Intensity of defeat exposes UPA government's vulnerability
Rahul Gandhi has received a setback because he has been rudely reminded that a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha is against his first political endeavour, reports Sheela Bhatt. Mood in the Lok Sabha over Lokpal: Hatao yeh bill yeha se
The differences between the Congress and the BJP are too obvious and it seems, as expected, this Parliament is a divided house on the issue of fighting corruption. Dr Iyengar's life was a saga of boundless pursuit of science
On Wednesday, the nation lost its top nuke scientist Dr PK Iyengar, who designed the first atomic bomb that was detonated at Pokhran in 1974, and was a staunch opponent of the Indo-US nuclear deal. Dr AN Prasad, former director of Bhabha Atomic Research Center who had the privilege of working with Iyengar, remembers the man who says was "uncompromising as far as national interests are concerned". CRPF to be armed with sniper rifles to target Maoists, tests soon
Military sources said the parameters drawn up in support of the sniper rifle requirement in the tender issued in August 2009 appear to have been by framed by ill-informed officers with seemingly little or no field experience, says Rahul Bedi PART III: Smashing PHOTOS of the YEAR
From the uprisings across the Arab world to the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, there was no lack of news in 2011. In this special series, rediff.com brings to you images that helped define the year. Lokpal Bill unlikely to pass in Parliament
The inclusion of the Lokayukta factor in the bill approved by the Cabinet is expected to become a sticky point in Parliament. Sheela Bhatt reports. Tamil Nadu wants to know from Jayalalithaa: Why this kolaveri?
Why has the friendship between Jayalalithaa and Sasikala, that lasted almost 25 years, soured all of a sudden, asks Shobha Warrier Here's to the folks of Goa, Daman and Diu!
'The 67 sorties mounted from Jamnagar broke the Portuguese's will to fight, the army columns advanced unresisted, and the Portuguese threw in the towel. The formal surrender took place about midday on December 19.' M P Anil Kumar on the liberation of Goa, Daman and Diu 50 years ago. The liberation of East Pakistan: A reporter's diary
It was 40 years ago on December 16 that the world saw the biggest surrender of an army after World War II. Journalist Prem Prakash recounts what happened on that momentous day. A soldier remembers a battle won against the odds
'Giving of orders is five per cent, seeing that the orders are carried out is the other ninety-five per cent,' recalls Major General K K Tewari, PVSM, AVSM, who commanded the Signals on the Eastern front in the 1971 War. Lokpal Bill: Will Rahul Gandhi take the final bow?
Contrary to Anna Hazare's view -- that Rahul Gandhi was behind the Standing Committee's decision to exclude the lower bureaucracy from the purview of Lokpal -- there are indications now that it may be Gandhi who may want their inclusion, says Neerja Chowdhury 2011 Special: Odd PHOTOS of the year - 1
11 Special: Odd PHOTOS of the year - 1 Wednesday's freeze on FDI in retail will take long to thaw
For the first time since the winter session of Parliament commenced over two weeks ago, there was cautious optimism in ruling circles that both Houses may transact business on Wednesday, following the government's climbdown on 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail. Germans persuade Taliban to play ball on Afghan peace process
The Taliban were ready to start formal talks with NATO after the Bonn conference. Taliban representatives were given an assurance that they would be permitted to establish a diplomatic office in a Muslim country other than Pakistan. Sonia versus Hazare: The battle lines are drawn
On the eve of the winter session of Parliament, rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt narrates how the Congress party views the issues of corruption, Team Anna and Lokpal bill. All you wanted to know about the AFSPA
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, or AFSPA, as it is commonly known, has of late been a subject of intense discussion and debate. AFSPA has been in force in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir, and the 'draconian' law has been the reason of wide protests. Is Rahul Gandhi ready for the big leap in politics?
Rahul Gandhi has signalled the willingness to make the transition from the Congress' political strategy consultant to its chief-decision maker. Aarthi Ramachandran analyses whether he has it in him to make the cut? Why Rahul Gandhi is an angry young man
Neerja Chowdhury reports from Phulpur where Rahul Gandhi kicked off Congress campaign for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Special: Manmohan's Masterstrokes
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not mince words when media persons hurled a volley of questions at him while returning from Maldives. Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore, who was part of the media delegation on board prime minister's special aircraft, reports. Tribute: Shrilal Shukla's work shocked India, left it naked
Shrilal Shukla, author of the iconic Raag Darbari and a winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, passed away last week. In a touching tribute, Sidharth Monga revisits Shukla's most famous work, in which he created a "world inhabited by 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' on crack, minus the momentary optimism" Right time to move decisively against corruption: PM
The transcript of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at the Governors' Conference at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday Nepal PM's Delhi visit simply a goodwill gesture?
As Nepal's Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai prepares to undertake his maiden visit to India, his party -- the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist -- asks him not to sign a treaty with New Delhi and avoid discussing controversial issues. So is this visit simply a goodwill call or will Bhattarai defy his party. Shubha Singh analyses Navy unveils plans, puts Andamans in forefront of its strategy
The government is seriously engaged in evolving a medium- to long-term strategy to use the natural advantage that the 527 islands in the Andamans present to India in projecting its influence further east in the extended neighbourhood, reports RS Chauhan Himalayan disasters force India to rethink China border strategy
The high-level China Study Group has been asked by the Prime Minister's Office to review and re-prioritise projects along the high Himalayas, reports RS Chauhan Coming soon: An 'agile, lethal, versatile' Indian Army
The Indian Army will move from a "command-based" deployment to a "theatre command" format where the "front" or the spearhead will be seamlessly integrated with resources in the "depth" or the rear, says RS Chauhan Is Pakistan helping the Saudis with a nuclear deterrent?
Worried by Iran's nuclear ambitions, Saudi Arabia is trying to strike a secret deal with Pakistan to buy ready-made nuclear weapons instead of going through the lengthy process of developing its own, says Amir Mir. TN land grab crackdown: A man who got his plot back
Six months after Kamaraj Thevar bought property, it was encroached upon by R Arivudainambi, a local DMK leader. Oppn wants election, won't happen: PM
"The Opposition is getting prematureless restless," Dr Singh said, "The Opposition would like to make the weak points of the government the focus of attention and hope to force an election. But that is not going to happen! The Opposition will have to wait for two-and-a-half years. We have a mandate from the people of India to rule for five years, and we will stay the course. And we will do things, when you look back, might well surprise the country." How men from Punjab were 'sold' in Iraq
Sahim Salim explains the modus operandi employed by dubious travel agents in Punjab to lure youths into slavery in Iraq 'They took away our passports and forced us to clear bomb-shells'
Sahim Salim talks to young men from Punjab who were forced to clear bombshells from a war-ravaged barren land in Iraq after being duped by travel agents in India. The men were rescued by the Indian Embassy, and are currently awaiting their return home. A fond good bye to Ashok Chaturvedi, an old friend
I grieve over the death of Shri Ashok Chaturvedi, who headed the Research & Analysis Wing ( R&AW), India's external intelligence agency, in his capacity as Secretary ( R ) during 2007-09, on the night of September 18,2011, in a Delhi hospital due to a multi-organ failure. He was 63 -- 12 years younger than me. A 13/7 bomb blast survivor returns home
On July 13, Varsha Karia was injured in the bomb blast at Dadar Kabutarkhana. Since that evening, the King Edward Memorial Hospital has been her home. One month and 25 days later, she was finally discharged. Rediff.com's Abhishek Mande spent the last few hours at the hospital with her. Jayalalitha cracks the whip on DMK land grabbers
A Ganesh Nadar reports on the Jayalalitha government's crackdown on land grabbing in Tamil Nadu. Many of the accused are DMK leaders, including former ministers and MLAs. A journey to West, via God!
Carrying colourful toy aero-planes as holy offering, scores of aspiring migrants to the West, flock daily to a gurdwara at the end of a winding, dusty village road in Punjab, confident that their wishes would soon be fulfilled Delhi blast: IB studying input on Sikh extremists
According to a senior source in the Intelligence Bureau, when a minor blast occurred outside the Delhi high court on May 25, an intelligence input was received that a Sikh militant group may try to do something in New Delhi to bring attention to Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar's mercy please before President Pratibha Patil. 'You can't put a gun to govt's head to pass a law'
Justice A P Shah, former chief justice of the Delhi high court, shares his thoughts on the current situation surrounding the Lokpal bill and Team Anna with rediff.com's Toral Varia. It's the leadership vacuum that Anna has filled
The tremendous response, especially from the youth of the country to a 74-year-old Gandhian, has put paid to many political dreams. It is the leadership vacuum that Anna Hazare has filled, write Col Anil Athale What some Muslims think of Anna Hazare's campaign
Sahim Salim spoke to Muslims in the national capital to get a sense of what they think about Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign. Team Anna distorting my remark over fast: Pranab
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee late on Wednesday night rebutted the charges by Team Anna that he had told them the Gandhian's health was not government's concern, saying the remarks were "distorted." Split in Team Anna over continuing fast
There seems to be a split within Team Anna over whether or not the Gandhian should continue his fast in the backdrop of his deteriorating health. Apprehending arrest, Hazare calls for 'Jail Bharo'
Apprehending arrest, Anna Hazare late on Wednesday night gave a "Chalo Delhi" call to people all over the country and filling up of jails by gheraoing Parliament, demanding passage of Jan Lokpal Bill. Karat's take on Anna: Govt must bow down to public
Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat says that the time has come for the 'corrupt' government led by Manmohan Singh to bow down to public pressure over the Lokpal impasse. PIX: How 'Brand Anna' prospers near Ramlila Ground
Toral Varia and Rajesh Karkera visit Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi and find that Anna Hazare is the new brand being marketed by street vendors. House committee can't study Lokpal Bill in 10 days
The Lok Pal Bill has been referred to the standing committee of Parliament on personnel, public grievances, law and hustice. In this FAQ, MR Madhavan explains the process of these committees. Have jihadis infiltrated Pak party of preachers?
The Tableeghi Jamaat is in the Pakistani media spotlight following Interior Minister Rehman Malik's statement on July 29, describing TJ's missionary centre in Lahore as the breeding ground of extremism and terrorism. Amir Mir reports from Pakistan. How terror funds are pumped in from Saudi
The interrogation of former president of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India Syed Salahuddin Salar has only gone on to confirm the fact that a major part of the terror financing for subversive activities in India come from Saudi Arabia. 'The stink at Gandhiji's birthplace angered me'
In our Independence Day Special on the India You Didn't Know, Kiran Bedi remembers the time she had to go to court to get Kirti Mandir, Gandhiji's birthplace in Porbandar, cleaned. Raid ended in worst tragedy for US Special Forces
The mission that left 30 American soldiers, including 22 Navy Seals, dead on Saturday morning in eastern Afghanistan was just one of the dozens of operations carried out by United States Special Operations Forces every week in Afghanistan. Manpower, equipment shortage hits NSG's plans hard
Despite his best efforts, the NSG has not been able to overcome bureaucratic and procedural hurdles in procuring and acquiring new weapons and equipment, says RS Chauhan in the second and concluding report on the National Security Guard Post 26/11, NSG secures 300 high-value targets
The National Security Guard, India's most potent commando force, has finetuned its operational readiness and official procedures following the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, says RS Chauhan Maharashtra's intelligence setup needs a revamp
Did an intelligence failure result in the Mumbai serial blasts of July 13, 2011? Toral varia finds out what experts think India needs CCTVs, but...
CCTVs to monitor the goings-on in crowded places could thwart future terror strikes, but Indian cities don't have enough of them. Vicky Nanjappa finds out why. Profile: Trivedi, a man of many parts
Sheela Bhatt traces the fascinating life journey of India's new Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. New MoS Rajiv Shukla has friends everywhere
What will stand Shukla in good stead as minister for parliamentary affairs will be his ability to communicate across party lines and get along with most political parties. N-power in India. How safe are our plants?
Anirudh Burman, analyst with New Delhi-based PRS Legislative Research, details concerns about India's nuclear power generation Mumbai's 'dirty dancing' victims start online stir
Mumbai youth are not going to forget Saturday's raid at a lounge bar at a Western suburb, which saw 30 persons being booked and fined for 'indecent behaviour' in a hurry. The incident has caused outrage in the city, with some of the victims of the police action even setting up a Facebook page. Thermal shelters, DRDO's new armour for jawans
The much-maligned DRDO has developed and implemented several new initiatives designed to make life easier for the Indian soldier stationed in high altitude areas, reports RS Chauhan January - June 2011 | April - December 2010 | February - March 2010