Whenever Sangh Parivar cries of injustice being meted out to Hindus, one of the main accusations it levels is that the funds for ‘hindu temples are being diverted to minorities’. At the same time it also forgets the fact that there is a department of Wakf in existence, and a Wakf minister to take care of that.There is also a board that possesses highest share of land for a minority community, up to almost four lakh acre.

The government has found a noble way to divert discussions on progress and development. One among those is to announce a ‘jayanthi’ or the birth anniversary of historical persons. The government, in its bid to woo people from different categories even at the cost of avoiding the efforts to find solutions to people’s problems, is announcing birth anniversaries that are rather emotional to the members of that particular community.

Reports indicate PM Modi’s much ambitious national health project ‘Ayushman Bharat’ has suffered a set back. Maharashtra and Rajasthan state governments, which are under BJP rule, have said the scheme is difficult to implement. The report India’s health services in global health service index is quite worrisome.

Two news items were dismissed in the corner of national newspapers on Tuesday. Three pourakarmikas breathed their last in manholes filled with excreta in Loni area of Ghaziabad district or North India. They were entrusted with the job of clearing the manhole of human waste. Their deaths hardly made any news because they mean nothing to political parties. Hence the politicians have also maintained distance from this. At the same time, a Poura Karmika has committed suicide in Bengaluru, over non-payment of his salary for the last six months. Though these are separate incidents, they are connected in many ways.

Government schools are in news again. The only time when government schools feature in news is when they are due to be closed. Reports in the media say more than 3000 schools have been closed and more would down the shutters soon. Primary and Higher primary education minister N Mahesh has said they’d ensure the government schools are not closed for whatever reasons. Governments in the past gave similar assurances but then they could hardly stick to their promise.

‘Violence in the name of Gau Raksha is intolerable!’ ‘States must ensure these incidents do not occur.’ ‘Do not link religion with the victims of such crimes’

Having taken serious objection to the extra legal powers the ‘Gau Rakshaks’ seem to be exerting, Supreme Court has said this is unacceptable. The court has also said it is the responsibility of the state governments to ensure such incidents do not occur. Even the central government has issued such diktats often and said it is the state that needs to control such incidents. All law and implementing agencies know cattle protection gangs have gained a notorious reputation. But when it comes to controlling, they all fall silent. Which simply means neither of them wants to take charge of the situation and control the damage.  

One more exciting phase of football world cup matches held in Russia has come to an end. Of the 32 teams that have participated and played, 24 have been defeated at various phases now. Eight teams will fight to stay afloat in the quarter finals and the winners among them will go to semi finals. July 15, when the peak of weekend dawns in on Sunday, two teams will fight to clinch the world championship title.