Morning Brief: Key Opposition Meet Today To Chart Out Strategy For Anti-BJP Front; Work On World’s Tallest Girder Rail Bridge Reaches Major Milestone; And More 

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

Opposition To Meet Today To Chart Out Strategy For Anti-BJP Front

Opposition bigwigs will meet today to chalk out a framework for unity ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the winter session of Parliament. The opposition get-together will come just a day before the results of assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram are announced. Votes will be counted on 11 December. The winter session of Parliament is also scheduled to begin on 11 December and will end on 8 January.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati may not attend the meeting. She has kept other opposition parties guessing about her next move. Ahead of the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Mayawati had refused to ally with the Congress, accusing it of not giving her party sufficient seats. Earlier, NDTV had said in a report that the efforts of the Congress to convince Mayawati’ representative Satish Chandra Mishra to attend the meet have also failed.

Work On World’s Tallest Girder Rail Bridge Reaches Major Milestone

The Northeast Frontier Railway has successfully constructed a 100 metres tall pier, part of the world’s tallest railway bridge. The bridge is part of the Indian Railways’ ambitious plans to link Manipur’s capital Imphal with the country’s broad gauge railway network and is all set for completion by 2020. The rail link, which is 111 km long, passes through the steep rolling hills of the Patkai ranges. One of the pillars constructed for the bridge rises to a height of 141 metre, giving it the distinction of being the world’s tallest girder railway bridge.

The alignment of the line traverses steep gorges and rivers, making the construction of 52 tunnels and 149 bridges necessary. The line will cost the Railways Rs 13,809 crores. At present, the Malarijeka via-duct in Montenegro, which has a height of 139 metre, is the highest such rail bridge.

Six Of 10 Most Valued Companies Lose Rs 54,916 Crore In M-Cap

Six of the 10 most valued Indian companies - ITC, Reliance Industries, Bank, SBI, HDFC and ICICI Bank - together lost Rs 54,916.4 crore in market valuation last week, Mint has reported. According to the daily’s report, Reliance took the biggest hit. Its market valuation came down by Rs 22,153.28 crore to Rs 7,18,317.52. ITC’s market valuation slumped by Rs 14,877.75 crore to Rs 3,35,637.09 crore, HDFC’s by Rs 5,139.73 crore to Rs 3,35,611.54 crore, SBI’s by Rs 7,987.51 crore to Rs 2,45,783.14 crore and ICICI Bank’s by Rs 1,677.66 crore to Rs 2,26,769.52 crore.

On the other hand, the market cap of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) grew by Rs 9,512.30 crore to reach Rs 7,48,957.23 crore while that of Infosys grew by 6,356.32 crore to Rs 2,97,523.86 crore. Hindustan Unilever and Kotak Mahindra Bank also finished with gains for the trading week ended Friday.

Vijay Mallya Extradition Verdict Today In UK

A court in the UK will today give its verdict on absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India. Mallya had fled to the UK in March 2016 and is wanted in India over the default of Rs 9,000crore that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines. However, even if today’s verdict goes against him, he may get a chance to move a higher court in the UK. If the If the verdict goes against the Central Bureau of Information and Enforcement Directorate, they would have the right to appeal in a higher court within 14 days.

While Mallya’s team argues there is no prima facie case against him, India has alleged “three chapters of dishonesty” on his part. Last week, Mallya offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount. After signing an extradition treaty with the UK in 1993, India has managed to bring back several individuals, such as Nadeem Saifi (Gulshan Kumar murder case) and Tiger Hanif (1993 Gujarat blasts).

Law For Ram Temple Only Option: RSS’ Bhaiyaji Joshi

Putting ‘those in power’ on notice on the issue of Ram Temple, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Suresh 'Bhaiyaji' Joshi said at the Dharm Sansad organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Delhi on Sunday that a swift resolution of the dispute was only possible if the government makes a law. Between 1.5 to 2 lakh people attended the rally, Delhi police estimates said.

Addressing the gathering, VHP working president Alok Kumar said that the anger of the people might reflect in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the government fails to keep its promise of building a grand Ram Temple. “We kept reminding the government for temple construction and requested all parties to extend their support. If a law is not made in the winter session, the government will have to face public anger in elections,” Kumar was quoted as saying.

On Rajaji’s birth anniversary, here are four articles to be read if you wish to explore more about the man.

1. Rajaji: Beyond Market and State by Keerthik Sasidharan

This piece is an illuminating commentary on both Rajaji and the contemporary Indian conservative movement. Sasidharan highlights the aspect of responsibility and restraint inherent in the Indian conservative movement and cautions against hasty comparisons with the West.

2. A True Renaissance Man of India by Jerry Rao

An author, poet, composer, philosopher, social reformer, administrator, leader, the conscience keeper of the Mahatma—which tag describes Rajaji best? Jerry Rao engages with that question in this piece.

3. Rajaji and Burke by S.Dakshinamurthy

In this piece published in Swarajya in 1973, the author explains why he thinks Rajaji was similar in his approach and legacy to philosopher Edmund Burke.

4. Rajaji is 135 Today by Seetha

Written exactly four years ago, this piece provides an overview of the thoughts and actions of Rajaji and explains why he continues to be relevant.

Other Articles From Swarajya

Bangladesh Headed For Acrimonious Elections: There’s a bitter battle unfolding, as it has for long now, between the ruling Awami League and the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party ahead of the general election in January.

Agastheeswarar Temple Case - HR&CE Department Drags Its Feet After High Court Strikes Down Temple Land Sale For Mosque: Land belonging to the Arulmigu Agastheeswarar Temple in Chennai has changed hands for decades, eventually reaching a point where a mosque was to be built on it. A Madras High Court ruling prevented the construction of the mosque and ordered eviction of the tenant from the land. This has, however, failed to materialise.

Odisha Government In The Dock After Shelter Home Case Revelation: The unfolding story of abuse in Odisha spans all the dark areas of sexual abuse, possible religious conversion, dubious foreign funding, and plausible political patronage, without which such operations are implausible.

How They Are Trying To Christianise Murugan: Culture marauders in TN now want to appropriate Murugan. Aided by spiritual illiteracy, they are systematically reducing the deity to a historical ancestor to find political turf.

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

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