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In recent days, South Indian films have been very objective in depicting the social reality and it is not surprising that the mainstream media is being exposed for its loss of credibility, especially the television channels. Right now, Malayalam film, ‘Naradan’, has come down heavily on the mainstream media, especially the television news channels, which will go to any extent to accumulate TRP.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stirred up language controversy that Hindi being official language, it should be the medium for correspondence and discussions between states. This has evoked a vehement and justifiable strong reaction from southern states, particularly Tamil Nadu, which has always opposed imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states, forming 56 per cent of the population. Raking up such non issues ahead of elections has become a regular phenomenon among politicians of this country, who shy away from discussing real issues. Shah who chairs the official language committee, said 70 per cent of the agenda of the cabinet is prepared in Hindi. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the medium of running the government is the official language and this will increase the importance of Hindi.

India doesn’t know about the real status of the migrant workers in the country even two years after their returning home following sudden lockdown that shook the very conscience of the world during March 24 and May 31, 2020. Modi government had liberally distributed assurances for their well-being which never realized since they did not have the real reliable data then, and even now. We only can hope, as the latest assurance is given, migrant workers survey will be completed by October 2022.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All stops must be pulled out to ensure that the anti-BJP vote is not divided. Will the decision made at the 23rd Party Congress of the CPI(M) not to have a national-level alliance with the Congress achieve that goal? The five session ended on April 10 with a massive rally and signalling the dominance of the Kerala state under the leadership of P Vijayan in the policy making of the CPI(M) two years before the Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s offer to India to consider a rupee-ruble mechanism to settle trade in goods between the two countries to avoid sanctions imposed by the US-led NATO comes at a time when the Indian economy is reeling under high prices of oil putting the country’s energy security at risk. India needs a guaranteed supply of petroleum at stable prices to ensure its energy security and economic growth. The country’s massive dependence on imported oil is fast exposing its economic weakness under pressure of the NATO financial and trade sanctions on Russia as oil prices in the domestic market are zooming up to unsettle the entire economy. India is around 86 percent dependent on imported oil. The latter account for the single largest share of the country’s gross merchandise import bill. India's crude oil import bill may have exceeded the $100-billion mark in 2021-22. The amount is nearly double its spending in the previous year as international oil prices are trading at seven-year high levels. According to the government’s Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC), India spent $94.3 billion on oil imports in the first 10 months (April-January) of the last financial year.

Fresh analysis is pointing toward the conclusion that, with its invasion of Ukraine, Russia may have stepped into an Afghanistan-style trap set by the U.S. In launching a criminal invasion of its neighbor and thus economically isolating itself from much of the world, the Kremlin has effectively done exactly what the U.S. and NATO wanted.

Former RBI Governor and Union Finance Secretary D Subbarao, who himself was a seasoned and a brilliant IAS officer, has flagged a serious issue in Indian bureaucracy that encouraged mediocrity and virtually dis-incentivized betterment and honest initiatives. There is definitely some merit in what he says but the issue is who is going to bell the cat to bring about an administrative and bureaucratic reforms that have been in a limbo for decades.

In 2018, Pakistan witnessed the rise of new celebrity Prime Minister Imran Khan, who vowed to halt dynastic politics, end corruption and boost the economy. Common Pakistanis, especially the youth, saw Khan as their only ray of hope. As before coming to power, Khan in his speeches pledged to root out corruption and lift people out of poverty. And he promised a new and prosperous Pakistan “Naya Pakistan” with the creation of 10 million jobs.

First they wanted a ban on Hijab. Then they wanted a ban on Halal meat and loudspeakers for Azaan. Now, they want to ban meat.

BHOPAL: As a part of preparation for the 2023 Vidhan Sabha elections, Madhya Pradesh Congress President and Leader of Opposition Kamal Nath has constituted a broad based committee of more than forty members drawn from various factions of the state Congress.