author

Aakar Patel

Aakar Patel is a writer and columnist. You can e-mail the author at aakar.patel@gmail.com

All stories by AAKAR PATEL

BJP's Complete Distrust Of Federalism

BJP's Complete Distrust Of Federalism

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

What is to be done to resist the twin thrusts of the BJP's ideology, majoritarian and a strong centripetal instinct against federalism? asks Aakar Patel.

Desis Rally For Secular India

Desis Rally For Secular India

Rediff.com25 Mar 2024

The Constitution's Preamble says that we Indians have resolved to secure for Indians 'fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual'. Fraternity can come only when we stand up for each other. The desis of the Boston South Asian Coalition actually attempt to do that, points out Aakar Patel.

Is Modi's Authoritarianism Good For India?

Is Modi's Authoritarianism Good For India?

Rediff.com22 Mar 2024

We need not spend much time going over what this government has done and is doing to the Opposition, by misusing the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. There is a daily update on that, notes Aakar Patel.

The Birth Of BJP, Child Of Largest NGO

The Birth Of BJP, Child Of Largest NGO

Rediff.com13 Mar 2024

Immediately following its ban being lifted on July 11, 1949, the RSS began debating entering politics in the pages of its house organ, The Organiser. Thus was born the Jana Sangh/BJP, points out Aakar Patel.Thus Was Born Jana Sangh/BJP, asserts Aakar Patel.

Electoral Bonds Exposes Weakness In India's Institutions

Electoral Bonds Exposes Weakness In India's Institutions

Rediff.com22 Feb 2024

When a strong executive decides it wants something, even something that is dangerous and unconstitutional, there is little resistance from within to stop it, notes Aakar Patel.

Caste Is Missing In Prohibition Debates

Caste Is Missing In Prohibition Debates

Rediff.com5 Feb 2024

The point made by sociologist M N Srinivas, that it represented a Sanskritic act that was linked to caste, is never raised in Indian debates and the disapproval of drink is almost universal, notes Aakar Patel.

Advani: Ram Temple's Accidental Architect

Advani: Ram Temple's Accidental Architect

Rediff.com19 Jan 2024

As the temple is inaugurated, unfortunately for Advani but unsurprisingly for the rest of us, the architect of the party's rise will not lead the ceremony and claim credit for his achievement, notes Aakar Patel.

Modiji, Why Fix Laws That Ain't Broken?

Modiji, Why Fix Laws That Ain't Broken?

Rediff.com5 Jan 2024

The judiciary, the police, the lawyers and the public will have to know the new laws. It will also endanger settled jurisprudence on the old laws and open up all sorts of minor and major problems that currently do not exist. Whose then was asking for the change? Not the judges or police or lawyers or citizens, points out Aakar Patel.

Modi's Flawed Foreign Policy

Modi's Flawed Foreign Policy

Rediff.com21 Dec 2023

We should reassess what India's role in the world is and whether we are doing the right thing for ourselves, notes Aakar Patel.

Modiji Census Kab Hoga?

Modiji Census Kab Hoga?

Rediff.com1 Dec 2023

Given the reality of the disparity and the enormous shift over the last 50 years, this can be done without an open and frank conversation with the people, something that has not begun and, knowing the style of our leader, is not expected to begin, asserts Aakar Patel.

Demonetisation: Why Did RBI Protect Modi?

Demonetisation: Why Did RBI Protect Modi?

Rediff.com17 Nov 2023

Events proved that on every count the RBI had accurately predicted both the damage and the lack of benefit. What the RBI was hiding was the fact that Modi had ignored its concerns -- all of which turned out to be true -- and gone ahead anyway, asserts Aakar Patel.

Bandh Karo Yeh Electoral Bonds!

Bandh Karo Yeh Electoral Bonds!

Rediff.com14 Nov 2023

Despite the objections raised by Reserve Bank of India and Election Commission, India's politics has been funded anonymously and it is time to end this, asserts Aakar Patel.

Why Supreme Court Drags Feet On Important Matters

Why Supreme Court Drags Feet On Important Matters

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

For the longest time, the court did not even hear important matters that the government did not want it to. Of late, it has begun to form benches. Meanwhile a lot of the damage has been done and continues to be done, asserts Aakar Patel.

Is Ajit Doval Failing India On Security?

Is Ajit Doval Failing India On Security?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2023

It is when one looks away from the immediate song and dance and at the granular detail of what has been going on since 2014 that one realises what the quality and competence of thinking and execution is in this project we call New India, asserts Aakar Patel.

The Normalcy Of Extrajudicial Killings In India

The Normalcy Of Extrajudicial Killings In India

Rediff.com29 Sep 2023

An unofficial and brutal justice system exists parallel to the official one, and it executes many times more of the accused than the official one executes convicts, points out Aakar Patel.

Will INDIA's Boycott Change 'Media'?

Will INDIA's Boycott Change 'Media'?

Rediff.com20 Sep 2023

One hopes, though one is not optimistic, that this action to some extent corrects the lunacy which has infected our national media and has damaged our nation, notes Aakar Patel.

Special Session: Even Cabinet Is In The Dark

Special Session: Even Cabinet Is In The Dark

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

This form of government, where secrets and major decisions are kept from the Cabinet itself, appears to be continuing, which is why the speculation around this special session, asserts Aakar Patel.

How Space Travel Can Unite The World

How Space Travel Can Unite The World

Rediff.com1 Sep 2023

All progress in space should excite us and encourage us to be optimists about a better future for our planet and all of us, asserts Aakar Patel.

The Bizarre Case Of Umar Khalid

The Bizarre Case Of Umar Khalid

Rediff.com17 Aug 2023

Arrested in September 2019 by the Delhi police for making 'provocative statements' when Donald J Trump was on his visit to India, Dr Umar Khalid has now spent three years in jail without being convicted of an offence, points out Aakar Patel.

Modi Set To Push NPR Again?

Modi Set To Push NPR Again?

Rediff.com3 Aug 2023

'The linking of Aadhaar to births and deaths will revive the debate around citizenship.'

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