ON Independence Day this year, a social media post by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas caused outrage and revulsion across the country. Under the title ‘Happy Independence Day’ it depicted four faces – V D Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Shaheed Bhagat Singh. At the bottom was the slogan – ‘Freedom was their gift/Shaping the future is our mission’. The outrage was understandable.

A SUPREME Court directive on August 11, 2025 to remove stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR has brought an issue that causes immense suffering to people across India to the spotlight. The stray dog menace causes millions of dog bites in India every year, resulting in injuries, disabilities, trauma, and death to untold numbers of people. Although a larger bench of the Supreme Court has subsequently modified the August 11th directive, the judicial intervention has created an environment where effective solutions to the stray dog menace can be discussed widely.

MORE than a thousand citizens of Mumbai gathered at a public meeting held at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on August 20, to protest against and call for an immediate end to the Genocide being perpetrated by Israel at Gaza. With bombing, shooting of civilians and food and water blockade of Gaza, a programme of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is in progress at Gaza. The permanent occupation of Gaza is the stated aim of the Israeli regime. The International Criminal Court has indicted the prime minister of Israel, Netanyahu and the defence minister, Gallant for war crimes and genocide.

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), in a statement issued on August 25, expressed shock at the rough treatment given to a Lallantop reporter and cameraperson by Delhi police at Ramlila Maidan on August 24, 2025. They were covering a protest by students from around the country alleging irregularities in the selection process of the Staff Service Commission. The police not only stopped the journalists from reporting, they also confiscated their aadhaar cards, mobiles, camera and microphone and forced them into a police van.

THE “Voter Adhikar Yatra,” launched under the leadership of the Mahagathbandhan on August 17 from Sasaram, with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav as its most visible faces, has traversed a long road from the southwest corner to the northeast corner of Araria, turning into a mass movement.As a participant in the yatra representing the CPI(M), I had never witnessed such enthusiasm for a democratic cause – saving the right to vote.The inaugural rally in Sasaram on August 17 saw massive participation from people of all ages.