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          5 THINGS FIRST
          Interaction featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to be unveiled; BJP and JD(S) leaders' joint coordination meeting for LS polls in Bengaluru; Extraordinary general meeting called by 'Think and Learn', owner of Byju's brand; Demonstration by Palestinian-Israelis calling for a ceasefire in Gaza; IPL 2024 - RCB vs KKR in Bengaluru
          1. Lawyers’ letter to CJI triggers a political slugfest
          1. Lawyers’ letter to CJI triggers a political slugfest
          Attack and counter-attack
          • The Congress on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of hypocrisy and “manipulating” democracy, after he criticised the opposition party over a letter from lawyers addressed to the chief justice of India (CJI) against a “vested interest group”.
          What the letter says
          • More than 600 lawyers, including senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI D Y Chandrachud, alleging that a “vested interest group” is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, especially in cases of corruption involving politicians.
          • “These tactics are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric,” the lawyers drawn from across the country said in the letter dated March 26.
          • CJI Chandrachud’s leadership is crucial in these “tough times” and the apex court should stand strong, they said, adding it is not the time to maintain dignified silence.
          What Modi says
          • In a post on X, PM Modi said, “To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. 5 decades ago itself they had called for a ‘committed judiciary’ - they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests but desist from any commitment towards the nation.”
          What Congress says
          • Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi of “bullying” every institution into submission, “manipulating” democracy, and hurting the Constitution.
          • “PM Narendra Modi ji, you are talking about Judiciary. You conveniently forget that 4 senior-most Supreme Court judges were forced to hold an unprecedented press conference and warn against 'destruction of Democracy'. That happened under your regime…” he said in a post on X.
          • Party leader Jairam Ramesh also took to social media and said, “The PM's brazenness in orchestrating and coordinating an attack on the judiciary, in the name of defending the judiciary, is the height of hypocrisy!”
          • “The Supreme Court has delivered body blows to him in recent weeks. The Electoral Bonds Scheme is but one example. The Supreme Court declared them to be unconstitutional -- and it is now proved beyond doubt that they were a blatant instrument of fear, blackmail, and intimidation to force companies to donate to the BJP," he said.
          FIN IND
          2. How to achieve complete disengagement along LAC
          2. How to achieve complete disengagement along LAC
          Fresh round of talks
          • Amid the ongoing border dispute in eastern Ladakh, top diplomats of India and China engaged in a fresh round of discussions on Thursday.
          • The talks took place during the 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in Beijing on March 27.
          No breakthrough but…
          • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that both sides engaged in discussions regarding achieving complete disengagement and resolving issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector.
          • Although there was no immediate breakthrough, the two sides agreed to uphold peace and tranquillity along the border by maintaining regular contact through diplomatic and military channels, in line with existing bilateral agreements and protocols.
          Previous meeting
          • During the 28th session of the WMCC held in November 2023, India and China reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.
          Meanwhile…
          • India has again rejected the "absurd claims" and "baseless arguments" made by China on Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the northeastern state is an "integral and inalienable part of India.
          • In response to a query during a weekly media briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Our position on the matter has been made very clear time and again.”
          • The Chinese military's comments came a few days after India sent out a strong rebuttal to Beijing for the latter's comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
          China’s position
          • The Chinese military on Thursday vented its ire at the United States for its assertion that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to India, denouncing it as a move that exacerbates tensions for selfish gains.
          • Sr Col Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's defence ministry, condemned the US for its track record of sowing discord between nations, asserting that the international community perceives this behaviour clearly.
          Disengagement efforts
          • Following the clash of troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020, India and China have conducted numerous rounds of military talks, aiming for complete disengagement along the LAC to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
          3. ‘Sufficient reasons to extend Kejriwal’s ED custody’
          3. ‘Sufficient reasons to extend Kejriwal’s ED custody’
          Custody extended till April 1
          • A Delhi court on Thursday extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1, saying the agency provided "sufficient reasons", such as the need for him to be confronted with material collected and statements recorded, to permit his further custodial interrogation.
          Kejriwal’s response
          • During the court proceedings, Kejriwal expressed readiness to cooperate with the agency and did not oppose the remand extension.
          • Kejriwal cited four statements implicating him, including interactions with individuals seeking land for charitable purposes and meeting requests.
          • He contested his arrest, highlighting that witness statements failed to implicate him and questioned the ED's inability to trace the alleged Rs 100 crore received as kickbacks.
          • Kejriwal alleged that the ED's investigation was orchestrated to smear AAP's reputation and deflect focus from other political issues like electoral bond scams, accusing the agency of fabricating the case to implicate him and his party.
          ED’s counter
          • The ED's counsel, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, dismissed Kejriwal's statements as irrelevant, asserting that the case was not yet at the adjudication stage.
          • Raju argued that there was substantial evidence linking Kejriwal to the alleged proceeds of crime, including funds utilised in the Goa elections. For more
          HC rejects PIL
          • The Delhi High Court dismissed a PIL seeking Kejriwal's removal as Delhi CM after his arrest, citing a lack of legal provisions and its inability to declare a constitutional breakdown.
          • It highlighted that the executive branch, including the Lieutenant Governor and the President, is responsible for assessing such matters and ensuring the functioning of constitutional provisions.
          Meanwhile
          • India on Thursday said the US State Department's recent remarks on the arrest of the Delhi CM is "unwarranted" and asserted the country is "proud of its independent and robust democratic institutions" and committed to protect them from any form of undue external influences, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing. For more
          4. Can this new Tejas boost IAF’s combat capability?
          4. Can this new Tejas boost IAF’s combat capability?
          A successful sortie
          • The first aircraft of the Tejas Mk-1A series successfully soared in the sky after taking off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bengaluru on Thursday.
          • The fighter jet did a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes, the public sector aerospace and defence company said.
          A multi-role fighter jet
          • Tejas Mk-1A is an indigenous 4.5 generation, all-weather and multi-role fighter aircraft.
          • The Indian Air Force (IAF) is expected to receive 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets between March 2024 and February 2028 as part of a Rs 48,000-crore deal signed in February 2021.
          • Earlier, HAL delivered 32 single-seat light combat aircraft (LCA) and two of the eight twin-seat trainers of the 40 Tejas Mk1 to IAF.
          Key features
          • The Mk-1A will come with digital radar warning receivers, a superior AESA (active electronically scanned array) radar, advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and external self-protection jammer pods, among other improvements.
          Tejas squadrons
          • The IAF already has two Tejas squadrons, the ‘Flying Daggers’ and ‘Flying Bullets’, one of which is now deployed in the southwestern sector facing Pakistan.
          • In line with making Tejas the mainstay of IAF, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has granted the acceptance of necessity (AON) for 97 more Tejas Mk-1A aircraft.
          • An order to procure these is expected after the final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is received.
          • Tejas is critical for IAF to stem the depletion in the number of its fighter squadrons, which is down to just 31 when at least 42 are required to tackle threats from China and Pakistan. More here
          NEWS IN CLUES
          5. Can you identify this state capital?

          Clue 1: It houses the headquarters of the first Indian company listed on NASDAQ.
          Clue 2: Is home to HAL, one of Asia's largest aerospace companies.
          Clue 3: Is often referred to as the ‘Garden City of India’.

          Scroll below for answer
          6. Denied ticket, Varun Gandhi pens an emotional letter
          6. Denied ticket, Varun Gandhi pens an emotional letter
          Message to Pilibhit people
          • The BJP has decided to field Uttar Pradesh minister Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit instead of sitting MP Varun Gandhi
          • Denied a ticket, Varun on Thursday penned an emotional letter to his constituents recalling fond memories dating back to his childhood when he first set foot in the region.
          • In a heartfelt message, Varun reflected on how the land had become not just his workplace but also a cherished part of his identity, with its people forming an integral aspect of his life's journey.
          The other Gandhi scion
          • Varun was once considered a rising star of the BJP, and people saw in him the image of his late father Sanjay Gandhi.
          • His mother Maneka Gandhi, the sitting MP from Sultanpur, was, however, given another chance from the same seat by the BJP.
          • This is the first time in over three decades that the mother-son duo will not be in the fray from the Pilibhit constituency.
          • After the BJP dropped Varun, the Congress made an offer to him. Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Varun is "most welcome" to join the grand old party.
          Seeds of discontent
          • For quite some time now, speculation had been rife that Varun may not be fielded by the saffron party in 2024.
          • The MP has been vocal against the BJP on several issues pertaining to farmers, health and jobs.
          • Varun had also raised questions on UP CM Yogi Adityanath's governance regarding the management of the Covid-19 epidemic.
          • After the licence of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Amethi was suspended in September 2023, Varun had termed it as 'outrage against a name'.
          • He had also criticised the Agnipath scheme for not provisioning pensions to the Agniveers.
          To contest as an Independent?
          • Many are speculating that Varun may join the Congress or Samajwadi Party, but till now, he has not commented yet.
          • In fact, he did not turn up in Pilibhit on the last day of filing of nominations for the seat, putting at rest speculations that he might enter the fray as an independent candidate.
          7. Ex-IPS officer gets 20-year jail term for ‘planting drugs’
          7. Ex-IPS officer gets 20-year jail term for ‘planting drugs’
          A 1996 case
          • A sessions court in Palanpur in Gujarat's Banaskantha district on Thursday sentenced former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in a 1996 case involving planting of drugs to frame a lawyer.
          • Additionally, he was fined Rs 2 lakh and faces an additional year in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
          Who’s Sanjiv Bhat?
          • Bhatt was sacked from the police force in 2015 and has been behind bars since 2018.
          • Last year, he approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the trial and alleging bias against a trial court judge. However, the SC dismissed his plea and imposed a fine of Rs 3 lakh.
          • During the trial, Bhatt was also convicted of murder in a 1990 custodial death case in Jamnagar and sentenced to life imprisonment.
          • Bhatt is also grappling with criminal charges related to allegedly fabricating evidence to frame PM Modi, then CM of Gujarat, and others in connection with the conspiracy behind the violence triggered by the Godhra train burning on February 27, 2002. For more
          The drug planting charge
          • Bhatt was held guilty of falsely implicating a Rajasthan-based lawyer by claiming, in 1996, that police had seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur where the lawyer was staying.
          • The court also clarified that Bhatt has to serve the 20-year sentence consecutively, which means it will start after the end of the life sentence in the Jamnagar custodial death case.
          • Additional District and Sessions Judge J N Thakkar convicted Bhatt on Wednesday under relevant sections of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Indian Penal Code.
          8. On Nijjar killing probe, Trudeau says…
          8. On Nijjar killing probe, Trudeau says…
          ‘Working with India’
          • Ottawa is looking to work constructively with the Indian government in the probe into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said.
          • “The killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is something that we all should take extremely seriously," he said in response to a question from Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).
          An India-designated terrorist
          • Nijjar, an India-designated terrorist, was shot dead as he came out of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on the evening of June 18, 2023.
          Canada’s allegations
          • Trudeau had earlier alleged the Indian government's role in Nijjar's killing, a charge New Delhi firmly rejected, leading to the deterioration of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
          • "The credible allegations that agents of the Indian government were involved in… that is something that we did not declare lightly, but our responsibility to protect all Canadians from illegal actions by foreign governments is something that, as a country grounded in diversity, we need to take very seriously," Trudeau said on Thursday.
          India’s stand
          • India strongly rejected charges levelled by Canada, terming them as “baseless”.
          • According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Canada has not been able to present any evidence to back its claims over Nijjar’s killing.
          9. ‘If NATO allies send F-16s to Ukraine…’ Putin’s fresh warning
          9. ‘If NATO allies send F-16s to Ukraine…’ Putin’s fresh warning
          What
          • Russian President Vladimir Putin has again raised the spectre of nuclear war amidst the on-going invasion of Ukraine.
          • During his visit to a Russian air force base, Putin issued a stark warning regarding the potential deployment of US-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
          • “F-16s are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and we will also need to take that into account while organising our combat operations,” he added.
          • Putin declared that Russia would target and destroy these jets just as it has with other Western-supplied military equipment.
          Why
          • His warning comes amid discussions among several NATO countries to donate F-16s to Kiev. No deliveries have occurred yet.
          • Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands are among countries which have pledged to donate F-16s.
          • F-16s can be used to bolster Ukraine's capability to target Russian facilities with long-range missile strikes.
          • Ukraine’s counteroffensive last year came up short in part because it took place without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.
          Not the first time
          • A nuclear shadow has loomed over the war in Ukraine since Russia invaded on February 24, 2022.
          • In 2022, Putin ordered his country’s nuclear forces to be on high alert for the first time since the end of the Cold War.
          • Moscow again used explicit threats, including mention of crossing a “red line” in September 2022, if the US supplied longer-range missiles to Ukraine.
          • Earlier this month, Putin had brought up the topic of Russia’s nuclear prowess afresh.
          • Moscow is thought to possess over 5,000 nuclear warheads, the largest stockpile in the world.
          10. You share your b’day with…
          10. You share your b’day with…
          Source: Various
          Answer to NEWS IN CLUES
          Answer to NEWS IN CLUES
          Bengaluru. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made a significant breakthrough in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case by arresting a key conspirator, Muzammil Shareef. The arrest followed raids at 18 locations across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The NIA had previously identified the main accused, Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain, and another conspirator, Abdul Matheen Taha, who are currently on the run. Muzammil Shareef provided logistical support to the accused involved in the March 1 blast in the Bengaluru cafe. Various digital devices were seized during the searches. Efforts are on to apprehend the absconding accused.
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          Written by: Prabhash K Dutta, Rajesh Sharma