drskmukherjee

  India Lives In A Difficult Neighborhood India is confronting a difficult neighbourhood when Pakistan and China have strengthened their cooperation. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and involvement of US-Russia in Ukraine is most likely to give free reins to China for growing into exercising unrestricted authority. The US and China relationship is already stressful. But currently the US and Russia are focused on Ukraine. For them now India is not a priority.  Modi's foreign policy has failed to rally the neighbouring countries behind to frustrate the possible and uninterrupted expansionist hunger of China to take possible advantage on India to raise new border issues especially when two superpowers the US and Russia are engaged in war. Pakistan and China have strengthened their cooperation. New challenges are emerging from the security vacuum Washington left behind in Afghanistan. Other fires to put out include a rapidly drifting Indo-Russian relationship and the military coup in ...

In September 2021 the Indian Forex reserve was at a record high of $642.45 billion. Now by 29th April this year, it has declined to $ 597.72 billion i.e, by $ 44.73 billion as per the data released by RBI. The decline in Forex reserves is due to decline in foreign currency assets (FCAs) which includes not only US $ but also non-US units like the euro, pound and yen.  There has been a massive capital outflow of $ 21.43 billion by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) since September last year and $ 6.56 billion alone in March this year. The US Federal Reserve started tightening monetary policy and interest rate hikes. The borrowing rate has been zero since 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic. The US is the world’s biggest economy and the Fed the biggest central bank, and its decisions impact market behaviour around the world. The Fed raised the borrowing cost after 2018 which badly affected the FPIs to pursue their business in India after paying increased cost on borrowing. Hence the FPIs pu...

  World Press Freedom Ranking of India Falls Low Below India – “one of the most dangerous nations for the media.” – RSF No wonder India ranks 150 among 180 countries in World Press Freedom Index 2022 released by Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) or RSF. The territories RSF highlighted are “disastrous effects of news and information chaos — the effects of a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda.” The shameful ranking can be viewed as how the media houses have become the mouthpiece of the government after it has intensified its crackdown on press freedom.  Three media-related news reports –  1. the shutting down of a TV channel, 2. the new policy on accreditation of journalists, and 3. a report on the rising number of assaults and arrests of journalists –  go to show the increasing crackdown on the media, a big blow to free speech in the world’s largest democracy.  Take the first one. The...

People rejected the earlier government in 2014 only on the hope of having a government with a difference. That is what was assured by Modi while seeking a mandate. But under Modi's government India has transformed into a different country compared to what it was in 2014 when he first became prime minister of India. The key question is how far has it moved from cherished constitutional values and principles. During the Modi government so far India transformed socially into an illiberal majoritarian and an intolerant country. Politically it has become authoritarian wherein Modi has almost been deified. Institutions are weakening, vigilantism is growing and the media is either suppressed or sycophantic. This is not the manufactured view designed to denigrate the PM, the government and even the country. The fact is India has become more communal and authoritarian. Nobody can contest such a description about India now and we need not get into what Modi's intentions are. We just have...

I t has become quite common in India these days to see swords, knife, iron rods, sticks, pistol wielding RSS BJP supporters of majority community organising processions during Hindu festivals, intimidating the minority Muslims with choicest invectives, inciting and provoking them to react into violence even to the extent of mounting on their masjids to fix saffron flags on minarets. Wave of attacks are orchestrated and hate speeches are hurled to disturb the patience of minorities on the occasion of Hindu festivals by Right-wing Hindu groups intentionally holding processions in Muslim neighbourhoods without taking formal permission from the administrative bodies.  Hate speech and online abuse are India’s growing extremism problem. Calls to kill minorities, weak mainstream media and negligent officials – India sees a rising tide of communalism. It is without any doubt the politics of India today is fueling attacks on Muslims minority, which makes up roughly 14 percent of the country...