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Heavy polling—over 71 per cent—in the first phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir is certain to continue in the remaining four phases. It means, people are fed up with terrorism and days of militancy in the strife-torn state are numbered. It is also a strong rebuff to separatists who had called for boycott of the poll. People of Kashmir and residents of Jammu, as if, mocked militants as they lined up in thousands outside polling booths, declaring support to democracy. Militants too, on their part, have realized the futility of their struggle and began bidding ‘farewell to arms’. This was evident from so many former militants jumping in the electoral fray; many of whom may get elected. Strong resentment against abrogation of article 370, which confers special status on J&K, was evident in first round, particularly in the valley. On its part, the BJP has tried to be soft on Article 370 and fielded over 40 per cent Muslim candidates.

NEW DELHI: Burgeoning population today is an asset for a democratic country like India, and not a liability. World’s eminent auditor and evaluator, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) recent observation that India could grow by 9% to a $10 trillion economy in two decades from now, gives two ideas of demographic advantage that India has got.. One, its people have to build up a vibrant system of economy and development, and, two, their potentials have to be harnessed to the fullest capacities.

India has decided to build 558 roads totaling 27,986 km by 2030 at a cost of over Rs 50,000 crore along the borders with China and Pakistan. India stands justified in building these roads on land under its possession. It is not making any construction on land illegally occupied by China or Pakistan.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When misfortune strikes, it does so in droves. Ask the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government ruling Kerala. It will vouch for the veracity of this saying.

Elections to West Bengal Assembly are scheduled for 2016 but preparations have already begun with the political parties positioning themselves already. How else can you explain the present open fight between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress in Parliament and outside? The BJP chief Amit Shah made the fact that West Bengal is on the horizon of the BJP clear when he took over.

A stormy start to Parliament's winter session already seems to underline the 'exciting times ahead' that the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley himself presages, though in a positive sense, for 'the whole set of second generation reforms' he intends to unleash in February next in the Union Budget for 2015-16.

Ahead of the imminent talks in Lima (Peru) and a binding legal treaty to curb carbon for emissions across the world to save the planet from the worst fallout, the United Nations (UN) has come out with a doable global carbon neutrality paradigm. A comprehensive synthesis report of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) titled The Emissions Gap Report, just released, highlights “a worrisome worsening trend” in carbon dioxide emissions and pitches for global carbon neutrality by mid-to-late century. This would help limit global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius and head off the worst effect of climate change that is reflected in a welter of devastating weather-related aberrations across continents in recent years including the one in Kashmir and Kedarnath earlier in India.

First phase of voting has already taken place in Jharkhand, which saw a 62 per cent turnout of the voters, which is surprisingly higher than the voting percentage witnessed during last Lok Sabha election. In the Hindi heartland of UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, the polling percentage is normally low and a turnout of more than 55 per cent of voters is assumed to be high and more than 60 per cent is taken as fairly high.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forthcoming visit to India provides a great opportunity to the two time-tested allies for a wide-ranging strategic tie-up in the energy sector, encompassing hydrocarbon, coal, nuclear and non-conventional energies, both at local and global levels to benefit both the countries as well as other stakeholders. Russia has probably the world’s largest reserves of oil and gas. According to Russian Natural Resources Minister Sergey Donskoy, as of 1 January 2012, recoverable reserves of oil in Russia under category ABC1 (equivalent to proven reserves) were 17.8 billion tons and category C2 reserves (equivalent to probable and possible) were 10.9 billion tons. It is a major energy exporter to the European Union. Russian Federation has the world’s second largest coal reserves. It is also 3rd largest producer of nuclear power.

KOLKATA: In the three and a half years since it lost power in West Bengal, the CPI-M’s downhill journey has continued. It is still losing ground – not to the Trinamool Congress but to the BJP. Once upon a time the Bengal Leftists were in the habit of quoting poet Sukanta Bhattacharjee’s line Banglar mati djurjoy ghanti chine nik durbritta (let the reactionaries know the soil of Bengal is an impregnable bastion). The memory of that era is fast receding into oblivion. The rude fact of life is that the middle and lower-level workers of the party are deserting its ranks and joining the BJP.