1. India Begins Evacuating Citizens from Yemen
The Indian Government has finally begun rescuing its citizens from strife-ridden Yemen. There had been a delay due to intense fighting in Aden, where nearly 400 Indians were stranded.
Since reports last came in, passengers were boarding a commercial liner at Aden which will reach Djibouti on Wednesday morning. Naval Ship INS Sumitra which was diverted from anti-piracy duty in the Gulf of Aden and anchored just off the Yemen coast has entered Aden to assist the evacuation operation that has been officially named “Operation Raahat”
Read the full story in The Hindu here.
2. Why Shouldn’t you Face Babri Charges Again, SC asks Advani, Uma & Co
A bench led by Justice HL Dattu has asked senior BJP leaders to why they shouldn’t face legal action for their alleged role in the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. The court has given the politicians four weeks to respond.
Two FIRs were lodged in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. One against the kar sevaks who allegedly demolished the mosque while the second named Advani, Joshi, Bharti, Vinay Katiyar, Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya, Sadhvi Rithambara and others for “making provocative speeches” to instigate the kar sevaks. Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray’s name was removed after his death.
Read the full Indian Express article here.
3. On Collision Course: Delhi CM Kejriwal Steps on L-G Jung’s Toes
According to the Hindustan Times, Arvind Kejriwal has ordered that all files relating to public order, land issues and police matters be directed through him. Traditionally, these subjects are under the purview of the Central Government’s representative, in this case, Lieutenant-Governor Najib Jung.
Kejriwal’s move to achieve statehood—if only on paper—may not last. “During my time, the Chief Minister never asked to see the files on police or such subjects. As of now, the Chief Minister has no say in such matters and it is up to the L-G to decide. If now the idea is to actually start contributing, giving suggestions which the L-G doesn’t accept, it will lead to trouble. There must be a better way of involving the Chief Minister,” said Shailaja Chandra, Chief Secretary of Delhi from 2002 to 2004.
Read the full story here.
4. CAG Rips into Famed Gujarat Growth Model
The CAG report has brought into question the success of the ‘Gujarat Model’ both in terms of social indicators like sex-ratio as well hard economic factors like the state’s growing fiscal deficit.
The CAG has also slammed the Gujarat government for the high level of financial indiscipline and poor spending. “The fiscal deficit increased from Rs 15,513 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 18,422 crore in 2013-14.” It also highlighted non-submission of utilisation certificates of Rs 7420.40 crore indicating lack of proper monitoring by departments. CAG observed lapses in tax collection also. It noted that more than Rs 300 crore non-recovery of Value Added Tax (VAT).
Read The Times of India report here.
5. To Regain Social Media edge, Amit Shah Calls Meet
Amit Shah is not happy with the performance of BJP leaders in TV studios and is worried about his party losing the edge in the social media battle, according to the Indian Express.
Unhappy with the performance of party spokespersons in TV debates and anxious over the BJP losing its edge on social media, Shah is expected to chalk out a strategy to synchronise the party’s external communication in the meeting. Convened next week, the meeting will be held at the party headquarters in the national capital and is likely to be attended by senior members of the BJP’s IT cell as well as the outside support groups from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Read the full article here.
6. Fearing extinction - India’s ‘Socialist’ Parties
The trigger for the current moves towards a merger of six Janata Parivar parties, especially the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal located in Bihar and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, is the fear of extinction. Assembly elections are due this year in JD(U)-ruled Bihar and in 2017 in Uttar Pradesh where the SP is in power. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the three parties touched their lowest mark in two decades: the JD(U) and the RJD together won just six of Bihar’s 40 seats, and the SP a paltry five of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats.
Read the full editorial from The Hindu here.
7. A New Kind of Babu
Politics in India has changed significantly, with a new guard from the BJP and the centre and the AAP in Delhi. Now, the Civil Services need to adapt to a new India as well.
We must move away from a mathematically impossible system in which everybody is above-average, tighten empanelment (currently, the pyramid looks like a cylinder because 75 per cent of officers become joint secretaries and 40 per cent reach the level of additional secretary) and put the best people, irrespective of age, in the right positions.
Read the full article from the Indian Express here.
8. Can Intellectuals be Netas? Why Yogendra Yadav Will always Lose Out to Arvind Kejriwal
Sagarika Ghose explains why intellectuals are not suited to the rough-and-tumble nature of Indian politics.
Soft spoken dignified Yadav is one of India’s sharpest political minds. On TV as well as in academic circles few have the acute grasp of Indian politics that he does. Bhushan is an upright and indefatigable lawyer-activist who has fought for many unpopular causes, his tryst with AAP a reminder that the legal fraternity once dominated national politics. Yet, today both Yadav and Bhushan find themselves marginalised in a political culture dominated by populists and demagogues.
Read the full Opinion piece in The Times of India here.
1. Tips for Netas Who Wish to Play the Disappearing Trick. Read here.
2. Gujarat Assembly Passes Controversial Anti-Terror Bill. Watch here.
3. New AAP Lokpal is One Who Slays ‘Bakasuras’. Read here.