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Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again mouthed empty shallow words before the people of India when he said, “Today, when I have come among you and am standing near this temple of democracy, then my heart is full of pain, full of anger. The incident that has come to the fore in Manipur is a shameful one for any civilised society”.

In Assam, an intriguing political situation prevails after the announcement of new draft proposals for the long awaited delimitation of state Assembly/ Parliamentary constituencies. Apparently, even major sections of majority Assamese people (whose mother tongue is Assamiya) are upset about some provisions in the controversial official draft circulated by the state Election Commission.

The cornerstone of USA’s Indo- Pacific geopolitics has been the hope that India could act as a pro-Western counter-balance to China—a notion emphasized since Bill Clinton’s visit to Delhi in 2000 and consistently supported by every subsequent US president, regardless of party affiliation. This strategic belief was evident during Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Washington, where he was warmly welcomed and defence technology deals usually reserved for close allies were extended to India, solidifying the strong bilateral relationship and reinforcing India’s significance in America’s geopolitical calculations.

Indian politicians and commentators have rallied in defence of anti-migrant sentiment in Europe to forge alliances and undercut criticism of Hindu nationalism that targets minorities, foremost Muslims.

Even his blind bhakts were getting worried. But, it’s okay. Finally, his laryngitis has spoken. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t lost his voice. And he hears the noises around him. By now even the EU Parliament must have heard the good news. Aside from the despicable one that Prime Minister Modi covered up for the horrific happenings in Manipur with his horrendously inappropriate “maunvrat”.

The successful second conclave of Opposition parties in Bengaluru and the emergence of a new coalition with the acronym INDIA have clearly rattled the Modi regime. The desperation to put up a parallel 'alliance' show in Delhi on the same day by discovering and manufacturing new parties from all corners of India showed the growing nervousness of the regime.

In 2009, the Swedish car company Volkswagen ran a unique ad campaign to promote its newly launched fuel-efficient car. They hired the ad agency DDB Stockholm and transformed the standard staircase of the Stockholm metro station into a ‘piano staircase’ which produced musical sounds when stepped in. People responded to this environmentally friendly energy-saving 'fun' signal, although it meant more hard work. They started avoiding using the escalator adjacent to the piano stairway.

Asian Development Outlook of July 2023 maintains India’s economic growth forecast at 6.4 per cent for the FY 2023, the same level of its earlier forecast made three months ago in April. However, it is risk ridden, since it assumes normal weather conditions and no geopolitical shocks, which is surprising. India has already suffered heat wave conditions during the summer, and heavy monsoon rains causing floods during the monsoon that has damaged its crops.

A crisis is also an opportunity. Likewise, every adversity can be turned to account if the will is there. Can the party turn the sad demise of Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy to account? Can the Congress measure up to the challenge? These are the questions that agitate Congress minds not only in Kerala but across the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Paris on official visit on the Bastille Day this year .It was July 14, 1789. Thirty four years after the discovery of steam power that the storm on Bastille happened. Feudalism was in tatters and the age of capitalism was ushering in. Bourgeoisie was in the grip of deep discontent for not having a share in power; hegemony was still in the hands of the royalties. Workers were dissatisfied as the price of bread was ninety percent of their wages. They could not afford any other essentials like clothes and shelter or health and education. Peasants were sick of the shackles they were chained in to follow every whim of the feudal lords.