News for 'Great Democratic Liberator'

Why Modi-Shah must thank Advani-Vajpayee

Why Modi-Shah must thank Advani-Vajpayee

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

'Like in cricket, M S Dhoni was the captain and Virat Kohli played under him.' 'Then Dhoni played under Kohli.' 'Now imagine, having a second switch.' 'That is the analogy here, and I find no other example in Indian politics, or even world politics.'

Trump expects '100%' of IS caliphate defeated in week

Trump expects '100%' of IS caliphate defeated in week

Rediff.com7 Feb 2019

He said the new approach developed by his administration, empowered US commanders in the field, enabled partners on the ground, and directly confronted ISIS's "wicked" ideology.

US-India: Why 2+2 may not always be 4

US-India: Why 2+2 may not always be 4

Rediff.com23 Dec 2019

'This is a historic juncture when the US is in great need of an alliance with India to strengthen its hands in the fierce struggle with China in the Asian theatre,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Why the Congress is on the back foot

Why the Congress is on the back foot

Rediff.com8 Jul 2020

'Given that the RGF is a family-controlled trust, why would the Congress defend it every time someone accuses it of wrong-doing?' asks Virendra Kapoor.

Modi will have a good relationship with Biden

Modi will have a good relationship with Biden

Rediff.com8 Nov 2020

'The credit for managing Trump should go to Modi.' 'Biden is a predictable and rational person with plenty of administrative experience,' notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Vaz, Patel and Rishi Sunak elected to UK parliament

Vaz, Patel and Rishi Sunak elected to UK parliament

Rediff.com8 May 2015

Opposition Labour's Valerie Vaz also retained her Walsall South seat and Seema Malhotra won her south west London seat comfortably.

Remains of the day as India exits lockdown

Remains of the day as India exits lockdown

Rediff.com19 May 2020

'This is a critical story that Modi seems to grasp far better -- almost instinctively -- in comparison with most of his predecessors as prime ministers,' notes M K Bhadrakumar.

Surgical strike not an answer to Pak terror

Surgical strike not an answer to Pak terror

Rediff.com21 Feb 2019

'Nobody is going to fight India's war.' 'India has to fight its own war against the rogue State and the evil forces nurtured by it.'

Understanding Trump's triumph: Fear is the key

Understanding Trump's triumph: Fear is the key

Rediff.com10 Nov 2016

While Trump played on fears about Muslims and immigrants, Hillary played out the fear of Trump, says Sankrant Sanu.

Why US is bullying Sri Lanka

Why US is bullying Sri Lanka

Rediff.com21 Feb 2020

'Clearly, Washington has all but given up hope following US Acting Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells's stormy visit to Colombo last month where she read the riot act to Sri Lankan leaders to sign the pending status of forces agreement allowing American troops to use Sri Lanka as a hub for operations in the Indian Ocean,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

'PLA is no match for Indian Army'

'PLA is no match for Indian Army'

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

'Chinese troops are not geared to fight Indian troops who are battle hardened and acclimatised and are far more hardy.'

Tarun Gogoi: Cong stalwart who led Assam from the front

Tarun Gogoi: Cong stalwart who led Assam from the front

Rediff.com23 Nov 2020

The 84-year old veteran Congressman, who died from post-COVID complications on Monday, was a Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist.

Brexit done: UK leaves EU as Johnson hails new dawn

Brexit done: UK leaves EU as Johnson hails new dawn

Rediff.com1 Feb 2020

The UK became the first country to exit the economic bloc after 47 years of membership following the vote in favour of Brexit in June 2016.

Citizenship bill is a triumph of the idea of India

Citizenship bill is a triumph of the idea of India

Rediff.com12 Dec 2019

'This bill is for the children of Partition who are still subject to inhuman barbarism because they profess a faith rooted in India.' 'If India fails them, we shall be no better than a Pakistan which brutalises its minorities and has turned into a factory of intolerant bigots,' says former BJP MP Tarun Vijay.

Are India and the US headed for a clash?

Are India and the US headed for a clash?

Rediff.com21 Jun 2019

'India will come increasingly in the US crosshairs if it insists on maintaining its strategic autonomy, warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Indian-origin anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada dies

Indian-origin anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada dies

Rediff.com28 Mar 2017

Kathrada, who frequently referred to Mandela as his 'elder brother', was among three political prisoners who were sentenced to life imprisonment together with the South African anti-apartheid icon after the infamous Rivonia Trial of 1964.

Trump picks Neil Gorsuch for US Supreme Court

Trump picks Neil Gorsuch for US Supreme Court

Rediff.com1 Feb 2017

"Judge Gorsuch has a superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its text. He will make an incredible Justice as soon as the Senate confirms him," said the US president.

'It is not easy to misappropriate Netaji'

'It is not easy to misappropriate Netaji'

Rediff.com7 Apr 2021

'He was always opposed to a form of nationalism that was narrow, selfish and arrogant.' 'He will always remain a beacon of inspiration for freedom-loving people across the world and for movements of resistance against oppressive State power.'

The Politics of Secularism

The Politics of Secularism

Rediff.com4 Aug 2017

'Forming cults around Lalus, Nitishes, Mulayams, Mayawatis and Mamatas will do as much harm to the Republic as the bhakti of the Hindus for Modi will do,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Won't serve third term as British PM: David Cameron

Won't serve third term as British PM: David Cameron

Rediff.com24 Mar 2015

After that, he said, "It will be time for new leadership".

Yogis, Sufis and Hindustani civilisation

Yogis, Sufis and Hindustani civilisation

Rediff.com12 Nov 2018

'The osmosis between Hinduism and Islam that really gave birth to the Hindustani or Indo-Islamic civilisation was due to the conversation between Muslim mystics and yogis.'

US Supreme Court upholds Trump's controversial travel ban

US Supreme Court upholds Trump's controversial travel ban

Rediff.com26 Jun 2018

The ban restricts entry of people from Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela.

No need for the world to fear Trump

No need for the world to fear Trump

Rediff.com21 Jan 2017

Other countries need not be worried by Trump putting America first, says B S Raghavan. 'That is what the imperative duty is of everyone heading his country's government: To put his own country first, and make it great.' 'That is what Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping, Theresa May, Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe and all the democratically elected heads of governments, with the interest of their people at heart, are doing.'

Will BJP oust Nitish after the poll?

Will BJP oust Nitish after the poll?

Rediff.com13 Oct 2020

'Maybe the BJP believes, in the post-poll scenario, it will have the might to foist, anybody endorsed by the RSS, upon Bihar,' observes Mohammad Sajjad.

Must we choose between democracy and vikas?

Must we choose between democracy and vikas?

Rediff.com12 Apr 2018

'A dangerous and false binary is now surfacing in Indian political discourse, which must be firmly rejected.' 'It is that we have to choose between freedom and development.' 'For us freedom is neither merely an instrument for development nor to be subordinated to development.' 'It is, as our founding fathers proclaimed early in our freedom struggle, 'our birthright' on which we shall never compromise.' 'Growth, wealth and development are fruits of democracy, not substitutes.' Dr Manmohan Singh's thoughts on democracy: A Must Read!

What Rahul now needs to do

What Rahul now needs to do

Rediff.com16 Dec 2017

'His prowess in Aikido -- a Japanese martial art that focuses on harmony with the opponent to peacefully resolve conflicts -- gives Rahul Gandhi an advantage that fanatical adversaries lack,' says Sunanda K Datta-Ray.

The end of the world, as we knew it

The end of the world, as we knew it

Rediff.com4 Feb 2017

'An isolationist US and a disintegrating European Union will create a power vacuum that only China is in a position to fill -- a conclusion that is uncomfortable but unavoidable,' says Nitin Desai.

Should courts intervene in religious matters?

Should courts intervene in religious matters?

Rediff.com5 Nov 2018

Awful religious practices need to be abolished. But through social and political reformers, not by courts, argues Shekhar Gupta.

Might of core group of Maoists reduced to 20 in 2014, says IB chief

Might of core group of Maoists reduced to 20 in 2014, says IB chief

Rediff.com29 Nov 2014

A menace to development and a constant threat to the country's security, terror incidents by Maoists have reduced in the recent past, says Intelligence Bureau chief Syed Asif Ibrahim.

'We have been a bit like a fast tortoise'

'We have been a bit like a fast tortoise'

Rediff.com19 Jul 2019

'My biggest contribution is the creation of the first 'modern Indian law firm',' Cyril Shroff tells Sudipto Dey.

'Modi has rock star status'

'Modi has rock star status'

Rediff.com6 Apr 2019

'While Modi is undoubtedly the star of the show, the online sphere has found in Modi the champion to re-engineer what it means to support the right.'

Don't change FDI policy, Sharma's advice to his successor

Don't change FDI policy, Sharma's advice to his successor

Rediff.com15 May 2014

Sharma proposes to pass on the 'handover note' to his successor, which as per the poll projections is likely to be from Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Wishing good health and long life to a gentle giant

Wishing good health and long life to a gentle giant

Rediff.com24 Dec 2014

Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji turns 90 on December 25. I wish him all the best. The nation has honoured him and Pt Madan Mohan Malaviyaji with the Bharat Ratna.

The men who made history

The men who made history

Rediff.com5 Dec 2016

A war hero looks back at the men and the moments that forged India's greatest military victory.

What reality will replace the dream of 1947?

What reality will replace the dream of 1947?

Rediff.com25 Mar 2017

'Our prime minister manifests a vision for India to be great and powerful, but the modernity required -- of thinking, attitudes, behaviour -- seems alien, if not abhorrent, to his constituency and associates,' says Ambassador K Shankar Bajpai.

Australian PM Turnbull claims victory in tight election

Australian PM Turnbull claims victory in tight election

Rediff.com10 Jul 2016

The most important people to thank are the Australian people because we have resolved this election," Turnbull said.

Truly, an extraordinary fellow

Truly, an extraordinary fellow

Rediff.com19 Mar 2019

'Overlying his idealism was a hatred of war and of all things military. He gave no deep thought to politico-military matters and this prevented him from making sound security decisions.'

New media ensuring the emergence of new politics in India

New media ensuring the emergence of new politics in India

Rediff.com11 Mar 2015

The days of political elite have ended with the advent of new politics and new media. Today every citizen is a politician, social worker and an intellectual, says Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary.

Hinduism, nationalism and socialism: the latest political conundrum

Hinduism, nationalism and socialism: the latest political conundrum

Rediff.com28 Mar 2016

Hinduism, nationalism and socialism may be okay separately, but in equal combination they yield political nonsense.

Imran Khan won't save Pakistan

Imran Khan won't save Pakistan

Rediff.com24 Jul 2018

'What is required is to make Pakistan less war-like and more modest in its ambitions. To normalise with India and to reduce the State's fondness for religion.' 'It is pragmatism and not charisma that it required and it is by being boring and not heroic that this can be achieved.' 'This is the moment of realisation which brings the Pakistani leader into conflict with the army.' 'Imran Khan will learn the lesson in time,' says Aakar Patel.