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New Delhi: After Japan visit what awaits for the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Thailand?

The disconnect between the reality of nuclear power and the Indian establishment’s perception of it is complete. Nuclear power has been in worldwide decline for more than a decade. The number of operating reactors peaked in 2002 at 444, and has fallen to under 380. Their electricity output peaked globally in 2004, and has since decreased annually by 2 percent or more.

It appears that both mother and son, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, have chosen the wrong role model – Indira Gandhi - from their family. While Sonia seemingly imbibed all the unsavoury traits of Indira during her stay in her mother-in-law’s house when she was new to the country and unfamiliar with its history and politics, the explanation for Rahul’s admiration for his grandmother is somewhat different.

History, they say, repeats itself. And it has happened in Punjab in a short span of five years. The reference is to the May 19 panchayat elections which the ruling Akali Dal handsomely won. In 2008 also the party had swept the panchayat polls. Both the elections were held a year after the 2007 and 2012 state Assembly elections. As in 2008, the Congress again suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2013 panchayat polls. The top Akali brass has described 2013 panchayat polls outcome as a rehearsal for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

LUCKNOW: Taking 2014 Lok Sabha polls as major challenge, AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi himself launched the preparations for party in Uttar Pradesh.

The pretence has been shed, and the knives are out. The real battle - for the Chief Minister’s post - has begun between the A group led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Vishala I group headed by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala.

New Delhi: India is likely seek Japan’s cooperation in high speed rail technology, energy sector, particularly nuclear power, infrastructure projects and institutionalizing joint naval exercises between the two countries during the four-day visit of the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Tokyo beginning on Monday.

A poll survey has visualized if the Lok Sabha elections are held now, the NDA will form the government, edging out the ruling UPA. There are clear indications that elections will not be held now or anytime before the scheduled time that is May, 2014. Therefore, the whole exercise of hazarding guess is infructuous. What is more important is a series of coming elections in the states in 2013. The outcome of these electionS will set the tone for the Lok Sabha poll.

Over three decades ago, Mexico’s powerful former economic and foreign affairs minister Julius Eduardo Navarette, a champion of the non-alignment movement (NAM), South-South dialogue and friend of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, said after the famous Cancun Conference that the big brother United States, its neighbour and biggest trading partner, was practically robbing Mexican businessmen of millions of dollars in tricky price and delivery pacts and trade law jargons as few Mexicans understood English well.

The union railway minister was sacked not a long while back. Unfortunately, we will soon get another railway minister. But then, do we really need a railway minister? It is time that the issue is examined and acted upon.