Morning Brief: Delhi's Air Quality Worsens To 'Severe Plus' Level; Bangladesh's Interim Leader Calls Attacks On Hindus 'Exaggerated Propaganda'; And More

Dear reader, make sense of the day’s news with Swarajya's roundup of what’s making headlines this morning. 

Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens To ‘Severe Plus’ Level

The air quality in Delhi-NCR worsened to 'severe plus' levels on Monday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management to impose GRAP-4, the strictest anti-pollution measures, from 8 am Monday. Chief Minister Atishi announced on X that with GRAP-4 in effect, physical classes for students, except those in Classes 10 and 12, would be suspended, and schools would shift to online classes until further notice.

Under GRAP-4, diesel-run medium and heavy vehicles registered in Delhi with BS-IV or lower standards are banned, except those transporting essential goods or providing emergency services. Construction and demolition activities, including roads and highways, have also been halted, with exceptions for essential projects such as those for Railways, metro services, airports, and hospitals.

B'desh's Yunus Calls Attacks On Hindus 'Exaggerated Propaganda'

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, described recent violence against the Hindu minority as "exaggerated propaganda" with political motives aimed at destabilising the country. While acknowledging incidents of violence, he claimed they were political in nature and "given a communal colour." His remarks follow weeks of protests by Hindus demanding protection after attacks on homes, businesses, and religious sites.

Yunus highlighted that Durga Puja was celebrated at nearly 32,000 pandals across Bangladesh, despite reports of at least 35 incidents during the festival. However, Hindu and minority groups have accused the interim government of failing to provide adequate protection, contrasting Yunus’s assertion that extensive security arrangements ensured peaceful celebrations.

Other Developments

PM Modi Arrives In Brazil For G20 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil on Monday for the second leg of his three-nation visit, where he will attend the G20 Summit. He reached Rio de Janeiro after completing a "productive" visit to Nigeria, where he held bilateral talks with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and engaged with the Indian community.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed his arrival in Brazil with a post on X, sharing pictures of his welcome at the airport. PM Modi, also a member of the G20 Troika along with Brazil and South Africa, expressed his anticipation for the summit and discussions with global leaders. The 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro will be attended by key leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, on November 18-19.

Shah To Hold Key Meeting On Manipur Today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Manipur following fresh violence during a meeting with senior officials in Delhi. He is expected to hold a detailed discussion with officials at 12 pm today. This comes after a curfew was imposed in Imphal West and East, and internet services were suspended in seven districts due to renewed protests.

The protests erupted in the Valley districts over the killing of six individuals, whose bodies were found in Jiribam after allegedly being kidnapped by Kuki militants. The curfew followed mobs attacking the residences of several MLAs and destroying property. The victims, three women and three children from a relief camp, went missing after a gunfight between security forces and militants in Jiribam. Meitei organisations have accused militants of kidnapping them.

Jasprit Bumrah will captain India for the second time in a Test match as Rohit Sharma pulled out of the opening match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which starts in Perth on November 22, 2024. Rohit informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), team management, and the national selection panel on Sunday, November 17, about his decision to miss the match.

Rohit had stayed in Mumbai for the birth of his second child, a boy, on November 15, 2024. Although there was speculation that he might travel to Perth in time for the Test, Rohit chose to spend extra time with his family. He is expected to join the squad in Adelaide for the warm-up game later this month before the second Test.

From The States

NPP Withdraws Support To NDA Government In Manipur

Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP), the second-largest ally in the BJP-led NDA government in Manipur, withdrew its support on Sunday. The party cited the government’s failure to restore normalcy and expressed deep concern over the ongoing crisis, which has resulted in innocent lives being lost.

While the pullout does not immediately threaten the government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, as the BJP holds a comfortable majority with 37 MLAs, it signals a political setback. The loss of a key local ally further erodes support for the administration. An NPP MLA stated that with seven BJP Kuki MLAs already at odds with the state government, Biren Singh would now struggle to prove his majority in the Assembly without the backing of the NPP’s seven MLAs.

Delhi Mayoral Polls Set The Stage For Assembly Battle

The Delhi mayoral elections held on Thursday offered a glimpse into the upcoming Assembly polls in 2025, serving as a cautionary signal to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) amid internal struggles. The AAP, which has faced defections and public discontent since the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, had much at stake in this contest. The mayoral election ended with a narrow victory, as the AAP secured 133 votes, while the BJP received 130, with two votes declared invalid.

Despite the cross-voting within its ranks, which highlighted fissures in the party, AAP viewed the victory as vital for maintaining unity. A senior AAP leader explained that losing the election would have deepened internal rifts, making it difficult to reclaim control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Kejriwal himself had acknowledged the discontent within the party, stating, “Everyone is unhappy,” during his first address to party councillors after his release.

EC Orders Removal Of Controversial BJP Post In Jharkhand

The Election Commission (EC) directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jharkhand on Sunday to remove a controversial post from the BJP's official social media platforms. The move came after complaints from the Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) about the violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The EC also issued a notice to BJP Jharkhand, seeking an explanation for the alleged violation.

The post in question featured a video showing a JMM supporter’s house with banners and a poster resembling Chief Minister Hemant Soren, accompanied by the caption: "Pure Jharkhand ka kaya palat kardenge" (We will completely transform Jharkhand). The video also depicted individuals from a specific community entering the house, which the INC and JMM claimed was misleading and aimed at influencing voters through falsehoods.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.