‘No checks to current regime’s misuse of agencies towards political ends’
The Hindu
The second and final day of the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) on Sunday saw an eclectic selection of panels and discussions covering history, the many languages of Karnataka, and current affairs
The second and final day of the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) on Sunday saw an eclectic selection of panels and discussions covering history, the many languages of Karnataka, and current affairs.
Senior journalist and author Josy Joseph discussed his recent work, The Silent Coup: A History of India’s Deep State, in one of the sessions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, is perhaps the PM after P.V. Narasimha Rao to extensively misuse agencies towards political ends. Mr. Joseph was of the view that the Mr. Modi had perhaps internalised the potential of the misuse of the non-military agencies of the State so well, it was frightening. “After Mr. Rao, the coalition era provided for some checks and balances against the misuse of agencies. The UPA Governments ushered in an era of transparency and agencies seemed to be moving towards professionalisation. But all that work has been undone under this regime,” he said.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.