In My Opinion – Nitish, Noida and the Indian Ocean

Saturday 13 August 2022 In My Opinion   By Rama Lakshmi, Opinion Editor

Bihar’s surprise political drama was all the talk this week. Some rejoiced and said Nitish Kumar is readying for 2024, others called him a traitor; memes showed U-turn signs and the four eastern states under non-BJP governments. Our columnist Yogendra Yadav wrote that just when 2024 was perceived and presented as a “done deal” and the Opposition’s shoulders were drooping, Bihar has thrown the game wide open. But Vir Sanghvi had more fun with the news. “No, this is no victory for secularism. It is merely the latest manoeuvre by a shrewd politician who has changed sides so often that he must wake up in the morning and struggle to remember who his allies are today,” he said. Srikanth Tyagi’s arrest in Noida after he abused a woman in his apartment complex is a curious case of ‘mall modernity’ and RWA urbanism winning over the local, entrenched feudal elite, wrote columnist Dilip Mandal. The Enforcement Directorate, under PM Modi, is the hottest political entity, wrote columnist Sheela Bhatt. Its newly built office in Pravartan Bhawan is digital, has more staff, domain experts and bigger budget. And the so-called ‘terror raj” is breaking the hardened nexus between politics and business. As India pushed back on the Chinese vessel headed to Sri Lanka, its new confidence is visible. India is asserting its primacy in the Indian Ocean like never before, wrote columnist Jyoti Malhotra. One of the most pervasive myths is that Indians never invaded anybody. Historian Anirudh Kanisetti wrote that this is just a fantasy story we like to tell ourselves. Chola emperor sent troops into present-day Malaysia and Indonesia, Guptas invaded Afghanistan, and Kashmiri king Lalitaditya Muktapida sent troops to Xinjiang and Tibet.   2024 is no longer a ‘done deal’ for BJP. Bihar coup has changed India’s political landscape Thinking of India’s electoral map as three strips shows BJP only has 'dominance' over one. With no NDA left now, except in name, 2024 will be a challenge. Read more... By Yogendra Yadav   Bihar drama isn’t win for secularism. 3 things you are missing in your jubilation Bihar drama is merely the latest manoeuvre by shrewd Nitish Kumar who has changed sides so often he must wake up every morning and struggle to remember who his allies are. Read more... By Vir Sanghvi   India’s democracy goes beyond the last mall in Noida. Rural feudal rich are feeling the pinch Shrikant Tyagi episode shows that the State, even if ruled by the BJP, will side with 'mall modernity' and crush the ego of rustic rural feudals. Read more... By Dilip Mandal   Under Modi govt, ED’s public profile has changed. It has 4 times the staff, bigger budgets In New Delhi, and all state capitals, the dictum was ‘those who live in glass houses never throw a stone.’ Modi govt has changed that. Read more... By Sheela Bhatt   Tale of two ships – How Delhi is asserting Indianness of the Indian Ocean to China A US Navy ship docked in an Indian port for the first time. And a Chinese ship couldn’t in Sri Lanka. New Delhi is finally pulling strings. Read more... By Jyoti Malhotra   ‘Indians never invaded’ is a myth. Guptas, Cholas, Lalitaditya Muktapida were conquerors Rashtrakutas raided the Himalayas, Tamil Nadu; the Cholas Bengal, Indonesia; Kashmiris Punjab, Afghanistan, and Xinjiang. Medieval Indians had a big appetite for conquests. Read more... By Anirudh Kanisetti   Read more of ThePrintOpinion here. You are receiving this because you are a reader of ThePrint and posted a comment or signed up to receive this newsletter. We appreciate your feedback. Follow ThePrint

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