Today’s Current Affairs Table of Content
A Dark Shadow On New Delhi’s Credibility
Context:
❖ The United States Department of Justice has published a document that accuses India of pursuing Khalistani separatists who are sought after in North America.
❖ Addressing this issue would demonstrate India’s legitimacy in terms of its ability to operate covertly and its ability to communicate with the public.
Arising Concerns:
Lack of Trust: These kinds of incidents and sentiments suggest that although strategic and bilateral ties are expanding in various domains, mutual trust has not kept up.
The impact of trust issues in intelligence-sharing on international relations would extend beyond the India-US relationship. It would also affect trust and relations with western allies, such as the intelligence partnership known as the “Five Eyes” (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.).
Double Standards:
By India : Although vehemently disputing the Canadian accusations, India more subtly acknowledged the American accusations and established a high-level investigation to look into them.
By Western Countries: When it comes to extrajudicial covert operations and assassinations, the West has a well-documented double standard.
Examples: The threat they posed from abroad has frequently been eliminated by the CIA, MI6, and Mossad, while they have publicly shamed India (with claims about Mr. Pannun and Nijjar), killed Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia, and attacked Russia (with the Skripals).
Regarding Information Sharing: Regarding Mr. Pannun, Nijjar, and the Khalistani separatist movement, the U.S. does not deem the information that India has provided to be reliable.
The U.S.’s actions constitute a betrayal of trust for India.
Historical precedents: The United States seems to have warned India but withheld the full scope of the information it had gathered, despite multiple high-level meetings.
Previous Incidents: The U.S. alerted India to the potential terror threat posed by the 26/11 attacks without providing the source, and compelling the Indian government to use a video camera during the trial indicates a lack of confidence in collaboration.
Unpopular Action in the Spotlight:
❖ A British court has criticized the Indian Coast Guard’s 2018 forcible return of Princess Latifah of the United Arab Emirates in international waters.
❖ The businessman-on-the-run Mehul Choksi’s 2021 “attempted kidnapping” by British nationals allegedly working for Indian agencies from Antigua to Dominica.
❖ the eight former Indian naval officers found guilty of espionage in Qatar; the case is currently pending appeal.
Subjects
❖ India has filed a challenge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the extrajudicial military court trial held in Pakistan since 2016 against former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav.
The Way Forward:
❖ Address Concerns: India needs to talk about how the case is affecting the neighborhood.
➢ India must respond to the concerns raised by its agencies’ actions in South Asian countries.
❖ Transparent Investigation: This would assist in resolving issues related to credibility.
➣ The Ministry of External Affairs has declared that the accusations will be looked into and that the government does not support covert, extrajudicial killings.
In summary:
❖ Whether India wants to present itself as a “soft power” or a “hard power” to the rest of the world will determine how the episode affects it in the long run.
News Source :- The Hindu
Simplifying Legal Language- More People-Friendly Laws
Context:
The Indian Prime Minister recently stated that in order to make laws more accessible to regular people, they should be made simpler and written in plain language.
Vision of the Government:
❖ Social Justice: According to government vision, language will serve as a conduit for justice in the legal system.
❖ A Holistic Approach: The goal is to make the legal system easier to understand, provide citizens with information, and encourage a feeling of legal empowerment among the population’s diverse members.
It includes the development of:
- A multilingual glossary that is comprehensive.
- Rewriting laws in a more straightforward way.
- Writing legal document summaries in simple terms.
Government’s Commitment for Simplification of Legal Language:
Rectification of Historical Intricacies: The government’s dedication to simplification is a corrective action that aims to clarify legal frameworks and address historical ambiguities.
Global Recognition: The government’s dedication to streamlining its policies has been acknowledged by internationally renowned legal experts and organizations for their progressive stance.
Technology Use: By utilizing technology to improve accessibility, these simplification efforts complement the Digital India campaign in a seamless manner.
Legal information available online: This has the potential to revolutionize the digital world.
Upholding Democratic Principles: In the process of streamlining, the government has aggressively solicited public feedback. This democratic strategy guarantees the inclusion of all of its citizens.
A Constitutional Spirit: By making justice a concrete reality that is within reach of every citizen, this language simplification aligns with the spirit of the constitution.
Simplified Legal Language Is Needed:
Legal Clarity For All Citizens: Dr. B R Ambedkar highlights during the Constituent Assembly debates that the constitution is for all Indians and was drafted by the general populace of the nation.
He argued that all citizens should be able to understand the language used in laws.
Closing Ambiguity: Language can be ambiguous, creating a possible legal loophole that could prevent someone from accessing justice.
As an illustration, the language used in Sections 213 and 214 of the IPC raises questions about whether an offense has been committed, so clarification is required to guarantee legal accuracy and efficient enforcement.
A Channel for Access to Justice: A clear understanding of one’s rights and obligations is made possible by the application of simple legal terminology, which also provides “Access to Justice.”
Reader-Friendly: It would actively engage measures to streamline language and improve reader-friendliness by making legal language simpler.
Decrease in Legal Conflicts: These conflicts stem from miscommunications and misconstrued facts.
Economic Development of India: A clearer legal framework fosters an environment that is favorable to investment and business operations, which in turn increases India’s competitiveness in the global economy.
Future Development of India: It would be a desirable career option that fits with a larger goal of youth empowerment.
By imparting important legal skills, it would enhance the intellectual capital of the country, guaranteeing that the youth possess legal knowledge and efficiency.
Conclusion:
The government’s pledge to streamline legal terminology is a positive step toward inclusive justice that goes beyond simple administrative procedures. This is a positive step toward a society in which everyone has the inalienable right to justice rather than it being a privilege.
News Source :- The Indian Express
UNLF Signs Peace Agreement With Centre & Manipur Government
Context:
A peace deal was recently inked by the governments of Manipur and the Union with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
Significance of the Signed Peace Agreement:
- Cessation of Hostilities: The accord will put an end to hostilities between security forces and the UNLF.
- Peace Monitoring Committee (PMC) Constitution: To supervise the application of regulations.
- Factions Entering the Agreement: About 65 members of a UNLF faction under the leadership of K. Pambei have entered the peace accord.
- Historical Transition: A Manipuri armed group based in the valley has finally decided to reintegrate into society by pledging not to use violence and to uphold the Indian Constitution.
- Decrease in Violence: Between 2014 and 23 there was a 73% decrease in violent incidents, a 72% decrease in security force fatalities, and an 86% decrease in civilian killings thanks to peace agreements signed by the central government with a number of rebels and insurgents in the northeast.
Rise of Insurgency in Manipur:
- Demands made by militant groups for the creation of an independent state.
- The Nagaland spillover effect.
- The formation of Kuki rebel groups in response to Naga hostility towards the Kuki people.
- Smaller insurgent groups, like the People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), are starting to emerge.
About UNLF:
Origins: The United Nations Liberation Front (UNLF) was established in 1964 with the goal of separating Manipur from India. Since then, it has operated both inside and outside of India.
Meitei Extremist Organizations: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 declares them to be unlawful associations.
Reasons behind Manipur Insurgency:
- The Polarization of Policy: The Meitei are unable to purchase land in the hills, while the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities are able to do so in the valley.
- Ethnic cleansing: Kuki-Naga, Meitei-Muslim, Kuki-Karbi, Hmar-Dimasa, and even Kuki-Tamil clashes are just a few of the interethnic conflicts that have occurred in the area.
- Racial Discrimination: Hate crimes committed in major cities against individuals from Northeast India are viewed as isolated incidents and are rarely discussed in policy discussions.
- Refugee Inflow: The influx of refugees from Myanmar has influenced the growth of Meitei nationalism and insurgency.
- Development Deficit: Tribal districts’ underdevelopment is another factor contributing to insurgency.
- Other Factors: Government initiatives to combat “illegal settlements” and crack down on poppy cultivation in the hill districts are among the other factors contributing to insurgency.
Impacts of Insurgency:
❖ Incitement of anti-national feelings by different organizations on different days, like January 26th or August 15th.
❖ Changing Public Opinion: In the last Assembly election, the KNO president gave voters instructions to back the BJP, greatly influencing the electorate in the party’s favor.
❖ A decline in law and order raises the possibility of radical elements resurfacing.
❖ Provide refuge to undocumented immigrants who are afraid of being persecuted by the military regime in their nation.
Government’s Responses:
- Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) Imposition: To quell the insurgency movement, the Center declared Manipur a “disturbed area” in 1980 and enacted AFSPA.
- Agreement on Suspension of Operation (SoO): In 2008, the Center, the state, and the Kuki-Zomi groups reached a tripartite SoO agreement after several peace talks.
- Ceasefire Agreement: The NSCN-IM and the Center came to an agreement on this in 1997.
- The Suspension of Operation (SoO) Pact was signed by the Kuki outfits with the Manipur government and the Centre on August 22, 2008.
Way Forward:
- Strict attention to detail to prevent insurgent activity.
- In relation to voluntary surrender, planned and coordinated actions must be started.
- Enroll and Invite Youth for Discussions to Help Manipur Regain Normalcy More Quickly.
- A cooperative strategy amongst multiple parties to get Manipur back to normalcy.
- To remove the states of insurgency from Manipur, a unified command structure is necessary.
- Border control with Myanmar, particularly with regard to the drug problem and illegal immigration.
- An integrated development policy that has the support of the region’s many tribes.
News Source: Economic Times