India’s ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has just arrested a leading Opposition stalwart, Manish Sisodhia of the Aam Ami Party (AAP), Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi state, in an alleged liquor licences scam. The arrest smacks of vendetta more than a moral crusade. […]
A Vendetta Parading as a Moral Crusade Read More »
If you are a Muslim in India participating in a student agitation, you can be locked up for years without being convicted. Sharjeel Imam and seven other students were arrested in 2019 under anti‐terrorism laws for supposed violence in an agitation against
A Human Rights Victory in India, but with Great Difficulty Read More »
The Indian government has banned a BBC documentary series, India: The Modi Question, blocking it on Youtube and other digital outlets. The official reason—that it “undermines the sovereignty and integrity of India” and could affect public order and India’s relations with foreign
Is Bangladesh, the latest applicant for an IMF loan (likely to be $4.5 billion) going the same way as Sri Lanka and Pakistan? No, the other two went to the IMF after emptying their coffers whereas Bangladesh is seeking precautionary
Bangladesh’s Stitch in Time Saves Nine Read More »
Even as many developing countries conserve their foreign exchange reserves to guard against a nasty worsening of the economic environment, the Reserve Bank of India—the country’s central bank—has sold more than $40 billion from its reserves in the last nine months
India Must Not Artificially Prop Up the Rupee Read More »
For those who wonder why India has not joined a “coalition of the free” against Russia, the news is that India is not that free anyway. It has fallen from 142nd to 150th position in the World Press Freedom Index
India Slips to 150th Position in Press Freedom Index Read More »
There are many reasons why India has abstained in UN votes on Ukraine rather than join the West in condemning Russia. First, India prizes its non‐aligned traditions. Second, India has always viewed Russia (and the USSR earlier) as an old
Why India Is Non‐aligned on Russia Read More »
India boasts that 40% of its power capacity is now based on renewables. But competition between political parties in election pledges has resulted in more and more states providing free electricity to domestic consumers. This subsidizes rather than taxes carbon.
Free Domestic Electricity Threatens State Finances in India Read More »
In Alice in Wonderland, the Red Queen declares, “Sentence first, verdict afterwards.” That resembles media reports (including a long one in the Washington Post) on the flash flood in the high Himalayas in February that destroyed two hydel projects, killed at
Glacier Flash Flood: Glaciers in Wonderland Read More »
For over four months, agitating farmers have surrounded India’s capital, New Delhi, often blocking major roads and railway lines. They stormed Delhi’s fabled Red Fort on India’s Republic Day, January 26. The protesting farmers want the repeal of three farm
Modi Should Hold Firm against Farmers Read More »
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