Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Urgent Action Required in Gandhi Nagar Lok Sabha, Gujarat against intimidation by the state machinery

  20 April 2024, by Shabnam Hashmi

  To: CEC, ECSSS, ECGK
  Shri Rajiv Kumar The Chief Election Commissioner Election Commission of India New Delhi
  19/04/2024
  Sir,
  I want to bring to your notice serious issues which need to be urgently looked into.
  Last week I got several calls from various people from the Gandhi Nagar Lok Sabha constituency about undue pressure being put on various community and political leaders by state apparatus.
  I tried discussing the issue on the phone but after several rounds of telephonic (…)

• 2024 Lok Sabha Elections - Pre-poll commentary on the Karnataka Scene | JP Gadkari

  20 April 2024, by J P Gadkari

  Karnataka election scene is hotting up with the polling day (26 April) for 14 seats from the southern half of the State Is fast approaching. The other northern half of the State will go to polls on May 7 for an equal number of seats. Since the Ram Navami day, Rahul Gandhi has landed in Karnataka to take up the party’s poll campaign and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to take up the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) campaign on Saturday starting with a road show in Bengaluru (…)

• Does Congress Manifesto Reflect Muslim League thinking? | Ram Puniyani

  20 April 2024, by Ram Puniyani

  Last week (4th April 2024) Indian National Congress released its manifesto, called Nyay Patra (Promise for Justice), for 2024 General Elections. It prominently talked of Caste census, raising the cap of 50% on reservations, jobs for youth, internship, and economic support for the poor among others. Its focus has been on justice for women, Advises, dalit-OBCs, farmers, and student-youth. One of its spokespersons of Congress stated that the Manifesto addresses the steps needed to undo the (…)

• Findings of ADR & National Election Watch / Prison Conditons | Humra Quraishi

  20 April 2024, by Humra Quraishi

  18 April 2024 Humra Quraishi
  I read and re-read news reports focusing on the latest findings of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch: A total of 250 candidates in the fray for the second phase of the Lok Sabha election have criminal cases against them, according to an analysis conducted by the ADR and National Election Watch, of self-sworn affidavits of the contestants. The analysis was carried out on 1,192 of the 1,198 candidates contesting in the (…)

• 2024 Election Campaigns and Manifestos | P S Jayaramu

  20 April 2024, by P S Jayaramu

  23rd April 2024
  We are in the midst of campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, the first phase of it began on the 19th. Although it is somewhat accepted that at lower levels the campaign rhetoric becomes personal with attacks on the very persona of adversaries, it is sad to see national leaders of Political Parties, including those who hold governmental positions—ministers, chief ministers and the prime minister—stooping very low in their campaign speeches against their political rivals. It (…)

• 2024 General Election: Modi Sees ’Foreign Hand’ Behind Opposition To Oust Him From Power | JP Gadkari

  20 April 2024, by J P Gadkari

  At last it has appeared, the "hidden foreign hand" behind the Opposition in India trying to "oust " Modi from power. Addressing an election rally in Chikaballapura, some 60 kms from Bengaluru, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday last week declared that some "biggies" in India have joined hands with foreign powers and are campaigning for his ouster from power.
  There is a saying in Hindi "khisiyayi billi khamba noche" (an angry cat even tries to bite a wooden pole). Having become (…)

• 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Moral and Ethical Demand of the Power of the Ballot - An appeal for conscience Voting | Vijay Kumar

  20 April 2024, by Vijay Kumar

  The seven-phase long-winding electoral process has got underway with the election of the first phase on 19th April. The significance of the ballot is captured in matchless style by Winston Churchill in the following words:
  “At the bottom of all tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into a little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper — no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of (…)

• Its all in the DNA, is It? | JP Gadkari

  20 April 2024, by J P Gadkari

  It is said that it is in one’s DNA which makes him/her believe, behave and act without bothering about the consequences of his or her actions. Let it be in one’s personal life, social sphere or in political arena. Such a person misinterprets, twists and distorts all facts and events that are taking place or even twists or misinterprets the historical facts to suit his/her purpose.
  Take for instance the example of our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It appears it is in his DNA to (…)

• Rahul, Pryanka should not run away from Amethi, Rae Bareli | Faraz Ahmad

  20 April 2024, by Faraz Ahmad

  May 1, 2024
  Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka are caught in a catch 22 situation consciously and deliberately created by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  It’s a Hamletian situation of ‘to be or not to be’ or rather to contest or not to contest. But the stakes are too hight for them to let go of this challenge—the challenge of contesting from Amethi and Rae Bareli.
  Sonia Gandhi on account of her failing health and inability to (…)

• The Other Night | Murzban Jal

  20 April 2024

  The Other Night A Yankee billionaire Ate and ate and ate And then he farted Yes, yes, he farted After he ate and ate and ate The Other Night
  The fart was so loud that It was heard all over the world Yes, yes, heard all over the world But not only heard, But echoed and echoed and echoed The fart The Other Night
  It was so loud (the fart) That the echo Shook all parts of the world Yes, yes, shook all parts of the world
  The Government of Israel heard it and screamed “Bloody anti-Moses (…)