The UP election results earlier this year signaled a growing support among the Dalits for the BJP. This was followed by NDA fielding Ram Nath Kovind as its presidential candidate, forcing the opposition to field another Dalit, Meira Kumar, as his rival. Then last week, Mayawati resigned from the Rajya Sabha, protesting against what she said was the attitude of the ruling party to suppress her voice raising Dalit issues. As parties from across the spectrum aggressively target and woo the Dalit community, what is the future of exclusive appeals by smaller parties? We ask experts.
A controversial Facebook post about Islam recently prompted angry Muslim mobs to go on a rampage setting buildings on fire and clash with the police in West Bengal, killing a 65-year-old Hindu man. Retaliatory Hindu mobs burnt down the dargah and shops owned by Muslims. Who is responsible for this communal tinderbox? We ask experts.
Eyebrows have been raised over Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat’s statements on Kashmir and Pakistan. While some are cheering him, others say that an Indian Army chief should not make provocative statements. Is the chatter of TV channels and digital India changing the culture of the military leadership? We ask experts about the pros and cons of having an outspoken military chief in a democratic India.
As UP and Maharashtra write off farmers’ loans and MP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab struggle to tackle fresh demands for debt relief, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says the Central government will not help foot the bill. And RBI Governor Urjit Patel calls loan waivers a “moral hazard”. Is it time to revisit this culture of farm loan waivers? We ask experts.
Is it easier for India to adopt a tough line in Kashmir today than it was in the 1990s? How is India’s position today different from the 1990s when New Delhi felt the impact of censure from groups like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, U.S. and European capitals? Is the world too distracted right now to lecture India on human rights? We ask experts Ajai Sahni, Aakar Patel.
A year-and-a-half ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious programme ‘Accessible India’. But people with disabilities continue to struggle against inaccessible infrastructure and services. Can India afford to delay any longer? We ask experts.
In 2021, the government allowed telcos to convert interest on deferred spectrum payments and AGR dues into equity. This made it the single largest stakeholder in Vodafone Idea.
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.
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.
The paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the issue, covering most of the aspects, with some speculations/expectations from NSA’s visit.
The aspects of Chinese compulsion of standing up to the larger than life image created by China in general and President Xi Jinping in particular in domestic community and domestic politics, especially in view of forthcoming elections is preventing them to soften up. It needs little more elaboration because China and US may be treating it as a test case of their stand off in South China Sea.
In one of my comments on global times, that any two sided scenerio building exercise will lead to only one conclusion that any land conflict will end into a stalemate, which is damaging for Xi Jinping’s image, hence the best option for China in given circumstances is psychological warfare, together with other modes of building pressure on India, hoping that India may recoil, and it can win the stand off without fighting, in accordance with Sun Tzu’s teachings.
We therefore need to follow Kautilya, by playing it cool but firm in our stand and prevent this incremental encroachment part of Active Defence Strategy of China, ignoring the rhetorics of Global Times for Chinese domestic consumption. We, however need to be prepared for worst case scenario.
Gen Asthana
It was inevitable because of China’s expansionist policy , question was only when ! We overpopulated , castiest society.& corrupt nation never gave thought to prepare our selves to face the challange posed by China ,even after Pakistan having gifted disputed territory of Gilgit & Baltistan to China ! This was clear signal that China has no love lost for India ! Had we taken tough stand against China at that time things wouldn’t have come to this stage !
The paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the issue, covering most of the aspects, with some speculations/expectations from NSA’s visit.
The aspects of Chinese compulsion of standing up to the larger than life image created by China in general and President Xi Jinping in particular in domestic community and domestic politics, especially in view of forthcoming elections is preventing them to soften up. It needs little more elaboration because China and US may be treating it as a test case of their stand off in South China Sea.
In one of my comments on global times, that any two sided scenerio building exercise will lead to only one conclusion that any land conflict will end into a stalemate, which is damaging for Xi Jinping’s image, hence the best option for China in given circumstances is psychological warfare, together with other modes of building pressure on India, hoping that India may recoil, and it can win the stand off without fighting, in accordance with Sun Tzu’s teachings.
We therefore need to follow Kautilya, by playing it cool but firm in our stand and prevent this incremental encroachment part of Active Defence Strategy of China, ignoring the rhetorics of Global Times for Chinese domestic consumption. We, however need to be prepared for worst case scenario.
Gen Asthana
It was inevitable because of China’s expansionist policy , question was only when ! We overpopulated , castiest society.& corrupt nation never gave thought to prepare our selves to face the challange posed by China ,even after Pakistan having gifted disputed territory of Gilgit & Baltistan to China ! This was clear signal that China has no love lost for India ! Had we taken tough stand against China at that time things wouldn’t have come to this stage !