View Articles

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front(LDF) in danger of losing the political initiative it has wrested from the Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF) following its victory in the local bodies elections?

Recent carnage in Paris is enough a caution that the world leaders do away with the pet words – “good terrorists and bad terrorists.” This approach has done no good so far. Rather it has vitiated the atmosphere and created an environment for grooming of terrorists. Patronizing some as “good terrorists” and others as “bad terrorists” is nothing but a political ploy to disadvantage one’s adversary. It is, therefore, high time that world leaders push for an early conclusion Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism at the United Nations. This proposed treaty is held to hostage due to the insistence of some countries demanding a definition of terrorism. It is but logical that terrorism should be defined in clear terms.

Onion and pulses prices soar periodically in India and that too ahead of elections bringing tears to common man and deny much needed protein to the poor. This happens despite the fact that the production has increased substantially in the country. Onion production has doubled in the last 7-8 years to 190 lakh tonnes. The pulses production might not have grown that rapidly but India is the largest production of pulses at 19.5 million tonnes. The country is also the largest importer of pulses at 3.5 million tonnes.

KOLKATA: Despite Gorkhaland agitation leader Bimal Gurung’s recent announcement of a long march to Delhi from the hills, the movement for a separate state in North Bengal has lost its earlier momentum. Mr. Gurung thinks it is time to revive the agitation and rev up flagging rank morale.

Jammu and Kashmir may have its first woman chief minister soon if everything goes as planned. Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has sent clear signals that he wants to yield place to his daughter Mehbooba Mufti and it is only a question of time though there are speculations that it may perhaps be by January if not sooner. It is known that Mufti is not keeping good health and wants to hand over the baton to his daughter. He had declared recently, 'She is mature enough to handle responsibilities. It is a democracy. She works more than I do in addressing problems of the people on the ground.'

In this age of hast and hurry, even intellectuals rush with their opinions without verification of facts underneath. Nasreen, Bangladesh author always in thickets of controversies rushed with the opinion that Aamir Khan could earn Rs. 300 crore from his film PK only in India. He would have been done to death for making such a film in Pakistan or Bangladesh. Her opinion like of many intellectuals compartmentalizes humans in blocks of their religion and not by their talent. She could not appreciate talents and courage of Aamir Khan to challenge a pretender who let it be believed that he had monopoly rights over the concept of god while making the film.

With Lalu Yadav’s endorsement the Mahagathbandhan went to the Bihar Assembly polls with the face of Nitish Kumar as the new assurance for a resurgent Bihar. Though Lalu played the crucial role in providing a caste orientation to the Mahagathbandhan, getting this massive mandate was absolutely impossible without Nitish being the mascot.

BHOPAL: The victory of Congress candidate Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam Parliamentary constituency is being regarded as a personal setback for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan. The bye-election was caused by the death of BJP MP Dilip Singh Bhuria, whose daughter Nirmal Bhuria was sponsored as the BJP candidate.

It is amazing that going into country after country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks of an India in 'transformation' under him, without any plan or time-line, thereby underlining paucity in his thinking beyond bland statements of making it easier and easier to do business but unfailingly inviting investors of the West and East to come, produce and make fortunes. All this may prove illusory over time.

A powerful leftist political surge is being witnessed in the recent Parliamentary elections of the European countries with Portugal being the latest to have a left coalition government after the centre right President Anibal Silva was forced to invite on November 24 the leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party Antonio Da Costa to form the coalition government along with the Left block and the Portuguese Communist Party. In October 4 general elections, the ruling Social Democratic Party led by the Prime Minister Pedro Coelho lost majority but he was allowed to form the Government though the Socialist Party came to an understanding with the Left block and the Communist Party to have an anti-austerity coalition government. The Left coalition had 122 seats as against 107 seats secured by the ruling combination in the 230 member house. President Silva tried his best to persuade the Socialists not to have truck with the communists but he failed and the Coelho government was defeated in the new Parliament by the combined strength of the left coalition. There was no alternative for President Silva other than inviting Costa to form the new government.