Page 6 - :: Rashtradarpan Magazine - November 2021 ::

500 farmers in tractors to for the entire duration of the forthcoming were later stayed by the Supreme Court in to Parliament to oppose the contentious
march to Parliament every winter session beginning November 29, January, at the Delhi borders on Novem- three farm laws. Incidentally, a tractor ral-
day from Nov 29 their leaders announced on 9th Novem- ber 26 last year. The SKM, an umbrella ly on January 26 had turned violent with
ber To observe one year of the movement body of 40 farmer unions leading the stir, protesters breaking barricades, attacking
against the Centre’s three new controver- held a meeting at Singhu border protest security personnel and storming the Red
sial agricultural laws, about 500 farmers site and later announced that it will ob- Fort, where they also hoisted a religious
will participate in a “peaceful” tractor serve one year of the movement on and flag. The SKM said that on November 26,
march to Parliament every day during after November 26 in a “massive way” all there will be huge mobilisation of farmers
the Winter Session, starting November over India. “From November 29 until the from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Ut-
29. The Winter Session is scheduled to end of the winter session, 500 selected tarakhand and Rajasthan at all the Delhi
go on till December 23. The decision on farmer volunteers will move every day borders “All farm unions in the SKM will
the tractor march was taken on Tuesday to Parliament in tractor trollies peaceful- mobilise farmers in strength for this oc-
by the nine-member committee of the ly and with full discipline, to assert their casion. Huge public meetings will be held
Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella rights to protest in the national capital,” there (at borders) that day. Homage will
body of over 40 farmers’ unions. Farmers the farm body said in a statement. This be paid to more than 650 martyrs in this
from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will be done to “‘increase the pressure” on struggle so far,” it said. Referring to the
Farm unions will mark a year of their have been protesting against the three “this obstinate, insensitive, anti-people mahapanchayats, the SKM said: “They
agitation against three agricultural laws laws which have been put on hold by the and pro-corporate BJP central govern- may be held with wide participation of
passed by the Modi government on No- Supreme Court in January 2021, at Del- ment, to force it to concede the demands farmers, workers, employees, agricultural
vember 26 by converging on the national hi’s borders since November 26 last year. for which farmers across the country labourers, women, youth and students in
capital’s borders in large numbers, and The farmers, mostly from Punjab, Hary- have launched a historic struggle for the all state capitals”.
holding demonstrations near Parliament ana and Uttar Pradesh, had started an past one year,” it added, Earlier in March
indefinite protest against the laws, which too, farmers had taken out “foot march”

From beggar to Padma a dance gesture with the ‘pallu’ of her sa- RBI lifts business
Shri: The inspiring sto- ree, blessing the president with good luck. restrictions imposed on
ry of transgender dancer Born as Manjunath Shetty in Karnataka's Diners Club
Manjamma Jogathi Ballari district, Jogathi studied only till The Reserve Bank of India lifted restric-
the 10th standard. As reported in The tions imposed on Diners Club Interna-
Indian Express, she began to identify as tional with immediate effect over the
a woman at the age of 15. However, af- on-boarding of fresh domestic customers
ter she began behaving like a girl in her on 9TH November. Diners Club Inter-
teens, Jogathi's parents decided to take national is a payment system operator
her to a temple in Hospet and got her to authorized to operate card networks in within 24 hours and the process should
perform Jogappa, a holy ritual where dev- the country under the Payment and Set- be certified. Besides Diners Club, the RBI
otees are believed to get married to a god tlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act). The had also barred American Express Bank
or goddess. Since then, Manjunath Shetty RBI order did not impact the existing from onboarding new customers. Sub-
It is believed that blessings from a trans- turned into Manjamma Jogathi. However, customers of Diners Club International. sequently, the ban was extended to Mas-
gender will bring you luck and prosperity. was not allowed to return home. Jogathi’s "In view of the satisfactory compliance tercard. Although the payment giant had
On 9TH November, in a unique moment, journey started on the streets draped in demonstrated by Diners Club Interna- confirmed that it would comply with the
a transgender blessed India’s first citizen sarees. She was sexually abused and had tional Ltd. with the Reserve Bank of In- central bank's guidelines, the RBI decid-
President Ramnath Kovind at the Rash- made the decision to kill herself but came dia (RBI) circular dated April 6, 2018, ed to issue the order as it failed to meet
trapati Bhavan in New Delhi during the across a father-son duo who taught her on Storage of Payment System Data, the the extended timelines. While Diners
Padma award ceremony, taking the dig- dance, which gave a fresh beginning and restrictions imposed...on on-boarding of Club and Mastercard are network provid-
nitaries present at the function includ- purpose to her life. Later, Jogathi was in- fresh domestic customers have been lift- ers, American Express has a banking li-
ing Prime Minister Narendra Modi by troduced to Kallava Jogathi where she ed with immediate effect," the RBI said cense which it uses only for issuing cards.
surprise and joy. Karnataka's transgen- learned the Jogathi Nrithya (a local folk in a release. The RBI had barred Diners Amex, besides issuing cards, also acquires
der dancer Manjamma Jogathi received performance of Jogappa) and began per- Club from onboarding new custom- merchants and provides a payment net-
nationwide acclaim for her achievements forming across the state. After Kallava's ers from May 1, through an order dated work. The RBI had earlier observed that
and was awarded the Padma Shri for death, she took charge and the dance form April 23. The ban followed the card net- payments system providers, especially
her contribution to folk dance by Presi- started gaining popularity. Manjamma work's failure to comply with the central the global players, were storing data of
dent Ram Nath Kovind on November 8. Jogathi also became the first transgender bank's order/norms pertaining to data domestic customers outside India. Glob-
Jogathi attended the award ceremony in a president of Karnataka Jaanapada Acade- localization. in terms of these norms, al companies typically have a centralized
beaming traditional saree and wowed the my, which is a state government body for RBI-regulated entities have to store data system of data storage. Beyond data pri-
nation with her unique way of receiving performing arts. Jogathi was honoured pertaining to Indian customers on Indian vacy risks, the risk is unforeseen global
the award. When she was presented with with the Padma Shri award, which is the soil. They can send the data overseas for events, which could impact the payments
the Padma Shri award, Manjamma made fourth highest civilian honour in India. processing, but the same has to be deleted system in India if data is stored outside
the country.

Vladimir Putin expected to given the changed security scenario since 1135.6 frigates…The production of more was attended by top security officials of
visit India in December for the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and than 700,000 AK-203 rifles, will be done Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
annual summit China's expansionism. India-Russia are in India. It’s a Make in India program. We Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At the
also expected to sign a document on Mil- are going to buy an additional Su 30-MKI dialogue, the eight participating nations
itary-Technical cooperation for the next as well as additional MiG 29s and 400 vowed to work towards ensuring that Af-
decade — 2021-2031 besides mutual lo- more T-90 tanks. So there has been a fun- ghanistan does not become a safe haven
gistics pact. Varma informed, “We expect damental change in how our defence rela- for global terrorism and called for the for-
a number of agreements in the defence, tionship has moved on in the last 3 years. mation of an “open and truly inclusive”
economic, trade, science and technology Russia has moved back again as the top government in Kabul. On the S-400 deal,
spheres. We expect the Joint Commis- defence partner of India.” With Afghan- the people cited above said both sides are
sion on Technology and Science to be an- istan emerging as an area of cooperation committed to it. In October 2018, India
nounced. Military-Technical cooperation following the Taliban take over and over had signed a USD 5 billion deal with
for the next decade 2021-2031 will be common concerns over terrorism, Rus- Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air
announced. We also have an agreement sian NSA Gen Nikolay Patrushev visited defence missile systems, despite a warn-
on reciprocal logistic support for each India in September to meet his Indian ing from the Trump administration that
other's armed forces so that the armed counterpart AK Doval for the maiden going ahead with the contract may invite
or the annual India-Russia bilateral forces that come for each other’s exercis- high level mechanism meet on Afghani- US sanctions. India made the first tranche
Fsummit, Russia's President Vladimir es will have good logistic support both in stan. The two decided to expand security of payment of around USD 800 million to
Putin will be visiting the country in De- Russia and in India. And this year, in the cooperation with regard to the Afghan Russia for the missile systems in 2019. The
cember and meeting Prime Minister Nar- last five months, India has participated in theatre. Earlier Deputy NSA Pankaj Saran S-400 is known as Russia’s most advanced
endra Modi. The date of his visit, sources each and every major Russian exercise. was in Moscow to discuss several issues long-range surface-to-air missile defence
further informed, could be on December INDRA Navy, INDRA Army, Zapad, and of cooperation including Afghanistan. system. Following US sanctions on Tur-
6, though it remains to be confirmed. Peace Mission.” He further pointed out, Both sides have ruled out formally rec- key, there have been apprehensions that
Confirmation of Putin's visit to India “We have major defence contracts already ognising Taliban. Patrushev again visited Washington may impose similar punitive
could also hinge on the COVID situation under implementation. The S-400 is one India this week to attend the Delhi Re- measures on India. The supply of S-400
in Russia, though there are clearly a num- of them. We also have a contract relating gional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. missiles to India by Russia are expected
ber of key matters to discuss, especially to the manufacture and production of Apart from Russia and India, the dialogue to begin later this year.

15,November 2021 Vol.3/No-18 6