Bihar witnessed 52.24% turn out, in the first phase of Assembly Election, seems that people have voted wholeheartedly despite the ongoing pandemic, which itself is a sign of vibrant democracy. Bihar elections are no litmus test either for BJP-JDU combine, or LJP or even Mahagatbandhan, because each party has failed Bihar in every possible way. Nitish, who like a trapeze artist jumped from Lalu’s swing to catch BJP rope in time, made a mockery of the mandate. BJP shamelessly accepted the bait and went on to govern as if they are elected to rule.

If you see the trend of the campaign, vast crowds are turning out to attend the public meetings addressed by RJD’s Tejaswi Yadav in a clear indication that the young leader has captured the imagination of Bihar electorate. People’s response to such rallies enables us to see which way the wind is blowing. His promise to create 10 lakh new jobs, seems to have galvanised the youth. In contrast, Nitish turned out to be faring poorly in every way. He made booze ban his main plank. Of late his government has been facing flak over its handling of pandemic, particularly in the wake of the return of the lakhs of migrant workers to the state and resultant rise in unemployment and rural distress. The widespread damage caused by floods has further added to the woes.

Narendra Modi Ji has conveniently skirted his failure to fulfil the promise of special state status, and special package for state and establishment of a central university in Bhagalpur made in the run-up to 2015 Assembly Elections. As such Bihar is at the bottom of the pyramid of economic indicators, while Nitish being the CM of the state for 15 years, so he cannot blame Congress as usual for their failures, at least in this case.

Lok Jan Shakti‘s Chirag Paswan’s open hostility towards Nitish, and his idolisation of Modi Ji highlight that some moves in the game of politics are at times beyond our comprehension, as Lalu, the patriarch of RJD is in Ranchi jail, while veteran Sharad Yadav has been suffering from ill-health, and a prominent Dalit leader Ramvilas Paswan died recently. Their heirs seem to have not just taken over the reins but have also taken over the narrative this time. The LJP which has a strong Dalit support base, reiterated support to Modiji, while fielding candidates against JDU, has lent its credence to the argument that it was part of saffron party’s long term strategy to edge out Nitish.

As such Bihar being a politically significant state and the election results are bound to have a significant impact on the course of national political scenario.we may have wait for the remaining schedule to be finished to come to some conclusion 

t’s shocking to note that ahead of Bihar polls, the BJP has come out with a promise of free Covid vaccines for all in the state if voted to power. Deplorably the vaccine has become part of poll rhetoric even if it is non-existent. It's appalling to see that ”a party with a difference” is dangling the non-existent vaccine in front of Bihar voters to woo them. The electorate is sought to be dehumanised when they are asked to barter votes for vaccines. I feel it’s a sheer moral bankruptcy to attempt to make political capital out of a pandemic that has discombobulated our lives.

More shocking is the governments of Tamilnadu, MP following the suit by announcing free vaccine for all, as elections are going to take place soon, while TS also not lagging in offering free vaccines, keeping Dubbaka & GHMC Elections in view, without realising that it’s implicitly saying that official benefits will now flow selectively among those who vote for it as quid-pro-quo, which sounds as bad as a public threat. Worse, it is not just another instance of poll populism -- it’s an attempt to manipulate the anxieties caused by the most lethal pandemic to have ravaged the world in more than a century. No doubt poll promises have no face value anywhere on earth. Still, BJP promises every Bihari a free vaccine if voted to power is not acceptable. Anyway, such promises of unrealistic nature where no vaccine is at near sight, let alone completely ready in midst of a pandemic are unfair. This only proves that the party is fearful of being defeated and hence is selling this fear of pandemic to the people. If the Centre wants to give away vaccines free of cost, they have to do so in the entire country not only Bihar or so.

After the dismal performance of the JDU-BJP coalition in handling pandemic, the returnee migrant issues, and not to forget the recent floods, the NDA must be offering free vaccines to woo the electorate. It should instead focus on improving the conditions in core sectors like Education, Employment,&Health care, etc 

If cynical opportunism is what BJP is playing at, to defend its electoral position in Bihar then Bihar can also ask about the promise of a “special package” that has been spoken of ad nauseam by CM Nitish for more than a decade. Politics over the vaccine, taking the center stage instead of addressing pressing issues of reviving the ailing economy and growing unemployment affirms that all political parties have a single point agenda to win elections at any cost using all gimmicks.

When health has been State subject the governments have to take a call over the distribution of vaccine once it gets ready under the universal program while all political parties jumping into the fray to make all tall promises like a free vaccine is a serious issue that requires the urgent intervention of Election Commission, lest it will be a mockery of an entire poll system.

The Bombay High Court granted bail to Rhea Chakraborty who was pronounced guilty by certain TV channels for driving actor SSR to suicide, siphoning off his money, and dealing narcotic drugs. The court observed that Chakraborty was not guilty of any offense of embezzlement of opium, External dealing narcotic drugs, financing illicit trafficking, and/or any other offense involving commercial quantities. Ever since the 34-year-old actor was found dead, many news channels had falsely cooked up theories of his murder, a witch-hunt against his girlfriend Rhea. There is no need to pinpoint which are the channels and who are all the anchors shouting from housetops, everyone knows, who are all doing this type of dirty tricks to get TRP ratings and political patronage. Under pressure from the media trial, the case was handed over to CBI for further investigation.

Media is supposed to be the fourth pillar of democracy and report unbiased news. This case is a perfect example of how media houses sensationalise news rather than reporting facts. They have become a tool for political parties to disseminate their political propaganda to polarise the masses. Further news debates are being used as a platform to distract people from important issues rather than being informed.

There was no denying the fact that in addition to investigations and interrogations Chakraborty must have become the target of patriarchy, politics, and media trails. Notwithstanding the absence of solid evidence to prove that she had hand in his death, she was still labeled as a “murderer”, worse she received rape and murder threats. Many news channels declared her guilty even before the law did.

However numerous questions arise from this drama that surrounded the false murder case. The most unfortunate aspect being the wastage of precious time and resources by the investigating agencies to delve into a case that had been constructed on speculation, allegations, and wild imaginations.

Chakraborty admitted that social criticism and media trails had adversely affected her and her family’s mental health. What kind of democracy are we living in where an accused person undergoes all kinds of mortification, trails, and alienation before she is even proved guilty? Nobody can forget the day she was manhandled by the media. A woman’s image was tarnished for the vested interests of others. I feel, she deserves a public apology from the perpetrators, while there is an urgent need for implementation of rules laid down by existing media regulatory bodies, and it is important both Centre and state governments show maturity and rise above partisan political considerations in dealing with such complaints.

Unfortunately, it looks like "Beti Bachao" is just a mere slogan for our honourable Prime Minister. Not a day goes by without a report of a rape case or sexual harassment, at least from Dec 2012, when a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a moving bus in Delhi. She ultimately succumbed to injuries. Now despite protests by opposition parties demanding justice for Hathras victim, it’s shocking to hear another rape and murder of a Dalit girl in the same state of UP (Balrampur). This shows the Law&Order has completely failed in UP. Criminals and convicts have become fearless, and it’s a really sad state when we have to demand justice and protection from the government. When we will all be treated equally and women feel safe? Hathras rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl speaks of volumes about the harrowing conditions in which young girls live their lives. BJP shall cry for the blood the rapists and gun for the government, wherever they are not in power but will behave differently in states where they are in power. UP police’s step to cremate her body in the dead of night, by apprehending and threatening the victim's parents, who were held “hostages” in their house and couldn’t even see her face or perform the last rites. The UP Government is famous for staged encounters and nexus with criminals and denying the 19-year-old dignity even in death, is appalling. This is the state ruled by a person who calls himself a “Yogi” who looks the other way, encouraging his administration to do the same while the defenseless pulped female victim was treated worse than a discarded rag and unceremoniously cremated by cops. Even stray puppies receive more attention.

India reported 405861 cases of crimes against women in 2019, and UP tops the list with 59853 cases, according to the annual National Crime Record Bureau’s “crime in India” 2019. From 2018, the rate of crime against women has risen by 7.3 percent, with the country recording an average of 87 rapes every day in 2019. Assam reported the highest rate of crimes against women at 117.8 per lakh population.UP also had the highest number of crimes against girl children under the POSCO Act, with 7444 cases followed by Maharashtra, 6402, and MP 6053 cases.

Before forgetting the Hathras the shocking gang rape in Balrampur was a shame. This is the country where women are personified as Goddesses but they are treated without least sense of humanity. Is it not crucial to know where are we going? Is it not our responsibility to protect our daughters from these gruesome happenings?

 It was alarming to read a news item that the world's largest democracy India, has plummeted ten places to 51st position in Global Democracy Index 2019.  The white paper released by The Economic Intelligence Unit lucidly points out that the credit for this ignominy goes to our iron-fisted policies of the party in power, like NRC, J&K, Internet clampdowns, CAA, etc. This index is the barometer to how the international community is looking at us in this scenario. The news item has also pointed out that if things continue to worsen in this manner, India will find itself on the brink of getting demoted into an authoritarian state. The last time Indian democracy faced an existential threat was during the Emergency. Unfortunately, we are repeating history.

We should follow Norway, which is one of the most secular and democratic countries of the world, instead of paying undue attention to Pakistan. Some countries that were above our country's index have slipped to 51st position, with a score of 6.90 out Of 10. We must try to beat the champions Norway (score 9.87) instead of slowly moving towards Pakistan( score 4.25).

A vibrant democracy and secular ideals also helped Norway achieve the top rank in the 2019 Human Development Index. India should try to emulate Norway and improve our 129th rank in HDI instead of being obsessed with Pakistan that got 152nd rank.

It is a matter of grave concern that India's downward trend continues even with the World Press Freedom Index, where it dropped from 133rd rank in 2016 to 140 in 2019. Alarmingly we are inching closer to 150th ranked Pakistan. We must reverse this trend and have a healthy competition with numero-uno Norway. 

 Read an article titled “a plural legacy more vital than ever” it makes it clear that Jawaharlal Nehru was seen by Mahatma Gandhi as the man with the ability to scan wider horizons and carry forward his message of unity in diversity. In Gandhiji's mind, Nehru was the quintessential democrat, accommodative of dissent, free from racial prejudices and religious bigotry, and completely committed to secular principles. Besides he was an undisputed man of masses in 1947, therefore a natural choice to be the first PM of India. The misconception propagated by vested interests, that Nehru in his ambition to become PM, divided India, is a grotesque misrepresentation and travesty of fact. No PM after Nehru has enjoyed the international stature and acceptability Nehru did in the 1950s: so it’s just an illusion to think that respect for India in the rest of the world has gone up in the last few years. 

Now of course the present leadership is successful in trying to erase all good done earlier and also in erasing its current failures too. Otherwise who remembers that Demonetisation was a blunder, the consequences of which are still plaguing us? Who recalls the spectacle of 450 million people, rendered jobless overnight, walking from big cities to their native hinterlands where only misery awaited them? That migration of March -April 2020, will remain etched in the collective memory of India for generations to come. While it is a fact that some decisions hurt the country so badly and are remembered for long even if they are not discussed in public. One such decision was to scrap the original agreement with France for the purchase of Rafale fighter jets. A new agreement was signed to buy fewer Rafales at three times the originally agreed price. India lost heavily for the sake of benefiting a private party who appeared on the scene with no previous experience.  

Ever since the present dispensation came to power we have been witnessing complete vilification, demonetisation, and obfuscation, of many of their adversaries and all the leaders of anti-colonial struggles, particularly Jawaharlal Nehru.

After all, we live in times when Nehru’s contribution to the modern Indian society is often questioned and derided. The removal of Nehru’s name from state-sponsored history textbooks is the culmination of a motivated smear campaign. Nehru is blamed for the partition in their election campaigns, and parliament, evoking cheers from his MPs. This needless desk thumping and slandering of previous governments only strengthens the perception that BJP lives in the past and uses and misuses it to coverup its follies and disastrous decisions like demonetisation and badly implemented GST.

Right-wing influencers and trolls alike present alternative facts and accusations that present, Nehru as a westernised degenerate, who embodied the opposite of what an ideal Indian should be. But this sort of vilification is to be expected from those with majoritarian tendencies. Trying to erase Nehru’s imprint on the country is a tall order because he is part of modern India’s DNA. Throw Nehru out of the equation and you end up undermining India. And the survival of India depends upon the retrieval of the Nehruvian legacy by the people of this country as no political party is committed to retrieving it.

 It is tragic our government has no data on the number migrants who died while on their way home by foot, during the initial lockdown. It seems the lives of the poor are not worth counting. Since the government doesn’t believe in any kind of data collection that has not been commissioned by it. It denies that there have been any migrant deaths during the pandemic-induced lockdown. This denial of reality by our esteemed government is not only brutal but also shabby disowning of its responsibilities in keeping the nation together in the middle of an unprecedented crisis. It was accentuated by the sudden announcement of total lockdown, with no contingent planning and preparations put in place to meet the inevitable fallout of such an abrupt move and affecting the most vulnerable sections. I was flabbergasted to read in the press about the solicitor general saying ”that no migrant was walking on the road.” This was contrary to the facts as all TV channels were covering live, labourers trudging long distances -- many of them hungry dehydrated, and walking barefoot under the blazing sun. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reacted rightly tweeting ”if you have not counted, have the deaths not taken place? Also, how can the Government discount deaths that were recorded by its own Railway Ministry? Many migrants who died on Shramic trains that were organised much later to ferry them back home? Or were run over by trains as they fell asleep on the tracks, exhausted and beaten? More than 1400 road accidents killed 750 people including 198 migrant workers between March 25 and May 31st according to the newspaper reports.

On the one hand, the government had proudly announced a package of Rs 20 lakh crores, to meet the losses that occurred due to lockdown, along with infinite advertisements about it. On the other hand, it has simply denied sharing the actual position of migrant labourers. The working class along with the farmers are regarded as the backbone of the economy and if they remain unemployed, then the GDP of the nation will never and ever recover. The Government must seriously consider the situation as the GDP is at an all-time low, and the unemployment has broken all previous records. Till we value the laborers, recovery will be a chimera, a smart India a paper town. Besides, “atmanirbharata' can truly take off when we value and respect fellow human beings and not deny their existence.