With just months away for the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition is not leaving any stone unturned to consolidate power into its hands. 
 
Besides the frequent showcase of the "United Front" on several occasions, the parties have been involved in evolving arithmetic to keep the "Modi-Shah might" out of power.

Days before the arch-rivals BSP-SP joined hands and entered into a pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. The two parties decided to fight elections on an equal number of seats leaving the two Congress bastion.

Exhibiting another showcase of unity, around 25 leaders from over 20 political parties held out a "united rally" in Kolkata on January 19. 
 
Led by Mamata Banerjee the rally was attended by leaders from across the country. The "United Front" saw the presence of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah from the National Conference, HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy from the JD(S), TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, DMK's MK Stalin, AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and many others including Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress. Former NDA stalwart Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha, and BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha also participated in the event along with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani.

Joining hands on the dais the opposition hit out at the Modi government over demonetisation, GST, Rafale deal and the alleged "rising intolerance" in the country.

The "United opposition" against the current government shows a repeat of the opposition unity of 1977 which had successfully dethroned the first ever Congress government out of power. Fighting under the slogan "Indira hatao, desh bachao", the opposition had defeated Indira Gandhi and formed the first ever non-Congress government in India in 1977. 
 
Morarji Desai who became the fourth prime minister of the country, however, could not complete his tenure in the office. His government had to end its term midway due to the unsuccessful coalition. 
 
The next government formed under the leadership of Charan Singh also held an unsuccessful term in the office due to the rising conflict in the coalition. Singh could not complete his term after Indira Gandhi led Congress government suspended its support.

The country could never have a successful coalition government until 1998. The first ever non-Congress and coalition government that completed its full term in the country was headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Prior to Vajpayee's government, HD Deve Gowda, the eleventh prime minister of the country, also held an unsuccessful term and was removed from power within a year. Deve Gowda, the kingmaker of the 1996 general elections played a significant role in the formation of the government by extending support to the Congress party which had secured the second highest votes in the elections. BJP which won the highest votes remained out of power and was the main opposition in the parliament.

The current political situation of the country also foresees the rise of yet another Deve Gowda. While the entire opposition is fighting the 2019 elections against the BJP, the country may see the emergence of a new Deve Gowda if the results throw a hung assembly after the Lok Sabha polls.

Mamata Banerjee's slogan in the rally was "Badal do, Badal do, Dilli mei sarkar badal do". The front, however, does not have a prime ministerial face to replace the "Sarkar in Dilli".

While the BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh has clarified that the next prime minister of the country will be from UP, Mamata Banerjee is also seen as a strong contender to lead the Front in the next Lok Sabha.

Playing a masterstroke just days before the elections, the Congress appointed Priyanka Gandhi as the party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East. The move is seen as an answer to rival parties' constant questioning of Rahul Gandhi's calibre in representing the party.&nbsp;

Thus while the opposition has united against the common power, keeping aside its ideological differences, the absence of strong leadership in the Front may affect the coalition even after its victory.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

 
&nbsp;

With just months away for the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition is not leaving any stone unturned to consolidate power into its hands. Besides the frequent showcase of the "United Front" on several occasions, the parties have been involved in evolving arithmetic to keep the "Modi-Shah might" out of power.

With just months away for the Lok Sabha elections, the opposition is not leaving any stone unturned to consolidate power into its hands. Besides the frequent showcase of the "United Front" on several occasions, the parties have been involved in evolving arithmetic to keep the "Modi-Shah might" out of power. Days before the arch-rivals BSP-SP joined hands and entered into a pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. The two parties decided to fight elections on an equal number of seats leaving the two Congress bastion. Exhibiting another showcase of unity, around 25 leaders from over 20 political parties held out a "united rally" in Kolkata on January 19. Led by Mamata Banerjee the rally was attended by leaders from across the country. The "United Front" saw the presence of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah from the National Conference, HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy from the JD(S), TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu, DMK's MK Stalin, AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and many others including Mallikarjun Kharge from the Congress. Former NDA stalwart Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha, and BJP rebel Shatrughan Sinha also participated in the event along with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Patidar leader Hardik Patel, Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani. Joining hands on the dais the opposition hit out at the Modi government over demonetisation, GST, Rafale deal and the alleged "rising intolerance" in the country. The "United opposition" against the current government shows a repeat of the opposition unity of 1977 which had successfully dethroned the first ever Congress government out of power. Fighting under the slogan "Indira hatao, desh bachao", the opposition had defeated Indira Gandhi and formed the first ever non-Congress government in India in 1977. Morarji Desai who became the fourth prime minister of the country, however, could not complete his tenure in the office. His government had to end its term midway due to the unsuccessful coalition. The next government formed under the leadership of Charan Singh also held an unsuccessful term in the office due to the rising conflict in the coalition. Singh could not complete his term after Indira Gandhi led Congress government suspended its support. The country could never have a successful coalition government until 1998. The first ever non-Congress and coalition government that completed its full term in the country was headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Prior to Vajpayee's government, HD Deve Gowda, the eleventh prime minister of the country, also held an unsuccessful term and was removed from power within a year. Deve Gowda, the kingmaker of the 1996 general elections played a significant role in the formation of the government by extending support to the Congress party which had secured the second highest votes in the elections. BJP which won the highest votes remained out of power and was the main opposition in the parliament. The current political situation of the country also foresees the rise of yet another Deve Gowda. While the entire opposition is fighting the 2019 elections against the BJP, the country may see the emergence of a new Deve Gowda if the results throw a hung assembly after the Lok Sabha polls. Mamata Banerjee's slogan in the rally was "Badal do, Badal do, Dilli mei sarkar badal do". The front, however, does not have a prime ministerial face to replace the "Sarkar in Dilli". While the BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh has clarified that the next prime minister of the country will be from UP, Mamata Banerjee is also seen as a strong contender to lead the Front in the next Lok Sabha. Playing a masterstroke just days before the elections, the Congress appointed Priyanka Gandhi as the party general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East. The move is seen as an answer to rival parties' constant questioning of Rahul Gandhi's calibre in representing the party. Thus while the opposition has united against the common power, keeping aside its ideological differences, the absence of strong leadership in the Front may affect the coalition even after its victory. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

How far will the united opposition go without prime ministerial face?

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist".

He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it.

Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers.

Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them".

The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists."

The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class".

They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". 
 
Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. 
 
Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. 
 
Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated.&nbsp; 
 
The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom.

The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere.

US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference.&nbsp;

Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports,&nbsp;CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president.

A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions. Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist". He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it. Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers. Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them". The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists." The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class". They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated. The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom. The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere. US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference. Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports, CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president. A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How free is the fourth pillar of democracy?

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The polls in the states being held five months before the 2019 general elections hold strategic importance as it sends 83 members to the Lok Sabha. The elections will also act as a litmus test for the parties and their alliances.

The elections will commence from Chhattisgarh which has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-one-ultra-killed-in-encounter-between-security-forces-and-maoists-176612">reeling from the conflict</a> between the Maoists and the state.

The 90 seat state will hold elections in two phases. While the South Chhattisgarh’s 18 seats will go to polls on November 12, the remaining 72 seats of the North Chhattisgarh will hold elections on November 20.

The BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and has since then been ruling over the state under the leadership of Raman Singh.

The party, which ruled over the state for 15 years, is facing serious anti-incumbency. In the last elections held in 2013, BJP had gained a marginal victory by winning over 49 seats while the Congress got hold over 39 seats. BJP had got 41.04 per cent votes while the Congress received 40.29 per cent.

The party may also have to face the consequence as it failed to fulfil the electoral promise of the last election where it had assured a Minimum Support Price of Rs 2100 for paddy cultivation.

Chief Minister of the state Raman Singh has been urging the voters to not to compare the status of the state with the developments that have taken place since 2013 but to compare it with the Congress regime in 2003.

BJP, however, has an edge over the major opponent Congress as the BSP refused to form an alliance with the latter.

The state which has majorly seen a political battle between two parties is set to witness the entry of a new party in the state.

Mayawati’s BSP has decided to fight the elections in the state along with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) refusing to form an alliance with the Congress.

Madhya Pradesh with 230 seats will go to polls on November 28. The state has been led by BJP for the past three terms. BJP ended the ten years of Congress rule in 2003 under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The party held a landslide victory in the state in 2013 by winning over 45 per cent of the votes which accounted for 165 seats. The Congress won 58 seats by gaining control over 36.38 per cent vote. The BJP has good control over the Hindu votes in the state and has assured to create a separate ministry for cow protection in its electoral promise.&nbsp;

The Congress is also adopting measures to picture itself as a party of Hindus. Besides Rahul Gandhi’s continuing temple visits, the Congress has also promised to develop the route taken by Lord Rama on his way to exile as Ram Van Gaman Path and build a gaushala on every panchayat.

Along with Madhya Pradesh, northeastern state Mizoram will also go to polls on November 28. Mizoram is one of the three states which is currently being ruled by Congress. In the last election, the Congress won 34 out of the 40 seats in the state, while the BJP, which has never been able to form a government in the state, could not win a single seat. The state is being ruled by Congress leader Lal Thanhawla since 2008. The major opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) won five seats. MNF is hoping to win the elections due to the anti-incumbency factor present in the state.

The BJP is also working to change its anti-Christian image. They are planning to field a Mizo Christian candidate. The party has also said that it was ready to form an alliance with any regional party.

Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7.

The 200 seats state Rajasthan will go to polls on December 20. Currently ruled by BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, BJP had won 163 seats out of the 200 in the last elections. The Congress, on the other hand, could manage only 21 seats. &nbsp;BJP's winning mandate in 2013 was the highest in Rajasthan’s election history. The incumbent government hopes to break the twenty-year-old tradition of the state, which has never allowed any existing government to repeat its victory in the consecutive election. The assembly elections in Rajasthan have always replaced the existing power. In the bypolls held in the state this year the BJP was defeated by Congress in three regions. Following this, the BJP launched damage control measures in the state. It changed its state unit president to MLA Kirodi Lal Meena who is known to have a popular hold over the large Scheduled Tribe community in east Rajasthan.

&nbsp;Telangana which was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 will go to polls as TRS chief and state chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved the assembly this year. &nbsp;In the first assembly of the state, KCR’s Rashtra Samiti had won 63 seats, Congress-21, BJP-5 while the Telugu Desam Party had won 15 seats. The Congress which is accusing the TRS of betraying the people has formed an alliance with TDP and CPI for the upcoming polls in the state. While according to some reports, there seems to exist a possible rift between Congress and TDP. 
&nbsp;

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram to be held in November and December is all ready to set the stage for the political battle for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The polls in the states being held five months before the 2019 general elections hold strategic importance as it sends 83 members to the Lok Sabha. The elections will also act as a litmus test for the parties and their alliances. The elections will commence from Chhattisgarh which has been reeling from the conflict between the Maoists and the state. The 90 seat state will hold elections in two phases. While the South Chhattisgarh’s 18 seats will go to polls on November 12, the remaining 72 seats of the North Chhattisgarh will hold elections on November 20. The BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and has since then been ruling over the state under the leadership of Raman Singh. The party, which ruled over the state for 15 years, is facing serious anti-incumbency. In the last elections held in 2013, BJP had gained a marginal victory by winning over 49 seats while the Congress got hold over 39 seats. BJP had got 41.04 per cent votes while the Congress received 40.29 per cent. The party may also have to face the consequence as it failed to fulfil the electoral promise of the last election where it had assured a Minimum Support Price of Rs 2100 for paddy cultivation. Chief Minister of the state Raman Singh has been urging the voters to not to compare the status of the state with the developments that have taken place since 2013 but to compare it with the Congress regime in 2003. BJP, however, has an edge over the major opponent Congress as the BSP refused to form an alliance with the latter. The state which has majorly seen a political battle between two parties is set to witness the entry of a new party in the state. Mayawati’s BSP has decided to fight the elections in the state along with Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) refusing to form an alliance with the Congress. Madhya Pradesh with 230 seats will go to polls on November 28. The state has been led by BJP for the past three terms. BJP ended the ten years of Congress rule in 2003 under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The party held a landslide victory in the state in 2013 by winning over 45 per cent of the votes which accounted for 165 seats. The Congress won 58 seats by gaining control over 36.38 per cent vote. The BJP has good control over the Hindu votes in the state and has assured to create a separate ministry for cow protection in its electoral promise. The Congress is also adopting measures to picture itself as a party of Hindus. Besides Rahul Gandhi’s continuing temple visits, the Congress has also promised to develop the route taken by Lord Rama on his way to exile as Ram Van Gaman Path and build a gaushala on every panchayat. Along with Madhya Pradesh, northeastern state Mizoram will also go to polls on November 28. Mizoram is one of the three states which is currently being ruled by Congress. In the last election, the Congress won 34 out of the 40 seats in the state, while the BJP, which has never been able to form a government in the state, could not win a single seat. The state is being ruled by Congress leader Lal Thanhawla since 2008. The major opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) won five seats. MNF is hoping to win the elections due to the anti-incumbency factor present in the state. The BJP is also working to change its anti-Christian image. They are planning to field a Mizo Christian candidate. The party has also said that it was ready to form an alliance with any regional party. Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7. The 200 seats state Rajasthan will go to polls on December 20. Currently ruled by BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, BJP had won 163 seats out of the 200 in the last elections. The Congress, on the other hand, could manage only 21 seats. BJP's winning mandate in 2013 was the highest in Rajasthan’s election history. The incumbent government hopes to break the twenty-year-old tradition of the state, which has never allowed any existing government to repeat its victory in the consecutive election. The assembly elections in Rajasthan have always replaced the existing power. In the bypolls held in the state this year the BJP was defeated by Congress in three regions. Following this, the BJP launched damage control measures in the state. It changed its state unit president to MLA Kirodi Lal Meena who is known to have a popular hold over the large Scheduled Tribe community in east Rajasthan. Telangana which was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 will go to polls as TRS chief and state chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao dissolved the assembly this year. In the first assembly of the state, KCR’s Rashtra Samiti had won 63 seats, Congress-21, BJP-5 while the Telugu Desam Party had won 15 seats. The Congress which is accusing the TRS of betraying the people has formed an alliance with TDP and CPI for the upcoming polls in the state. While according to some reports, there seems to exist a possible rift between Congress and TDP.

Assembly elections 2018: Litmus test for parties, alliances before 2019 elections

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/midterm-elections-us-senate-poll-in-new-jersey-crucial-for-democrats-175675">midterm elections in the United States</a>, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/whats-at-stake-on-november-6-in-us-midterm-elections-175532">The referendum</a> will give an idea of the general perception that the people have developed for Trump over the period of his presidency giving a real picture of Trump's popularity.

The change of power in the legislature will have a further impact on how Trump administrative functions in the remaining tenure.

If they make major strides, the Democrats will have the right to launch new policies, though a presidential approval is required on the bills for them to become a law.

The victory of the rival Democratic party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate might put a halt on the various projects launched by the Republicans.

For instance, the revamp of the tax system and the rollback of Obamacare will not be possible if the Democrats come back to power after the midterm polls.

The Democratic Party may even open an investigation into various policies of the Trump administration.

A report in CNN cited sources as familiar with the President as saying that Trump is "genuinely concerned" about the outcome of elections.

In an extreme situation, the Democrats may also initiate impeachment against Trump.

The elections also play an important role for countries that have engaged with Trump during the recent development.

Earlier, the elections did hold much importance for China, however, Trump's recent trade policies have made Beijing curious about the result of the congressional elections.

A media report cited an expert on US studies in China as saying that the people of the country were expecting a change in the US-China relations after the elections.

China hopes that the US may liberalise some of its policies against China after Trump faces a political setback. US and China have been launching escalating import tariffs at each other since March.

The victory of Democrats may also influence Trump's policies with North Korea. The leader of the nuclear-armed North Kim Jong Un held an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June where the two leaders aimed at denuclearizing the North Korea region.

The midterm elections in the United States, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world.

The midterm elections in the United States, scheduled for November 6, will decide the future powers of president Donald Trump and the possible impact of his policies on the world. The referendum will give an idea of the general perception that the people have developed for Trump over the period of his presidency giving a real picture of Trump's popularity. The change of power in the legislature will have a further impact on how Trump administrative functions in the remaining tenure. If they make major strides, the Democrats will have the right to launch new policies, though a presidential approval is required on the bills for them to become a law. The victory of the rival Democratic party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate might put a halt on the various projects launched by the Republicans. For instance, the revamp of the tax system and the rollback of Obamacare will not be possible if the Democrats come back to power after the midterm polls. The Democratic Party may even open an investigation into various policies of the Trump administration. A report in CNN cited sources as familiar with the President as saying that Trump is "genuinely concerned" about the outcome of elections. In an extreme situation, the Democrats may also initiate impeachment against Trump. The elections also play an important role for countries that have engaged with Trump during the recent development. Earlier, the elections did hold much importance for China, however, Trump's recent trade policies have made Beijing curious about the result of the congressional elections. A media report cited an expert on US studies in China as saying that the people of the country were expecting a change in the US-China relations after the elections. China hopes that the US may liberalise some of its policies against China after Trump faces a political setback. US and China have been launching escalating import tariffs at each other since March. The victory of Democrats may also influence Trump's policies with North Korea. The leader of the nuclear-armed North Kim Jong Un held an unprecedented summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June where the two leaders aimed at denuclearizing the North Korea region.

Why US midterm polls are crucial for both Republicans and Democrats

The recent defeat of pro-China government in Maldives has added to the list of the nations who have developed an anti-China rhetoric in South Asia.

Amid rising concerns that the country may fall into a debt trap, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, during the election campaign, had assured the people that his government would review Chinese investment.

The Maldives, which moved closer to China since 2013 after Abdulla Yameen took to power, had received significant grants and loan from China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Island nation also renovated the international airport in the capital of Male and a bridge connecting the airport to town with the help of funds from China.

While the new government in the Maldives seems to reassess its relation with China due to its immense financial assistance, Solih, at the same time, is expected to improve its ties with India.

Two other Muslim majority nations in the subcontinent had also fought elections with a promise to keep a check on China's growing influence in their countries.

China's great ambition to emerge as one of the biggest economies has compelled it to invest billions of dollars in the development project in South Asia.

To maintain its stronghold over the subcontinent, China has initiated projects in several South Asian countries.&nbsp;

One of such projects was recently struck down in Malaysia after the new government assumed office in May.

The change of power in Malaysia after May 9 elections, which swept aside the government of Najib Razak and reinstated Mahathir Mohamad, has eliminated China backed energy pipeline and a rain project along peninsular Malaysia's eastern coast to reduce the national debt that grew under Najib's rule.&nbsp;

The projects were part of China's ambitious "Belt and Road", but Mahathir said the deals undertaken by Najib were too costly and unfair to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the recent reports from Pakistan have hinted on the country's growing uneasiness with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Imran Khan has assured greater transparency with the country's project with China and promised that the contracts with Beijing would be made public.

Expressing concern over the deals with China, his government said the agreement was "badly negotiated" and overly favoured China. 
&nbsp; 
The reports suggest that Pakistan which is reeling under massive debt may rethink its position on the Chinese Silk Road.&nbsp;

Pakistani officials say they remain committed to Chinese investment but want to negotiate on price and affordability.

But in a setback to Islamabad's desire, Beijing is only willing to review projects that have not yet begun, Reuters reported.

Debt-ridden Pakistan may find it very difficult to renegotiate its deal with China as it has already taken massive loans from Beijing. Also, Pakistan's worsening relations with the US may force it to bow down before the demands of Beijing.

In a recent meeting held in Beijing in August, China clarified that the new governments in Malaysia, Pakistan and Maldives were free to decide if they would want to continue with Chinese investment in the projects. It also added that the countries should be ready to compensate for the debts borrowed from China in case they retreat from the projects.

Despite the rising apprehension for China among the South Asian countries, the Dragon may never want to lose its supremacy over the subcontinent. It will try to maintain its grip over the countries through its massive debt trap.

As seen in the case of Sri Lanka where it had to sell its Hambantota Port to China after it failed to clear off the funds that China had been pumping into the country for years.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The recent defeat of pro-China government in Maldives has added to the list of the nations who have developed an anti-China rhetoric in South Asia. Amid rising concerns that the country may fall into a debt trap, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, during the election campaign, had assured the people that his government would review Chinese investment.

The recent defeat of pro-China government in Maldives has added to the list of the nations who have developed an anti-China rhetoric in South Asia. Amid rising concerns that the country may fall into a debt trap, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, during the election campaign, had assured the people that his government would review Chinese investment. The Maldives, which moved closer to China since 2013 after Abdulla Yameen took to power, had received significant grants and loan from China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Island nation also renovated the international airport in the capital of Male and a bridge connecting the airport to town with the help of funds from China. While the new government in the Maldives seems to reassess its relation with China due to its immense financial assistance, Solih, at the same time, is expected to improve its ties with India. Two other Muslim majority nations in the subcontinent had also fought elections with a promise to keep a check on China's growing influence in their countries. China's great ambition to emerge as one of the biggest economies has compelled it to invest billions of dollars in the development project in South Asia. To maintain its stronghold over the subcontinent, China has initiated projects in several South Asian countries. One of such projects was recently struck down in Malaysia after the new government assumed office in May. The change of power in Malaysia after May 9 elections, which swept aside the government of Najib Razak and reinstated Mahathir Mohamad, has eliminated China backed energy pipeline and a rain project along peninsular Malaysia's eastern coast to reduce the national debt that grew under Najib's rule. The projects were part of China's ambitious "Belt and Road", but Mahathir said the deals undertaken by Najib were too costly and unfair to Malaysia. Meanwhile, the recent reports from Pakistan have hinted on the country's growing uneasiness with the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Imran Khan has assured greater transparency with the country's project with China and promised that the contracts with Beijing would be made public. Expressing concern over the deals with China, his government said the agreement was "badly negotiated" and overly favoured China. The reports suggest that Pakistan which is reeling under massive debt may rethink its position on the Chinese Silk Road. Pakistani officials say they remain committed to Chinese investment but want to negotiate on price and affordability. But in a setback to Islamabad's desire, Beijing is only willing to review projects that have not yet begun, Reuters reported. Debt-ridden Pakistan may find it very difficult to renegotiate its deal with China as it has already taken massive loans from Beijing. Also, Pakistan's worsening relations with the US may force it to bow down before the demands of Beijing. In a recent meeting held in Beijing in August, China clarified that the new governments in Malaysia, Pakistan and Maldives were free to decide if they would want to continue with Chinese investment in the projects. It also added that the countries should be ready to compensate for the debts borrowed from China in case they retreat from the projects. Despite the rising apprehension for China among the South Asian countries, the Dragon may never want to lose its supremacy over the subcontinent. It will try to maintain its grip over the countries through its massive debt trap. As seen in the case of Sri Lanka where it had to sell its Hambantota Port to China after it failed to clear off the funds that China had been pumping into the country for years. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Is South Asia losing faith in China? 

The Supreme Court recently sought a response from the Centre on a batch of petitions filed against the amendments introduced in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The petitions, challenging the Centre's amendments to the apex court's decision,&nbsp;were filed by lawyers Prathvi Raj Chauhan and Priya Sharma. 
 
Terming the amendment as “arbitrary” as it reversed the apex court's decision to protect the innocent people from the abuse of the Act, the lawyers asserted that the government proposed the amendment under pressure from alliance partners.&nbsp;

They further added that the amendments were made in an attempt to garner votes from the Dalit community ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. 
The Centre has been given a time period of six weeks to respond to the court.

The Amendment introduced by the Centre

The Parliament had passed a bill on August 9 reversing the Supreme Court's order on Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill.

The amendment ruled out anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs and allowed an immediate arrest of anyone charged under the Act.

Supreme Court's judgement on the SC/ST Act

The Centre's move had come in response to the Supreme Court's judgment of March 20, wherein the apex court had diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Act which allowed an immediate arrest of a person charged under the Act.

The apex court had ruled out automatic arrest of anyone accused under the Act and stated that a preliminary inquiry was needed before the arrest.

The inquiry was needed to ensure that the allegations levelled were not "frivolous or motivated" before a case is registered.

Citing "instances of abuse" of the Act by "vested interest' for political reasons the apex court had laid down guidelines for arrest under the Act "to avoid false implications".

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act

The Scheduled Caste and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted on September 9, 1989 by the Parliament to prevent atrocities against the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Under this section, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules was framed in 1995.&nbsp;

The law was formed to punish crime against people belonging to the scheduled Castes and Tribes. Giving special protections and rights to victims, it set up courts for fast completion of cases. 
 
Politics over caste

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the minority community and the opposition launched a scathing attack on the Centre and demanded an immediate action against the ruling.

In the protests that followed after the Supreme Court's judgment, at least seven people were killed and over 100 were injured in various parts of the country.

While a section of the society agreed that the provisions of the Act were misused, several others claimed that the government should take steps to protect the rights of the Dalit community.

On April 2, the Centre filed a review petition in the Supreme Court stating that the “Alleged potential of misuse would not deserve to be considered as a valid, justifiable or permissible ground for reading down stringent provisions of the PoA (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”&nbsp; 
 
Eventually the Parliament passed the order reversing the Supreme Court's order on the SC/ST Act on August 9. 
 
The move by the centre is&nbsp;seen as an attempt by the ruling party to make its way into the vote bank of the Dalit community.

A similar upturning of the Supreme Court's order had earlier taken place in 1986 when the Rajiv Gandhi government had reversed the apex court's order in the Shah Bano case. Citing that the court's judgment in the case was a intervention into the Muslim Personal Law, the then government had introduced a law striking down the court's rule that allowed compensation to a Muslim woman after divorce.

Gandhi' move to appease Muslim clerics faces criticism from a major section of the community's women and liberal till date.

A decision taken in haste to favour a section of the society and proving detrimental for the other is certainly not going to reap benefits for any political party in the long run.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

A decision taken in haste to favour a section of the society and proving detrimental for the other is certainly not going to reap benefits for any political party in the long run.

The Supreme Court recently sought a response from the Centre on a batch of petitions filed against the amendments introduced in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The petitions, challenging the Centre's amendments to the apex court's decision, were filed by lawyers Prathvi Raj Chauhan and Priya Sharma. Terming the amendment as “arbitrary” as it reversed the apex court's decision to protect the innocent people from the abuse of the Act, the lawyers asserted that the government proposed the amendment under pressure from alliance partners. They further added that the amendments were made in an attempt to garner votes from the Dalit community ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Centre has been given a time period of six weeks to respond to the court. The Amendment introduced by the Centre The Parliament had passed a bill on August 9 reversing the Supreme Court's order on Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill. The amendment ruled out anticipatory bail for a person accused of atrocities against SC/STs and allowed an immediate arrest of anyone charged under the Act. Supreme Court's judgement on the SC/ST Act The Centre's move had come in response to the Supreme Court's judgment of March 20, wherein the apex court had diluted the provisions of the SC/ST Act which allowed an immediate arrest of a person charged under the Act. The apex court had ruled out automatic arrest of anyone accused under the Act and stated that a preliminary inquiry was needed before the arrest. The inquiry was needed to ensure that the allegations levelled were not "frivolous or motivated" before a case is registered. Citing "instances of abuse" of the Act by "vested interest' for political reasons the apex court had laid down guidelines for arrest under the Act "to avoid false implications". Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act The Scheduled Caste and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted on September 9, 1989 by the Parliament to prevent atrocities against the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Under this section, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules was framed in 1995. The law was formed to punish crime against people belonging to the scheduled Castes and Tribes. Giving special protections and rights to victims, it set up courts for fast completion of cases. Politics over caste Following the Supreme Court ruling, the minority community and the opposition launched a scathing attack on the Centre and demanded an immediate action against the ruling. In the protests that followed after the Supreme Court's judgment, at least seven people were killed and over 100 were injured in various parts of the country. While a section of the society agreed that the provisions of the Act were misused, several others claimed that the government should take steps to protect the rights of the Dalit community. On April 2, the Centre filed a review petition in the Supreme Court stating that the “Alleged potential of misuse would not deserve to be considered as a valid, justifiable or permissible ground for reading down stringent provisions of the PoA (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.” Eventually the Parliament passed the order reversing the Supreme Court's order on the SC/ST Act on August 9. The move by the centre is seen as an attempt by the ruling party to make its way into the vote bank of the Dalit community. A similar upturning of the Supreme Court's order had earlier taken place in 1986 when the Rajiv Gandhi government had reversed the apex court's order in the Shah Bano case. Citing that the court's judgment in the case was a intervention into the Muslim Personal Law, the then government had introduced a law striking down the court's rule that allowed compensation to a Muslim woman after divorce. Gandhi' move to appease Muslim clerics faces criticism from a major section of the community's women and liberal till date. A decision taken in haste to favour a section of the society and proving detrimental for the other is certainly not going to reap benefits for any political party in the long run. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: SC/ST Act should not be politicised

The recent havoc in Kerala that claimed more than 370 lives in the state and damaged over thousand crores worth property, would have been averted if the people had shown a little concern over the growing ecological imbalance in the state.

Recorded as the worst flood of the century the intensity of the rains in the recent monsoon in Kerala was more than the normal rainfall that the state receives every year. The strong&nbsp;south-west monsoon which resulted in the torrential rains flooded the lakes and rivers of the state.

But the destruction caused cannot be blamed entirely on the rains and the submerged water bodies.&nbsp;

A Madhav Gadgil committee report had made recommendations to preserve the Western Ghats which acts as a blanket to the southern state in August 2011. The report had recommended 57 restrictions to safeguard the western ghats.

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Panel, had suggested that several regions in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats should be classified as ecologically sensitive areas.&nbsp;

Despite the recommendations, construction was allowed over the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Western Ghats which act as Kerala's blanket could have prevented the strong winds from flowing towards the state.&nbsp;Referring to the illegal construction on river beds and the unauthorised stone quarrying, Gadgil also called the floods and landslides in Kerala as a man-made disaster.

A media report quoted Gadgil as saying that the irresponsible environmental policy is to be blamed for the recent floods and landslides in Kerala.

He also added that the rapid urbanisation which leads to encroachment over the water bodies has impacted the natural penetration process of the land.&nbsp;

The Kochi airport which is constructed on the canal connecting the land and the water body further obstructed the outflow of water.&nbsp;The land diverted to agriculture in the state is also decreasing at an alarming rate. The paddy fields which would once absorb water have now been converted into urban infrastructure.

A similar man-made flood had created a havoc in Chennai in 2015. Every year during the monsoon season, most part of the country is submerged under water. The inefficiency on the part of the government and the indifferent attitude of the people have already done much harm to the country's ecological balance.&nbsp;

The situation has worsened to a level where we cannot restore the destruction done to the society. All we can do is to just sit helplessly and pray that nature does not inflict such intensity on us.&nbsp;

While we blame the nature's wrath behind such disasters, most such calamities are caused due to the ever-growing human interference and ecological imbalance. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

The situation has worsened to a level where we cannot restore the destruction done to the society. All we can do is to just sit helplessly and pray that nature does not inflicts such intensity on us.

The recent havoc in Kerala that claimed more than 370 lives in the state and damaged over thousand crores worth property, would have been averted if the people had shown a little concern over the growing ecological imbalance in the state. Recorded as the worst flood of the century the intensity of the rains in the recent monsoon in Kerala was more than the normal rainfall that the state receives every year. The strong south-west monsoon which resulted in the torrential rains flooded the lakes and rivers of the state. But the destruction caused cannot be blamed entirely on the rains and the submerged water bodies. A Madhav Gadgil committee report had made recommendations to preserve the Western Ghats which acts as a blanket to the southern state in August 2011. The report had recommended 57 restrictions to safeguard the western ghats. Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Panel, had suggested that several regions in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats should be classified as ecologically sensitive areas. Despite the recommendations, construction was allowed over the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Western Ghats which act as Kerala's blanket could have prevented the strong winds from flowing towards the state. Referring to the illegal construction on river beds and the unauthorised stone quarrying, Gadgil also called the floods and landslides in Kerala as a man-made disaster. A media report quoted Gadgil as saying that the irresponsible environmental policy is to be blamed for the recent floods and landslides in Kerala. He also added that the rapid urbanisation which leads to encroachment over the water bodies has impacted the natural penetration process of the land. The Kochi airport which is constructed on the canal connecting the land and the water body further obstructed the outflow of water. The land diverted to agriculture in the state is also decreasing at an alarming rate. The paddy fields which would once absorb water have now been converted into urban infrastructure. A similar man-made flood had created a havoc in Chennai in 2015. Every year during the monsoon season, most part of the country is submerged under water. The inefficiency on the part of the government and the indifferent attitude of the people have already done much harm to the country's ecological balance. The situation has worsened to a level where we cannot restore the destruction done to the society. All we can do is to just sit helplessly and pray that nature does not inflict such intensity on us. While we blame the nature's wrath behind such disasters, most such calamities are caused due to the ever-growing human interference and ecological imbalance. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Kerala floods a man-made disaster

The history of South Asia was rewritten with the onset of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/independence-day-2018-history-of-india-pakistan-relations-159264"> India’s Independence in 1947</a>.

As a result three modern nations were formed in the sub-continent with the retreat of the colonial power. These modern nation-states were initially known as the Ava Kingdom, Hindustan or the Mughal Empire and the Bengal province.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/independence-day-2018-indias-road-to-freedom-159260">Indian independence movement </a>also instilled a sense of nationalism among the people. The region which was initially fragmented and divided on the basis of differences in history, culture and language later united during the fight for independence against the colonial power.

In India, independent royal kingdoms like the Manipuries the Ahoms, the Tripuri, the Kashmiris, Hyderabad and Junagadh became Indian citizens. In the Bengal province, the independent Chakmas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts became East Pakistanis.

Since 1947, religion has been a major factor for driving this nationalism. For instance, the rise of Muslim nationalism created Pakistan and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

One of the most important contributions of independent India to South Asia is its role in the liberation of Bangladesh or "East Pakistan" from West Pakistan.

India fought for releasing Bangladesh from the repression of Pakistan. It covertly supported guerrilla fighters constituting the Mukti Bahini to fight the Pakistan army which was carrying out brutal killings and mass murder of the people in East Pakistan or Bangladesh. Indian forces had to finally engage Pakistan in a two-front war in December, 1971, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

India also played a role in Sri Lanka's independence movement. Sri Lanka's fight for independence against the Britishers was mainly influenced by India's militant freedom struggle.

Since its independence in 1947, India has grown to become a major superpower in the subcontinent. The country has also emerged as one of the major economies in the world.&nbsp;

India is now in tough competition with its neighbour China.&nbsp;

In order to maintain its stronghold over the subcontinent, China is providing financial and technical assistance to the neighbouring South Asian countries Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives.

China has also strategically constructed ports to encircle the Indian subcontinent with the help of alliances.

It is also providing consistent aid to Pakistan in the form of fighter jets, submarine and nuclear assistance and has also initiated the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in the PoK.

As the South Asian nations develop, they will no doubt have India at the back of their minds because of its size and its imprint on the subcontinent but as a united entity — SAARC — the future of the region is intertwined. 
&nbsp;

As the South Asian nations develop, they will no doubt have India at the back of their minds because of its size and its imprint on the subcontinent but as a united entity — SAARC — the future of the region is intertwined

The history of South Asia was rewritten with the onset of India’s Independence in 1947. As a result three modern nations were formed in the sub-continent with the retreat of the colonial power. These modern nation-states were initially known as the Ava Kingdom, Hindustan or the Mughal Empire and the Bengal province. The Indian independence movement also instilled a sense of nationalism among the people. The region which was initially fragmented and divided on the basis of differences in history, culture and language later united during the fight for independence against the colonial power. In India, independent royal kingdoms like the Manipuries the Ahoms, the Tripuri, the Kashmiris, Hyderabad and Junagadh became Indian citizens. In the Bengal province, the independent Chakmas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts became East Pakistanis. Since 1947, religion has been a major factor for driving this nationalism. For instance, the rise of Muslim nationalism created Pakistan and Bangladesh. One of the most important contributions of independent India to South Asia is its role in the liberation of Bangladesh or "East Pakistan" from West Pakistan. India fought for releasing Bangladesh from the repression of Pakistan. It covertly supported guerrilla fighters constituting the Mukti Bahini to fight the Pakistan army which was carrying out brutal killings and mass murder of the people in East Pakistan or Bangladesh. Indian forces had to finally engage Pakistan in a two-front war in December, 1971, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. India also played a role in Sri Lanka's independence movement. Sri Lanka's fight for independence against the Britishers was mainly influenced by India's militant freedom struggle. Since its independence in 1947, India has grown to become a major superpower in the subcontinent. The country has also emerged as one of the major economies in the world. India is now in tough competition with its neighbour China. In order to maintain its stronghold over the subcontinent, China is providing financial and technical assistance to the neighbouring South Asian countries Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives. China has also strategically constructed ports to encircle the Indian subcontinent with the help of alliances. It is also providing consistent aid to Pakistan in the form of fighter jets, submarine and nuclear assistance and has also initiated the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in the PoK. As the South Asian nations develop, they will no doubt have India at the back of their minds because of its size and its imprint on the subcontinent but as a united entity — SAARC — the future of the region is intertwined.

Independence Day 2018: How India's independence shaped South Asia

The final draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which was released on Monday has listed 2.89 crores as Indian citizens, out of the 3.29 crore applicants.

The list excluded over 40 lakh people from the citizenship of the country.

The NRC is the outcome of the years of protest led by indigenous people of Assam against the foreign infiltrators from Bangladesh. The Assam Movement which started in 1979 and continued till 1985 was a popular movement against the illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country.

The agitation forced the Indian government to identify and remove the foreigners who had illegally entered the state.

Following the agitation, the leaders of the state parties AASU, AAGSP and the Government of India also signed the Assam accord.

The opposition parties who firmly stood against the NRC are going against the rights of the Indigenous Assamese people, who have been protesting against the foreign infiltrators. The natives of the state have time and again complained of their loss of land and resources.&nbsp;

Assam has witnessed decades of illegal migration from the neighbouring country Bangladesh. Bangladesh on the other hand as never officially acknowledged that any of its citizens illegally migrated to Assam.&nbsp;

Assam is currently updating the list to identify the foreigners. The first NRC was published in Assam in the year 1951 on the basis of that year's census.&nbsp;

After the release of the final NRC draft, the authorities have, however, clearly mentioned that the people whose name was excluded from the list will have an option to prove their citizenship claims from August 30 to September 28 at various NRC Seva Kendras.

The Chief Minister of the state Sarbanand Sonowal and the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh have also assured that no one will be deported to Bangladesh or will be sent to a detention camp only on the basis of the draft NRC.

The final list of citizens will exclude the people from the country's citizenship who will then come under the "stateless" tag and will be different from refugees.&nbsp;

The leaders backing the rights of the foreigners to stay in the country do not realise that the vote bank politics may garner them votes from a particular community, however, it may lead to a feeling of discontent and discrimination among the natives who have been fighting for their rights since a long time.

A video floating on social media shows how Mamata Banerjee in 2005 favoured the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Amid massive uproar in the parliament, Mamata Banerjee, who was in opposition then threw a stack of sheets on the then deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh.&nbsp;

She also said that the illegal immigrants in Bangladesh had spelt disaster for West Bengal and added that the Bangladeshi citizens who had got their names on the voter list in Bengal should be expelled.&nbsp;

Taking a complete flip-flop in the matter in 2018, Banerjee this time rejected the final draft of the NRC list which is supervised by the Supreme Court.

Addressing the media after the release of the list she said, Bengalis and Biharis living in Assam were being targeted and that they are "Indians and not Rohingya".

Mamata who had once demanded the exclusion of illegal immigrants from Bengal responded to BJP's demand of introducing a similar list for West Bengal by saying that "Let them touch anyone and they will see the consequences".

The Congress, on the other hand, is forgetting that it was under the Rajiv Gandhi rule that the Assam Accord was passed which aimed at eliminating the illegal immigrants from the country.

The illegal infiltration in Assam has led to a dis-balance in the population growth of the state.

Mamata Banerjee's contradictory stand on National Register of Citizens clearly reflects her hypocrisy in the matter.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The NRC is the outcome of the years of protest led by indigenous people of Assam against the foreign infiltrators from Bangladesh

The final draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which was released on Monday has listed 2.89 crores as Indian citizens, out of the 3.29 crore applicants. The list excluded over 40 lakh people from the citizenship of the country. The NRC is the outcome of the years of protest led by indigenous people of Assam against the foreign infiltrators from Bangladesh. The Assam Movement which started in 1979 and continued till 1985 was a popular movement against the illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country. The agitation forced the Indian government to identify and remove the foreigners who had illegally entered the state. Following the agitation, the leaders of the state parties AASU, AAGSP and the Government of India also signed the Assam accord. The opposition parties who firmly stood against the NRC are going against the rights of the Indigenous Assamese people, who have been protesting against the foreign infiltrators. The natives of the state have time and again complained of their loss of land and resources. Assam has witnessed decades of illegal migration from the neighbouring country Bangladesh. Bangladesh on the other hand as never officially acknowledged that any of its citizens illegally migrated to Assam. Assam is currently updating the list to identify the foreigners. The first NRC was published in Assam in the year 1951 on the basis of that year's census. After the release of the final NRC draft, the authorities have, however, clearly mentioned that the people whose name was excluded from the list will have an option to prove their citizenship claims from August 30 to September 28 at various NRC Seva Kendras. The Chief Minister of the state Sarbanand Sonowal and the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh have also assured that no one will be deported to Bangladesh or will be sent to a detention camp only on the basis of the draft NRC. The final list of citizens will exclude the people from the country's citizenship who will then come under the "stateless" tag and will be different from refugees. The leaders backing the rights of the foreigners to stay in the country do not realise that the vote bank politics may garner them votes from a particular community, however, it may lead to a feeling of discontent and discrimination among the natives who have been fighting for their rights since a long time. A video floating on social media shows how Mamata Banerjee in 2005 favoured the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Amid massive uproar in the parliament, Mamata Banerjee, who was in opposition then threw a stack of sheets on the then deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, Charanjit Singh. She also said that the illegal immigrants in Bangladesh had spelt disaster for West Bengal and added that the Bangladeshi citizens who had got their names on the voter list in Bengal should be expelled. Taking a complete flip-flop in the matter in 2018, Banerjee this time rejected the final draft of the NRC list which is supervised by the Supreme Court. Addressing the media after the release of the list she said, Bengalis and Biharis living in Assam were being targeted and that they are "Indians and not Rohingya". Mamata who had once demanded the exclusion of illegal immigrants from Bengal responded to BJP's demand of introducing a similar list for West Bengal by saying that "Let them touch anyone and they will see the consequences". The Congress, on the other hand, is forgetting that it was under the Rajiv Gandhi rule that the Assam Accord was passed which aimed at eliminating the illegal immigrants from the country. The illegal infiltration in Assam has led to a dis-balance in the population growth of the state. Mamata Banerjee's contradictory stand on National Register of Citizens clearly reflects her hypocrisy in the matter. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Mamata Banerjee takes a U-turn on National Register of Citizens

A heartwarming picture floating on social media where Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were seen bidding goodbye to Kulsoom Nawaz attracted a lot of attention. The picture was retweeted by Maryam Nawaz ahead of their departure to Pakistan. It symbolised Sharifs as "true patriots" who were leaving behind their ailing wife/mother for the country's sake.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
LION HEART !!! <a href="https://t.co/KFLb2B9VAo">pic.twitter.com/KFLb2B9VAo</a>
— Suleman Sharif (@SulemanSharif82) <a href="https://twitter.com/SulemanSharif82/status/1017485684792332288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Maryam Nawaz also posted a video of Nawaz Sharif on Twitter where he said he was returning to Pakistan "for the people of the country" despite knowing that he will be taken straight to the jail. He said that his sacrifice was for the generations to come and that such an opportunity would never come again. He also asked the people to "build the destiny of Pakistan together".

Hinting at rigging in the upcoming general elections, he questioned the credibility of the polls. Sharif said,"I am doing what I should do, I am taking my struggle forward. I am going to Pakistan, but what credibility is now left of the elections? Who will believe the results?".

A Pakistani journalist defined the former prime minister's move of surrendering before the Pakistan authority and flying back to the country to face the long-term jail imprisonment as a "winning shot".The people of Pakistan will certainly sympathize with Sharifs who have left behind ailing Kulsoom suffering from Cancer to face the verdict against them.

This is for the first time in Pakistan when a convicted political leader has returned to the country to face punishment. Even Benazir Bhutto, one of the most popular leaders of the country, did not return to Pakistan until she signed the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) deal with Pervez Musharaff.

The NRO was issued by the former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, in 2007 and it granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism between January 1, 1986, and October 12, 1999, the time between two states of martial law in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Nawaz Sharif's move is perceived as an effort to garner public support for his party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) -PML(N) ahead of the July 25 general election.&nbsp;

Sharif's party had been facing a military crackdown since his relations with the country's army deteriorated. The Pakistan military has also been making efforts to rig the polls in favour of cricketer turned politician Imran Khan.&nbsp;

The move may prove a setback to the army's effort as popular support seems to have been working in favour of Nawaz.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

This is for the first time in Pakistan when a convicted political leader has returned to the country to face punishment

A heartwarming picture floating on social media where Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam were seen bidding goodbye to Kulsoom Nawaz attracted a lot of attention. The picture was retweeted by Maryam Nawaz ahead of their departure to Pakistan. It symbolised Sharifs as "true patriots" who were leaving behind their ailing wife/mother for the country's sake. LION HEART !!! pic.twitter.com/KFLb2B9VAo — Suleman Sharif (@SulemanSharif82) July 12, 2018 × Maryam Nawaz also posted a video of Nawaz Sharif on Twitter where he said he was returning to Pakistan "for the people of the country" despite knowing that he will be taken straight to the jail. He said that his sacrifice was for the generations to come and that such an opportunity would never come again. He also asked the people to "build the destiny of Pakistan together". Hinting at rigging in the upcoming general elections, he questioned the credibility of the polls. Sharif said,"I am doing what I should do, I am taking my struggle forward. I am going to Pakistan, but what credibility is now left of the elections? Who will believe the results?". A Pakistani journalist defined the former prime minister's move of surrendering before the Pakistan authority and flying back to the country to face the long-term jail imprisonment as a "winning shot".The people of Pakistan will certainly sympathize with Sharifs who have left behind ailing Kulsoom suffering from Cancer to face the verdict against them. This is for the first time in Pakistan when a convicted political leader has returned to the country to face punishment. Even Benazir Bhutto, one of the most popular leaders of the country, did not return to Pakistan until she signed the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) deal with Pervez Musharaff. The NRO was issued by the former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, in 2007 and it granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism between January 1, 1986, and October 12, 1999, the time between two states of martial law in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif's move is perceived as an effort to garner public support for his party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) -PML(N) ahead of the July 25 general election. Sharif's party had been facing a military crackdown since his relations with the country's army deteriorated. The Pakistan military has also been making efforts to rig the polls in favour of cricketer turned politician Imran Khan. The move may prove a setback to the army's effort as popular support seems to have been working in favour of Nawaz. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: How Nawaz Sharif stands to gain from his choice of prison

The recent sentencing&nbspawarded to Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court ahead of the general elections is yet another example of judicial and military coup in the country.

It is a well-established fact that in Pakistan the military solely decides who would remain in the government and who would be displaced.&nbsp

Nawaz Sharif has been awarded 10 years of imprisonment by Pakistan's accountability court on July 6. While his daughter Maryam Sharif has received a 7-year jail sentence, Nawaz's son in law Captain Safdar has already been arrested.

Moreover, his sons have been declared proclaimed offenders. The entire family has been charged in a corruption case involving purchase of luxury apartments in London.

Following the revelations of the Panama papers leak, Nawaz was forced out of the prime ministership of the country. He was later disqualified by the apex court for not fulfilling the constitutional criteria for honesty.&nbsp

His ousting, dismissal and more importantly the timing of the court verdict holds significance as the entire process is completed before the polls in Pakistan.&nbsp

The hearing in the case started on September 14, 2017 and the verdict was delivered on July 6, 2018. About 107 hearings were held in the case and 18 witnesses were presented against Sharif.&nbsp

The court proceedings were completed in just ten months.&nbsp

Sharif who entered politics with the support of his mentor General Zia ul Haq, has now lost the military support.

From 1981 until the military coup against him in 1999, Sharif had a very strong and cordial relation with the Pakistan armed forces.&nbsp

He succeeded Benazir Bhutto in 1990 after she was charged in an alleged corruption case by the Pakistan military.

It was alleged that the 1990 elections, wherein Sharif won against Bhutto, were &nbsprigged by the Pakistani Intelligence agency, ISI, in his favour.

Nawaz, however, became critical of the military after the coup of 1999 wherein he was thrown out of the government by General Pervez Musharraf.

Sharif served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three unsuccessful non-consecutive terms.&nbsp

His first term in office which started in 1990 continued till 1993, second from 1997 to 1999 until his removal in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf.

The second dismissal followed after the Kargil war in 1999. The war deteriorated his relations with Musharaff. &nbspBetween 2000-2007, he was allowed to go into exile in Saudi Arabia.

His third tenure began in 2013 and continued until his disqualification from office in 2017.&nbsp

According to a media report Pakistan army's crackdown on Sharif began after the military got upset with an article in a Pak newspaper stating that the civilian government wanted to act against the jihadis but the military did not.

After his dismissal in May the former prime minister also admitted to Pakistan's role in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai.

These admissions were certainly responsible for the growing military displeasure against him.

The recent military ire which has forced him out of power had once benefited him when the wrath was against Bhutto in 1990 and 1998.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp

Following the revelations of the Panama papers leak, Nawaz was forced out of the prime ministership of the country. He was later disqualified by the apex court for not fulfilling the constitutional criteria for honesty.

The recent sentencing&nbspawarded to Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court ahead of the general elections is yet another example of judicial and military coup in the country. It is a well-established fact that in Pakistan the military solely decides who would remain in the government and who would be displaced. Nawaz Sharif has been awarded 10 years of imprisonment by Pakistan's accountability court on July 6. While his daughter Maryam Sharif has received a 7-year jail sentence, Nawaz's son in law Captain Safdar has already been arrested. Moreover, his sons have been declared proclaimed offenders. The entire family has been charged in a corruption case involving purchase of luxury apartments in London. Following the revelations of the Panama papers leak, Nawaz was forced out of the prime ministership of the country. He was later disqualified by the apex court for not fulfilling the constitutional criteria for honesty. His ousting, dismissal and more importantly the timing of the court verdict holds significance as the entire process is completed before the polls in Pakistan. The hearing in the case started on September 14, 2017 and the verdict was delivered on July 6, 2018. About 107 hearings were held in the case and 18 witnesses were presented against Sharif. The court proceedings were completed in just ten months. Sharif who entered politics with the support of his mentor General Zia ul Haq, has now lost the military support. From 1981 until the military coup against him in 1999, Sharif had a very strong and cordial relation with the Pakistan armed forces. He succeeded Benazir Bhutto in 1990 after she was charged in an alleged corruption case by the Pakistan military. It was alleged that the 1990 elections, wherein Sharif won against Bhutto, were &nbsprigged by the Pakistani Intelligence agency, ISI, in his favour. Nawaz, however, became critical of the military after the coup of 1999 wherein he was thrown out of the government by General Pervez Musharraf. Sharif served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three unsuccessful non-consecutive terms. His first term in office which started in 1990 continued till 1993, second from 1997 to 1999 until his removal in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf. The second dismissal followed after the Kargil war in 1999. The war deteriorated his relations with Musharaff. &nbspBetween 2000-2007, he was allowed to go into exile in Saudi Arabia. His third tenure began in 2013 and continued until his disqualification from office in 2017. According to a media report Pakistan army's crackdown on Sharif began after the military got upset with an article in a Pak newspaper stating that the civilian government wanted to act against the jihadis but the military did not. After his dismissal in May the former prime minister also admitted to Pakistan's role in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. These admissions were certainly responsible for the growing military displeasure against him. The recent military ire which has forced him out of power had once benefited him when the wrath was against Bhutto in 1990 and 1998. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: How Pakistan’s army sidelined Nawaz Sharif

After serving as the chief minister of Gujarat for over a decade, Narendra Modi assumed office as the Prime Minister of the country on 26 May, 2014.

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The BJP fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under his leadership and came to power with a huge mandate. The “Modi wave” that prevailed during the elections helped BJP to emerge as the first party to have achieved the majority mark singlehandedly since 1984. Several media reports showed that the BJP was able to garner mass support in 2014 only because of Narendra Modi.

Earlier, Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat from October 7, 2001 to May 22, 2014. 
&nbsp; 
He took over the reigns of the state in 2001, when the then chief minister Keshubhai Patel’s health was deteriorating. Modi was handed over the responsibility of the state at a time when the BJP government in Gujarat was experiencing allegations of abuse of power, corruption and poor administration. The chief minister was also criticised for his handling of the 2001 earthquake. 
&nbsp; 
Modi’s appointment however did not go down well with the party’s veteran leader LK Advani who thought he was not experienced enough for the post.&nbsp;

Modi, on the other hand, refused to accept any other post other than the Chief Minister. He declined the proposal of becoming the Deputy chief minister of Gujarat and demanded that he would either be “fully responsible for the state or not at all”. 
&nbsp; 
He finally replaced chief minister Keshubhai Patel and took over the command of the state on October 7, 2001 and continued till the end of the term. 
&nbsp; 
He was again appointed as the chief minister of the state after winning over the assembly polls next year in 2002. 
&nbsp; 
The party under his leadership continued to win every single assembly election that followed in the state after this. 
&nbsp; 
He served as the chief Minister of the state for four terms, from October 7, 2001 before resigning on May 22, 2014 to take up the charge of the country as the Prime Minister. 
&nbsp; 
The Bhartiya Janata party fielded him as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;

His nomination was again subject to a lot of criticism by some senior leaders of the party, however the party did not take back his name keeping in mind the growing prominence that was developing for him in and outside the country. 
&nbsp; 
Modi fought the 2014 general elections from two constituencies, Varanasi and Vadodra. He registered victory in both the constituencies. While he retained the Varanasi constituency where he had won against the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Modi vacated the Vadodra seat where he beat Madhusudan Mistry of the Congress. 
&nbsp; 
Modi had always shown great leadership and mastery at political developments.

He had joined the RSS as a young boy. During his long stint in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he played an important role in the 1974 Navnirman anti-corruption agitation. He also fought during the years of emergency when he had to go underground for a brief period of time. 
&nbsp; 
Modi joined the BJP in 1987 and within a year he was promoted to the level of General Secretary of the Gujarat unit. While working in the party he had coordinated two important events - Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra and a march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

A person who believes the ‘Gujarat Model’ of development can be applied to the whole country, PM Modi is eyeing another general election victory like 2014 to stamp his mark on India & Bharat.

After serving as the chief minister of Gujarat for over a decade, Narendra Modi assumed office as the Prime Minister of the country on 26 May, 2014

After serving as the chief minister of Gujarat for over a decade, Narendra Modi assumed office as the Prime Minister of the country on 26 May, 2014. × The BJP fought the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under his leadership and came to power with a huge mandate. The “Modi wave” that prevailed during the elections helped BJP to emerge as the first party to have achieved the majority mark singlehandedly since 1984. Several media reports showed that the BJP was able to garner mass support in 2014 only because of Narendra Modi. Earlier, Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat from October 7, 2001 to May 22, 2014. He took over the reigns of the state in 2001, when the then chief minister Keshubhai Patel’s health was deteriorating. Modi was handed over the responsibility of the state at a time when the BJP government in Gujarat was experiencing allegations of abuse of power, corruption and poor administration. The chief minister was also criticised for his handling of the 2001 earthquake. Modi’s appointment however did not go down well with the party’s veteran leader LK Advani who thought he was not experienced enough for the post. Modi, on the other hand, refused to accept any other post other than the Chief Minister. He declined the proposal of becoming the Deputy chief minister of Gujarat and demanded that he would either be “fully responsible for the state or not at all”. He finally replaced chief minister Keshubhai Patel and took over the command of the state on October 7, 2001 and continued till the end of the term. He was again appointed as the chief minister of the state after winning over the assembly polls next year in 2002. The party under his leadership continued to win every single assembly election that followed in the state after this. He served as the chief Minister of the state for four terms, from October 7, 2001 before resigning on May 22, 2014 to take up the charge of the country as the Prime Minister. The Bhartiya Janata party fielded him as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. His nomination was again subject to a lot of criticism by some senior leaders of the party, however the party did not take back his name keeping in mind the growing prominence that was developing for him in and outside the country. Modi fought the 2014 general elections from two constituencies, Varanasi and Vadodra. He registered victory in both the constituencies. While he retained the Varanasi constituency where he had won against the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Modi vacated the Vadodra seat where he beat Madhusudan Mistry of the Congress. Modi had always shown great leadership and mastery at political developments. He had joined the RSS as a young boy. During his long stint in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he played an important role in the 1974 Navnirman anti-corruption agitation. He also fought during the years of emergency when he had to go underground for a brief period of time. Modi joined the BJP in 1987 and within a year he was promoted to the level of General Secretary of the Gujarat unit. While working in the party he had coordinated two important events - Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra and a march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. A person who believes the ‘Gujarat Model’ of development can be applied to the whole country, PM Modi is eyeing another general election victory like 2014 to stamp his mark on India & Bharat.

Narendra Modi: Journey from CM to PM

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Puniti Pandey

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