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April 16, 2014
PHOTOS: Hopes drown with South Korean ferry for hundreds
A multi-storey ferry carrying 459 people, mostly high school students on an overnight trip to a tourist island, sank off South Korea's southern coast today, leaving nearly 300 people missing despite a frantic, hours-long rescue by ships and helicopters.
Bluefin again fails to spot Malaysian plane
In another setback to the search for the crashed Malaysian jet, the second mission of the underwater drone being used to locate the plane's wreckage was aborted on Wednesday due to a "technical" trouble as it resurfaced without making any "significant detections".
How parties in Bihar are working on caste arithmetic to win polls
Issues and personality may not play as big a part as the caste of the candidate in Bihar's 7 parliamentary constituencies that go to the polls on Thursday.
NYPD shuts squad spying on Muslims
The New York police has disbanded a controversial unit that conducted surveillance on Muslim neighbourhoods and monitored the daily lives of people from the community to detect terror plots.
PHOTOS: 292 missing in South Korean ferry disaster
South Korean rescue boats and helicopters scrambled to pluck passengers, most of them high school students, from a ferry as it listed and slowly sank off the country's southwest coast on Wednesday.
Exclusive: 'Indian Mujahideen will never die'
'They will wait and watch for some time before making any new move. There have been too many arrests in the past couple of months and the organisation has been shaken up, but only temporarily.... We planned to hit tourist spots in Rajasthan, blow up a train... We had planned on carrying out an attack at the Taj Mahal.' Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa accesses Indian Mujahideen bomb-maker Tehseen Akhtar's confession.
Raima Sen: 'My mom is no delicate darling'
'We belong to a family that values commitment as the highest form of virtue.' An excited Raima Sen shares her feelings about her mother's nomination as a Trinamool candidate. Exclusive to Rediff.com
Royals face the poll heat in Rajasthan
Three out of the four royal scions who are contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Rajasthan will face a tough challenge. P B Chandra profiles the regal candidates.
Missed the 'Blood Moon'? See it HERE
The moon took on an eerie blood-red hue on Tuesday during the first total lunar eclipse of 2014, a celestial sight that wowed potentially millions of stargazers across North and South America.
April 15, 2014
Jaswant Singh: 'I don't see the NDA getting the numbers'
'I think the BJP will be the single largest party. Will it have enough numbers to form a government? I don't see those numbers as of today, and on the basis of the elections that have already taken place,' former Union minister Jaswant Singh tells Rediff.com's Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
SC recognises transgenders as the third sexIn a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Tuesday recognised transgenders or eunuchs as third category of gender and directed Centre and states to grant them all facilities including voters ID, passport and driving licence. Finding MH370: Robotic submarine aborts its first search
A robotic submarine deployed to locate the missing Malaysian plane's black boxes on the floor of the Indian Ocean on Tuesday aborted its first search as it encountered water deeper than its operating limits of 4.5 km.
'Speculation on Priyanka helps boost morale of Cong workers'
Speculation about Priyanka Gandhi's possible plunge into active politics invariably surfaces before a Lok Sabha poll, but soon subsides. This time, however, there appears to be no end to the whisper campaign in the Congress about the possibility of Priyanka assuming a more pro-active role in politics. Anita Katyal rerports.
NDA set to bag 275 seats, Cong only 111: Opinion poll
An opinion poll on Monday night projected the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance securing majority with 275 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats in the elections.
April 14, 2014
PHOTOS: Two suspected LeT terrorists killed in 20-hour gunbattle
Two suspected Lashker-e-Tayiba terrorists were killed and two policemen injured in a nearly 20-hour-long gunbattle in a locality in the outskirts of the city here which ended on Monday evening.
Ringside view of the battle for Bellary
Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa tracks the election sentiment in the Bellary
Meera vs Milind: A tale of two rallies
As a young Congress MP hopes to score a rare hat-trick, he confronts the hope held out by a new party and its earnest candidate. Rediff.com's Swarupa Dutt reports from one of the nation's most high profile constituencies. Photographs: Reuben NV/Rediff.com
A Rajput storms the BJP fort
The BJP may have declined him Barmer, but Independent candidate Jaswant Singh doesn't intend to go down without a fight for the seat. His road show on Sunday, in Jaisalmer, showed his resolve, and appeal, reports Rediff.com's Saisuresh Sivaswamy.
How much SILVER do our politicians own
Silver has added a sparkle to assets declared by many women leaders in fray for Lok Sabha elections, including biggies like Sonia Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj, as a spike in the price of white metal has pushed up their wealth.
Here's how dirty election money is moved
Operators like Chor Babulal supply weapons in constituencies where violence is necessary to win votes as well as money for many politicians. Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa unravels how dirty election money reaches the voter.
Actress Ramya's waging a tough battle alone
Battling factionalism within the party, Congress candidate and multi-lingual cine actress Ramya is fending for herself to reclaim the Mandya Lok Sabha seat which she won only eight months ago in bypolls.
PHOTOS: Cars politicians drive
Wealthy Indian politicians prefer nothing less than Mercedes, BMWs, Jaguars, Audis or gas-guzzling SUVs to scorch the road.
How Indian women will be under a Modi sarkar
How appealing does a strong man look when he's twisting your arm, asks Mitali Saran
April 13, 2014
'Whole world knows Rahul will be named PM if the Cong is in a position'
In the backdrop of a furore created by the prime minister's former media advisor Sanjaya Baru's book, Finance Minister P Chidambaram in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN, said that Dr Manmohan Singh is reticent, withdrawn and shy by nature.
April 12, 2014
TV interview # 2: Rahul goes after Modi, drags in Adani
In a strong attack on Adani group perceived to be close to Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi has said that land equal to the size of Vadodara and the Gujarat coastline of the size of Mumbai coastline had been given at throwaway prices.
Modi is making promises he won't fulfil: PM
Hitting the campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday made a scathing attack on BJP by describing its ideology as against the composite culture of the state and said the party had always "divided the country."
Election: VOTE for the most evocative PHOTO
VOTE for the photograph that you think best represents India's great democratic exercise
Superb turnout in Tripura, Assam, Sikkim polling
Between 71 to 82 per cent polling was registered in five Lok Sabha seats in the eastern states of Tripura, Assam and of Sikkim in the fourth phase of the polls on Saturday.
Rahul runs SUV over critics, files nomination with Gandhi parivar
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha polls from Amethi.
Disturbed marriage of a former PM was not an issue: Jaitley reminds Rahul
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of breaching the unstated code of Indian politics by making Narendra Modi's marriage a political issue, Arun Jaitley on Saturday launched a no holds barred counter-attack, saying how can Gandhi be disturbed by a disclosure of a "legitimate" relationship when "many" of his partymen have "illicit" relationships.
PM became object of ridicule; files went to Sonia; Rahul was rash: Baru
Sanjaya Baru, in the eye of a storm after his latest book The Accidental Prime Minister made startling claims about the top echelons of the Congress, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has defended himself saying his book was not a criticism of the leaders, but had a balanced viewpoint.
AAP's Jaipur candidate is winning hearts. But will he win the votes?
Aam Aadmi's Party's Dr Virendra Singh -- a popular doctor-turned Lok Sabha election candidate -- is already making a difference with his folded hands and beaming smiles in Jaipur. Shanawaz Akhtar reports.
How will history judge Manmohan Singh?
Active or inert? As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prepares for retirement, explores his current state of mind.
'PM accepted Sonia Gandhi as the centre of power'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been "defanged" by the Congress party in his second term with Sonia Gandhi deciding on key appointments to the Cabinet and to the PMO as he seemed to "surrender" to her and to the United Progressive Alliance constituents.
April 11, 2014
When PM Manmohan Singh almost quit
At the peak of the political crisis over the Indo-US nuclear deal in the summer of 2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had threatened to quit if the UPA coalition was to buckle under Left pressure and had told Congress President Sonia Gandhi to look for his replacement.
Mulayam stands by 'Ladkon se galti ho jati hai' comment on rape
Seeking to wriggle out of his controversial remarks on rape, Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday said "no one respects women more than Samajwadi Party" but stuck to his stand that the "wrong" anti-rape law should be amended.
REWIND: The girl who didn't know Rahul... MOREA collection of some of the best election stories from rediff.com this week Women are equally guilty for rape: Abu Azmi
After Mulayam Singh Yadav, it was the turn of yet another Samajwadi to dish out insensitive remarks about rape.
On the poll trail with Gadkari: 'Amit Shah never talks nonsense'
'Secularism does not mean appeasement of terrorists all the time. Secularism does not mean you have to appease anybody. Justice for all and appeasement for none. That is the role of a secular party.' "So that will remain?" '100 percent.'
Mayawati saves her best for home turf
BSP commands good support base in western Uttar Pradesh districts, particularly amongst Dalits and the Jatav community. Virendra Singh Rawat reports
Why BJP is going gaga over heavy polling
The Bharatiya Janata Party is banking on high turnout in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
'My heart is in Hyderabad but fate has brought me to Rajasthan'
Congress candidate from Rajasthan's Tonk-Sawaimadhopur constituency Mohammed Azharuddin tells rediff.com's PB Chandra about the tough battle ahead, his plans for the region and his view on statehood to Telangana.
QUIZ: Can you identify these places?
Here's a collection of some stunning images of the Earth seen from the International Space Station.
'AAP has brought about a paradigm change in Indian politics'
Banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal on why she joined politics, her plans for South Mumbai, women's empowerment and the promise of the Aam Aadmi Party.
April 10, 2014
Mulayam on rape: Boys make mistakes, why hang them?In a highly insensitive and controversial statement at the time when security of women is a major issue, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday said that it was wrong to give capital punishment to rapists.
3rd phase voting: Vote for most evocative photo
Rediff.com brings you some special moments captured during the polling process.
Narendra Modi worth Rs 1.51 crore; does not own vehicle
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, who is contesting from Vadodara Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, has declared his total assets at Rs 1.51 crore and he does not own any vehicle.
Pilots of Jet flight that vanished for 30 minutes grounded
A Jet Airways flight from London to Mumbai sparked panic after the aircraft remained out of contact for almost 30 minutes while it was flying over German airspace, barely five days after the mysterious disappearance of a Malaysian Airlines flight last month.
'Dr Singh is a good man, he thinks of the country all the time'
Dr Ramakant Panda performed bypass heart surgery on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009, shortly before the general election. As the Asian Heart Institute, which Dr Panda built from scratch in Mumbai, completes 200,000 heart treatments, Dr Panda tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore about the prime minister's current state of health.
PHOTOS: 11 crore Indians get a chance to change their destiny
The first substantial round of polling in the Lok Sabha elections began on Thursday, involving nearly 11 crore voters in 92 seats spread across 11 states, including Delhi and the national capital region and the riot-hit Muzaffarnagar.
At 28, NDA is NOT really healthy
Only six of the 28 parties had any presence in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Archis Mohan reports
Why P Chidambaram said 'Cut!'
P Chidambaram declined to contest the Lok Sabha election, but Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar runs into the finance minister who is working hard to ensure an unlikely victory for his son Karti in Sivaganga, which Chidambaram has represented since 1984.
PHOTOS: Priyanka, Sonia, Kejriwal, Rahul line up to vote
Political heavyweights lined up to cast their votes on Thursday during the third round of polling for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Youngistaan of Nagpur wants a change
'I would like to vote for Kejriwal. He is an aam aadmi like us. He has good middle class values. Corruption is the most important issue of this election. I don't like Modi because of his past.' Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel and photographer Uttam Ghosh travel to Nagpur, Maharashtra's third most populous city, to assess the mood among young voters.
Jashodaben is my wife, Modi declares in affidavit before EC.jpg)
The Bharartiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi has for the first time declared himself as a married man by revealing his wife's name as Jashodaben in an affidavit filed before the Election Commission.
April 09, 2014
'I think we would be better off with a presidential form of govt'
Hindol Sengupta was on Rediff Chat on Wednesday to talk about things that matter -- or should matter -- to most of us as citizens, from financial scams to climate change, women's rights to parliamentary spends.
BJP is the favourite in Delhi, but AAP is not far behind
In 2009, the Congress won all seven Lok Sabha seats in New Delhi. This election, the party may not even win one.
PHOTOS: Modi's Vadodara nomination backed by tea vendor, royal
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday filed his nomination from the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat making a pitch for "good governance" and emphasising his links with the region.
Election snapshots: Northeast decides its future
Six constituencies speared across four north-eastern are currently casting their ballot in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
A road less travelled by political parties
Candidates promise development, jobs and better administration but caste equations play a major role in the Red districts of the country that few parties can ignore.
The Japanese monk who is against the BJP
'If they come to power, they will try to change the Constitution. They are destroying Babasaheb's name. They are fundamentalist people,' says Surai Sasai, the Buddhist monk who has issued an edict that Nagpur's Buddhists not vote for the BJP or its candidate Nitin Gadkari.
3 women Jagan Reddy owes his success to
YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has had the solid backing of his mother Vijayamma, sister Sharmila and wife Bharathi even when the chips were down during his incarceration in the disproportionate assets case. Vicky Nanjappa reports
Why some of us don't really like AAP these days
What puts off some would-be AAP supporters is the party's ideological incoherence, says Rupa Subramanya
How Modi is helping Owaisi retain Hyderabad seat
The MIM MP from Hyderabad has managed to instil a sense of insecurity in the minds of the people as he appeals them to vote for him so that 'communal forces' under Modi are kept in check. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
80 pc voting in Manipur; 71 pc in Nagaland, 66 pc in Meghalaya
About 80 per cent of the electorate on Wednesday voted in the elections to the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat in the hill districts. Reports from Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong said that polling ended peacefully at 5 pm.
April 08, 2014
Mamata gives in to EC ultimatum;7 officials to be transferred
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee late Tuesday evening announced that her government will comply with the commission's order on Monday to transfer five superintendents of police, one district magistrate and two additional district magistrates.
This map tells you where unemployment is dropping the mostRediff.com's data journalists have broken down the National Sample Survey Office 68 round (July 2011- June 2012) report data into a state-wise listing. DISCUSS: Your kind of government
What are you expectations from the next government?
Dard Anek, ilaj ek: NaMo pain balm
The pain relieving balm is made available at more than 1,000 retail stores in 75 different cities in 12 states in India
Just politics! Nobody's got an agenda on Telangana
While every party jostles to claim credit for the formation of Telangana and stitch poll alliances, the confused voter laments about the future of India's 29th state.
What the dream merchants are selling you in 2014
We take a look at the differences and similarities in the manifestos released by different political parties
Poll meme of the day: Mayawati's vote appeal
This is the eighth in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
The real truth about Rahul Gandhi's RTI
While Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi insists the Act brought transparency into governance, Congressmen say it has become the party's bane, says Kavita Chowdhury
11 things to know about world's largest election
Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst and Ana Swanson, editor, South Asia Channel on foreignpolicy.com list 11 things you need to know about the world's biggest election:
People love me, will vote for me: Jaganmohan Reddy
Latest opinion polls may have shown his popularity as dipping a bit, but Jagan is confident of winning the highest number of seats both in the assembly and Lok Sabha segments in Andhra Pradesh.
'If Modi and Amit Shah think they can polarise the country, they are mistaken'
Union External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid took time off from his election campaign in Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh to speak to Kavita Chowdhury on Congress politics and the minority community.
April 07, 2014
They say BJP is hoodwinking voters. Agree?
Political parties have slammed Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto especially over inclusion of Ram temple and other 'Hindutva' issues, saying it was only aimed at hoodwinking voters.
Election Graphic: Highest and lowest victory margins
A graphic representing the highest and lowest victory margins in Lok Sabha elections
Election raids: Rs 195,00,00,000 seized; 11,000 FIRs filed
Over Rs 195 crore of cash has been seized so far by Election Commission appointed teams, with Andhra Pradesh topping the list.
Modi makes 3 promises to himself
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday outlined a three-point pledge under which he will neither do anything for himself nor do anything with "bad intent" if he becomes Prime Minister.
Before Modi, there was Morarjibhai
If Narendra Modi becomes prime minister next month, he will be India's second prime minister from the western state of Gujarat. Thirty-seven years ago, Morarji Desai was sworn in as India's first non-Congress prime minister, indeed the oldest man at 81 to then hold the office.
Kejriwal hopes to replicate Delhi victory in Varanasi
The party plans to deploy its top leaders Yogendra Yadav, Shazia Ilmi and Manish Sisodia, among others, in Uttar Pradesh, says
PHOTOS: Kashmir's tulip garden a bit 'under the weather'
Kashmir's famous tulip garden, nestled in the foothills of the Zarbarwan mountain range, was thrown open to the public on Saturday.
BJP manifesto buzz words: Development, infrastructure and governance
Contentious issues such as the construction of a RamTemple in Ayodhya, abrogation of Art 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and enactment of Uniform Civil Code have been included in the Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto with the party making promises on them.
PHOTOS: World's biggest show of democracy begins
The high-stakes battle in the virtual Presidential-style contest between BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi with a few other regional satraps also in the fray in the Lok Sabha elections began on Monday in six constituencies in two states in the first of the nine-phased polls.
April 06, 2014
Lok Sabha elections 2014: The battle begins on Monday
The high-stakes battle in the virtual Presidential-style contest between BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi with a few other regional satraps also in the fray in the Lok Sabha elections begins on Monday in six constituencies in two states in the first of the nine-phased polls.
April 05, 2014
NDA to bag 234-246 Lok Sabha seats: Survey
Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is projected to bag 234-246 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, a survey conducted by CNN-IBN and CSDS said.
April 04, 2014
Why your neta loves the mobile phone these days
The burgeoning mobile user base in the country has given the political parties an opportunity to take their campaigns directly to the people.
Is the BJP more sinned against than sinner? 
BJP workers and leaders are enjoying each bit of abuse thrown at them. It tells them the party is winning the elections.
Bangalore 'stakeholders' bullish on former Infy man
Rediff.com's joins the campaign trail with former Infosys chief financial officer V Balakrishnan in Bangalore Central constituency.
It's pack-up time for Congress, and they are preparing...
In this election, the number to watch is not the seats the BJP gets - but how many the Congress gets. That will define it as an opposition, says
Poll meme of the day: Karunanidhi's master plan
This is the sixth in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
The real Indian voter is at the chai, halwai and tailor shop
A chat at the chai, halwai, barber and tailor shops reveal more insights into the thinking of the Indian voter than any opinion poll or analysis could. reports from Arthala village, Ghaziabad.
Modi is insensitive; he is all out to break the country'
For his allies and rivals, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar is an unpredictable politician.
BJP and co will sweep Hindi heartland: Poll
An opinion poll has projected it is advantage Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana in the Lok Sabha elections while claiming that there is neck-and-neck race in Himachal Pradesh.
Manmohan not in demand these days
Although Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi might be the Congress' enemy number one, in private, many Congressmen blame Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the party's current plight.
April 03, 2014
Army chief unveils statue of Sam Manekshaw
On the birth centenary of late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Thursday unveiled his statue at the Manekshaw auditorium in New Delhi.
PHOTOS: Shiv Sena-MNS workers clash in Mumbai 
Large number of Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers clashed on Thursday outside the Old Custom House in South Mumbai when respective party candidates Arvind Sawant and Aditya Shirodkar reached there to file their nominations.
Uttam's Take: NaMo, the team player
Narendra Modi, in his first interview of this election season to a television channel, denied that he was a control freak or authoritarian and called himself a team player who likes to build consensus and then use his authority to implement decisions. Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh offers his perspective of Modi's self-assessment.
NaMo or Sonia? Who is trending in South India? 
With only four days to go for the big battle to begin, psephologist Dr Sandeep Shastri discusses with Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa the trends in South India this poll season.
Not TMC, not Left, West Bengal sex workers to use NOTA
The 50-lakh-strong community of sex workers in India is seriously considering the NOTA option while exercising their franchise in the Lok Sabha election to register protest against deprivation and apathy.
Poll meme of the day: Mamata's 'filmy chakkar' 
This is the sixth in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
BJP finally realises 'Modi-jaap' won't be enough
Bharatiya Janata Party's intelligence reports show its biggest strength turning into a weakness in UP, Bihar. Archis Mohan reports
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny
A round-up of off-beat stories from around the world
'Ghar ghar Modi nahin, ghar ghar jhaadu chahiye...' 
AAP candidate Shazia Ilmi fires from all cylinders at a campaign meeting in Ghaziabad.
4 killed as gunman goes on rampage at US army's Fort Hood base
Four people were killed and 14 injured as a gunman in a uniform went on rampage at the United States military base in Fort Hood, Texas.
Love ain't quite lost in Gandhi parivar
Okay so Varun Gandhi has put an end to speculation about a "Gandhi vs Gandhi" electoral face-off in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The bigger story of the day, however, here is the strange relationship that the Gandhi siblings -- Rahul and Varun -- and their families share. Rediff.com's Anita Katyal reports
What the next generation of Indians want
Rediff.com's brings for you portraits, shot by Reuters photographers, of registered new voters who will cast their ballots as India, the world's largest democracy goes to the polls.
How much do casual labourers earn across India? Click HERERediff.com's data journalists have visualised the National Sample Survey Office (NSS 68th round, July 2011-June 2012) data into a interactive map.
April 02, 2014
PHOTOS: Sonia files nomination from Rae Bareli after 'lucky' havan
After performing a 'havan', Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday filed her nomination papers from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in yet another bid to reach Parliament from the family bastion in central Uttar Pradesh.
'Do you want a weak leader who can't take decisions?'
'Mr Modi has the necessary initiative, necessary motivation, necessary national thinking to push things forward. Here's a man with proven ability... India can become a superpower provided we shed a lot of things that have plagued us for the past 60 years. One of them -- a major one -- is how the country has been divided for vote banks. We need to sort that out, it will take time, but I am sure once that is done a lot of things will happen which will make this country good and powerful,' says General Vijay Kumar Singh as he battles for the people's vote in Ghaziabad, only the second army chief to contest an election.
Poll meme of the day: Mulayam's 'Avenger' avatar
This is the fourth in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
Why no 'BJPwallah' would comment on this yogi... or his politics
How the BJP's Yogi Adityanath hopes to use religious polarisation to trump caste fragmentation in the battle for Uttar Pradesh
Do career diplomats make for better US ambassadors to India?
'A good ambassador needs to know, and to represent, the interests of the United States. In South Asia, career officers have done well by this standard; so have most of the non-career appointees.' Career diplomat Nancy J Powell, the US ambassador to India, resigned on Monday. Retired United States ambassadors Howard B Schaffer and Teresita C Schaffer look at how political appointees and career diplomats sent as envoys to India and South Asia have fared over the years.
'Nandan and I are grateful and humbled'
'No matter the deep polarisation as evidenced in different media, there is a deeply ingrained culture of tolerance and openness. This is exactly the idea of India we are fighting for in this election.' Rohini Nilekani, whose husband Nandan Nilekani -- co-founder, Infosys, and former Chairman, Unique Identity Authority of India -- is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Bangalore South constituency on a Congress Party ticket, on her experiences on the campaign trail.
PHOTOS: 5 killed as 8.2 quake jolts Chile, triggers tsunami
A powerful earthquake of 8.2 magnitude has struck off northern Chile, triggering a tsunami alert, according to the United States Geological Survey. Waves of up to six feet have hit some areas in Chile.
Anna Hazare is plotting a serious comeback
Advocating demolition of party system, Anna Hazare has said that a "second war of Independence" would come about with an organisation to be launched after the Lok Sabha elections which would be successful by 2019 or 2024.
April 01, 2014
Here's where YOU can earn more in IndiaRediff.com's data journalists have broken down the National Sample Survey Office 68 round (July 2011- June 2012) report data into a state-wise listing. Moon Moon Sen: Politics is teaching me to think beyond myself
'One afternoon while I was shopping for curtains, a friend called up to say, "Congratulations, you have been named the TMC candidate from Bankura." I was stupefied. I finished my shopping and on my return home, called up Mamata."What have you done?" I asked her. She just kept laughing,' Moon Moon Sen, the TMC candidate from Bankura, tells Rediff.com's Indrani Roy in this exclusive interview.
Who will be South Bangalore's Biwi No 1?
Nandan Nilekani's wife Rohini and Ananth Kumar's wife Tejaswini add a new dimension to the tough race for South Bangalore. Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa joins the two on the campaign trail.
'India is not shining. Not gleaming'
Medha Patkar's makeover is a professional one. She has switched jobs. The brave grassroots activist -- who has devoted her life to protests for innumerable causes that affect or strengthen the poor, attracting national, as well as global attention -- has always doggedly fought for support. Today, Vaihayasi Pande Daniel discovers, she is fighting for a commodity far more tricky and slippery. Votes.
Manmohan Singh's fiery attack stuns all!
This is the fourth in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
March 31, 2014
What Modi really means by Congress-free Bharat
Describing the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as an "election of hope", Narendra Modi has said he wants to rid the nation of bad governance, vote bank politics, dynastic rule, corruption and misuse of constitutional institutions which were "nourished" by Congress governments.
There are deep flaws in Modi's character: Chidambaram
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday attacked Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi saying there are "deep flaws" in his character and warned people against the "danger" from one individual taking over the party, cabinet and government.
PHOTOS: The 2014 Padma Award winners
Eminent scientist R A Mashelkar was on Monday conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, while acclaimed artiste Kamal Haasan and ace shuttler P Gopichand were among the 12 personalities conferred the Padma Bhushan by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.
Where India's working women live. Click to discoverRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2011 Census data into a constituency-wise listing.
March 30, 2014
PHOTOS: When the world switched off lights
Lights went off in thousands of cities and towns across the world on Saturday for the annual Earth Hour campaign, aiming to raise money via Internet for local environmental projects.
Indian-origin teen shows US how to save $400 million
A 14-year-old Indian-origin boy has come up with an unique plan that could help the United States save nearly $400 million (over Rs 2394 crore) a year by merely changing the font used on official documents.
March 28, 2014
Exclusive: Will fight against Modi if party asks, says Digvijaya
In an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's , Singh speaks about his candidature from Varanasi, the party's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and how the Congress is likely to fare in Andhra Pradesh.
Opinion poll: BJP likely get 19 seats in Bihar; JD-U to be reduced to 6
According to the ABP News-Nielsen opinion poll, the National Democratic Alliance will emerge as the gainer with 21 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, the Janata Dal-United will face the heat of break-up; will get 6 seats
PHOTOS: Terrorists go on bloody rampage near Jammu
In daring twin attacks, suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants in combat uniform struck terror on the outskirts of Jammu in Kathua district and killed a civilian and a soldier guarding an army camp gate, leaving three others injured. "The gunfight ended on Friday evening after the three terrorists were killed. It was a joint operation of the army and police," the spokesman said.
IAF's new C-130J suffers costly crash; all 5 crew dead
In a major setback to the Indian Air Force, a newly-acquired US-made C-130J transport aircraft on Friday crashed near Gwalior after taking off from Agra air base, killing five crew members, including four officers.
How YOUR state voted in the past
Detailed comparative graphics on how India's 28 states voted in the last two Lok Sabha elections.
An Indian brick in the Great China Wall
Aseem Chhabra travels to China, where he is delighted to find, that there is a little bit of India, almost everywhere he goes
Poll meme of the day: How Modi backers answer difficult questions
This is the third in a series of daily political memes. Do mail us your memes or meme ideas at: citizen.reporter@rediffmail.com
Who'll be Rajasthan's 'sabse bada khiladi'?
From Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to Mohd Azharuddin, sporting stalwarts are taking the political plunge in Rajasthan. However, it's no cakewalk for them as they face tough political opposition, reports Shahnawaz Hussain.
No more experiments; Congress locks up Rahul's lab
BJP's choice of candidates seems to be dictating the Congress selection process, says Kavita Chowdhury
March 27, 2014
Lessons for Narendra Modi from Indira Gandhi
Narendra Modi appears to be confronting the BJP's 'Old Guard' just as Indira Gandhi fought the 'Syndicate' within the Congress, says
Kerala women most literate in the country; UP among lowestRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2011 Census data into a constituency-wise listing. Why Kejriwal could drown in Varanasi
The Aam Aadmi Party will find it difficult to repeat its Delhi success in Uttar Pradesh as it will have the Bahujan Samaj Party to contend with, says
Why secrets and spies are in great demand during elections
With campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls gaining momentum, private detective agencies are having a boom time as they are being hired on a large scale by candidates and parties to keep a tab on their rivals.
Stars stir up Bengal election mood
With filmstars, football icons and famous singers dotting the Bengal electoral landscape in addition to the seasoned politicians, the state's electorate this time are presented with interesting choices in the Lok Sabha elections.
'Modi is the most talented politician of our time'
'He doesn't think anyone else has his brilliance or integrity. And he cannot bear to stand a rival,' says journalist Aakar Patel, a long-time Modi observer who has translated Modi's poetry and his biographies of RSS leaders.
Poll meme of the day: Rahul, the trouble-shooter
This is the second in a series of daily political memes. Do send us your memes at this email: citizenreporter@rediffmail.com
IN PHOTOS: Spain's OUTRAGEOUS body painting pageant
We bring you photographs from a body paint pageant during Expobelleza Andalucia (Expobeauty Andalusia) in the Andalusian capital of Seville, Spain. The event is an annual health, beauty and wellness fair.
I was not invited by the AAP to join them: General V K Singh
Former Singh is in hectic campaign mode as he goes all out to win the confidence of people of Ghaziabad, who chose Bharatiya Janata Party chief Rajnath Singh in the 2009 elections to represent them. He spoke with rediff.com about his priorities and how he aims to "convince people to see beyond the politics of caste, religion and look at national level issues
March 26, 2014
'Mirchi girl' Rakhi Sawant wants to spice up LS polls in Mumbai
You just can't get enough of Rakhi Sawant. The popular item girl and TV personality has now decided to take the political plunge from the crucial Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency -- although there's one little problem: the Bharatiya Janata Party, the party that she wants to represent, is yet to finalise her name.
Cong manifesto buzzwords: Development, women, education
Here's the word cloud of the Congress manifesto that was released on Wednesday.
Poll meme of the day: Chora Ganga kinare wala!
We bring the first of a series of daily political memes. Request our witty readers to send in their too, and mail us on citizenreporter@rediff.co.in. The wackiest -- and the cleanest -- will get featured on your website.
Watch Video: Narendra Modi visits Vaishnodevi shrine
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is trying to rake up as many divine blessings he can in this election season.
A Muslim voter in Uttar Pradesh has very few options
The bleakness of being a Muslim in Uttar Pradesh depresses both its youth and community leaders alike, says Archis Mohan
'There is no BJP; it's only Modi, Modi and Modi'
For the first time since he made the statement in January that his party will accept the verdict of people in case Narendra Modi becomes prime minister, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah in this interview to CNN-IBN, calls the Bharatiya Janata Party' 'bitter' veteran Jaswant Singh and senior leader L K Advani secular, but also says that there is indeed a National Democratic Alliance
March 25, 2014
'Our aim is to give a devastating blow to both Modi and Rahul'
"This is not like any other election, nor is it just a local election. Varanasi is going to create history that will change the political destiny of the country," AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who announced his decision to contest against Narendra Modi in Varanasi, told a rally following a referendum. reports.
PHOTOS: First eggs, then ink thrown at Kejriwal in Varanasi
After eggs, ink was thrown at Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal while he was undertaking a road show in Varanasi on Tuesday following his visit to the Kal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath temples.
PHOTOS: 'Spiderman' spices up South Mumbai race
Sharma, popularly known as the city's 'Spiderman', has filed his nomination as an independent candidate from South Mumbai, one of the country's richest Lok Sabha constituencies.
10 things that have lasted longer than Pramod Muthalik's BJP stint
So what are the things that last longer than Muthalik in the BJP?
Why Telugu film stars are chasing PM-in-waiting Modi
Actors Pawan Kalyan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Junior NTR and Mahesh Babu are making a beeline to meet the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Rediff.com's tells you why
From Spelling Bee to Super Bowl, Indian Americans championed it all
Aziz Haniffa walks through Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation, an exhibition that explores the 'American Dream' as lived by the community stretching far behind the stereotypes such as saris and temples and sadhus, at the Smithsonian, with curator Masum Momaya.
INTERACTIVE: Where most riots happen in IndiaRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2012 district-wise National Crime Record's Bureau data into a constituency-wise listing. In Photos: Hailstorm kills farmers' hopes in Maharashtra's Vidarbha
Unseasonal rains and hailstorms have destroyed fruits, grains vegetables and orchards of an untold number of farmers in Beed in Maharashtra.
March 24, 2014
PHOTOS: In superstar Nagarjuna, Modi finds another fan from Tollywood
Telugu movie star Akkineni Nagarjuna, who has also starred in several Hindi movies, met Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad and announced that India needed a "change" which Modi as the rime Minister should usher in.
PIX: Colours of joy thousands of miles away from motherland
The Dwarkadhish Temple in Parlin, New Jersey, United States of America, celebrated the festival of joy and colours on March 22, which was attended by thousands of Indian Americans from across that country.
'Govt has carefully hidden why NSG came late during 26/11 attacks'
Any intelligence to be used in an operation has to be explained to the field staff. Merely retransmitting it without explaining the applicability to the local conditions will only elicit the standard response, V Balachandran tells Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa
Most kidnappings in India happen hereRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2012 district-wise National Crime Record's Bureau data into a constituency-wise listing. MH370 crashed in Indian Ocean, no survivors: Malaysian PM
It was a drama that played out for five hours. In this duration, Pramod Muthalik, controversial leader of right-wing outfit Sri Ram Sena, -- linked with the attack on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009 -- was in out of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Where's the money for Modi's vision of India?
'If there is one thing that is true for the polls in 2014, it is that this is going to be the big economic election in India. The rise of an aspiring class is, in many ways, shattering many certainties of the old welfare State. Make no mistake though -- big social welfare schemes are not disappearing in a hurry, but today the voters want more. The promise of a better life is increasingly more vital than the promise of free rice.' An exclusive excerpt from 100 Things To Know And Debate Before You Vote by Hindol Sengupta.
March 22, 2014
Lok Sabha Polls: The crorepati contestants
Rediff.com take a look at the crorepatis contesting the Lok Sabha elections
Missing MH370: The final 54 minutes
The transcript lasts just 54 minutes, from its taxi on the runway to its final message at 1.07am
Now, China spots possible debris of missing Malaysian plane
Multinational rescue teams were scouring remote seas in the Indian Ocean to trace the missing Malaysian plane carrying 239 people on board, as the desperate search for the jet entered its third week on Saturday.
BJP 'insulted' Advani, says Shiv Sena
Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party over the L K Advani ticket issue, Shiv Sena on Saturday questioned why the party took so long to decide on his Lok Sabha seat and said while Narendra Modi's era has begun, it does not mean that it is the end of Advani's era.
March 21, 2014
Who says Modi could become the PM, asks Azhar
Mohammed Azharuddin, who has bagged the Congress ticket from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, tells Rediff.com's that there's nothing called a 'Modi wave' as people of the country haven't yet forgotten the 'barbaric' 2002 communal riots in Gujarat.
Meira Kumar's assets trebled in 5 years
There was no addition to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's jewellery though their value increased while her wealth rose by over three-and-a-half times since the 2009 general elections with the total value of her assets declared to be more than Rs 36 crore.
Why TATA won't give money to Kejriwal
The Tata group will fund new political entrant Aam Aadmi Party based only on its performance in the upcoming general elections and not before.
'Sasikala stays with Jayalalithaa only because of the assets' case'
M Natarajan, the estranged husband of Sasikala, describes in detail the association his wife and he shared with Jayalalithaa.
No 'hera pheri', promises Paresh Rawal in new role as BJP man
He's a versatile actor and is now is looking to bring his onscreen persona to politics. Batting for the 'incorruptible' Narendra Modi, and slamming opponents -- the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party -- Paresh Rawal, the BJP's face from Ahmedabad, is speaking the language of a neta, already.
'I will face Pawan on the political battlefield'
For actor Chiranjeevi, the reel life scenario of a face-off between brothers is today a real life headache. Chiranjeevi spoke to rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa
Mumbai court hands life terms to 4 Shakti Mills rapists
A sessions court in Mumbai on Friday sentenced four convicts to life in jail for the gang-rape of a telephone operator in the abandoned Shakti Mills compound in the city last year.
Kejriwal is packing his bags for Varanasi
After seeking public opinion, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal will stay in the holy city to understand local issues, says Somesh Jha
These 10 politicians top the terror hit-list 
Danger ahead of BJP's PM hopeful Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, warns the Intelligence Bureau.
PHOTOS: MH370 search op resumes in Indian Ocean
A search resumed in the southern Indian Ocean for objects that could be debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Friday.
Rahul Gandhi has set his target beyond 2014 elections
The Congress is actively contesting these Lok Sabha polls but vice-president Rahul Gandhi is marshalling the party towards a possible general election in two years. Kavita Chowdhury reports.
The stark contrast between two ministers comes to the fore
While the Union finance minister has opted out of the election race -- one of the many Congress bigwigs who are not very confident of their electoral prospects this time around, Ghulam Nabi Azad has volunteered to contest from the Udhampur seat even though he is a sitting Rajya Sabha member.
March 20, 2014
'Khushwant Singh was far from his public perception'
In Khushwant Singh photographer found a grandfather he always wanted.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Constituencies with MOST murdersRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2012 district-wise National Crime Record's Bureau data into a constituency-wise listing. Mumbai gang-rape cases: ALL accused found guilty
The sessions court in Mumbai on Thursday found all the accused in the Shakti Mills gangrape cases guilty. They will be sentenced by the court later today.
Absolutely STUNNING winners of the 2014 Sony World Photo Awards
The World Photography Organisation announced the winners of the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2014 in the Open, National Awards, and Youth categories on Wednesday.
Flight 370: Objects spotted could be of missing plane, says Australia
Two objects possibly related to the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 239 people have been spotted in the southern Indian Ocean, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Thursday.
March 19, 2014
IN GRAPHICS: The search for missing Flight MH370
Rediff.com's Reuben NV presents some graphics to showcase the entire story of the missing flight.
Who deleted files from missing jet pilot's flight simulator?
Malaysian authorities on Wednesday said some files were found deleted from the flight simulator found at the house of the pilot aboard the missing jetliner and experts are trying to retrieve the data that could be crucial for solving the aviation mystery.
INTERACTIVE MAP: The real rape capital of IndiaRediff.com's data journalists have broken down 2012 district-wise data from the National Crime Records Bureau into a constituency-wise listing. 'Malaysian authorities are hiding more than what we see'
'This does not appear to be a crash. Had it been one, then the debris would have been found... Al Qaeda today has greater presence around the world... If the West withdraws completely, Afghanistan will rely on Pakistan which in turn will use the situation to pursue its own agenda...' Ajit Doval, former director, Intelligence Bureau, speaks to Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa.
'Pakistan is at a very troubled point in its history'
'It's true that you are aware of being a Pakistani in India in some way. I don't know how much of it is in my head as opposed to anything else. If I get into a taxi and someone asks 'Where are you from' I would hesitate before saying 'Pakistan',' says novelist Kamila Shamsie, whose latest book A God in Every Stone is an epic page-turner set in India's colonial past.
About 5 lakh votes cast and guess who Rediff readers want as PM?
About 5 lakh votes were cast in the Rediff Pulse of the Nation survey. And the choice for India's next leader is...
'What wave? Why did Modi choose Lucknow and not Ghaziabad?'
Interview with Union minister of state for agriculture Tariq Anwar
Bengali Communists just got tech savvy
Having been the butt of criticism on social media for months, the Communist Party of India-Marxist's West Bengal chapter, has hosted a Facebook page and has also opened a Twitter account.
Baichung Bhutia: Mamata's pawn or promising politician?
The former Indian football captain has a new target in the Lok Sabha seat of Darjeeling, but he may not find the going as easy as scoring a goal, says Joel Rai
The world's 10 MOST influential spiritual leaders
Over the centuries, people have turned to spiritual leaders for enlightenment and guidance, and it still holds true, for such leaders still inspire fervour in their believers. People's beliefs have been shaped by generations of various spiritual innovators. We bring you a list of the most influential spiritual leaders
March 18, 2014
'Even Modi is a first time candidate from UP'
'The party is going through hard times. One doesn't back off when your party needs you the most. Tough people never withdraw from the race,' movie star Nagma, the Congress candidate from Meerut, UP, tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar.
'Modi wave much bigger than Vajpayee wave of 1999'
A surprise candidate, columnist Prathap Simha will be contesting for the Bharatiya Janata Party from Mysore. Barely a few weeks old in the party, his selection sparked a row causing a lot of heartburn among local leaders as he was picked over two-time MP CH Vijayshankar.
Exclusive: Secure the Siachen Glacier!
On April 13, 1984 the Indian Army launched a daring operation at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, to gain control over the glacier in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas. In the days to follow, Operation Meghdoot -- named after Kalidas's Sanskrit masterpiece -- secured the glacier and adjoining heights from Pakistani aggression. This operation has continued over the last 30 years with Pakistan making numerous failed attempts to dislodge the Indians from the Saltoro ridge along the western periphery of the glacier. Nitin Gokhale's book, Beyond NJ 9842: The Siachen Saga is the first of its kind, narrating the history of Operation Meghdoot. Rediff.com presents exclusive excerpts from the book.
In PHOTOS: Vrindavan widows' 'Rang Barse' moment
Shunning the shackles of social stigma, about 1,000 widows, played Holi with colours and gulal at Meera Sahabhagini Ashram in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
'Pollution levels in Indian cities progressively getting worse'
A study pointing that the pollution levels in New Delhi is worse than that of Beijing may have been quoting the data from the worst period of the year but the air quality in Indian cities is progressively getting worse, United Nations climate change chief Rajendra Pachauri said on Tuesday.
March 17, 2014
Indian arms imports almost THRICE than China, Pakistan: Report
India's import of weapon systems is three times higher than Pakistan and China as it continues to be the largest buyer of arms in the world, a Swedish think tank said on Monday.
Holi Hungama: Colour me RED!
Colours ruled the streets on Monday as people of all ages with faces and clothes smeared in myriad of hues celebrated Holi, a harvest festival which marks the onset of spring season.
March 16, 2014
Malaysian PM calls Manmohan over missing MH370
Malaysia's Premier Najib Razak on Sunday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
March 15, 2014
In Tuticorin, with Parliament as backdrop, Jaya goes national in outlook
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa left no one in doubt about having an eye on New Delhi, at her election meeting in Tuticorin on Saturday, reports .
Where did Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370 disappear? 
Amelia Earhart's plane went missing in 1937, when you can imagine that planes might have. But the vanishing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 is utterly mystifying in today's tech-heavy environment.
March 14, 2014
Why Jagan may give parties a run for their money in Andhra
YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, is on a blazing campaign trail, much to the delight of the adulating crowds. There is a Jagan wave, but will he make the cut, asks
People have exaggerated notions about themselves: Pawan Bansal
'Manish Tiwari has been trying for the Chandigarh seat since 1991, but I have never considered him a rival. If all he said the other day was targeted against me, it is unacceptable and I take strong exception to it,' former Railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal tells Anita Katyal in an exclusive interview.
Why Anna Hazare skipped rally with Mamata
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who left Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee red-faced two days back, said that he had skipped the poorly attended rally because he was misled.
Kejriwal threatens to jail the media, then denies it
Accusing the media of being "sold out", Arvind Kejriwal has threatened to send media people to jail after an inquiry into the issue if AAP comes to power.
10 weird conspiracy theories on Flight MH370
The mystery over the fate of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is getting increasingly intriguing.
These 15 celebs want YOUR vote
Rediff.com takes a look at star netas, some newbies, a few veterans, adding up to the glam quotient of Indian politics.
Search for Flight MH370 touches Indian Ocean
The massive international search for the missing Malaysian airliner is likely widen into the Indian Ocean with the US deploying a ship to the Andaman Sea to locate the airliner
PHOTOS: The magical Vrindavan Holi
They say if you really need to get a feel of vibrant India, head to Vrindavan during Holi. Here's why
Who will pull the strings post LS elections?
It won't be the Third Front, nor even a Federal Front. In case of a fractured verdict, a minority coalition comprising AIADMK, BJD and Trinamool Congress is the most likely outcome -- but it's the BJP that will call the shots, says Bharat Bhushan
March 13, 2014
AAP ki kasam! When Mumbai totally fell for Kejriwal 
Mumbaikars waved boisterously, some jumped out of their vehicles to have a closer look the 'aam aadmi' hero. They WhatsApped images of him, requested for selfies. Arvind Kejriwal swept Mumbai off its feeet on Wednesday, and how! recalls the manic response to the man of the masses in Mumbai.
MH370 search: India sends 4 warships, 6 aircraft
Joining global efforts to locate the Malaysian plane, India has deployed four warships along with six aircraft, including the latest special surveillance P-8I plane and three helicopters, under the 'Operation Searchlight'.
Kejriwal and co booked for Mumbai anarchy
A day after Arvind Kejriwal kicked off his Lok Sabha campaign in Maharashtra amid chaos, Mumbai Police on Thursday registered a case against the Aam Aadmi Party leader and his supporters on the charge of unlawful assembly outside the domestic airport.
Unexpected snowfall kills 17 in Kashmir
The untimely snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir claimed 17 lives and left nearly 2,000 houses damaged in Kashmir division, a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was informed on Thursday.
IN PHOTOS: Objects spotted by China NOT MH370 debris
Mystery continued to shroud the Malaysian jetliner six days after it went missing as Vietnam said on Thursday that its aircraft and ships have not found any debris said to have been spotted by Chinese satellites.
DON'T MISS: NASA'S STUNNING images of the cosmos
Take a look at these absolutely superb pictures from space, as seen by NASA.
March 12, 2014
PHOTOS: 2 dead, 20 injured as New York building explodes
At least one person has been killed and 20 people injured when a building partially collapsed after an explosion in the East Harlem neighbourhood of New York City on Wednesday, officials said.
PHOTOS: Out to woo aam aadmi in Mumbai, Kejriwal adds to his woes
Landing in Mumbai for his Maharashtra tour on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal boarded an autorickshaw to travel a five-km distance to the Andheri station to board a local train, the city's lifeline, to Churchgate in south Mumbai.
Will Kejriwal contest against Narendra Modi?
Party's declaration of Delhi candidate list sans Kejriwal is a sign of this move
No luck finding MH370, India ready to fly in help
Search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight with 239 people on board was on Wednesday extended to the Andaman Sea and India's help sought as international efforts to trace the aircraft that went missing five days ago yielded no breakthrough.
PHOTOS: It's March and still snowing in Kashmir
Just as Kashmir valley was ready and waiting for a pleasant spring after a long and harsh winter, it seems to have been struck with heavy snowfall, throwing life completely out of gear.
Why the youth connect with Narendra Modi 
The fact that Modi has not only been able to reach out but galvanise and engage productively with his young supporters is a many ways a game changer for old style Indian incestuous politics. May 16 could well prove that the road to Delhi is not via Lucknow or Patna but via 'the youth', says
Red rage: The most LETHAL Naxal strikes in India
Rediff.com takes a look at the most deadly Naxal attacks on security forces over the last five years.
March 11, 2014
'Wave now seems a mild word, it is more like a BJP tsunami'
'I won't be very, very surprised if we get 40/40 seats in Bihar. You may find it incredible but I'm telling you that's the mood. The worst the states are being governed, the better the chances for Mr Narendra Modi and the BJP,' says Uday Singh, the two-time BJP MP from Purnia, where Narendra Modi addressed his third Bihar rally in five months on Monday.
PHOTOS: Planes that mysteriously went off the radar
Plane crashes that have remained shrouded in mystery.
'As PM, Modi can be up to a lot of mischief'
'Narendra Modi is not just a threat to the minority communities, he is a threat to the Indian Constitution,' Dr Ram Puniyani, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, tells Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa.
In Photos: 100 hours after plane went missing, hope begins to fade
Four days after the baffling disappearance of a Malaysian plane with 239 people aboard, there was still no trace of the aircraft on Tuesday.
In Photos: Praying for Flight MH370
Praying, crying and hoping against hope. That's what the family members of the 239 people on board Flight MH370, the Malyasian Airlines flight that went missing on Saturday morning, are doing.
Will I ever be able to go back to Crimea?
'Will the Crimean peninsula's flavour change again as even more Russians come stomping through? Will the Russian bear be content with lunching on Crimea? Or will he eventually bumble into Kiev's Independence Square to squat for good?' Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel looks back on a trip to Crimea, the setting for Tennyson's famous poem, Charge of the Light Brigade.
IN PICS: The 30 DEADLIEST air disasters in history
Rediff.com takes a look at some of the disastrous air crashes.
March 10, 2014
How Billy Joel inspired the Mulayam song 
Formally launching its election campaign material for the Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party state president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday released advertisements to be run on various television channels.
Will Bangalore South buy Nilekani's message of 'change'?
The Congress has huge hopes from the billionaire technocrat-turned-politician, and even the UIDAI chairman -- billed as an 'ordinary Congress worker' -- is making all the right noises in the prestigious and highly-educated Bangalore South constituency. However, experts are unsure whether he will be able to counter the massive 'Modi wave' in this BJP bastion. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
Over 60 hours later, no trace of flight MH370 yet
India is closely following the developments regarding the Malaysian Airlines flight which went missing on Saturday morning while on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
An ancient scourge lives on
Dr Jonathan Reisman, who spent four months in Kolkata with leprosy patients who have become socio-medical outcasts, attempts to fight the much-misunderstood disease
Why these 2 are so similar and so dangerous
So remarkable are the parallels that can be drawn between Kejriwal and Khan, that it almost seems that they are clones of each other, says Sushant Sareen.
March 09, 2014
Were terrorists behind missing Malaysia Airlines plane?
In a new twist to sudden disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines plane, authorities on Sunday said intelligence agencies are probing how four persons with fake identities boarded the aircraft and counter-terrorism agencies of other countries have been alerted about it.
March 08, 2014
Women's Day special: The bold and the beautiful
On International Women's Day, here's a collection of photographs that celebrate femininity.
5 Indians among 239 on board crashed Malaysian plane
A Beijing-bound plane of Malaysia Airlines carrying 239 people including two infants has crashed into the sea.
'Metro man' E Sreedharan endorses Modi
'Metro man' E Sreedharan has came out in support of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying he hoped bold decisions under his leadership will fasten government's decision-making process.
March 07, 2014
PHOTOS: Portraits of womanhood
In the run-up to the International Women's Day, Reuters photographers in countries around the globe took a series of portraits of women and their daughters.
Uttam's Take: When AAP and BJP clashed...
Rediff.com's offers his quirky take on the face-off between the AAP and the BJP.
'Busy' Modi refuses to meet Kejriwal in Ahmedabad
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was stopped by the Gandhinagar police on Friday from meeting Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi.
He hugs pandas. And meets polar bears
'What we do about our planet in the next 10 or 20 years is going to be crucial to our existence. There is nothing more important to our long term future. NOTHING!' says M Sanjayan, one of the more visible South Asian faces, internationally, in conservation.
'With China, India should be prepared for the worst'
Sanjay Gupta, author of The Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and the Indian Riposte and deputy executive editor with the Hindustan Times, talks to Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa on Chinese incursions, Beijing's worrying defence budget, the curiosity generated over ties with our neighbours and more.
Did India just help Hafiz Saeed sharpen his rhetoric?
Security experts and intelligence agencies say the decision of the Uttar Pradesh police to slap sedition charges against 67 Kashmiri students of a Meerut college was a stupid one. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
'We expect a zero error election; 100% successful to the last booth'
'In the Uttar Pradesh election last time, there were four presiding officers who had a heart attack on the day of the poll. It is a high pressure job and we must compliment our bureaucracy,' says former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi who headed the Election Commission in the 2009 general election.
It's Moscow, not Crimea, that's the real target, stupid!
Events in the Ukraine have a relevance that goes beyond Ukraine itself, says former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, himself a former Indian ambassador to Russia. The plot is aimed at bringing about regime change today in the Ukraine and tomorrow in Russia itself.
NDA will win Lok Sabha race, but will need more allies: Poll
The National Democratic Alliance is likely to win between 212 and 232 seats and UPA 119-139 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, a poll survey has claimed.
March 06, 2014
In PHOTOS: Rahul Gandhi's 'fishy' business in Mumbai
During his two-day visit to Mumbai, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi had some rather 'fishy' business to attend to.
Upskirting is legal, rules US top court
Ladies, beware of what you wear - if you are in Massachusetts! The top court in Massachusetts has ruled that 'upskirting' - the practice of secretly photographing under a woman's skirt -- is not prohibited by state law.
SHOCKING! More bombs go off in India than Afghanistan
Now here is some spine-chilling information about India not many of you know.
'The CPI-M will have a very feeble presence post elections'
'Communist leaders have become babus, they wear branded clothes and costly shoes, wear perfume to mask their body odour.... Why can't they get rid of their ego and arrogance for the party's benefit? Politburo members have no links with the soil, they have no understanding of the people and the grassroots... After the Lok Sabha election this year, the Left will cease to have any political identity.'rebel Marxist Abdur Rezzak Mollah tells Rediff.com's Indrani Roy.
Uttam's Take: Jumbo election has arrived
The Election Commission, the ultimate symbol of Indian democracy, has flagged off the great Election Race. Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh offers his quirky take on the mind-boggling electoral exercise.
Congress hit by desperation and desertion
Desperation and desertion appear to be growing in the Congress as the Lok Sabha election nears.
REWIND: 10 moments from the day gone by
Rediff.com bring for you a collection of some of the best photographs from around the world in the last 24 hours
Did you know? Indian politics changes every 20 years!
Indian politics has been subject to a roughly 20-year cycle for the last 100 years, says T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan
Hindi heartland to power BJP's march to power: Poll
Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to bag between 63 to 79 seats out of 120 seats in the key Hindi heartland states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the Lok Sabha polls, according to a survey.
March 05, 2014
BUSTED! Rahul Gandhi, the anti-corruption crusader
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's recent attempts to fashion himself as an anti-corruption crusader were blown apart on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: 'Anarchist' Aadmi Protest on Delhi's streets
Aam Aadmi Party workers on Wednesday fought pitched battles with Bharatiya Janata Party activists outside the saffron party headquarters in New Delhi hours after former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained briefly in Gujarat.
Kejriwal 'detained' in Modi's Gujarat, AAP protests in Delhi
The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for arresting Arvind Kejriwal and said the incident proved that the Gujarat chief minister is scared of the party.
LS polls: 10 crore more voters in 2014 than in 2009
The Lok Sabha elections will be held from April 7 to May 12 spread over nine days in the highest number of polling days so far involving an electorate of 81.4 crore, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.
A story that will warm your heart
How Dinesh Desai, an Indian American from California, changed the life of Denis Ryen, a Tamilian living in Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya, half a world away.
5 reasons why 2014 polls will be different
With the Election Commission announcing the much-awaited polling dates on Wednesday, the general election season is well and truly underway.
RaGa charm choking the Congress?
The Congress campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha contest is fast fading away, thanks to the tempo maintained by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. For the disenchanted Congress worker, the blame for the shoddy party campaign squarely lies at the doorstep of Rahul Gandhi.
INS Sindhuratna: The tale of an underwater tragedy
Media reports had speculated that expired batteries caused the fire on board the Russian Kilo-class submarine
Michelle Obama honours acid attack victim Laxmi
Laxmi, an acid attack victim and a standard-bearer for the movement to end acid attacks in India, was honoured in the United States on Tuesday with the prestigious International Women of Courage Award.
Top PHOTO features you missed last weekA collection of the best photo features you missed last week Telangana picks Congress for 2014; Rahul is TN choice for PM: Survey
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam seems to be fighting back in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Lok Sabha elections with the party recording an eight per cent increase in its vote share in the past month, while Congress turns out to be Telangana's first choice at the Centre, according to a pre-poll survey.
March 04, 2014
For the BJP, the AAP raises a mix of anxiety and hope
'The Aam Aadmi Party will cut into our votes, but it won't affect our final tally in Uttar Pradesh,' a senior BJP strategist tells Rediff.com's in this brilliant report on the coming electoral wars in UP.
Inside Yasin Bhatkal's dangerous mind
A jailbreak bid, a strike at Narendra Modi's heartland, Indian Mujahideen's hand in the Syria civil war and its attempts to reach out to Al Qaeda and Taliban. Once India's most wanted, Yasin Bhatkal reveals his chilling plans in his confessions to the NIA
Extraordinary Indian: The doctor who makes a difference!
'Even if there is only one day left for a person, I find it very satisfying to have made a difference. That is because I believe life matters. If I can bring a smile to the face of a person who has seen only pain and suffering, I feel satisfied.' Rediff.com's meets Dr M R Rajagopal who has made such a difference to the lives of the terminally ill.
PHOTOS: Rio Carnival, the wildest party on earth
Rio de Janeiro shows why it is regarded as the Carnival Capital of the World.
Gloom, doom and a million mutinies to come
With the mood in the party one of "gloom and doom", some MPs are getting ready to desert the Congress.
Ukraine crisis: Russia refuses to back down
Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a gamble on Ukraine and is betting that US President Barack Obama will blink first.
AAP dips, BJP gains, Congress still loses: Survey
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is in neck-and-neck race with BJP for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while BJP-Shiv Sena combine has a clear edge in Maharashtra, a pre-poll survey has predicted.
March 03, 2014
TRS shocks Congress, rules out merger
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti has ruled out merger with the Congress and refused to give any commitment on an alliance with the party in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
PHOTOS: The world seething with RAGE
Amazing photographs from across the world captured by ace Reuters photographers in the month of February
March 02, 2014
7-phase Lok Sabha polls likely to commence between April 7-10
Polling in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is likely to commence in the second week of April and may be spread over seven phases, the longest so far, highly placed sources said on Sunday.
150 riots in UP in one year, not a single in Gujarat in 10 yrs: Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack against the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress, saying they were misleading the people under the veil of secularism to hide their failures.
Cong's 2014 mantra? How to lose friends & alienate people
The exodus in Congress could again momentum (Kiran Reddy, L Rajagopal's resignations) in contrast to which the BJP is adding to its tally of allies and is finding new admirers. Anita Katiyal reports
'Islamic militants' behind China train station attack that left 33 dead
China has blamed Islamic militants from the volatile Xinjiang province for an attack by knife-wielding "terrorists" at a railway station in Kunming city that left at least 33 people dead and 130 injured.
March 01, 2014
Putin's Russia grabs Crimea from Ukraine
Russia's parliament has granted President Vladimir Putin permission to use the country's military in the Crimea, the southern part of the Ukraine where support for Russia is strong.
When Rahul thought of being a rickshaw puller
"I was thinking of working as a rickshaw puller for a day to understand your problems," Rahul Gandhi said as he sought to reach out to rickshaw pullers and autorickshaw drivers on Saturday as part of his pre-manifesto exercise of interacting with various stakeholders.
How did India's defence story go so terribly wrong?
Forget the big-ticket stuff, for years we have not even been able to dredge Mumbai harbour so that submarines can move in and out round the clock, rues
February 28, 2014
'Navy chief's resignation will dent morale of young officers'
'If the navy was part of the ministry of defence then, of course, the defence minister would have been jointly responsible for everything that happened. But that is not so. The defence minister can shrug his shoulders and say, "Look I don't know what is going on in the navy, so let the chief handle it". The politician is free to do what he feels. If his conscience hurts him, he is welcome to quit,' former naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash tells Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
82pc Indian kids have NO understanding of cigarette warning labels
Preschool children in India and Nigeria have the lowest awareness and understanding of health warning labels on cigarette packages, according to an international study of over 2,000 kids in six countries.
Is Karunanidhi getting cosy with Modi?
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi on Friday described Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as a 'hardworker' and a 'good friend.'
When Nitish cancelled the Modi dinner
What left Nitish Kumar so irate that he recalled the dinner invitation to Narendra Modi and the BJP during the party's 2010 national executive meet in Patna? The shamiana was pulled down, the kitchen put out and the dinner scrapped after the invitations were sent out. Sankarshan Thakur reveals what happened behind that famous cancelled meal in his new book, Single Man.
Inside terror's DARK soul: Modi's murder, Kerala netas, Hindu helpers
The charge-sheet against Yasin Bhatkal reveals many shocking facts about the dark deeds of the Indian Mujahideen, says Vicky Nanjappa
The US View: India's 10 worst problems
The United States has expressed concerns about the ills that continue to hound India year after year in its latest annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released by Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday.
India's most searched politicians
As India inches closer towards general elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi have emerged as the most searched politicians online, Google said on Thursday.
February 27, 2014
IN PICTURES: The great night of Lord Shiva
Mahashivratri, one of the major Hindu festivals is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
10 accidents in 7 months: Sinking Navy?
vessels of the Indian Navy have met with accident in the last seven months
'Banning books seems more like Taliban culture than Hindu culture'
'How can Hindus protest efforts to ban an edition of the Gita in parts of Russia, and force a publisher to withdraw an academic critique of Hinduism, all in the same breath? It makes the Hindu community seem petty, self-serving, and hypocritical. Episodes like this allow Hinduism to be "owned" by the most conservative, intolerant, extremist voices. These people do not speak for me, and they certainly don't represent the form of Hinduism I practice and love," Princeton University's Hindu chaplain Vineet Chander tells Rediff.com's .
VOTE: The infamous barbs by our netas 
'Khooni panja', 'zeher ki kheti', 'impotent'. Political insults have become the order of the day this poll season. While all of them deserve an unequivocal boo, Rediff.com asks readers to pick one that they think stung the most.
Why Muslims still see BJP with suspicion
Muslims say the Bharatiya Janata Party has been half-hearted in its outreach to the community. reports
Hindus in Pakistan denied access to temples?
Pakistan's Supreme Court has sought a report from the government on its efforts to ensure access for the minority Hindu community to a century-old temple in
Is Boko Haram the most sadistic terror group in the world?
Gunmen from Islamist group Boko Haram on Tuesday night shot or burned to death 59 boys in a boarding school in north-east Nigeria.
February 26, 2014
Why 'parole favours' to Sanjay Dutt are so UNFAIR
Sanjay Dutt's 'parole favours' are bound to evoke public anger in abundance when one considers the fact although the Bollywood star has been granted parole thrice in nine months, the authorities across the country have considered only 228 out of a total 4,146 parole applications filed in the last four years. And if that's not enough, the state Maharashtra has a dubious record in terms of granting parole as it has considered only 8 out of 150 applications since 2010. Vicky Nanjappa reports.
'Impotent' Modi row: Khurshid should know who a man is, says BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed Union minister Salman Khurshid for describing Narendra Modi as "impotent" and asked him to apologise for the "regrettable" and "shameful" comment, saying it only reflects the Congress party's "desperation".
A blind, brilliant author's reluctant vision of India
On a recent visit to India, writer Ved Mehta gave Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel a rare glimpse into his current state of mind and what he thinks of the changes he encounters in his motherland.
DON'T MISS! Glam queen Angelina Jolie's most beautiful side
Academy Award winning actress Angelina Jolie, often billed as the 'most beautiful woman on the planet', is doing some amazing work as a special envoy for the United Nations's body for the refugees, the UNHCR.
PIX: Look what they found inside Ukraine president's estate!
Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovich's Mezhyhirya residence that had been closed off for nearly a decade was thronged by Ukrainians to see what Yanukovych was hiding.
February 25, 2014
IN PHOTOS: 'Orange' blanket engulfs China
Beijingers are once again choking as smog levels hit "heavy or even worse" levels in the Chinese capital and a number of other cities across the country, CNN reported on Tuesday.
Congress is philosophy that can't be wiped out, Rahul retorts to Modi
Rebuking Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's call to wipe out the Congress in 2014 election, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi said, "The Congress is not a mere political party but a time tested 'philosophy'. Those who are talking of wiping the Congress out in the India are ignorant about the power of the spirit of love and harmony that forms the basis of the philosophy, which has sustained India, the nation, for over 3000 years."
Yasin Bhatkal's pack of lies
Experts are terming the 300-page chargesheet on Indian Mujahideen operative Yasin Bhatkal a pack of lies with many believing that he misled the investigators on various occasions.
Meet Telangana, the 29th state of India
Land-locked Telangana, all set to become the country's 29th state soon, is spread over an area of over 1.14 lakh square kilometres, and boasts of considerable mineral wealth under its soil.
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny
A round-up of off-beat stories from around the world
DON'T MISS: Narendra Modi's 'hat trick' 
Rediff.com takes a look at the different avatars of 'Turbanator' Modi and asks you, the readers, to rate them.
February 24, 2014
The IAF's Tigers roar into the 80s
No 1 Squadron, the Indian Air Force's oldest squadron, celebrates 80 years of dedicated service to the nation. , who has served twice with the squadron, looks back on the Tigers's awesome journey.
Oh yes! Indians among the MOST sexually satisfied: Survey
A 2014 study revealed that socio-economic status also impacted levels of sexual satisfaction.
FATWA FACTORY: No Mars trip, suicide or Yoga!
Let's take a look at some controversial fatwas.
February 23, 2014
Ambani has Modi in one pocket and Rahul in the other: Kejriwal
The Aam Aadmi Party kickstarted its Lok Sabha campaign on Sunday with its leader Arvind Kejriwal challenging Narendra Modi to "show guts" in giving a promise to bring back black money of his industrialist friends allegedly stashed away abroad if he becomes Prime Minister.
ARRESTED! Godfather of the drug world
Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the legendary boss of the world's most powerful and deadly drug cartel has been captured in Mexico, with the US hailing his arrest as a "landmark" achievement.
February 22, 2014
Freedom for Rajiv's killers: Tamils need to convince other Indians
There are various factors that should feature in judging the fate of Rajiv Gandhi's killers, says Shubhashis Gangopadhyay
February 21, 2014
BJP likely to have major gain of 40 seats in UP: Poll
According to an opinion poll conducted by ABP News-Nielsen the Bharat6iya Janata Party is likely to have a major gain of 40 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Compared with the poll conducted in January, 2014, the BJP shows a gain of another five with 40 seats and a vote share of 33 per cent.
Indian Mujahideen's 5 most dangerous terror modules
Rediff.com's enumerates the 5 deadly modules created by the Indian Mujahideen and what their strengths and goals are
'Nitish sees Modi as a man who imperils inclusive and secular India'
'I do not think Nitish has ever had any illusions that he could ever give Modi the run for the prime ministership. What he did think, and continues to think, is that by breaking away and aligning with other forces, he can attempt to stop Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister of India. That is the primary goal he has set himself,' says Sankarshan Thakur, author of a new biography of the Bihar chief minister.
Seemandhra hunts for a new capital
With Parliament clearing the way for formation of Telangana state, the focus now shifts on identifying a new 'capital' for the (residuary) state of Andhra Pradesh.
PHOTOS: Pope's wardrobe malfunction
No one is safe when it comes to wardrobe malfunctions, not even Pope Francis who recently suffered a series of them when strong winds were whipping around St Peter's Square.
Why this man is at the brink of historyWith the Lok Sabha passing the reorganisation bill, Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao now finds himself at the brink of a new history. Prashanth Chintala reports
PHOTOS: The bloody battle of Kiev Maidan
The guns may have gone silent for now in capital Kiev's Maidan or Independence Square, but peace is still far from the reach of Ukrainians.
February 20, 2014
Telangana Bill PASSED in Rajya Sabha
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was passed by a voice vote in Rajya Sabha amid unprecedented bedlam on Thursday night.
IN PHOTOS: Catastrophic violence in Ukraine protests
A shaky truce crumbled in troubled Kiev on Thursday morning, when gunfire erupted at Independence Square which has been ground zero for anti-government protesters in Ukraine.
Rajiv assassination case: Political games behind move to free convicts
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's efforts seem to be aimed at embarrassing the DMK when it was said to be considering the option of reviving snapped political and electoral ties with the Congress, along with the DMDK, say N Sathiya Moorthy and M Kasinathan.
Telangana Bill moved in Rajya Sabha amid unprecedented chaosAmid unprecedented bedlam, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde moved the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha for consideration leading to three adjournments within 30 minutes.
Rajiv case:'Sonia is accountable for all this mess'
K Ragothaman, lead investigator in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case whose controversial book -- Conspiracy to Kill Rajiv Gandhi: From CBI Files -- raised a lot of questions about the case, is disappointed with the release of the former prime minister's assassins.
'The only political beneficiary of Telangana will be BJP'
Asaduddin Owaisi, the member of Parliament from Hyderabad, talks to Sheela Bhatt about his worries over the way Telangana is being created.
Explained: The Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
Rediff.com brings you a chronology of the more than two decade-long Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, which finally seems to be getting some closure
Have a question for Modi, Kejriwal, Mamata, Lalu? Log on to Facebook
In the run up to Lok Sabha polls, Facebook users would now be able to discuss the electoral agenda of country's top politicians including Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal among others from next month.
PM doesn't want Rajiv's killers to be released
Holding that assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was an attack on India's soul, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the release of his killers would be "contrary to all principles of justice" and the Tamil Nadu government has been told not to proceed with it as it is "not legally tenable".
SC stays release of 3 convicts in Rajiv assassination case
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the release of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case by the Tamil Nadu government, saying there have been procedural lapses on the part of the state.
'By targeting Ambani, Kejriwal is trying to kill two birds with the same stone'
'You can call Kejriwal a populist, you can call him an anarchist, that he is taking on the richest man in India to become more popular amongst the poor or the middle classes. By targeting Mukesh Ambani and highlighting the Krishna-Godavari gas issue, the AAP is trying to highlight -- even if for its own political gain -- how the nexus between business and politics works.' In an exclusive interview to Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta educates us on everything we should know about the Krishna-Godavari basin gas wars, why Mukesh Ambani and his business is being questioned by Arvind Kejriwal and why citizens should be educated about the issue.
PHOTOS: Sex and drugs in 'Sin City'
China's government has told police across the country to get tough on prostitution, gambling and drugs following an expose in the "sin city" of Dongguan, where a crackdown on prostitution led to the detention of nearly 1,000 people this month.
February 19, 2014
BJP, Cong, Left celebrating Valentine's Day in Bengal: Mamata
In an interview with CNN-IBN, the Trinamool Congress chief explains why she decided to team up with activist Anna Hazare and alleges that the Left Front, the BJP and the Congress have an 'understanding' in Bengal.
No court relief for Indian held in synagogue bombing case in US
On Tuesday, the trial of Aakash Dalal commenced in a US court for allegedly masterminding a synagogue bombing plot in New Jersey. reports on the proceedings.
DEBATE: Do Rajiv's killers deserve freedom?
The Tamil Nadu government's decision to release late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassins from prison a day after the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of three of the convicts to life term, has triggered a major debate. Vicky Nanjapp presents a cross-section of opinions on the decision.
Kiran Reddy quits Andhra CM's post, Congress
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday resigned from his post as well as the Congress protesting the manner in which the state was being divided "by throwing all norms to the wind" and lashed out at political parties for dividing the state in quest of "votes".
Jayalalithaa okays release of Rajiv killers
The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday decided to release all seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including A G Perarivalan and Nalini.
REWIND: Best images in the last 24 hours
Here's a collection of some of the best photos from around the world shot in the last 24 hours
We can expect governance from the BJP: Kiran Bedi
In this interview with rediff.com, key Anna Hazare aide Kiran Bedi says that the people of Delhi are disillusioned by the Aam Aadmi Party, and that she herself would go with her inner 'nod' and not invitation or a go ahead from others to contest elections.
Ambani's KG basin scam BIGGER than Bofors: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday attacked Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party for keeping "mum" on the Reliance gas issue in which Mukesh Ambani is among others named in a first information report filed by the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government.
February 18, 2014
'This is the greatest day; it's time for Telangana to rise'
The credit for the creation of Telangana goes to those who laid down their lives for the state, activists tell
LS looked like a battleground during Telangana Bill passage
Lok Sabha on Tuesday looked like a virtual battle-ground during the consideration of the controversial Telangana Bill with Congress members seen protecting Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and other top leaders from protesting members.
In Photos: Telangana clears first hurdle, Hyderabad CHEERS
Pro-Telangana activists danced, burst crackers and shed tears of joy as their long-cherished dream about the creation of a separate state came within a touching distance of reality.
I am not in race for PM or CM: Kejriwal tells Rediff readers
Back to being the aam aadmi after he stepped down as Delhi chief minister last week after a 49-day tenure, Arvind Kejriwal answers a volley of questions from readers as he appeared on the Rediff Chat on Tuesday.
'Don't hang the Italian marines, let them repent in jail'
visits the families of the two fishermen killed at sea by two Italian marines, who mistook them for pirates.
In PHOTOS: College charity show goes wild and how!
The biggest student's charity fashion show in the United Kingdom hosted by St Andrews, Scotland turned into a wild party of 1,500 with students sprawling themselves on the ramp and downing bottle after bottle of champagne.
T-bill moved in Lok Sabha amid uproar, Andhra CM likely to quitThe government on Tuesday moved the volatile Telangana Bill for consideration in Lok Sabha but the pandemonium created by opponents to the legislation prevented a discussion as the House was repeatedly adjourned.
IN PHOTOS: Welcome to the temple of rats!
visits Karni Mata temple near Bikaner where scores of devotees turn up every morning to seek blessings from the deity and her favourite rats.
What they don't want us to read
What is there in Wendy Doniger's book that has raised the hackles of the Hindu right wing? explains
February 17, 2014
Pride, prejudice and irony at DMK state conference
marvels at the grandiose state conference of the DMK, held in Tiruchirappalli over the weekend
This 'satanic' couple has killed 23 people
A Pennsylvania woman, who along with her husband is facing death penalty for killing a man, has claimed she has killed at least 22 other people as a part of her involvement with a satanic cult.
PHOTOS: Akhilesh Yadav thrashes babus in T-20
In a close encounter, Team Akhilesh Yadav managed to hold its nerve and clinch a 2 run victory over the Chief Secretary's Eleven in a cricket match organised as part of the IAS officers' Services Week celebrations, at the La Martiniere ground in Lucknow on Sunday.
'When Westerners make fun of our gods, they're instigating trouble'
'In theory, yes, Hindus are very open. I'm one of them. I've coined the phrase 'open architecture'... But I think the Wendy Doniger group is not allowing open architecture. They are closing this architecture'... 'They are bringing a point of view in such a heavy-handed way that it tends to dominate and it tends to suppress the alternative points of view. So some kind of counteraction is necessary and using the law is a decent thing to do.' Rajiv Malhotra, one of Wendy Doniger's most vociferous critics, speaks to Rediff.com's Arthur J Pais about the prejudices created by American scholars about Hindu gods and Hinduism.
India-US relations: 'The rupture is certainly real and quite tragic'
'Never before have I seen a diplomatic crisis in US-Indian relations, or for that matter a crisis involving India and any other country, driven by bureaucratic trade unionism, where the political leadership was simply missing in action.' Dr Ashley J Tellis, one of the foremost strategic experts on US-India relations, accesses the fallout of the diplomatic spat provoked by Devyani Khobragade's arrest.
February 15, 2014
Delhi will vote for Kejriwal AGAIN, not Congress or BJP: Poll
This may be the best piece of news Arvind Kejriwal, who has weathered one storm after the other during his short stint as the chief minister of Delhi, has heard in a while.
February 14, 2014
Kejriwal: The uncommon chief minister's turbulent journey
Arvind Kejriwal, who pledged to root out corruption after steering AAP to power in Delhi, was a man in a hurry and set a scorching pace to try to fulfil his anti-graft legislative agenda but his tumultuous journey as chief minister ended in seven weeks.
Will give up my life, but will not accept orders from Centre: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Friday resigned as Delhi Chief Minister after he failed to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly.
Kejriwal quits; recommends Delhi assembly dissolution, fresh polls
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal resigned on Friday after suffering a defeat in the assembly on the Jan Lokpal Bill and in a political gamble he recommended dissolution of the assembly and holding of fresh polls.
Jan Lokpal Bill fizzles out in Delhi Assembly. Will Kejriwal quit now?
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress members of Legislative Assembly on Friday
The love story of a sex worker's daughter
Naseema and Kabir's love story proves that truth, indeed, beats fiction hollow.
'Who are we to forgive Narendra Modi?'
Many Muslims in Ahmedabad today have come a long way since the brutal riots of 2002, and see genuine hope in their leader Narendra Modi as they admit that they haven't been excluded from the circle of development. reports.
Should these MPs be banned from Parliament? Your Say!
A pepper spray was used, a mic yanked. MPs put on the worst show ever in the Parliament.
VOTE: Rediff Pulse of the Nation Poll!
The series of questions that we ask you today could help you decide your vote in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
LS poll survey: NDA to get whopping 227 seats; Cong to be reduced to 84
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is projected to get 227 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, while Congress will be reduced to 84 seats, according to an opinion poll.
February 13, 2014
Parliament at its worst: Blame these MPs! A pepper spray was used, a mic yanked. MPs put on the worst show ever in the Parliament.
T-Bill ruckus: Fisticuffs and pepper spraying in Parliament
In a new low in India's parliamentary history, pepper spray was used in the Lok Sabha resulting in hospitalisation of three MPs following a ruckus over introduction of the Telangana bill after which 18 Seemandhra MPs were suspended
Will Miley Cyrus make politics sizzle?
Pop sensation Miley Cyrus has claimed that she is eyeing up the political arena because she wants to encourage tolerance in society.
PHOTOS: This starlet wants to spend V-Day with Rahul
Southern starlet Tanisha Singh has surely taken Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's message of women empowerment in the most frivolous fashion, to say the least.
When Modi served vision, not vitriol, in cups of tea
Prasanna D Zore travels to Ahmedabad and gives us a first-hand account of Narendra Modi's unique 'Chai Pe Charcha' campaign, as the BJP leader spares his opponents the usual onslaught while squarely stressing on his plans to provide goods governance to the aam aadmi.
February 12, 2014
Cong gears up for poll campaigning, but why are its leaders sulking?
Conflicting signals on leadership, inclusion of defeated chief ministers and exclusion of others in the election campaign committee have all led to resentment among the party cadre, says
Modi's 'Chai pe Charcha'? What's that all about?
Most Amdavadis that Rediff.com's met were unaware of Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's outreach programme that kick-starts on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: Raj Thackeray's 'rasta roko' brings Mumbai to a halt
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray anti-toll agitation brought Mumbai to standstill, almost. Here are some dramatic pictures from the agitation.
PHOTOS: Hundreds of homes inundated as UK floods spread
Hundreds of homes were swamped by floods along the River Thames in the United Kingdom on Wednesday.
Raj Thackeray released; intention was not to trouble anyone, he says
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray was on Wednesday detained before being released during his party's uncharacteristically peaceful 'Rasta Roko' agitation against toll collection across Maharashtra after receiving an invitation for talks with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
February 11, 2014
All highways in Maharashtra will be blocked on Wednesday: Raj Thackeray
A day before the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's toll-plaza agitation, chief Raj Thackeray said that his party will not indulge in any vandalism but all highways will be blocked across the state from 9 am on Wednesday.
Revealed: The X-rated secrets of Indian women!
The fairer sex in India is ahead of men when it comes to capturing intimate moments on video or sending personal text messages, e-mails and photos, security software maker McAfee has said.
PHOTOS: Bollywood starlet dares to bare for Modi 
Item girl Meghna Patel goes all out to show her support for BJP's PM candidare Narendra Modi
PIX: Thousands at risk as swollen Thames bursts banks in UK
Thousands of homes in southern England are bracing for flooding after the River Thames burst its banks, with forecasters warning more bad weather is expected.
February 09, 2014
'People ask me if I am from China, Tibet or Nepal'
Facing racial discrimination has become a part of daily life for a majority of youngsters coming from the northeast to the national capital, which touts its tag of being a cosmopolitan city.
Legal logjam: 2,00,00,000 cases pending in India's courts
Over two crore cases are pending in subordinate courts in India which also face a shortage of over 3,000 judicial personnel, a Parliamentary Committee has observed.
Supreme Court speaks up on nudity!
A nude or semi-nude picture of a woman cannot be called obscene per se unless it is designed to excite sexual passion or reveal an overt sexual desire, the Supreme Court has held.
February 08, 2014
Coffee, conversations and more @ Sochi
Asia leaders join Sochi as Barack Obama, and others give it a skip.
February 07, 2014
Why Sonia is steaming ahead with Telangana
The lure of the17 Lok Sabha seats in the new Telangana state is driving Sonia Gandhi and her party to make every effort be made to push it through Parliament at the earliest.
Revealed: BJP-Congress games behind Telangana Bill
Opposition BJP has assured the ruling UPA that it would support the bill for the creation of Telangana in Parliament
Cabinet clears Telangana Bill, Hyderabad to be joint capital
Notwithstanding opposition from within Congress and outside, the Union Cabinet on Friday cleared the Telangana Bill which will be introduced in Parliament on February 12.
India's horror: Over 23,000 rapists are still out there
Nearly 24,000 rape cases are pending in various high courts of the country while more than 8000 of them have been disposed of in the last three years, the government said on Friday.
Exclusive! RSS leader: Home ministry misused agencies to trap me
'The country's home ministry has misused investigating agencies in the most illegal, corrupt, inhuman and unjustified way to trap innocents like me in terror traps,' says RSS leader Indresh Kumar, who terror accused Swami Aseemanand alleged knew of plots to bomb the Samjhauta Express, the Mecca Masjid and the Ajmer Dargah.
Mohan Bhagwat: The mastermind, or the target?
The men targetting Mohan Bhagwat were convinced he was the wrong choice to head the RSS, an NIA agent told Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa.
REWIND: 15 best PHOTOS of the day
A collection of some of the best photos from around the world in the last 24 hours
Rs 2 crore: That's what Pope's Harley is worth
The money will go towards the renovation of a hostel and soup kitchen in Rome run by the charity Caritas.
Kiran Kumar Reddy: Riding the wave of opposition
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's defiance seems to be working well for the Congress in Seemandhra, a reason sufficient for party leaders to keep silent, though he has openly criticised them and staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. B Dasarath Reddy reports
February 06, 2014
No money left to buy Rafale fighters: Antony
India has deferred until the next financial year its plan to finalise a deal for purchase of 126 Rafale combat aircraft from France since there is "no money left" for this now, Defence Minister A K Antony has said.
Connecting the terror dots: RSS, revenge, Swami and Samjhauta
In shocking revelations, Swami Aseemanand claims though RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not directly involved with the terror strikes, he was aware that such attacks were being planned. finds out more
FAQ: All about the VVIP helicopter scam
A Rs 36 billion deal for helicopters to ferry VVIPs that ran into rough weather ... A controversy that now threatens to park itself at the doorsteps of the Congress party... , NDTV's Security & Strategic Affairs Editor, tells us what the controversy is all about.
Has the Congress old guard's revolt truly started?
Has the generational shift being witnessed in the Congress after Rahul assumed greater responsibilities disturbed the status quo in the party? If Janardan Dwivedi's recent interviews are any indication, these voices of dissent could get louder in the coming days. Rediff.com's reports
DON'T MISS: 20 best pix from 'world's best photography' race
The shortlist for the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world's leading photography competitions, has been announced.
February 05, 2014
Arun Jaitley: Has PM destroyed the collegium system?
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure comes to an end, it is time for him to introspect the damage he has done to various institutions, says
Uttam's Take: The AAM buffaloes of Uttar Pradesh
Following the return of senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan's stolen buffaloes, Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh offers his perspective.
Uddhav, Naidu team up against Congress on Telangana issue
Flaying the United Progressive Alliance government for its 'unilateral' decision on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said the Congress is not in a position to convince its members on the tumultuous issue of "equal justice" for people of Telangana as well as Seemandhra.
'She is a himmatwali'
A teenager painstakingly builds a new life after a freak tragedy that may have befallen any Mumbaikar. profiles Monica More who has captured Mumbai's hearts with her extraordinary courage.
Memo to Rahul: It is 2014, not 2004
The Congress vice-president needs to speak from a script more attuned to today's realities because his attempts to position himself as the perennial outsider would have held greater resonance 10 years ago, says Sreenivasan Jain
Broke no laws, didn't conduct any raid: Somnath Bharti
Under fire for his alleged role in leading a midnight raid to bust a sex and drug racket in the city, Delhi Minister Somnath Bharti has accused the media of spreading rumours against him even as he claimed that he had not violated any laws during the incident.
ANSWERED: 5 questions on UK's role in Operation Bluestar
The 12-page report that Foreign Secretary William Hague tabled in the British Parliament sheds more light on the "limited support" that his country gave India
February 04, 2014
PHOTOS: Shiv Sainiks target Pakistani band's press meet
Wielding saffron flags and chanting 'Pakistanis go back' and 'Vande Mataram', Shiv Sena workers on Tuesday barged into a press conference of a music band from Pakistan, heckled the artistes and vandalised the venue, police said.
Sachin, Prof CNR Rao conferred Bharat Ratna
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.
'Tipu was no religious figure but a politician'
Tipu has been made divisive by people who want to use his name to milk their ends on either side of the debate, as there are ample examples to suit both arguments, says Vikram Sampath
PHOTOS: Sachin, Prof CNR Rao conferred Bharat Ratna
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.
PHOTOS: AAP vs BJP faceoff outside Jaitley's house over bribery claims
Hundreds of Aam Aadmi Party supporters gathered outside senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley's residence in New Delhi accusing the opposition party of bribing its MLAs.
A communist's ghost returns to haunt CPI-M
The T P Chandrasekharan murder case verdict in Kerala could land a heavy blow to the Communist Party of India's Lok Sabha ambitions. explains
Cops won't catch you at this rave party
Morning Glory, a pre-work club started by events organiser Sam and massage therapist Nico, is the antidote to a room full of rowdy, drunken party-animals lurching out of step to booming dance music.
February 03, 2014
Most AMAZING photographs of the month: January
We present some of the best photographs clicked across the globe in the month of January, 2014.
February 01, 2014
Arnab interview is a nasty burn for Rahul Gandhi
It may be true that Rahul Gandhi would rather work than dance for the media, but on the other hand, the days when that was a choice are long gone, says Mitali Saran.
January 31, 2014
'I love the current state India is in'
'We are bubbling with a lot of energy, both political and social... India needs to be a lot cleaner than it is right now. We need to respect our roads, and our public spaces,' says actress in the concluding feature of Rediff.com's special series -- What I love most about India.
6 lies Congress told about Telangana 
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi orchestrated the entire drama on Telangana with Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy in the lead. The truth about Telangana lies behind six blatant lies. Rediff.com's analyses
Kejriwal lists 'India's most corrupt' politicians
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday listed India's "corrupt politicians" who, he said, should not be allowed to contest elections.
'There is always a freshness about India'
'There's excitement. There's vibrancy. If it is politics, even if there's discussion and there's debate, there's vibrancy. That pretty much is the story of India,' says Union Minister Milind Deora in Rediff.com's special series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
'The way I look at my mother is how I look at my country'
'Being Indian means everything to me. My existence is nothing without my country. It is not about what the country did for you, but what you did for your country,' says actor-director Shekhar Suman, in our special series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
No need to ban khap panchayats: CM Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is a self-proclaimed advocate of progressive social politics, has now sparked a controversy by stating that he does not see the need for banning khap panchayats because they serve a "cultural purpose".
Rs 10,000 crore may just be a SLICE of Asaram's wealth!
Self-styled godman Asaram has accumulated wealth to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore and vast tracts of land across the country, the value of which is yet to be assessed, police said on Thursday.
PHOTOS: The TOUGH race that no one has EVER won
Taking place at the end of January, often in freezing winter conditions, the Tough Guy race is staged over a course of about 12 kilometres, and has been widely described as "the toughest race in the world.
January 30, 2014
PHOTOS: What a rare snowstorm did to southern US
A snowstorm in the southern United States has brought several cities to a standstill, despite early warnings about expected severe weather.
'Modi as PM will be bonanza for jihadis'
There's lack of coordination between intelligence agencies and inter-state police, terrorism expert Stephen Tankel tells Rediff.com's .
Why we need a democracy of individuals
Politics should focus on the demands of ordinary voters rather than moving in the vague world of macroeconomics, notes .
Andhra assembly rejects Telangana Bill
In a major embarrassment for the Congress party, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's resolution to reject the bill was passed unanimously.
SC orders Jayalalithaa's prosecution in I-T case
A bench of Justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice Vikramjit Sen also asked the trial court in Chennai to conclude the hearing of the case and pronounce its judgment within four months.
Decoding Congress gameplan to bring down AAP
Whether the Congress is repeating its mistake of "underestimating" the AAP and will pay for its overconfidence in banking on AAP decimating itself or whether its gambit is borne out of its experience, is a matter of speculation, at least for now. Kavita Chowdhury analyses
REWIND: Best PHOTOS in the last 48 hours
Presenting some of the best photographs from around the world in the last 48 hours.
'I like Indian people's sense of hope and optimism'
The thing I love most about India is the people. The people of our country have very big hearts and very broad shoulders. They are very hard working, very entrepreneurial and very generous of spirit, says banker-turned-politician Meera Sanyal.
January 29, 2014
PICTURES: Beating the Retreat marks end of R-Day celebrations
Soul-stirring martial tunes and foot-tapping drumbeats on Wednesday reverberated as bands played near the majestic Rashtrapati Bhavan lit by thousands of bulbs during Beating the Retreat event, marking the end of the Republic Day celebrations.
What's common between Rahul baba and Alok Nath?
Jokes, parodies, cartoons and even remixes of the Q&A flooded the internet space once it concluded
Why elements in Pakistan may target Narendra Modi
'Pakistan is well aware in case of 26/11-like attack Narendra Modi if in power will not take things lying down,' former RA&W C D Sahay tells Rediff.com's .
India Today: 28.7 crore CAN'T read, full literacy 66 yrs away!
India has by far the largest population of illiterate adults at 287 million (28.7 crore), amounting to 37 per cent of the global total, a United Nations report said, highlighting the huge disparities existing in education levels of the country's rich and poor.
'Govt instability is not a big thing, political instability is a problem'
Given the nature of opportunity and feedback received during our membership campaign, I feel the people of the country are saying something to us, says Yogendra Yadav, senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party.
India will produce some nectar, but we will also produce some poison
'India is a part of me. Whatever I love or criticise about India is what I love and criticise about myself,' says novelist Vikram Chandra.
America must move off a permanent war footing: Obama
The United States will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific region and shape a future of greater security, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday, even as he vowed to veto any Congressional bill imposing new sanctions on Iran to give "diplomacy a chance to succeed".
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny!
We bring the month's most weird, true and funny news from across the globe.
A 'historic low': Queen Elizabeth down to her LAST million
Queen Elizabeth II's household finances are at a "historic low" with just 1 million pounds left in reserve, even as the royal palaces were "crumbling" and in urgent need of repair.
January 28, 2014
Rahul's Rajya Sabha choices expose his hollow words on TV
By nominating Madhusudan Mistry, Digvijaya Singh, Kumari Selja as the party's Rajya Sabha candidates, and roping in Sanjay Singh, the Congress vice-president has failed to walk the talk, argues Rediff.com's .
'Indians are very intelligent, but we are not focussed'
'I urge Indians not to look down on us, but look up and say, "Yes, we can",'says , founder of the Apollo Hospitals, in our series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
Indian scientists turn plastic into car fuel
In a breakthrough, Indian researchers have developed an innovative method to re-use discarded plastic bags by transforming them into fuel to power car engines.
Plan to eliminate Modi is in the works, warns IB
Indian Mujahideen operative Hyder Ali Shaqoor is believed to have been assigned the job to assassinate BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, reports .
Kejriwal's FIVE biggest boo-boos! Rate them
One month after Arvind Kejriwal assumed office, the unorthodox and uncommon chief minister and his party have earned more criticism and praise. Rediff.com takes a look at five of its biggest blunders and asks readers to rate its performance.
You have been spied upon via Angry Birds, Facebook
The latest claim to come from the trove of secret documents revealed by Edward Snowden has reportedly pointed out that the US intelligence agency allegedly used 'leaky' mobile apps to carve out user data for surveillance.
'Modi is an able man; the US has to come to terms with him'
Former US ambassador to India Frank G Wisner says Americans are going to confront the fact that as prime minister -- if that's where Narendra Modi ends up -- they are going to have to do business with him because the relationship with India is too important to leave it on the altar of disagreements over one man. Rediff.com's reports from Washington, DC.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh: The original Aam Aadmi hero
The common man had another hero 25 years ago in Vishwanath Pratap Singh, who sacrificed power in order to fight corruption before becoming the prime minister.
AAP's donation box is no more jingling
The average weekly donation for the party is consistently declining, says
The Aam Aadmi Party's 30-day report card
assesses the impact that the Arvind Kejriwal government has had on Delhi and the way things get done in the city, in the last 30 days
January 27, 2014
Cong tried to stop '84 riots, Modi govt did the opposite in 2002: Rahul
The Narendra Modi government was responsible for "abetting and pushing" the 2002 Gujarat riots while the Congress government tried to stop the 1984 riots, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Monday, but offered no apology for the anti-Sikh violence.
PIX: MNS workers attack toll booths at Raj Thackeray's order
Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers on Monday went on the rampage, vandalising toll plazas in different parts of the state following their leader's diktat not to pay the levy and "thrash" those who raise a voice against it.
PHOTOS: Valerie Trierweiler in Mumbai after split with French president
A day after splitting with French President Francois Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler arrived in Mumbai on Sunday.
Video: Desi spider-man Gaurav Sharma climbs 45-storey buildingLimca Book record holder Gaurav Sharma climbed the 45-story Shreepati Arcade building at Nana Chowk in South Mumbai on Republic Day. 'We can use India's many languages to fight the battle for civilisation'
'But we don't use our languages for that; we use them to create distances between ourselves,' says writer Jerry Pinto.
Navy's new submarine hunter ineffective?
A yet-to-be-released US Department of Defence report has found that the Indian Navy's expensive new Boeing P-8I multi-mission maritime aircraft ineffective at surveillance and detection and destruction of submarines.
January 26, 2014
In PHOTOS: Military showstoppers @ R-Day parade
The Indian military was the show-stealer at the grand Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Sunday.
PHOTOS: French President Hollande dumps partner 
French President Francois Hollande said he has split with his longstanding partner Valerie Trierweiler after his affair with an actress nearly 20 years his junior.
IN PHOTOS: India's grand Republic Day celebrations
New Delhi is gearing up to hold the biggest spectacle of the year - the Republic Day parade.
January 25, 2014
Vidya, Leander, Iyengar: Meet this year's Padma Award winners
Noted scientist R A Mashelkar and yoga guru B K S Iyengar were on Saturday chosen for this year's Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour in India, while cine star Kamala Haasan, author Ruskin Bond and late former chief justice J S Verma were selected for the Padma Bhushan.
Incredible win for BJP, humiliation for Congress: Opinion poll
An opinion poll conducted by ABP News-Nielsen should give the Bharatiya Janata Party lots of reasons to cheer.
The significance of Shinzo Abe's India visit
As Japan beefs up its defences against China, both New Delhi and Tokyo seem to have decided to re-energise their relationship to ensure a strategic balance in Asia. Japan's Prime Minister Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is the guest of honour at this year's Republic Day, will arrive in India on Saturday. He will also be the first ever Japanese dignitary to grace the occasion.
January 24, 2014
If LS polls are held today: BJP poised to cross 220 seats
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is poised to cross 220 seats, well ahead of the United Progressive Alliance and within striking distance of forming a government in 2014 if elections are held today.
NE women harassed MOST in Delhi, safest in Mumbai
The national capital has earned the dubious distinction of meting out maximum discrimination and harassment to women from northeast, a survey has said.
8 trends that will matter in the Lok Sabha election
'Modi is extremely lucky that in different regions and in different communities, he enjoys different images. His public image evokes all the emotions between hope to fear, but the message that if he comes to power he will do some development is percolating down faster than his other images.' Three months away from the Lok Sabha election, Rediff.com's checks out the emerging political trends.
M K Alagiri: The troublemaker son in the DMK
Former Union Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M K Alagiri was on Friday suspended from the party on charges of going against the party's stand and airing divergent views on the issue of stitching an alliance with Vijaykant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.
We erred, but Somnath Bharti did NOT, says AAPAmid demands for removal of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti for the midnight raid episode, the Aam Aadmi Party on Friday came in his defence, saying he had sought action against the alleged drug and prostitution racket on the basis of "some evidence".
Now, a former Congress CM thinks EVMs are defective!
'I know people will say I am raising this issue because I have lost. There have been a lot of complaints about the electronic voting machines. There is a view that the machines were defective. 'When advanced countries like Japan and the US have discarded the use of these machines and gone back to using ballot papers, the Election Commission should take a fresh look at this,' former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot tells Anita Katyal.
'Our priority as a nation should be on human development'
'Health, food and sanitation have improved. Poverty has reduced. We could have done better in education and nutrition. Malnutrition levels are very disturbing. It is our biggest problem and it is invisible,' says Anuradha Gupta, who spearheaded the successful campaign towards a polio-free India.
Republic Day QUIZ: Whose tableau is it anyway?
Can you match the tableau with the state? Go ahead and give it a shot
Why the anger against AAP's dharna may be misplaced
The AAP phenomenon is the voice of a people desperately wanting to believe that democracy and politics can create a decent society. For the media to ignore this and treat it as temporary one is both pompous and naïve, says Shiv Visvanathan
January 23, 2014
Which way will Delhi, UP and Rajasthan go if LS polls are held today
In the nationwide CNN-IBN Election Tracker conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies today we look at the northern states -- Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and how has been the performance of the United Progressive Alliance government.
Is it a crime to call us Hindus: Uddhav at Shiv Sena rally
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the "weakest" leader ever to hold the post.
VIDEO: Shankaracharya slaps journalist over question on ModiDwarka Shradha Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has been caught in a controversy after he slapped a television journalist. PHOTOS: Massive snowfall cuts off Kashmir from rest of India
Kashmir remained cut-off from the rest of the country for the second day on Thursday with road and air links to the Valley snapped due to snowfall, the heaviest in a decade in the month of January.
India's top performing MP on why he loves India
'Indians are not greedy people. They don't want the moon. But they have a right to demand basic necessities. And these Indians have now become vociferous about these demands,' says Anandrao Vithoba Adsul who will receive the Sansad Ratna award for raising the highest number of questions in Parliament.
Brrrr... From NYC to Washington, it's freezing again
Northeastern United States is slowly getting back to normal despite the frigid temperatures and flight delays across the region after the heavy snows that fell within the past 48 hours forcing offices and schools to close from Washington to New York.
Dramatic photos of volcanic eruptions at Mount Sinabung, Indonesia
Nearly 27,000 people have fled their homes, following a series of eruptions from Mount Sinabung, a volcano in Indonesia's north Sumatra province.
January 22, 2014
Which way will Guj, Maharashtra and MP go if LS polls are held today
In the nationwide CNN-IBN Election Tracker conducted by the CSDS, we look at Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and how big an issue is corruption in the Lok Sabha polls?
Midnight raid: Pressure mounts on Kejriwal to act against Bharti
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday faced mounting demands for the removal of controversial Law Minister Somnath Bharti after an African woman identified him as allegedly heading a group of assaulters in a mid-night raid.
FREEZE FRAME: White-out in Kashmir Valley, again
Kashmir Valley had its second heaviest snowfall on Wednesday bringing life to a grinding halt.
BJP is anti-Muslim; they will destroy India: Chidambaram
As India prepares for elections, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party terming its economic policies as retrograde and "blood-eyed" and asked why it's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had never fielded a Muslim candidate.
Exclusive! Why the '$700 bn man' is a candidate with a difference
'I feel blessed. My parents came to America 50 years ago from India. My family wasn't wealthy, but I had a huge advantage because my parents were highly educated and they made sure that my sister and I got a good education. Because I got a good education, all of the opportunities in America have been opened to me and that's what makes America great.' On Tuesday, January 21, Neel Kashkari, the son of Kashmiri Pandit immigrants, declared his candidature for California's governor. If the young Republican unseats incumbent Governor Jerry Brown, he will be California's first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger. In an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa, Kashkari, who played a key role in reviving the US economy after the crisis of 2008, reveals what pushed him to consider a career in politics.
Sakshi Tanwar: 'Being Indian means everything to me'
'Each part of India has something to offer -- the mountains in the north, the sand dunes in the west, the heavenly valleys in the east, the sun, surf and sea in the south...With the Paradise on earth and God's own country here, we have the best, in any direction,' says popular television actress Sakshi Tanwar in Rediff.com's continuing series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
Love, smiles and hope can make even death look easy
Meet Mansi Shah and Abhishek Tatiya, two not-so-typical entrepreneurs, who have left behind plush careers to set up 'Happy Feet Home', the first of its kind hospice centre for terminally ill children in India.
January 21, 2014
Which way will TN, K'taka, Kerala and AP go if LS polls are held today
CNN-IBN & CSDS has conducted a nationwide election tracker that covers the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha, the southern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala; Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh of West India and three northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
No controversy, only democracy: JLF ends with a bang!
In spite of the wet and wintery weather, the annual extravaganza of the Jaipur Literature Festival ended on a warm note on Tuesday evening. Rediff.com's reports from Jaipur.
Kejriwal on street politics: 'Hamari rajniti to aise hi chalegi'
spends a bleak, rainy, winter day at the Aam Aadmi Party's dharna outside the Union home ministry in New Delhi and speaks exclusively to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about his motivations.
Kejriwal's Tirade: 'Unfortunate', 'Insulting', 'Dangerous'
Even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal continues his tirade demanding action against policemen who refused to carry out a raid on an alleged drug and prostitution ring on a Delhi minister's directive last week, the political class seems to be united in slamming his confrontationist track.
Why the IAF does NOT want this Russian jet
The Indian Air Force has alleged that the Russians reluctant to share critical design information, besides technical and cost issues. Ajai Shukla reports
'India is in an unfinished story...'
'...and all of us need to do more to give it a happy Bollywood ending. I used to be a huge optimist but now I have become somewhat of a pessimist. As a country, we don't seem to want to get things right,' Sanjoy Roy, producer of the Jaipur Literary Festival, the biggest free annual literary event in the world.
SC terminates 15 death sentences
In a landmark judgment, Supreme Court on Tuesday commuted death penalty for 15 convicts on the grounds of delay and mental illness.
Mapping the AAP shock win in New DelhiRediff.com's data experts using maps provide insights on how the nation's capital voted in the the AAP to power. Do you know how much our PM and CMs earn? Click HERE
Do you know that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's monthly salary is way higher that Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi? Rediff.com takes a look at the salaries of India's ruling elite
January 20, 2014
Why Arvind Kejriwal's ambition is also his dilemma Arvind Kejriwal, Mr Anti-Establishment, wants to play politics without being branded as the typical Indian politician so that he can make his mark in the 2014 general election. While hiding his political manoeuvring, the Aam Admi Party's maverick leader is seeking fresh intervention in the agenda of the nation by agitating on the footpaths of New Delhi, says .
Which way will WB, Odisha and Bihar go if LS polls are held today
Which way will WB, Odisha and Bihar go if LS polls are held today.
Grandma was the boss at home: Rahul Gandhi
Batting for early passage of women's reservation bill, Rahul Gandhi on Monday vowed to work for larger representation to them in Parliament, government and Congress and noted that the party and the country cannot ignore the views of half of the population.
'We must put India and its people first, every time'
'We have to find a way to re-look our notion of Democracy. It has to be a vigorous, honest democracy. The Aam Aadmi Party has shown us the possibility of a different way of thinking, that is all. In its victory, there are shortfalls which might make it fail intrinsically,' says one of India's best-known theatre personalities .
'Anarchist' Kejriwal sits on dharna, will clear files from there
In an unprecedented face-off with the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan calling himself an "anarchist" and asking "honest" police officials to take leave and join his protest demanding action against some of their colleagues.
'If our society was equal, men would also be prostitutes'
'If you are being paid less than your male colleagues, file a complaint about it, make a noise... If you are being given a hard time over issues like maternity leave, complain to your boss's wife! Be innovative. Get involved.' On the sidelines of the Jaipur Literary Festival, legendary activist Gloria Steinem interacted with a select group of journalists, including Rediff.com's Sanchari Bhattacharya, and addressed an array of issues including the Pope, prostitution and personal victories.
Vote: Who is the most admired of them all? 
Seven of the 30 most-admired people on the planet are Indians. Now, isn't that cool?
January 19, 2014
Freedom, for Afghanistan and for us, rules Day 3 of JLF!
Rediff.com's reports on all the action from Day 3 at the Jaipur Literature Festival
'For 60 yrs you were ruled, give me a chance to serve for 60 months'
The BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress, saying it had desisted from projecting Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate as Sonia Gandhi did not want to "sacrifice" her son politically in view of the "imminent defeat".
PIX: Chronicling the pink city's timeless beauty
Swati Vashishtha chronicles the history and beauty of the pink city. reports
January 18, 2014
Sunanda's death: Shashi Tharoor is in big trouble
Sunanda Pushkar's shocking and 'unnatural' demise has brought Union minister Shashi Tharoor's political career under the scanner, and with no leniency being shown by the Congress party, it seems the flamboyant MP will have to fight his own battle, reports .
Kejriwal interview: Won't spare Cong in graft cases; can contest LS polls
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday hit out at the Congress that the Aam Aadmi Party had not asked for support, rather 'they imposed it on us'.
PIX: 18 killed in stampede, lakhs gather to attend Syedna's last journey
people were killed and over 40 injured in a stampede as thousands of mourners converged to pay their last respects to the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Burhanuddin in upscale Malabar Hill in South Mumbai in the wee hours on Saturday, in worst such tragedy in the metropolis.
Rahul does the magic, but will it last?
The Congress No 2 was the hero of Friday's party meet, but senior leaders have their share of doubts if his pace will sustain till the upcoming polls.
Shashi Tharoor... controversies just keep finding him
As a man who has courted controversies ever since he plunged into electoral politics, the death of his wife could become the focus of yet another row for Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.
January 17, 2014
Will go smiling: Sunanda Pushkar tweeted
"Joh hona hota hai woh hokay rahega.... Hastay huay jayengey (whatever is destined to happen will happen. will go smiling)", were the among the last tweets of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, who was found dead in a five-star hotel room in New Delhi on Friday night.
Colour, cacophony but no controversy: JLF 2014 takes off!
Jaipur Literature Festival, the self-proclaimed 'greatest literary show on earth', is back.
PICS: Amartya Sen's 7 wishes for a better India
The seventh edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, a mega annual gathering of litterateurs kicked off in Jaipur on Friday with a keynote speech by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen.
'I want an India strong, tender and considerate'
'Youth has the power to change whatever it wants. They are the future. Youth has the power to set fire to water,' says champion boxer Akhil Kumar, in our continuing series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
Congress -- Between AAP and a hard place
Sudden shifts in electoral loyalties could make the timing of Rahul Gandhi's assertion of leadership somewhat inopportune, notes Bharat Bhushan.
20 kitchens like this feed 12 lakh children daily
Sanjeev Nayyar gets inside a kitchen that's more than just feeding hungry children; it is liberating them -- irrespective of caste, creed, sex or religion -- not just on the physical level but also on a spiritual level.
'Rahul Gandhi is still confused'
In a freewheeling interview with rediff.com's Anita Katyal, former hockey champion Aslam Sher Khan says that declaring Rahul as PM candidate is not that important. Instead, what is really need is for Rahul to win the trust and confidence of party workers through his actions
Modi a good man, AAP lacks experience: Sri Sri
Sri Sri Ravishankar has praised Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as a "good man" but said he has no opinion about Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as he was not acquainted with him.
Sonia gets cold feet, Congressmen worried
Congress President Sonia Gandhi's decision not to name Rahul Gandhi as the party's prime ministerial candidate has demoralised the already-bruised cadre. Expect a stormy AICC session in New Delhi on Friday, says Renu Mittal
Sonia Gandhi evades the BJP trap
By choosing not to declare her son Rahul Gandhi as the party's prime ministerial candidate, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has averted a Modi versus Rahul battle and effectively insulated her family against a backlash over a possible defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
January 16, 2014
Nawazuddin Siddiqui: 'We are the most accommodating people in the world'
'We go on to make a name for ourselves in the world, rise above the ordinary in the face of deprivation. The innate tendency to persevere is, I think, a great quality Indians possess,' says one of India's finest actors .
Michelle Obama, 50 and fabulous
A look at the different hues of Michelle Obama
Tharoor's Twitter account hacked, romantic tweets sent to Pak journo
The Twitter handle of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, one of the most popular Indian politicians on the networking site, was hacked on Tuesday and some wacky tweets were sent from it to a Pakistani journalist.
January 15, 2014
Congress divided over Rahul's nomination as PM
As the debate in the Congress over its vice-president Rahul Gandhi's declaration as the party's prime ministerial candidate continues to rage on, there is growing pressure from the rank and file that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should step down and the Nehru-Gandhi scion be sworn in his place. reports
'If Modi couldn't prevent riots in Guj, how can he generate unity?'
Kicking off her party's election campaign at a mega rally in Lucknow, Mayawati on Wednesday said the Bahujan Samaj Party would not forge an alliance with Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party or any other party and would go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls.
Signs of a thaw: US returns priceless sculptures to India
The three artifacts date back to the 11th and 12th century AD and were stolen from temples in India which were recovered by US investigators. The repatriation ceremony at the New York consulate witnessed a guarded silence over the Devyani Khobragade controversy. Rediff.com's report from New York.
Surprise from the sky: How paratroopers shape the battle
'Amongst all the air-land operations in pursuit of a common military objective, it is the airborne operation which demands the greatest synergy,' says Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam on the occasion of Army Day.
L'affaire indecent: Sex scandals of the French elite
The French have their own way of keeping the world entertained.
'AAP needs a constructive agenda to govern and seed real improvement'Despite missteps, Arvind Kejriwal and his party could move beyond an attacking strategy to improve our polity, says Shyam Ponappa
January 14, 2014
PIX: Salman looks at Modi and says 'let the best man become PM'
Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Tuesday mat Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, where the actor was spotted flying kites with the politician during Uttarayan festivites.
'We have to travel around this country to know its heart'
'I hail from Sikkim and have strived to make a mark on the national scene. Generally whatever happens in the North-East remains confined to those parts. People from there are hard working and courteous. Only those who have visited and experienced their hospitality will relate to it,' says football star .
Nabbing Dawood: No action, only posturing in the last 20 years!
Security experts tell that the fact that Dawood may spill out his links with prominent politicians, businessmen and film personalities if he is nabbed can be the reason behind the lackluster attitude.
VOTE! Do you REALLY think Rahul is ready for PM's post?
The impact of Rahul Gandhi's latest move cannot be assessed until we get to know how the people of India will react to his interview. To get a sense of that we request our dear readers to cast their votes in a poll.
'Samajwadi leaders's insensitivity indicates their criminal approach'
'The camps were never given any help from the UP government. They did not provide rations, milk, medical assistance or sanitary arrangements...Once the compensation payments started being made, the UP government's entire effort was to get the people out of the camps... The situation was compounded by the fact that those accused of murder, arson and rape were not arrested. How could the victims be expected to return to their village homes? The extreme cold made the situation even more appalling. The deaths occurring regularly were a result of this.' Former MP Subhasini Ali discusses the horrific Muzaffarnagar riots and its tragic aftermth with Rediff.com's Savera R Someshwar.
Meet Rahul's new generals for 2014 Lok Sabha battle
With Rahul Gandhi at the helm, the grand old party is all set for a makeover with preference to new and young faces. Here's a look at Congress's A-Team
Akhilesh is turning into a 'despot'. Here's proof
Perhaps unwittingly, young Samajwadi chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has forgotten that it was the media campaign against Mayawati's undemocratic and despotic ways that helped him to romp home with a clear majority. Sharat Pradhan reports
AAP will ruin Congress, but Modi is still PM choice: Poll
Arvind Kejriwal's AAP likely to impact congress the most and other parties to a lesser extent in the Lok Sabha polls, predicts the Snap poll conducted by ABP News-Nielsen in Delhi and Mumbai.
January 13, 2014
PHOTOS: Tales from the forgotten villages of Ladakh
Burdened with a troubled history and a present steeped in conflict, five small villages on the India-Pakistan border in Ladakh, have many untold stories, finds
ODD WORLD: Superman takes first bath of 2014!
We bring you a collection of some of the odd moments from around the world in recent weeks.
What was Edward Snowden doing in India?
Intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden worked at the United States Embassy in India and took a course in "ethical hacking" in Delhi, about three years before he leaked the NSA's surveillance programmes that embarrassed the Obama administration.
PIX: Makarsankranti dip at Gangasagar in evening hours after 65 yrs
After a gap of 65 years, the pious Makarsankranti dip at Gangasagar, the second largest after Kumbh Mela, will again take place during the evening hours on Tuesday, the Chief Priest of the Kapilmuni Temple said.
'No help from FBI on Dawood, Shinde is lying'
Former Union home secretary-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party leader RK Singh spills the beans on Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN.
Time is running out for the Great Congress Makeover!
Faced with a demoralised army, the Congress leadership has to find the right answers as the party heads into what is fast turning out to be an extremely tough electoral battle, says
Bangalore South: What works for Nilekani, and what doesn't
Nilekani faces an uphill task in his bid to counter the massive anti-Congress wave, but that doesn't mean it will be a cake walk for BJP's Anath Kumar. discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of Nilekani, and also lists BJP's woes.
Dhoom3 director: 'One man's telephone bill is another man's earnings for a year' 
'In the freedom struggle and immediately after that, we had a sense of belonging to the same world, to the same country, to India. We have lost that sense of oneness. We have been manipulated and divided and that saddens me today, says Dhoom 3 Director Vijay Krishna Acharya.
January 12, 2014
Pix: 'Shiv Sena' activists vandalise Kolhapur toll plaza, set it ablaze
Even as the agitation against toll collection on nine roads in Maharashtra's Kolhapur city took a violent turn on Sunday with suspected Shiv Sena activists vandalising four toll booths, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan appealed the agitators to remain calm.
AAP's Kumar Vishwas targets Rahul: Sleeping in Dalit homes won't change things
After dethroning the Congress in its Delhi bastion, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to throw the gauntlet at the grand old party's second-in-command Rahul Gandhi -- and that too in Amethi, the political home ground of the Gandhis for decades.
January 11, 2014
Chaos cuts short CM Kejriwal's first 'janata darbar'Chaos prevailed at the first 'janata darbar' organised by the Aam Aadmi Party government outside the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday, forcing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to leave the venue mid-way as thousands gathered to register their grievances.
Devyani Episode: 'It was the most stupid thing to do'
Recognising that the damage that the diplomat row has done to the India-US relationship, there is a realisation in the top American leadership that "it was the most stupid thing to do" on their part and that they would now have to "work overtime" to bring back the ties on track.
Akhilesh ko 'gussa' kyon aata hai?
Is Akhilesh Yadav's anger a reflection of his inept handling of a crisis or manifestation of frustration on account of his gross incapacity to steer the ship he was entrusted to in a dynastic succession? examines
January 10, 2014
Salman visited a hospital in UP, but no one cares: CM
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday hit back at critics and defended the Saifai Mahotsav -- a festival organised by the state government -- saying the budget for the festival was around Rs six to seven crore, not Rs 300 crore as alleged by a section of the media.
MNS' poll season clarification: We were NEVER against North Indians
Apparently eyeing a larger role in Maharashtra politics, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra
When Rahul Gandhi listened to the 'voice of people'
Rahul Gandhi on Friday promised early declaration of candidates for Lok Sabha polls under a "new process" reflecting the "voice of people" in Congress.
Dial 07798220033 to be an AAP member; it's free
Buoyed by its spectacular success in Delhi Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party today kicked off a nation-wide membership drive with an aim of including at least 1 crore members by January 26 to strengthen the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
PHOTOS: Polar vortex eases grip on frozen US
As it continued its northward retreat, the arctic blast still held sway over the upper Midwest, where it bore down with below-zero lows early Friday.
PHOTOS: A picture-perfect snowy winter in Kashmir
Kashmir valley is in the grip of a cold wave following fresh snowfall. reports
Cash crunch? Who cares? It's shopping time for defence ministry
Notwithstanding the financial constraints, the defence ministry has been on a drive to procure and upgrade military assets over the last five years for which it spent a whopping amount of Rs 3.25 lakh crore.
January 09, 2014
IMAGES: 'Phantom of Dantewada': Big catch for NIA, bigger blow to Naxals
The surrender of top Naxal leader Gudsa Usendi, mastermind of many lethal strikes including the attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh last year, is certainly a good news for the NIA, reports .
'There is no money to run the Railways'
Former Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi speaks to rediff.com's about why the Railways is today on the brink of collapse.
Nuclear security: India worse than Pakistan!
India has been ranked below its two nuclear-armed neighbours -- Pakistan and China -- in the list of countries with a weak nuclear material security in the world, according to a US-based think-tank.
Aamir wows Kolkata lit fest with mesmerising speech on Abul Kalam Azad
When West Bengal Governor introduced the Bollywood star as an "icon who needed no introduction" - he seemed to sum up Kolkata's frenzied response to Aamir Khan, reports .
Aam Aadmi Party: The Optimist vs The Sceptic
In these few weeks, it has kindled great hopes for clean governance in Delhi and beyond, tempered by strong misgivings about the party's economic and urban policies. What follows is an imaginary dialogue between the Optimist and the Sceptic.
Now showing: South India's dirty picture!
It is difficult to legally pursue such cases as pornographic videos shot in India are often smuggled out of the country, says
VIDEO: India's 2 floating fortresses togetherIt was a momentous moment for India when after a gap of over two decades its navy operated two aircraft carriers in its maritime zone with the arrival of its largest warship INS Vikramaditya in the Arabian Sea where it is now operating with INS Viraat. 'It is too late for Priyanka to pull the Congress out of the mess'
Rahul gets a helping hand for 2014: Priyanka steps in to boost her brother's prospects for the prime minister's post, writes
IN PHOTOS: After the big freeze, US heads for the big thaw
The United States wakes up to a warmer morning with the polar vortex on its way out.
Raj blasts Modi's 'Gujarati focus' in Mumbai; says 'MNS is AAP ka Baap'
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray, once considered close to Narendra Modi, on Thursday said that the Gujarat chief minister should have resigned the day he was nominated BJP's prime ministerial candidate, a suggestion immediately rejected by the saffron party.
'My vision for India is where every citizen is equal in the eyes of one law'
How many who celebrate India's Republic Day and Independence Day know that the Indian tri-colour was first unfurled in Moirang in Manipur by the Indian National Army in 1944?
January 08, 2014
Captain Gopinath: 'Youth need to understand the spirit of India'
'Corruption is the biggest problem confronting us. We need to bring about an urgent change in our way of life and also in the political scenario,' says , founder of India's first low-cost airline Air Deccan who recently joined the Aam Aadmi Party, in our ongoing series celebrating the India we love.
In PHOTOS: Here it's colder than Mars! 
The Arctic chill, which has now extended to the east, has left all of the United States and Canada frozen.
Why does Indian Railways have SO MANY burning trains?
Authorities of Indian Railways, which has witnessed a worrying spate of fire-related mishaps in the last few years, are yet to take any concrete steps to address the issue.
Photos: Mumbai-Dehradun Express catches fire, 9 killed
Nine people were charred to death when a fire broke out in three coaches of the Mumbai-Dehradun Express train near Dahanu road in neighbouring Thane district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
PHOTOS: Surviving the coldest places on earth
As the savage Arctic blast threatens the coldest weather in the United States in two decades, Rediff.com looks at some of the coldest places in the world with record-setting low temperatures
'Modi has a secular image now'
'Otherwise, the minorities would not have acknowledged his leadership quality. I am happy the BJP is working towards achieving a secular image,' Vellappally Natesan, the OBC leader in Kerala who has created a controversy by supporting Narendra Modi, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier.
January 07, 2014
Has the era of strong chief ministers come to an end?
Has the country lost its secret weapon for competing with growing countries like China and Brazil? reports
17 Corps: The Army just got itself a white elephant
The new mountain strike corps, created to deter Chinese adventurism and launch offensives, will financially damage India's military. reports
Jaitley's 3 arguments to exonerate Modi of Guj riots charges
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha tries to tear apart the 'mischievous' allegations over the 2002 Gujarat riots against Gujarat chief minister, and now BJP's PM candidate, Narendra Modi.
INS Vikramaditya finally reaches home base in Karwar
After a gap of over two decades, India is operating two aircraft carriers in its maritime zone with the arrival of its largest warship INS Vikramaditya in the Arabian Sea where it is now operating with INS Viraat
Have you seen GSLV-D5's spectacular lift-off? 
ISRO has put out stunning photos of the launch of GSLV-D5. The vehicle smoothly lifted off to space from Sriharikota on Sunday afternoon and put India into the elite 'cryogenic club'.
Soha Ali Khan: 'India is like one big happy family'
'2014 is an important year as everyone is obsessed about who is going to be the next prime minister but I think we need to see beyond that. The problems are going to be the same, irrespective of whichever party forms the government,' says actress in our special series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
POLAR FREEZE: Here's a glimpse from the ice age 
The brutal Arctic blast threatens the coldest weather in the United States in two decades. Is the worst yet to come?
Now that's cool! China's fantabulous SNOW festival
We present images from the 30th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China which opened on Sunday and lasts for weeks.
Jayalalithaa as PM: Mathematically, it's possible
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's aspirations to be prime minister seem entirely logical with more multi-cornered contests, uncertainty in Andhra Pradesh and the winner-takes-all history of elections in Tamil Nadu. Praveen Chakravarty explains.
January 06, 2014
US braces for dangerous Arctic blast
A rare "polar vortex" on Monday descended into much of the United States, pummelling parts of the country with a dangerous cold that could break decades-old records with wind chill warnings stretching from Montana to Alabama.
'The idea of India is special and achievable'
'Our priority should be inculcating a work culture and positive nationalism among people, especially the young,' says novelist , in our continuing series where well-known Indians speak about the India they love.
In Photos: Americans 'chill' as freak winter sets in
Most of the United States is shivering under the worst winter the country has experienced in 20 years.
Worst fog in 8 years affects 600 flights at Delhi airport
The worst fog of the last eight years has affected the schedule of over 600 domestic and international flights at Delhi airport, causing inconvenience to thousands of travellers.
Corrupt netas LOOT India of Rs 73,00,00,00,00,00,000!
Politicians have used hawala transactions to park money received via bribes and other immoral ways for scores of years
What a 20-yr-old Indian boy thinks about his one-way ticket to Mars
Amulya Nidhi Rastogi, a 20-year-old student of engineering in Gurgaon, is one of 1,058 applicants shortlisted from over 200,000 across the world to be part of an ambitious one-way trip to Mars.
January 05, 2014
How ISRO tamed 'naughty boy' GSLV-D5
India on Sunday successfully launched its heavy-duty rocket with indigenous cryogenic engine that placed a communication satellite into the orbit, with Indian Space Research Organisation scientists finally taming the 'naughty boy' GSLV and propelling the country into an elite club of countries.
PICS: ISRO successfully launches indigenous cryogenic engine
In a New Year gift to the nation, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday successfully launched a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle with an indigenous cryogenic engine from the spaceport of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, entering a select club of nations.
January 04, 2014
Death for rapists is only compensation I want: Kolkata braveheart's father
Kolkata is on the boil after the gang rape and subsequent murder of a teenager in Madhyamgram area in the northern fringe of the city. Rediff.com's met the girl's father Ramshankar Jha.
PHOTOS: Arvind Kejriwal not to take up duplex flats
Facing criticism, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced his decision not to take up the two five-bedroom duplex flats he has been allotted. He told the media that he has asked the government to look for smaller accommodation for him.
PHOTOS: Massive snowstorm brings northeastern US to a halt
A massive snowstorm slammed the US northeast, dumping as much as 20 inches of snow in some areas, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights and bringing life to a standstill across major cities from Boston to New York on Friday.
January 03, 2014
Arshad Warsi: 'We are a country with a solid backbone'
'India is like a world in itself. The sad part is that that the bad things overshadow the good,' says actor in our special series where well-known Indians speak about the India they adore.
Modi as PM disastrous, Rahul has credentials: Dr Singh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday declared that he would bow out of office after the Lok Sabha elections and strongly backed Rahul Gandhi for the job while warning that Narendra Modi would be "disastrous" for the country.
'If we don't watch out, the great things about the Internet could be risked'
'I should be able both to post a joke or comment about a political leader and not worry it will land me in jail, as well as check my personal online bank account, and not worry it will be stolen,' Peter Warren Singer, author of a new book on the subject, tells Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa.
IN PHOTOS: The crazy, freezing New Year dips!
We present images of brave souls across the world taking part in New Year's Day dips in freezing waters!
Dr Singh set to face some uncomfortable questions today
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will seek to dispel the perception of policy paralysis on Friday when he addresses a press conference during which he is expected to spell out the steps taken to boost the economy besides addressing issues of corruption and price rise.
The SHIELD Manmohan Singh is counting on
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh readies to face some tough questions in his interaction with mediapersons on Friday, he will largely base his arguments on a performance report of the United Progressive Alliance government.
January 02, 2014
PHOTOS: -12.2 degrees! Kashmir's freezing
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country remained closed for the third consecutive day on Thursday as the Valley and Ladakh region reeled under intense cold conditions with the night temperature in Pahalgam plunging to the season's lowest of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius.
Flashback 2013A look at the events and people that made headlines in the year gone by Weed on sale: 2014 begins with a bang in Colorado
The world's first state-licensed marijuana retailers legally permitted to sell pot for recreational use to the general public opened for business in Colorado on Wednesday with long lines of customers, marking a new chapter in America's drug culture.
Arvind Kejriwal's AAP wins trust voteThe minority Aam Aadmi Party government on Thursday crossed the first hurdle in the Delhi assembly when its confidence motion sailed through easily with the backing of the members of Congress, Janata Dal-United and an independent.
January 01, 2014
The REAL story: Why the PM decided to break his silence
Dr Singh was extremely reluctant to address the press conference and he agreed only after considerable persuasion from senior Congress leaders, says Anita Katyal
Will Arvind Kejriwal's govt survive the trust vote?
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will face a crucial vote of confidence on Thursday in the Delhi assembly.
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