Left, Right & Centre

After Bihar, another horror story emerges from a shelter, this time from UP. In both cases, the ruling parties insist they've acted quickly but is that enough? Is there a complete lack of political accountability?

Every year, 56 lakh Indians die hoping and praying to receive a live organ but sadly organ donors are almost impossible to find. There is nothing more noble than to give to others a part of you when you have died. Tonight on Left Right and Centre as part of the Fortis-NDTV More to Give Campaign, we discuss how we can all give a gift of life to someone and ask if India is ready for law on organ donation.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was joined by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal at his dharna at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar against the rapes at a shelter in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. Leaders from Trinamool Congress, CPM also joined the protest which turned into a massive show of unity for the opposition against the BJP-led NDA in Bihar and centre. While the Muzaffarpur horror is a national shame and calls for exemplary punishment are sorely needed, tonight on Left, Right and Centre, we ask: Have these protests become less about the horrific rapes themselves and more about the politics?

In a high voltage political drama that unfolded through the day, Karnataka governor finally invited BJP's Yeddyurappa to be sworn in as chief minister late Wednesday evening. This on a day which saw almost an action replay of 'Operation Lotus' where both the BJP and the Congress-JDS combine jostled for power in an all too familiar spectacle which has been seen in state after state.

The Panchayat elections in West Bengal are marred by horrific instances of violence - 11 people are dead. People are burnt alive, shot and bombs are thrown. Poll agents are traumatised. And people are caught in the crossfire. The Trinamool Congress says it used to be much worse in the past. The BJP and the Left say democracy has been killed in the state.

Four years after Sunanda Pushkar's death under mysterious circumstances, the Delhi Police filed a 3,000-page chargesheet in which they say Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, her husband, abetted her suicide. The Congress party says this is a witchhunt by a government out to get Shashi Tharoor, who tweeted that he will contest the charges very strongly.

After the Karnataka exit polls predicted a split verdict where Janata Dal Secular chief Deve Gowda could emerge kingmaker, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said while he is willing to stay on in the hot seat for another term, he would step aside for a Dalit candidate if the party high command so desires. The comment is being seen as a sign of the party considering the possibility of a split verdict and anticipating the demands of Janata Dal Secular chief HD Deve Gowda, who has no fondness for Mr Siddaramaiah. Are all parties looking beyond 15th May now or could Tuesday still throw up a surprise?

In a decision that many hope reinforces the independence of the judiciary, the Supreme Court collegium has decided to insist on the the promotion of Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court. The decision of the Collegium comes after Law Minsiter RS Prasad had rejected Justice Joseph's promotion amidst reports that the centre was trying to get even with the Justice who had struck down the imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand in 2016. Now, Justice Joseph's name will be sent back to the government but his wait is not over. The Supreme Court collegium will meet again to consider the names of other High Court judges who may be promoted and will re-submit Justice Joseph's names along with others who they believe need to be in the top court.

It has been a bitter, personal and no hold barred campaign, and even on the last day today there was high drama as the Congress released a video which it claims shows BJP candidate B Sriramalu allegedly negotiating with the son-in-law of former chief justice KG Balakrishnan for a bribe in order to get a favourable order on their mining case in the Supreme Court. Amit Shah says the video is fake, but the Congress hit back asking if he was a forensic expert. Justice Balakrishnan's son-in-law has rubbished the allegations, but the issue has hit the headlines on the eve of the elections.

Rigging charges are being traded by the Congress and the BJP in Karnataka, which lead to a midnight drama. Has the campaign touched a new low?

Will India-US ties be hit by Donald Trump's decision to end the nuclear deal with Iran? India's oil imports and a key strategic port in Iran could both be badly hit. Should India take a stand? or can it do a balancing act?

After saying namaz should be read only in mosques and idgahs, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has clarified that he did not speak about stopping anyone. Last week, over 25 students were injured in police action at Aligarh Muslim University, which has been witnessing a row over a decades-old photograph of Pakistan founder and freedom fighter Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Concerns are being raised over allegedly forcing people to toe certain norms.

The Supreme Court has moved the trial in the horrific Kathua gang-rape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl to Pathankot. The top court said it will oversee the trial, which will be held without adjournments and in-camera. The call for transfer came from the child's family as the issue triggered a backlash in Jammu and Kashmir and rallies were held in favour of the accused. The trial will be closed to the press and the public, the top court said in its order.

In a big victory for security forces, five Hizbul terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian but among them was an Assistant Professor of Kashmir University. In what is being said as the first instance of a university teacher joining terrorism, we ask tonight from why are educated Kashmiris picking up the gun?

There comes a time in our lives when we all have to stand up for something important and push back. We have to speak up, speak out and hold elected politicians accountable for their actions. For us, that time is now. The rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua is so gut wrenching, not only because she was drugged, gang-raped and had her head smashed in, but also because politicians, ministers of the BJP, leaders of even the Congress party, were backing the men who did this to her. Finally tonight, after days of silence, the prime minister has spoken, promising justice.