Karan Thapar

All stories by Karan Thapar

'There is a general shift in Chinese behaviour with the world'

'There is a general shift in Chinese behaviour with the world'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2020

'You can see that in Chinese behaviour in the Yellow Sea, you can see it in their behaviour towards Taiwan, you can see it in their behaviour towards Hong Kong, you can see it on our border as well.'

Modi's popularity, Congress's biggest challenge

Modi's popularity, Congress's biggest challenge

Rediff.com25 Dec 2018

'In Chhattisgarh, MP and Rajasthan, he is far more popular than the defeated chief ministers,' notes Karan Thapar.

Is the Rafale deal BJP's Bofors moment?

Is the Rafale deal BJP's Bofors moment?

Rediff.com1 Oct 2018

'So far there is no clear money trail nor an indisputable smoking gun.' 'But that doesn't mean there aren't disturbing questions and a strange resistance by the government to reveal the price, which only adds suspicion to concern,' observes Karan Thapar.

Does Modi care about Kashmir?

Does Modi care about Kashmir?

Rediff.com15 Jun 2018

'Police records suggest one Kashmiri boy joined terrorist ranks every third day last year and that trend has continued,' says Karan Thapar.

'We have enough thermonuclear bombs'

'We have enough thermonuclear bombs'

Rediff.com11 May 2018

Were the May 1988 nuclear tests a success? 20 years after Pokharan, a look back at those decisive atomic tests through the eyes of someone who knew.

What next will Modi and his ministers come up with?

What next will Modi and his ministers come up with?

Rediff.com8 May 2018

Are our ministers having fun at our expense? Any other explanation would suggest 'we are ruled by men whose judgement you cannot trust and whose grasp of reality is questionable,' says Karan Thapar.

Sushma's Folly

Sushma's Folly

Rediff.com3 Apr 2018

'Not just the angry families, but also the public will remember Swaraj's foreign ministership for this colossal lapse of judgment,' notes Karan Thapar.

Nephew reveals: Netaji died in 1945 aircrash

Nephew reveals: Netaji died in 1945 aircrash

Rediff.com24 Feb 2018

Laid to Rest: The controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose's death, a book published by Bose's great nephew Ashis Ray, reveals how we've always known the truth, notes Karan Thapar.

Why do BJP members make strange remarks?

Why do BJP members make strange remarks?

Rediff.com29 Jan 2018

'Surely a higher standard is required when ministers speak in public to an audience that will assume they are factually correct, says Karan Thapar.

Is the PM 'modi-fying' into Trump?

Is the PM 'modi-fying' into Trump?

Rediff.com30 Dec 2017

Not only do Modi and Trump's personalities overshadow the high offices they hold, the way they attack people and speak are very similar, observes Karan Thapar.

Why a victory for BJP in Gujarat could still be a loss

Why a victory for BJP in Gujarat could still be a loss

Rediff.com13 Dec 2017

If the BJP falls sizeably short of the 115 mark -- the seats it won in 2012 -- it will be hard to deny the party hasn't suffered a telling reverse.

Rahul Gandhi is no different from Smriti Irani

Rahul Gandhi is no different from Smriti Irani

Rediff.com29 Nov 2017

'We needed Smriti Irani to champion democratic values, but she's chosen to be a coward.' 'In fact, she has shrunk India's democracy.' 'Why blame her or the BJP? I can't hear the voices of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.' 'They lack the guts to stand up in support of Padmavati, Sexy Durga and Nude.' 'When it comes to defending freedom they are no different,' says Karan Thapar.

Is this how we treat our soldiers?

Is this how we treat our soldiers?

Rediff.com14 Nov 2017

Whilst politicians promise to uphold the honour and interests of our soldiers, the very opposite is being done, says Karan Thapar.

The sound of laughter is making Modi wary

The sound of laughter is making Modi wary

Rediff.com31 Oct 2017

People are steadily pulling the prime minister off the pedestal where they once placed him, which prompts Karan Thapar to ask if there's a change in the political temperature.

How India twice 'missed' resolving border disputes

How India twice 'missed' resolving border disputes

Rediff.com13 Sep 2017

'At critical moments an inability to take tough decisions resulted in potentially far-reaching solutions slipping out of our grasp.' 'If similar opportunities come Narendra Modi's way will he act differently?' asks Karan Thapar.

Rohingyas' deportation damages idea of India

Rohingyas' deportation damages idea of India

Rediff.com5 Sep 2017

The deported Rohingyas would face persecution in Myanmar but also, possibly, elimination.

Hamid Ansari on 10 years as Rajya Sabha chairman

Hamid Ansari on 10 years as Rajya Sabha chairman

Rediff.com14 Aug 2017

'The chair is a referee in a match, whether this side is playing better or that side is playing worse is no concern of the chair.'

Hamid Ansari: 'Govt will manage standoff with China'

Hamid Ansari: 'Govt will manage standoff with China'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2017

'I think we have had these periods of standoffs with China.' 'And there is enough knowledge, enough experience, enough wisdom still available to be able to retrieve situations.'

Hamid Ansari: There's unease. A sense of insecurity is creeping in

Hamid Ansari: There's unease. A sense of insecurity is creeping in

Rediff.com12 Aug 2017

In conversation with Karan Thapar, former Vice President Hamid Ansari takes on one of the most sensitive issues of our times.

'Indianness of any citizen being questioned is disturbing'

'Indianness of any citizen being questioned is disturbing'

Rediff.com11 Aug 2017

'We are a plural society that for centuries, not for 70 years, has lived in a certain ambience of acceptance.' 'It is under threat,' outgoing Vice President Hamid Ansari tells Karan Thapar.

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