Morning Brief: India Plans 20 Mega Industrial Parks To Streamline Manufacturing Ecosystem; Trains To Kashmir In January; RSS Mag Defends Probes Into Disputed Sites After Bhagwat’s Caution

Dear reader, catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

India To Build 20 Industrial Parks To Streamline Manufacturing Ecosystem

India is working on a plan to emulate China’s successful model of mega industrial parks to streamline its manufacturing ecosystem. The government plans to establish over 20 large industrial parks by 2030 to boost the country’s contribution to global manufacturing, aiming to rise from its current fifth position to third. Various ministries, including those of pharma, textiles, petroleum, and commerce, are collaborating on the initiative.

The proposed parks will focus on key sectors, including chemicals, textiles, leather, medical devices, and bulk drugs, providing dedicated spaces for companies in each industry. The goal is to create well-planned, centralized manufacturing hubs, addressing concerns about India’s sporadic industrial growth.

Trains To Kashmir Valley Likely To Begin In January

The Railways has modified five AC sleeper trains and one Vande Bharat with chair cars to handle the harsh weather on the Jammu-Kashmir route ahead of launching train operations to the Kashmir valley. To ensure passenger safety, an airport-like security check will be implemented at stations. A final inspection of the Katra-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail line is due on January 5, fuelling hopes for the commercial operation of trains to the valley by next month. In addition to the train launch, PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the Z Morh tunnel in Kashmir. A successful trial run of a cargo-loaded train was conducted on the Katra-Reasi section, with reports suggesting that operations may start on January 12 or 26.

After Bhagwat’s Caution, RSS Magazine Defends Probes Into Disputed Sites

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently criticised the daily focus on disputes over Muslim mosques and shrines, calling it “unacceptable.” However, an editorial in the RSS-affiliated magazine The Organiser argued that uncovering the true history of disputed religious sites is essential for “civilisational justice.” The magazine’s cover story highlighted the Sambhal mosque controversy, claiming a temple once stood where the Shahi Jama Masjid is located and detailing the town’s communal tensions.

While the editorial avoided direct mention of Bhagwat’s cautionary remarks, it defended the push for historical truth about religious spaces targeted in past invasions. The magazine framed such inquiries as necessary to address historical injustices.

Other Developments

Over 260 Canadian Colleges Involved In Human Trafficking 

Three years ago, on January 19, 2022, a Gujarati family – Jagdish Patel, his wife Vaishali, and their two children – tragically froze to death on the US-Canada border in Manitoba while attempting to cross illegally into the US. Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the traffickers involved in the incident have uncovered an international human trafficking syndicate.

The probe revealed that at least 260 Canadian colleges were part of a network that issued student visas to illegal migrants, facilitating their illegal entry into the US. The migrants, paying agents around Rs 50-60 lakh, were enrolled in Canadian colleges but never attended, instead using the student visa route to reach the US. ED searches in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara have exposed that two major agents alone send approximately 35,000 illegal migrants abroad each year.

BJP Gets Rs 2,244 Crore, Congress Rs 289 Crore In Donations

Key contributors to Prudent in 2022-23 included Megha Engineering, Serum Institute, Arcelor Mittal, and Bharti Airtel. Notably, these figures exclude donations received via electoral bonds, which are disclosed in annual audit reports rather than contribution reports. Following the Supreme Court's February 2024 decision to strike down the electoral bond scheme, direct and trust-based contributions have become the main funding sources for political parties.

NDA Leaders Plan United Response To Opposition

NDA leaders, including BJP president J P Nadda and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, met in New Delhi on Wednesday (25 December) to discuss countering the Opposition’s narrative on the Constitution and Dr B R Ambedkar. The TDP stressed better coordination within the NDA, citing the INDIA bloc's effectiveness in targeting the government.

The meeting followed tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 100th birth anniversary and focused on issues like caste census and social justice politics. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly criticized the Congress for spreading "false narratives" and urged NDA leaders to respond unitedly.

From The States

Kejriwal Goes All Out With Accusations Against BJP

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the BJP of planning to arrest Atishi in a "fake" case to undermine the "free bus ride for women" initiative and alleged that money was being distributed in the New Delhi constituency to secure votes for the saffron party's candidate. Kejriwal also claimed, citing "sources," that the BJP plans to name former MP Pervesh Verma as its candidate for the New Delhi seat and possibly its Chief Ministerial candidate. Meanwhile, two Delhi government departments issued public notices distancing themselves from AAP's welfare schemes.

UP: Muslim Groups Protest Sale of The Satanic Verses

Several Muslim organisations have condemned the reappearance of Salman Rushdie's controversial book The Satanic Verses on Indian bookshelves, calling for the central government to reinstate the ban. The book, which was originally banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988, has resurfaced after 36 years, and is now available at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR. In November, the Delhi High Court ended proceedings on a petition challenging the ban, citing the absence of the relevant 1988 notification from government officials. Maulana Kaab Rashidi, the legal advisor for the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, expressed concern over the book's return to India. Muslim groups are urging the government to take action against its sale.

MT Vasudevan Nair, Renowned Malayalam Writer, Passes Away

Renowned Malayalam writer MT Vasudevan Nair passed away on Wednesday at the age of 91 at a private hospital in Kozhikode due to heart failure. The Kerala government has declared two days of state mourning in his honour. One of the most celebrated figures in Kerala's literary and film industries, MT leaves behind a lasting legacy from his more than seven-decade career. His works often drew inspiration from the agrarian life along the river Nila, where he grew up in an upper-caste Nair family. MT is widely recognised for his profound impact on both literature and cinema in Kerala.

Stay tuned for more insights throughout the day.