CT Nilesh

The victory of the congress favours ‘continuity’. Not a total liberalization but just some steps forward for the pension funds and fuel prices., continuing the grants for the price of rice and gas. China continues to be the empire of capitalism.

Fundamentalist Pressures are never rewarding. The BJP lost 4 to 5% of its metropolitan voters. Now it has to re- conquer the middle class and the youth, who are the future of India. But it must separate from the Hindutva Groups.

The Indian stock market rose by 18 points in two days, a sign of trust in the Congress and in Singh. There is anticipation for the liberalization of direct foreign investments and a political system that is able to eradicate the poverty in the slums and rural area.

The son of Sonia Gandhi was the key factor in deciding the victory of the Congress. By emphasizing the need for development, he won the confidence of the young generation who were fed up of a political system based on caste and religion.

This country has always had to balance itself between the two giants, China in the North and India in the South. India fears a shift in favor of China, with the Maoists going to power in the Nepal. Whilst the present crisis relents this procedure it also tends to create difficulties in the equilibrium of the region.

Tomorrow sees the last of the five rounds of voting. The results are due out on May 16th. Some predict gains for the the HinduBharatya Janata Party and losses for Congress, of outgoing premier Menmohan Singh. Alliances will be decisive in forming the next government.

The decision of Malaysia, an Islamic majority country, establishes that children are bound to the religion of their parents at the time of marriage, even if later one of the two becomes Muslim.

The group destroyed prayer books, bibles, furniture and the altar. Some members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal arrested. Police accused of delayed intervention.

Voting, which began today, is scheduled to last a month. For Christians two factors are a potential sign of change: the end of the alliance between the BJP and Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his party, and the election of a new leader to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS or National Volunteers' Organisation).