As 2011 arrives, AP hurtles to political crisis
Andhra Pradesh is entering the year 2011 thoroughly exhausted and shaken by the political instability, uncertainty and onslaught of one calamity after another during the year bygone. And the outlook for the next year does not look good either as the political parties are bracing up for a new round of battle. Sadly, as usual, the people are caught in the middle helplessly. Rahul's 'terror' stand: An unnecessary controversy
An unnecessary political controversy has been created over a diplomatic cable from the United States embassy in New Delhi to the US State Department in Washington DC summarising a discussion on terrorism in India which the US Ambassador Timothy Roemer reportedly had with Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of the Congress, at a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July last year. Wikileaks cable on Rahul may mar Congress gala
The cable in which Rahul Gandhi tells the US ambassador Timothy Roemer that radical Hindu groups pose a bigger threat than the LeT could haunt the young leader, says Sheela Bhatt. Wen trip: At least Chinese are willing to talk now
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit gave India an opportunity to firmly put its concerns across the table. Though the major issues were not fully addressed, New Delhi will be glad that the Chinese are now, at least, willing to talk about them, observes Sheela Bhatt Raja Raids: End of DMK-Cong alliance?
The DMK-Congress potboiler has so many layers to it that it makes Inception look like a linear nursery rhyme. 'Tiger cub' Aditya Thackeray speaks out
Aspiring poet and photographer, the Shiv Sena scion justifies opposing Rohinton Mistry's book and describes his simple political worldview Holbrooke: Ruthless in search for peace in S Asia
Richard Holbrooke, who passed away on Monday, was probably inching toward his complete lifetime achievement -- as the architect of peace in Afghanistan and in South Asia, says M K Bhadrakumar. Special: The worrying rot in Indian armed forces
A barrage of damning revelations has raised troubling questions about India's best-respected institution?But is there even a semblance of an effort to confront or acknowledge, let alone fix the problem 'Raja did not take the whole money'
'He kept a small part, the DMK took some and the Congress got some," alleges Dr Subramaniam Swamy. 'Raja always put DMK's interests above his own'
In DMK circles, Raja is seen as the top-most mobiliser of funds for elections. 'The leadership sees him as having done more for the party from Delhi than even Murasoli Maran.' What was Ujjwal Nikam doing at the UN?
'Unfortunately, terrorists in one country are regarded as heroes in another,' Ujjwal Nikam told a global seminar on terrorism organised by the United Nations Security Council in New York. 'Paid news would finish off journalism unless...'
P Sainath said since 2008, some 3000 journalists had lost their jobs in India but the word 'recession' was banned in the media. "When I say media, I mean the dominant media always. The dominant media always lies as they invest in the stock exchange and keep the Sensex up". 'New Delhi is holding onto Manipur forcibly'
Rajkumar Meghen, chairman of the banned Manipuri militant group United National Liberation Front, has been arrested from Bihar's East Champaran district. Excerpts from an interview given by him in 2000 to rediff.com WikiLeaks: US special ops inside Pakistan
US embassy cables released by whistleblower website WikiLeaks reveal that teams of US special forces have been secretly working with Pakistan military in the tribal areas, the Guardian said. How to tell if your phone is being tapped
Ratan Tata plans to move the Supreme Court against publication of conversations he had with Niira Radia, the corporate lobbyist. Vicky Nanjappa reveals how you can know if your phone is being tapped. The changing faces of terror in Pakistan
While the list of terrorists India wants has not changed much over the past two years, there has been a change in the terror hierarchy in Pakistan as key terrorists don new roles. Lashkar-e-Tayiba is ready to hit again
Hundreds of university students are reportedly undergoing training at Lashkar's new training campus near Muzaffarabad. NIA's unanswered questions on David Headley
'We will continue to probe the Fahim Ansari angle since there is one stark similarity between him and Headley. Both men were in touch with the man called Sajid Mir.' How Nitish turned the tide in his favour
Kumar managed to turn popular opinion in his favour by doing just two things: ensuring he took over the work of ministers -- like Bijendra Yadav -- whose charge had befallen some disaster and posting trusted bureaucrats in the ministry. Intelligence ops infiltrate Maoist leadership?
'The Maoists realise it is impossible to keep themselves away from the gaze of the intelligence agencies. Any sincere intelligence agency can pick up their trail and can succeed.' ''Nitish Kumar's responsibility is more now'
'Corruption has to be removed from the police force... government hospitals should improve to take care of the poor...' Biharis express their expectations from the chief minister. How Yeddyurappa saved his chair
When everyone thought it was curtains for Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yeddyurappa, he managed to pull off the escape act once again. Ever since he led the Bharatiya Janata Party to form its first government in South India, Yeddyurappa has faced losing his chair atleast four times. Bihar needs to change, faster and equitably
Where is the nearest Dalit village? So long as this question is asked in India, there is no India shining, India emerging, or as United States President Barack Obama said in New Delhi, a week ago -- India emerged, notes Smita Prakash. Fallen Indians remembered in South Africa
Mahatma Gandhi was remembered by South Africans as they marked the 150th year since the first indentured Indian workers arrived by boat in Durban. Dr Singh faces tough questions over 2G scam
Amidst the flurry of allegations against former telecom minister A Raja and the strong indictment of his handling of 2G spectrum allocation, the controversy is taking a dramatic new turn with hitherto unpublished documents indicating that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh may have some clarifications to make. 2G scam: Why Dr Singh's credibility is at stake
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is heading for the most crucial time of his political career. On Tuesday, no less than the Supreme Court dragged Prime Minister's Office in the massive telecom scam and that gives the hint of forming of the political storm which has the potential to damage PM Dr Singh. Congress devoid of ideas in Bihar
'Mere communal-secular binary of political rhetoric will hardly help the Congress to attract enough votes to get power.' Tribute: Remembering L C Jain
'The fault is not in our freedom but how we are milking the magnificent opportunity it has afforded. Should we not ponder and correct the course?' CBI officers met Raja's lawyer in SG's office
Two CBI officers -- a Special Director and a Deputy Inspector General of police -- went to Gopal Subramaniam's office, but a CBI source says the two officers did not carry any papers with them. They refused to reveal anything to Anitha Shenoy, Telecom Minister A Raja's lawyer, or to Subramaniam, the solicitor general. India sets up Natgrid to speed up terror probes
Natgrid, to launch next May, will post information about the citizen's bank accounts, her/his fingerprints, property s/he owns etc. When Ashok Chavan was quizzed about paid news
'During the conversation there were occasions when he appeared distinctly uncomfortable.' 'Chavan is far better than any Maha politician'
Prithviraj Chavan 'will resist the obvious temptations of cutting deals that comes our way, daily.' 'Obama's visit has made India ambitious'
China's increasing presence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was not discussed, but both nations did discuss Pakistan, China and other issues related to maritime disputes and the security situation in the Indian Ocean. US rejects Headley's extradition
David Headley dominated the discussions between the CIA and their Indian counterparts on Monday. Rediff scooped the Obama-UN story on Oct 15!
On October 15, Rediff.com's Washington Editor AZIZ HANIFFA broke this story on how US officials wanted President Obama to support India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, telling him it could make his India visit truly historic. On November 8, President Obama told Parliament that the US supported India's membership of the UN Security Council. Chavan's exit: Sonia will not tolerate corruption
Chavan had to resign because the party will have to make serious efforts to correct the public perception about the party's soft attitude to corruption, a senior Congress leader told Rediff.com MPs thrilled with Obama speech
Members of Parliament from diverse parts of India -- from the Naxalite-affected regions to south India -- react to President Obama's speech. Obama's address to Parliament: The transcript
The transcript of the speech President Barack Obama delivered in Parliament on Monday evening Did Obama broach Kashmir solution with PM?
In a clutch of ice-cold words Dr Singh conveyed a great deal outright rejecting any third party mediation and disabusing any Pakistani notions to the effect that India was coming under US pressure over the Kashmir issue. Why Indians are angry with Obama's stand on Pak
'India has always maintained that most of the money the US sends to Pakistan is used to bolster Pakistan's defences along the Indian border. This got conclusive proof when then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf admitted that Islamabad has indeed been using aid money from the US on its eastern border.' 'Obama attaches a lot of value to India'
'People have not realised that the US and India have never shared a worldview.' 'A reset in India-US ties is under way'
'The overall India-US relationship is entering a mature phase where the two countries can have different perceptions or specific interests with regard to regional or global issues and can still talk about an enduring economic partnership to mutual benefit.' Is a big ticket announcement on the way?
M K Bhadrakmar, the former diplomat and strategic thinker, reviews the first day of President Obama's visit to India. 'What is the meaning of meeting Obama?'
'The action which ought to be taken by him has not been taken and problems will not be solved with such meetings.' Obama 'will take home the dynamism of India'
India's 8 percent-plus growth has opened up opportunities where India is, for the first time, in a position to offer unprecedented opportunities to US businessmen in the nuclear power, space and manufacturing sectors. As Obama arrives, US bids for heavy arms business
Rahul Bedi, the New Delhi-based correspondent of Jane's Defence Weekly, tells Sheela Bhatt why the rapid American shift of the Indian military hardware is a dangerous development. 'Crying before Obama is not the solution'
'We need to fight our own battles and stop riding piggyback on the US,' C D Sahay, former chief, Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency, tells Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa. The issues India needs to take up with Obama
'Both India and the US must be alive to the possibility that China's assertiveness could turn into aggressiveness,' feels Satish Chandra, the former deputy national security advisor. Election won, Nikki Haley's challenge begins now
Though the people of South Carolina have stood behind her, the establishment is against Nikki Haley, including the powerful media, points out George Joseph Drones, satellites, warships to protect Obama
Indian and American satellites will be deployed for the duration of the visit. India's RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) will have a big role to play. Humayun lies in wait for Obama
Barack Obama's staff could not have chosen a better venue than Humayun's Tomb for his only cultural outing in the capital. 'Obama's speech to Parliament will be crucial'
Parliament is being dressed up ahead of Barack Obama's address to the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the Central Hall on November 8. Obama visit: Terrorists may strike, grab hostages
The Intelligence Bureau has picked up at least 18 alerts ahead of President Obama's visit. IB sources say six of these alerts are specific in nature. Tech co-op with US can revolutionise governance'
Sam Pitroda, chairman of India's knowledge commission and advisor to the Indian prime minister on public information infrastructure and innovations, is designing a program to democratise information in governance. The open government initiative between India and United States aims to help poor people access information for their better and faster development. Revealed: What Obama will do in India
Obama arrives in India on the 6th, spends the 6th and part of the 7th in Mumbai, part of the 7th and the 8th in New Delhi. Mumbai's yellow-black cabs still most wanted
,338 Mumbai taxis in 1997 had permits to cater to a population of 8 million. In 2010, only 40,298 cabs have permits and Mumbai's population has shot up to 12.5 million. Bihar polls: How will the Muslims vote?
The community constitutes about 16.5 percent of the total electorate. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aware of the figure, has been vocal in his opposition to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi campaigning in the state... For all its backward mien, Bihar has a very high political consciousness and a reason for the paradox is politics is the sole arbiter of fate in this state. And Muslims are no exception. Exclusive! Curbs on foreign travel by secretaries
According to the cabinet secretary's letter, secretaries should travel abroad only for such international conferences/meetings where their presence is required for the purpose of elucidating the government's policies or stand. Even here, such participation should be commensurate with the level of participation from other countries, Chandrasekhar has written. In any case, secretaries should not be absent from headquarters for more than a week How Rs 2,000 brought Bihar's biggest change
After 10 years of inaction where no new schools were opened and no teachers recruited, one of the best indicators of a changing Bihar is a group of girls cycling to a government-run school. 'Time ripe for Obama to back India's UNSC bid'
"I believe it would a great thing if the president were to do this during his visit," Karl Inderfurth, professor of international relations at George Washington University, told Rediff India Abroad Exclusive! Obama may back India's UNSC bid
US officials want President Barack Obama to support India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, telling him it could make his India visit truly historic, reveals Aziz Haniffa. Obama trip:India to offer deals, US strategic help
In return for Washington removing strategic hurdles (withdrawing entities like the Defence Research and Development Organisation from the US Entities List; easing the curbs on US high-tech exports to India), India could open up some of its lucrative markets to American companies. China wants to be part of Kashmir dispute
'The China-Pakistan strategic calculus is particular dominant in this narrative. It is a marriage literally made in the Karakorams.' The Kashmiri Pandit who saved Geelani's life
Dr Sameer Kaul, Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's personal physician, speaks about Kashmir's hardline separatist. 'The Congress is no longer defensive on Ayodhya'
A senior Congressman from Uttar Pradesh explained that there was a clear attempt by the BJP to underplay the Hindutva sentiment so that they could appeal to the Indian youth, who doesn't want riots and seek to move on. What happens if you refuse a UID card?
'The decision to deny certain rights to a citizen who refuses a UID is completely at the state government's discretion.' Exclusive: Prez secretary denies disrespect to PM
President's secretary speaks to Rediff.com's Onkar Singh about what really happened at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. Is India the American buffer against China?
Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC on how the American Enterprise Institute, a leading neo-conservative DC think-tank, wants the US to boost its military relationship with India. US Senator backs India's fear on Pak aid 'misuse'
US Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, told Rediff.com that he appreciated India's concerns over the massive American military largesse for Pakistan, considering the reports that such aid has often been diverted for a potential military confrontation with India. 'Muslims see hope in the Supreme Court'
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board's legal committee will meet on Saturday next, October 9, and discuss the verdict in the Ayodhya title case suit, which was pronounced on September 30 by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court. Exclusive: Taliban rejects Karzai's offer
Taliban leader Mullah Omar's spokesman rejects Afghan President Hamid Karzai's attempts for talks with the Taliban in an exchange with Rediff.com contributor Tahir Ali. India honours its heroes in Israel
In September 1918 the British 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade liberated Haifa from 400 years of Ottoman rule. The bravery of three Indian cavalry regiments is remembered during this campaign. She donated an island to her Guru
Arthur J Pais meets Scottish businesswoman Sunita Poddar who gifted an island to yoga guru Baba Ramdev. 'There'll be four little Indias -- in the metros -- the rest will be anarchy'
'Are we in 10, 20 years going to have passports for our villagers to come to the city while we live in our guarded fort-like structures? Then we'll have only four little Indias in the metros -- the rest will be anarchy,' says Anusha Rizvi, director of Peepli [Live]! which has just been nominated as India's entry for the Oscars. Indian scientist finds virus link to obesity
'Indians have more body fat, less muscle mass...Obesity is more prevalent among vegetarians....' advises Dr Nikhil Dhurandhar. Next to train wreck, she sang 'My heart'll go on'
Shreya Sen, a survivor of the horrific Gyneshwari train mishap, has not let that traumatic incident rob her of her passion for life or her charming smile. US thumbs up for China is 'dangerously naive'
Experts in Washington, DC warn about the potential hazards of a State Department official's recent assertion on a greater Chinese role in South Asia. Prof Joseph: Dismissal more painful than attack
Professor T J Joseph, whose hand was chopped off on July 4, allegedly by activists of an Islamic organisation, says his dismissal from Newman College, Thodupuzha, Kerala, was more painful than the attack. Analysis: Why the CWG has gone horribly wrong
In the current sordid saga, it is not the Indian people who have failed. It is India's political leaders who have failed the people, unforgivably, says Sheela Bhatt. Death threats, but no burqa for Rayana
Inspired by her mother, Rayana R Khazi refuses to give into the forces of fundamentalism. One Ayodhya verdict, 28 issues answered
There is much more to the September 24 Ayodhya verdict than just the settlement of 'who owns the disputed land' issue. 'Muslims, Hindus seem to be tired about Ayodhya'
The urgency to understand and decode the possible impact of the Ayodhya verdict is so high that the Bharatiya Janata Party and many Muslim organisations are not even participating in public debates, reports Sheela Bhatt. They want to play it safe by not inciting the public before the verdict and they want to ensure that all options are kept open after the highly anticipated judgment. Do all-party meets serve any purpose?
Can Wednesday's all party meeting on Kashmir resolve the three-month crisis in the valley? Krishnakumar Padmanabhan finds out. No violence, but Ram temple will be built: RSS
Sheela Bhatt meets RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at a media interaction in New Delhi. She says that while he was rigid on his stand on the Ayodhya issue, he impressed with his simplicity and clarity of thought. Why Ayodhya verdict makes people nervous
Sheela Bhatt explains why the judgment in the title suit in the Ayodhya case -- despite a delay of over half a century -- still comes at the wrong time for the Centre and several state governments. 'Rahul Gandhi's heart is in the right place'
Sam Pitroda says Rahul Gandhi's support for the tribals is correct and while he backs development he says it must be done by preserving the rights and culture of the tribals. Keeping and breaking the fast with a cannon blast
As the deafening sound of a canon echoes across nearly forty villages in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, thousands of faithful Muslims break their day-long fast and participate in Iftaar.The canon, perched atop xxxxx, has been faithfully marking the time to start and end the fast during the holy month of Ramadan for hundreds of years. When locals hear the first boom in the wee hours of morning, they know it is time for Sehri. 'Is Election Commission a vendor for the EVMs?'
The arrest of Hari K Prasad, who recently proved that Electronic Voting Machines can be hacked into and stolen, has shocked many. What the prime minister told India's top cops
After a relative lull in 2009, the challenges to our internal security seem to have re-emerged in more virulent forms. While we have made good progress in terms of recruitment and setting up of better institutional arrangements for intelligence, investigation, coastal security and counter-terrorism, the problems we face remain daunting, says the prime minister Ten pointers to a new India
From the humble cycle to reality television, Archana Masih points out the signs of a new Indian mindset. Post-mortem indicates Azad shot from close range
'Even dead bodies tell a lot of stories. In Azad's case, the entry wounds are all narrow in diameter, meaning he was fired at from point blank range. Had he been involved in the gun-battle and the police had fired from the distance that they claim, the wounds would have been bigger in diameter.' Man gets lover out of brothel but not law's clutch
First our knight had to fight the girl's pimps and manager to rescue her. When he did, the cops sent the girl to an NGO saying she was a minor and could not marry of her own will. Then the girl's relatives surfaced from somewhere claiming she cannot marry him because he is a Hindu and she a Muslim Meet Srinagar's young stone-throwers
There's something different about the protests in the Kashmir valley this time round. Children and women are the ones hurling stones at the security forces. Sahim Salim traveled to the bylanes of Maisuma in Srinagar to meet the school-going protestors. The school that posed a threat to the CWG
On July 7, the Delhi Development Authority 'brutally' demolished a structure that acted as a school for children from a juggi jhonpri cluster nearby, leaving 180 kids without a place to study. Insight: The terror track of HuJI
The United States of America and the United Nations declaring the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami as a terrorist organisation recently has come as a welcome relief for India, especially where this dreaded outfit has been spreading its tentacles like cancer. Vicky Nanjappa takes a look at the inception of HuJI and also the major attacks that it has been involved in prior to this ban. Azad's killing: Some unanswered questions
At the Trinamool Congress rally in Lalgarh on Monday Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned Maoist leader Azad's death in a police encounter, embarrassing her government which has resisted calls for an investigation into the incident. Some questions What terror suspect Viqaruddin told the police
The most important lead the police have got from his interrogation is that he was planning a 26/11 type terror attack in Hyderabad to avenge the Mecca Masjid blast after which many Muslim youth were arrested and tortured. Kerala prof attack: The doctors who saved his hand
Professor T J Joseph's hand was cut off by assailants on July 4, 2010 in Muvattupuzha while he was returning home from Sunday mass. He was immediately taken to a local hospital, provided first aid and then sent to the Specialists' Hospital in Ernakulam where a team of six doctors re-attached his hand in a surgical procedure that lasted 15 hours. Kerala professor attack: Principal speaks out
Newman College Principal Dr T M Joseph describes the events leading to the tragic attack on July 4, in which a professor's hand was chopped off. Don't bomb the Naxals!
In spite of being plagued by a variety of insurgencies over six decades, India has resolutely stuck to a counterinsurgency paradigm of proportionate force. We should stick with it, and not call in the heavy artillery or warplanes, says former IAF fighter pilot M P Anil Kumar. 7 steps that can make a difference in Kashmir
For a long-term solution to the Kashmir problem, there is no substitute to opening a mass debate with representatives of all regions of the state and not just the valley, says Colonel Anil Athale (retd). ISI changes tack on Kashmir, gets results
The new strategy was evolved after the Pakistan-based groups found it difficult to carry on as the sympathy factor among locals was missing. The IB says by provoking the security personnel into killing civilians, they hope that the mindset of the locals change completely Pix: Cameron wants special ties with India
British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, paying homage on Thursday in New Delhi. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave Cameron a warm welcome at the Indian Presidential Place. He also met India''s Foreign Minister S M Krishna with his delegation to hold discussions. Let these men not remain numbers
Young men who are injured or martyred in the line of duty have been reduced to statistics in news reports. Archana Masih reports on the injured security personnel recovering from a deadly Naxalite ambush in Chhattisgarh and looks at the lives behind those numbers. 10 things where Paul Octopus can make a difference
From match-making for young Indians, choosing the Indian cricket team to rescuing nations from economic ruin, many commentators feel Paul could be very useful. 3,000 terrorists for India battle: Pak Taliban
'India is our jageer,' Taliban spokesperson Azam Tariq said, 'and we will attack to take possession of it. We are training lots of fighters and suicide bombers who will be used for this purpose.' What Amit Shah's fall really means
Amit Shah's fall has dented his boss Narendra Modi's eligibility to some day lead non-Congress centrist parties at the Centre. Here lies the real win for the Congress, as this will play as an advantage for its future leadership, says Sheela Bhatt. 'This case is a turning point for Modi'
'I find it shocking that no action has been taken by the state government against him. I find it shocking that he continues to be the home minister of Gujarat.' Gujarat Congress spokesman Arjun Modhwadia on the Amit Shah case. Explained: What CBI summons to Amit Shah means
Anand Yagnik, senior lawyer in the Gujarat high court explains to Sheela Bhatt the legal and political implications of state Home Minister Amit Shah's appearance before the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday Bellary: Reddys get richer, locals get poorer
In Bellary, the dusty core of the mining industry in Karnataka, the rich get richer and the poor continue to live in squalor, say locals. It's Yeddy versus Reddy in Karnataka
Just when one thought the two camps had buried their differences, the illegal mining scam has returned to haunt the two sides, which has also prompted both to complain to the BJP high command yet again PM responsive to probe into Azad's death: Agnivesh
Social activist Swami Agnivesh who is trying to negotiate between the Maoists and Centre met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Tuesday and requested an impartial judicial probe into the murder of Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad who was killed on July 2. 'There's no difference between police and Naxals'
'Both of them want to cow down people who are daring them, demanding justice for the tribals and are not following their agendas in Chhattisgarh,' says Lingaram Kodopi, who the state police has branded a Maoist. Fighting Naxals: Cops, CRPF don't trust each other
The Centre and the states decided this week to set up a unified command to fight the Maoists. But as Rediff.com's Krishnakumar Padmanbhan discovered recently in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the hostility and rivalry between the central and state police forces will not make such a initiative easy to execute. Why everyone has the Reddys in their sights
The current situation in Karnataka is such that if the controversial Reddy brothers -- state ministers and Bellary's mining tycoons -- are ousted, everyone has something to gain, believes Vicky Nanjappa. Indo-Pak talks after 26/11: The story so far
Rediff.com takes a look at how the ice between the two estranged neighbours melted after months of diplomatic and political antagonism. 'The mining scandal is the biggest in India'
The mining scam in Karnataka could easily be worth Rs 2,500 crore says Justice Santosh Hegde, the state's Lokayukta. An exclusive first person account to Rediff.com. Hindu terror: The Malwa Connection
Most names figuring in the investigations of the 2007 bomb blasts in Ajmer, at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, and in Malegaon hail from Madhya Pradesh's Malwa region. Rediff.com's Krishnakumar Padmanabhan traces the common thread that could have brought these men together. The woman who never gave up hope
Sometimes hope is all you have; yet, in the end, hope is all you'll ever need! Hope -- or God's grace -- is what lifted Arlene D'Souza from the depths of despair to a life spiritually fulfilled and emotionally self-actualised. 'Ayurveda needs more evidence-based approach'
The permeating take-away by a high-powered American delegation of top-notch American educators and researchers from six major medical schools, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown, which recently returned from a study-tour of ayurveda in India, was the paucity of an evidence-based approach which is imperative if these ancient herbal remedies were to be incorporated in the US medical curricula. Remembering Digvijay Singh, who read my hand
New York-based Aseem Chhabra recollects his New Delhi days with Digvijay Singh, who passed away last week 'Mrs Gandhi was not inclined to declare Emergency'
R K Dhawan was considered Mrs Indira Gandhi's Man Friday, her shadow, and was witness to the highs and lows in her life. Here he gives his ringside view of the events leading up to the Emergency. Never forget the Emergency!
'Even today, Emergency excesses are being benchmarked and have become reference points for gross violation of human rights by fascist-minded "leaders". Corruption and criminality are the outcome and India has been drifting towards "State kleptocracy", feels M G Devasahayam. How $37.68 a day could have saved Bhopal
Keswani witnessed the entire saga of deception of the victims of Bhopal by the Indian and American governments and multinational corporations. He narrates how Union Carbide Corporation's fatal cost-cutting measures sealed Bhopal's fate. Why Indira Gandhi withdrew the Emergency
'In the world she was being described as a dictator and she wanted to prove she wasn't,' says Mohan Dharia, the former minister who she jailed during the Emergency. 'The bristles of the CM's beard stood on end'
'When All India Radio asked to stand by for an important broadcast, the minister of food and civil supplies in a knee-jerk reflex fell from his chair,' B S Raghavan remembers the Emergency. The man who defied Indira Gandhi
'Dialogue is the soul of democracy which should not be denied, but it was by Mrs Gandhi,' says Mohan Dharia who resigned as a Union minister in protest against her policies. Amethi, not UP, has been Rahul's focus so far
He upholds his father's legacy in reaching out to his electorate. Much like his father, he shuns the company of local party leaders, who are told to keep off while he is around. 'Let's hope Rahul gets married this year'
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, Vijaypat Singhania and Shaina NC wish Rahul Gandhi on his birthday. Setting a new agenda for Bhopal
A nation angered may spur the the Bhopal gas victims in their seemingly endless battle to get justce, writes Sheela Bhatt. From Bhopal to Boston these kids are taking on Dow
A children's movement in Bhopal takes on the might of Dow Chemicals. How the economic blockade has numbed Manipur
On June 11, the state had 470 kilolitres of petrol against the daily requirement of 75 kilolitres and just 7,400 LPG cylinders against 5,508 needed daily. Liquor controversy swirls around Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's political opponents are trying to tarnish his reputation by highlighting the circumstances that led to the sacking of his Excise Minister Jamshed Ashraf in February. Is Sonia's NAC-2 a Super Cabinet?
Will the NAC be a platform for Congress President Sonia Gandhi to propagate her legacy or will it be a serious driver for policy making in government? Sheela Bhatt analyses both sides of the debate. Mourning the death of a tigress
Jhurjhura was found dead at the Tala range of the reserve in Umaria district. The post-mortem on the tigress was done only after we (nature lovers and conservationists) sent letters to the President, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the MP chief minister China's dams on the Brahmaputra
One can understand what is going to happen to India and Bangladesh when one looks at the fate of the Mekong river. Message from PM's press meet: I am here to stay
Although Dr Manmohan Singh readily answered questions during his press conference, he gave the feeling that he is a secretive politician who doesn't reveal the story easily. More than 80 minutes of questioning failed to provoke him. He played a defensive game and didn't convey through anything new, writes Sheela Bhatt. When Moily had a miraculous escape at Mangalore
Did you know that Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily also had a miraculous escape when his plane also veered off the runway in Mangalore and rolled down a cliff? Mangalore's new runway was legally challenged
India biggest airline tragedy in Mangalore is largely being attributed to the newly-opened second runway at the Mangalore international airport. The construction of the second runway was always embroiled in controversy and there have been several legal battles fought over this. 'UPA-2 tolerates corrupt ministers, indiscipline'
Bhartiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley blasts the UPA government for a disastrous performance in the year its been in power. What it will take to change the Indian Police
As far as the states are concerned, the acceptance of the seven directives of the Supreme Court to reform policing has been uneven at best or, at worst, ignored completely. Parliament disruptions cost taxpayer Rs 180,000,000
A graphical look at the performance of our MPs in both Houses of Parliament during the Budget session. What if... Gadkari did what Lalu wanted?
Here's a created image of Nitin Gadkari obliging Lalu Yadav. Now will everyone concerned move on? Deconstructing the Mughal rule
Yoginder Sikand reviews Salman Khurshid's Sons of Babur -- A play in search of India. What Chidambaram told MPs from Naxal areas
The MP of Kanker, Chhattisgarh, on why local support is needed to counter the Naxals. 10 things you should read about 26/11 verdict
Monday's verdict of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case was extraordinary in many ways. Reading Sheela Bhatt lists out 10 most important things to understand about the judgment.Kasab put a gun to his head, stole his car
Sharan Arasa was probably the only person to come away alive after encountering Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail that fateful November night. Why the judge concluded that Ajmal Kasab is guilty
Sheela Bhatt was present in Mumbai special court that pronounced Ajmal Kasab guilty in the 26/11 terror attacks case. She sums up a dramatic day of courtroom action. People behind scene tried to delay trial: Nikam
'We know the reason behind it. We also know who is behind the curtain (in prompting Kasab to withdraw his confessional statement), says Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. Well-rehearsed Thimphu talks spark possibilities
At the SAARC summit in Thimphu, India and Pakistan have, at last, found a mutually suitable language for public use and may have kickstarted a process that may eventually lead to a broader dialogue. Sheela Bhatt analyses the talks from Thimphu. Indo-Pak spat renders SAARC summit tepid
There is a lot that the SAARC can do if only its two biggest countries, India and Pakistan, leave their disputes back home. Sheela Bhatt gauges the mood at the opening day of the regional summit in Thimphu, Bhutan. The school dropout with a PhD
V Kathiresan had to drop out of school to support his family. Today he has a PhD and is a college lecturer. Continuing our series on Extraordinary Indians. 'The Taliban wanted me to cut my hair'
Robin Singh, who was abducted by the Taliban in Peshawar February 12, 2010 escaped from their custody on April 11. He has now taken refuge at the Panje Sahib gurdwara, about 160 km from Peshawar, along with his family and elder brother Rajan. Readers' take: The endless battle with power cuts
Rediff.com had asked its readers to tell us about the problems how they are coping with power cuts at a time when severe heat wave prevails across the country. Here are few of the responses 'I have enemies on both sides'
Caught between the Naxals and forsaken by her villagers, a young girl tries to come to grips with a new life after she left the Naxals. N-liabilities bill: A case of poor drafting
Getting the requisite numbers to pass the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill 2010 in the Lok Sabha may be the least of the United Progressive Alliance's problems. Lawyers and legal experts, including those who support the legislation, say there are many instances of poor drafting and anomalies that have the potential to generate more controversy if the Bill is passed in its current form. AMU: Oh, what a fall!
The circumstances leading up to the tragic death of Professor S R Siras has exposed the rot that has set into the prestigious university. The action plan that the Maoists would accept
The recommendations of the people's tribunal on the problems of the tribals and the Maoist insurgency offers a comprehensive plan to tackle the situation and looks into the root causes of the issues at stake. The faultlines on Chidambaram's anti-Naxal plan
That there is something awry in the entire strategy is now established. Now, even moderate critics of the government are questioning the methods of the home minister and his ministry. Why Andhra Naxals lead the Red movement
Naxalism has taken the nation by storm. The dossier put out by the Ministry of Home Affairs has several names of most wanted Naxalites in it, and interestingly 99 per cent of the leaders who figure in that list are from the Andhra Pradesh region, which gives an indication as how strong or dedicated the movement is in this part of southern India, investigates Vicky Nanjappa. India wants these Naxal terrorists
Intelligence agencies have information about these dreaded outlaws, but are yet to put a face to most of them. For SIT chief Raghavan, law comes above religion
He's a devout Hindu but places fairness above religion. February - March 2010