Editorial

Whither West Asia?

THE events of the last fortnight have been dramatic – some might even call them cataclysmic.The sequence began with Israel’s surprise attacks on Iranian targets, particularly the nuclear enrichment and production sites at Natanz and Isfahan. The third and most crucial site, Fordow, remained untouched. Fordow lies deep within a mountain – approximately 80 meters underground – making it impenetrable to conventional weapons. It is here that experts began suggesting that only the US military’s heavy-duty bunker-buster bombs could penetrate such depth.

Fifty Years On: A New and Deeper Threat to Democracy

IT may appear rather unusual to recall the inglorious sequence of events that began at midnight on June 25, 1975, with the declaration of the Internal Emergency.However, we are reminded of those immortal words of wisdom: ‘those who tend to forget the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.’ These words compel us to revisit that dark chapter in the history of Indian democracy.The late 1960s had dealt a blow to the Congress party’s monopoly on power, with opposition parties securing victories in several states.

The Reality behind India’s GDP Rankings

THE CEO of NITI Aayog has asserted that India has emerged as the fourth-largest economy. He was at least truthful enough to concede that this was based on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) projections for 2025-26 in its World Economic Outlook. Through further elaborations, we precisely come to know that India’s nominal GDP is projected to increase to USD 4,187.017 billion ahead of Japan’s USD 4,186,431 billion by a whisker.

Parliament, Not Propaganda, Must Lead India’s Response to Kashmir Attacks

‘NOT blood: But Sindoor Flows Through My Veins’ – these exact words by Prime Minister Modi defined his signature style in launching the post-Sindoor campaign blitzkrieg. What else could he or his government have done in response to the grave challenges the country was faced with. Transparency and introspection have never been the forte for this government.The Modi government’s foreign policy strategy has relied heavily on projecting the prime minister as the central figure, in an apparent attempt to cultivate a personality cult than pursuing coherent diplomacy.

The Theatre of the Absurd

THE cheap political drama currently unfolding in Delhi over the latest decision to refer a Supreme Court judgment to the court itself – at the behest of President Droupadi Murmu – seeking clarification on an earlier order regarding the timeline for governors to either assent to or return bills passed by the state legislature, is nothing short of a theatre of the absurd.

Manufacturing National Consensus

Notwithstanding the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for reasons best known to him, chose to stay away from the two all-party meetings convened in Parliament to discuss India’s possible response to the gruesome killings in the Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam – meetings attended by leaders of various political parties – all parties present unequivocally condemned the killings carried out by terrorists linked to  Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terrorist outfit designated by the relevant UN agency. They also extended their support to the government in taking appropriate measures in response.

Behind the Ceasefire: The Unanswered Questions

PEOPLE on both sides of the border were relieved. The four-day-long military engagement between India and Pakistan came to a close on the late afternoon of May 10. Despite this, gunshots were heard late in the night. But later, the DGMOs of both countries confirmed that the ceasefire has held and war clouds have receded for now.However, these three weeks have unfolded a sequence of developments which is dramatic, unraveling a disastrous pattern in South Asia.

India’s Response to Pahalgam Attack

IN the early hours of May 7, Indian armed forces launched a military operation called Operation Sindoor, to target about nine sites in PoK and Pakistani territories. There is a consensus across the political spectrum on the need to respond to the barbaric killings of Indian tourists in Pahalgam. The evidence put on record by the Government of India and the representatives of the armed forces, proves the involvement of LeT which is an outfit directly handled by the Pakistani establishment.

After Pahalgam: What Next?

THE terrorist outrage in Pahalgam, which left 26 tourists dead, has united the whole country in condemnation and grief.  25 families spread across India and one family in Nepal saw a beloved family member being murdered in cold blood.  By choosing to kill people after ascertaining their religion, the terrorists hoped to create a communal divide and fuel communal tensions in the country.  But the opposite has happened.  There has been a spontaneous outpouring of anger and condemnation by all sections of society and people, irrespective of caste and creed, have spoken with one voice.  At the

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