In an embarrassment for the Uttar Pradesh government, Governor Ram Naik today termed the Kasganj communal clash as a “blot” on the state and asked the government to initiate measures to ensure such incidents did not recur. (PTI)

The Governor has called a spade a spade.

Aaadhaar is being made mandatory for almost all programmes of the government, Banks and other operations. As ‘Peoples Democracy’ has rightly pointed out “The Aadhaar has become another instrument of oppression in the hands of an authoritarian government and will facilitate state surveillance on citizens violating their privacy and fundamental rights.”

The recent exposure by ‘Tribune’ that aadhaar data of people can be accessed by others and misused has exposed the assurance of government and UIDAI that the information can not be accessed and is safe. Even earlier it was known that the American companies who were party to the preparation of the software had full access to the data. Now any crook and hacker can have access!

The best way for the government is to immediately stop making Aadhaar mandatory for all purposes. Accept the mistake and withdraw from the foolish venture.

While in opposition BJP was vehemently opposing FDI in retail trade including in multi-brand retail. It organised agitational programmes and  opposed in  Parliament also.

In power at the centre, it has somersaulted. Now the central cabinet has decided for FDI in retail, both single and multi-brand to the extend of 100%.

The double-face and double talk of BJP has been once again exposed. As in the case of assurance of solving unemployment as also waiving of the loans of the farmers, here also the BJP and NDA have gone back.

People are not fools. After its lackluster performance in the Gujarat assembly elections,  BJP has been given  a  sharp rebuff in the Karnataka panchayat elections.

VHP leader Pravin Thogadia has been in the news for long time for his extreme right wing stand and provocative statements. Peaceful life has been threatened. But now he is under threat by those who are in power. He is on the run to escape the wrath of Prime Minister Modi, the paper reports say.

The hunter hunted?

The government of India has proposed to issue to Orange color Passport to those who have not passed Matriculation. The address and other details in the last page also will not be there. Discrimination in issuing the passport is unwanted. The government should withdraw this unwanted and biased decision.

Government of India is providing subsidy to he various pilgrimages like Haj, Kailas-Manasa sarovar, Kumbhamela etc. Some of the states are also providing similar help. But now the Government has issued orders stopping the Huj subsidy. This discriminatory order should be withdrawn.

The exposure by ‘The Tribune’ about the lack of security of Aadhaar and that the information in the Aaadhar can be breached and leaked has put the government on the defensive. But instead of taking necessary action to rectify and secure the Aadhaar, the Modi government has turned its anger on those who exposed the insecurity and filed FIR against the woman reporter and others as also against the newspaper.

Wide scale protest has come from all sections of society, including politicians and parliamentarians against this victimisation of the whistle-blowers. Government can not be allowed to gag those who speaks against its wrong actions. The action of the government is undemocratic and has to be protested.

2017 was a sad year for the journalists in Latin America. 42 media persons were killed in 9 Latin American countries in 2017. There were forced disappearance of 27 persons in addition. They include those who worked as journalists, photographers, broadcasters, publishers and related trades. They were mainly progressives who wrote about the rights of the workers, opposed imperialism, capitalism and so on. The hidden hand of US imperialism is certainly behind these murders. We condemns these murders and express solidarity with media persons fighting for a right cause.