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Sheela Bhatt

Sheela Bhatt, arguably India's finest political journalist, has covered Indian politics for 40 years. You can e-mail the author at sheelakb@rediffmail.com

All stories by Sheela Bhatt

Fear In Alwar: 'BJP Will Change Constitution'

Fear In Alwar: 'BJP Will Change Constitution'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

In India elections are never fought in a straight line. It's fought on many issues, at many levels, with multiple emotions and with a bit of good luck, too. Sheela Bhatt reports from Rajasthan.

Ram Temple: Modi Seals His Legacy

Ram Temple: Modi Seals His Legacy

Rediff.com22 Jan 2024

The BJP enters challenging times where it has been given a task to hold onto the values of Ram in running the country as defined by Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, notes Sheela Bhatt.

Modi's Politics Of The Ram Temple

Modi's Politics Of The Ram Temple

Rediff.com20 Jan 2024

Narendra Modi has proved through execution of this event in Ayodhya that amongst all his contemporaries in politics he knows ordinary Indians like none other, notes Sheela Bhatt.

'Independence came early because of the Naval Mutiny'

'Independence came early because of the Naval Mutiny'

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

'These naval sailors should have been given due respect as freedom fighters.' 'February 18, 1946 should be as important as January 26 because that date changed everything.'

Three Takeaways From BJP's Victory

Three Takeaways From BJP's Victory

Rediff.com10 Mar 2022

'Whoever thought that building toilets and providing free rations to the poorest of poor Indians would give Modi a halo other political leaders would envy?' asks Sheela Bhatt.

'BJP is focused on economic growth'

'BJP is focused on economic growth'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

'I see in the BJP an attempt to get growth and redistribution of resources.' 'For growth you need growth of the economy.'

'Modi wants to raise standard of living'

'Modi wants to raise standard of living'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

'So you have welfare programmes, you reach out to the poor, you cut out the middlemen, you cut out the leakages and you try to raise the standard of living.'

Modi's Retreat Will Haunt Indian Politics For A Long, Long Time

Modi's Retreat Will Haunt Indian Politics For A Long, Long Time

Rediff.com19 Nov 2021

If Modi's political retreat -- he has tried to avoid a pre-1984 type of situation in Punjab -- helps soothe Sikh sentiments, nobody should complain Modi, asserts Sheela Bhatt.

'Our employees are the most important part in any business'

'Our employees are the most important part in any business'

Rediff.com3 Nov 2021

'To get success in business one should know how to create and attract talent and how to retain it.'

Man who warned of the Bhopal gas leak

Man who warned of the Bhopal gas leak

Rediff.com22 May 2021

Just months before the deadly gas leak in Bhopal killed 15,000 people, journalist Rajkumar Keswani -- who passed into the ages on Friday, May 21, 2021 -- had warned that the 'city stood on the edge of a volcano'.

Two reasons why Bihar win was important for the BJP

Two reasons why Bihar win was important for the BJP

Rediff.com11 Nov 2020

This was a difficult election to win, but the Modi card, the caste divide and the division in the Opposition vote bank helped overcome many challenges.

'BJP unleashed Chirag against Nitish'

'BJP unleashed Chirag against Nitish'

Rediff.com28 Oct 2020

'The BJP has the torch and with that same torch, the BJP is trying to light up its house in Bihar.' 'The BJP is trying to burn Nitish Kumar's house with that torch.'

'All border situations were resolved through diplomacy'

'All border situations were resolved through diplomacy'

Rediff.com26 Aug 2020

'I am not minimising either the seriousness or the complex nature of the current situation.' 'Naturally, we have to do what it takes to secure our borders.' 'We are talking to the Chinese, both through military channels and diplomatic ones.'
'In fact, they work in tandem.' 'When it comes to finding a solution, this must be predicated on honouring all agreements and understandings.' 'And not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally.'

'Sonia wanted Congress to choose non-Gandhi leader'

'Sonia wanted Congress to choose non-Gandhi leader'

Rediff.com25 Aug 2020

'Let me reveal for the first time that around August 2019 Congress President Sonia Gandhi told the Congress leadership and CWC members to form a consensus over the name of a non-Gandhi leader.'

Why UAE was ideal destination for IPL 2020

Why UAE was ideal destination for IPL 2020

Rediff.com22 Aug 2020

'Unlike India and Sri Lanka, there was no internal air travel needed.' 'For all 8 teams, different hotels are available, a separate one for the broadcasting team too.'

'My father's Rath Yatra changed Indian politics'

'My father's Rath Yatra changed Indian politics'

Rediff.com5 Aug 2020

Just six years after his father's Rath Yatra, the BJP came to power in New Delhi in 1996, points out Jayant Advani.

'Gandhi's Ram is my Ram'

'Gandhi's Ram is my Ram'

Rediff.com4 Aug 2020

'Does a secular nation not believe in its ancestry? The Constitution has a photo of Ram also.'

'Ram is not only for the Hindus, Ram is for everyone'

'Ram is not only for the Hindus, Ram is for everyone'

Rediff.com4 Aug 2020

'If the Ram Mandir is made, it is because of the collective strength of our country.'

Revealed: How India launched its war against COVID-19

Revealed: How India launched its war against COVID-19

Rediff.com30 Jul 2020

'The lockdown was for both: To flatten the curve or more correctly, delay the rapid spread of COVID outbreak, and to create healthcare infrastructure.'

Answered: When COVID-19 will end

Answered: When COVID-19 will end

Rediff.com24 Jul 2020

'"The end" depends on two things.' 'Either you develop a vaccine which is effective or if you have a drug, you can terminate this infection very quickly.' 'Otherwise, you have to depend on herd immunity.' 'I think it should happen earlier. Far earlier, than we can imagine or achieve 'herd immunity'.'

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