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LUCKNOW: BJP has launched its campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with the “Atal Shankhnaad rally” held in Lucknow in January 21.

Skirmishes at the India-Pakistan Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector in Jammu have spilled blood—both soldiers’ and civilians’—and precipitated a crisis that could snowball into a destructive conflict unless it’s resolved through skilful diplomatic intervention.

Having covered the historic plenary session of the Congress in December 1985 in Bombay in which Rajiv Gandhi made his frank and forthright “power broker” speech and having listened to Rahul Gandhi at Jaipur AICC meeting last Sunday, I can draw comparison between the two. Though the times have changed, the tone and tenor of the speeches of both father and son were almost identical.

Notwithstanding existing plethora of schemes for the Minority communities, the persistent backwardness of the Muslims has drawn the attention of the Government. With a view to rectify the anomalies, the recently released 12th Five Year Plan document has suggested restructuring of the existing schemes and has also launched six fresh schemes in view to ameliorate the abject situation of the Muslims in India.

Rahul Gandhi’s coronation hints at the return of feudalism to the government’s helm after more than two decades. As the Congress vice-president and number two in the organization, the uncertainties about his prime ministerial goal have been largely removed. If his party wins in 2014, he may well become India’s second youngest prime minister.

NEW DELHI: NTPC Limited, India’s largest power generating company with an installed capacity of 39674 MW, after having declared a capacity of 3820 MW on commercial operation in the initial Nine-months of financial year 2012-13, has declared a growth in profit by 24.24% in the unaudited financial results announced for the Nine-months of financial year 2012-13. NTPC added 24% of the total capacity commissioned in the country during the Nine-months period of current fiscal.

Officially, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee enjoy a diplomatically correct relationship. Each has been congratulatory to the other on their electoral successes and achievements. They have been also known to exchange suitably worded greetings on celebratory occasions, no problems there.

Haryana politics is in turmoil. What direction will the turbulence take? Given the history of the state’s Aya Ram Gaya Ram politics, the question is not easy to answer. Still a close look at the developments that have lately been taking place in the state can indicate the possible direction the state politics may take in the run-up to the 2014 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

A Gandhi family loyalist who was with Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the dais in Chandigarh when Sonia first came to campaign in 1998 recalls a poignant moment. When somebody prompted Rahul Gandhi to speak at the election rally, he simply declined saying “ This is the moment of my mother.”