News views.

Plenty of things are happening around us, with quite a few of them hogging the headlines in the media. So, without much ado, let me try to discuss a few of them. 

1. Mamata Banerjee Banned

The Election Commission of India has imposed a ban on campaigning for the ongoing Assembly elections for 24 hrs on the Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee. The ban is with effect from 8 PM today to 8 PM tomorrow. The reasons for the ban are :-

 (a) For passing disparaging remarks regarding the CRPF, even asking the public to stand up to them.

 (b) Asking all the Muslim voters of the state to vote for her and her party.

What has happened to the TMC chief? Is she losing confidence about her ability to win this election from the feedback received from the grassroots level? Her actions seem to suggest that she's increasingly getting jittery.

2. The Second Wave of Covid-19 Is Here

The incidence of the rising Covid-19 cases in our country has reached alarming proportions. Today's numbers are over 1.5 lakh cases, the highest daily spike in the world. Why is this sudden increase? Have we, Indians, thrown all caution to the wind because of complacency? Or is it a global trend? 

The state governments have begun to take remedial measures like imposing limited/restricted lockdowns, strict action on people making up crowds etc as no-one is interested in having a total lockdown imposed as it would hurt economic activity and push people to a difficult situation in earning their livelihood. 

Related queries on the subject are :-

     

     (a) Should we have a national lockdown to contain the surge that seems to be going out of control?

     (b) Is the availability of the vaccines - at every distribution point - assured?

I'm sure India will pass through this phase comfortably and the surge would be brought under control at the earliest. By now, the entire population has been seized of the urgency to get vaccinated after the initial hesitation mainly due to fear mongering and unnecessary political posturing.

3. A Dance Gone Viral

Naveen Razak and Janaki Omkumar - both students of the Thrissur Medical College - dancing to the tune of the 1970s Boney M number, "Rasputin" has gone viral on the social media. As it happens in our country, there are views and counterviews on everything and this activity has not been spared of the unnecessary hype.

The reactions - both positive and negative - have to be viewed with caution and handled in a matured manner so that they don't go out of hand.

The Supreme Court's latest ruling has stated that anyone above 18 years of age has the freedom to choose his/her religion. 

4. The IPL Cricket Is On

For the people forced to stay indoors, to beat the surge in the Covid-19 cases, the IPL cricket matches on television have come as a big boon. In the matches played thus far there has been plenty of runs, wickets and entertainment. 

I still have not come to terms with the dilemma as to why I should support the Mumbai Indians or the Rajasthan Royals or any other team, for that matter, that are participating in this tournament!

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by 5' to 10. It was a quiet Monday.