Firstpost Editor's Picks: Over-reliance on R Ashwin, Being Yogi Adityanath, PM's views on Opposition; today's must-read stories

Sticking with Ravichandran Ashwin despite questionable fitness shows India’s over-reliance on spinner

Unfortunately, Indian cricket is obsessed with personalities. Ashwin, like so many other big names of the past, has been treated with kid gloves rather than being dispassionately assessed for form and fitness. Perhaps, if the selectors had been big names they would not have had any qualms about dropping a star player on fitness grounds. But that is not the situation and niggling problems like these that act counter to Indian cricket’s interests are allowed to linger.

Being Uttar Pradesh CM does not conflict with spiritual pursuit as sanyasi, Yogi Adityanath tells Firstpost

Yogi Aditynath comes across not just as someone who has learned the ropes of administration, but one who has developed a political ecosystem that is consistent with religious austerity. His status as a sanyasi provides a unique counterfoil to his occasional streaks of anti-democratic posturing such as his “thok denge” call to justify police encounters. He is not coy about his religious beliefs, nor does he try to be politically correct on contentious issues.

Centre seeks ‘justice’ through triple talaq bill, but activists question inaction over female genital mutilation

The BJP has been strident in its opposition to triple talaq. The party has attempted to push through legislation criminalising the practice, issued strongly-worded statements in the mainstream media and social media, and its leaders have even raised the issue in election rallies. In comparison, it has chosen to tread with caution on the issue of female genital cutting, which is practised in the Bohra community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anxiety about united Opposition shines through in New Year’s Day interview

At this point in time, it would be foolish for observers to predict what the shape of the Lok Sabha will be in a few months’ time. But it is a cinch that the BJP will not get anywhere near a single-party majority. That is possibly the proximate reason for the prime minister feeling anxious and taking absurd potshots against the Opposition, which, despite Amit Shah’s deep desires, shows no signs of melting away.

Bollywood Awards 2018: Alia or Tabu? Amit Trivedi or SEL? Manoj Bajpayee or Ranbir? A pick of the year’s best work

Here are my picks of the best that 2018 had to offer in all department of cinema emerging from what we call Bollywood — the Mumbai-based industry that produces films largely in the Hindi language — from acting to direction, music and other technical streams.