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A bizarre drama is unfolding in front of our eyes. The Modi government which has been giving away hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees as tax concessions to the monopolists has expressed its opposition ironically to what it calls “freebies”, that is to handing over subsidies to other segments of the population. First, it was Narendra Modi who warned the youth against being influenced by a “revariculture”; then a BJP functionary who happens to be a lawyer moved a petition in the Supreme Court to prevent “freebies” from being given.

Kolkata: In a fast-paced match formidable East Bengal missed chances galore and played a goalless draw with Rajasthan United (RU) in the Group B of the Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK) here on Thursday.

New Delhi: Ace driver Jehan Daruvala has exuded optimism that his Prema Racing team will perform better on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps track this weekend as the Formula 2 championship returns from the summer break for its Belgian round.

Chennai: Sri Lankan N Thangaraja carded five-under 67 and with a one-stroke lead at 16-under 200 emerged sole leader at the end of the third and penultimate round of the Chennai Open Golf here on Thursday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government refusing to blink, the stage is set for a further intensification of the feud between the two.

Political transition in Jammu & Kashmir has now a new twist. With Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) declaring to go solo in the next Vidhan Sabha Election whenever would be held, the unity demonstrated by the political parties of the state has started falling apart, the indication of which has been emanating for the last few months. Though it is not a surprise for the people who are privy to the politics of the state, the beginning of the crumbling down of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) so soon is certainly a surprise providing an opportunity for great delight to BJP and its supporters.

Ashok Gehlot is a magician. His father was also a magician. Tricks are part of Gehlot growing up. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi believes Gehlot will make a great Congress president if Rahul Gandhi declines. Gehlot himself is playing decoy, insisting rank and file will revolt if Rahul refuses to be Congress president.

Three years after the virtual abrogation of Article 370 and nullification of the special status on August 5, 2019, the Modi government is continuing its efforts to reorder the electoral system in Jammu & Kashmir to suit its interests by disempowering the Muslim majority population.

Under the RSS-BJP rule the office of governors is becoming more and more undemocratic and conspiratorial. The meaning and spirit of federalism is routinely violated by these governors’ office in many parts of the country. Uninterrupted functioning of the state governments is hindered by the unjustifiable interventions of the governors. The Constitution discusses about the powers and duties of the governor elaborately. From Article 153 several provisions are incorporated by the framers of the Constitution with the proclaimed purpose of a healthy Centre-State relation. However, many a time the political agenda of those who run the show at the Centre have undermined the novel scriptures attached to the governors’ office. The tendency of powers to centralise everything, often try to make the governor as an instrument to impose its wishes.

Big tech companies running large social media platforms prefer engaging with governments, particularly in developing countries, behind closed doors. It is rare to see them openly confronting governments in courts. However, there comes a point when pacifist posturing contradicts the core values which a company purports to uphold. An inability to stand up leads to the kind of situation Facebook finds itself in with respect to hate speech globally.