Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

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  Table of Contents - Mainstream, Jun 22, 29 & July 6, 2024

  22 June 2024

  * Guest Editorial - Fear still stalks religious minorities | John Dayal
  * Tribute to Karamat Ali - Statement from PIPFPD -India (21 June 2024)
  * Strengthening the Idea of Participatory Democracy in the Indian Context | Shalu Nigam
  * India’s 18th Parliamentary Poll and the Left in Decline | Sukla Sen
  * Spilling the Spanish Beans | George Orwell

• Guest Editorial - Fear still stalks religious minorities | John Dayal

  22 June 2024, by John Dayal

  21 June 2024
  A week after the results of the 2024 general elections, on 12th June, four Christian families were viciously attacked by a mob of religious extremists in a village in Chhattisgarh. Two victims lost consciousness during the attack, and three required hospitalisation, including one with a broken leg. Since 2023, Christians in this village have endured sporadic aggression amid inadequate police protection. Religious extremists, a polite way of saying informal members of the Sangh (…)

• India’s Eighteenth Parliamentary Poll and the Left in Decline
 | Sukla Sen

  22 June 2024, by Sukla Sen

  The Year 2024
  2024 is the year that is witnessing not only the still continuing Russian aggression, started in February 2022, against much smaller and weaker neighbouring Ukraine, in Europe, but also, in ever-volatile West Asia, the way more egregiously genocidal attack by Israel, inaugurated in October 2023 on the native Palestinian population in the region — Gaza Strip, in particular. It, however, is also the year when crucial parliamentary polls are held or being held or going to be (…)

• BJP-led NDA Coalition Government: Continuity and Change | P. S. Jayaramu

  22 June 2024, by P S Jayaramu

  June 17, 2024
  The BJP-led NDA Government has assumed office again. It is improper to describe it as Modi 3:O, as the mainstream media is describing. It is only appropriate to describe it as a BJP-led NDA Government. The BJP, on its own, was is in a minority and solicited the support of the Telugu Desam Party ( TDP), the Janata Dal (U) and the Shinde-led Shiva Sena, who secured 16, 12, and 7 seats respectively to form the Government. The Coalition Government is no doubt headed by Narendra (…)

• Confrontation in Karnataka | JP Gadkari

  22 June 2024, by J P Gadkari

  Since one year ago when the Congress came to power in Karnataka, the combined BJP-JDs opposition have been raising some imagined corruption issues.. However, it did not find any public support. The opposition has now found a major issue for confrontation with the ruling party in the State. It is, this week’s decision by the State Govt of increasing the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 3/- per litre with immediate effect.
  The BJP-JDS combined opposition has immediately decided to (…)

• Strengthening the Idea of Participatory Democracy in the Indian Context | Shalu Nigam

  22 June 2024

  The results of the 18th general elections in India held in 2024 demonstrate that when the authoritarian state crudely exploits its authority, it is the common people who hold the power to end such repression, to revive the democratic spirit, and to save the idea of an egalitarian, secular, hate-free, diverse, and united India. However, the election process, as it exists today, has several problems, and is seriously impacting the concept of representative democracy. Therefore, in order to (…)

• Nature and Role of Middle Class Today | Anil Rajimwale

  22 June 2024, by Anil Rajimwale

  (A summary of the talk given in the AIPF Study Circle, 16 June 16, 2024. With references from discussion.)
  by Anil Rajimwale
  The study of the middle class today has become far more complicated, because this class or stratum itself has become more complicated because of the vast changes in the last four decades or so. We need a deeper analysis of the problem.
  A bit of history and background
  The term ‘middle class’ has emerged in a certain historical context. Use of the word ‘class’ (…)

• Rahul’s New Political Innings Marked By Shrewd Strategies! | Nilofar Suhrawardy

  22 June 2024, by Nilofar Suhrawardy

  July 3, 2024
  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has begun his new political innings as Leader of the Opposition in newly elected Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) on a fiery note sending strong messages in several directions. Of which, the most crucial is that directed at the party in power, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rahul has definitely acted extremely shrewdly by choosing to begin with by using a “religious” card targeting BJP members. Not surprisingly, this beginning has been (…)

• BJD needs to Introspect the Assembly Results | Suranjita Ray

  22 June 2024, by Suranjita Ray

  The 2024 election verdict is celebrated as a victory of democracy with the revival of a strong opposition. The message of the mandate is loud and clear. It reaffirms that pluralism, secularism, and multiculturalism are important in a democracy. But this celebration should not be short-lived. The opposition alliance will have to perform its role to meet the needs and aspirations of common people who have been bold and fearless in expressing their choice.
  The BJD finds itself in the (…)

• Emergency 1975: Was it Fascism? | Ram Puniyani

  22 June 2024, by Ram Puniyani

  This will be 49th Year when the dreaded Emergency was declared by the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During this period civil rights were suspended, there was censorship on the Press and a crackdown on opposition leaders and the popular movements. This was the first dark period of Indian democracy when democratic rights were severely eroded by the administrative fiat. Hindustan Times wrote, “The Emergency is often regarded as a dark phase in independent India’s history because this period was (…)