The selected cartoons appeared first in other publications, either in print or online, or on social media, and are credited appropriately.
In today’s featured cartoon, Alok Nirantar comments on the huge crowds seen at Dadar, Crawford Market among other parts of Mumbai ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festivities even as Indians, overall, remain worried about its vaccination record. Maharashtra, however, has seen record inoculations — over 48 per cent of its adult population in the state have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine.
E.P. Unny in his cartoon refers to BJP’s mega plan of a three-week-long celebration accompanied by a massive social media campaign to mark PM Modi’s 71st birthday, which will, however, clash with Gandhi Jayanti. It will have the works — from river-cleaning to ‘Thank you’ videos of central scheme beneficiaries to exhibitions on the PM’s life.
Sajith Kumar also remarks on PM Modi’s birthday celebration being planned on the scale of a ‘campaign’ and the congratulatory greetings that are expected to flood social media and other spaces.
R. Prasad comments on India’s changing Afghan policy and how pundits debate it should be executed so as to build on the ground laid in Afghanistan earlier. The Kohinoor, a metaphor for a prized possession for which everyone was making a play, was in the possession of the Lion of Punjab Ranjit Singh’s family, but after his death, was wrested from the Sikhs by the British with a treaty. Moral of the story: Keep an eye on Afghanistan — the old Great Game being played with new players.
Sandeep Adhwaryu draws on the reports about Pakistan’s involvement at the Af-Pak border region and its implications for the region’s geopolitics.