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Nitish Kumar who is credited with giving an identity to the Biharis in recent times ironically has fallen out of grace but it is indeed a dichotomy that he still continues to be the benign hope for BJP to retain the power. Incidentally Bihar is the only state in Hindi heartland where BJP has miserably failed to have a comfortable majority and come to power on its own.

The ongoing challenges faced by Indian Muslims extend beyond the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 2025, the legislation that replaces the Waqf Act of 1955. Central to their fight is the urgent need to uphold their right to live with dignity and to safeguard their religious, cultural, and customary practices.

Despite the Union Government’s claim that social security coverage has been doubled under PM Narendra Modi government within three years from 24.4 per cent in 2021 to 48 per cent in 2024, there has been steep realtime decline in assistance under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) since 2014-15 which aims to provide social security and welfare to old age, disabled, and widowed individuals.

Alleged 26/11 Mumbai terror-attacks mastermind, Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistani-origin Canadian is up against the brag "Modi hai toh mumkin hai". Rana's planning took the lives of 166. Now, he is here in flesh and blood and the feeling one gets is that Rana is headed for the boot-hill!

The 24th Congress of the CPI(M), which concluded at Madurai on April 6 with a massive rally, was notable in many respects. There were changes both in the agenda and content of the Congress discussions.

In the two-day AICC session in Ahmedabad, the Congress has moved forward. The resolution finally adopted on April 9, 2025, shows that the party has made up its mind to adopt a modulated strategy which includes both the confrontational path against “inflicted grave injustice” upon the people by the BJP government and building a “future of hope, aspiration, and positivity” through the path of justice (Nyay-Path).

“Who are you threatening? Waqf Act will be law, and all will have to obey,” declared home minister Amit Shah. It was almost prophetic, leaving no uncertainties. Autocracy was spreading its wings with brutal intolerance against any voices raised in opposition.

National identity matters. Taking control of the Waqf properties is a strategic design of the saffron ecosystem to deny the national identity of Muslims of being Indian. Like the national identity, community identity nurtures a sense of belonging, mutual understanding and also strengthens social bonds. It revolves around cultural traditions, social values, which help shape future generations. Ironically, the ideas of the national and community identities are major deterrents in the path of the rightist fascist forces to accomplish their mission of completely polarizing the Hindu community and turning India into a de facto Hindu Rashtra.

What is happening to the “Neighbourhood First” policy of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the year 2025? Modi is an expert in coining attractive slogans whether those finally work or not. For South Asia, he opted for Neighbourhood First and for South East Asia and ASEAN nations Act East. At the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, Indian Prime Minister talked highly of the possibilities of BIMSTEC by promoting the body as a vital bridge between South and South East Asia. He presented a 21 point action plan for BIMSTEC.

The landmark Supreme Court judgment in the Tamil Nadu governor’s case marks a significant moment in the evolving jurisprudence concerning the constitutional roles and limits placed on governors, particularly when their actions are seen to disrupt the proper functioning of state governments. The judgment, on the surface, appears to provide a clear guidepost for future disputes where the governor may appear to override the mandate of an elected state government by arbitrarily stalling the passage of legislation.