Sheela Bhatt And Indrani Roy

Stories by Sheela Bhatt And Indrani Roy

'Terrorism is something you have to deal with. But that is a political call'

'Terrorism is something you have to deal with. But that is a political call'

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2015

'If you say I won't talk to them at all, does terrorism stop?' 'Even if they say they will give up terrorism, "I will fight terrorism along with you," but even then you say I still won't talk to you until you do the following things, then that is a political call.'

Kidnapped or in hiding? Where is Bengal scribe Chayan Sarkar?

Kidnapped or in hiding? Where is Bengal scribe Chayan Sarkar?

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2015

The correspondent, who was allegedly threatened by members of TMC's student wing for investigating an education scam, was last seen on Sunday near Salsalabari railway station.

In response to Nitish, NDA to write open letter to Biharis

In response to Nitish, NDA to write open letter to Biharis

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2015

The letter, to be written by the NDA's Bihari leaders, will mention that Modi was not talking about 'Bihar's DNA' but he was pointing towards the 'political DNA' of Nitish Kumar. The letter will also ask a few uncomfortable questions to the Bihar chief minister. Sheela Bhatt reports.

'Why do we need to be in a mad rush all the time?'

'Why do we need to be in a mad rush all the time?'

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2015

In our special series on A Day in the Life of India, Ashok Kumar Mondol, a Kolkata tram driver, speaks about the joys of driving a city institution.

It is important to know the truth in the Yakub Memon case

It is important to know the truth in the Yakub Memon case

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2015

'B Raman knew that Yakub Memon should not be given the capital punishment but at the same time he harboured too much anger against Dawood Ibrahim and 'Tiger' Memon, and wanted to see that they do not stand to gain in the legal process in any manner whatsoever.'

I can vouch for Raman's column on Yakub Memon: Brother

I can vouch for Raman's column on Yakub Memon: Brother

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2015

I well remember the article you have published because prior to sending it to you, he had shown it to me and I can vouch for its contents in the form in which you have published it. That was why I gave the permission to Rediff.com for publishing it,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished retired IAS officer who himself handled intelligence matters for nine years.

How the BJP plans to strike back in 'washout' monsoon session

How the BJP plans to strike back in 'washout' monsoon session

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2015

The calculated playing up of confidence by Amit Shah and his team obviously means that the BJP has a strong counter-strategy in place to turn the tables on the Congress before the monsoon session is over, reports Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon

From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2015

Back in 2007, Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt had profiled Yakub after he was sentenced to death by the Terrorist and Disruptive Actives (Prevention) Act court for criminal conspiracy and financing air tickets to send co-conspirators for arms and RDX training to Pakistan.

Pakistan has not even made a turn, leave alone a U-turn

Pakistan has not even made a turn, leave alone a U-turn

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2015

'India has to judge what Pakistan says to us, not what they say to a domestic audience,' a source tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com, explaining why India-Pakistan talks remain on track despite discordant noises from across the border.

From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon

From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2015

Back in 2007, Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt had profiled Yakub after he was sentenced to death by the Terrorist and Disruptive Actives (Prevention) Act court for criminal conspiracy and financing air tickets to send co-conspirators for arms and RDX training to Pakistan.

Lalu-Mulayam-Mamata-Mayawati absence makes Sonia's iftar a political miss

Lalu-Mulayam-Mamata-Mayawati absence makes Sonia's iftar a political miss

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2015

Sonia Gandhi's iftar was meant to be a powerful show of unity of Opposition parties to take on the Modi Sarkar, but that was not to be...

Advani destroyed Agra summit with Pakistan: A S Dulat

Advani destroyed Agra summit with Pakistan: A S Dulat

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2015

Pakistan made a tactical error in not investing enough in L K Advani, former R&AW chief A S Dulat tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com

In the middle of Ramzan, Modi to visit 5 Islamic nations

In the middle of Ramzan, Modi to visit 5 Islamic nations

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2015

It's a packed 5-nation, 9-day, visit for Prime Minister Modi as he heads to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, apart from Ufa in Russia.

'Sonia and Rajiv had no role in the Emergency'

'Sonia and Rajiv had no role in the Emergency'

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2015

'I do not think Rajiv Gandhi at that stage had any influence on his mother. Indira Gandhi relied totally on Sanjay and she looked upon him as a dependable son.' 'What really affected people and eventually Indira Gandhi was the sterilisation drive. She lost so badly in north India because of these drives.' 'She is the one who has given this aura of 'the family' to the Gandhis.' The second and final part of veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor, whose book The Emergency: A Personal Account was published recently, to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Independent India's darkest phase.

'Emergency was a time when everyone was scared'

'Emergency was a time when everyone was scared'

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2015

Veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor, whose book came out recently, speaks to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Independent India's darkest phase.

'Lalitgate like Bofors, is there a V P Singh in this government or outside?'

'Lalitgate like Bofors, is there a V P Singh in this government or outside?'

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2015

Lalitgate is so much like the Bofors arms scandal that eventually brought down the Rajiv Gandhi government despite his humongous parliamentary majority, Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

A House of Horrors in the City of Joy

A House of Horrors in the City of Joy

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2015

What went on inside Kolkata's 'house of horror'? Indrani Roy/Rediff.com reports.

L'affaire Sushma Swaraj marks end of Modi Sarkar's honeymoon

L'affaire Sushma Swaraj marks end of Modi Sarkar's honeymoon

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2015

Right now, in Modi's Cabinet and in the BJP, there is no challenge whatsoever to Modi's leadership but even those leaders who have some potential, who the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh can think of backing in an unforeseen circumstance, are fast turning into damaged goods, reports Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

Why Modi stood by an embattled Sushma Swaraj

Why Modi stood by an embattled Sushma Swaraj

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2015

Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com decodes why Modi has decided to retain her in the Union Cabinet despite this controversy and their many internal differences.

Myanmar 'hot pursuit' was planned before Manipur ambush

Myanmar 'hot pursuit' was planned before Manipur ambush

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2015

The counter-insurgency operation on the Indo-Myanmar was under planning for the last three months. The June 4 ambush that killed 18 Indian soldiers only hastened the attack. Sheela Bhatt provides exclusive details of the planning for the operation.