Sheela Bhatt

Stories by Sheela Bhatt

Mulayam plays it safe; sends feelers to Congress

Mulayam plays it safe; sends feelers to Congress

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2012

Notwithstanding the exit poll that has given Samjawadi Party a fantastic lead, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, a consummate politician, has sent a feeler to the Congress, say sources in Lucknow.

Congress: Rahul put up a spirited fight

Congress: Rahul put up a spirited fight

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2012

Irrespective of the results of the UP assembly election, a senior Congress leader tells Sheela Bhatt that Rahul Gandhi has established himself as a leader to reckon with.

Strategic gurus to headline CPR event in New Delhi

Strategic gurus to headline CPR event in New Delhi

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2012

In a rare initiative, the Centre for Policy Research will launch an event -- NonAlignment 2.0: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for India in the Twenty First Century on February 28 in New Delhi, which will focus on India's strategic affairs.

Indian Railways on the brink of collapse: Report

Indian Railways on the brink of collapse: Report

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2012

The current system of the Indian Railways is on the brink of collapse. The Indian railways working model is not financially viable either. The railways coffer have gone, almost, bankrupt, that is the outcome of the intense review undertaken by the committee consisting of galaxy of experts that was given task to review the Indian railways safety.

Exclusive: JD-U MP wants to impeach Supreme Court judge

Exclusive: JD-U MP wants to impeach Supreme Court judge

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2012

Captain Jainarayan Prasad Nishad, a member of the Lok Sabha from Bihar, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar against a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India. In the letter to the Speaker, Captain Nishad has expressed his 'determination' to initiate impeachment proceeding against the judge.

Sheela Bhatt: Samajwadi Party likely winner in phase one

Sheela Bhatt: Samajwadi Party likely winner in phase one

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2012

It is, now, more or less certain that in the ongoing election the SP is emerging as the main challenger to Mayawati's power in Lucknow. The combination of an experienced Mulayam Singh Yadav and his young, untested son Akhilesh Yadav is working, reports Sheela Bhatt from Lucknow

Beni Prasad Verma's cronyism may cost Rahul dear

Beni Prasad Verma's cronyism may cost Rahul dear

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2012

Congressmen allege Verma has ignored loyal Congressmen and given tickets to his cronies for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh election on Wednesday.

My husband is not joining politics: Priyanka

My husband is not joining politics: Priyanka

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2012

Ending speculations triggered by his comments earlier in the day, Vadra's wife Priyanka Gandhi told rediff.com: "I know my husband. He is happy in his business. The question (on whether he will join politics) must have been asked in such a manner that he was forced to give a reaction."

India moving with 'abundant caution' on Syria

India moving with 'abundant caution' on Syria

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2012

"India is moving with "abundant caution" on issue of Syria," says a senior government official.

'Rushdie stopped by Congress to appease fringe elements'

'Rushdie stopped by Congress to appease fringe elements'

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2012

The entire event suggests that in India democracy is decreasing and psephocracy is increasing, says Ashis Nandy, who spoke to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.

Exclusive: 'Rahul's charm is fading in UP'

Exclusive: 'Rahul's charm is fading in UP'

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2012

'Priyanka Gandhi is not Indira Gandhi, declares Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. According to Yadav's confidant Azam Khan, if Priyanka formally joins politics and campaigns everywhere in UP, then political parties will treat her as a politician. Chief Minister Mayawati is also preparing a dossier on Priyanka and her businessman husband Robert Vadra to counter her charm offensive in the electoral battle.

Sonia to present first S K Singh award for excellence in IFS

Sonia to present first S K Singh award for excellence in IFS

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2012

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will present the first Shailendra Kumar Singh award, named after the late distinguished Indian Foreign Service officer, on Friday at an event organised by Manju S K Singh, his widow, and the Ministry of External Affairs, in New Delhi.

Union Budget likely on March 19

Union Budget likely on March 19

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2012

The sources also said that the Budget session of Parliament is likely to start from March 12.

Govt likely to delay Union Budget to March 19

Govt likely to delay Union Budget to March 19

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2012

According to the sources in the government, Union Budget 2012-2013 is likely to be presented in Parliament on March 19, 2012.

Congress looks to ways to avoid Lokpal vote

Congress looks to ways to avoid Lokpal vote

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2011

The Congress party, which seems to be short of the numbers to shepherd the Lokpal bill though the Rajya Sabha, is trying desperately to avoid voting on the bill in the upper house as the debate over the bill winds down in Parliament on Wednesday evening.

Lokpal bill likely to go back to Lok Sabha

Lokpal bill likely to go back to Lok Sabha

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2011

According to a Congress minister, who is handling the party's floor management in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress party, as on 5.30 pm on Thursday, does not have enough votes to pass the Lokpal bill in the Upper House of Parliament.

Opposition may force Congress to vote against Lokpal bill

Opposition may force Congress to vote against Lokpal bill

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2011

The opposition strategy seems to be to get these amendments incorporated into the final bill that will then be put to vote. This will mean that the Congress may be forced to vote against the final bill, since it may not be in agreement with some of the amendments forced by the opposition.

It's going to be 2012, not 1912!

It's going to be 2012, not 1912!

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2011

In the tug of war between modernity and tradition, we often don't know which side we are on. As a friend said the other day, "As parents we are contradicting ourselves every day. We ask our daughters to look for jobs and at the same time we say get married soon. We keep asking them, 'Why are you writing on so many private things on Facebook?' We want to micro-manage our children's lives, but we want to portray ourselves as liberals who give our children lots of freedom."

Intensity of defeat exposes UPA government's vulnerability

Intensity of defeat exposes UPA government's vulnerability

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2011

Rahul Gandhi has received a setback because he has been rudely reminded that a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha is against his first political endeavour, reports Sheela Bhatt.