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OP-ED JUNE 03, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

How to take sides:

A MESSAGE TO INDIA

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

ussian and Chinese military ing force behind the Regional Com-
planes conducted a joint exer- prehensive Economic Partnership, a
Rcise close to Japan’s airspace, free trade agreement among 15 na-
forcing Tokyo – which was hosting tions of the Indo-Pacific that New
the Quad summit – to scramble its Delhi walked out of.
own jets in response. -- Charu Sudan Kasturi,
This was the first joint exercise
between Beijing and Moscow since The Telegraph (India)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Temple vs mosque
showcases increasing military con-
vergence between them. Equally por- lmost every day, we hear of
tentous is Russian defense minister Hindu groups laying claims to
Sergei Shoigu saying his country’s Amosques on the ground that
military operations in Ukraine will they were built by razing temples to
continue until all objectives are met. the ground by Muslim rulers. Today,
This shows Moscow is in no mood it is the Gyanvapi Masjid tomorrow it
to end the war anytime soon and is pre- will be Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathu-
paring for a long-drawn-out conflict. ra, and on another day it will be Jama
Both developments present a se- Masjid, Bhopal. All such cases will be
rious challenge to the international no different from Gyanvapi Masjid.
community. It’s clear that Russia and They would be equally complex and
China have decided to form a close sensitive. Nobody knows when this
strategic-military compact to take on madness, which is threatening to rip
what they see as Western hegemony apart the social fabric of our country,
and rewrite the international rules- will come to an end. And who knows
based order. when such matters may land before
Both countries also nurse the SC again.
deep-seated grudges. While the Rus- With the greatest respect to the
sian leadership as embodied by Pres- apex court, will it transfer all such
ident Vladimir Putin never fully got cases to the district judges? If yes,
over the collapse of the Soviet Union, then why have civil judges at all? If
China wants to right what it sees as not, then the transfer of the case to
100 years of humiliation between the the district judge has set an unhealthy
19th and 20th centuries and restore precedent and will have a demoraliz-
the glory of the Middle Kingdom. ing effect on the subordinate judicia-
ry. Besides, it will also take away one
-- Editorial, The Times of India
step in the right to appeal of the ag-
Taking on China? grieved party.
In the recent past, many low-
n Tokyo, Modi, Biden, Kishida er-level judicial officers have passed
and Australia’s newly-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, outstanding orders in matters con-
Iprime minister, Anthony Alba- at the venue of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo (ANI Photo/PIB) cerning the liberties of the citizens,
nese, also got together for a meeting which are under threat as never
of leaders of the Quad, a grouping before. Let us, therefore, not un-
of the four nations. Like the IPEF, ability of the grouping to move be- for food shortages because of the war der-rate their competence.
Quad members formally insist that yond low-hanging ideas. India is the in Ukraine — has also sparked back- The subordinate judiciary pro-
the initiative is not aimed against any only nation among them that has lash from US officials and, away from vides the foundation of our judicial
nation. Its work includes a Covid19 refused to openly condemn Russia’s the Quad, in Europe. system. Do not shake it.
vaccine programme, the promotion invasion of Ukraine or join economic The IPEF threatens to pose sim- -- Rekha Sharma,
of a free and open Indo-Pacific re- sanctions against Moscow. Biden has ilar challenges. It is a Biden adminis- The Indian Express
gion, infrastructure projects and publicly described India’s position tration attempt at showcasing the US
other, mostly benign, soft-diplomacy on the war as “shaky”, compared to as a leading economic force in the Every week, we look at what the top
efforts. America’s other close friends and Indo-Pacific, after the former presi- commentators in the Indian media are
Even though the four leaders allies. New Delhi’s recent ban on dent, Donald Trump, pulled Ameri- talking about and bring to you a slice
projected an image of camaraderie, wheat exports — after Modi’s bold ca out of the proposed Trans-Pacific of their opinions and comments
barely-hidden tensions will limit the promise that India would help cover Partnership. Beijing is also the driv-

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