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Strategists of various creed are busy evaluating the outcome of Quad Summit that took place in Tokyo on May 24. Its global proponents are engaged in overtime job to depict the initiative as a milestone in the developmental trajectory of the 'democratic world'. All related words such as collective growth, inclusive development, responsible partnership, values of free world, etc, are waxed by them to supplement the importance of Tokyo meeting of leaders from the US, Australia, Japan and India. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were competing each other in eulogising the spirit behind the Tokyo discussions. Forgetting their positions during the US Presidential election, both the leaders used superlatives to narrate their mutual relations. In fact, it was a step forward for the US policy-makers and defence strategy managers in advancing their agenda evolved for the most important geographical region in the world.

One can be forgiven for coming to the hasty conclusion that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is another Modi-bot in the long line of them. For when Jaishankar writes “As the world marks Africa Day today, it may be appropriate to assess how much the India-Africa partnership has grown on Narendra Modi’s watch”, the thought about Modi bots crystalizes. The question is, what stops Jaishankar from saying “under my watch”?

Eight decades ago, on May 25, 1943, an unprecedented cultural development took place in Bombay at the Sundari Bai Hall. The Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) was founded at a conference of the cultural workers and politico-cultural activists in an atmosphere of electric enthusiasm. It was a real national body of the young artistes from a large number of states covering all art forms — drama, film, folk songs, Urdu mushairas, and also popularising traditional instrumental music like sitar and sarod.

Petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri has attributed the excise cut in petroleum products to Prime Minister Modi’s ‘considered and very well thought through assessment that the burden on the common man, the Aam Aadmi, needed to be addressed. He was speaking to television channel in the wake of the latest announcement by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman of a cut of Rs 8 in the excise duty on petrol and Rs 7 per litre of diesel. Puri further praised the prime minister saying he was very sensitive.

The opening gambit of the Union Government in response to a writ petition at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (‘IPC’) (S.G. Vombatkere versus Union of India) has taken the legal world by surprise.

The Nav Sankalp Shirvir focused on youth. So, it is ironic, that Hardik Patel, who was the Congress’s working president in the poll-bound Gujarat resigned just two days after it. At 28, he was the youngest working president, the party had in any state. Patel had been sulking over the past few months because of ‘differences’ with the state leadership. He had skipped the Congress meet saying that his schedule had been planned in advance.

The global economy is facing unprecedented economic challenges driven by high inflation in practically all major economies and there are fears that this could lead to stagflation as recessionary trends are witnessed in advanced economies and slowing China. The question that is often asked now is Indian economy insulated from these economic shocks with GDP growth looking up after signs of good post covid recovery.

Now there is no ambiguity the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the goal post and put Russia in the club of his enemies. The credit goes to Joe Biden. He could accomplish the task which Donald Trump, the so called best friend of Modi could not achieve. India has been a member of Quad for long. But it has been maintaining restrain when it came to criticising Russia. But the fourth summit of Quad is witnessing a new India, joining inimical voices against Russia.

LUCKNOW: After Udaipur Chintan Shivir, the Congress in Uttar Pradesh is looking forward to massive revival plan to face 2024 Lok Sabha polls. There are indications that armed with the decisions taken at the Chintan Shivir the party high command is contemplating significant changes in state Congress to revive the party in the state where the party is out of power since 1989. State Congress would soon have new president and other office-bearers with majority being under 50 years of age to give the organization a young look.

Whenever Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal get into a huddle for opposition unity, the first thought that breaks the reverie is which of the two will dump the other for a shot at the PM’s chair come 2024? A similar thought strikes when KCR or Kejriwal call on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Also, who can discount Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s ambitions?