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Leading the march to the Raj Bhavan in Patna on July 13, demanding immediate release of the caste-based census data by the Centre, the RJD chief Lalu Prasad had claimed that it was the beginning of the revival of the Mandal agitation and politics. He, however, did not underline the parameters within which the movement would be built. He also did not clarify the reasons for his optimism.

The dramatic developments in India-Pakistan relations after Ufa accord may surprise some but not those who are in know of the forces that dictate Pakistan’s relationship with India. The attempts that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi made to revive the stalled dialogue process were laudable. He met his counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the sidelines of the SCO Summit as a matter of diplomatic courtesy and agreed to resolve all outstanding issues.

Come October, representatives of one-third of humanity meet in New Delhi in what is billed as one of the biggest diplomatic events in the international calendar: the India-Africa Summit 2015. More than 1000 delegates are likely to participate in the five-day event, including heads of government, senior ministers, government officials and captains of industry. This is the Narendra Modi Government’s largest outreach programme since coming to power in 2013, with New Delhi hosting leaders of 54 African states. While programme sheets are yet to be finalised, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) indicate there may be several rounds of interaction between ministers from various countries in the run-up to the actual summitry of the heads of government. “Bilateral meetings are being scheduled for October 30,” Navtej Sarna, Secretary (West), said. Apparently, the MEA has dispatched invitations at three levels—head of government, foreign minister and senior officials—of each country.

Nine months to go before Tamil Nadu goes to polls in May 2016, DMK of Mr M Karunanidhi and other Dravidian outfits and fringe parties are out-rivaling one another for a power grab, even as ruling AIADMK looks impregnable with Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa’s undiminished hold on the masses and with fewer signs yet of anti-incumbency on the electoral horizon.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala CPI Secretary Kanam Rajendran’s statement that the time has come for the left parties to have a relook on secularism has touched off a lively debate in the state’s political circles, especially among the left parties.

Should holders of constitutional offices or seats of power own/run private businesses? Should they use the power, bestowed upon them by the offices they hold, for amassing assets or for helping their favourites facing legal action? The spate of recent controversies involving some of India’s leading political figures holding high seats of power have given rise to these questions. Such ‘luminaries’ who find themselves in the dock include Union Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhra Raje and her MP son and Punjab’s ruling Badal family.

Narendra Modi’s hope that India will emerge as the world’s “human resource capital” via his “Skill India” projects just as China has become a global manufacturing hub may not be fulfilled if the government continues to impose a RSS-inspired writ on educational and other institutions.

The Ministry of Railways is formulating a national policy to draw up a detailed roadmap to sort out bottlenecks and augment capacity of Indian Railways. This follows recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways. Although the railways have been enunciating policies for its all round development through annual plan reflected in rail budget, five year plan document, status papers on rail finances, white paper etc., a consolidated national policy would be all together distinct from the norms followed hitherto.

Hidden behind the heat and dust of possible Greek exit from Euro common currency or resounding fall of Chinese stock, diplomats and foreign ministers of a select band of countries had been working almost for a fortnight in a Vienna hotel to arrive at a crucial agreement which could change the global oil market drastically. Not that the talks were smooth or linear.

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh bandh call which was given by the Congress Party on July 16, was a total failure. The life remained normal in almost all the major towns, including Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh.