Sheela Bhatt In New Delhi And Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar

Stories by Sheela Bhatt In New Delhi And Mukhtar Ahmad In Srinagar

Minister Dharmendra Pradhan: 'Benefits of falling oil prices passed on to consumers'

Minister Dharmendra Pradhan: 'Benefits of falling oil prices passed on to consumers'

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2015

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan speaks to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

The man fighting for Americans to learn the truth about Hinduism

The man fighting for Americans to learn the truth about Hinduism

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2015

'For years American academia has used the concerns about Hindutva in India to almost completely trash the concept of Hinduism.' 'In the American debate, Wendy Doniger's point of views perpetuated Hinduphobia.' 'Americans were willing to change... Indian intellectuals let us down badly.'

'Hinduism has been failed by seculars and the right-wing'

'Hinduism has been failed by seculars and the right-wing'

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2015

'The real danger in India right now is that identity politics is being stoked in extremely dangerous ways.' 'The narrative you get about churches in the mainstream Indian media and the narrative you get in the social media is very different.' 'Many Americans today want to appropriate Indian culture. They want yoga, but they say yoga has nothing to do with Hinduism. They want Ayurveda, but they say it's got nothing to do with Hinduism.' 'Hinduism has been failed by political constituencies in India -- seculars and the right-wing.'

Power Minister tells Rediff: '24/7 power in every home by 2019'

Power Minister tells Rediff: '24/7 power in every home by 2019'

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2015

'This country has become cynical, the country has lost hope. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting back hope in this country.' 'We are deconstructing the past which had corruption, inefficiency, policy paralysis, a tottering economy where investors had lost confidence, and people had become cynical. We are changing that, we are bringing confidence back to the people of India.'

Exclusive! 'The Modi government refuses to give anything for free'

Exclusive! 'The Modi government refuses to give anything for free'

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2015

'The Modi government believes the industrialist, the capitalist, has to pay for the assets of the government which belong to the people of India.'

J-K: All future appointments to be made on contractual basis

J-K: All future appointments to be made on contractual basis

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2015

It will all future appointments for gazetted and non-gazetted posts on contractual basis for the first seven years

Kashmir protests turn violent; probe ordered after CRPF kills youth

Kashmir protests turn violent; probe ordered after CRPF kills youth

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2015

A teenager was shot dead by security forces in the Kashmir Valley on Saturday during a strike called by hardline Hurriyat Conference against the recent killing of two youths in an army operation in Tral, prompting the authorities to register a murder case and order a magisterial probe.

Clashes in Kashmir over Tral killings, Masarat's arrest

Clashes in Kashmir over Tral killings, Masarat's arrest

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2015

Alam had been under house arrest since Thursday evening.

Geelani, Masarat put under house arrest

Geelani, Masarat put under house arrest

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2015

Geelani had called for a march on Friday to Tral town in South Kashmir where two youths were killed in an anti-militancy operation on Monday.

FIR against Masarat Alam for waving Pak flag at Geelani rally

FIR against Masarat Alam for waving Pak flag at Geelani rally

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2015

Jammu and Kashmir police Wednesday evening filed an FIR against hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Masarat Alam Bhat and other separatist leaders 'for provocative activities and hoisting Pakistan flag' in summer capital Srinagar.

E-auction of coal mines: Will cartels trump the consumers?

E-auction of coal mines: Will cartels trump the consumers?

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2015

The Modi government's e-auction policy for coal, meant to shield the consumer against hike in electricity charges, has already led to serious allegations of cartelisation among the bidding corporates. Matters came to such a pass that the government at one point last week was considering inviting the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the matter, reports Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.

7 separatists quit Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat faction

7 separatists quit Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat faction

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2015

Seven members of the moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference general council have quit the conglomerate over differences with the top leadership on "restoration of the Hurriyat constitution".

PHOTOS: Protests, stone pelting over clusters for Pandits in Srinagar

PHOTOS: Protests, stone pelting over clusters for Pandits in Srinagar

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2015

The cops fired tear smoke shells to chase away the protestors but clashes were still on.

J&K govt modifies stance on plans for Kashmiri Pandits townships

J&K govt modifies stance on plans for Kashmiri Pandits townships

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2015

Facing flak from opposition parties and separatists, Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday made a U-turn on the controversial plans for composite townships in the valley for displaced Kashmiri Pandits, saying they are "part and parcel of the Kashmiri fabric of life" and would be settled at their native places and "not as an isolated community".

On tri-nation visit, Modi to address community in Vancouver, Toronto, Paris

On tri-nation visit, Modi to address community in Vancouver, Toronto, Paris

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2015

Remnants of the Khalistan movement in Vancouver may stage a protest against Prime Minister Modi

Who is No. 2 in government? Answer expected this week

Who is No. 2 in government? Answer expected this week

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2015

When Prime Minister Modi travelled to the US last year Home Minister Rajnath Singh was officially put in charge of the government. But the BJP's national executive in Bengaluru made it clear who now matters in the party and in what order. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com reports

Sight to behold: A million tulips are in full bloom in Srinagar

Sight to behold: A million tulips are in full bloom in Srinagar

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2015

Asia's largest tulip garden is in full bloom with rows of tulips of all hues adding fairy tale-like splendour to the cascading slopes of the Zabarwan foothills. Mukhtar Ahmad reports

'There is nothing unconstitutional or illegal about ordinances'

'There is nothing unconstitutional or illegal about ordinances'

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2015

'The Constitution says the government, the council of ministers, shall be responsible to the House of the People which is the Lok Sabha, not to the Rajya Sabha.' 'Let us hope they will be able to show better floor and political management through a process of, if necessary, give and take.'

3 terror attacks rock Kashmir in 3 hours

3 terror attacks rock Kashmir in 3 hours

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2015

Jammu and Kashmir has been hit by three terror attacks in three hours. Unidentified gunmen shot at a civilian in Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday.

3 army men dead, 2 missing in avalanche in Ladakh

3 army men dead, 2 missing in avalanche in Ladakh

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2015

Three army troopers have died and one is wounded after an avalanche hit a convoy in the cold desert region of Ladakh.