PRASANNA D ZORE, SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF

Stories by PRASANNA D ZORE, SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF

Why UGC's New Equity Rules Finally Have Teeth

Why UGC's New Equity Rules Finally Have Teeth

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2026

'What has changed is that the new regulations are backed by a clear enforcement framework. They have real consequences and, for the first time, make compliance unavoidable.'

'Without Dada, We Are Nobody'

'Without Dada, We Are Nobody'

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2026

'Because of him, we learned how to work for people, how to take responsibility, and how to stand by our decisions.'

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: What Went Wrong?

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: What Went Wrong?

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2026

The Learjet 45XR aircraft, which was carrying Ajit Pawar and four others from Mumbai, crashed near Baramati airport at 8.48 am on Wednesday.

'NCP Workers Make Ajit Pawar THE Ajit Pawar'

'NCP Workers Make Ajit Pawar THE Ajit Pawar'

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2026

Ajit Pawar granted Rediff an interview in Baramati at 6 am. Why? 'To be a successful politician one needs to sleep less, and I never sleep for more than 4 hours' Ajit Pawar told Syed Firdaus Ashraf as Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff captured the encounter on his camera.

'Have Muslims Faced Problems In Maharashtra?'

'Have Muslims Faced Problems In Maharashtra?'

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2026

'We have given riot-free Maharashtra in our 18-month rule.'

Why MF Investors Can't Trade on Budget Day

Why MF Investors Can't Trade on Budget Day

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2026

Rediff explains why the system, not the Budget, is the problem.

'Dhurandhar Has Changed The Landscape Of Cinema'

'Dhurandhar Has Changed The Landscape Of Cinema'

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2026

'Established filmmakers want to go with the sequels of earlier hit films like Housefull 5 or Mastiii 4. They don't want to come up with fresh ideas. This is pure laziness.'

Tina Dabi Flag Hoisting Video Goes Viral, IAS Officer Explains What Went Wrong

Tina Dabi Flag Hoisting Video Goes Viral, IAS Officer Explains What Went Wrong

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2026

A video of IAS officer Tina Dabi during flag hoisting has gone viral. She explains how the mistake happened and clears the air.

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2026

'If you want to force the press into blacking out the Opposition's views or colour the news to your own liking, we will not do so.' 'We stand by freedom of expression. It is our Constitutional right. We stand by our Constitutional right.'

'Uddhav Has Emerged As Mumbai's Tiger'

'Uddhav Has Emerged As Mumbai's Tiger'

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2026

'Marathi-speaking people of Mumbai have now emerged as a consolidated vote bank standing firmly behind the Thackerays.'

'Make A Hindu Kashmir And Declare It Union Territory'

'Make A Hindu Kashmir And Declare It Union Territory'

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2026

'Kashmir needs to be divided and we need the land of Panun Kashmir in Kashmir.'

Is BJP Planning Op Kamal Against Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar?

Is BJP Planning Op Kamal Against Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar?

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2026

'The writing is on the wall for both Shinde and Ajit Pawar.'

'Keeping Modi-Shah Away From Mumbai Was Deliberate'

'Keeping Modi-Shah Away From Mumbai Was Deliberate'

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2026

'It would have polarised the Marathi-non Marathi divide further. 'Fadnavis had a very clear strategy: Let all Marathi people campaign for us (the BJP), and whatever results we get will be delivered by Marathi people only.'

'Devendra Fadnavis Is King of Kings'

'Devendra Fadnavis Is King of Kings'

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2026

'If the BJP had contested all 227 seats, I believe they would have managed to secure a majority on their own.'

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2026

'The Maoist leadership spread fear that surrender meant torture or death. Once that false narrative collapsed and our operations proved transparent and credible, the surrender momentum became irreversible.' 'From 42,000 square kilometres, Maoist activity is now confined to barely 500-600 square kilometres -- less than two per cent of Bastar. This is their last remaining base area.'

'Maoists Collapsed Like A House Of Cards'

'Maoists Collapsed Like A House Of Cards'

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2026

'For the remaining Maoist cadres, they shall soon confront one of two outcomes: Either surrender or face neutralisation.'

How Gadchiroli Broke The Maoist Backbone

How Gadchiroli Broke The Maoist Backbone

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2026

'The watershed moment was June 22, 2024, when the divisional in-charge of Gadchiroli, Giridhar Tumreti, who was their senior-most commander, along with his wife, came forward to surrender before the then deputy chief minister and home minister Devendra Fadnavis.'

Aditya Thackeray's Message for Mumbaikars

Aditya Thackeray's Message for Mumbaikars

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2026

Ahead of the Mumbai municipal election on January 15, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aditya Uddhav Thackeray launched a blistering attack on his political rivals in a hard-hitting interview with Rediff.

Shifting My House Erased My Voter Record!

Shifting My House Erased My Voter Record!

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2026

'I don't want to be called a new Indian voter when I am an old Indian voter.'

'Maoists Will Be Extinct In 2 Months'

'Maoists Will Be Extinct In 2 Months'

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2026

'From every point of view, they have faced an extremely difficult couple of years, and the setback they have suffered is irreversible.' 'This reality has begun to set in even amongst the top-level cadres. That is why, in recent times, we have witnessed a huge number of senior-level cadres emerging from the jungle and deciding to renounce violence and join the mainstream.'