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Contemporary politics and the idea of India have undergone enormous changes. The tenets of probity, transparency and morality have lost values and relevance. What is happening in West Bengal in the midst of the Lok Sabha elections is a good indicator of that decline. First, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has instructed the Raj Bhawan staff not to respond to the police enquiry in the matter of molestation of the lady staff. Secondly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been systematically arousing communal passion and playing the victim Hindu woman card. Bose has asked Raj Bhawan staff to “ignore any communication from [state/city] police” and barred them from issuing statements in any form.

As we are set to observe May 9 as the day of victory over fascism, we are reminded of unprecedented sacrifices made by millions of people who laid down their lives fighting the most ghastly events in the human history. As per the ‘High Point Museum’, ‘World War II that lasted from 1939 to 1945 involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants launched their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. Causes of death included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war’.

In southwest Bolivia, high up in the Andes mountains, there is a massive, shining white salt flat, called the ‘Salar de Uyuni’. It is very flat and looks like a giant mirror. Underneath this salt flat, there is an important alkali metal that is essential for powering today’s technology.

May Day began to be commemorated in India 101 years ago. The first programme, organised in the city of Madras on May 1, 1923 is credited to M. Singaravelu Chettiar, who was a towering nationalist figure, and an early communist associated with the anti-caste movement.

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi raises the shrillness of his attack on Rahul Gandhi, aligning with a new phase of BJP’s identity politics, he is doing the Gandhi scion a great favour. Modi, on his part, seems to have settled the issue of the prime ministerial face of the opposition INDIA bloc in favour of Rahul.

Narendra Modi expressing joy and taking jibe at Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Rae Bareli shows that the man is blinded by political arrogance and overconfidence. His remark “Daro mat, bhago mat”, implying that Rahul left the Amethi seat out of fear, is simply empty electoral rhetoric wrapped in perception of joyous misreading of the moment.

BJP is finding itself in a very tough electoral battle in the third phase of Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh for which election campaign will end on May 5. It is surprising that despite high pitch communal campaign by BJP leadership, including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, common people are just brushing them aside as merely election rhetoric. They don’t believe PM Modi’s accusation that Congress and INDIA block would give reservation quota’s of Dalits, STs, and OBCs and wealth of the Hindu’s to Muslim, if they would come to power. People are taking it like a pinch of salt.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s move to shift battleground from Amethi to Raebareli is a King’s defence. Chess great Garry Kasparov, however, didn’t seem to agree. He cracked his "little joke" on the Gandhi family scion even while stating that Indian politics shouldn’t take his "advocacy or expertise" seriously. Garry Kasporav, like so many others who walk upright, appeared surprised that Gandhi had it in him to think strategically.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Left parties are made of sterner stuff. Their leaders, MPs and MLAs are not up for grabs unlike the Congress party which succumbs to threats, intimidations and blandishments from the saffron camp at the drop of a hat as it were.

Modi ki Guarantee—Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana. The promise, displayed on large hoardings, is what welcomes you to Raipur as you exit airport. Even those who live in the hinterlands of Chattisgarh have been assured of a darshan at the Ram temple in Ayodhya if Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister for the third time after the Lok Sabha polls.