News for 'Amnesty India'

Why do our neighbours dislike or suspect us?

Why do our neighbours dislike or suspect us?

Rediff.com29 May 2017

'China held a meeting on the One Belt One Road and India boycotted it.' 'However, all of India's neighbours attended, except for one, Bhutan.' 'India warned those attending that the partnership with the Chinese would come at a heavy price, but almost nobody heard us.' 'The question is: Why not?' asks Aakar Patel.

What poking fun at army over Yeti signifies

What poking fun at army over Yeti signifies

Rediff.com4 May 2019

The venom and contemptuous sarcasm evident on the army's tweet on the Yeti and my reply has something to do with the intrinsic hatred that a section of the media nurses against the right wing, says Tarun Vijay.

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Rediff.com2 Jul 2018

'If lynchings are happening frequently in India, it is the responsibility of those who lead the country to try and end them, not promote them,' says Aakar Patel.

The challenges awaiting Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

The challenges awaiting Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi

Rediff.com16 Nov 2015

Although Suu Kyi has won an overwhelming victory, it is not going to be easy to translate this victory into political gains.

Why the NRC is cruel

Why the NRC is cruel

Rediff.com7 Aug 2018

'I do not think that we are showing Hindu humanity and humaneness in the process of the National Register of Citizens.'

Why I don't support the cracker ban on Diwali

Why I don't support the cracker ban on Diwali

Rediff.com16 Oct 2017

'How will one day's crackers change pollution levels?' 'And why limit such genius solutions to just the capital when air pollution and pollution affects all of India?' asks Aakar Patel.

Why the Opposition failed on Friday

Why the Opposition failed on Friday

Rediff.com23 Jul 2018

'It is unclear whether there will again be such a confrontational moment in our politics before we all go to vote in 2019,' says Aakar Patel.

'It's a clear declaration of emergency': Rights groups on raids on activists

'It's a clear declaration of emergency': Rights groups on raids on activists

Rediff.com28 Aug 2018

Pune police on Tuesday raided homes of prominent Left-wing activists in several states and arrested at least five of them -- poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad and Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha in Delhi.

Can the Opposition pick itself up?

Can the Opposition pick itself up?

Rediff.com28 May 2019

Nobody understands the deep causes of defeat and victory better than the defeated. The defeated have been to all the battlefields. They have looked into the eyes of their soldiers and those of the opponents, says Aakar Patel.

A hung Parliament in 2019 won't be a bad thing

A hung Parliament in 2019 won't be a bad thing

Rediff.com6 Apr 2018

'There appears to be no relation between a government with a majority and GDP growth as the stock market and its analysts seem to fear.'

History will view Sonia Gandhi positively

History will view Sonia Gandhi positively

Rediff.com18 Dec 2017

'Sonia's term as Congress president -- which was 20 years -- was the longest in the party's history.' 'It will also go down as the period in which the Congress transformed in the way Indians viewed it,' says Aakar Patel.

Did Uma Bharti violate her oath of office?

Did Uma Bharti violate her oath of office?

Rediff.com16 Feb 2017

'We expect mobs on the subcontinent to hand out punishment without trial.' 'To have ministers doing it and then being proud about it says something about how the law is treated in India and how seriously ministers take their oath of office,' says Aakar Patel.

Had Modi been a CEO, he would be fired

Had Modi been a CEO, he would be fired

Rediff.com2 Jan 2018

'The world's economy is booming and growing at 3%. But even in this environment, India's growth has declined.' 'This is because of the deliberate slowing down induced by eccentric actions like demonetisation,' argues Aakar Patel.

It's time to look at the anti-defection law

It's time to look at the anti-defection law

Rediff.com31 May 2018

'What happens in case the party joins a post-poll alliance with another party whose ideology the legislator is opposed to?' 'Should s/he let down her/his voters merely because her/his party leadership has taken a decision in that direction?' asks Aakar Patel.

Levy 40% fine on unaccounted money: Assocham

Levy 40% fine on unaccounted money: Assocham

Rediff.com25 Feb 2015

This would be a practical way of bringing a huge sum of money.

A Different Kind of War

A Different Kind of War

Rediff.com18 Jun 2017

'The armies that are lined up and firing at each other without ceasing, without much change on the ground and without much benefit, are replaced by civilians (also in uniforms, of team colours) screaming abuse,' says Aakar Patel.

Stop this showy nationalism!

Stop this showy nationalism!

Rediff.com18 Jan 2017

'If Amazon's officials had secured their visas through proper paperwork, under what rule or law was Swaraj threatening to cancel them?' 'If she felt a crime had been committed, as a law abiding citizen she should have registered a first information report or a complaint.' 'Instead she fired off a twitter fatwa, acting like a despot.'

BJP's nationalism is not for all Indians

BJP's nationalism is not for all Indians

Rediff.com28 Dec 2017

'It is only for a particular kind of Indian. The thing is: Even some of those types of Indians do not like it,' says Aakar Patel.

Cricket Buzz: Dravid's proposal gets BCCI backing

Cricket Buzz: Dravid's proposal gets BCCI backing

Rediff.com4 Apr 2019

Dravid, who is also tipped to take additional charge as the director of NationalCricketAcademy in Bengaluru, had recently suggested that talented young cricketers should get some vocational training, which can help them later in their lives.

'Why are politicians handing over our forests to corporate houses?'

'Why are politicians handing over our forests to corporate houses?'

Rediff.com24 Feb 2015

Almost every home in this area has a slogan 'Jal, Jangal, Jameen' painted outside. Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com on the four-year battle to save the Mahan forest in Madhya Pradesh.

Japan is the most advanced society in the world

Japan is the most advanced society in the world

Rediff.com13 Jun 2018

'The bullet train is not modernity itself. It is the product of modernity.' 'It is this modernity that we would be fortunate to be able to import from Japan.' 'It occurs to me that we seem to believe that by acquiring the toys we will become a modern nation,' says Aakar Patel.

Voices of dissent are only heard at lit fests these days

Voices of dissent are only heard at lit fests these days

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

'Many of the biggest events at such lit fests have nothing to do with books or authors, but about current events and the changing nature of society,' points out Aakar Patel.

Brexit: Nations shouldn't take decisions in a fit of passion

Brexit: Nations shouldn't take decisions in a fit of passion

Rediff.com25 Nov 2018

'A nation can take a quick decision in a fit of passion or excitement that can be damaging to itself in the long term,' says Aakar Patel.

If Modi can pull this off, it will make him a true world leader

If Modi can pull this off, it will make him a true world leader

Rediff.com6 Jun 2017

'We should credit Prime Minister Modi with having foresight and courage and showing leadership on climate change.'

Modi's remarks reduced Hamid Ansari to his Muslim identity

Modi's remarks reduced Hamid Ansari to his Muslim identity

Rediff.com16 Aug 2017

He was deliberately reducing Ansari to his Muslim identity by linking his career as a diplomat in the Arab world and educationist and his reflections on intolerance with his religion.

Why young techies must be very worried

Why young techies must be very worried

Rediff.com26 Oct 2016

'Middle-level managers account for 10 per cent -- or 450,000 people -- in the IT industry in India.' 'And of these 225,000 would lose jobs over the next one decade as their work would get automated.' 'This is grim news for many reasons,' says Aakar Patel.

I hope M J Akbar is fired

I hope M J Akbar is fired

Rediff.com15 Oct 2018

'Revelations about his assaults on young women mean that his reputation and all that he has stood for is in tatters for all time,' says Aakar Patel.

Do the Gandhis have the maturity to forge alliances?

Do the Gandhis have the maturity to forge alliances?

Rediff.com31 May 2018

'For the Congress, it has become necessary to make alliances, but this is not easy to deliver at the local level,' says Aakar Patel.

Lou's incorrect, I wasn't involved in any match-fixing: Dinesh Mongia

Lou's incorrect, I wasn't involved in any match-fixing: Dinesh Mongia

Rediff.com12 Oct 2015

Tainted New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has told a London courtroom that former Indian cricketer Dinesh Mongia was one of the key members of a "Gang of four" that fixed matches during the unsanctioned and now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Modi, master of his craft, is on top of his game

Modi, master of his craft, is on top of his game

Rediff.com11 Mar 2017

'We are in the presence of a truly great politician,' says Aakar Patel.

Is The Economist right about Modi and the Economy?

Is The Economist right about Modi and the Economy?

Rediff.com25 Jun 2017

'If it is true that we are in a moment in time when the few economic advantages we hold are being lost, our focus must be on that rather than on finger-pointing,' says Aakar Patel.

CAA/NPR/NRC: What govt must do

CAA/NPR/NRC: What govt must do

Rediff.com6 Jan 2020

'The CAA should be kept in abeyance, without making it a prestige issue.'
'Laying down a clear policy on the future of illegal migrants will dispel anxieties and help in implementing the CAA, NPR and also the NCR,' suggests former Union home secretary Dr Madhav Godbole.

RSS could not have fought a war even 100 years ago

RSS could not have fought a war even 100 years ago

Rediff.com22 Feb 2018

'What does Bhagwat think his militia will do once it is at the border?' 'What does Bhagwat imagine his Sangh followers will do that will protect Mother India?' asks Aakar Patel.

Will Indian workers in UAE get a better deal after Modi's visit?

Will Indian workers in UAE get a better deal after Modi's visit?

Rediff.com17 Aug 2015

Prime Minister Modi chatted with the workers, enquiring about the place and their welfare and jobs.

Reservations in cricket: Not a bad idea

Reservations in cricket: Not a bad idea

Rediff.com10 Jul 2017

'We should be open to looking at Ramdas Athavale's suggestion of reservations. India will not be unique if it chooses to do this, says Aakar Patel.

What we need to learn from Nepal and Sri Lanka

What we need to learn from Nepal and Sri Lanka

Rediff.com13 May 2017

'There is an observable difference between Nepalis and Lankans and the rest of us.' 'It would serve us well to understand where this difference comes from and, if it is something that is better in some way, how it is that we can access it,' says Aakar Patel.

If Rahul was really the Congress boss...

If Rahul was really the Congress boss...

Rediff.com18 Dec 2018

'If Rahul Gandhi's authority was absolute, he could have picked his man.' 'Compare this with the ease with which outsiders like Adityanath, Khattar and Fadnavis were picked.'

The government, like the British, sees Indians as a nuisance

The government, like the British, sees Indians as a nuisance

Rediff.com13 May 2018

'Till we are able to understand this reality of what is happening to our fellow citizens today in 2018, it would be hypocrisy to continue to teach in our textbooks about the great atrocity of 1919,' argues Aakar Patel.

Sushma Swaraj's Twitter durbar

Sushma Swaraj's Twitter durbar

Rediff.com30 Oct 2017

'Why do visas require the intervention of India's Union ministers? Does any civilised nation assure visas like this over Twitter?'

Lalu, Tejashwi and the Crisis of Opposition Credibility

Lalu, Tejashwi and the Crisis of Opposition Credibility

Rediff.com17 Jul 2017

'On corruption the Yadavs of UP and Bihar will find it very tough to give an answer to the accusations of the BJP and its supporters,' says Aakar Patel.