Nikhil Lakshman, Rajesh Alva

Stories by Nikhil Lakshman, Rajesh Alva

Honda X-Blade 160: Sharper and bigger, but is it better?

Honda X-Blade 160: Sharper and bigger, but is it better?

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2018

Things to know before you consider the latest bike in the premium commuter segment.

NTORQ 125: India's most feature-loaded scooter is here

NTORQ 125: India's most feature-loaded scooter is here

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2018

Be it performance, styling, features, refinement and price, the NTORQ ticks all the boxes, says Rajesh Alva.

Ashes: 'A Battle of the Flaws'

Ashes: 'A Battle of the Flaws'

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2018

'What we are about to watch in Australia is a mid-table contest -- 3rd versus 5th in the ICC Test championship table.' 'Both teams seem full of flaws.'

She's got the looks!

She's got the looks!

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2018

The Street Triple RS is one of the best looking naked motorcycles in the segment, says bike enthusiast Rajesh Alva

'US wants Haqqanis, not Saeed'

'US wants Haqqanis, not Saeed'

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2018

'Perhaps the biggest indication was its striking decision in November to delink LeT from its aid certification process.' 'The administration decided that the US, in order to send military aid to Pakistan, would not need to certify that Pakistan is cracking down on LeT.' 'Perhaps the administration was trying to offer a carrot -- in effect, we're backing off on LeT, but in return we expect you (Pakistan) to go after the Haqqanis.' 'Either way, the optics were dreadful for the US given that Hafiz Saeed was released from house arrest a few days after the US move.' 'The US reacted angrily, but eventually it moved on, and refocused on its core concern: The Afghan-focused terror groups.'

'US may help India in war against terror'

'US may help India in war against terror'

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2018

'If the US-Pakistan relationship continues to suffer, Pakistan may feel it has less to lose and decide that it need not keep a leash on LeT in order to appease America.' 'A tougher US policy toward Pakistan could lead to an emboldened and strengthened LeT and JeM, resulting in more terrorist attacks in India.'

'India is the No 1 team in the world'

'India is the No 1 team in the world'

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2017

'They have the greatest number of cricketers, they have the greatest enthusiasm for the game, they have the greatest resources, they have the greatest stakes in their own success.'

'People may get sick of T20s'

'People may get sick of T20s'

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2017

Where does Gideon Haigh see the future of the T20 game?

Will you buy the Suzuki Intruder 150 for Rs 98k?

Will you buy the Suzuki Intruder 150 for Rs 98k?

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2017

The bike ticks all the right boxes when it comes to style, handling and riding dynamic.

'There is a uniqueness about Kohli'

'There is a uniqueness about Kohli'

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2017

What does Gideon Haigh, widely considered the finest cricket writer of our time, think of the man currently acclaimed as the finest cricketer on the planet?

First Look: The Hero XPulse

First Look: The Hero XPulse

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2017

Can it take Hero Impulse's legacy to the next level? Can it rival Royal Enfield's Himalayan?

The attack on Parliament and Osama's escape

The attack on Parliament and Osama's escape

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2017

'Jaish aided by LeT attacked Parliament knowing mobilisation of Indian military assets would be the consequence.' 'That mobilisation happened, necessitating a military response from Musharraf who moved troops guarding back doors out of Tora Bora, facilitating Osama's escape.'

'Pakistani army officers don't want to join the ISI'

'Pakistani army officers don't want to join the ISI'

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2017

'The military in Pakistan is capable and self critical, but intelligence is stuffed full of lifers who resist change, which is why career soldiers in Pakistan try with all their might not to be transferred into the ISI.'

'Trump will be tougher on Pakistan'

'Trump will be tougher on Pakistan'

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2017

'If there's one administration that would be likely to put the squeeze on Pakistan, it's the Trump administration.' 'This is an administration that views terrorists as a black and white issue (kill them all, no questions asked), and will have little patience for Pakistan's selective policy toward terrorism.'

'Indira played politics with the ease of a sleepwalker'

'Indira played politics with the ease of a sleepwalker'

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2017

'She was once asked what the secret to political leadership was and she said it was the ability to like all kinds of people.' 'I don't think Rahul fundamentally likes people -- that's probably why he can't deal with them and it shows.' 'Sonia is a more talented political mobiliser than her son, but I think the decline of the Congress set in in 1969...'

'Indira Gandhi was the James Bond of power politics'

'Indira Gandhi was the James Bond of power politics'

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2017

'She was the only prime minister who won a decisive military victory.' 'She won a real war; she didn't play video games on prime time TV over surgical strikes!' 'She understood power better than any other politician, saw it as her birthright and used it with inborn expertise.' 'Every politician today who tries to be a "supremo" through populism and absolute control over his or her party is referring to the Indira Gandhi playbook!'

'This is an excellent start'

'This is an excellent start'

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2017

'Progress demands regular senior-level attention from American leaders.' 'A leaders' summit is great, but we need sustained engagement to continue to forge new agreements and find new areas of cooperation.'

'I'd give the Modi-Trump summit 10/10'

'I'd give the Modi-Trump summit 10/10'

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2017

'We're going to see a defence relationship that really takes off -- now that India is a major defence partner of the US, the sky is the limit for arms sales.' 'The economic partnership will lag behind the security relationship, but the meeting and joint statement give cause to believe that it will progress more robustly than many of us would have expected.'

'The RSS is deeply uncomfortable about Gandhi'

'The RSS is deeply uncomfortable about Gandhi'

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2017

'Actually, the RSS is deeply ambivalent and uncomfortable with Gandhi as well as also Ambedkar, but it is not politically wise to oppose these two.' 'So Nehru is the main and only target.'

What India's 2nd most powerful man says about UP

What India's 2nd most powerful man says about UP

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2017

BJP President Amit Shah -- arguably the second most powerful politician in the nation -- granted a rare television interview to the Network 18 group of news channels. Rediff.com's Rajesh Alva checks out what the BJP boss said in this word cloud assessment of the interview.