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At a time when the country is getting ready to celebrate 75 years of India's independence from the British rule in a befitting manner at national and international levels, a very large portion of the citizens are still struggling to protect their life and livelihood in the absence of a meaningful social security programme from the government. Democratic elections to form government in the states and the centre come and go, but few political parties — national or regional — highlight or publicly debate the need for providing social security to individuals to sustain their life and living. Secured jobs are becoming fewer.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That is how a CPI(M) leader characterized the embattled Pinarayi Vijayan Government’s unprecedented decision to launch a judicial inquiry against the central agencies investigating the gold smuggling and other related cases. A Cabinet meeting appointed retired High Court judge VK Mohanan as the chairman of the Commission.

We sing paeans for a casteless and egalitarian society, at the same time promote caste identity not just for feeling secure socially but to claim economic benefits on all possible grounds, including reservation. And the worst part is that we do not want to acknowledge this dichotomy.

Republic TV head honcho and anchor-in-chief Arnab Goswami is not happy with the NIA, the country's premier investigating agency. One gets the feeling that as far as Goswami is concerned the NIA shouldn't forget that Vaze is first and foremost complicit in hounding Arnab Goswami and Republic TV Network, and only then guilty of going after the country's "private" national treasure. One gets the distinct hint that Goswami thinks Mukesh Ambani for all his Asia's No.1 billionaire status is not a patch on you know who!

The ongoing Assembly elections in five states- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal, and Assam will decide whether the left parties will survive or vanish. Voters of both West Bengal and Kerala are crucial for the future of the Left parties. The communists are ruling only in Kerala.

It is the series of assaults and harassment of the minorities, starting from the lynching of Muslim cattle traders from around 2015, which appear to have prompted some of the “self-appointed custodians” of human rights, to quote external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, to downgrade India’s status as a democracy.

When India will begin its financial year on April 1, the organized labour force under the joint platform of 10 Central trade unions in the country would be tearing up or burning the copies of four new labour codes. We have just witnessed a spate of movements since March 15 against several other policies of the Modi government, such as privatisation of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSEs), of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), of General Insurance Companies (GICs), and of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) etc, and also against the three farm laws that brings corporate sector to the farms of the country. All the agitating labour force, employees, and farmers are supporting each other in their demand and agitation plan, and therefore it is a matter of serious concern.

The first political event for the acceleration of social jolt to the Indian society was in the outcome of the 1977 election. It had removed the Congress for the first time after three decade of the post independence era from the national power corridors but also removed caps over the human curiosity. Even illiterates did not want to remain ignorant of happenings in India. In three years number of publications of dailies, weeklies, fortnightlies and monthlies went up many folds.

Bahrain: India’s racing star Jehan Daruvala began his 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship campaign on a stellar note, clinching second place in race 1, during the Bahrain Grand Prix , at the Bahrain International Circuit here.

New Delhi: Delhi Capitals on Sunday named former wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra as the team’s Assistant Coach for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).