1. India: Domestic Situation
The Indian Supreme Court has declined to interfere with the Election Commission's (EC's) decision to hold elections in Gujarat in November or December. An editorial in the daily Indian Express calls for the imposition of President's Rule in Gujarat until the next election. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has postponed, for the second time, initiating the controversial Gaurav Rath Yatra.
"SC backs EC on Gujarat poll timing"
"President's rule now"
"Modi puts off yatra, round one to Vaghela"
Ashok Singal, president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has termed the mass killing of Muslims in Gujarat as a "successful experiment." A daily Telegraph (India) editorial notes that "liberalism and belief in the democratic ethos hit their limit with Mr Singhal's celebration of the Gujarat pogrom."
"We'll repeat our Gujarat experiment'"
"Hindu swastika"
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Government at the Center has stripped the Congress Government in Delhi of all legislative and administrative powers. Delhi is a constituted as a Union Territory with is own government. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has called for a non-BJP, non-Congress alternative at the Center.
"Delhi Govt. stripped of powers"
"Need for non-Cong., non-BJP alternative"
According to a study that covers the state of Karnataka, the violence against women, including dowry deaths, is on the rise. Sultan Shahin's essay in Asia Times examines "India's split personality."
"Dowry deaths on rise in State: study"
"Modernity, Indian-style: phones and widow burning"
Andre Beteille's essay in the daily Hindu suggests that village councils in India "in which women and Dalits have a central place will be a genuine institutional innovation and not a return to the institutions of the pre-colonial village."
"Village republics"
According to a daily Indian Express report, the Indian army is setting up 'Red Force' or RedFor, an 'enemy within the system' that will "think like the adversary."
"To beat 'em, Army to outthink 'em"