ALONG with the revival of the issues of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, the BJP-RSS combine has opened a new front with communal intent. That is the renaming of cities and places which have a Muslim cultural lineage. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh led by Adityanath, has gone on a name changing spree.  Allahabad, one of the foremost educational and cultural centres of Uttar Pradesh has been renamed officially as Prayagraj.

THE publication of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has caused widespread consternation as over four million (40 lakh) persons who had applied have not found a place in the Register.

The updating of the NRC of 1951 constitutes part of the implementation of the Assam Accord of 1985.  As per this Accord, March 24, 1971 was fixed as the cut-off date for determining those who came after that date to be illegal migrants. 

THE contradiction between the strategic alliance with the United States and India’s national interest is coming to the fore. The Modi government is not going to resolve this contradiction in the national interest.  Rather, it is getting ready to capitulate to the demands of the Trump administration.

THE last two months have seen a spate of mob attacks and lynchings in different parts of the country. This wave of shocking violence has led to the killing of at least 30 innocent people in 10 states over the months of May and June.

The mob attacks were sparked off by rumors of ‘child lifting’ sent out through WhatsApp messaging service. In incident after incident “strangers” who appear in villages or small towns are suspected of being child snatchers, set upon by crowds and beaten to death or seriously injured.

THE 43rd anniversary of Emergency became, as usual, an occasion for the BJP leadership to put out its own distorted and boastful version of this eventful period in post-independent India. 

The internal Emergency declared on June 26, 1975 by Indira Gandhi was a direct attack on democracy. It ushered in an authoritarian regime which suspended civil liberties, jailed opposition leaders and activists in thousands under preventive detention, imposed press censorship and amended the constitution to introduce draconian measures.