Sheela Bhatt And Nikhil Lakshman

India moving with 'abundant caution' on Syria

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

'Rushdie stopped by Congress to appease fringe elements'

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'

'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

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.

Govt likely to delay Union Budget to March 19

Union Budget likely on March 19

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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.

Intensity of defeat exposes UPA government's vulnerability

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.