Communist Party of China delegation meets RSS leadership in Delhi a day after talks with BJP
New Delhi: A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday met senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) at its headquarters, Keshav Kunj, in Delhi, a day after holding talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership in the Capital.
Describing the meeting as a “courtesy call”, a senior RSS functionary said the request for the interaction had come from the Chinese side and that there was no specific agenda. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not present at the meeting as he was travelling, the functionary added, The Indian Express reported.
The interaction is significant in the context of the limited engagement between the RSS and Chinese representatives in recent years. During Bhagwat’s lecture series in August last year, the RSS had avoided inviting Chinese diplomats, even as representatives from several other countries attended. At the time, the decision was linked to Operation Sindoor, following which neither Pakistan nor China was invited.
The CPC delegation’s meeting with the RSS followed its interaction with the BJP leadership on Monday, where discussions focused on advancing inter-party communication between the two political organisations. According to party sources, BJP leaders with a significant interface with the RSS were also part of Monday’s discussions.
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The Indian Express reported quoting sources that this was likely the first such engagement between the BJP and the CPC since the BJP came to power in 2014. The last similar interaction reportedly took place in 2009, when the BJP was led by its then president, Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari had also visited China in 2011 as part of an engagement with the CPC, according to insiders.
BJP leaders publicly confirmed Monday’s meeting through posts on social media. BJP foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said a CPC delegation led by Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC, visited the BJP headquarters, where discussions were held on advancing inter-party communication. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong was also part of the delegation.
BJP national secretary Arun Singh, who led the BJP delegation, said the meeting focused on enhancing communication and interaction between the BJP and the CPC.
The outreach comes even as the BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress over its past engagements with the CPC, citing meetings and memoranda of understanding between the two parties.
While both the BJP and the RSS have described the current engagements as limited and exploratory, the CPC delegation’s meetings with the ruling party and its ideological parent organisation indicate an effort to broaden political channels of communication amid an otherwise strained India-China relationship.
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Rajnath Singh chairs IGoM meet, urges constant vigil over West Asia crisis
New Delhi (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday emphasised the need for round-the-clock monitoring of the West Asia conflict and called for a calibrated response to deal with any eventuality to ensure that national interests remain protected.
Singh made the comments while chairing a high-level meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) set-up to monitor the situation in West Asia.
The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Power Minister Manohar Lal, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister J P Nadda, Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi and Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
In view of the "uncertain situation", the defence minister underlined the importance of round-the-clock monitoring of the situation and the need to respond in a calibrated manner to deal with any eventuality, an official readout said.
He stressed on the need to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people of the country face the minimum effect of the conflict, it said.
It was the second meeting of the IGoM after it was set up last month.
The IGoM was apprised of the measures being taken by the government in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict, Singh said on social media.
"We also deliberated upon the next steps to be taken by the government to mitigate any adverse impact arising due to the ongoing conflict," he said.
The defence ministry said in the readout said, "In the meeting, the seven empowered groups of secretaries briefed the IGoM on the steps being taken to tackle the situation."
"The IGoM was apprised about measures undertaken by the Ministry of Finance to address concerns arising due to global trade disruptions and provide relief and support to the industry, especially manufacturing, and bolster investor confidence," it said.
It listed measures including notification issued on Wednesday on full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products till June 30.
The ministry also mentioned announcement of a special one-time relief measure for eligible units in SEZs to sell manufactured goods in Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) at concessional customs duty rates to be effective from April 1 to March 31.
It also noted another notification issued by the Department of Revenue clarifying that the provisions of GAAR (General Anti Avoidance Rules) will not be invoked in respect of investments made prior to April 1, 2017.
"These measures will reduce cost pressures on downstream sectors including textiles, packaging and pharmaceuticals, facilitate supply stability in the country and provide requisite clarity for investors contemplating investments in India," the readout said.
Defence Minister Singh appreciated the government's decision to impose a 25 per cent cap on the monthly increase in aviation turbine fuel prices for domestic operations, with effect from April 1.
This step will help protect the people from sudden increase in fares, he said.
The government has accorded highest priority to domestic LPG supply, with refinery production enhanced to fully meet consumption requirements, according to the readout.
"The IGoM was informed that there have been no reports of dry-out at LPG distributorships, and delivery of domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders continues as per the normal schedule. The temporary supply concerns arose due to instances of hoarding and black marketing, which triggered panic buying in certain areas," it said.
The ministers were informed that strict enforcement action is being undertaken, with raids being carried out across multiple states and Union territories to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG, the ministry said in the readout.
Action has also been taken against some LPG distributors who engaged in malpractices, it said.
"To support migrant labour and low-consumption households, the government is ensuring adequate availability of 5 kg free trade LPG cylinders, and since March 23, over 4.3 lakh such cylinders have been sold. Special focus is being given to states where demand is higher," it said.
The IGoM was apprised that industrial requirements dependent on commercial LPG are being met, with over 80 per cent of pre-crisis supply levels being maintained to ensure continuity of operations.
"Special meetings have been held with ministries and stakeholders of different industries to understand their demand and meet their needs. Oil PSUs are ensuring continued supply of Auto LPG across the country," the readout noted.
"However, some supply constraints are being faced by private operators due to their procurement challenges, which is why lines are being observed at PSU auto LPG pumps. Wherever the autos are dual feed and can use petrol, they are being encouraged to use petrol," it said.
