Distinct View

Nailing Jihadi Terror - I

THE precision strike by Israel to take out Hezbollah militia leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon marks a significant milestone in the global fight against Islamic terrorism. Hitting right at the top of Hezbollah’s leadership has definitely weakened a rabid organisation which is, surprisingly, seen only as a hater of Israel but actually is a perpetrator of organised crimes across multiple continents. Implications of Israel’s elimination of Nasrallah would be far reaching, for the entire ecosystem of ..

One election, many notions

THE concept of ‘one nation, one election’, holding simultaneous voting for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, has found a renewed vigour of debate and discussions after the adoption of the recommendations of the Kovind Committee by the Union Cabinet. A new pitch has been raised for the idea of ‘one nation, one election’ with support, praise and also opposition gathering in all parts of the country. The issue, though, cannot be confined only to narrow contours of a political divide. It is a massive transformat..

Polls, Gambits & Gambles

THIS is the season of political gambits and gambles in India. Delhi has witnessed a loaded move by the Aam Aadmi Party, Jammu & Kashmir has opened a door for political parties to test their strength, Haryana is caught in the typical phase of political rebellions, and Maharashtra is treading an iffy zone with parties still gauging the public mood. Since the Lok Sabha poll results in June, election dynamics in the country have assumed an altogether intriguing layer, baring all the confusions and contradictio..

CALLING IC-814

ANATIONAL debate is raging in the middle of the controversy and commentaries surrounding the web series ‘IC814: The Kandahar Hijack’, opening up a disturbing chapter in India’s security mechanisms. The web series has come with its faults and some illogical “artistic liberties” but at the same time it has redirected focus on the Indian response to the hijack drama played out in 1999. The hijacking of IC 814 flight from Kathmandu to Kandahar and the way the sordid saga was handled by the security and ..

Before It’s Too Late

A TIGHT corner is a sure inventor of whataboutery. It is the final indicator of reversal in fortunes which usually ends up in braggartism and is invariably followed by hubris. Whatever is happening in West Bengal in wake of the barbaric killing of a young, innocent medical practitioner at the RG Kar Hospital reflects the last stage of arrogance that the ruling dispensation is brazenly employing to muzzle a just fight. After attempts of dirty cover-up, threats are being doled out from the office of ..