The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 25th December 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The evolving role of the Colombo Security Conclave

Why in News?

In early December, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Ajit Doval, took part in the sixth NSA meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). The meeting reviewed the developments and progress made by the CSC in the last year and agreed upon a road map for the year 2024 to promote a safe, secure, and stable Indian Ocean.

About Colombo Security Conclave

• The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional security grouping.
• It was initially formed in 2011 as a trilateral Indian Ocean maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
• It was revived again in 2021. The Colombo Security Conclave has since expanded both its membership as well as scope.
• Colombo Security Conclave envisages sharing intelligence and collaborating on the security aspects of marine security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security.
• The fifth edition saw the induction of Mauritius as a new member and the scope of the conclave has been expanded to include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Significance

In light of the current global circumstances, the gathering that focuses on working together for military and security purposes becomes increasingly important in the region.

• Maritime Security – The conclave conducts “CSC Focused Operation” which plays a key role in keeping the Indian Ocean safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.
• Exchange of Information – it further improves the existing harmony in the region through timely exchange of information.
• Cooperation between Agencies – the conclave will aid in greater understanding and interoperability between the security agencies.
• Cybersecurity – The grouping helps in addressing key challenges such as Deep Web, Dark Net, Digital Forensics, Cyber Threat intelligence; and Defensive Operations in Cyber Domain.
• Tackling Environmental Hazards – Recent incidents like that of MV Xpress Pearl, MT New Diamond, and MV Wakashio caused wide-scale marine pollution in the Indian Ocean. The conclave also focuses its attention in this regard.

Way Forward

• Need for Regional Cooperation: There is an immense need for cooperation in the IOR given the rising number of security issues and uncertainties.
• The CSC is more likely to succeed if it maintains a common strategic vision and does not get bogged down by the growing Chinese influence in the region.
• To avoid points of contention with its Neighbours, India should start to accept that the IOR is developing into a global common.

Another opportunity

Why in News?

The Union Sports Ministry suspending the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Sunday marks yet another twist in the nearly year-long saga afflicting Indian wrestling. In January 2023, Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, had accused the then WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the coaches of the Federation of sexual harassment.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI):

• About
  • Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is a governing body of wrestling based in New Delhi.
  • It promotes wrestling players for the Olympics, Asian Games, National Wrestling Championships, and World Wrestling Championships.
• WFI’s Contract System for Wrestlers:
  • In 2018, the WFI rolled out its revolutionary contracts system for the grapplers.
  • Under the system, the wrestlers have been placed in four grades –
    • Grade A offers financial assistance of 30 lakh rupees;
    • Grade B offers a financial assistance of 20 lakh rupees;
    • The C category offers support of 10 lakh rupees;
    • The D category offers support of 5 lakh rupees.
  • The contracts are reviewed after one year.

Background of the case

• India’s Top Wrestlers Protesting
  • Veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat had alleged that WFI President Brij Bhushan has been involved since many years in sexually exploiting women wrestlers.
  • She further claimed that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have also exploited women wrestlers.
  • The wrestlers have also alleged financial mismanagement and arbitrariness in the functioning of the WFI.
• Demands of the protestors
  • The wrestlers demanded that:
    • an FIR be registered against Brij Bhushan on the basis of their police complaint, and
    • he be arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as one of the complainants is a minor.
  • They have also demanded that he should be removed as the WFI president, and that the federation should be dissolved.
• Formation of Oversight Committee
  • In January 2023, the government persuaded the wrestlers to call off their protest by forming an Oversight Committee.
  • The six-member committee, headed by boxing legend MC Mary Kom, was given four weeks to come up with its findings. However, it submitted its report only in the first week of April.
  • The committee has since been disbanded.
• Election in WFI
  • Following the fresh protests, the Government declared the ongoing process for the WFI elections, which were scheduled for May 7th, null and void.
  • Later, the federation was supposed to hold elections in June 2023. However, the elections have been repeatedly postponed.
  • The Sports Ministry halted the polls and asked the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) to form an ad-hoc committee to complete the election process within 45 days.
    • The IOA appointed Justice (retd.) M.M. Kumar as the returning officer for the WFI elections on June 12 after which the polls were scheduled for July 6.
  • In May, both the International Olympic Committee (I0C) and UWW (United World Wrestling) asked the IOA to conduct the WFI polls within the stipulated time frame.
  • However, polls could not be held in the stipulated timeframe due to:
    • Demand of the protestors that Brij Bhushan’s family members should be stopped from contesting the elections.
      • Brij Bhushan himself was not eligible to contest the WFI polls after completing three terms (12 years).
    • Disgruntled state associations seeking voting rights filed petitions in the respective High Courts.
  • The stays on the elections, first by the Guwahati High Court on June 25 and then by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 11 (a day before the latest date fixed for the elections), further caused the delay.

Wrestling Federation of India membership suspended on world stage

• The United World Wrestling (UWW) has taken the decision to suspend the membership of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) indefinitely.
• It has been suspended due to the postponement of Elections to designations in WFI due to Protests and Legal Battles.

 Why did UWW take this decision?

• The UWW Disciplinary Chamber found sufficient grounds to provisionally suspend the WFI due to the prevailing situation for at least six months.
• The absence of an elected president and a board did not comply with UWW regulations and its conditions for membership.
• The Chamber also considered the protection of athletes after the allegations against the former WFI president and the necessity to restore the functioning of the federation as another ground to suspend the national body.

 What is the impact?

• Wrestlers and their support personnel will be able to participate in all UWW sanctioned events.
  • This includes the World championships to be held in Belgrade in September 2023.
• However, they will not be able to compete in these events with an Indian flag. They will have to compete as 'neutral athletes'under the UWW flag.”
  • No national anthem will be played if an Indian wrestler wins a gold medal.

 What next?

• Different factions of the WFI need to realise the immense loss the sport has suffered because of the ongoing issue.
• The only way to bail the country out of international embarrassment and give the athletes their right to compete under the Tricolour is to conduct the WFI elections in a free and fair manner.