News for 'First Servant of the People'

Biden picks Pete Buttigieg to be secretary of transportation

Biden picks Pete Buttigieg to be secretary of transportation

Rediff.com16 Dec 2020

The first openly gay major presidential candidate in American history, and one of the youngest-ever to win a state primary or caucus, Buttigieg, 38, is a barrier-breaking public servant from the industrial Midwest with a track record of trailblasing, forward-thinking executive leadership.

'Ordinary people live in mortal fear in India'

'Ordinary people live in mortal fear in India'

Rediff.com14 Sep 2016

'How can middlemen disappear as long as our political parties are sucking in massive amounts of black money?' 'There is an old political art well practised in New Delhi -- people create artificial problems and then solve it for you to earn your gratitude for a lifetime.'

40 Years Ago...And now: Are people saving wisely?

40 Years Ago...And now: Are people saving wisely?

Rediff.com29 Sep 2014

The curious thing is that savings instruments have not really kept pace with changing needs, although people have access to a wider variety than before.

'Rajapaksa didn't trust India, tilted towards China'

'Rajapaksa didn't trust India, tilted towards China'

Rediff.com15 Jul 2022

'A fragile Sri Lanka will have a serious impact on the security of India.'

G-23's Shashi Tharoor has a vision for Congress, will others see it?

G-23's Shashi Tharoor has a vision for Congress, will others see it?

Rediff.com30 Sep 2022

By filing his nomination as Congress president on Friday, Shashi Tharoor has shown he is no 'quockerwodger' -- a word he introduced into our lexicon which means someone acting on the instructions of an influential third party.

Biden unveils health team; names Vivek Murthy as surgeon general

Biden unveils health team; names Vivek Murthy as surgeon general

Rediff.com7 Dec 2020

Dr Anthony Fauci has been named as Chief Medical Adviser to the President on COVID-19, while Dr Rochelle Walensky has been named as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith as COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair.

In first sentencing in 2010 CWG scam, 5 sent to jail

In first sentencing in 2010 CWG scam, 5 sent to jail

Rediff.com2 Sep 2015

The case relates to the CWG street lighting scam, which had caused a loss of Rs 1.4 crore to the exchequer.

UK PM, minister Rishi Sunak to be fined over 'partygate' scandal

UK PM, minister Rishi Sunak to be fined over 'partygate' scandal

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

Downing Street confirmed that the two senior-most United Kingdom government officials had received notification from the Metropolitan Police that they would be given "fixed penalty notices".

Delhi riots: Man who pointed gun at cop says had no intent to kill

Delhi riots: Man who pointed gun at cop says had no intent to kill

Rediff.com18 Nov 2021

Shahrukh Pathan, who had allegedly pointed a gun at a Delhi police head constable during the 2020 Delhi riots, on Thursday told a court in New Delhi that he did not fire shots at the cop and merely wanted to scare him and not kill, a claim opposed by the prosecution.

When Politics Scuttles Economic Reforms

When Politics Scuttles Economic Reforms

Rediff.com14 Mar 2022

People like Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram, who as finance minister had fully supported the NPS, refuse to exercise their moral and political influence to try and stop Ashok Gehlot and others hell-bent on wrecking the states' finances, notes Virendra Kapoor.

The Minister Was Not Expecting Any Question On RTI!

The Minister Was Not Expecting Any Question On RTI!

Rediff.com13 Jan 2023

It is sad that the legislative pre-consultation on such an important bill is being done in a very biased manner, notes Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner, recounting his experience with Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar.

Stalin Draws Up Line Of DMK Succession

Stalin Draws Up Line Of DMK Succession

Rediff.com14 Dec 2022

What does Udhayanidhi's induction as minister mean? For the DMK, it indicates the future course, direction and leadership. It is continuity with change, and change with continuity, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Don't live in 'cuckoo world', JK still face militancy: Farooq to govt

Don't live in 'cuckoo world', JK still face militancy: Farooq to govt

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

"India cannot be run on the basis of one religion. And there is more threat from the enemy within. We know about the enemy which is outside," Abdullah said.

Activist Teesta Setalvad detained day after SC ruling on 2002 riots

Activist Teesta Setalvad detained day after SC ruling on 2002 riots

Rediff.com25 Jun 2022

The action came after Amit Shah accused Teesta of giving baseless information to the police about the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Queen Elizabeth II laid to rest in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

The Queen's coffin then lowered into the royal vault in preparation for her final resting place by the side of her late husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in an enclave of the historic chapel on her south-east England estate of Windsor.

The Two Faces of India's Democracy

The Two Faces of India's Democracy

Rediff.com22 Sep 2022

How should one billion Indians, for whom deprivation has become an inescapable way of life, join us in celebrating 75 years of Independence? And where do we go from here? asks Kalyan Singhal.

Why Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi Has Got It Wrong

Why Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi Has Got It Wrong

Rediff.com9 Jan 2023

Words and actions like those of R N Ravi and a vocal section of the state BJP have only added to Tamil fears and suspicions, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

'JNU gang has hijacked Congress in UP'

'JNU gang has hijacked Congress in UP'

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

'Every Congress leader in UP and the rest of India is calling me and thanking me that finally someone spoke about this JNU gang ruling the Congress party in UP.'

BJP Will Perform A Hat-Trick In 2024

BJP Will Perform A Hat-Trick In 2024

Rediff.com11 Mar 2022

'Modi looks to be an effective, result-oriented, purposeful leader, focused on bringing greatness and glory to the nation.'
'

So it is best for his critics to give up their sniping and supplement his efforts,' asserts B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant who served three prime ministers.

Omicron threat: PM to hold meet, states enhance surveillance

Omicron threat: PM to hold meet, states enhance surveillance

Rediff.com23 Dec 2021

With the Omicron variant of coronavirus slowly spreading its tentacles in the country, a number of states enhanced surveillance to trace, track and quarantine contacts of COVID-19 positive persons while Delhi began genome sequencing of samples of all infected people and has prohibited Christmas and New Year gatherings.

TN's Panneer, the first chai-wallah to become chief minister

TN's Panneer, the first chai-wallah to become chief minister

Rediff.com28 Sep 2014

O Panneerselvam is the first chai-wallah to become chief minister in the country. Gujarat's Narendra Modi, the better-known chai-wallah to become chief minister, followed Paneerselvam around a fortnight later in 2001. The parallel should end there, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Prez, VP, PM pay tributes to Sardar Patel on 'National Unity Day'

Prez, VP, PM pay tributes to Sardar Patel on 'National Unity Day'

Rediff.com31 Oct 2020

A series of events were held across the country to mark the day and government officials, security personnel and others took a pledge 'to preserve the unity, integrity and security of the nation and also strive hard to spread this message'.

Talvar: Closure, first. Propaganda, next. Justice, later

Talvar: Closure, first. Propaganda, next. Justice, later

Rediff.com5 Oct 2015

The propaganda aspect of the movie -- despite it stemming purely from the writer's deepest convictions -- is a clincher for it is highly unlikely that you'll walk out of a screening of Talvar saying, 'I loved the movie, but I still think the parents are guilty.' If you are swept away by the power of the movie, it's also sure to swing your perception in a certain direction,' says Sreehari Nair.

'PM has gone for good administrators'

'PM has gone for good administrators'

Rediff.com23 Jul 2021

'Whether it will create an impact or not, only time will tell.'

Juveniles among 22 held for Hanuman Jayanti violence in Jahangirpuri

Juveniles among 22 held for Hanuman Jayanti violence in Jahangirpuri

Rediff.com17 Apr 2022

Police said there was stone-pelting and some vehicles were also torched during the clashes between two communities Saturday evening.

White House backs Neera Tanden as Republicans oppose her nomination

White House backs Neera Tanden as Republicans oppose her nomination

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

The White House and the Indian-American community are solidly backing the nomination of Neera Tanden as the director of Office of Management and Budget, describing her as the most appropriate candidate to hold the position.

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

Rediff.com25 Jul 2017

'I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me.'

Has India Changed Its Tibet Policy?

Has India Changed Its Tibet Policy?

Rediff.com18 May 2022

One priority for Delhi (for the new foreign secretary in particular) is to have an in-depth discussion with Dharamsala as soon as possible, suggests Claude Arpi.

What's the big deal about Parasite?

What's the big deal about Parasite?

Rediff.com7 Mar 2020

'Are we too close as well-off Indians, all with servants and drivers and tuition teachers ourselves, to be able to understand why it is all so awful?', asks Aakar Patel.

The Pension Challenge Confronting India

The Pension Challenge Confronting India

Rediff.com18 Apr 2022

When we look at the pension expenditure of the states, so far, there has been no gain from the NPS reform. Pension expenses as a share of total state revenue expenditure rose from 4% in 1991-1992 to 10% at the time of the NPS reform, and have risen further to about 12%, observes Ajay Shah.

Protect environment for future generations: Kovind in farewell address

Protect environment for future generations: Kovind in farewell address

Rediff.com24 Jul 2022

The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations.

Day after march to Bengal secretariat, BJP leaders booked for rioting

Day after march to Bengal secretariat, BJP leaders booked for rioting

Rediff.com9 Oct 2020

An officer on Friday said that the police registered suo motu first information reports also against state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, national secretary Arvind Mennon and MPs Arjun Singh and Locket Chatterjee. They were charged with unlawful assembly, rioting, destruction of public property, criminal obstruction and assault on government servant and breaching the disaster management act, he said.

Biden picks Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general

Biden picks Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general

Rediff.com7 Jan 2021

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday nominated Indian-American Vanita Gupta to be the associate attorney general and roped in Judge Merrick Garland for the position of attorney general.

We need a new India, Modiji!

We need a new India, Modiji!

Rediff.com18 Jun 2019

'The time has come to substitute the present Constitutional set-up with an alternative democratic framework,' argues B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.

Was Mahatma Gandhi India's first corporate agent?

Was Mahatma Gandhi India's first corporate agent?

Rediff.com27 Mar 2015

Gandhi and Birla, in spite of their closeness, too differed.

How Regulators Can Stop Being Puppets

How Regulators Can Stop Being Puppets

Rediff.com14 Mar 2022

'All regulatory agencies must be made Constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and the CAG.' 'That way they will become independent of the minister,' recommends T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan.

Karnataka IAS officer quits, says 'democracy's building blocks compromised'

Karnataka IAS officer quits, says 'democracy's building blocks compromised'

Rediff.com6 Sep 2019

Karnataka IAS officer S Sasikanth Senthil submitted his resignation from the service on Friday, telling 'friends' in a letter that the "fundamental building blocks of democracy are being compromised in an unprecedented manner".

Parties during Covid scandal: 4 top aides of UK PM quit

Parties during Covid scandal: 4 top aides of UK PM quit

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

Johnson's longstanding policy chief Munira Mirza, chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, and communications director Jack Doyle all left their posts within hours of each other on Thursday, days after a damning investigation revealed that multiple parties took place at Downing Street while the rest of the United Kingdom was living under strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.

How Did TN BJP Chief Own A Rafale Watch?

How Did TN BJP Chief Own A Rafale Watch?

Rediff.com28 Dec 2022

If Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai bought it in 2015, did he get prior approval from the Union home ministry, and did he include it in his annual wealth returns, sections of the media want to know. N Sathiya Moorthy on the curious case of the 'Rafale' watch.

A bureaucrat for 'the little guy'

A bureaucrat for 'the little guy'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2021

Rahul Khullar's guiding credo was that a civil servant must never lose sight of his client: The little guy. The evil men are those who are decision-makers but abdicate their responsibility of taking decisions, leading people to lose confidence in public institutions.