Sheela Bhatt

I am now disagreeing with Gadkari's actions: Jethmalani

"One has to follow one's self-conscious. I resigned because Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari had appointed me in the party's national executive. It was the favour done by him to me. I am not satisfied with his actions now, so I resigned." says advocate Mahesh Jethamalani while talking exclusively to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.

Take a bow, Jaipal Reddy!

'It is very difficult to be an honest politician in a country where the system is absolutely corrupt. Jaipal Reddy is one up even on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is considered clean and honest. Reddy has gone a step ahead by playing an active role in stopping corruption. He has put things on record; he has walked the extra mile to ensure that public money is valued highly. One must recognise Reddy's efforts, and make it an example for India's younger generation.'

Cabinet rejig: The more things change, more they don't

During the Cabinet reshuffle, the "give and take" amongst the trio of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi has resulted in a new paradigm of power within the Congress and the government, notes Sheela Bhatt.

Riot after riot: UP under Akhilesh takes dangerous turn

"The law and order issue all over UP needs national attention," says a senior journalist from a Hindi daily published from Lucknow, and he is right. Under Akhilesh Singh Yadav, communal violence returns with a vengeance to the state, reports Sheela Bhatt

'Rahul sees himself more as Cong's management consultant'

'In any ministry headed by Rahul, we will see a lot of talk of accountability, meritocracy and efficiency. But all these things will impact Indian politics in a positive way if they are a means to an end, and do not become an end in themselves as it has with the revamp of the IYC and the NSUI,' Aarthi Ramachandran tells Sheela Bhatt

It's Final: Rahul not to join government

Rahul says no, but wants a youthful look for Manmohan Singh's government.

Exclusive! Pawar held 1000 shares in Gadkari-linked IRB

Chidambaram confident of presenting budget 2013

Finance minister P Chidambaram assured a select gathering in New Delhi on Tuesday that Union Budget of 2013 will be presented on schedule. He expressed hope, that like it happened in 2004, it will not be passed without debating.

Revealed: Why top Cong leaders are visiting the President

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi meeting their party's stalwart of many decades -- President Pranab Mukherjee -- is not unusual, but the timing of their visits is, notes Sheela Bhatt

Explained: How Kejriwal's campaign affects Congress, BJP

Arvind Kejriwal and India Against Corruption have shown India that 'having power' is not really 'being powerful', says Sheela Bhatt

Intense lobbying on as race for CBI chief's post begins

Six IPS officers have been shortlisted for the post of the CBI director once incumbent A P Singh retires in November. Sheela Bhatt reports

The scam of Sonia's jamai

The real effect of the so-called 'weak-allegations' against Robert Vadra is that the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is shaken to its core, even if temporarily, says Sheela Bhatt.

Sonia's bouncer to Narendra Modi's Vivekananda yatra

Neither Swami Vivekananda nor his guru Ramakrishna Paramhans is Modi's "monopoly", is the message that Sonia Gandhi sent out on Wednesday, reports Sheela Bhatt

Coal-gate: CBI will not quiz CVC Pradeep Kumar

So far, CBI's investigations into the coal scam are highly superficial and limited to small fishes. It is unlikely to go deeper in the political connections, a source tells rediff.com

Sonia's backing for reforms has strengthened PM

Tuesday's Congress Working Committee meeting put a lid on the issue of whether the party was putting its full force behind the government's current economic decisions, which have attracted widespread protests.

'Should only the Trinamool try and curb Modi's rise?'

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Sultan Ahmed lashes out at the Congress and gives reasons for pulling out of the UPA.

Exclusive: Antony's silence on FDI means Sonia's nod

A Cabinet minister tells Sheela Bhatt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a gamble on the FDI in retail issue and insists that the Congress party is with him.

Exclusive: Antony's silence on FDI means Sonia's nod

A Cabinet minister tells Sheela Bhatt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a gamble on the FDI in retail issue and insists that the Congress party is with him.

'Sonia and PM hiked fuel prices to SAVE the economy'

The government HAD to increase the price of diesel; it could not have allowed the Indian economy to commit suicide by November 2012, a former senior official tells Sheela Bhatt

Mamata finally gives her nod to FDI in aviation

Mamata Banerjee, Chief minister of West Bengal and an important ally of the UPA government has given go-ahead to the Foreign Direct Investment in the aviation sector, according to a source in her government in Kolkata.