India Archive

In the small town of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, often hailed as the "fireworks capital" of India, a crisis looms large. The town, with a rich legacy of 90 years in the firecracker industry, which accounts for 90% of India’s production, is facing an unprecedented challenge. This year, around 8 lakh industry workers find themselves on the brink of unemployment as a consequence of a series of bans on firecrackers by various state governments, including Delhi's blanket ban effective until January 1.

The Kerala High Court has made a significant intervention ahead of the festival season, issuing directives to state authorities to conduct comprehensive raids across all religious institutions in search of illegally stored firecrackers. This order, as articulated by Justice Amit Rawal, not only mandates the confiscation of these firecrackers but also imposes restrictions on their usage, stating, "no crackers shall be burst in religious places at odd times there is no commandment in any of the holy books to burst crackers to please God."

In the midst of escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the military operations in Gaza following the terror attack on October 7, a concerning surge in antisemitic sentiment has been observed globally, primarily among certain left-liberal groups, alongside Islamist factions. This trend has disturbingly made its way into academic circles, as evidenced at a recent event held by OP Jindal Global University.

In a controversial move that has sparked widespread debate, Frontline, the English magazine of The Hindu group, has made headlines with its recent editorial stance. Dated October 30th, the magazine published an editor's note that has been interpreted as a justification of the brutal actions by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, against civilians in Israel.

On October 31st, a new chapter unfolded in the Middle East as the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen brazenly declared war against Israel. The Houthi rebels took responsibility for launching a series of missile and drone attacks aimed at the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat, signaling their entry into the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This declaration is a stark reminder of the volatile and unpredictable nature of regional politics.

The unfolding narrative of the 'cash for query scam' involving Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has taken a new turn with revelations concerning her parliamentary login. In a striking disclosure, the IT Ministry has reported that Moitra's parliamentary ID was accessed from Dubai on 49 occasions.

In a candid exchange on Joe Rogan's podcast, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk delivered a scathing critique of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, suggesting a profound animosity towards human civilization at the core of Soros's actions. Musk, who has become as renowned for his unfiltered commentary as his entrepreneurial ventures, asserted, "In my opinion, (Soros) fundamentally hates humanity. He is doing things that erode the fabric of civilization."

The latest development in the political realm comes as Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has made a significant legal pivot. In a recent hearing, Moitra's legal representative conveyed to the Delhi High Court that they would no longer pursue the defamation lawsuit previously filed against various media houses and social media platforms.

As the election drumbeats echo in the distance, a peculiar kind of pandemonium seems to have taken hold of India’s opposition ranks – a technological tempest in a teapot, replete with Apple alerts and accusations flying faster than tweets in the Twittersphere. It’s a scene that could rival the most farcical of satires, where the cyber-sleuthing is as earnest as it is erratic.