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Monday, May 6, 2024
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Sharp Edge

India’s founders kept repressive laws in the book. Today’s politicians show how wrong it was

Most parties today are using the law to stifle dissent. Worse, nobody is doing anything significant to oppose it—not the media, and certainly not the judiciary.

Udaipur killing fits the pattern of Western Islamic radicalisation. But don’t politicise it

Nupur Sharma supporters to liberals, everyone must understand it's dangerous to draw too many general conclusions from the Udaipur incident.

MLAs are political entrepreneurs. Maharashtra is just the latest example

Your MLA is not on your side. Electoral victories are political equivalent of a start-up loan.

To the right of Yogi, there’s only an abyss. Modi should rein in BJP’s bigots

When religious issues such as Ayodhya were discussed in the past, there was at least a veneer of civility. Now, the naked hatred is on full display.

BJP walked 2 tightropes – correct history, bond with Islamic nations. It has fallen off both

Any change in the BJP will now be strategic, not fundamental. The party has come too far for that.

India’s liberals must decide: Oppose UCC because of BJP or uphold secular principles?

My fear is that secular liberals, disgusted by the Hindu triumphalism that will probably accompany the Uniform Civil Code, will forget their secularism and oppose the move.

For BJP, Gyanvapi is like Babri. It’ll swing elections but take India back to a dark past

Secular Indians are mistaken if they think that the Place of Worship Act will prevent masjid-mandir controversies from proliferating. It is proved wrong every day.

Congress can hold a million ‘Chintan Shivirs’ but can’t defeat BJP until Rahul is around

Rahul Gandhi says he knows that only the Congress can defeat the BJP. So why then doesn’t he realise that he is one reason why it hasn’t happened yet?

Modi is a polarising figure and that’s not a bad thing. But we need answers to 3 questions

Concerns of Modi critics are valid, but not enough to justify the horror and fear. TV debates and the press are wrong about why he's so polarising.

On Camera

Air India reduces baggage allowance by 5-15 kg, bringing it in line with rest of industry

Air India’s new policy, effective from 2 May, introduces new weight limits for tickets in each of the different 'fare families' — Comfort, Comfort Plus, and Flex.

China builds road through Shaksgam Valley, India registers protest

New Delhi has, in past, too, objected to Chinese construction activities in Shaksgam Valley. Work in this strategic region gathered pace after the 2017 Doklam stand-off.

Frontrunner is letting the challenger define this poll campaign. Modi still hasn’t found a big theme

A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.