Today in History (April 4^th,1944)

Commencement of the Battle of Kohima: on this day the pivotal battle during World War II began in Northeast India.​ The fierce combat between Japanese forces and the combined British and Indian troops is often referred to as the “Stalingrad of the East.”​Observer Voice. The battle concluded on June 22, 1944, with the retreat of Japanese forces, marking a significant turning point in the region’s history.

Summary of Today’s News

Donald Trump Launches Trade War

Ranging from 10% to 49% on U.S. imports from various trading partners.

• India hit with a 27% tariff: India faces a 27% tariff on its exports to the U.S., despite ongoing trade talks.

India’s response:

• The Commerce Ministry is “examining the implications” of the tariffs.

• It will engage with stakeholders, including Indian industry and exporters, to assess the impact.
• India is studying potential opportunities arising from the new development.
• The country values its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the U.S. and will continue discussions for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aiming to raise trade to $500 billion by 2030.

Global reaction:

• China, EU, Canada: Vow countermeasures in response to the tariffs.
• Japan, South Korea: Term tariffs “regrettable”.

Trump’s reasoning:

• The tariffs are part of a broader effort to address the U.S.’s persistent trade deficits, labeled a “national emergency”.
• Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to implement these tariffs.

Tariff timeline:

• A 10% baseline tariff on all countries will take effect from April 5.
• Higher individualized tariffs for countries with the largest trade deficits will take effect from April 9.

Market reaction:

• Global markets plummeted: Japan’s Nikkei lost 4%, European markets dropped over 2%, India’s Sensex lost 300+ points, and the Nifty dropped.
• In the U.S., the Dow Jones fell over 3%, and the Nasdaq dropped 4%.
• Trump’s justification for India’s 27% tariff: Despite ongoing BTA talks, India was hit with a 27% tariff. Trump claimed India imposes 52% duties on U.S. goods.

SC upholds cancellation of teacher appointments

• The Supreme Court confirmed the cancellation of over 23,000 appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff in Bengal schools.

Background:

• The appointments, made in 2016 by the West Bengal School Service Commission, were linked to the cash-for-jobs recruitment “scam”.
• The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered the invalidation of all 23,123 appointments on April 22, 2024, citing the process as “tainted”.

SC ruling:

• The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision and ruled that no further appointments should be made based on the tainted selection process.

CM Mamata Banerjee’s reaction:

• Mamata Banerjee expressed respect for the judiciary but disagreed with the judgment on humanitarian grounds.
• She assured support for the teachers whose appointments were cancelled, urging them not to lose hope.

Political reactions:

• BJP: State BJP chief and Union Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, demanded that Mamata Banerjee take full responsibility for the corruption and step down.
• Governor’s stance: The Governor’s office stated that the verdict vindicated its position on the matter.
• CPI(M): The party called for urgent action to fill the vacancies created by the court’s ruling.
• Teachers’ response: Many teachers whose appointments were cancelled expressed feelings of depression and uncertainty about their future.

Bangladesh’s political developments and a reflection on South Asian Minorities

• Violence against Hindus in Bangladesh since the deposition of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 raises concerns about the status of religious minorities.
• The broader context includes the deteriorating conditions of minorities in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh since Partition.

Partition and its legacy:

• Partition in 1947 aimed to resolve the Hindu-Muslim issue but has left a legacy of unresolved disputes and divisions.
• Partition’s impact extends beyond India and Pakistan to affect religious minorities, including Sikhs and Christians, making minority rights a key issue for the region’s stability.
• The legacy of Partition has created new socio-political groups like Mohajirs in Pakistan and Bangladeshi refugees in India.

Post-Partition issues and solutions:

• Following Partition, India and Pakistan faced significant challenges regarding the status of minorities and refugee populations.
• Prominent leaders like Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Sardar Patel discussed solutions, such as population exchanges between India and Pakistan.
• The Nehru-Liaquat Ali accord of 1950 was aimed at addressing minority rights and preventing war, though it was not fully successful.

Nehru-Liaquat Ali Pact:

• The Pact sought to safeguard minority rights in Pakistan but ultimately neglected the rights of Bengali Muslims in East Bengal, leading to the formation of Bangladesh in 1971.
• The creation of three nations in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) resulted from the failure to resolve these minority issues.

India-Bangladesh relations:

• Despite India’s role in Bangladesh’s liberation, the relationship between the two countries has been strained, particularly regarding the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.
• There are debates on whether the violence against Hindus is politically motivated or a sign of a broader era of persecution.
• India has focused too much on the Hasina family in Bangladesh, neglecting broader societal and democratic factors.

Recalibrating India-Bangladesh ties:

• India needs to reassess its relationship with Bangladesh, focusing on its population and democratic institutions rather than solely on political leaders or families.
• Bangladesh’s secular fabric is fragile, with no clear consensus among ideological factions.

Interconnected fate of religious minorities:

• The fate of minorities in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is deeply interconnected.
• There is a need for a new approach to safeguard minority rights, moving beyond the limitations of past political frameworks like the Nehru-Liaquat Ali alliance.
• A shared history does not necessarily lead to a common future, but fostering better understanding between Hindus and Muslims in South Asia is crucial.

The importance of secular democracy:

• Secular democracies are more effective in safeguarding minority rights.
• New initiatives are needed not only in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh to protect minorities.
• Political rhetoric focusing only on the rights of co-religionists in neighboring countries can fuel majoritarian ideologies and contribute to violence and hatred.

Conclusion:

• Addressing the state of religious minorities in South Asia is vital for the region’s peace and prosperity.

In a possible turnaround for ties, Modi and Yunus to have talks in Bangkok

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok on Friday.
• This will be their first meeting since the interim government took charge in Bangladesh after the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina last July.

Context of the meeting:

• The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC summit.
• Tensions between Dhaka and Delhi had risen due to attacks on minorities and Hasina’s extended stay in India.
• Yunus’s comments during his recent visit to Beijing, where he referred to India’s northeastern region and Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal as “extensions of the Chinese economy,” contributed to misgivings in Delhi.

Details of the meeting:

• The meeting is scheduled around noon on Friday.
• Modi is expected to meet the leaders of all BIMSTEC countries during his visit.

India-Thailand relations:

• After bilateral talks between Modi and Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday, India and Thailand upgraded their relationship to a “Strategic Partnership.”
• They exchanged agreements on cooperation in digital technology, industries, handicrafts, and development of India’s northeastern states.

Modi’s other engagements:

• Modi is scheduled to speak at the BIMSTEC Summit plenary session on Friday.
• He is set to meet Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay.
• Modi is also expected to meet Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli.
• A potential meeting with Myanmar’s military regime leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, is also on the cards. This would mark a first high-level engagement with Myanmar’s junta since it seized power in 2021.

EU response to U.S. tariffs

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the EU was “prepared to respond” to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
• She also kept the door open for negotiations despite expressing regret over Trump’s decision.

Details of Trump’s tariffs:

• Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all goods coming into the U.S.
• Some countries and entities faced higher tariffs, with:
  • China at 34%
  • India at 27%
  • Vietnam at 46%
  • Non-EU European countries taxed at varying rates: the U.K. at 10% and Switzerland at 31%.

Impact of the tariffs:

• Von der Leyen emphasized that tariffs would hurt people globally and that there was no clear solution to the resulting uncertainty.
• She noted that the situation created “chaos” and “disorder” as U.S. trading partners were impacted.

EU preparation for countermeasures:

• The EU had already been preparing to respond to previous U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, and this process was confirmed to be ongoing.
• Von der Leyen stated that the EU was preparing for additional countermeasures to protect its interests and businesses if negotiations fail.

Indirect impacts:

• The EU was also monitoring the indirect impacts of the tariffs, such as the potential dumping of cheap goods by third countries originally intended for the U.S.

Potential for negotiations:

• Von der Leyen suggested that tariffs should not be the first and last resort for resolving trade issues.
• She stated that she was open to helping make the international trading system more suited to the global economy’s realities.

EU’s internal response:

• The EU was looking at removing bureaucratic and regulatory challenges within its borders to counter Trump’s actions.
• Von der Leyen assured Europeans that the EU’s 450 million-strong Single Market would serve as a “safe harbour” in difficult times for those feeling let down by their “oldest ally.”

China’s opposition to U.S. tariffs:

• China strongly “firmly opposes” the new U.S. tariffs on its exports.
• China vowed to implement “countermeasures” to protect its rights and interests.

Details of Trump’s tariffs:

• S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from various countries.
• Trump introduced particularly harsh tariffs of 34% on Chinese imports, one of the U.S.’s largest trading partners.

China’s reaction:

• China’s Commerce Ministry stated that the U.S. tariffs “do not comply with international trade rules” and “seriously harm” the legitimate rights of the affected parties.
• China called for the U.S. to “immediately cancel” the tariffs, warning that they “endanger global economic development” and harm U.S. interests and global supply chains.
• The U.S. was accused of engaging in “typical unilateral bullying practice.”

Previous tariffs:

• The new tariffs follow a 20% tariff that the U.S. imposed last month on Chinese goods.

China’s diplomatic stance:

• China’s Commerce Ministry criticized U.S. “protectionism and bullying” but confirmed that the two sides were “maintaining communication” on trade and economic issues.

Foreign Ministry’s warning:

• China’s Foreign Ministry warned the U.S. that protectionism has no “exit ramp” and pointed out broad international opposition to these measures.

China’s response to U.S. tariffs:

• In retaliation, China previously imposed tariffs of up to 15% on various U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, pork, and chicken.

Impact on China’s economy:

• The U.S. tariffs threaten to harm China’s fragile economic recovery, which is struggling with a long-running debt crisis in the property sector and persistently low consumption.