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Monday, the eleven persons who gang-raped Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat communal riots walked free. The panel that let them off called it “remission”, which is different from “relapse”. And, with these '11', you never know when they’ll have a relapse. Anything is possible with a rapist on the loose. In this case, '11' rapists on the loose, unpardonable pardons hanging from their britches.

The ongoing freebies case in the Supreme Court of India has reached an interesting stage with the DMK seeking to be made a party into it. It clearly indicated that the presumption on which the ‘freebies’ is understood would decide its fate in favour of the Centre or States, the Rich or the Poor, and the real objectives expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution of India, and its several provisions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi must have burned midnight oil to think up his five pledges to turn India into a country of his dreams by 2047, independent India’s centenary year. And the '5 Modi Pledges’ appear to have limped away from the basic goals of education, health, jobs and shelter.

Bihar developments leading to the formation of new government without BJP will impact the politics in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh before 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Significantly, the main opposition party7 Samajwadi Party welcomed the latest turn of events resulting in humiliation of BJP.

I first participated in Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 1950, in Calcutta at Prince Ghulam Mohammad Road near Lake Market. I was nine years old. Our family came as refugees from East Bengal, then in Pakistan, in March 1950 and stayed at my oldest sister’s residence. And there, about five months later, I became a part of festivities along with my nephews and nieces. Apart from patriotic songs, we had a march past in the locality. Our seniors gave all the children a packet of sweets each. A film related to freedom struggle was also screened.

Celebration of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsva” contained more negatives vibes and the concealed agenda of accomplishing the mission of the RSS, than to really honour and rejoice the revered Independence Day for which lakhs of Indians attained martyrdom.

The change in the world of work has been accelerating, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country and India was put under lockdown since March 24, 2020. Barring those who were working in government, public sector, and in essential services, the majority of the workforce rendered jobless without social security coverage. Job market has been distorted, recovery is still too slow to accommodate the jobless, and many of those who are able to get employment are subjected to exploitation and non-payment of wages for months, such as MGNREGA labours, amounting to ‘forced labour’ as the Supreme Court of India has commented in case for MGNREGA workers. No trade union is strong enough to protect the interest of workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned his eagerly awaited address on the 75th Independenceanniversary, more an electoral plank for 2024 while throwing up a 25-year agenda for the nation to be rid of all ills plaguing it at present. He put Corruption and Nepotism as major challenges while arguing for support to causes like safety of women and freer opportunities for the widening talent pool in India. His approach seems designed to cover up failures on these fronts. The Prime Minister Modi, however, claimed his Government had entered an "effective phase" in the fight against corruption.

India takes over presidency of G-20 at a critical juncture when geo politics is at cross roads and global economy difficult and sagging. This is significant as it takes over leadership at a time when there is need to strengthen multilateralism and that India is ideally suited because of it being among the few countries that are fit to play the balancing act to this increasingly multi-polar world. India is deeply committed to multilateralism and democracy and G-20 presidency would be very significant for India’s history.

The acrimony between political parties, particularly Modi’s BJP and Kejriwal’s AAP, over freebies notwithstanding, it may be an appropriate occasion for a full-fledged debate on the issue as the nation celebrates 75 years of Independence. But the cold fact is that every interested party is running away from such a constructive debate.