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The recent judgement of the Supreme Court has once again re-opened the ever-elusive question of caste and what to do with it. For the most part caste and its affect has been deliberately confined to the social realm as a practice reminiscent of the ancient past with the hope that a benign change of attitude would cause its end. It has taken much fight to draw out caste as a deeply political matter with concrete material basis and consequences. Caste continues to be one of the overarching structure ordering the polity, economy, and society. The Supreme Court’s pronouncements seemingly to expand the benefits of the affirmative action policy of reservations to the most marginalized communities might be appreciated for its intent, yet it leaves far too many fallacies in its wake that will hinder any possibility of deepening of democracy.

Lok Sabha referring the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on August 8 is the first major defeat of Narendra Modi during his long ten year rule it also underlines that he cannot dictate the parliamentary proceedings suiting his whims and wishes. The big rise in the Lok Sabha strength of the opposition members is another reason for the Prime Minister abiding by democratic norms.

Among many features that are decoded about the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of the prominent one is rising concern about joblessness.

The mass revolt against the authoritarian government of Sheikh Hasina Wazed has had a dramatic outcome with the fall of the government and Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country. On Monday (August 5), the `March to Dhaka’ called by the student protestors saw tens of thousands of people reaching the city and marching to the prime minister’s residence. The army chief informing Hasina that the army would not fire on civilian protestors was the final blow to a tottering regime.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who passed away in Kolkata on August 8 morning in his small two room flat, was a hard core communist till the end of his life at 80. A leader of the CPI(M) since 1966, Buddhadeb was known for his oratorical talent as also big appeal to the masses, especially the students and youth. He was a politburo member of the CPI(M) till two years ago.. After his demise, the West Bengal CPI(M) has no charismatic leader left who can play any effective role in the turnaround of the CPI(M) in the politics of Bengal.

India’s money laundering industry, though illegal, remains the foundation of the parallel black economy of the country, notwithstanding the draconian Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), PM Narendra Modi’s vow of action against it, and Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) shows of strict actions, especially against opposition leaders who happens to be strongest critics of the ruling establishment. The reality is, as has been revealed in the Parliament of India on August 6, that conviction rate in PMLA cases is merely 0.76 per cent.

The Modi government’s Waqf Board Amendment Bill, 2024, has further cemented Opposition unity as party after party of the INDI-Alliance stood up in the Lok Sabha and accused the NDA government of dividing Hindu and Muslim, one of them going to the extent of branding the government "enemy of Muslims." Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stayed that premise, stating that he, who was Buddhist, was competent to talk for Muslims on matters Muslim” as much as any Muslim could.

The Narendra Modi government’s move to amend the Waqf Act 1995 has come under severe criticism both by the secular parties and Muslim organisations. But it also highlights the fact that the so-called Muslim leaders themselves are not ready to set their own house right. Taking advantage of reported irregularities in many state’s Waqf Boards, the government it seems has taken this step to show these leaders their place in the country’s politics, after giving them a tight slap on the issue of Triple Talaq, earlier.

The possibility of India becoming developed Bharat remains a mirage. In fact it can hardly turn into reality. The mother with her baby, hungry for last two days, a common feature in our country, can never be convinced of the easy availability of food for her new born. The FM was smug in her announcements, though most of them were without content. The issues like unemployment staring at face, were claimed to be on decline. Efforts were made to substantiate the claim with two government reports.

The practice of growing vegetables on the land along Mumbai railway tracks is on its way out. The railways now plan to use the land for horticulture and beautify the tracks, giving the local commuters an aesthetic feel of the city. It has earmarked 150 acres in 115 locations covering 125 stations for this project. Over time, the railway will do away with vegetable farming being practiced now and redeem the 260 acres to use it for horticulture.