South Asia Citizens Web

concerned citizens belonging to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including writers, poets, artists, journalists, public policy experts, political activists and human rights defenders, in a joint statement have expressed their apprehension on the current electoral process being undertaken by the Election Commission of Pakistan and unnecessarily led by the superior judiciary.

Marxism claims to offer a materialist approach to history, where class relations and the forces of technology are given more importance than the doings of individuals. In practice, however, political regimes based on professedly Marxist principles have indulged in an unprecedented worship of their leaders.

It is well worth going back to a meeting that Modi had with US Consul General in Mumbai, Michael Owen, on November 16, 2006 (in the Wikileaks cache). Modi grumbled that the entire fracas over the visa denial was the work of “fringe NGOs” and those with “an axe to grind.” He wanted to talk about his accomplishments in office, mainly increased funds for infrastructure and easier licensing for investment. Owen said that he agreed with these “positive accomplishments,” but said that these do not diminish “the importance of holding people accountable” for the violence of 2002.

To claim that this is a dangerous book is the height of absurdity. ow could the Punjab secretary of information declare the book unsuitable and withdraw the book on one individual’s complaint, and without a proper investigation? The shameful retreat of the Punjab government before the forces of narrow-minded intolerance and prejudice augurs ill for the future.

Alexis Tsipras (38), the leader of the leftist Syriza in Greece, has been the subject of much attention, both inside and outside Greece. As leader of Syriza, he managed to take them within striking distance of government power in the latest Greek elections, as the electoral percentage of Syriza soared from under 5% in 2009 to 27% in June 2012. The appeal of the party and Tsipras himself goes far beyond the usual suspects of old communists, social movement activists and anarchists. Syriza, (…)