It’s a privilege to bring before you the 25th edition of – a milestone in its own way. Though it is certainly a matter of pride for the entire team , yet it’s also time for resolve to outperform ourselves in the coming weeks.. We know we have a long way to go, and we are confident that with your trust and support, we’ll be able to offer you a more evolved and a better-quality package with every new edition.
It’s a matter of added joy that the release of our special edition coincides with India’s landmark moment of getting Droupadi Murmu, an Adivasi woman from Odisha, as the new President of the Republic. We take note of this historic development on the front page of this issue. Alongside that, we have the Cover Story on the US Congress resolution to waive sanctions against India for its purchases from Russia under the CAATSA. The resolution, moved by Congressman Ro Khanna, a US lawmaker of Indian origin, won overwhelming approval from both the Republicans and the Democrats. Calling it a big diplomatic triumph for India, our story says the waiver highlights the US Government’s acknowledgement that India is facing Chinese aggression on its borders and it’s important for it to support India’s defence to protect its own strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. Another story on an inside page dwells on this aspect in detail. The third story of the package explains how the CAATSA waiver is matter of relief as it has removed the Sword of Damocles that was hanging over India’s multiple defence purchases from Russia.
With the new President in, the stage is now set for the vice-presidential elections; and that is the subject matter of our Centrespread. Besides detailing the poll process and analysing the electoral strength of the key contender, our report describes the role and responsibility of the Vice-President with particular focus on his position as the Rajya Sabha Chairman. An accompanying box profiles the ruling party nominee Jagdeep Dhankar, whose victory is a certainty. We also carry a box listing all the Vice-Presidents which India has had from 1952 onwards.
The Southeast Asian country of Laos is our Globetrotting destination this week. India, says our report, understands the strategic geographical importance of Laos, which is virtually sitting on the lap of China. Besides elaborating on bilateral trade agreements and high-level visits between the two countries, the story focuses on the assistance provided by India to contain the spread of the pandemic in Laos. The box story on the page is about the calamitous state of Laos economy and the imminent danger of the country falling into Chinese debt trap.
On the Rising India page, the issue takes note of India achieving a milestone of crossing the two billion-mark in cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage and the country’s largest floating solar power project becoming fully functional. Enjoy the package!
