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The Modi government’s Kashmir policy has been a grand failure. In 2015 when the election to J&K Assembly took place people participated with a great enthusiasm. However, the subsequent opportunistic alliance between PDP and BJP vitiated the atmosphere as the central government started pursuing the so-called strong arm approach of resolving all issues related to Kashmir. BJP’s constant threat of doing away with Article 370 of Constitution and its communal approach also added fuel to fire. But today after 4 years 6 months of misrule, the alienation of Kashmiri people is a reality. In the local body election participation of people was less than 3 per cent. Similarly, more than 1,200 Kashmiri students studying in Aligarh Muslim University have threatened to go back if cases against three Kashmiri students are not withdrawn, creating a crisis in the university and also in Kashmir.

Peaceniks in Afghanistan heaved a sigh of relief, with subdued optimism, when in November last year Col Chris Kolenda, an Afghan war veteran, boarded a Doha-bound plane, along with Robin Raphel for a dialogue with the Talibans - an experimental diplomacy sans formality, aimed at termination of the 17-year war in Afghanistan, a disastrous gamble for the US. Hi-fi strategic and diplomatic experts in the US, who ridiculed the move, have now chosen a disquieting quietitude as the effort bears distinct signs of an unprecedented triumph. Although the move was never formally authorised by U.S. officials, the Trump administration climbed down to assign Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan’s Reconciliation, to lead a U.S. delegation for peace talks with the Taliban representatives in Doha.

First it started as a trickle of bold expose by a few. Then it opened up the floodgates of years of pent-up frustration and anger of numerous women. The ‘Me Too’ phenomenon then literally turned into a deluge. The true colours of many big guys—from Bollywood celebrities to top-notch media barons, from reputed academic dons to NGO bosses—got exposed. Their credibility is lost beyond salvage.

“There is no God,” says physicist Stephen Hawking in his final book “Brief Answers to the Big questions” published posthumously. Coming at a time when a part of India known as ‘God’s Own Country’ is battling over whether women of all ages have the right to worship at the temple of a particular God, Hawking’s blanket declaration, if thrown into the Sabarimala mix, might take the discussion into blind alleys.

THURUVANANTHAPURAM: There is no escaping this conclusion: The Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has squandered another golden chance to defuse the tension over the ongoing agitation on the Sabarimala issue.

Barely a month after JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar announced that an honourable agreement had been reached with BJP, some senior JD(U) leaders have expressed unhappiness with the BJP's proposed formula for seat sharing in Bihar for the 2019 general elections.

BHOPAL: Two former chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh — Babulal Gaur of the BJP and Digvijaya Singh of the Congress – find themselves caught in fierce controversies.

The central public sector enterprises, especially the blue chip ones, which have made good reserves through their consistent growth profile, are now targeted by the Modi government to pay for the policy lapses of the NDA regime. These companies like the ONGC, IOC as also the SBI and the LIC are paying the price of being profitable and high worth organizations under the administration of Narendra Modi.

Travancore Devaswom Board-initiated talks to arrive at a consensus failed Tuesday. BJP was not part of the talks but its shadow looms large. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says Supreme Court order will be implemented come what may. Ayyappa devotees say they will not allow 'fertile women' anywhere near the shrine come what may! The BJP's 24-hour time given for LDF government to sort out the issue expired on October 16. What will BJP do?

During the 2014 general election campaign in his Varanasi constituency Narendra Modi had said; “Ganga Maa has called me to serve her”. But after becoming prime minister, he conveniently forgot his words and promises. A true son of Ganga, Prof G D Agarwal, lost his life after 111 days hunger strike for protection of Ganga, but it failed to move his conscience.