Sheela Bhatt And George Joseph

Stories by Sheela Bhatt And George Joseph

22 years ago, before Barack, there was John Abraham

22 years ago, before Barack, there was John Abraham

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2015

'It was a moment when I felt what power can get. Such a reception was beyond my expectation.'

'Obama's visit honours India's Constitution, military might'

'Obama's visit honours India's Constitution, military might'

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Barack Obama will meet on Sunday, January 25, at Hyderabad House a few hours after the American leader's arrival in New Delhi.

Exclusive! Top Congress leader says Modi has begun a new era

Exclusive! Top Congress leader says Modi has begun a new era

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2015

'Modi has been successful in convincing people that from a social point of view, he is closest to Indian citizens. His is a victory of Indian-ness.'

Indians migrated to America in the 18th century!

Indians migrated to America in the 18th century!

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2015

'We used to say two things are found everywhere: A potato and a Sikh. I think you can substitute Gujarati for the Sikh because Gujaratis are everywhere.'

Modi wants to move rapidly to make things happen in India: John Kerry

Modi wants to move rapidly to make things happen in India: John Kerry

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2015

Elaborating on America and India's scope of engagement, Kerry said he has seen first-hand the transformation in Indo-US relationship as well as the ups and downs in the relationship. Kerry says the world's oldest and largest democracy were "finally beginning to captalise on our connections to each other." Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com reports after the media interaction with the US secretary of state.

'Vibrant Gujarat is the Davos of the East'

'Vibrant Gujarat is the Davos of the East'

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2015

''We want to make Vibrant Gujarat the global business hub,' says Gujarat Minister Saurabh Patel.

Pravasi Special: A look back in anxiety

Pravasi Special: A look back in anxiety

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2015

'Non Resident Indians know that India's problems are the combination of many factors over the centuries, including foreign rule, lack of resources and the ever-growing population, among other things. Yet, India has achieved many things and even looks at Mars as a neighbour.'

What NaMo will do in 2015

What NaMo will do in 2015

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2015

'Those who have seen the functioning of the Modi government in Gujarat know that the issues related to Hindutva and issues of economy and growth function simultaneously.' 'Modi's politics are based on the understanding of the middle-class consumer society which is in pursuit of material aspirations.' Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com reveals the Modi government's economic and political plans for the year ahead.

Exclusive! BJP adamant on Hindu CM for JK

Exclusive! BJP adamant on Hindu CM for JK

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2014

A PDP-BJP alliance would have been formed on the evening of December 28 had the BJP agreed to let Mufti Mohammad Sayeed become chief minister for the first three years and allow the BJP to nominate its chief minister for the next three years.

'We have become a very powerful force in Jammu and Kashmir'

'We have become a very powerful force in Jammu and Kashmir'

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2014

'We are certainly disappointed by our inability to win a single seat in the valley... We will analyse what led to this kind of dismal -- in terms of seats -- non-performance by the BJP.' 'I certainly don't want to attribute any religious or so-called communal reasons for it; for the simple reason, that even in Ladakh, a Buddhist majority area, we failed to win seats.' BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, the man in charge of the party's election campaign in J&K, discusses the verdict with Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com

Why Modi needs to take a correct call on the J&K verdict

Why Modi needs to take a correct call on the J&K verdict

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2014

The BJP has already cobbled up 28 seats to counter-bargain with the PDP's 28 seats in future talks. It is up to the Kashmir-based parties like the National Conference and PDP to assess the damage of going with the BJP which is perceived as the 'Hindu' party in the state. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com's takeways from a historic but fractured mandate in Jammu and Kashmir.

Battleground Rajya Sabha!

Battleground Rajya Sabha!

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2014

It is not in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a clear majority, but the Rajya Sabha that the Opposition has ganged up to checkmate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious plans.

'The Taliban is very angry that Malala stood up to them'

'The Taliban is very angry that Malala stood up to them'

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2014

'Pakistan should evolve a common narrative. The country should have common position in combating all kinds of terrorism and not fight selectively.' 'The main motive was revenge, of course. But the Nobel Prize to Malala Yousufzai also contributed to the Taliban's anger' Bestselling Pakistani author and foreign policy expert Ahmed Rashid speaks exclusively on the Peshawar school attack with Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

Insurance Bill: Modi checkmated in Rajya Sabha

Insurance Bill: Modi checkmated in Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2014

The Modi government is learning to deal with the reality that it does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

NRIs with US 'T' visas not being allowed to leave

NRIs with US 'T' visas not being allowed to leave

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2014

Victims decry Ministry of External Affairs' 'vengeful' decision to stop them from leaving the country if they have a 'T' visa (Trafficking category) affixed on their passports. George Joseph/Rediff.com reports

Exclusive! When India and Pakistan nearly reached an agreement

Exclusive! When India and Pakistan nearly reached an agreement

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2014

'The people of Pakistan and India will begin to understand what the bottom lines are. What India can accept maximum is known to Pakistan. What Pakistan can accept minimum is known to India.' 'In the absence of atmosphere you can't even talk, you can't think of writing agreements and frameworks. You have to have the right atmosphere. With the previous BJP government it had started and I hope the new BJP government will continue with that.'

'Modi is a human being and human beings want to do good'

'Modi is a human being and human beings want to do good'

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2014

'Modi has said he has been made the PM of India not to do small things but big things. What bigger thing can there be than to have peace with Pakistan and in the neighbourhood?'

Bird flu: Red alert issued in 3 districts in Kerala

Bird flu: Red alert issued in 3 districts in Kerala

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2014

Around 2 lakh ducks will be killed in the Kuttanad area.

Stage set for Modi-Sharif meet in Kathmandu

Stage set for Modi-Sharif meet in Kathmandu

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2014

Pakistan has got the message that the Modi regime in New Delhi has brought in a new language of dialogue with Islamabad, sources well informed about the preparation for the Kathmandu meeting tell Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com

Modi's village adoption plan has potential to transform rural India

Modi's village adoption plan has potential to transform rural India

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2014

Each 'adarsh village' should have piped drinking water, connectivity to the main road, electricity supply to all households, library, telecom and broadband connectivity including CCTVs in public areas. Emphasis will also be on e-governance, says Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.