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Today in History (February 20th,1947)
On 20 February 1947, Lord Mountbatten was appointed as the last viceroy of India to oversee the move to independence and Partition of British India into India and Pakistan. Also, on the same day, the British Government announced their intention of transferring the power of British India to Indian hands by June 1948.
Summary of Today’s News
First-time MLA Rekha Gupta to be Delhi CM; swearing-in today
1. Rekha Gupta Chosen as Delhi CM
o Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been selected as the new Delhi Chief Minister by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following its legislature party meeting.
2. Ms. Gupta’s Background
o Gupta, aged 50, will be the fourth woman to serve as the Chief Minister in Delhi. She has a background as a three-time municipal councillor and was active in student politics.
3. Surprise Choice for CM
o Gupta’s selection was a surprise, as she defeated several prominent candidates, including Parvesh Verma, who had won against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, and other senior figures like Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay.
4. BJP’s Recent Election Victory
o The announcement of her selection comes after the BJP won 48 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly election, marking their return to power after 26 years. The party has yet to announce its ministerial picks.
5. Invitation from the Lieutenant-Governor
o Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena invited Gupta to form the government after meeting her and senior BJP leaders. This step follows the BJP legislature party meeting.
6. Oath-Taking Ceremony
o Gupta’s swearing-in ceremony will take place at Ramlila Maidan on Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers from NDA-ruled states expected to attend.
7. Selection Process and Consensus
o The selection of Gupta was overseen by central observers: MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and former Haryana MLA O.P. Dhankar. A total of nine proposals were made in her favor, all approved by consensus.
8. Gupta’s Commitment
o After her selection, Gupta expressed her gratitude, pledging to work with honesty, integrity, and dedication for the welfare and development of Delhi’s citizens.
9. Support within the Party
o Three MLAs supported her claim to leadership within the Delhi BJP legislative party, which was attended by all 48 elected MLAs, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, and other senior BJP figures.
10. Gupta’s Victory in Assembly Election
o In this month’s Assembly election, Gupta defeated three-time AAP MLA Bandana Kumari by a margin of 29,595 votes.
Myanmar, Manipur, and strained borders
1. Impact of Myanmar’s Political Instability on Northeast India
o The political instability in Myanmar, particularly the military coup and the resulting violence, has created significant security and economic challenges for Northeast India. This instability has strained border management and economic activities in the region.
2. Historical Context of Insurgency in Northeast India
o While Northeast India has faced prolonged insurgency, much of the region has experienced relative peace in recent decades. This peace allowed for major infrastructure projects, but political unrest in Myanmar is putting these gains under stress, particularly in regions like Manipur.
3. Myanmar’s Military Coup and Its Consequences
o Myanmar’s February 2021 military coup sparked widespread discontent, leading to a civil disobedience movement that evolved into armed resistance. Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) fought the military, which lost control of large areas. The military responded with extreme force, affecting border regions like Sagaing, Chin, and Kachin states, which are near Northeast India.
4. Ethnic Communities and the Free Movement Regime (FMR)
o The India-Myanmar border is home to many ethnic groups with ties on both sides. The Free Movement Regime (FMR), introduced after independence, allowed people living within 16 km of the border to move freely. This system facilitated cross-border trade and local economic activities, like Border haats (markets), but recent conflicts have disrupted this arrangement.
5. Refugee Movement and Border Management Challenges
o Following the conflict in Myanmar, a large number of refugees have crossed into Northeast India. By December 2024, over 95,000 refugees had entered, with around 73,400 arriving after the coup. The influx, especially along the porous border, has complicated India’s border management strategies.
6. Differing Responses Across Northeastern States
o The response to refugees has varied in Northeast India. Mizoram has shown empathy towards the refugees due to shared ethnic ties, while Manipur has expressed concerns that the influx is disturbing the fragile ethnic balance, contributing to the ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict.
7. Abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR)
o In response to security and demographic concerns, the Indian government announced the abolition of the FMR to preserve internal stability, particularly in the northeastern border states. The government has also introduced a new system allowing people living within 10 km of the border to cross with a permit.
8. Decline in Cross-Border Economic Activities
o The reduction of the FMR and the instability in Myanmar have led to a decline in cross-border trade. Moreh, a key trade town in Manipur, has been particularly affected, and plans to enhance the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway have stalled.
9. China’s Response to Myanmar’s Instability
o China has also been impacted by Myanmar’s instability. To control the movement of people, China has fenced parts of its border with Myanmar. China has close ties with some Myanmar armed groups and uses them to manage criminal and drug syndicates, leveraging its position as a member of the UNSC for broader influence.
10. India’s Strategic Response and Challenges
• Unlike China, India must operate within the liberal democratic framework and does not have the same global leverage. India needs to develop a more comprehensive strategy to address the political turmoil in Myanmar, particularly to prevent further destabilization in regions like Manipur.
11. Urgent Steps for Regional Stability
• To ensure stability, India must address unhealthy links between Indian insurgent groups and armed groups across the Myanmar border. There is a need for better engagement with ethnic organizations in Myanmar, increased humanitarian aid, and development of infrastructure, such as healthcare and education, in border areas like Manipur and Mizoram.
12. Economic Engagement Challenges Due to Regional Instability
• Political uncertainty in Myanmar and neighboring Bangladesh diminishes the prospects for Northeast India’s economic integration with Southeast Asia. Despite security concerns, the Indian government must continue to invest in maintaining regional economic growth and fostering cross-border economic interactions when conditions allow.
13. Long-Term Border Management Objectives
• While immediate security concerns are pressing, the long-term goal of India’s border management should focus on increasing economic interactions with Southeast Asian countries. India should prioritize creating a conducive environment for economic cooperation once the security situation improves.
Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy as a “Dictator Without Elections”
• U.S. President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections,” suggesting that Zelenskyy needed to act quickly to secure peace or Ukraine could lose its sovereignty.
Zelenskyy Responds to Trump’s Accusations
• In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation, stating that Trump was trapped in a “Russian disinformation bubble” and had blamed Ukraine for Russia’s invasion.
Trump’s Urgency for Zelenskyy to Act
• Trump emphasized the need for Zelenskyy to act swiftly, implying that Ukraine might not survive unless peace is secured quickly. Trump made these remarks on his Truth Social platform.
Ukraine’s Stance on Sovereignty and Self-Defense
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Trump’s assertions, declaring that no one could force Ukraine to give up its sovereignty. He reaffirmed that Ukraine would continue to defend its right to exist.
Election Challenges Under Martial Law in Ukraine
• Zelenskyy’s term was due to end in 2024, but Ukraine cannot hold elections due to the martial law imposed in February 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion. This has led to Zelenskyy continuing in office without elections.
Zelenskyy’s Call for More “Truth” from Trump’s Team
• During a meeting with Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, Zelenskyy expressed his desire for Trump’s team to have a more accurate understanding of Ukraine’s situation, following Trump’s claim that Ukraine should never have initiated the conflict.
Trump May Meet Putin in the Near Future
• Trump mentioned the possibility of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin within the month. This comes amid growing speculation about future peace talks between Russia and the U.S.
Kremlin’s Response to Potential Trump-Putin Meeting
• The Kremlin acknowledged the potential for a Trump-Putin meeting but stated it might take longer to prepare. Meanwhile, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund anticipated the return of several U.S. companies to Russia by the second quarter.
Putin’s Comments on Peace Negotiations
• In Moscow, President Putin stated that Ukraine would not be excluded from peace negotiations, but success would depend on improving trust between Moscow and Washington. He noted that setting up a summit with Trump would take time.
First U.S.-Russia Talks on Ending the Conflict
• This discussion follows the first talks between Russia and the U.S. regarding how to end the ongoing conflict, marking a significant diplomatic step in the three-year-long war.
