Documenting 21st Century - India and the World

  Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu (Photo NDTV)   Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has resigned in Punjab as a consequence of faction fighting in Congress party. This is a setback for party before crucial state elections next year. While many reasons for CM's resignation are dished out, the real reason is quite simple. Navjot Sidhu wants to be CM of Punjab and Amarinder Singh won't have it. I won't go into the detail of why Amarinder Singh dislikes Sidhu but what i can definitely say is that Sidhu is an overambitious moron who wants to be CM of Punjab and advance his political career. This is not entirely unreasonable given the fact that he quit BJP and joined Congress in 2017 in last Punjab elections. Now after 4 years of presence in Congress, Sidhu has nothing to show for it and achieved nothing. The Congress lost 2019 general elections in a landslide and on a downhill path since. Sidhu feels that joining Congress was a bad decision and thus Congress must give him something...

I have written several articles about Modi and BJP's rule in India. This article is analysis on India's political opposition, what it is, what it was and where its going. I won't be talking much about the policies of government and their comparison with political opposition. This article is purely about Power politics - battle for control over states and center. In an earlier article, i explained five power centers of Modi's rule in India. I would be looking at our opposition political parties on how they fare in this perspective, how they lost power and what are the prospects of them defeating Modi regime & regaining power.   Congress after assassination of Indira Gandhi & Rajeev Gandhi - No strong leader in Congress to match someone like Indira Gandhi - Chaos of the 90s - Economic collapse, communal riots and political instability - Advani & BJP discover the antidote to socialistic populism of Congress party - Beginning of Hindutva Fascism & religious...

  Two months ago, India signed a G7 "2021 Open Societies Statement" about commitment to human rights, Democracy, freedom of expression and other wonderful things. The statement referred to "politically motivated internet shutdowns" as one of the threats to freedom and Democracy. India today is the among the most Internet censored country in the world. Blocking of domains, curbing of free speech on social media, jailing people for criticizing Govt & ruling party on internet, full fledged internet shutdowns in states & cities at various times - all these things are now usual affair in India.  India is now ruled by a totalitarian Govt, an elected dictatorship which is trying to control the totality of things - institutions, media, culture, education and public perception. Internet control is essential to controlling public perception and managing the thought process of people. A free internet is an enemy of dictatorial government as can be seen in nations lik...