Today in History (April 11^th,1890)

11 April in Indian history is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890), an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer.

Summary of Today’s News

Extradition and Arrest of Tahawwur Hussain Rana

• Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian-American, extradited from the U.S. to Delhi on Thursday evening.
• Formally arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks conspiracy.
• Arrived in Delhi via a special flight.

Court Proceedings:

• Produced before Special NIA Judge Chander Jit Singh at Patiala House Court.
• NIA, represented by Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan and Special Public Prosecutor Narender Mann, sought 20-day custody.
• Court reserved orders on the custody plea.
• Rana’s lawyer: Advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority.

Security Arrangements:

• Transported to court in a cavalcade including a jail van, an armoured SWAT vehicle, and an ambulance.
• Delhi Police cleared press and public from court premises citing security concerns.

Political Reactions:

• BJP claimed extradition reflects India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism under PM Narendra Modi.
• Congress criticized BJP for taking credit, stating extradition resulted from diplomatic efforts started during the UPA era.

Jail Preparations:

• Tihar Jail officials confirmed readiness to incarcerate Rana in a high-security ward.

Background:

• Born in Pakistan, studied at the Pakistani military academy in Hassan Abdal, where he befriended David Coleman Headley (Lashkar-e-Taiba operative).
• Served as a doctor in the Pakistani army before moving to Canada and the U.S., gaining citizenship in both.
• Allegedly supported Headley, who conducted reconnaissance for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks (November 26–29, 2008), killing 166 and injuring 238.
• Headley contacted Rana 231 times during eight reconnaissance visits to India.
• Rana’s immigration law business in Mumbai was used as a front; he helped Headley secure an Indian business visa.
• Rana and his wife visited Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Kerala in November 2008, days before the attacks.

Legal Timeline:

• NIA registered a case against Rana and Headley on November 11, 2009, following a Ministry of Home Affairs directive.
• Chargesheet filed against them and seven others on December 24, 2011, for conspiracy with LeT and Harkat-Ul Jihad-al-Islami.
• India requested Rana’s extradition from the U.S. in December 2019.
• S. court proceedings began on June 10, 2020.
• Extradition approved by a U.S. court on May 16, 2023.
• S. Court of Appeals upheld the order on August 15, 2024.
• S. Supreme Court denied Rana’s review petition on January 21, 2025.
• PM Modi and President Trump announced Rana’s extradition in a joint statement on February 13, 2025.
• Rana handed over to NIA on April 9, 2025.

RTI Act will not restrict disclosure, says Minister

• Upcoming amendment tied to the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, to be enforced when DPDP Rules are notified in coming weeks.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assures it will not restrict disclosure of personal information and will maintain transparency in public life.

Congress and Civil Society Concerns:

• Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised concerns that amendments could allow the government to deny information on subsidies and schemes if personal information is involved.
• Civil society groups, including digital rights and pro-transparency advocates, warn the amendment could undermine the RTI Act.
• Over 120 Opposition MPs signed a letter to Vaishnaw, demanding repeal of the amendment.

Vaishnaw’s Defense:

• Cited 2017 Supreme Court judgment on right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.
• Emphasized the need for balance between right to information and right to privacy.
• Stated that information required by legal obligations will continue to be disclosed.
• Claimed amendments aim to prevent potential misuse of the RTI Act.

Activist Counterarguments:

• Anjali Bhardwaj (NCPRI co-convenor) argued that the RTI Act’s Section 8(1)(j) already balances privacy and information rights effectively.
• Noted that the existing law prevents vicarious information-seeking while allowing access to expose corruption and hold governments accountable.
• Criticized Vaishnaw’s response for not addressing the amendments’ impact, which could curtail access to critical information.

Specific Amendment Concerns:

• DPDP Act amendment deletes the RTI provision stating that information available to Parliament or State legislatures cannot be denied to citizens.
• Vaishnaw’s letter does not address this deletion, per Bhardwaj.

China’s Response to U.S. Tariffs

• China announced immediate restrictions on Hollywood film imports on Thursday, retaliating against U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalated tariffs on Chinese goods.
• National Film Administration (NFA) cited Trump’s tariff increase as a reason for reduced domestic demand for U.S. films.

Details of Film Import Restrictions:

• China, which imported 10 Hollywood movies annually for three decades, will now “moderately reduce” the number of U.S. films.
• NFA emphasized following market rules and respecting audience preferences.

China’s Diplomatic Efforts:

• China is engaging other nations to counter U.S. tariffs, focusing on forming a united front.
• Premier Li Qiang held a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, described as sending a “positive message.”
• Commerce Minister Wang Wentao held a video conference with EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčović to discuss U.S. “reciprocal tariffs.”
• Wang also engaged with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• Premier Li met with business leaders to bolster international support.

Tariff War Developments:

• Trump increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, prompting China to impose 84% tariffs on U.S. goods.
• China has refused negotiations, vowing to “fight to the end” in the tariff war.
• Trump temporarily backed off tariffs on most nations for 90 days due to global market declines.

Impact on Hollywood:

• Analyst Chris Fenton called the film import restriction a “super high-profile” retaliation with minimal downside for China.
• Hollywood studios earn only 25% of China’s box office revenue.
• Domestic Chinese films have increasingly outperformed Hollywood movies in China’s market.
• Hollywood once relied on China’s large market for box office success, but its influence has waned.

Analyst Perspective:

• Restrictions likely to have minimal economic impact on China, per analysts.
• Move seen as symbolic retaliation against U.S. tariff policies.

Surrender policy not a complete solution

• Maoists argue that the government’s surrender policy does not fully resolve the issue.
• Security forces encounter: Security forces returned from an encounter with Maoists in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, in March.
• CPI(Maoist) letter: In a letter dated April 8, the banned CPI(Maoist) reiterated that the anti-Naxal offensive must stop to create a favorable climate for peace talks.
• Chhattisgarh Deputy CM’s stance: Deputy CM Vijay Sharma stated that discussions cannot occur amid ongoing violence.
• Amit Shah’s appeal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently urged Maoists to lay down arms and join the mainstream.
• CPI(Maoist) press release: Attributed to the North-West Sub-Zonal Bureau, the release extended the Central Committee’s call for peace talks and criticized the government’s approach.
• Rejection of surrender policy: The Maoists opposed the government portraying its surrender policy as a complete solution and called for halting ongoing security campaigns.
• Chhattisgarh’s new policy: The Maoist Surrender and Victim Rehabilitation Policy, 2025, offers financial assistance to cadres who surrender; villages aiding this process could receive ₹1 crore in development funds.
• Maoist demands: The group insists security forces halt offensives in Naxal-dominated areas like Bastar to enable talks.
• Logistical concerns: The Maoists claimed Sub-Zonal Bureau members need to consult leadership and local units, which is impossible during ongoing anti-Maoist operations like the Kagar campaign.
• Government’s responsibility: The Maoists assert that creating a favorable environment for talks is the government’s duty.
• Deputy CM’s response: Vijay Sharma emphasized readiness for talks but urged Maoists to release villagers from their control and abandon violence.
• Open invitation for dialogue: Sharma assured that the government is willing to engage with any individual or group ready for discussion and support their resettlement.

Taliban Morality Police Actions

• Targeting men and barbers over non-compliant hairstyles and beard lengths.
• Detaining men for missing congregational prayers during Ramzan.

Vice and Virtue Ministry Laws (August 2024):

• Regulate public transport, music, shaving, and celebrations.
• Ban women’s voices and bare faces in public.
• Enforce dress codes, employment, and education restrictions on women and girls.

UN Report Findings (April 2025):

• Over half of detentions related to men’s non-compliant beard length/hairstyles or barbers providing non-compliant services.
• Arbitrary detentions without due process or legal protections.
• Increased monitoring of men’s mosque attendance during Ramzan, leading to detentions.

Socio-Economic Impact:

• Negative effects on small businesses (e.g., barbers, hairdressers, tailors, wedding caterers, restaurants).
• Reduction or total loss of income and employment opportunities.
• Compounding Afghanistan’s economic crisis, with women’s education/work bans potentially costing $1.4 billion annually (World Bank estimate).

UN Concerns:

• Laws present a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future.
• Taliban officials reject UN concerns about morality laws.

Broader Context:

• Laws exacerbate existing restrictions on women and girls.
• Both men and women face socio-economic challenges due to enforcement.