THE promise of the Modi government to double farm incomes by 2022 seems to be a cruel joke on farmers who are suffering the reverse - a steady decline in farm incomes. The Central Statistics Office has added credence to the allegations of the peasantry that the last five years have seen continuously low incomes. CSO figures show that farm income growth crashed to the lowest in 14 years in the last quarter of 2018 (October-December).

Post-Pulwama air strike by the Indian Air Force inside Pakistan territory, the retaliation by Pakistan the next day and the subsequent release of Wing Commander Abhinandan must lead India to step up its diplomatic efforts to exercise international pressure on Pakistan to purge terror outfits and cross-border terrorist activities.   A united India rose against terrorism. Instead of strengthening this, the post-Pulwama developments are seeing an orchestrated effort by the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits to rouse jingoistic nationalism.

KARL was eighteen years old when he spent the late summer weeks of 1836 in his parent’s home after leaving Bonn University and before proceeding to Berlin to continue his studies. During these weeks, he wooed Jenny von Westphalen, who had not only unusual beauty but also an unusual spirit and character.The Marx and Westphalen families were friends and Jenny was the daughter of Government Councillor Ludwig von Westphalen who, in contrast to most of his colleagues in his social position and profession, was a highly educated man with liberal ideas.

MEGHALAYA Governor Tathagata Roy, in yet another outrageous statement, has endorsed a call for boycott of Kashmir and Kashmiris in the wake of the Pulwama tragedy.  This comes at a time when Kashmiris, particularly students, in various parts of the country are being attacked, tormented and forced to leave. The governor holds a constitutional office. As the representative of the president of India, he is expected to act as the custodian of the Indian constitution.

AS the Kerala Samrakshana Jathas are travelling across the state, huge crowds are greeting the LDF leaders in the jatha, indicating that many sections of people are supporting the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The two jathas led by CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran each, would culminate on March 2 at Thrissur. The southern jatha headed by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has begun from Putharikandam in Thiruvananthapuram on February 14 and the northern jatha led by Kanam Rajendran, began at Kasargod two days later.