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With the culmination of Centre’s six regional meetings on October 4, 2024 on employment generation and labour reforms with states and Union Territories of India, it has clearly emerged that the states want focused approach for creating quality jobs in the country as well as consultative and consensual approach for rolling out labour reforms. Centre on the other hand wants from states and UTs to align with the overall vision laid out be the central government. The differences are therefore obvious, and sorting them out would be time-taking and complex.

KOLKATA; Remember a close shot of a tram's trolley pole snug against the overhead line sparking at every joint in the film ‘Mahanagar’. It was the opening shot of the 1963 film directed by Satyajit Ray in which the tram track identifies this metropolis.

The outcome of the much-anticipated SEBI board meeting on Monday showed beyond doubt that the board has become a captive in the hands of chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, who is facing serious allegations of misconduct. The toxic work culture and unprofessionalism that the SEBI employees have been complaining about have now engulfed the board itself.

This October 7 marks a year since Israeli aggression on Gaza. Israel used Hamas attack as an excuse to carry out its genocidal war on Gaza, Palestine. It declared the elimination of Hamas as its objective in attacking Gaza. Far from achieving its objective, Israel has today pushed the entire West Asia into a cauldron of fire with its attacks on Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Yemen and Iraq. The US has stood steadfastly with Israel backing its every aggressive move.

With more tribal migrants from Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh fleeing to India in the wake of political turmoil, the cost of maintaining nearly 40,000 refugees is rising for both Indian government and Mizoram state authorities. During the last few weeks, many more tribals from the troubled CHT areas are crossing over into India than before, a sure sign of tensions still prevailing in Bangladesh, adding to official concerns in the border state in India.

Jharkhand is once again heading for an Adivasi and anti-Adivasi electoral battle, just within a couple of months since Lok Sabha election 2024 result was out on June 4, in which BJP had lost all the five seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). There are 28 ST seats in the 81-seat Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, and if BJP fails to improve its position in these seats, it would be impossible for the party to wrest power from the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD combination. No wonder PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Home Amit Shah has already started their campaigns in Jharkhand, made several visits, addressed several public rallies, and launched several tribal development schemes to show themselves as champions of the tribal cause.

Amroha’s Samajwadi Party MLA Mehboob Ali jumped the gun. Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, Ali said “population of Muslims is increasing” and predicted that "your rule" will come to an end. It sounded like "Hindu rule" but the vigilant print media of India read Ali's lips correctly. Was he speaking of the rising Muslim population ending Yogi Adityanath's rule in 2027?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is without any outcome, commitment or even hope of ending war in the Middle East. In his quote on X Modi has said that he told to the Israeli Prime Minister “Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability”.

JAMMU: There were celebrations at Labba Ram Gandhi’s house in Samba district as dozens of his supporters raised slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. For them, voting in assembly elections for the first time in decades was a novel experience. Gandhi is a leader of the West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) who had come to Jammu & Kashmir in 1947. Mostly from Sialkot district of then West Punjab which became a part of the new born nation of Pakistan at that time.

Tragic situation in Manipur has been continuing without any respite. To resolve the crisis the efforts made are almost half hearted. The peace stands fragmented. Responsibility to restrain the violence has been left with the forces of violence itself. Security forces are expected to restore peace. Then there are also central police forces including Assam Rifles to take part in peace keeping. It is now over a year that the ethnic violence rules the roost here. The government refuses to make any effort for return of normalcy.