comment

KARNATAKA: Sangh Parivar Whips Up Communal Passion on Tipu Birthday

THE BJP and the Sangh Parivar in Karnataka once again are in the game of disturbing communal harmony in the state. This time around it was on the pretext of opposing the birth anniversary celebrations of 18th century ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan. The Congress government in Karnataka has decided to celebrate the Tipu birthday officially from this year onwards and it prepared to conduct official functions throughout the state on November 10.

Modi’s Visit to Silicon Valley & Digital India

THE visit of Narendra Modi to the world’s leading tech hub, Silicon Valley, and his meeting with giant IT companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, etc, have made an extreme media hype. The corporate media campaigned in such a tune as if Modi had uplifted this country to a new level of technological advancement through his visit. There is no doubt that Indians may use more smart phones, more high tech cars and other high tech appliances in future, but that does not mean that India will be technologically advanced.

Swachh Bharat or Maleen Bharat?

THERE is stench all around us. Dirt piling up, people urinating on the roads and defecating in the open – all these continue to offend our sensibilities. So, suddenly when there came a prime minister who stood upon the ramparts of the Red Fort to address all of us, on the issue confronting all of us, we are all more than happy. Here comes the doer! Come tomorrow, we need not be closing our nostrils when we move around! More than all this, we need not be ashamed of our roads, cities or our country. Particularly, before foreigners. Doer, he is, deliver he will.

The Political Potential of ‘Paper Rebellion’: Some Lessons from History

FINANCE minister Arun Jaitley has characterised the expanding revolt by eminent award winning writers against the growing assault on constitutional fundamental rights by a neo-conservative regime, as a ‘paper rebellion’ and a manufactured revolt. Such a statement shows that the NDA government is either blissfully ignorant of history or has refused to learn its lessons from past experience. It also shows the brutal power and arrogance of a majoritarian regime that is determined to curb dissent and spread religious intolerance.

Political Economy of Holy Cow

THE RSS and dozens of its so-called socio-cultural outfits have become very aggressive in unleashing violence during recent months since the BJP assumed power on its own under the leadership of Narender Modi. In spite of false tall promises and acute anti incumbency against the UPA-2 government, the BJP had got a mere 31 percent of the vote share.

A Bombing in Ankara, Turkey

ON October 10, two large bombs exploded at a peaceful political rally in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The rally had been called by two of the most prominent trade unions in the country – KESK and DISK – under the banner, “Labour, Peace and Democracy.” KESK is a large union of public sector workers and DISK is propelled to the Left by the presence of activists who went into its ranks when the Left parties faced repression from the State in 1971 and 1980.

Myth of the Hindutva Fringe

The corporate media has pushed a narrative of the “Hindutva Fringe” that is responsible for irresponsible actions, hate speech and whipping up communal frenzy while Modi and the core of BJP are responsible actors concerned only with development. They lament that Modi's development agenda is being hijacked by the Hindutva hot heads in RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and even within BJP. So, each provocative statement from the likes of Yogi Adityanath, Giriraj Singh, Sadhvi Prachi, etc.

“Strengthen Federalism by Restructuring Centre – State Relations”

Below we reproduce the note submitted by Manik Sarkar, chief minister of Tripura to a meeting on federalism and centre-state relations organised in New Delhi on September 30, by the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.  INDIA requires a more federal system to strengthen the democratic framework of the Indian State. The powers of the states in the legislative, administrative and financial spheres are limited even though they have a major responsibility to ensure development and fulfill the needs of the people.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - comment