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“Up the ante” is a common tactics resorted to by some players in betting games, in which stakes are raised too high for the opposing players in the hope to win the game. What is Modi-Shah duo has been doing for quite some time is almost the same in respect to the Lok Sabha Election 2024. They are raising the stakes too high for the political parties in opposition in every possible way – whether it is financial resources, making them defensive through cases and arrests, or keep them divided through carrot and stick policy.

“I’m sorry if I offended you.” That would have been Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia talking to himself after his arrest by the CBI in what’s come to be known as the Delhi liquor policy scam. Actually, Sisodia should practice saying, “I’m sorry I got caught.” True, it’s innocent till proven guilty; but the flip side is equally grim in people’s perception: Guilty till proven otherwise.

BJP’s Chanakya Amit Shah has launched an all-out war against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for his audacity to challenge the authority of Narendra Modi and his pledge to ensure his ouster from power in 2024. To achieve his goal while Shah has been reworking on the strategy to reconstruct new form of social engineering in Bihar, he has been frequently coming to the state to put his plan in place. But with Lalu Yadav taking active interest in the state and national politics after his return to the country from Singapore hospital, the anti-BJP mood in the state has got a fresh momentum.

Notwithstanding the symbolism of President Joe Biden’s unannounced visit to Ukraine, the fact remains that America’s claim to be the world policeman has suffered serious drubbing as the world marks the first anniversary of Russia’s Ukraine war this week. Ukraine has put to test the US resolve, raising fundamental questions about its role in European security and defence. That is as far as geopolitics goes. But in terms of economic impact, West’s Ukraine war-related sanctions have caused serious disruption to the established order in energy, oil, logistics and insurance sectors. Most significantly, it is the US-led western powers that have been more at the receiving end of these cataclysmic changes than Russia.

The political resolution adopted at the three-day Congress plenary at Raipur last week is marked by pragmatism by the party leadership. Whether in dealing with strategy on alliances with the opposition parties, or in formulating the social justice-driven agendas, the leadership has shown both understanding and vision to take on the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The resolution has shown enough flexibility in tackling the major issues. There are indications that the Congress will stake its claim for the leadership of the entire anti-BJP opposition only after proving its electoral mettle via defeating the BJP in at least four out of six assembly polls in 2023. The Congress is a marginal player in the three northeastern states, where the polls have already been held.

Employment has remained one of the top challenges for policy makers in India, which has been becoming more complex over time. Educated and trained manpower looking not only for job alone but for decent jobs with better work environments, regular employment and better remuneration. However, job creation for this kind of employment has not kept pace with the increase in the number of job seekers.

Panaji: Harmeet Desai and Sanil Shetty chalked out contrasting victories to make it to the round two of the qualifiers of the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender here on Monday.

New Delhi: Vice-captain and defender Amit Rohidas, mid-fielder, Akashdeep Singh, forward Mandeep Singh and Goalkeeper KB Pathak are among the eight players from the last month's World Cup squad who does not figure in the 20-member squad announced by the Hockey India for the FIH Pro League matches to be played at Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.

New Delhi: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and reigning champion Nikhat Zareen will lead 12-member Indian challenge at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships to be held at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here from 15th to 26th March.

Tens of thousands of potato growers in Bengal are in deep financial distress since the beginning of this year with traders forcing procurement prices to drop below Rs. 200 per quintal or around Rs.1.90 per kilogram. West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have witnessed record potato production this year. The trade has choked the off-take forcing producers to sell potatoes at throwaway prices. Bengal farmers are the worst hit. Ironically, the average retail market price of potato across the country is around Rs.2,500 per quintal. West Bengal farmers are losing over Rs.7,000 per Bigha (17,452 Square Feet) of land used for potato cultivation.