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| Version 72 | Version 73 |
|---|---|
| Congress manifesto: India opposition pledges to review armed forces act | Congress manifesto: India opposition pledges to review armed forces act |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| India has entered full election mode: voting is due to begin on 11 April, with the final ballot cast more than five weeks later on 19 May. Every day, the BBC will be bringing you all the latest updates on the twists and turns of the world's largest democracy. | India has entered full election mode: voting is due to begin on 11 April, with the final ballot cast more than five weeks later on 19 May. Every day, the BBC will be bringing you all the latest updates on the twists and turns of the world's largest democracy. |
| Congress promises to review a controversial anti-insurgent law | Congress promises to review a controversial anti-insurgent law |
| What is happening? | What is happening? |
| India's main opposition party Congress has promised to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (AFSPA) if elected, according to its election manifesto. | India's main opposition party Congress has promised to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (AFSPA) if elected, according to its election manifesto. |
| The law allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant. | The law allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant. |
| It also protects soldiers who may kill a civilian by mistake or in unavoidable circumstances during an operation. | It also protects soldiers who may kill a civilian by mistake or in unavoidable circumstances during an operation. |
| AFSPA has been blamed for "fake killings" in Indian-administered Kashmir and the north-eastern state of Manipur and campaigners say it is often misused. | AFSPA has been blamed for "fake killings" in Indian-administered Kashmir and the north-eastern state of Manipur and campaigners say it is often misused. |
| The party has also promised to scrap a contentious colonial-era law on sedition if it comes to power. | The party has also promised to scrap a contentious colonial-era law on sedition if it comes to power. |
| Why does this matter? | Why does this matter? |
| Critics, including human rights campaigners, have argued that AFSPA is undemocratic and has given the armed forces carte blanche power. | Critics, including human rights campaigners, have argued that AFSPA is undemocratic and has given the armed forces carte blanche power. |
| The law has always been seen as controversial, but it hasn't really been an election issue in years. In 2011, P Chidambaram, who was the home minister at the time, said he would review the law, sparking outrage from the opposition. | The law has always been seen as controversial, but it hasn't really been an election issue in years. In 2011, P Chidambaram, who was the home minister at the time, said he would review the law, sparking outrage from the opposition. |
| To some extent, it is a risky strategic move from the Congress - the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already criticised them, calling the idea "positively dangerous". | To some extent, it is a risky strategic move from the Congress - the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already criticised them, calling the idea "positively dangerous". |
| The announcement to amend the law comes as analysts say that the BJP has begun to treat national security as an election issue after a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in which 40 Indian paramilitary were killed. | The announcement to amend the law comes as analysts say that the BJP has begun to treat national security as an election issue after a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in which 40 Indian paramilitary were killed. |
| The manifesto also gives more details on the party's most ambitious welfare proposal - a basic income scheme that promises 72,000 rupees ($1050) yearly to India's poorest households. | The manifesto also gives more details on the party's most ambitious welfare proposal - a basic income scheme that promises 72,000 rupees ($1050) yearly to India's poorest households. |
| Economists have told the BBC that funding the scheme will require scrapping existing government subsidies on food and fertilisers, and removing certain tax incentives. | Economists have told the BBC that funding the scheme will require scrapping existing government subsidies on food and fertilisers, and removing certain tax incentives. |
| 'Narendra Modi's army' | 'Narendra Modi's army' |
| What is happening? | What is happening? |
| The chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn fire from the opposition for referring to India's army as "Narendra Modi's army". | The chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn fire from the opposition for referring to India's army as "Narendra Modi's army". |
| Yogi Adityanath - known for his fiery and controversial rhetoric - repeated a common accusation from the governing BJP party that the opposition Congress "used to serve terrorists biryani [a rice dish]" - an allegation stemming from rumours that 2008 Mumbai attacks gunman Mohammad Qasab was served biryani on Ramadan while he was in Indian custody. | Yogi Adityanath - known for his fiery and controversial rhetoric - repeated a common accusation from the governing BJP party that the opposition Congress "used to serve terrorists biryani [a rice dish]" - an allegation stemming from rumours that 2008 Mumbai attacks gunman Mohammad Qasab was served biryani on Ramadan while he was in Indian custody. |
| He continued: "Modi ji's sena [army] gives them only 'golis' [bullets] and 'golas' [bombs]." | He continued: "Modi ji's sena [army] gives them only 'golis' [bullets] and 'golas' [bombs]." |
| Why does it matter? | Why does it matter? |
| Mr Modi and the BJP are making national security their number one campaign issue ahead of the vote, continuously accusing the Congress of being weak on terrorism. | Mr Modi and the BJP are making national security their number one campaign issue ahead of the vote, continuously accusing the Congress of being weak on terrorism. |
| Various opposition leaders from across party lines called this comment from Mr Adityanath "an insult to our armed forces" and called on him to apologise. | Various opposition leaders from across party lines called this comment from Mr Adityanath "an insult to our armed forces" and called on him to apologise. |
| A former Army Chief General, Shankar Roychowdhury, told NDTV that the Indian military serves "the government of the day, not a political party". | A former Army Chief General, Shankar Roychowdhury, told NDTV that the Indian military serves "the government of the day, not a political party". |
| The comments from Mr Adityanath came a day after he was embroiled in another controversy. He travelled to a village where a Muslim man was lynched for allegedly eating beef, and addressed a rally where one of those accused of the murder was seated in the front row of the audience. | The comments from Mr Adityanath came a day after he was embroiled in another controversy. He travelled to a village where a Muslim man was lynched for allegedly eating beef, and addressed a rally where one of those accused of the murder was seated in the front row of the audience. |
| Mr Adityanath also indirectly referred to the incident, accusing the previous state government of "curbing the passion of Hindus" and adding that he had taken immediate steps to shut down slaughterhouses. | Mr Adityanath also indirectly referred to the incident, accusing the previous state government of "curbing the passion of Hindus" and adding that he had taken immediate steps to shut down slaughterhouses. |
| Hindus consider cows sacred and killing them is illegal in several states including Uttar Pradesh. | Hindus consider cows sacred and killing them is illegal in several states including Uttar Pradesh. |
| On Monday, Facebook removed hundreds of pages linked to the Congress party | On Monday, Facebook removed hundreds of pages linked to the Congress party |
| What is happening? | What is happening? |
| Facebook announced that it had removed more than 600 pages linked to India's main opposition Congress party. | Facebook announced that it had removed more than 600 pages linked to India's main opposition Congress party. |
| "While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said in a statement, quoted by the Reuters news agency. | "While the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our review found that it was connected to individuals associated with an INC (Indian National Congress) IT Cell," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said in a statement, quoted by the Reuters news agency. |
| A statement from the company also said it had removed 15 pages linked to Silver Touch, an Indian IT firm that has in the past been connected to the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). | A statement from the company also said it had removed 15 pages linked to Silver Touch, an Indian IT firm that has in the past been connected to the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). |
| Why is this important? | Why is this important? |
| Coming a day after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asked governments to do more to stop the spread of fake news, this move is intended to show that the social media platform is taking the problem seriously. | Coming a day after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asked governments to do more to stop the spread of fake news, this move is intended to show that the social media platform is taking the problem seriously. |
| The fact that it has targeted so many pages belonging to the Congress is also significant from a political point of view. For one, the announcement has come days before the country begins voting in general elections on 11 April. | The fact that it has targeted so many pages belonging to the Congress is also significant from a political point of view. For one, the announcement has come days before the country begins voting in general elections on 11 April. |
| Secondly, the BJP is considered more social media savvy, and its supporters have often been linked to vicious trolling and slander against the party's critics and opponents. | Secondly, the BJP is considered more social media savvy, and its supporters have often been linked to vicious trolling and slander against the party's critics and opponents. |
| Being called out so publicly is not only humiliating for the Congress, but also gives the BJP the moral high ground. | Being called out so publicly is not only humiliating for the Congress, but also gives the BJP the moral high ground. |
| Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often said that he is being targeted in a campaign of hate by his political opponents and this is likely to help him buttress his claim. | Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often said that he is being targeted in a campaign of hate by his political opponents and this is likely to help him buttress his claim. |
| And Rahul Gandhi took a gamble in the South | And Rahul Gandhi took a gamble in the South |
| What is happening? | What is happening? |
| India's main opposition Congress party announced that its president Rahul Gandhi would contest the general election from two seats. | India's main opposition Congress party announced that its president Rahul Gandhi would contest the general election from two seats. |
| Apart from his traditional constituency of Amethi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Gandhi will also now compete from Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala. | Apart from his traditional constituency of Amethi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Gandhi will also now compete from Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala. |
| Congress leader AK Antony made the announcement on Sunday. | Congress leader AK Antony made the announcement on Sunday. |
| Why is this important? | Why is this important? |
| "This is a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep told PTI news agency. | "This is a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep told PTI news agency. |
| In what appeared to be a dig at governing BJP party, he added that this was "a fight" against "forces" that attacked and sought to divide "cultures, ways of life and the deep connect between north and south India". | In what appeared to be a dig at governing BJP party, he added that this was "a fight" against "forces" that attacked and sought to divide "cultures, ways of life and the deep connect between north and south India". |
| Some analysts say this could also be part of a wider strategy to rejuvenate the party's base in the south, which has been dominated by regional parties for decades. Mr Gandhi has made several trips to the south in recent months and is seen as more popular in Tamil Nadu and Kerala than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. | Some analysts say this could also be part of a wider strategy to rejuvenate the party's base in the south, which has been dominated by regional parties for decades. Mr Gandhi has made several trips to the south in recent months and is seen as more popular in Tamil Nadu and Kerala than Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. |
| "Rahul Gandhi is actually trying to demonstrate that he - as a candidate poised to be the next prime minister of India - enjoys electability in both north and south India," Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader and MP from Kerala, said on Sunday. "It's a swipe at Narendra Modi, who we all know has absolutely no chance of winning in the south." | "Rahul Gandhi is actually trying to demonstrate that he - as a candidate poised to be the next prime minister of India - enjoys electability in both north and south India," Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader and MP from Kerala, said on Sunday. "It's a swipe at Narendra Modi, who we all know has absolutely no chance of winning in the south." |
| Wayanad is considered a "safe seat" for Congress. | Wayanad is considered a "safe seat" for Congress. |
| BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi says that the Congress already has a strong presence in the Wayanad constituency, adding that this was partly due to the high percentage of Muslims and Christians in the region. | BBC Hindi's Imran Qureshi says that the Congress already has a strong presence in the Wayanad constituency, adding that this was partly due to the high percentage of Muslims and Christians in the region. |
| "The Congress stand on women entering the Sabarimala temple, where they advocated for 'tradition' but still did not indulge in violence is also expected to help him here," he says. | "The Congress stand on women entering the Sabarimala temple, where they advocated for 'tradition' but still did not indulge in violence is also expected to help him here," he says. |
| Mr Gandhi's opponents speculate if this bid means he is unsure of actually winning his family stronghold, Amethi. In the 2014 general election, he won the seat despite a spirited campaign by BJP candidate Smriti Irani. But his margin of victory - which was a little over 100,000 votes - was seen as too close. | Mr Gandhi's opponents speculate if this bid means he is unsure of actually winning his family stronghold, Amethi. In the 2014 general election, he won the seat despite a spirited campaign by BJP candidate Smriti Irani. But his margin of victory - which was a little over 100,000 votes - was seen as too close. |
| Ms Irani is set to contest from Amethi again. | Ms Irani is set to contest from Amethi again. |
| In the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections in 2017, the BJP won four out of five seats which fell under the Amethi constituency. | In the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections in 2017, the BJP won four out of five seats which fell under the Amethi constituency. |
| What happened last week? | What happened last week? |
| You can read a full recap of everything that happened here. | You can read a full recap of everything that happened here. |
| But here are the highlights: | But here are the highlights: |
| Coverage from previous weeks: | Coverage from previous weeks: |
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