New Delhi: Sheikh Hasina’s arrival in India after “hasty” resignation as Bangladesh’s prime minister and a “dramatic departure” from the country following a military ultimatum Monday could “heighten challenges for the US and India in curbing Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific”, according to US-based analysts, reports South China Morning Post.
The report — ‘Bangladesh turmoil poses new challenge for US-India alignment in Indo-Pacific’ — quotes Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centre’s South Asia Institute, saying, “The ouster of Hasina might pose new strategic challenges for both the US and India, because there’s a vacuum that could be filled by a more pro-China government.”
Hasina’s 15-year tenure ended after violent protests and crackdown by government security forces that reportedly killed nearly 300 people in Bangladesh. Correspondent Khushboo Razdan reports that while the US has called for “democratic order” in Bangladesh, India and the US must strengthen engagements to address the shifting dynamics.
Adani Group’s power transmission and distribution arm, Adani Energy Solutions, successfully raised $1 billion through an equity sale, marking its first share sale after being rocked by corporate fraud allegations, reports Financial Times.
In ‘Adani power transmission arm raises $1bn in equity placement’, Chris Kay reports that the Rs 83.7 billion placement was six times oversubscribed, attracting significant investments from entities like Qatar Investment Authority’s INQ, Citigroup, Nomura and SBI Mutual Fund. The funds will be used for debt reduction and investing in its smart metering business.
Adani Energy’s chief executive, Kandarp Patel, told Kay, “The strong interest from institutional investors reflects their commitment to and belief in India’s energy transition, in which Adani Energy Solutions [Limited] plays a pivotal role. India’s robust investment cycle and rising power demand are positive indicators for the power sector.”
The sale, according to the report, is part of Adani Group’s recovery strategy following a $140 billion sell-off caused by allegations of fraud and market manipulation by Hindenburg Research.
An in-depth report by AlJazeera delves into how India’s top women wrestlers are “fighting back” at the Olympics as the “the fear of one man” continues to haunt their dreams.
The piece — ‘At Olympics, India’s top women wrestlers have more at stake than medals’ — explores the allegations of sexual abuse against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party politician. Singh has been accused of abusing young female wrestlers for over a decade. Protests against him last year were led by top Indian wrestlers — Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
Singh is under trial, but his political connections have allowed him to influence the federation indirectly.
Correspondent Suparna Sharma writes, “Yet even as these women carry the hopes of a nation of 1.4 billion people at the world’s greatest sporting extravaganza, fear, more than joy, is palpable in Haryana’s wrestling community…”
Delhi University professor Apoorvanand’s interview to The Diplomat revolves around the current status of ties between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Apoorvanand tells The Diplomat’s South Asia editor Sudha Ramachandran that “the RSS will be happy to see a restrained Modi”.
In ‘Apoorvanand on Why RSS Will Not Oust Modi as Prime Minister Just Yet’, Ramachandran writes that although the BJP won the most number of seats in the recent Indian parliamentary elections, it fell short of an absolute majority and suffered a defeat in the Ayodhya Lok Sabha constituency, which dealt a “humiliating blow” to the party.
The defeat underscored growing tensions between the BJP and its ideological mentor, RSS. Recently, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting a possible rift. Apoorvanand says, “Hindu society has become dangerously radicalised and now it is for us to deradicalise Hindus, humanise them, and tell them it is not good to hate and exclude people.”
He highlights in the interview that the internal conflict has now extended to Uttar Pradesh, where infighting between Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has further complicated the BJP’s position.
Bangladesh student protestors to meet army chief, Biden meets national security team
The coordinators of Bangladesh’s student protest movement are scheduled to meet army chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman after the military announced it would form an interim government following the Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister. To know more, read this report by The Guardian.
US President Joe Biden met his senior national security team Monday as concerns of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel grow. For more, read the latest BBC report.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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