Heightened alert needed on 26/11 anniversary
While security agencies have been able to prevent any major terror strikes since the Mumbai attacks last November, we should not lower our guard, writes security expert B Raman. One song cannot make or mar the future of a nation
'India's pluralist character, vibrant democracy, assertive intelligentsia and all attendant principles/institutions are the best assurance to allay the misgivings of the minorities.' 'Why can't Muslim women also lead the community'
Zakia Nizami Soman, one of the founder members of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, speaks of her organisation and and reflects on the daunting challenges facing Muslim women in India today. The stench of money in politics
When business interests begin deciding who will rule, democracy is in trouble, writes Mahesh Vijaypurkar Talks with Pak will only end in frustration
'The dialogue process is just too inadequate to meet the challenges from Pakistan,' says former R & AW chief A K Verma. Why India needs to crush the Maoist insurgency
It is a blatantly illegal and no holds barred war against the Indian State, against the idea and existence of the Indian democracy and must be dealt with an iron hand. Why the Thackeray cousins love the media
'If the Thackeray cousins love the media, the media too adores the two bespectacled Thackeray scions, who in their bid to espouse their Marathi manoos agenda, have become an easy bait for a medium that depends for its survival on high TRPs and ad revenues.' Dealing with Maoists: Pragmatism setting in
The home ministry's decision to agree to talk with the Maoists without pre-conditions may be the first steps to tackling the problem, writes P V Ramana. View: Terror by any other name...
There is as much difference between the LeT and Maoists as between the Al-Qaeda and Naxalites Will the glitter of a Nobel outshine common sense?
Every prime minister believes that peace with Pakistan is simply a matter of time -- after which an applauding world shall hang the Nobel Prize around his neck. Is it Dr Manmohan Singh's turn to add his name to the list, asks T V R Shenoy. How long will we turn a blind eye to the Maoists?
'We have to strive to bring these people into the democratic system,' says civil rights activist Sujato Bhadro. '99 pc Indians have no access to palliative care'
With the Human Rights Watch releasing a report that says hundreds of thousands of people all over India are unnecessarily experiencing pain due to restrictive drug regulations and lack of trained doctors, rediff.com's Krishnakumar P spoke to Dr M R Rajagopal of Pallium India, on the hurdles in the way of palliative care in India and ways to overcome them. The dangers of dynastic politics in Maharashtra
The trend of political heavyweights promoting their kin is a dangerous sign for Maharashtra politics, writes Mahesh Vijapurkar Why India should worry about turmoil in Pakistan
India needs to be aware of the potentially catastrophic implications of the collapse of governing authority in Pakistan and the possibility of its nuclear assets falloing in the wrong hands, writes Harsh V Pant. Will India ask Dalai Lama to postpone Tawang trip?
India reaction to China protests over the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is one of studied ambivalence, writes B Raman Can the BJP-Sena get their act together?
'Take a walk down the potholed streets of India's financial capital, remember how the monsoons flooded the city, get a whiff of the garbage piling up everywhere, and you will know just how badly the local government is run.' 'There's a Maldivian connection to Mumbai attacks'
'Several Maldivians have been arrested by Pakistani authorities after they crossed into Pakistan from India. The recruitment of Islamist radicals takes place in the Maldives and their channel of movement is all the way up to Pakistan.' 'I don't foresee dramatic splits in the Shiv Sena'
'The consolidation of the Congress and NCP alliance does not provide any space for such splits,' feels Dr Rajeshwari Deshpande, a scholar on Maharashtra politics. 'Time to stay a step ahead of terrorists'
Time-tested methods have no place in the game of intelligence -- the trick lies in ever inventing something new and something least expected, says Ajit Doval, former Intelligence Bureau Director. Exclusive: Maoist leader Kishenji speaks out
In a candid conversation with rediff.com's Indrani Roy Mitra from an undisclosed location late on Wednesday night, Kishanji talked about his party's ideology, the road of violence, problems of tribals in Lalgarh among other things. Straws in the wind from China
An article in the official organ of the Chinese Communist Party reveals China's thinking on its security environment in its neighbourhood. It may indicate a shift in thinking towards strategic cooperation and operation of soft power by China, writes D S Rajan. Exit polls: Exercises in speculation
But one thing is clear -- the moment the outcomes are announced on October 22, all these speculations and wild guesses passed off as educated surmises and conclusions would be forgotten till the next round. 'Goa govt falsely implicating us on terror charge'
Sanatan Sanstha -- the right-wing organisation under probe -- strongly denies being involved in the Margao blast. Instead it accuses the state government of falsely implicating the organisation. Sino-India ties: Dr Singh has 2 clear choices
The undefined situation on the LAC contains the potential for an armed clash, something that would inflame current tensions Why India should rake up the Tibet issue
If China keeps harping on Arunachal Pradesh and J & K, India must also rake up the issue of Tibet, writes Vivek Gumaste.