Posts

A New Headache on the Northeastern Border

-
Image
After the military coup in Myanmar in 2021 , the situation has collapsed. The country is now trapped in a civil war. Myanmar shares a border with four important states of Northeast India. Hence, developments in Myanmar must be viewed from the perspective of stability in these four sensitive states. Along with that, Myanmar’s strategic importance cannot be ignored by India either from the viewpoint of Southeast Asia or China. ..... For India, the issue of anti-national elements in the Northeast and their advantage from weak governance in neighboring countries has always been a constant headache. Over the last three decades, the nuisance of extremist organizations in the Northeastern states has reduced to a large extent. However, in recent years, the situation in Manipur and Nagaland has become alarming. At the same time, the 2021 coup in Myanmar and the intense conflict between the army and anti-military groups have ended the country’s stability. Therefore, apart from the violenc...
Post a Comment
Read more

Migrants as the ‘Fuel’ of Western Development

-
Image
The demographic balance of European countries is changing, with the number of senior citizens increasing. This shift has also impacted their economies. Asian and African countries, where the youth population is on the rise, will benefit from these changes. Thus, migrant workers will play the most crucial role in sustaining the growth rate of Western nations.   … Migration is an inevitable component of globalization. As globalization accelerated over the past three to four decades, migration across the globe also increased. While this has triggered varied reactions, opposition to migration has been particularly strong in Western countries—the very nations that were the first and the greatest beneficiaries of globalization. However, in order to keep economies dynamic and expanding, the migration of both essential and skilled manpower becomes unavoidable. In developed countries, including Europe, the demographic balance is shifting, with the number of senior citizens increasing....
Post a Comment
Read more

Europe’s Shift: A New Era of Militarization

-
Image
  European countries are deeply fearful of Russia’s expansionist ambitions. As a result, there has been a significant rise in defense spending across Europe in recent years. These countries are also trying to reduce their dependency on the United States, and hence, leading nations are showing a clear inclination towards expanding their military strength.  .. There seems to be no near-term resolution to the Russia–Ukraine war. Similarly, no one is prepared to guarantee lasting peace in the Gaza Strip. Along with these two major wars in the past 2–3 years, conflicts such as the India–Pakistan standoff and border skirmishes between Cambodia and Thailand have also erupted. Added to this are U.S. President Donald Trump’s continuous pressure in the name of import tariffs and global mistrust regarding China. Together, these factors are pushing countries across the world to once again prioritize defense. European nations too are following this trend — investing not only in increa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Russian Oil Benefits India

-
Image
Russian Oil Benefits India  The United States has objected to Russia’s sale of crude oil to India and has warned of imposing penalties on it. While Western nations have been imposing sanctions, Russia has offered India discounted oil prices. As a result, India has saved billions of dollars in the past four years. European countries, which have been pressuring other nations, did not stop their own purchases of Russian natural gas during this period. Pointing out this contradiction, India has continued to buy oil from Russia. … Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% import duty on India. At the same time, he warned that if India continued purchasing crude oil and weapons from Russia, additional penalties would be imposed. Trump alleged that while efforts were being made to stop Russia from taking Ukrainian lives, oil and weapons were still being bought from it. After Western countries imposed sanctions, Russia has been selling crude oil to India and China. The sha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Indian Cries of Anguish from Foreign Prisons

-
Image
The case of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala who has been sentenced to death in Yemen, has brought the issue of Indian prisoners in foreign jails into sharp focus. Though diplomatic efforts are often made to secure their release, inadequate assistance and other challenges result in many Indians languishing in prisons abroad, even for minor offenses. The Case of Nimisha Priya Nimisha Priya had started a business with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen. He had allegedly confiscated her passport and refused to return it. In a desperate attempt to retrieve it, Nimisha administered sedatives to him. Unfortunately, the overdose led to his death. With the help of an accomplice, she later disposed of his body in a water tank. In 2017, she was sentenced to death, and her appeal against the sentence was rejected in 2023.   Over 10,000 Indian Prisoners Abroad Currently, over 10,000 Indian citizens are imprisoned in various countries, and 49 of them face the death penalty. These offenses ran...
Post a Comment
Read more

Maoist Movement in Decline

-
Image
In an operation conducted by security forces in May in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, 31 Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju — the general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) — were killed. In recent years, the Maoist movement has weakened significantly. The killing of their top leader by security forces has dealt a major blow to the organization. Due to intensified operations by security forces and administrative efforts in education and connectivity, the Maoist movement — especially in its stronghold of Chhattisgarh — is visibly losing ground.   Roots in Naxalbari The movement began in 1967 in a small village called Naxalbari in West Bengal, where a group of people revolted against the established system. Leaders like Kanu Sanyal and Charu Mazumdar led this uprising. The movement demanded land rights and social justice for tribal communities, often resorting to violence. From West Bengal, it spread to regions like Chhattisgarh, ...
Post a Comment
Read more