Left, Right & Centre

Just days after the Pulwama attack, four soldiers and a policeman were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Tonight, we examine the lapses in the Pulwama attack: Was this a failure of intelligence? What have we learnt from past attacks like Pathankot and Uri?

After the Pulwama terror attack, the government has decided to withdraw security cover for separatist leaders for having pro-Pakistani sentiment. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has also decided that all facilities provided to these leaders would also be withdrawn. The message is clear that they cannot have it both ways -- they cannot have security provided by the police and armed forces while they work against the interests of the country.

India today said farewell to 40 of its soldiers who were killed in the Pulwama terror attack on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday. People, stood on roads with flowers and national flags as the coffins arrived. Meanwhile Home Minister, Rajnath Singh held a high level meeting on the country's security after Pulwama terror attack. According to reports, during the meeting, top security officials briefed the home minister about the prevailing situation in the country, including along the Indo-Pak border. The meeting took stock of the security measures in place to foil any design of the Pak-based terrorist groups to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a massive rally attended by thousands of people belonging to various right wing groups, there has been a renewed demand that the government bring in executive order to fast-track the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya. This demand was first made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and reiterated by other leaders. The rally, organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and attended by groups including the RSS, said it was time for those in power to fulfill their promises. The Opposition insists that the Parliament cannot be strong-armed like this. Tonight on 'Left Right and Centre' we ask, "When it comes to Ayodhya, is faith above the law? Why is the RSS pushing the Modi government to bypass the judiciary?"

Lt General D S Hooda (Retired), who was the Northern Army Commander in September 2016 when Indian troops carried out the surgical strikes on terror launch pads along the Line of Control, said the "overhype" of the strikes did not help and "it is not good" when "military operations get politicised". He was speaking at a Military literature festival when he made those comments. The Chief of Army General Bipin Rawat said that it was his individual opinion. Citing Lt Gen Hooda's comments, Congress President Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Modi, saying the BJP used the military operation to gain political capital.

Exit polls for five states in elections, billed as the semi-final before next year's general elections, predict a worrying outcome for the BJP in three heartland states, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. An aggregate of exit polls shows the BJP's winning streak is set to end in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, both heading for hung verdict. The Congress is tipped to win a clear majority in Rajasthan. The party is likely to lose Mizoram and K Chandrashekar Rao will retain Telangana, the exit polls say.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meets the Prime Minister as controversy rages over his handling of the Bulandshahr violence and the murder of police inspector Subodh Singh. The chief minister doesn't even have the time to meet the family at their home, they are summoned to his residence instead. Three days after his murder, for Yogi Adityanath, the priority isn't to find Subodh Singh's killers, it is squarely focused on cow slaughter. So is Yogi Adityanath an asset or an embarrassment for the BJP?

Sara Ali Khan joins us as her debut film, Kedarnath, is all set for release. Today it was the Bombay High Court's turn to dismiss a plea which wanted the release postponed. Several Hindu groups say the film, with a Hindu-Muslim love story, promotes 'Love Jihad'.

Savitri Bai Phule, a BJP lawmaker from UP, dramatically quits the party, accusing the BJP of dividing society and not doing enough for SC/STs. She also launched a direct attack on the prime minister.

As India gets Christian Michel, the alleged middleman for a VVIP chopper deal, the Prime Minister takes credit and goes after Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. Is the timing a coincidence? Will this help the BJP in election season on the issue of corruption or will Rafale sting?