"You will be in difficulty" ::::: Sunday ho ya Monday .. 'Roz khae andey' :::: Mamata Banerjee gets blows after blows from Supreme Court ..... Will voters shun her finally ?? :::: “If CM barges into an ED investigation, your idea of remedy for ED is to go to the same state Govt"

Gimmicks, Freebies and fighting for false causes are proving a season of nightmares for West Bengal's Agni Kanya ...  

Dealing with grievances pertaining to the alleged large-scale exclusion of voters in the state, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi orally observed that the SIR had been conducted smoothly in all states, except Bengal.  

“Except West Bengal, everywhere SIR has happened smoothly... Not much of litigation on SIR is coming from other states,” CJI Kant told senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the Bengal government.

The bench noted that it had already appointed judicial officers to deal with issues raised by the petitioners and created a special tribunal to hear appeals against the exclusion of voters. 

Two separate Supreme Court benches on Tuesday admonished the Bengal government for the controversy-ridden SIR process in the state and its objection to the Enforcement Directorate’s plea against the alleged obstruction to a raid in Calcutta on January 8.  

Another bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N.V. Anjaria questioned the state’s opposition to the ED petition for registration of criminal cases against chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the state police brass over the alleged obstruction to the agency’s raid on the premises linked to I-PAC, the Trinamool Congress’s poll strategist. 

The ED said the raid was in connection with a money-laundering probe.  

Kalyan Banerjee said the entire supplementary list of voters was still not available and pleaded that the Election Commission (EC) be directed to provide soft copies to all political parties. “This burden we have passed onto the Chief Justice of the (Calcutta) High Court,” the CJI said.

Senior advocate D. Seshadri Naidu, appearing for the poll panel, said the EC had already given a proposal on the publication of supplementary lists on a daily basis to the high court Chief Justice.  

“If the chief minister barges into an ED investigation, your idea of remedy for the ED is to go to the state government ....which is headed by the chief minister and inform them about it and seek remedy?” Justice Mishra asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state.  

“Your lordships are assuming that the chief minister has committed an offence,” Sibal said, prompting Justice Mishra to counter:

“We are not assuming anything. Every allegation is based on some facts. If there are no facts, there is no need to investigate. That is what they are praying for CBI to investigate.”  

Kapil Sibal argued that if the ED was investigating a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) case and some other offence had come to the notice of the officers, the agency should have informed the state government under Section 66 of PMLA.

Justice Mishra refused to accept the argument. “Section 66 PMLA may not apply. There are two distinct allegations. PMLA allegations which ED is inquiring about. Then the second set of offence, which the petitioners herein are alleging that has notbeen committed in continuation of or while the investigation of PMLA offence was undergoing. There are two distinct offences. 

While PMLA investigations are going on…The present offences are committed by some other persons against PMLA investigators,” he said.  

The bench noted that besides the ED, some individual officers had also moved the top court, alleging that theywere subjected to intimidation and their fundamental rights were violated.

“Please concentrate on the fundamental rights of the officers of the ED with whom the offence has been committed. 

If you only concentrate on ED, ED and ED and forget the second, which is preferred by the individual officers who were the victims of that offence, you may miss the point and you will be in difficulty,” Justice Mishra said.

****

BJP workers protested against the candidate from the Balagarh assembly constituency. According to the protesters, Balagarh candidate Sumana Sarkar was previously associated with the TMC. The protesters are demanding that the candidate be replaced with another candidate 

West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya and Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari spoke to the protesters.

 Reena, a BJP worker, says, "...we all want the same thing: that the candidate should be changed. Give the ticket to anyone. We are all together; only the loyal BJP worker should get the ticket..."

War Impact ::: Spike in crude prices, closure of aviation hubs, airspace restrictions across West Asia gives mega blow to Airline industry

Biggest oil disruption in history? Energy hubs are up in flames in US, Russia too

Private sector growth stalled in many parts of the world.  

Iran war starts to hit global economy :::: The conflict ​has already prompted many of the world's central banks to envisage tighter policy to keep a lid on price pressures.

The world’s 20 largest publicly listed airlines have lost about $53bn in value since the US-Israel war against Iran began.

IndiGo, which operates one of the most expansive international networks among Indian low-cost carriers, has suspended flights to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah until March 28.

 

Air India has cancelled 2,500 flights to the Gulf since hostilities erupted and is currently operating only about 30% of its usual schedule in the region due to the ongoing Iran conflict, CEO Campbell Wilson revealed in an internal note to employees.

Energy infrastructure was targeted as the war in Iran, which began on February 28, escalated. Energy hubs across the Persian Gulf came under attack between March 18 and 20.

Crude oil prices have surged over $100 a barrel. With the energy infrastructure in the Middle East likely to take years to be rebuilt, the world could be set for the biggest oil disruption in history.

Ukranian drones struck two major oil refineries as well as a major oil export terminal in Russia as Kviy employs barrages of nearly 300 drones to attack targets deep inside Russia. 

(Image for Representation: India Today/Reuters) 

It is a predicament shared by energy-intensive companies across Britain and Europe and Asia. 

The Iran conflict has arrived as the latest – and for some potentially decisive – blow to industries such as steel and chemicals, already weakened by years of sky-high energy costs and cheap competition from abroad. 

At British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, the operating costs of the plant taken into public control last year are already £1.3m a day.

Israel struck Iran's South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, triggering retaliatory strikes across the region. QatarEnergy reported "extensive damage" and "sizable fires" at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest LNG complex, following Iranian missile strikes on March 19. "Iranian aerial attacks have caused extensive damage to the world’s largest gas plant in Qatar," Reuters reported, noting production halts that could cut Qatar’s LNG export capacity by up to 17%.

Saudi Arabia’s SAMREF refinery in Yanbu, a key Red Sea export hub, was hit by a drone the same day, with damage still being assessed, according to the Saudi defence ministry. Fires also broke out at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries after drone strikes.

Iran also broadened its strikes to Gulf neighbours, while UAE gas facilities were shut after missile interceptions.

Spike in global crude prices, closure of busy aviation hubs, and sweeping airspace restrictions across West Asia have collectively delivered a body blow to the airline industry.  

The world’s 20 largest publicly listed airlines have lost about $53bn in value since the US-Israel war against Iran began on February 28, the Financial Times reported.  

Airspace restriction in West Asia acts as a double whammy for airlines, which count the region as a crucial corridor for flights to US and Europe since Pakistan banned Indian carriers from its airspace last year.

Flights from India to Europe and North America are being pushed onto longer southern arcs as airlines avoid conflict-hit airspace across West Asia. What used to be a straightforward westbound corridor has become a costly detour.

The compounding effect is severe for the sector as a whole. Quarterly operational costs for airlines could rise by as much as 30 percent on affected routes. 

For instance, Air India’s Delhi–London non-stop flight now takes over 12 hours, up from around eight earlier. Its Mumbai–New York service, previously a 13–14 hour non-stop, now operates via Rome, with total travel time ballooning to nearly 21 hours.

These additional bottlenecks for Air India are on top of the projected loss of $600 million annually due to the Pakistani airspace ban. 

IndiGo's situation is even more dire. India’s largest airline leases six long-haul Boeing Dreamliners from Norway's Norse Atlantic Airways.

But because those planes carry European registration, they fall under a stricter EU Aviation Safety Agency advisory barring flights over the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

What was a thriving and high-frequency corridor connecting millions of Indian workers, tourists, and businesses to the Gulf has been reduced, at least for now, to a trickle.

In Europe, the continent’s steel industry has for the past year been warning that it is in danger of collapsing unless something is done to change the way electricity is priced.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global ​Market Intelligence, said the euro area numbers were "ringing stagflation alarm bells", referring to the risk of a painful combination of stagnation amid rising prices.

The 2026 Iran war is creating a severe global energy supply shock, potentially worse than the 2008 recession due to an estimated 15% reduction in global oil supplies and significant shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. This crisis is forcing massive shipping reroutes, doubling diesel/jet fuel prices, and triggering sharp increases in global inflation.

ends 

New Formula may help address issues in North East states ::: 'Chanakya Amit Shah' deputed by PM Modi to corner and isolate Congress :::: Trump card ... is not US Prez but Women's Reservation Law

In one small but vital step; the BJP leadership and the Modi Govt have been able to corner its principal detractor the Congress party and also 'isolated' it from other strong proponents of anti-BJP politics.

The Number of Lok Sabha seats will increase from 2 to 3 in smaller states like Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur.

The number of assembly seats will also increase. 

The Govt strategies feel the new addition of constituencies may help Govt address the complex issues/concerns flagged off by communities such as Kukis in Manipur and also other tribal groups in the north east.

The Women’s Reservation Act 2023, which aims to provide 33 % quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is officially named 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'.

The quota for women will apply to SC and ST reserved seats as well.

The government is also walking cautiously and has not shared any written document with the parties.

It was introduced by Modi 2.0 regime as the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill and passed as the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act.

Home Minister Amit Shah was directed by PM Narendra Modi to play the good old Chanakya and a crucial meeting was held with opposition parties such as the Samajwadi Party and DMK.

The Congress reportedly took a different line and demanded an all-party meeting on the Women’s Reservation Act.

If the new Law is enacted now calling for implementation of the same in 2029 general elections; sources said the number of seats in the Lok Sabha will jump from 543 to 816.

As of now the move is 273 of then will be reserved for women on "rotation".

Much to the chagrin of Congress, while it had stayed away from a meeting convened by Shah; reports say representatives from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the M K Stalin-led DMK met with the Home Minister Amit Shah in presence of a few other key BJP leaders.

The government’s move also accelerates delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, increasing the Lower House’ strength from 543 to 816. 

The Centre has mooted fixing of constituencies based on 2011 Census to fast-track the implementation process which is seen as a mega game-changer in socio-political context in the country.

Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal reportedly played a key role in reaching out to SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav to ensure that the UP-based party did not skip the invitation.

While Tamil Nadu is already in the poll season; UP goes to polls early next year. A DMK delegation led by K. Kanimozhi met the Home Minister on Friday (March 22), sources said. 

It is also claimed by the ruling side that both these parties have responded "positively" to the government’s move.

In fact, Tamil Nadu CM and DMK president M K Stalin has already said that his party will “fully support this initiative of bringing women’s reservation with any preconditions".

Stalin's only issue was that the southern States which implemented Population Control measures sincerely unlike the cow-belt states should get "fair delimitation" -- that is  appropriate and enhanced numbers of seats.

It is estimated that UP - which now has 80 Lok Sabha seats may get 120 MPs while Delhi may get 11.

Seats may increase in Bihar from 40 to 60, West Bengal from 42 to 63, Tamil Nadu from 39 to 59, and Maharashtra from 48 to 72. 

Karnataka may go from 28 to 42 seats, Kerala from 20 to 30, Andhra Pradesh from 25 to 38, Gujarat from 26 to 39, and Rajasthan from 25 to 38. 

Stalin, however, questioned the timing, calling it an attempt to “secure electoral gains” ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.

With the Model Code of Conduct in force, he said, “pushing such an important step is unprecedented,” urging the government to convene a special session in June after the polls to enact the constitutional amendment.

On March 15, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, responding to a written invitation from the government, after it spurned many oral invites, insisted on an all-party meeting where the “roadmap can be discussed with all opposition parties present.” 

The Left parties, incidentally, were the only ones to follow the Congress’s lead.

But Amit Shah also met the NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), YSR Congress, and AIMIM. 

The Trinamool Congress finds itself trapped as it is a sensitive issue and the priority is on two-phase elections in April.

Govt plans 

-- Delimitation based on the 2011 Census.

-- Population alone will not be the determinant in deciding strength of a State’s representation in the Lok Sabha; 

** Lok Sabha and Assembly seats will increase by 50% across the board

--- Each State’s percentage share of Lok Sabha seats will remain unchanged

ends 

Lt Gen Ghai becomes colonel of Kumaon, Naga Regiments ::::: Lt Gen Pendharkar reviews operational readiness in Arunachal Pradesh

 

Lt General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) has assumed the prestigious appointment of Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment, Kumaon Scouts and Naga Regiment, taking over from Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, the outgoing General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command.

The Colonel of the Regiment is a position of immense honour and tradition, symbolising leadership, mentorship and a deep connect with the troops. On assuming the appointment, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai conveyed his pride in leading these battle-hardened and illustrious regiments, known for their exceptional valour, rich legacy and unwavering commitment to the Nation.

He also conveyed his appreciation for the outgoing Colonel of the Regiment for his distinguished stewardship and contributions. The transition marks continuity of legacy, reinforcing regimental ethos, esprit-de-corps and operational excellence across all ranks.  

GoC SpearCorps Lt Gen Pendharkar reviews operational readiness in Arunachal Pradesh 

Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar, GoC SpearCorps, conducted a detailed review of the operational preparedness of Spearhead Gunners at Sigar, emphasizing combat readiness, technological integration, and troop welfare.

During his visit, Lt Gen Pendharkar inspected the Droneshala, the Language School, and the Fixed Wing Drone Integrated Repair Lab, highlighting the role of advanced technology in modern warfare. 

He lauded the troops for their professionalism, technical expertise, and dedication to maintaining high operational standards under challenging conditions.

Speaking to personnel, the GOC underscored the importance of staying ahead in technological advancements while ensuring seamless coordination between combat units and support elements. 

He emphasized continuous skill enhancement and innovation as critical to sustaining operational superiority in the region.

Gujarat passes Uniform Civil Code Bill ::: The bill grants Muslim women "equal rights" in ancestral property :::::: It's a step toward “national unity and gender justice” !!

 Gujarat passes Uniform Civil Code Bill, 

Now, India has two states -- Uttarakhand and Gujarat - to codify a common set of personal laws.  

The new law after assent from the Governor will apply to marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, guardianship, and the partition of land and assets for all citizens, irrespective of their faith.

PM Narendra Modi and the BJP have over the years packaged and presented the winning image of a party and a Hindu leader who struggles hard for the development of Gujarat and India.

The Gujarat assembly on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. 

Live-in couples need to register in Gujarat :::: BJP-ruled western India state passes Uniform Civil Code   

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel said the bill was a step toward “national unity and gender justice”. 

             Police personnel detain AIMIM activists during a protest against UCC Bill, 2026, in Ahmedabad 

The state of Gujarat which is under BJP rule since 1990s will go to the polls by November-December 2027. 

Chief minister Bhupendra Patel said : “This Bill is not against any religion; it is about equality before the law".

He said the law would finally grant Muslim women equal rights in ancestral property and provide them legal protections on par with women from other communities.

The legislation, passed after an eight-hour debate, exempts the state’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population. The UCC aims to replace laws based on religious texts or traditions, and focuses on gender parity, the right to equality and the prevention of discrimination. 

The opposition Congress as expected raised objections over its implementation and questioned the speed with which the bill was drafted, enacted and passed. 

The chief minister said the UCC was not merely a legal exercise but a step towards equality, justice and national unity. 

“This is not just a legal process, but our firm resolve to strengthen the national commitment of equality, justice and unity,” he said.

The UCC is the third of the three core agendas the ruling BJP has championed since its inception, the other two being the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Patel said the bill had provisions for compulsory registration of marriages, registration of live-in relationships, uniform rules for divorce, equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters and penalties for violation of the provisions. 

He said compulsory registration of marriage would help protect the rights of women and children and prevent fraud and false marital claims and ensure legal recognition of marriage.  

More often it's said that the election results in Gujarat have long term impact on the future course of Indian politics. 

Narendra Modi’s BJP has enjoyed uninterrupted power here since 1995 while the opposition Congress party has virtually been reduced to an also-ran in the state.

In 2017, the Congress had given a tough fight bringing BJP strength in the assembly to 99. But in 2022 assembly polls, the Lotus party again established its hegemony.

The Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022 had won a landslide victory of 156 seats in the 182-member assembly. This tally was maximum ever won by any party in Gujarat's history. 

ends 

"Received a call from Prez Trump and had useful exchange of views on West Asia," - says PM Modi ::: "We have to face every challenge with patience, restraint and a calm mind" - PM in Rajya Sabha

“Any threat to human life in this war is not in the interest of humanity. 

India is making constant efforts to encourage all sides to reach a peaceful solution,”-- PM in Parliament. 

Trump and Modi discussed 'importance of keeping "Strait of Hormuz open" says US ambassador to India Sergio Gor 

 PM Narendra Modi tweets, 

"Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. 

India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. 

We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability."

Earlier speaking in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi laid out India's strategy, concerns for citizens abroad, and a broader plan to shield the economy from prolonged shocks. 

Modi said three weeks old war has already caused a major energy crisis and disrupted key trade routes.

“This war has created a serious fuel issue in the world. For India, too, this situation is concerning. The war has impacted our trade routes. With this, the routine supply of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers has been affected,” he said. 

“Our economy’s fundamentals are strong. The government is keeping a close watch on every changing situation and taking decisions with full seriousness,” he said.

“This crisis is of a different kind and its solutions are also being worked out differently. 

We have to face every challenge with patience, restraint and a calm mind.”

“The adverse impact of this war is likely to remain for a long time,” he said, while assuring citizens that the government is “alert, prepared and working with full seriousness” to safeguard national interests.

The Prime Minister urged states to act swiftly against black marketing and hoarding of essential commodities and to take proactive steps for the poor and migrant workers.

He recalled the coordinated response during the Covid period, calling for a similar “Team India” approach in the current crisis.

“Strict action should be taken at the earliest to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities,” he said.

ENERGY, SHIPPING CONCERNS INTENSIFY

The Prime Minister flagged the situation in the Strait of Hormuz as a major concern, with many global ships stranded and Indian crew members on board.

“Many ships from around the world are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, and a large number of Indian crew members are on board them,” he said.

He added that India is working through diplomacy to ensure safe movement of its vessels and to push for de-escalation.

"Weakening of communists ... helped BJP" :::::: Kerala CM Vijayan calls Congress "BJP’s B-Team’ ::::: Grand old party alleges CPI (M)-BJP ‘deal’ :::: Indian ethos "essentially Hindu but need not be exclusively Hindu", says BJP

Kerala LoP V D Satheesan alleges CPI(M)-BJP ‘deal’ 

Marxist CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams Rahul, Congress as BJP’s ‘B-Team’ 

There is merit in saying --

The pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party has been gaining ground both in West Bengal and Kerala - two well known Left bastions. 

In Tripura, the BJP is in power since 2018. 

Well, "Weak communists" open the door to Hindu nationalism  

The BJP of course wedded to and controlled by RSS ideology is pushing an agenda make India a nation of Hindu hegemony.

Indian civilisational strength and hence polity -- according to BJP - has to be "essentially Hindu but need not be exclusively Hindu".

The BJP is also gaining political support in Kerala and in West Bengal -- the saffron outfit leaders claim they are now at a striking distance to end the Mamata Banerjee-led dispensation.

We may hence say -- the downward slippery journey of Indian communists, electorally and in exerting influence on the sociopolitical mindset, has been phenomenal in the last decade especially after Narendra Modi became India's Prime Minister.

Well, in the regions the Left influence is on decline or they are losing their grip, the pro-Hindu BJP is gaining. 

There is a small paradox but a vital one. The religious minorities who should be happy about atheism (read communism) losing ground are now more worried about an even worse form of political ideology gaining power -- the saffron hegemony/wave, as many say.  

An artist paints an idol of God Ganesh in Mumbai in 2021 

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says, 

“NDA needs to win for a state like Kerala… We need an NDA government for a Viksit, secure and united Kerala… The people of Kerala are done with this government…".  

"These are baseless and absurd allegations (about Left's nexus with BJP). In 1971, when A. K. Gopalan contested from Palakkad, the Congress candidate was an RSS-backed leader. Congress has a long history of aligning with RSS without hesitation," says CM Vijayan. 

He alleged that Congress runs a "coalition of convenience” with the BJP, adding that a similar pattern was visible during the Thrissur Lok Sabha polls in 2024.  

BJP's nominee Suresh Gopi had won the seat poling  412,338 votes as against 337,652 of  CPI candidate V S Sunil Kumar.

K. Muraleedharan of Congress had finished third polling 328,124 votes.  

Congress leader K C Venugopal, who may become CM if UDF wins, says a closer look at the candidate lists of both CPI-M and BJP strengthens his claim.  

"The Chief Minister has, for quite some time now, been a compromised leader. He does not speak up against Narendra Modi and appears to be functioning under pressure, including fear of central agencies like the ED," Venugopal said.

In 2021, the CPI-M led LDF could retain power breaking the five-year rotation. Prior to that evey five year, the Left and the Congress-led UDF used to come to power. 

The marginalised Left does not have any MP or MLA from West Bengal. They lost power to BJP in 2018 and also 2023 assembly polls in Tripura. Kerala is the only saving grace. On the other hand, the Congress has power in Karnataka and Telangana and is happily playing second fiddle to the JMM in Jharkhand and DMK in Tamil Nadu.

Hence, coming assembly elections in Kerala is almost 'do-or-die' battle for CPI-M as well as the Congress.  

Now yet again as Kerala gets ready for 2026 state elections, the BJP’s political meetings and roadshows are getting more people than ever before. That should worry both Christians and Muslims in the state who have traditionally opposed the BJP’s pro-Hindu politics. 

In fact, the Muslims align strongly with the Muslim League which is a constituent of the Congress-led UDF. The issues like Love Jehad had actually originated in Kerala on the backdrop of conflicts between Christians and Muslims. 

Hence in some quarters including among Catholics; there is a sizable section who are with the BJP -- at least in terms of pragmatic relations. 

Now,  how much that would translate into votes at the assembly level remains to be seen.  

Kerala’s communist leaders and especially current chief minister veteran Pinarayi Vijayan refuse to move along the stricter communist path the comrades walked in Tripura and West Bengal.

Detractors say Vijayan has already tinted the red flag of the communists with the hues of saffron, the color associated with Hindus.

In other words, he has taken care not to offend Hindus with his so-called reformist and progressive communist ideas.  

Moreover, the reported growth in influence of radical Islamic forces in Kerala and the state government action (s) though selectively to check it should gain some support from Hindus and Christians.

The leftists describe this appeasing of religion -- both Christians and Muslims as pragmatism. 

But people also ask ... is pragmatism a good political substitute for sheer naked opportunism ??

Rahul in 2021 campaign : "Hum dubeyenge sanam ...." 

 

ends