Sharat Pradhan And Sheela Bhatt

Stories by Sharat Pradhan And Sheela Bhatt

At Kerala university, President Pranab rallies students

At Kerala university, President Pranab rallies students

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2014

"If students are the future of the nation, it is the teacher who shapes them. I was a teacher before I came into public life. I know how gratifying it is to be a part of this noble profession," he said.

Was Clinton's UP village visit just a fund raising exercise?

Was Clinton's UP village visit just a fund raising exercise?

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2014

Villagers and social workers who witnessed the event felt that it was aimed at raising funds for the Clinton Foundation

Lucknow village works overtime to welcome Clinton

Lucknow village works overtime to welcome Clinton

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2014

Officials of the Akhilesh Yadav government are working overtime to spruce up an otherwise sleepy Jhabrauli village on the outskirts of Lucknow which is awaiting a visit by former United States president Bill Clinton on Thursday.

CM Akhilesh's hush-hush trip: Was he in Brazil?

CM Akhilesh's hush-hush trip: Was he in Brazil?

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2014

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav returned to Lucknow on Monday night after a 6-day trip to an unknown destination with speculation rife that the CM was watching the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

All eyes on PM Modi's first international summit

All eyes on PM Modi's first international summit

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2014

Narendra Modi's engagement at the upcoming BRICS Summit in Brazil will be keenly watched as the prime minister will interact with some of the world's most powerful leaders. The summit to be held in Fortaleza will also see the launch of the significant BRICS bank whose idea was mooted by India. Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt gives a lowdown on Modi's first major international rendezvous.

BJP President Amit Shah's 1st priority: UP overhaul

BJP President Amit Shah's 1st priority: UP overhaul

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2014

A major revamp of Uttar Pradesh unit of BJP is likely in the coming month. And nobody in the party hierarchy has an idea about what's going on in party president Amit Shah's mind.

Arun Jaitley always stands for the long term

Arun Jaitley always stands for the long term

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2014

'Power sits lightly on Arun Jaitley's shoulders. Just because earth-shaking election results have brought his party in power, he has not gone recklessly ambitious. "Too soon, too fast" is not what he likes,' says Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Budget 2014.

Exclusive Jaitley's wife: 'Don't expect miracles from the Budget'

Exclusive Jaitley's wife: 'Don't expect miracles from the Budget'

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2014

"In view of our economic condition, I expect bitter-sweet Budget. I think the Budget will be good for the country. It can be bitter but may be sweet, too," says Dolly Jaitley.

Amit Shah wins his next gamble

Amit Shah wins his next gamble

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2014

Amit Shah is the man of the moment. The architect of the BJP's stunning transformation in the Hindi heartland during the Lok Sabha elections is all set to emerge as the CEO of Modi's political dreams and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's cultural passion, says Sheela Bhatt.

'It will be business as usual when Modi visits US'

'It will be business as usual when Modi visits US'

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2014

The second and final part of former cabinet secretary Naresh Chandra's interview to Sheela Bhatt.

'What civil service expects will be a test for Modi'

'What civil service expects will be a test for Modi'

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2014

Naresh Chandra, former cabinet secretary, diplomat and well-known strategic thinker, tries to explain what the Modi government is up to and assesses what will work and what may not work and why. He spoke to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com, also, on diplomatic issues.

Moradabad crisis: SP, BJP playing vote bank politics?

Moradabad crisis: SP, BJP playing vote bank politics?

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2014

The ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh seem to be making the most of the prevailing crisis in Moradabad to serve their political ends.

'For achche din, give us at least a year'

'For achche din, give us at least a year'

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2014

'Understand one thing, if you want immediately and magically that things should become cheap, it's not possible. It's a long-term policy.' 'Inflation is linked to the storage system and with the production system. Whenever production rises, prices go lower. So if we store when the prices are low and release them when prices rise, prices can be maintained.' 'The problem is that in our country fruits and vegetables worth Rs 110,000 crore go to waste as they rot. And grains worth Rs 85,000 crore rot. So the storage system is another big reason for inflation.' Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in an exclusive interaction with Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com

CAG exposes UP govt's false claims on Kumbh Mela success

CAG exposes UP govt's false claims on Kumbh Mela success

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2014

The Uttar Pradesh government's oft-repeated claims about the success of the 2013 Kumbh Mela have fallen flat, with the Comptroller and Auditor General pointing out various failures and pitfalls in the mega event.

BJP, SP raise eyebrows over UP governor's outreach

BJP, SP raise eyebrows over UP governor's outreach

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2014

Newly-appointed UP Governor Aziz Qureshi's decision to throw open the gates of Lucknow Raj Bhavan to the common man has clearly irked ruling Samajwadi Party and staunch rival BJP. Sharat Pradhan reports

'Strict decisions have to be made for the good of the poor'

'Strict decisions have to be made for the good of the poor'

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2014

'You cannot judge a government within a month. Give us five years' time.' 'At times, strict economic decisions have to be made for the good of the poor in the long run.' Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the Modi government's stars, speaks exclusively to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about why the government is forced to roll out 'bitter medicine.'

'We're not forcing Hindi on anyone. We have nothing against English'

'We're not forcing Hindi on anyone. We have nothing against English'

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2014

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas with independent charge Dharmendra Pradhan on the controversy over the government's use of Hindi in the social media and how the government is going ahead to execute its plans to honour the 60-month mandate it has been given.

Students left in lurch as UGC, Delhi university spar over FYUP

Students left in lurch as UGC, Delhi university spar over FYUP

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2014

The fight over FYUP is between a highly controversial decision taken during the United Progressive Alliance rule and how the National Democratic Alliance government perceives it and how it is determined to resolve it in its own way, reports Sheela Bhatt.

Now a 7-year-old gang raped in Muzaffarnagar

Now a 7-year-old gang raped in Muzaffarnagar

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2014

The Uttar Pradesh police are busy trying to cover up the gang rape of a helpless seven-year-old girl in a village of Muzaffarnagar district.

UP Medical entrance exam cancelled after paper leak

UP Medical entrance exam cancelled after paper leak

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2014

The entrance examination to the MBBS course in medical colleges of Uttar Pradesh was canceled on Sunday following leakage of the papers in Ghaziabad. The papers were allegedly leaked out from two nationalized banks where the papers were kept in the safe deposit vault (strong room).