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The formation of political mind of Indian voters is complex and intricate. Even issues that appear to be insignificant can play havoc with calculations of all players in the ring. All politicians, their advisers and most political observers suffer a belief that money bags, muscle power, caste consideration or allurement of cheap goods and free services can and do influence even though evidence in five land slide verdict in five of 12 elections since 1971 knocks out the belief. The 1971 election gave ordinary voters the measure of power they have in election to bring about a change. That is the only time they can be kings and they do not waste and exercise their power in favour of who caught their imagination by putting it aflame. Indira Gandhi did it in 1971 and 43 years later, Narendra Modi performed the miracle.

The Supreme Court is on a roll and women everywhere are on fire with #MeToo turning into a #WeToo chorus. As far as court judgements go, when they ring false on one thing, they ring false on all things. So, if the verdict on Sabarimala rang false for those opposing women’s entry to Sabarimala, the ruling on Bhima Koregaon didn’t strike true for rights activists.

NICOSIA (CYPRUS): During my recent visit to this beautiful country I noticed that the prices of products sold in Turkish Republic of North Cyprus are 50 per cent lower than those in southern parts.

“Stop killing us!, screamed the banner at the exceptional protest at Jantar Mantar on 25 September 2018. The protest by Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA) led by Bezwada Wilson was a unique event at many levels. It is a rare event where students from JNU, considered to be the most elitist bastion of the radical intelligentsia, were rubbing shoulders with safai karamcharis, considered to be the most downtrodden among the labour force.

There is a Moorish footprint in India which India does not much remember though Morocco does somewhat endearingly. That long-forgotten link was recalled by members of a Moroccan delegation which visited this country on the occasion of opening of its National Tourism’s office in New Delhi.

Jeremy Corbyn’s conference speech was a call to arms for the labour movement, a clear challenge to all those who oppose Tory austerity to unite and bring an end to it for once and for all.

Weekly Round-Up of Major Decisions of the Courts in India as also Legal Policy Developments

The Supreme Court has laid down important checks and balances to ensure that Aadhaar is used only for the genuine purposes for which it was created - for targeted delivery of financial benefits for the poor and the underprivileged.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Church leadership does not seem to be in a mood to learn lessons from the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of repeatedly raping a nun, if the initial response is any indication.

“It is directed under Article 142 that the existing data which has been collected shall not be destroyed for a period of one year. During this period, the data shall not be used for any purpose whatsoever. At the end of one year, if no fresh legislation has been enacted by the Union government in conformity with the principles which have been enunciated in this judgment, the data shall be destroyed.”