Newsletters
Evening Check In: Maldives, Mahua Moitra And Why South India Needs A DFC
Good evening, dear reader! 🌙
🚀 We're on a roll with mobile phone manufacturing + PLI! 🚀
This unit boasts a robust team of 10,000 workers. A promising kickoff for TATA in the mobile phones PLI realm!
There's more news + perspectives below but I thought I'd begin with the good news! Have a great evening!
Pressing Need for DFC; 📈 It's too expensive to move things around in India now.
The National Logistics Policy says we must reduce logistics costs from 15% of GDP to 8% by 2030.
Without dedicated corridors, logistics costs remain high due to congestion & capacity shortage.
Proposed Southern DFCs; 🌐 These corridors are strategically placed to supercharge South India's trade and industry.
Vizag-Vijayawada-Chennai-Coimbatore DFC; 🚀 Vizag's international trade capabilities + Chennai's industrial might + Vijayawada's inland connectivity + Coimbatore's textile and engineering prowess.
Tuticorin - Kochi - Mangaluru DFC; 🌊 Maritime advantage amplified. Encompasses major port cities like Tuticorin, Kochi, and Mangaluru, enhancing coastal trade.
Takeaway: 🌟 South India's Dedicated Freight Corridor isn't just infrastructure; it's a strategic blueprint for the region's next economic leap.
Ethics Committee Investigation; 📢 Mahua Moitra is accused of letting businessman Darshan Hiranandani use her parliamentary login to post direct questions in the Lok Sabha.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai have levelled these allegations.
Moitra's Response; 📆 Cites pre-scheduled programmes as reason for delay.
"Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV... before official letter emailed to me."
Agrees to depose after her constituency programmes conclude on 4th November.
Moitra previously termed Dehadrai as her "jilted ex."
Accused of taking money to raise targeted questions in parliament, allegedly to target the government and Adani Group.
Hiranandani's filed affidavit claiming Moitra shared her Lok Sabha email for information against Adani Group and even provided login for direct posts.
Hiranandani also mentions advice to Moitra to target PM Narendra Modi for quick national fame.
New Leadership, New Direction; 🔄 Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu plans 'independence'.
Wants Indian troops, stationed in Maldives, to depart.
Criticized predecessor, Ibrahim Solih, for allowing excessive Indian influence.
Muizzu in Bloomberg TV interview: Concerned about any foreign military presence.
Backdrop of Geopolitics; 🌍 Tug-of-war between India and China in the region.
Muizzu's goal: No foreign troops, be it Indian, Chinese, or any other.
Around 70 Indian military personnel currently based in Maldives.
India assists in monitoring Maldives' exclusive economic zone.
Muizzu asserts: No plans to replace Indian soldiers with troops from other countries.
Both nations heavily invested in Maldives: Infrastructure, loans, and more.
Previous administration under Solih leaned towards India.
US, Japan, and Australia support India to counteract China's influence.
Muizzu's aim: Address trade imbalances, ensure mutual benefits, and not side in geopolitical rivalries.
India's Response; 🇮🇳 India treads cautiously but remains supportive.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs: "We look forward to constructively engaging with the incoming administration."
Highlights: India’s aid to Maldives includes a $1.4 billion package in 2018 and $500 million in 2020 for infrastructure.
Bagchi underscores India's humanitarian support: 500 medical evacuations in five years.
