Assam News :::: Centre to appoint interlocutor on Constitutional status demand of Rabha, Mising, Tiwa communities :: BJP working president Nitin Nabin visits Assam

 The Union Home Ministry to appoint interlocutor on constitutional status demand of Rabha, Mising, Tiwa

The assurance came after the Home Minister met delegations of the Rabha, Mising and Tiwa communities in New Delhi in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam Minister Ranoj Pegu was also present. The move is being seen as a significant step towards addressing the constitutional aspirations of the three indigenous groups. Welcoming the decision, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed gratitude to the Union Home Minister, calling the assurance “deeply reassuring and heart-warming.”  

For his part, the Home Minister said he had listened to the concerns raised by community representatives and assured them that their demands would be addressed. 

“The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon appoint a senior official to work towards an amicable and lasting solution,” Shah said.

The demand for constitutional status has been a long-pending issue for the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, Mising Autonomous Council and Tiwa Autonomous Council, which are currently statutory bodies constituted by the Assam government.

BJP steps up Assam poll strategy as party;s newly appointed working president Nitin Nabin attends state executive meet 

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia said the party has set a target of securing over one crore votes in the 2026 Assembly elections

Addressing party workers, Nabin recalled his association with Assam since 2009, when he visited the state as a BJP Yuva Morcha leader. 

He said the BJP’s focus on the Northeast dates back to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who believed the region’s development was essential for national progress. 

Nabin, who is likely to take over as BJP national president by Feb 2026,  criticised Congress, alleging that during its rule land rights were compromised and central funds failed to reach beneficiaries. 

Within weeks of Nabin taking the charge -- he will lead the saffron outfit for polls in key states such as Assam (now under BJP), West Bengal (under Trinamool), Tamil Nadu (under DMK) and Kerala (under CPI-M led LDF). 

Military Diplomacy and Lesson ... Can Bangladesh understand the deeper meanings :::: "If we don’t learn from history, then it teaches us lessons - often at a very, very great cost" ---- says Western Command chief Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar

"If we don’t learn from history, then it teaches us lessons - often at a very, very great cost." Western Command chief Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar told 'India Today TV'.  

The words of advise ... have been chosen well at a time when Bangladesh is clearly seen cosying up to Pakistan.

On this backdrop, he admitted India's key eastern neighbour is undergoing difficult times and expressed confidence of Bangladeshi Army doing - ultimately - "the right job".

Western Command chief Lt Gen Katiyar

Lt Gen Katiyar accepted that despite India fighting several 'Dharamyudhs' with Pakistan, their army has still not learnt its lessons, as it is deeply embedded in the country’s politics and is often driven by its own interests and economic considerations.

Citing another example of the Pakistan Army’s “adharma,” Lieutenant General Katiyar said that during the Kargil war, the Pakistan Army disowned its own soldiers and refused to accept their bodies. 

Explaining certain key facets of Dharmyudhs; he said - even Rigveda has said "You can fight Dharmyudh.. you can take arms in self defence".

"It also gives away fighting in a righteous way ... Rigveda says - Do not attack sick or wounded. Do not harm a woman or a child. Do not attack from behind". 

He further said -- "For us (India or for Indian army) Dharmyudh is not a war for religion. It's not like crusades. It is fighting a war in a righteous manner".  

"Disrobing Bangladeshi sisters in 1971 shows Pak Army's adharma" 

"Could India have remained a mute spectator to thousands and thousands of Bangladeshi sisters being disrobed by Pakistani soldiers? We had to intervene," General Katiyar said recalling the atrocities committed by Islamabad during the 1971 war, which he called "worse than the Holocaust."

In modern history replete with crusades and jihads, he asserted that India had always fought Dharamyudh, a concept he said was as ancient as "our civilisation."  

He goes on to call the 1971 war an "apt example of Dharamyudh."

"What was happening in Bangladesh is we seem to have forgotten. Thousands and thousands of Bangladeshis were killed," he said.

Calling it a "genocide" and "even worse than the Holocaust," Lt Gen  Katiyar said - "The world was a silent spectator. Nobody was responding to it. 

Could we have remained silent to such barbaric happenings in our neighbourhood?"

(After 19 years, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today visited the grave of his father and party founder Ziaur Rahman.)

The remarks from the senior Indian army commander have come within hours BNP leader Tariqe Rahman has returned to Dhaka ending 17 year of exile. 

His return has triggered debates about he should do or should not do and what are the people's expectations.  

“This country belongs to people of the hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians,” Tarique declared at a massive Dhaka gathering on December 25. This was a smart balancing act. He mentions minorities. He also acknowledged Liberation War history and trying to signal calm and reason amid provocation and chaos.

However, since August 2024, hardliners and Jamaat-linked street power have increasingly dictated Bangladesh’s political rhythm. There is a palpable anti-India and anti-Hindu rhetoric and politics around it. 

Hence, Indian army commander's words have certain significances of their own. 

Note what the western command chief further says --  

"If you remain silent in face of crime, in face of evil, your conscience has to pay a price." he added.

He called it a "very just war" and a "perfect act" of liberating East Pakistan .... leading to creation of Bangladesh.

"In 1971, we captured 93,000 prisoners. We fought in a righteous manner and treated them well. We provided all facilities in accordance with rules and regulations. The Simla Agreement is the most liberal peace agreement. All this was in the quest for peace," he said.

"The 1971 war started with a just cause and ended in a just manner," he added.

ends 

History of Communism in India ::: 100 years -- initial period dominated by Telugus and Bengalis :::

The 'differences' cropped up in the very first meet of the Baam-panthis (Lefists).

The first conference was convened in Kanpur (then called Cawnpore) by a man called Satyabhakta.

He is said to have argued for a 'national communism' and against subordination. He was "outvoted" by the gatherings of around 500 people - mostly industrial workers.

Even Satyabhakta was forced to leave the venue in protest. It was at this conference that the name and the organisation Communist Party of India was established.   

The date was 26th December 1925. It was a four-day meet between Dec 25 and Dec 2028, 1925.

1920 : A Collector's snap :::: M N Roy (centre, black tie and jacket) with Vladimir Lenin (tenth from the left), Maxim Gorky (behind Lenin), and other delegates to the Second Congress of the Communist International at the Uritsky Palace in Petrograd. 

Key historical reference :

Arguably; the Indian communist movement itself was strongly inspired by the October Revolution (1917) – a glorious episode in history that bore fruits not just in the struggle against the Tsarist Empire, but across all oppressed nations. 

A set of Indian revolutionaries who wanted to overthrow British colonial rule in India reached Tashkent, in what was then the Soviet Union, from various parts of the world. Assisted by MN Roy – an Indian revolutionary who was a founder of the Mexican Communist Party and who was a member of the executive committee of the Communist International – they formed the Communist Party of India on 17 October 1920.

**

Crucially important to note --  Karl Marx, a German philosopher settled in England, prepared a manifesto for Communist parties.

Marx anticipated that the capitalist system, with its headquarters in Europe, was bound to collapse under the weight of its own inner contradictions. This would be followed by a superior socialist system. 

Until the 1940s, communist works in India were primarily those of western and Soviet Marxist thinkers.

Texts of Chinese communists were less circulated in India, in large part because Mao's works were generally available in English but not Bengali or Telugu. The Chinese texts of particular interest to Indian communists included 'On Contradiction, On New Democracy', and Liu Shaoqi's 'How to be a Good Communist'.   

Between 1921 and 1924 there were three conspiracy trials against the communist movement; First Peshawar Conspiracy Case, Meerut Conspiracy Case and the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case. 

In the first three cases, Russian-trained muhajir communists were put on trial. However, the Cawnpore trial had more political impact. 

On 17 March 1923, Shripad Amrit Dange, M.N. Roy, Muzaffar Ahmed, Nalini Gupta, Shaukat Usmani, Singaravelu Chettiar, Ghulam Hussain and R.C. Sharma were charged, in Cawnpore (now spelt Kanpur) Bolshevik Conspiracy case. 

The specific pip charge was that they as communists were seeking "to deprive the King Emperor of his sovereignty of British India, by complete separation of India from Britain by a violent revolution." 

Pages of newspapers daily splashed sensational communist plans and people for the first time learned, on such a large scale, about communism and its doctrines and the aims of the Communist International in India. 

New era Rural Voter: Knows his Caste & Politics too well

In 2025 -- one can give the Indian communists some advice  -- The double standards of communists, who preach secularism but practice communal politics often have been the reason for their destruction. 

They may term it pragmatic politics but it goes without stating that the erstwhile champions of the working class, the peasants and the poor have generally lost track ... some of it willfully.  

It is argued and rather claimed that with the emergence of communists in the anti-colonial struggle, the Indian National Congress, which was leading the 'national movement', was forced to adopt a stronger stance against British rule.

This was a departure from the mild resistance the Congress had put up until then. 

In the Ahmedabad session of the Indian National Congress in 1921, two communists – Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Swami Kumaranand – moved a resolution demanding complete independence from British rule. 

The resolution was rejected but taken seriously and this marked a neo-chapter -- showing that communist ideas had begun to make an impact on the anti-imperialist struggle.

ends 

Ancient Goddess Durga Mata Sculpture Found in Kashmir Valley ::::: Baramulla Police has facilitated the safe handover of a stone sculpture recovered from River Jhelum

 Ancient Goddess Durga Mata Sculpture Found in Kashmir Valley  

Reminder that Kashmir has always been a land of deep Hindu civilizational roots

*Baramulla Police has facilitated the safe handover of a stone sculpture recovered from River Jhelum for its preservation and conservation.*

On 25 December 2025, a fisherman identified as Nazir Ahmad Latoo S/o Ghulam Mohammad Latoo, R/o Shaltang/Zogyar, reported to Police Station Sheeri, Baramulla, that he had recovered a stone sculpture while fishing in River Jhelum. The sculpture was immediately brought to the notice of police authorities and kept in safe custody at Police Station Sheri.

Subsequently, on 26 December 2025, following due procedure and official directions from the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology & Museums, J&K, the said stone sculpture—identified as Goddess Durga—was formally handed over by Baramulla Police to officials of the Archaeology Wing, Srinagar through a proper handover/takeover process.

Baramulla Police reiterates its commitment to the protection of cultural heritage and urges citizens to promptly inform authorities about any such discoveries of historical or archaeological importance.

2,900 incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh under Yunus ::::: Perpetrators must be punished :::: India condemns Hindu man’s killing in Bangladesh, says ‘matter of concern’

India condemns Hindu man’s killing in Bangladesh, says ‘matter of concern’

“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, Dec 26th. 

Jaiswal said New Delhi was disturbed by the recent killing and stressed that those responsible must be held accountable. 

Dipu Chandra Das, a 30-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob last week in Mymensingh, about 100 km from Dhaka. 

In a video that went viral, the mob was seen celebrating the barbarity as Dipu’s naked body was tied to a tree and set on fire.

“Continuing hostilities against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists matter of grave concern. We condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect perpetrators to be brought to justice,” he said.

Jaiswal noted that independent sources have documented over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh during the tenure of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. 

He added that such incidents cannot be brushed aside as media exaggeration or dismissed as mere political violence.

A wave of communal violence broke out in Bangladesh over the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in the July Revolution in 2024 that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

In that spate of violence, Dipu Chandra Das was killed, after being accused of blasphemy.

The incident, that went viral on social media, triggered protests across major cities in India and counter protests in Bangladesh, prompting both countries to summon each other’s envoys.

Indian visa operations in Chittagong were suspended indefinitely following a security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) in the second largest city of Bangladesh on Monday. Soon after, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi “temporarily suspended” all consular and visa services.

Reiterating India’s consistent stand on Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, “India stands for strengthening our ties with the people of Bangladesh. We favour peace and stability in Bangladesh. 

We stand for fair, free inclusive and participatory elections, which is to be held in a peaceful atmosphere.”

Ahead of the elections in Bangladesh, which are slated to be held in February, the chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka on Thursday after a 17-year exile. The leader of the party – which has been the principal opposition during former PM Hasina’s tenure – held his first public rally as thousands of supporters gathered.

On the other hand, Hasina’s Awami League has remained banned under the country’s anti-terrorism law since May, while Hasina herself was sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) in November. Since her ouster in 2024, Dhaka had repeatedly demanded New Delhi to hand over Sheikh Hasina. India has not formally responded to these demands.  

“We condemn the gruesome killing of a Hindu in Bangladesh. We have given statements earlier as well, rejecting the false narrative put out by Bangladesh,” the MEA said.  

Another  Hindu man was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district late on Wednesday night. Police identified the victim as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat. According to local authorities, the violence stemmed from alleged extortion-related activities.  

Responding to questions on the return of Tarique Rahman, MEA spokesperson Jaiswal stressed that India supports free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh and that recent political developments there should be seen in that context.

He added that New Delhi is closely following developments in Bangladesh.  

Rahman's return comes amid the political turmoil in Bangladesh, where India has flagged the need for stability and security. 

Developments involving groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami, which has re-entered politics after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, are being watched closely. 

The rise of anti-India narrative under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus is another matter of concern for New Delhi. 

ends 

What's Atal Bihari Vajpayee's biggest contribution .... One can say -- He mainstreamed nationalism without tearing India’s social fabric

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee legacy stands out for pan-India acceptability, moral authority and a moderate veneer that reshaped the BJP.  

Vajpayee Legacy: Poet Who Softened BJP’s Hard Edge

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee legacy endures not merely because he was prime minister, but because he was a political rarity — a leader admired even by opponents. 

Celebrated for his pan-India acceptability and unblemished personal image, Vajpayee gave the Bharatiya Janata Party a moderate, civilisational veneer at a time when it was widely perceived as rigidly pro-Hindutva.

Co-founder of the BJP alongside L K Advani, Vajpayee emerged as the party’s most reassuring face. His acceptance among minorities, intellectuals and political rivals often softened criticism aimed at the BJP’s ideological roots. 

Critics who labelled Advani as “communal and reactionary” found it difficult to attach the same charge to Vajpayee — a poet, parliamentarian and statesman rolled into one.

Born on Christmas Day in 1924 in Gwalior to a schoolteacher, Vajpayee’s political journey began early through the RSS, yet his worldview expanded far beyond organisational boundaries. 

His poetry reflected both anguish and resolve. Lines like “Isey mitane ki sazish karne walon se keh do, chingari ka khel khatarnak hota hai” were warnings wrapped in verse — nationalism without shrillness.

Vajpayee’s first stint as prime minister in May 1996 lasted just 13 days, but his return in 1998 vindicated his promise to Parliament. Until 2004, he steered India through defining moments — nuclear tests, economic recalibration, and a bold foreign policy outreach. 

Defending Pokhran-II in the Lok Sabha, he asked pointedly whether a nation should prepare for defence only after being attacked. It was realism without bravado.

As BJP president at its founding in 1980, Vajpayee complemented Advani’s hard logic with humour, persuasion and empathy. 

Even Advani once admitted Vajpayee’s humour gave him “complexes.” Yet Vajpayee’s softness was never weakness. His cautionary remark during the Ayodhya mobilisation 

— “Aap Ayodhya ja rahe hain, Lanka nahi” — revealed his instinct for restraint amid mass passion.  A journalist by training, a lover of poetry and cinema by temperament, Vajpayee famously said politics was intoxicating because it put one’s name in newspapers. 

The Raisina Hills link

Still, history remembers him as far more — a leader who mainstreamed nationalism without tearing India’s social fabric.

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee legacy is that of inclusive nationalism — firm on India’s interests, gentle in tone, and enduring in relevance.

ends 

Tarique Rahman .. sounds poetic and almost a painter --- He promised to build a "safe Bangladesh"— a nation with "security" a,,,, 'desh (nation)' where "every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safe"

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is bang on target !! 

In a departure from the pomp of the past, Rahman sat on a simple, unadorned wooden chair at the reception venue. It was a calculated visual metaphor: a rejection of the "throne" mentality that has long plagued the country's leadership.

Dhaka's leading newspaper 'The Daily Star' says --- 

"His return may help restore a measure of equilibrium to a fractured political landscape, but the road home was shaped by a new reality. 

Following Hasina's ouster last year, Rahman was relieved of politically motivated convictions in a litany of cases." 

Of course upon landing, he thanked Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus by phone from the airport lounge for the security provided to him and his family.  

This was a smart and politically correct gesture. 

When he finally addressed the crowd, the most resonant passage of his speech came when he promised to build a "safe Bangladesh"—the basic concept of security that has felt elusive recently. 

He painted a picture of a nation free from the violence that has stalked its streets. He envisioned a nation where "every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safely."  

Rahman called for unity rather than vengeance. 

His tone was inclusive and forward-looking as he sketched a vision of the country's recovery. Playing on the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr., he declared, "I have a plan. I have a plan for the people of my country." 

It was a deliberate rhetorical pivot—from grievance to governance. He also recalled the martyrdom of Sharif Osman Hadi in his struggle to restore democratic rights.

The exile is over. 

Rahman's physical presence now serves as a counterweight to the swelling influence of rival political actors. 

The challenges ahead are immense, but as his bulletproof bus wound its way through cheering crowds in Dhaka, the prevailing mood was one of palpable relief. He is rightly credited with preserving party unity through the lean years of opposition. 

His second act—now waiting to play out on home soil ahead of a February election—will depend on whether he can charm a new generation and convince a nation emerging from trauma that he represents a fresh start, rather than a return to business as usual.

The story of his return is not just about one man's comeback. 

It is also about whether the country can move beyond its entrenched cycle of dynastic politics, partisan revenge, corruption, and other markers of a nation and a society on boil.  

While talking to the BBC, before his arrival at Dhaka -- Rahman's tone was measured and at times humble.

 "I am physically here [in the UK], but mentally I have always remained in Bangladesh," he said. 

It was a statement not just of longing; it was a reminder to his supporters that absence had not equated to detachment. His insistence in both interviews—that he would "soon return" to contest elections, and that BNP would win "a sweeping majority"—reflected both confidence and calculation. 

For a man long portrayed as divisive, he sought to project reason, inclusivity, and stability.

ends 

Stage set for elections in Myanmar on Dec 28th, 2025 :::: Military has a reputation of "rejecting" election results that do not suit them ...

It's a critical development expected in India's neigbourhood.

A new election protection law slaps 'death penalty' for those  opposing the election process !!

The ruling junta in Myanmar says the heavily restricted polls on Dec 28, 2025 and in two other phases are a return to democracy !! 

India's lapses have earlier pushed Myanmar closer to China.

Myanmar shares a long land and maritime boundary with India. 

'Disengagement' between India and Myanmar - not advisable.  

Myanmar sits at the junction of South and Southeast Asia and will be a major player vis-a-vis New Delhi's 'Act East Policy'.

Three key electioneering in India's neighbourhood in 2026 :

Myanmar, Bangladesh (Feb 2026) and possibly also Nepal. 

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development party has fielded the largest number of candidates and is in effect running uncontested in dozens of constituencies.

The first of three rounds of voting is due to begin at on Dec 28th. 

More than 100 townships, including the commercial capital of Yangon, will vote in this first phase of the elections, followed by another 100 in the second phase on Jan 11, 2026. 

The third round of voting will take place on Jan 25.  

Voting will be held in phases, on December 28 in 102 townships.

** January 11 - in 100 townships

and January 25 --- in 63 townships, covering a total of 265 townships out of a total of 330.

There will be 57 parties on the ballot; but the majority are perceived as being linked to or dependent on the military. Only six parties are running nationwide.  

The UN, several countries and rights groups have described the polls as a sham designed to keep generals in power through proxies. 

India keeping a closer look. 

ASEAN’s diplomatic approach, driven by its Five-Point Consensus envisaged a national dialogue between the two contending sides. 

But this never materialised because the army and the Resistance saw each other as arch adversaries. The elections could yield a new set of leaders and forces that may seek to work on the middle ground to craft a possible solution. 

***

Track record :

Myanmar's military held polls on May 27, 1990 with turnout at 73 percent.

There was a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD) med by Aug San Suu Kyi. 

It captured 392 of the 485 seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, in urban as well as rural areas. 

The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) came second with 23 seats, the Mon Democratic Front (MDF) won five, and miscellaneous parties and independents 55.  

Myanmar 1990 : People cast their vote 

Since the “wrong” party had won the 1990 elections, the rules had to change. On July 27, two months after the election, SLORC (basically junta) issued Announcement 1/90 declaring that only the junta “has the right to legislative power”—and that “the representatives elected by the people” would merely be “responsible for drafting a new constitution for a future democratic state.” 

Within days of the announcement, Burma’s military intelligence service—which is more of a secret police force—launched a massive campaign against elected NLD MPs. By the end of the year, 65 had been arrested, nearly a dozen had fled to neighboring Thailand and India, and many resigned voluntarily.  

Longtime Myanmar watcher Bertil Lintner says: "....the elected Pyithu Hluttaw was never convened. Instead, about 100 of the 485 MPs-elect were to sit in a “National Convention” together with 600 other, non-elected representatives who had been handpicked by the military to draft the new constitution. 

It was not until 18 years later, in April 2008, that that task was eventually completed and a referendum held. As expected, it turned out to be blatantly fraudulent. 

The ruling junta, now renamed the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), announced that the constitution had been approved by 92.4 per cent of voters". It even claimed a 99 per cent turnout in the regions where voting was said to have taken place. 

The elections in Myanmar on dec 28 are being organised by Myanmar’s military authorities more than four years after they seized power in a 2021 coup.

Key figures, including former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, were imprisoned. The crisis has since spiralled into widespread armed conflict, mass displacement and economic collapse.

Moreover there was a devastating earthquakes in March 2025.  

Dozens of people have been detained under a new “election protection law” for expressing dissent. Some have received extremely harsh sentences, including three young people in Yangon’s Hlaingthaya Township who were jailed for between 42 and 49 years for hanging anti-election posters.

Prominent cultural figures have also been targeted. Film director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut and comedian Ohn Daing were each sentenced to seven years in prison for “undermining public trust” after criticising a pro-election propaganda film.

Interview by Manish Anand for 'The Raisina Hills' ::::: "India is displaying mature diplomacy" .... :: "Yunus regime may not be sincere about polls"

 Shadow of History - Bangladesh ::: Face to Face 

"India is displaying mature diplomacy" .... :: "Yunus regime may not be sincere about polls" 

Manish Anand 

Ques, The Raisina Hills : What future do you envisage for Muhammad Yunus after the 2026 February elections in Bangladesh?

Nirendra Dev : 

It is difficult to answer this. It may appear a very simple question; but in today's circumstances as we see things in Bangladesh today; none can answer this question. 

Look here, Bangladesh is not only at a crossroads. It is actually in a complex whirlpool. Nobody is sure whether polls as announced will be really held or not.  Secondly,  nobody is sure whether Yunus himself or his interim regime really want the election to be held. Even the legitimacy of this government is in question.

Under whatever provisions they have for emergency or a national crisis etc; elections were to be held within three months after August 8th, 2004 when Yunus took over the charge. There is no constitutional sanctity to delay elections.

But they have done it. Lately; a mob culture has been tolerated, given freehand and even instigated. Today the same mob has caught the interim regime of Yunus by its raw nerve ..... up at the throat. 

Today, everyone in Bangladesh Knows its Jamaat who is running the Govt. How will a Govt run if Jamaat comes to power after election; the present Yunus-led dispensation is the trailer for that. If we say, Sheikh Hasina ran a fascist regime; today in all practical sense, the Yunus regime is also fascist regime just without Hasina. That's it.

'The Raisina Hills' link

The Raisina Hills : 

Do you think that Bangladesh is poised for a perennial bloodbath even after elections?

Nirendra Dev : 

Bloodbath is a must if you allow the rule of the jungle and the law of the mobocracy in the street. There have been Bandhs, Rasta Roko and violence in Bangladesh since August 2024 in the name of  protest against fake mobile business. In more ways than one; East Pakistan is back. See tee irony, mainstream Pakistan is a failed model. But that's a model for Bangladesh today. The so-called July 2024 protest ideals have failed.

The Raisina Hills: 

Why is the Bangladesh Army silent?

Nirendra Dev: 

We must understand; how the July-August 2024 protest was just aimed at regime change. It was no revolution. See, essentially a Revolution means - people's support to mob violence against oppression. This was there; but it all stopped there. Subsequently, no further changes related to any revolution took place. 

The Yunus regime is continuing with the same babudom Hasina left. Hence that same Fascist hegemony continues  by default. The bureaucracy has found new ways to survive and they are also teaching the new rulers, students and Yunus himself and his young team the tricks to continue in office. They have promised elections; but they have also banned Awami League and their supporters and cadres. Mind you; Hasina used to hold elections and win about 40 per cent votes. 

So you want a historic election with 30 to 40 percent of people kept away. 

Some of these finer points; the Indian government understands; but there is no understanding about the same amongst Indian media and commentators. In Bangladesh lately people are speaking out on this.

This is somewhere leading to a situation which New Delhi's foreign policy engine room understands and they will have a vital role to play in future too. 

In all this, we may be perplexed to find the Bangla army silent. The Army is modeled on two formats. One, Hasina's fascism and and the other 'The Munir model of Pakistanis'. Army is semi corporate.

It is in various kinds of non-combatant operations. It's like a corporate honcho. There is debate on Tenders.

It has intense involvement in running real estate to university administration, admission and education.

So hardcore defence action is not priority. Moreover, the generals know things are in utter mess. So; why us.... when there is Yunus to take the blame?

The Raisina Hills :  

What scope do you see of Pakistan plundering chaos in Bangladesh?

Nirendra Dev: 

This goes without saying. Bangladesh has been trapped by the Deep State, radical Islam, Pak-revenge, India's indifference and common people's simplicity.

Lawlessness is thriving. The Yunus regime glorified Mob as pressure groups like we talk about farmers' lobbies and business chambers in India. Common  people do not trust the police.  

Hence free fair and inclusive election is miles away. There is a 'business of bandh' today. There is a protest march on a daily basis. Economy has gone for a toss. Inflation is high and jobs have vanished.. 

See, what radicals and Pakistan's influence has brought in. Some of the slogans like 'We are for Sabhya Bangladesh' are heard. Does it mean, Bangladesh was uncivilized between 1971 and 2024  ? It has all hit at the roots of the Bangla Culture. That is a bigger crisis on cards..Nothing can be more pathetic 

The Raisina Hills: 

In 1971, Mujib was opposed by almost 45% Bangladesh who were pro-Pakistan. How is Bangladesh’s identity crisis—Benglali or Muslims—playing out?

Nirendra Dev : 

This is absolutely false. Such propaganda is being done by forces inimical to larger interests of Bangladesh

and also India. This claim that "almost 45%" of the Bangladesh population was pro-Pakistan in 1971 is inaccurate. 

The overwhelming majority of people in East Pakistan supported Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Awami League and the independence movement. In the 1970 general election there was widespread participation.

Awami League won 160 out of 162 seats in East Pakistan's provincial assembly and an absolute majority (167 out of 313 total seats) in the National Assembly of Pakistan. Mujib was elected Prime Minister of united Pakistan and see what followed after that. 

The Raisina Hills: 

What can India actually do—watch silently?

                 

Nirendra Dev :

 India is not silent. It is doing the right thing. The challenges that India faces today on the Bangladesh front

means New Delhi should show mature diplomacy. That's what they have been doing so far. No need for any adventurism

or hyped use of lung power. This matured diplomacy is helping the cause of logic. Today; even BNP leaders say; in 1971 

India certainly helped Bengalis in East Pakistan and it was due to India's help that freedom came. Some political parties may have complaints against India; that's their right. But a realisation is dawning gradually that India is not only a big neighbour; India can actually give stability in the region. 

There is also an appreciation that India's role in trade and economy can never be underestimated. New Delhi has to be extra cautious on security matters and till now things are in control. 

ends 

A destabilised Bangladesh is being radicalised and weaponised :::::: 'This country belongs to people of the hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians' -- says Tarique Rahman .... probably the future Bangladesh PM ... But does he have the maturity ???

 'This country belongs to people of the hills and plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians' -- 

Tarique Rahman 

(Acting chairman of BNP and son of former PM Khaleeda Zia).

But like in life; in politics too -- somethings are easier said than done.  

"Agents of various dominant powers are still engaged in conspiracies. We must remain patient. We have to exercise caution," Tarique Rahman told the massive crowd at a reception in Dhaka on Thursday, Dec 25th. 

Calling on supporters and family admirers not to respond to any form of provocation, Tarique said that just as the nation achieved independence in 1971, people from all walks of life once again came together to protect Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty in 2024.

** This is a smart way of trying to keep the right balance.

One - he mentions Hindus in his speech and secondly; he acknowledges that the country attained the 'unthinkable' milestone - the political liberation for the country in 1971.

****  

"Today, the people of Bangladesh want to regain their right to speak. They want to get back their democratic rights," he said. 

"The time has come for all of us to build the country together. This country belongs to people of the hills and the plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. 

We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safely."

But India should not be over enthusiastic : 

* The BNP has a profoundly anti-India image.

** Tarique Rahman has to walk the talk in more ways than one.

*** Jamaat and hardliners (anti-Hindu and mob culture) rule the roost in Bangladesh since August 2024 -- he will have to show political maturity and sagacity in keeping the ugly elements under check.

%% 

Can he handle the Yunus regime -- which came to office with hopes and has failed displaying the country's political chaos and administrative lawlessness ?

%%%%  

There are sharper Indian angles to the story in Bangladesh and these are apparently remote controlled by the Deep State.

The Dhaka model is familiar to Russia-Ukraine model ???

Lure a major power into a morally framed conflict. 

Prolong it through terrain demographics. The 'smaller nation' (that is Ukraine face existential crisis).

Resources bleed.

Global reputation damaged. Distract from the 'real enemy' -- 

the Americanisation ??

THIS was 

... used to trap Russia in Ukraine.

The goal was never to hep Ukraine.

The goal was economic exhaustion, international isolation of Russia. Push up arms sales from the US, France and other European arms suppliers and dealers.

India is smart enough and will not repeat the follies. 

Bangladesh needs a matured leadership. Does Tarique really have it ?

Moreover; will the puppeteers allow such easy exit of Yunus -- ???

A destabilised Bangladesh is being weaponised and radicalised.  

Tarique has to handle hardliners in the country and if elected as PM within next 45-60 days ....

He will have to 'review' ties with Islamabad

New Delhi, 

Beijing 

and Washington. 

In shot that would be a season of 'nightmare' for a political dynast.

Now after one and half years; various skeletons and differences are coming out in the fore.

There have been at least four interested players involved in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. One - Inquilab Manch,

New Citizens Party, Jaamat and the fourth the lobby that believed in 'formidable axis' between BNP and Jaamat. Yunus is an additional interested individual and essentially playing as a 'puppet' guided by his individual overzealous ambitions and his international backer.

Thus; the situation is complex. The recent violence and chaos have only proved this perception rather convincingly.

In the given situation; patience and Status quo club and a by-stander isolation suit New Delhi.

Wait for 'your own time' and the so-called Restraint now works well as the best strategy for the Modi Govt in Bangladesh. 

Islamabad and Beijing will do their own calculations. 

ends