Morning Brief: Is Probe Into Rafale Deal Needed? SC To Decide Today; Two More Ex-Workers Of Kerala-Based Islamist Outfit PFI Join IS; And More

Good morning, dear reader! Here’s your morning news brief for today.

Is Probe Into Rafale Deal Needed? SC To Give Verdict Today

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict today on pleas seeking a court-monitored probe into the procurement of 36 Rafale fighters by the Narendra Modi government from France in a deal worth Rs. 59,000 crore. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will also decide whether the government followed the right procedure in inking the government-to-government deal.

If the SC refuses to allow a probe into the deal, the decision will be seen as one vindicating the Narendra Modi government. However, a green light for probe will be a shot in the arm for the Congress as the party has been relentlessly attacking the government over the deal. It has accused the government of favouring Anil Ambani's company and endangering national security by bringing down the number of fighters to 36. In its defence, the government has said that it has no say in who Dassault Aviation chooses as its offset partner.

Kerala Men Who Joined IS Are Ex-Workers Of Islamist Outfit PFI

Two men from Kerala’s Kannur district, who joined terror outfit Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, are former workers of Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), the Times of India has reported. They went missing along with their families in November. This is not the first case of a former PFI worker joining IS. Two former PFI workers, who had joined the IS in Syria, were killed in 2017, reports say. At least nine ex-workers of PFI are believed to have joined IS by 2018.

The PFI is believed to have been involved in terror-related activities in India. In July 2010, 13 activists of the PFI had chopped off the hand of a professor accusing him of blasphemy. In March 2016, the National Investigation Agency arrested a person named K V Abdul Jaleel in relation to what is called the Narath training camp case. Jaleel was accused of assembling 21 men and training them in making bombs. Some of these men were members of the PFI. In August 2017, the Karnataka police arrested five men for the murder of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker. All five were directly or indirectly linked to PFI.

Family Loyalist Kamal Nath To Be The Next Chief Minister Of MP

Two days after emerging as the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress has picked Kamal Nath as the state’s next chief minister. The decision was made after multiple meetings held by Congress President Rahul Gandhi with Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia. According to reports, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Vadra also participated in the meetings. The 72-year-old is likely to meet the governor today.

In Rajasthan, however, the tussle between former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot continued to stymie the selection process. The “high command” of the Congress party could not broker a truce between the two despite multiple rounds of meetings.

PNB Fraud Case: Interpol Issues Red Notice Against Mehul Choksi

In what appears to be a big boost for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Interpol has issued a Red Notice against fugitive billionaire Mehul Choksi in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank scam. Choksi, who left the country just before CBI registered an FIR against him and his nephew Nirav Modi in February this year, has taken refuge in Antigua and Barbuda. He is said to have taken its citizenship.

According to reports, talks between India and Antigua on the issue of extradition of Mehul Choksi are in the final stage. Documents showing his involvement in the case have also been shared through the Ministry of External Affairs.

From Swarajya

Why Markets Are Shedding No Tears For Urjit Patel, Or Even The BJP’s Defeat: The mistake made by the Modi government, by opting for Patel when Das was available, has now been rectified.

May Shaktikanta Das Choose The Right Battles: It can be expected that the new stewardship at the RBI will stay away from open confrontation with the government.

Broke And On The Brink: A tussle between the government of the day and the RBI is not new. Even Rajiv Gandhi’s regime, with an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, had its share of run-ins with Mint Road.

Reading The Chhattisgarh Results: Change for the sake of change is an equally valid reason in democracy, and Chhattisgarh desired change.

We hope you enjoyed reading our morning brief. Have a great day ahead!

If you’d like to support Swarajya’s heritage program, please consider taking a sponsorship plan. It’s a great way to help us fight the destruction of our cultural inheritance. Click here for more details.