As almost everyone around is busy preparing to celebrate Christmas and to have a great time with families and friends, it’s also time for a stocktake of the things around us as we bid goodbye to a yet another eventful year. The new year 2020 is a leap year and for a common man that one extra day in the year brings a sense of hope and optimism in the new year.

The going-by year 2019, has been one of the most significant years in the recent world history and India in particular. While the world largely witnessed lots of political uncertainties, turmoil, resentments and calamities etc, India saw some history being rewritten. As we wind up the year 2019, there are efforts being made by some vested interests and opposition parties combined to create chaos and turmoil to achieve petty political gains over each other. Overall, the situation seems volatile though in control perhaps ready to burst at any moment.

India saw Narendra Modi coming back in his second term with a resounding victory proving all his detractors and political pundits wrong. He appears completely determined in his second term to finish his unfinished tasks and election promises at the soonest. With only six months gone in his second term Modi government has moved some big mountains already like abrogation of article 370 and 35 A, Triple Talaq Bill, resolving the much disputed and ages old Ram Mandir issue without any political interference and last week only the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. All these issues were pending and delayed by successive governments from many decades. Sri Ram Mandir issue was pending in the courts since Independence. There are numerous other bills that were amended, and new bills introduced by Modi 2.0 government and have been passed effortlessly in the Parliament. This government just wants to deliver to its people on the promises it made in their election manifesto. The abrogation of article 370 & 35 A, considered impossible by all, was passed in the Parliament by an overwhelming majority, all this happened even when NDA government does not have a majority in Upper House. Home Minister Amit Shah’s political management was at its best.

Our political leadership of independence era made several historical blunders and internationalised Kashmir issue by taking it to United Nations to resolve. Seventy years later the same UN has taken this matter off from its disputed matter list after the abrogation of article 370 &35A and India having the full and final accession of the territory. The only unfinished task now left for Modi government is to take control of the illegally occupied Pakistani Kashmir, which doesn’t appear to be very far. Despite all the good work being done by this government, there are still many people who are not happy with the new developments, especially the opposition leaders, who only worry about their vote banks and not the national interest. Hope these disgruntled groups will learn their lessons soon. With the realms of the country now in the hands of some dedicated, honest and hardworking, people, the future of India looks bright and is marching forward.

In the new year we all should take a pledge to be more honest and faithful to our motherland and also towards our adopted country. We should not allow repetition of any wrong doings of past and help the nation in writing a new future for ourselves and for our future generations, a future that is full of hope, honesty and happiness.

We, at The Indian News wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year 2020.

-Yugal Parashar