UN Security Council to consult more with troop-contributing nations, a key Indian demand

Admitting that its consultation process with countries contributing troops to peacekeeping operations was flawed, the UN Security Council has called for regular and broader consultations, a demand India has consistently pushed throughout last year. These developments cap the tenure of Asoke Kumar Mukerji, who is retiring as India’s Permanent Representative. He had waged a constant battle to get the Council to properly consult with troop-contributing countries as it issues and monitors peacekeeping mandates.

The Council recognised that the consultation process involving it, the troop contributors and the UN Secretariat “do not meet their expectations and have yet to reach their full potential,” US Permanent Representative Samantha Power, the Council President for December, said in a statement released Thursday.

“The Security Council stresses the importance of substantive, representative and meaningful exchanges and underscores the importance of full participation by the three stakeholders so that meetings are useful and productive,” Power said.

In June in one of several speeches at UN debates, on peacekeeping, Mukerji had crticised the Council saying it was “enforcing the will of a small privileged minority within the Council to look at peacekeepers as instruments to wage war.” He cited its disregard of the UN Charter requirement for nations contributing troops “to participate in the decisions” of the Council on their deployment.

“India, for example, has not been so consulted,” he said. “This despite the fact that India is the single largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations, having contributed more than 170,000 troops in 43 of the 69 peacekeeping operations mandated so far by the Council.” India currently has 7,798 personnel serving the peacekeeping operations.

In her statement released Thursday, Power called for extending the scope of the interactions between the Council, the Secretariat and the troop-contributors. “These consultations must extend beyond the issue of mandates of operations, and to areas such as safety and security of peacekeepers, strategic force generation, gender, conduct and discipline, including allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, implementation of protection of civilian mandates, capability, performance, equipment and national caveat,” she said.

The US role in shepherding the commitment through the Council in the waning days of 2015 during Power’s presidency adds to its weight. With the US military capability overextended, President Barack Obama has in a break from the past shown interest in rejuvenating UN peacekeeping operations. He had convened an international summit on the subject in September.

The Council also recognised the troop-contributing countries’ on-the-ground expertise. Power said, “The experience and expertise of troop- and police-contributing countries in theatres of operation can greatly assist the planning of operations.”

India has stressed the importance of continuing consultations to make use of the reservoir of experiences peacekeepers have. During a recent interview with IANS, Mukerji gave an example of the situation in South Sudan where Indian peacekeepers are deployed. Rights to graze cattle sparked conflicts between groups and these escalated, he said. While the Indian troops on the ground, who had been trained professionally to observe the conflict environment, were aware of it, the information had no avenue to reach the Council or the higher UN echelons, thus missing an opportunity to prevent the situation from escalating, he added.

Power said the Council also asked the Secretariat to consult with troop-and police-contributing countries when planning any change in military tasks, mission-specific rules of engagement, concept of operations or command and control structure or early peacebuilding that would impact personnel, equipment, training and logistics.

This meets another of the peacekeeping issue that India has raised about the Council changing mandates midway through a mission or introducing new elements that could affect the security of peacekeepers. The Council added a so-called intervention brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo where Indian peacekeepers are deployed. India fears that its troops could become vulnerable to attacks stemming from the aggressive tactics mandated for the intervention brigades.

 Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

On Day 1, Delhi embraces odd-even scheme

Even-numbered vehicles virtually went off the roads in the Indian capital on Friday as Delhi kick started a path-breaking odd-even vehicle restriction policy to battle rising pollution.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was overwhelmed by the response of the people towards the January 1-15 trial run that seeks to allow on roads only odd-numbered four-wheeled vehicles on odd dates and even-numbered vehicles on even dates.

“I am truly overwhelmed by the response we have received so far. There are very few even-numbered cars on the roads. The plan seems to have been successful,” the AamAadmi Party leader told media persons.

He said the people of Delhi accepted the scheme whole-heartedly. “I am confident that in the next five years people will show the way to the rest of the country.”

Setting a personal example, Kejriwal, who has been chief minister since February 2015, said he shared his car to go to office with two ministers, his personal secretary and a joint secretary.

Delhi Police agreed that most of Delhi was abiding by the odd-even policy.

“There have been very few violations,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sharad Aggarwal told IANS. “Even those who violated the restriction had some valid reason… or they were among those exempted.

“Most people, our officers say, are following the scheme.”

The government has said violators would be fined Rs.2,000. But police officers said fining was not their main aim.

A police officer said: “We are using the day to educate people about the odd-even scheme. We are telling motorists that this is for the good of all. We are distributing leaflets too.”

The restriction policy has many exemptions, however, including two-wheelers, cars driven by women, emergency vehicles and a string of VIPs.

With nearly 90 lakh vehicles registered in Delhi, cars account for nearly a third.

East Delhi resident Amrish Mishra told IANS that he spotted only two even-numbered vehicles as he drove all the way to Safdarjung Airport in south Delhi.

Added A. Mahalingam, a south Delhi resident: “I saw only four even-numbered vehicles on the roads today. Two were driven by women and the two other cars were clearly violating the rule.”

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai, who came to work with Kejriwal, told IANS: “It is a historic step towards reducing pollution level in the city. People are following the odd-even formula.”

He said he did not use his car on Friday as his was an even-numbered one.

Rai later took a bus ride to find out how the Delhi Transport Corporation was faring. Delhi Metro said it ran 70 additional trips in the morning but the anticipated extra rush was not there and the trains afforded a less crowded comfortable journey.

Although the chief minister and the lieutenant governor are exempt from the scheme, Kejriwal had said he would abide by it.

Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra rode a motorcycle to Delhi Secretariat. He said he would continue to do so until January 15 if he did not get to car pool.

Another minister, Imran Hussain, took an e-rickshaw to go to office.

Environmentalists have welcomed the odd-even restriction policy which is expected to sharply cut down the number of vehicles on Delhi’s roads, but they are not sure how effective it will be in curbing pollution.

And although embassies too have been exempted, the US and French embassies have said they will abide by the odd-even policy.

 Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Hazare reminds PM of ‘forgotten poll promises’

Social activist Kisan Baburao alias Anna Hazare on Friday said there is “no difference between the UPA and NDA governments” and reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his “forgotten” election promises.

In a three-pager addressed to Modi, Hazare has said that it is imperative to implement the Lok Pal and Lokayukta to “control corruption to an extent” and give a fair price to agriculture produce to stop farmers’ suicides in the country.

The 79-year-old pointed out how before the 2014 LokSabha elections, Modi promised that if the BharatiyaJanata Party was voted to power, he would strive to make the country “corruption-free”.

“However, even now corruption has not decreased, no work can be done without paying bribes… Even inflation has not been curbed. In the matter of corruption, there is no difference between the UPA and NDA governments,” Hazare wrote.

He reminded Modi that when he first stepped inside parliament, he vowed to maintain its sanctity like a temple: “But parliament sessions are lost in fights-arguments… crores of rupees of public money is being wasted.”

Touching upon a sensitive issue, Hazare recalled how Modi promised to get back the black money stashed abroad “within 100 days” and each Indian would get Rs.15 lakh in his bank account. “But that has not happened till now, forget Rs.15 lakh, people have not got even Rs.15.”

“You are neither speaking about the Lok Pal and Lokayukta laws nor implementing them. We had hopes that you would address them in your ‘Mann Ki Baat’ (PM’s monthly radio address to the nation), especially since you had assured that you would tackle corruption,” Hazare said.

On the agriculture front, he said the government promised 1.5 times returns to the farming community, but since that remains unimplemented, farmers suicides continue to plague farmlands across India.

Hazare added that in the past, former prime ministers like P.V. NarasimhaRao used to call and speak with him occasionally, even A.B. Vajpayee would enquire about him whenever he travelled to Maharashtra, while Manmohan Singh – whom he had targeted – also used to reply to his letters.

“Perhaps you get angry by my letters and they end up in the dustbin… I am just an ordinary citizen who is powerless against the government, at best I can launch an agitation…,” Hazare said, from his village in Ahmedbagar district of the state.

 Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Pathankote-Jammu highway sealed, city on high alert

Extra ordinary security precautions were taken here in winter capital on Friday after sealing the Pathankote-Jammu national highway following terror attack in neighbouring Punjab.

Union railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, who arrived in Jammu on Friday, is scheduled to inaugurate a multi-facility complex at Jammu railway station on Saturday.

“Pathankote-Jammu national highway has been sealed to ensure that no militant is able to sneak into the state from across Pathankote.

“Security has been beefed up in Jammu city because Union railway minister is scheduled to attend an inauguration here today (Saturday), a senior police officer told IANS here.

“BSF troops guarding the international border and the army guarding the LoC in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts have been cautioned to maintain extra vigil on the border” the official added.

As news about the terror attack near Pathankote Air Force station in Punjab reached Kathua district, army was moved out on the highway to seal it and check all movements on and around the national highway.

In the past, terrorists have used the highway high jacking vehicles to carry out attacks on civilians and the security forces.

 Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs

Delhi commuters breathe easy, courtesy odd-even scheme

For many Delhi residents, commuting on wide roads in the national capital on Friday was a breeze, thanks to the odd-even scheme enforced between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

For many, travel time on different routes was reduced by almost half since they did not face traffic snarls.

IANS took a round of Delhi and the national capital region to find the actual time taken to travel to and from various spots by different modes of transport like auto-rickshaws, buses and Metro rail.

Call it a New Year hangover or the odd-even scheme effect, the Chandni Chowk Metro rail station close to the Old Delhi railway station and one of the busiest, was much less crowded on Friday.

Since the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has increased its service during the fortnight the scheme will be in force, it was an easy ride for Metro commuters. Since additional schoolbuses were pressed into service by the Delhi government, there were more buses on the roads as well.

The journey time on roads across the city. It took a bus plying between Delhi and Noida about 25 minutes to reach Noida sector 2 from Connaught Place. On normal weekdays, the journey takes at least an hour.

West to East: It is usually one of the most gruelling stretches to drive on in the city on normal days. On Friday, however, driving on some of the most congested roads like Shadipur-Patel Nagar and Karol Bagh-Rajinder Nagar stretch was sheer pleasure for office-goers and businessmen.

For some, travelling time between Punjabi Bagh and Noida – one of the busiest routes otherwise – was reduced from over an hour-and-a-half to a mere 50 minutes.

“If such an arrangement is in place on a daily basis, I can take my family out to places in NCR without much traffic hassle,” Rajinder Singh, owner of an odd-numbered car from Rajouri Garden, told IANS.

“It is an awesome experience to drive with the family on the first day of New Year,” he added.

The overall mood among west Delhi residents was upbeat about the odd-even scheme.

“I have an even-numbered car and have decided to give it a rest. Instead, I am going to take the Metro. We must support this novel initiative to cut travel time as well as air pollution in our city,” Sachin Mehta, a sales executive who lives in Paschim Vihar, told IANS.

A strange occurance, however, was the minimal presence of traffic cops in west Delhi, especially on the Punjabi Bagh-Shadipur-Patel Nagar road.

Hauz Khas to Maharani Bagh: The roughly eight-km stretch that can take at least an hour to drive through in peak traffic hours was covered in 30 minutes on Friday by auto-rickshaw.

Even as a few even-numbered vehicles were spotted, they were driven by women, while one was compressed natural gas-fuelled. Vehicles driven by women and CNG ones are exempt from the restriction.

At the Hauz Khas traffic intersection, a few civil defence volunteers displayed placards asking drivers to stick to odd-even scheme. A couple of traffic policemen standing along merely looked on as no violators were to be spotted.

Though commuters earlier feared fleecing by auto-rickshaw drivers, most were plying on meter charges as very few commuters approached them.

Delhi Transport Corporation and private stage carriage buses roped in by the Delhi government providing an alternative mode of transport but most buses ran empty. The city government pressed an additional 3,000 private buses into service.

“I was worried it will be difficult to reach office in time because of the odd-even scheme, but it was quite a positive experience on Friday. The bus frequency was also good. Otherwise, I sometimes have to wait for 40 minutes at Maharani Bagh for a bus to Noida,” said Reema Kumari, a university student travelling on route number 392 to Noida’s Sector 62 from All India Institute for Medical Sciences. 
Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs