Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Role of the Governor and Multiparty System

  1 March 2008, by Indrajeet Singh

  From time to time, the role of Governor has made Indian citizens feel that they are living in a very fragile democratic realm which can be shaken effortlessly by the Governor. It is a well known fact that the Governors have played a dictatorial role many a time and transcended all the democratic limits. Different political parties have misused the role of the Governor at different times for their partisan interests, thus proving that Indian society has yet to achieve the state of political (…)

• Tribute to Indira Gandhi

  1 March 2008, by Fidel Castro Ruz

  On February 19, 2008, the hero of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruiz, announced his decision to retire from his official positions. In a statement published online by the Communist Party daily in Havana, Granma, the 81-year-old leader decleared: “I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept... the position of President of Council of State and Commander-in-Chief” of Cuba (at the country’s National Assembly meeting on February 24, 2008). Subsiquently the National Assembly (…)

• Indira Gandhi : A Candid Evaluation

  1 March 2008, by Arvind Bhandari

  Indira Gandhi, whose 90th birth anniversary fell on November 19, 2007, was a contradiction in terms. In one way, a memorable Prime Minister, having a head-turning personality, she was among the most attractive women leaders in the world who strode the international stage with confidence, pride and imperiousness and raised India’s prestige in the comity of nations.
  And yet, Indira Gandhi was, arguably, the worst Prime Minister India had the misfortune to have. A prisoner to her wayward, (…)

• Secret Killings, Open Truths?

  1 March 2008, by Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman

  The Saikia Commission Report investigating the secret killings in Assam between 1998 and 2001 was tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly on November 16, 2007. The Commission was headed by K. N. Saikia, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. This report has heated up the political atmosphere in the State as the issue is one of the most controversial in the history of insurgency in Assam. It has also opened up the debate on the efficacy of the Unified Command structure comprising of (…)

• Union Budget 2008-09

  1 March 2008, by Bharat Jhunjhunwala

  The ability of the Budget to garner votes for the Congress will depend upon whether the Opposition can expose the many holes present therein. Much hope lies in the political impact of writing off the loans of farmers. There is a doubt whether this will deliver. The government had similarly written off the loans of farmers two decades ago under the leadership of Choudhary Devi Lal. That measure did not beget votes then. Perhaps the contradiction is not clear to the readers. The Finance (…)

• Appeal for the Release of Binayak Sen

  1 March 2008, by The Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS)

  The Indian Association for Women’s Studies (IAWS), at its general body meeting held on February 9, 2008 during its Silver Jubilee Conference at Lucknow, unanimously passed the following resolution in the context of the ongoing detention of the medical doctor and human rights activist, Binayak Sen:
  “The IAWS appeals for the release of Binayak Sen who has been held in judicial custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 and the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (…)

• Advani’s Remarks Most Disturbing

  1 March 2008, by John Dayal

  The Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate, Lal Krishna Advani, may be trying to score political debating points over the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, but his ‘Liaquat Ali’ statements on the Union Budget have left religious minorities deeply disturbed and disappointed.
  It is obvious that the BJP’s paranoia has not abated with what should have been increasing maturity in its experience with democratic politics in secular India. Statements such as Advani’s– (…)

• Resurrection of Democracy in Pakistan

  24 February 2008, by SC

  More than five months ago, following former Pakistan Primer Nawaz Sharif’s forced deportation to Jeddah within hours of his landing at Islamabad on September 10, it was written in these columns (in the September 15 issue of this journal) that the countdown had begun for “Bush’s friend Mush”: It’s just a matter of time before Musharraf is bundled out of power. In the wake of the real crisis for the military ruler the issue of whether or not he contests the presidential poll in uniform has (…)

• Rule by Military can No Longer be Tolerated

  24 February 2008, by Asma Jahangir

  The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan applauds the people of Pakistan who overcame several obstacles and despite pre-poll rigging gave a clear verdict in favour of democratic governance. Regrettably, this opportunity was not available to the electorate in Balochistan. Boycott of worthy political leadership from contesting the elections and their call for staying away from the polls have not reflected a genuine will of the people of Balochistan to the 2008 polls. This will pose a challenge (…)

• Reduce Tax Burden on Common Man

  24 February 2008, by Bharat Jhunjhunwala

  The people’s support for the Congress seems to be receding despite the high growth rate of nine per cent and implementation of the people-oriented Employment Guarantee Programme. The party has lost power in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The increase in Maoist activities and restiveness of the people, as seen in the flare-up of the son-of-soil syndrome in Maharashtra, are indications in the same direction. People are disaffected. The coming Budget can make a decisive (…)