that these are incentives and schemes to ensure public welfare. “We cannot stop political parties from making promises. But the question is what does a ‘valid promise’ exactly comprise? Can promise of electricity, water, a few units of power be considered as freebies? Can we treat promises of consumer products, electronics free of cost for all as a welfare measure?” the court asked. Chief Justice Ramana said freebies should not be confused with welfare schemes introduced by States. Senior advocate P. Wilson, for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, submitted that the Constitution empowered States to promulgate welfare schemes. The term ‘freebies’ cannot be interpreted to restrict States’ competence to provide welfare. The Bench noted that Article 38 of the Constitution mandates states to ensure the welfare of the people, “minimise inequalities in income and endeavor to eliminate inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities, not only amongst individuals but also amongst groups of people residing in different areas or engaged in different vocations”. The court said parties involved, including the Centre, state parties should come up with their opinions and recommendations on the issue of freebies which is getting more “complicated”. The court posted the case next week. In the previous hearing, senior advocate Vikas Singh, for petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, said States have ₹ 15 lakh crore debt. “Public money should not be misused by political parties whose only intention is to gain and retain power,” Mr. Singh said. Senior advocate Arvind Datar, also for the petitioner side, said “giving laptops, TVs and gold chains cannot be to promote Directive Principles of State Policy”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, agreed with the court’s proposal to form an expert body to recommend guidelines against freebies. 3 CISF commandos dismissed from service over security breach at NSA Doval’s residence [Three CISF commandos have been dismissed from service]( and two senior officers of its VIP security unit transferred over a security breach at the residence of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval earlier this year, officials said on Wednesday. Doval is a ‘Z plus’ category protectee under the central VIP security list and the security cover is provided by the SSG unit of the CISF. The punitive actions have been taken after a court of inquiry established by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) into the February 16 incident held the five officers guilty on various counts and recommended actions against them. The officials said while three commandos of the Special Security Group (SSG) have been dismissed from service, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) heading this VVIP security unit and his second-in-command, a senior commandant-rank officer, have been transferred. The security breach took place at about 7:30 a.m. on February 16 when a man from Bengaluru attempted to drive his car into the high-security house of Doval in central Delhi. The three commandos, who have been dismissed, were present at the NSA's residence that day as part of the security detail. The man was intercepted outside the residence and was handed over to the Delhi Police. India is buying Ukrainian blood by purchasing Russian crude oil: Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Ukraine expected “more practical support” from India as it fights Russia’s military, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference that was held virtually, Kuleba argued that Ukraine has been a reliable partner of India but [by purchasing crude oil from Russia, India is in effect buying Ukrainian blood](. The strong remarks indicate a hardening of Ukrainian position as India continues to purchase Russia’s Ural crude to stabilise energy supply for its economy. “When India purchases Russian crude oil [at a discount], they have to understand that the discount has to be paid by Ukrainian blood. Every barrel of Russian crude that India gets, has a good portion of Ukrainian blood in it. We are friendly and open to India. I supported in evacuation of Indian students. We expected more practical support from India to Ukraine,” Kuleba said in response to a question from The Hindu. He referred to India and Ukraine as two democracies that have essential similarities and that “two democracies have to stand by each other”. Earlier, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had said that oil and gas prices are “unreasonably high” and pointed out that the traditional energy suppliers of Asia are “diverting” to Europe to deal with a situation where every country will try to address the high energy prices that have become a global challenge in the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. “We are not doing it in a defensive way. We have been very open and honest about our interest. I have a country with a per capita income of $2,000. These are not people who can afford higher energy prices. It is my obligation...moral duty to actually get them the best deal that I can get from the world,” Dr. Jaishankar has said. The EAM explained that India is not trying to be “clever” in sourcing energy from multiple countries including Russia, and presented India’s position as “direct”, adding, “My sense is that the world accepts that as a reality.” The Ukrainian Minister acknowledged that India’s decision to continue with energy purchases from Russia has not “surprised” Kyiv but observed that the war in Ukraine is providing Russia with an opportunity to make money from energy trade. “Throughout human history, in every conflict, in every war, there are those who suffer from the war and then there are those who make money,” he said, pointing at the continuing energy sale by Russia to India. Referring to colonial history, the Ukrainian Minister stated that Asian countries suffered for centuries because of war and exploitation, and reminded that the tradition of neutrality, which has been followed by many countries like Indonesia and India since February, cannot be justified as Ukrainian women and children are perishing in the war. In Brief Aviation regulator [DGCA on Wednesday asked all Indian carriers to strictly enforce COVID-19 protocol]( including mask mandate for passengers, in aircraft amid a rise in infections across the country. In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it will be conducting “random checks” in aircraft across the country to see if the COVID-19 protocol is being enforced or not. Airlines have to ensure that passengers are wearing face masks properly throughout the journey and there is proper sensitisation of passengers through various platforms, it mentioned. “In case a passenger does not comply with the directions, strict action will be taken by airlines against the passenger,” it added. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow  Today’s Top Picks [[India, China troops to take part in Russia war games] India, China troops to take part in Russia war games]( [[Taiwan, China hold opposing military drills amid tensions] Taiwan, China hold opposing military drills amid tensions]( [[New Bihar Law Minister wanted in a kidnapping case, CM Nitish says ‘no information’] New Bihar Law Minister wanted in a kidnapping case, CM Nitish says ‘no information’]( [[Watch | A search for 3000-year-old gold buried at Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu] Watch | A search for 3000-year-old gold buried at Adichanallur in Tamil Nadu]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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