20 AUGUST 2015

Ø  Gujarat’s suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who had taken on the then Narendra Modi administration over the 2002 riots, has been terminated from service by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India. In April 2011, Mr. Bhatt filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing Mr. Modi of “complicity in the 2002 riots” in which over 1,200 people, mostly from the minority community, were massacred.

Ø  Since the last formal talks with Pakistan in 2012, India has added 15 new names to a fresh list of fugitives to be handed over to the neighbouring country during the National Security Adviser-level talks scheduled for Sunday. India has also prepared a 1,000-page dossier on Udhampur attack accused Mohammad Naved, which will be shared with Pakistan. In 2012, India handed over a list of 50 fugitives said to be in Pakistan. This time the list has surged to 65. India has also formulated a strategy to dismiss any comparison between the Samjhauta Express blast, in which 42 Pakistanis were killed, and the Mumbai terror attack citing the role of state actors in the latter incident.

Ø  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) gave approval in principle for 11 entities on Wednesday to set up payments banks. They are India Post, Reliance Industries Ltd., Aditya Birla Nuvo, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, National Securities Depository Ltd., Airtel M Commerce Services Ltd., Vodafone m-pesa Ltd., Cholamandalam Distribution Services Ltd., Fino PayTech Ltd. and Paytm. Payments banks will take deposits and remittances, but will not advance loans. In its previous bi-monthly monetary policy, the RBI said it would announce the names of the entities in August. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Postal Department should gear up to become a vehicle of financial inclusion. The licence will enable the 1.54 lakh post offices to offer banking services.

Ø  The Patidar community has intensified its agitation demanding OBC status and reservation benefits while two other upper castes, Brahmins and Kshatriyas, have also joined the race launching separate agitations in Gujarat. On Wednesday, Patidars took out rallies in several towns of north Gujarat asking people to participate in the “show of strength” rally in Ahmedabad on August 25.