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The Group of 20 (G-20) summit in Argentina in November end could not have come at a more opportune moment as the world’s top 20 nations can sit across the table to resolve the global turmoil arising out of US-China trade war that is expected to become full blown in the next few months if not already.

Defying Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) by workers has become as common today as the routine acts of invoking ESMA by governments of all hues. For instance, speculation was rife among the bank employees in October end that the government might invoke ESMA against their proposed strike in December 2018 when the Finance Ministry proclaimed banking to be a “public service”, a precondition for invoking ESMA. The union leadership, however, clarified that such proclamations would not deter them from going ahead with strike action as their strikes in May and August 2018 were conducted despite such a proclamation being in force. In other words, they sent a clear message that they would defy ESMA even if that were to be clamped down.

Life is a dynamic process, evolving continuously under the influence of various factors. No wonder, devoid of knowledge about the causes of natural happenings around, man attributed several events to be caused by some unknown powers. This gave rise to several practices around the world, which were different in manner but similar in nature. Therefore, we find in ancient times fire in the woods thought to be due to the wrath of angry ‘fire god’; rains a result of power of ‘rain god’ and so on. Approach to health and illness was no different.

In politics, even a week is not a long time. Only a few days back, the BJP leadership was upbeat at the fate of opposition unity against its all powerful Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the breakdown of the Congress-BSP alliances in the coming state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, but suddenly things have changed and a new mood of opposition unity has sprung up after the significant discussions on Thursday between the Congress President Rahul Gandhi and the Telugu Desam Party supremo and the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Chandrababu Naidu. The most important message from this meeting is that forget the past, talk on the present and work for future.

There are a bunch of “free thinkers” in Kerala quoting the Constitution: “It is the duty of every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.” They wear constitutional morality on their sleeves and marvel at how the Supreme Court cut through chaff to deliver gender justice to women. They say it took 100 years for “lunatic asylum” Kerala to become “Navodaya Kerala” and the Hindutva cannot be allowed to return the state to the regressive it caters to.

Gone are the days when the US sneezes, Japan gets a cold. Today, Japan can say ‘No’ to US. Despite USA’s grave concern over the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to China shows Japanese willingness to justify Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiative. This will make a turning point in the Sino-Japan bilateral relations, which were shackled by age-long political hostility. The volte-face of Japan is viewed a silent negation to Trump’s protectionism. To this end, Modi’s visit to Japan, on the close heels of Abe’s visit to China, showcases a new pattern of trilateral relationship between the three leaders in Asia.

Millions of voters, many of them Democrats including historic numbers of women, angry at the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and subsequent GOP actions trashing everyone but the 1 percent, are mobilizing in a blue wave. A fearful part of the Trump base, many registered as Republicans, some allowing their fear to turn into hate, and many crowing over the ascension of a right-wing federal judge –- Brett Kavanaugh — to the Supreme Court, is surging in a red counter-wave.

Bad days are staring at the Narendra Modi Government just six months before the scheduled elections to the Lok Sabha. The CBI administration is in tatters, both the top bosses of this premier investigation agency of the country, are fighting in courts, the RBI Governor Dr. Urjit Patel has threatened to resign over the interference by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and now, the apex court of the country in its directive on October 31 has asked the Modi government to submit within ten days to the court the Rafale price and offset partner details.

Indians are caught up in two drives, both to poles in opposite directions with a distance of at least three and half millenniums. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his drive to modernize India to be digital nations. However the mentor of the ruling party, the Sangh Parivar was eager to bring back the glorious golden era of the Ram Rajya. The conservative minds were more confused by the drives in different directions. It was beyond doubt that the Sangh was pushing towards the glory in old age and the Prime Minister saw glory ahead in time scale for young of India. Neither the Prime Minister cared for the ill effects of new technologies for the masses nor has the Sangh cared to see the immense benefits that do come through new technologies.

BHOPAL: Recent political developments in Madhya Pradesh seem to indicate an improvement in Congress chances in the coming Assembly elections.