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Kalyan Singh oversteps himself
According to recent reports, the Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to withdraw cases against kar sevaks who participated in the Ayodhya agitation in 1991 and were charged with rioting, breach of peace and raising provocative slogans which led finally to police firing and some damage to the Babri Masjid. These cases were launched during the regime of Mulayam Singh Yadav. The state government has argued that it is within its powers to take such a decision.
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Don't write off democracy in Nepal
Wherever you go in Nepal, you can see children playing the country's favourite game, football, bouncing an improvised cotton-wool ball on their ankle. Most of their elders liken the state of the country's politics and democracy to a football. They are right. King Birendra, the harried referee of this game, is tired of blowing the whistle.
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Criminal injustice
Pre-poll violence has started dead on schedule, showing that the Indian election process is still immune to the forces of order. Part of the problem is that the Election Commission's move late last year to decriminalise politics has fallen flat. A slew of criminal candidates are in the fray, creating a climate in which violence is a legitimate option.
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EC's uneasy dates
A needless argument has been caused about the date of elections in the three Jammu and Kashmir constituencies of Anantnag, Baramulla and Udhampur. The National Conference has been arguing that these constituencies should either vote alongside the whole country or the counting of votes countrywide should not be started until they have voted too.
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No full stops here, only exclamations
All those dreadful truths, that have been reduced to cliches of the most inane kind over the years, stand bared in the depleting jungles of Bastar. After 50 years after national Independence -- and 12 general elections -- a vast majority of tribals don't have access to potable water. Many have no clothes, except a loin cloth. Even the hope of being able to have one wholesome meal a day remains distant.
The Sonia fallout
"Hello, this is Jimmy Carter. May I speak with Mrs. Thatcher, please?" "What a pleasant surprise, Mr. President, this is Maggie." "I am no longer President, my dear, haven't been for God knows how long." "I am no longer Prime Minister, but people can't help calling me that." "You better try harder, Maggie. Instead of calling me Mr President, you may need to call me Mr Prime Minister soon."
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