Left, Right & Centre

Its a case that has had huge political implications and even divided the judiciary. The story of CBI special Judge BH Loya became a big national story a few months ago when a news magazine said his 2014 death may not have been a heart attack. They cited his family members who believed there was something fishy and then discrepancies in his ECG report, among other things. BH Loya wasn't just another CBI judge, he was the judge hearing the case of the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter, in which BJP chief Amit Shah was a key accused. Then he died. A new judge took over, and soon exonerated Amit Shah of the charges. Once the magazine story came out, several petitions were filed in the courts demanding an independent probe into his death. The Supreme Court clubbed all of them and heard the arguments. And today, the country's top court said there is no need for a probe - that judge Loya did die a natural death. It cited the statements of fellow judges in Maharashtra who were with judge Loya that night. The BJP has attacked the Congress today, accused them of politicising the judiciary, while the petitioners believe justice has not been served. Does the court order today settle the issue of judge Loya's death? or does it raise more questions?

As we focus on rapes against women and children, alarming new statistics show just how justice is delayed in child abuse cases. And if politicians are serious about dealing with these issues, why don't they first throw out those lawmakers facing charges of crimes against women? We'll tell you which parties face the most serious charges.

There were some reports trickling in over the last few days and weeks that ATMs in some parts of the country just didn't seem to have enough cash. In the last 24 hours, however, the problem has become so acute that it forced the government to hold meetings and issue statements. So it turns out, yes, ATMs have run dry in some states, but the centre insists there is no cash shortage. In fact they say there's actually more cash in the system than there was before demonetisation. But where exactly is that money then?

We look at the horrific graph of rising rape cases against children as both the centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government talk about bringing in the death penalty for child rapists. Is that going to work as a deterrent?

Ever since the term "Saffron terror" or "Hindu terror" was coined during the time of the UPA, there has been a constant political battle, with the BJP insisting such a thing doesn't exist. While investigating agencies are probing a series of blast cases allegedly involving extremist right-wing groups, it's another matter that one by one, many of those cases have fallen apart. Witnesses have often turned hostile. On Monday, another so-called saffron terror case fell apart. All the accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts case, including Swami Aseemanand, have been acquitted. Nine people were killed and over 50 injured in the blast. Was this sabotage by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as some claim, an investigation that was deliberately messed up to let off the accused? Or has the "Hindu terror" claim been rubbished?

Thousands of people across India gathered for protests on Sunday evening, coming together with just one message: that the horror, the brutality of Kathua and Unnao rapes and what is seen as shielding of the accused is something to be fought against and that the country will not let this become the new normal. A remarkable display of citizens' power, not just against sexual violence but also those who enable and protect it, was seen across cities, from Delhi to Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram. We've come to a point where we have to ask ourselves, what kind of country are we becoming and has the time come to speak up and speak out louder?

On the 127th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, political parties are trying to appropriate his legacy. Every political party wants to appropriate the man who gave independent India our Constitution. On Left, Right and Center today we ask: who can lay claim to the legacy of Ambedkar? Can any political party appropriate him? Has Ambedkar Jayanti been reduced to a political battle field?

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.

An exclusive interview with Kerala's Finance Minister Thomas Isaac who is spearheading a southern movement against what they claim is bias in funding.

The BJP has emerged as the richest national party with the total annual income of over 1,000 crores. The Congress is a distant second. This according to a report by Delhi-based think-tank Association for Democratic Reforms. But where is the money coming from?