Renaming for What?

ALONG with the revival of the issues of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, the BJP-RSS combine has opened a new front with communal intent. That is the renaming of cities and places which have a Muslim cultural lineage. The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh led by Adityanath, has gone on a name changing spree. Allahabad, one of the foremost educational and cultural centres of Uttar Pradesh has been renamed officially as Prayagraj.

Article 35A: Another Divisive Move

THE petition challenging Article 35A of the constitution before the Supreme Court is meant to open up another divisive issue in tune with the Hindutva politics espoused by the BJP and the RSS.Article 35A was introduced by a presidential order in 1954 to safeguard the rights and guarantee the unique identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This provision gives the Jammu and Kashmir legislature the right to decide who are permanent residents of the state and confer on them special rights in acquisition of property, in public sector jobs and social welfare.

NRC: Include All Indians

THE publication of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam has caused widespread consternation as over four million (40 lakh) persons who had applied have not found a place in the Register.The updating of the NRC of 1951 constitutes part of the implementation of the Assam Accord of 1985. As per this Accord, March 24, 1971 was fixed as the cut-off date for determining those who came after that date to be illegal migrants. The decision of the Supreme Court in 2014 to get the updating of the NRC underway was generally welcomed by all sections of the people in Assam; by the Asam

No-Confidence Motion: Modi Government Exposed

THE no-confidence motion discussed and voted upon in the Lok Sabha on July 20 became an occasion for exposure of the four-year record of the Modi government.Though the motion was in the name of a Telugu Desam MP, whose purpose was to highlight the betrayal by the Modi government of the commitment made to Andhra Pradesh to declare it as a special category state, the opposition was able to focus on a range of issues concerning the many failures of the Modi government.

Capitulating to US Demands

THE contradiction between the strategic alliance with the United States and India’s national interest is coming to the fore. The Modi government is not going to resolve this contradiction in the national interest. Rather, it is getting ready to capitulate to the demands of the Trump administration.On the surface, the public stance adopted by the Modi government on issues such as maintaining economic and trade relations with Iran, or, buying sophisticated weaponry from Russia seems to be in consonance with national sovereignty and independent decision making.

Assault on Education

THE news about the legislations being brought forth to abolish the University Grants Commission (UGC) and to set-up a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) has brought into sharp focus the assault on education and, in particular, higher education, that is taking place under the Modi government.The various steps taken in the sphere of education are motivated by a twin motive – neoliberalism and Hindutva ideology.

Lynch Mob Killings: Wages of Impunity

THE last two months have seen a spate of mob attacks and lynchings in different parts of the country. This wave of shocking violence has led to the killing of at least 30 innocent people in 10 states over the months of May and June.The mob attacks were sparked off by rumors of ‘child lifting’ sent out through WhatsApp messaging service.

BJP’s Divisive Game in J & K

THE Modi government has decided to directly administer Jammu & Kashmir through governor’s rule. This is the outcome of the BJP’s withdrawal from the coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti.Why has the BJP taken this step after more than three years of the coalition government?

Emergency 43 Years Ago

THE 43rd anniversary of Emergency became, as usual, an occasion for the BJP leadership to put out its own distorted and boastful version of this eventful period in post-independent India. The internal Emergency declared on June 26, 1975 by Indira Gandhi was a direct attack on democracy.

Lateral Entry: Subverting Civil Service

THE policy announced of lateral entry into the civil service at the level of joint secretary has raised a number of questions. The central government has advertised for ten posts of joint secretary to be recruited by a committee headed by the cabinet secretary. The applicants can be from either the public sector, universities, or, the private sector including those working in multinational companies. The requirement is that they should have 15 years experience in the job. This is just a thin end of the wedge. Lateral entry is being pushed by none other than the prime minister himself.

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Peoples Democracy

Editorial