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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shocking indifference and callous neglect – this has been Kerala’s lot in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, February 1,2020.

Nothing could explain better the loss of sense of wisdom and rationality of the BJP leaders and its rank and file and their turning into a band of insensitive mercenaries than the slander inflicted by the general secretary of Bengal, Sayantan Basu. Intensity of his hatred towards the Muslim protestor could be gauged from his caustic observation towards the 56-year-old woman protester Sameeda Khatoon, who died at ‘Kolkata’s Shaheen Bagh’ at Park Circus Maidan on Saturday, where hundreds of women and children have been staging demonstration against CAA, NRC and NPR for last one month.

When the BJP raises the communal temperature, it is a sign of the party realizing that it is in trouble. Since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is being seen as the frontrunner in the Delhi assembly elections, it is not surprising that the BJP has decided to pull out all the stops where its communal rant is concerned.

The union home minister Ameet Shah touched hornet’s nest through his amendment to the Citizens’ Act. The tornado of protests began to sweep across entire country but only after his revelation of his proposed move afoot to prepare National Citizen Register. The amendment to the Citizens’ act was not necessary as the union home ministry alone was equipped with the authority to grant, disallow or even withdraw citizenship. The amendment did not confer more authority on or withdraw any on granting citizenship. The main purpose was to indicate that the citizenship grant to refugees or infiltrators from three neighbours, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, would henceforth be based on religion of refugees, and to only minorities in those countries as they were forced to seek shelter due to atrocities on them. The explanation in body of the amendment did not mention Buddhist from Tibet who had escaped atrocities by the communist regime of China.

If the revised budget estimates for 2019-20 are way behind their original targets, it could be wrong to aspire that the first full year union budget under the second term of the Modi government would achieve any economic miracle by radically pushing up economic growth, creating new employment, generating income and savings and inducing large investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and services. The so-called aspirational budget is hardly inspiring except probably for foreign direct investors in new projects.

Hyderabad: Rising star Priyanshu Rajawat stole the show as PV Sindhu put up a masterclass against Shriyanshi Pardeshi to guide Hyderabad Hunters to a gritty 4-3 win over Mumbai Rockets at the GMC Balayogi SATS Indoor Stadium here today.

Jamshedpur: A brilliant Roy Krishna brace (2', 75') helped ATK ease past an ineffective Jamshedpur FC 3-0 in a Hero Indian Super League clash at the JRD Tata Sports Complex here on Monday.

New Delhi: World Championships silver medallist Anjum Moudgil, who is currently looking to book a place in the Indian shooting contingent for the Tokyo Olympics, expressed that the Khelo India University Games will be a great platform for the upcoming athletes.

Hyderabad: With the Chennai Superstarz and North Eastern Warriors confirming their spots in the semi-finals of the Star Sports Premier Badminton League, it will be an exciting battle for the next two spots.

Kolkata: Kolkata’s Anjali Saraogi extended her lease over the IDBI Federal Life Insurance Kolkata Full Marathon, winning it for the third time on the trot on Sunday here at the Rangers Ground.