Sheela Bhatt

Stories by Sheela Bhatt

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.

Mood in the Lok Sabha over Lokpal: Hatao yeh bill yeha se

Mood in the Lok Sabha over Lokpal: Hatao yeh bill yeha se

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2011

The differences between the Congress and the BJP are too obvious and it seems, as expected, this Parliament is a divided house on the issue of fighting corruption.

Government should go for a mid-term poll: Kuldip Nayar

Government should go for a mid-term poll: Kuldip Nayar

Rediff.com   27 Dec 2011

Kuldip Nayar, veteran journalist and author of many books, thinks that the current Parliament does not represent the sentiments of the people.

Why the Lokpal bill faces a challenge

Why the Lokpal bill faces a challenge

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2011

The Constitutional (116 amendment) bill, which will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, is the enabling bill that would enable the law-makers to grant the Lokpal constitutional status. If that is not passed, it will also mean the end of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill. Sheela Bhatt reports.

Why the Lokpal bill faces a challenge

Why the Lokpal bill faces a challenge

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2011

The Constitutional (116 amendment) bill, which will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, is the enabling bill that would enable the law-makers to grant the Lokpal constitutional status. If that is not passed, it will also mean the end of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill. Sheela Bhatt reports.

Confusion prevails as parties fuss over quota in Lokpal

Confusion prevails as parties fuss over quota in Lokpal

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2011

If quota in Lokpal is taken off the Yadav leaders will object it, and if it remains, the BJP will oppose it. This situation is advantageous for the Congress to take credit and pass the blame, reports Sheela Bhatt.

Lokpal Bill unlikely to pass in Parliament

Lokpal Bill unlikely to pass in Parliament

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2011

The inclusion of the Lokayukta factor in the bill approved by the Cabinet is expected to become a sticky point in Parliament. Sheela Bhatt reports.

Dr Singh may tell Parliament he wants PM's post under Lokpal

Dr Singh may tell Parliament he wants PM's post under Lokpal

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2011

The much-awaited report of the Parliamentary panel that examined the Lokpal Bill has left the final decision -- about the inclusion of the prime minister's post under the aegis of Lokpal --- to the House. The report, along with 16 dissenting notes, was submitted and tabled in Parliament on Friday.

Trinamool, oppn for rollback of FDI in retail

Trinamool, oppn for rollback of FDI in retail

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2011

The Trinamool Congress is not happy with the government's move to put on hold its decision to allow Foreign Direct Investment in retail and insisted that FDI should be rolled back.

China: Verdict on 22 Indians held for diamond smuggling this week

China: Verdict on 22 Indians held for diamond smuggling this week

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2011

On December 7, the Shenzhen court in China will deliver a judgment in the case of 22 Indians who were charged with smuggling of diamonds.

'Sense of the House' on Lokpal can't be violated: BJP

'Sense of the House' on Lokpal can't be violated: BJP

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2011

The Bharatiya Janata Party will on Thursday submit a note of dissent on the draft Lokpal bill to Abhishek Singhvi, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee going into the Lokpal Bill.

'We need an intelligence czar in the country'

'We need an intelligence czar in the country'

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2011

Intelligence veteran Anil Choudhary gives insight into why NTRO, which reports to the prime minister's office, failed to come up to expectations. He also suggests how India could tighten its security apparatus.

'We need an intelligence czar in the country'

'We need an intelligence czar in the country'

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2011

Intelligence veteran Anil Choudhary gives insight into why NTRO, which reports to the prime minister's office, failed to come up to expectations. He also suggests how India could tighten its security apparatus.

When Dinesh Trivedi walked out of Cabinet meet

When Dinesh Trivedi walked out of Cabinet meet

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2011

Issue of FDI in retail is solidly backed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Antony opposes FDI in Retail

Antony opposes FDI in Retail

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2011

Defence Minister A K Antony expressed his displeasure to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in presence of their Cabinet colleagues on Thursday, for permitting 51% Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail.

Winter session: Tough questions that opposition will ask UPA

Winter session: Tough questions that opposition will ask UPA

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2011

The National Democratic Alliance and the Left is likely to corner the United Progressive Alliance on issues pertaining to price rise and black money on the first day of the winter session, which starts on Tuesday. Sheela Bhatt reports

Black money issue may have an anticlimax

Black money issue may have an anticlimax

Rediff.com   7 Nov 2011

The UPA government has been facing a lot of flak for not doing enough to unearth the black money kept by Indians in banks abroad. Sheela Bhatt reports.

'Police must probe how 39 SP MPs were bought'

'Police must probe how 39 SP MPs were bought'

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2011

Why did former solicitor general of India Goolam Vahanvati bail out Mulayam Singh Yadav at a time when the Congress and Samajwadi Party didn't see eye-to-eye? What was Amar Singh's interest in saving the UPA government? These are some of the question posed by legal activist Vishwanath Chaturvedi in his criminal complaint against the Delhi Police's chargesheet in the cash-for-votes scam. Sheela Bhatt reports

'Police must probe how 39 SP MPs were bought'

'Police must probe how 39 SP MPs were bought'

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2011

Why did former solicitor general of India Goolam Vahanvati bail out Mulayam Singh Yadav at a time when the Congress and Samajwadi Party didn't see eye-to-eye? What was Amar Singh's interest in saving the UPA government? These are some of the question posed by legal activist Vishwanath Chaturvedi in his criminal complaint against the Delhi Police's chargesheet in the cash-for-votes scam. Sheela Bhatt reports

Maharashtra government to prosecute Lavasa directors

Maharashtra government to prosecute Lavasa directors

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2011

According to sources in the Maharashtra government, directors of the multi-crore Lavasa township project will be prosecuted for violating environmental laws and the terms and conditions stipulated under them. Lavasa is an ambitious hill city project worth Rs 3,000 crore that is being developed near Pune. The directors can face five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh if found guilty.