Sheela Bhatt

Stories by Sheela Bhatt

How Delhi is waking up to 'connect' with Kashmir

How Delhi is waking up to 'connect' with Kashmir

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2010

It seems that realisation has dawned, at last, in New Delhi that the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become a national crisis. The government is waking up to connect to the state, which is under the wave of violence, notes Sheela Bhatt.

Why Ayodhya verdict makes people nervous

Why Ayodhya verdict makes people nervous

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2010

Sheela Bhatt explains why the judgment in the title suit in the Ayodhya case -- despite a delay of over half a century -- still comes at the wrong time for the Centre and several state governments.

'Rahul Gandhi's heart is in the right place'

'Rahul Gandhi's heart is in the right place'

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2010

Sam Pitroda says Rahul Gandhi's support for the tribals is correct and while he backs development he says it must be done by preserving the rights and culture of the tribals.

Why China denied the general a visa

Why China denied the general a visa

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2010

The message that emanates from China's denial of a visa to General B S Jaswal has multiple messages, says Sheela Bhatt.

Nuke liability bill: It is about $150 bn and more

Nuke liability bill: It is about $150 bn and more

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2010

The passing of the nuclear liability bill will be a political and diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a time when he is being seen as getting weaker and his government is drifting on all major national challenges like price rise, Kashmir and Naxalism.

Political overtones in season's first Iftar

Political overtones in season's first Iftar

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2010

The Bihar assembly election and the agreement on Nuclear liability bill between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party had a magical political impact on an Iftar event organised by Member of Parliament and BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussein in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

What Amit Shah's fall really means

What Amit Shah's fall really means

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2010

Amit Shah's fall has dented his boss Narendra Modi's eligibility to some day lead non-Congress centrist parties at the Centre. Here lies the real win for the Congress, as this will play as an advantage for its future leadership, says Sheela Bhatt.

Exclusive! Modi govt offered prime plots to judges

Exclusive! Modi govt offered prime plots to judges

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2010

Sheela Bhatt lifts the lid off a Gujarat government scheme, piloted by Law Minister Amit Shah, currently in the dock over the Sohrabuddin encounter, to offer prime plots cheap to judges

War of words: Why India, Pakistan both lost

War of words: Why India, Pakistan both lost

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2010

The foreign ministers' talks failed just when progress seemed on the horizon, says Sheela Bhatt

Incognito, Rahul Gandhi watched World Cup final

Incognito, Rahul Gandhi watched World Cup final

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2010

According to reports even Rahul's brother-in-law Robert Vadera and his son Rehan were with him in South Africa. The Indian Embassy in Johannesburg was also asked to keep the Gandhi family members visit secret due to security issues.

'No proof of Tamil script in Indus civilization'

'No proof of Tamil script in Indus civilization'

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2010

I do not agree with Parpola's unproven 'decipherment' of Indus script with the premise that old Tamil was the underlying language. It is simply a belief system and not premised on evidence of the corpus of inscriptions and the underlying cultural foundations of the civilization of 4,000 years ago, says Indologist Dr S Kalyanaraman.

Gujarat lawyers may strike over lack of HC judges

Gujarat lawyers may strike over lack of HC judges

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2010

The lawyers of Gujarat high court are all set to go on a strike if Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily doesn't pay attention to the issue of 35 per cent posts of judges lying vacant in the HC. In Gujarat, due to various administrative reasons and probably due to political tension between the Centre and the state, new appointments have not been made since many years. The situation has now reached crisis proportions as an increasing backlog of cases is piling up.

Setting a new agenda for Bhopal

Setting a new agenda for Bhopal

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2010

A nation angered may spur the the Bhopal gas victims in their seemingly endless battle to get justce, writes Sheela Bhatt.

Interview: Man who warned of the Bhopal gas leak

Interview: Man who warned of the Bhopal gas leak

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2010

Just months before the deadly gas leak in Bhopal killed 15,000 people, journalist Rajkumar Keswani had warned that the 'city stood on the edge of a volcano'. He speaks of his 26-year battle to get justice for the victims.

Dow's 'lobbyists' on Bhopal GOM

Dow's 'lobbyists' on Bhopal GOM

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2010

A 55-page document gathered using the Right To Information Act from the Prime Minister's Office shows how the members of United Progressive Alliance government including some senior ministers have taken a soft stance towards Dow chemicals.

Visa denial language not part of policy: Canada

Visa denial language not part of policy: Canada

Rediff.com   28 May 2010

In a statement issued on Thursday night, Canada has said the language used while denying the visa "doesn't reflect the policy of the Canada government."

Message from PM's press meet: I am here to stay

Message from PM's press meet: I am here to stay

Rediff.com   24 May 2010

Although Dr Manmohan Singh readily answered questions during his press conference, he gave the feeling that he is a secretive politician who doesn't reveal the story easily. More than 80 minutes of questioning failed to provoke him. He played a defensive game and didn't convey through anything new, writes Sheela Bhatt.

Air India system didn't fail, says Patel

Air India system didn't fail, says Patel

Rediff.com   23 May 2010

"Please crucify me if I am guilty. What have I done wrong?" said Praful Patel, minister of civil aviation, reacting to the criticism he has been facing in the country after the Dubai-Mangalore flight crashed on Saturday.

'PM can damage institutions for power'

'PM can damage institutions for power'

Rediff.com   20 May 2010

'See how he uses the CBI, allows telephone tapping, sustains corrupt ministers, ignores indisciplined ministers, had the cash for votes scam and used the Election Commission. Which institution has not been damaged by his government?' asks Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley.

'Dozen conspirators, you are punishing just one'

'Dozen conspirators, you are punishing just one'

Rediff.com   7 May 2010

"How can you rejoice when 166 people have died, when there were dozens of conspirators and you are punishing just one man? Asked Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader.