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In yet another massacre carried out by a breakaway group of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and retaliatory violence by the targeted people, nearly ninety people have been killed since December 23 in Assam. The group that targeted the Santhals is known as the Songbijit faction of the NDFB or NDFB(S). The NDFB signed a peace accord with the Government in May, 2005. Since then a ceasefire has been in force. But seven years later, a small faction of the NDFB led by I. K. Songbijit broke away from the main body and took to the gun again. Intriguingly, Songbiji himself is not a Bodo which is a plains tribe but a Karbi or hill tribal from the Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam.

To millions of Indians who voted for the Modi-led BJP in May 2014 and his crowning success in a nation-wide thirst for change, the 'governance' turn-out over the last seven months looks more of an anti-climax. No wonder, large sections have begun to feel somewhat disillusioned with the style of 'maximum governance' in vogue, less productive of jobs and uplifting of poor.

India must take immediate steps to integrate its diaspora spread across the globe in millions to be partners in country's progress. Their participation in both economic and political activities, particularly in the decision making process is essential. Sadly not much efforts have been made to foster greater integration of overseas Indians who should not only have the right to vote and also be represented as nominated members in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Suitable amendments to the Constitution should be initiated to give dual citizenship to overseas Indians. The decision to allow political participation of overseas India will give them added impetus to invest in economic activity in the country.

The fresh impetus given to the Hindutva agenda by the RSS and its combative affiliates like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal appears to have soured their relationship with the BJP. The deterioration may not be serious enough to lead to a rupture. Besides, there have been occasions earlier when the BJP leaders havn’t seen eye to eye with the supposedly cultural organization, the RSS, which heads the Sangh parivar.

The Government is all set to privatise Indian Railways notwithstanding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to the contrary, while laying the foundation stone for expansion of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) at Varanasi on December 25, 2014. All railway unions’ representatives were detained before the Prime Minister’s function at the DLW in order to prevent them from protesting against the Government’s move to prrivatise the railways. Earlier, the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu also ruled out any such move. He was allaying the fears of railway unions. But actions of the NDA Government so far signal that the Railways are marching towards privatisation.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has upset the BJP’s applecart in Kerala. That has been the unpleasant upshot – a blessing in disguise, according to a section of the secular forces - of the aggressive reconversion campaign it has launched in Kerala.

As India rings in the year 2015 and bids good bye to 2014, it will be apt to look at Modi Government’s performance of last seven months and what stars foretell for the Prime Minister and the BJP in the New Year? The year gone-by could not have been better for Modi and his party. The month of May was momentous when after long years, BJP secured a majority in Lok Sabha election and formed its government after a decade of Congress led UPA rule. Success came one after another; the BJP ousted the Congress and formed its government in Haryana and also, at the same time, wrested Maharashtra. The state is now run by a shaky BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. However, capturing a state like Maharashtra is a big achievement for the BJP.

Normalisation of diplomatic relationship between the USA and Cuba is one of the most significant events of recent times and is in the interests of world peace movement, which strongly endorses the principle of peaceful co-existence of different states and different political systems. The US President Barrack Obama in his 2265-word announcement stated candidly, “Neither the American nor Cuban people are well served by a rigid policy that is rooted in events that took place before most of us were born. Consider that for more than 35 years, we've had relations with China — a far larger country also governed by a Communist Party. Nearly two decades ago, we re-established relations with Vietnam, where we fought a war that claimed more Americans than any Cold War confrontation. That's why — when I came into office — I promised to re-examine our Cuba policy. As a start, we lifted restrictions for Cuban-Americans to travel and send remittances to their families in Cuba. These changes, once controversial, now seem obvious. Cuban-Americans have been reunited with their families, and are the best possible ambassadors for our values. And through these exchanges, a younger generation of Cuban-Americans has increasingly”.

The discomfort caused to air travelers on the cancellation of a spate of flights by the private carrier SpiceJet in a single day and the desperate move by the promoter, the billionaire media tycoon Mr. Kalanidhi Maran of Sun Group television channel from Chennai to line up credit from banking industry, particularly from never-say-no public sector banks (PSBs) are nothing to gawk at! Only a couple of years ago, the Kingfisher airline of the Bangalore-based liquor baron Mr. Mallya met with a similar piquant plight but it could not be salvaged despite infusion of funds from PSBs. The airline wound up its business in 2012.

BHOPAL: Almost every day, some or other ministers are holding press meet to inform about the progress made by him or her department during the last one year, after the BJP came to power in Madhya Pradesh for the third consecutive term in the month of November 2013. This they are doing under the Chief Minister's instruction. The process is called presentation of report cards. But some of the ministers are not able to handle the press meet in an effective manner. This is happening because most of the ministers did not hold press conference after they took the charge of their departments. In fact, most of them lack the ability to reply to the questions fired by the media persons. It is normal that pressmen ask questions which are invariably inconvenient. Because of this unhappy situation developed during the press meets.