There was a time when newspapers splashed banner headlines about a small hike in fuel prices. There was also a time when people would resort to street protests on a regular basis to protest against such hikes. But not anymore as such hikes have become a norm these days.

A  war hysteria is gripping  the country after violent clashes between the Indian and Chinese soldiers on the Ladakh border left 20 Indian soldiers dead. Without understanding the gravity of the situation, a few media organizations are giving unnecessary advice to the government, almost encouraging the government to wage a war without showing even a modicum of concern for those who lost their lives in the recent clashes. 

For the past one week, the Opposition has been demanding that the Government come out with the truth about the developments in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and present the facts before the country. 

Four candidates have been elected unanimously to the Rajya Sabha from the Karnataka in the biennial polls held recently. A matter of consolation this time is that all the four are from Karnataka. 

It is a reflection of the times that we are living in that there is inevitably a political angle to people embracing the cause of the environment and wildlife. At the same time, a genuine love for the environment and wildlife attracts the moniker, ‘anti-development.’ Recently, when a pregnant elephant died tragically after eating a pineapple stuffed with crackers, the Centre responded immediately and ordered an investigation.

Although the state government has indicated that academic activities would start only in August in view of the Corona pandemic, it has not yet issued clear orders or guidelines. The Government seems to be adopting a cautious approach against any eventuality that might arise over its decision and is shifting the entire responsibility to the school managements. The government is insisting that schools must collect the views of parents about reopening of schools but there is no clarity on resolving the issue in case the parents are not unanimous in their opinion. The government seems to be wanting to have the cake and eat it too - it wants schools to reopen but is not prepared to face repercussions.

Is questioning the Centre about the developments in the border area of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh an anti-national act? By terming as ‘anti-national’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand that the truth about the border standoff in the Eastern Ladakh region should be revealed, the Centre is avoiding presenting the true picture before the nation. 

The coronavirus is now emerging as the source of all evils. We are blaming the virus not only for the pain and agony of the present times but also holding it responsible for all the social ills plaguing us. Reinforcing the injustice that the common man faces at the hands of his fellow human beings, the virus is actually showing mankind its limitations. It is time for us to recalibrate our thinking and acknowledge the opportunity it has provided to look at ourselves as a society and the depths to which we can plummet.