'It's like the BJP is mocking people: Do what you want, we'll still win.'
First, Mamata's pampering of lawless elements masquerading as Trinamool Congress cadres. Second, her promotion of her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, as a possible successor and the adoption of Prashant Kishor as her political adviser. Neither has gone down well with either her followers or the public, observes Amulya Ganguli.
Slack in following COVID appropriate behaviour, a susceptible population and spread of variants could be among the main reasons for the second wave of coronavirus
Lok Satta Party's national president Jayaprakash Narayan said here today that his party would not have any electoral tie-up with the Aam Aadmi Party, but contest the forthcoming assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections independently in Andhra Pradesh.
The film is directed by G Ashok and also stars Nisha Aggarwal.
'Through multiple transportation modes, flood waters, a couple of PPE kits, multiple temperature checks, quarantine check point, immigration approval, health declaration forms and through two Covid tests, which thankfully were negative, I finally reached home in Dubai.' Abhijit Masih reveals what it takes to embark on an international journey in the times of the pandemic.
The Emergency greatly influenced the RSS' makeover from a fringe force in the Indian political imagination to one that could have its own man sworn in as prime minister in two decades' time. A riveting excerpt from Christophe Jaffrelot and Pratinav Anil's India's First Dictatorship: The Emergency, 1975-1977.
'Both Pavan Varma and Prashant Kishor questioned the party president in a public forum.' 'That is why we had to show them the door.'
A person who has Covid but also has another disease can be classified as a Covid death or not. It serves the immediate purpose of the government to pretend that the official number is low because it makes it appear less incompetent and helpless than it is, points out Aakar Patel.
Eradication of corruption, free healthcare, basic amenities, education for every student including computers literacy, formed the 12-point election manifesto of the Lok Satta Party for the general and Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
'The Covid situation is like demonetisation.' 'People were upset with the government initially, but eventually they voted for the BJP again.'
Anyone can make tall promises and it is very easy to accept these promises if they guarantee even an iota of betterment for you, for your existence. Even if these new promises and assurances are accepted with a pinch of salt and discount the actual execution to 50%, even then the Bihari voter will be content, observes Asmita Bihari.
'Consider Mrs Gandhi's view of her opponents: Traitors, anti-nationals, rumour-mongers.' Does the spirit of the Emergency-era Indira Gandhi still rule India? asks Vir Sanghvi.
Electricity has finally reached Sitabdiara village, the birth place of legendry socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, 64 years after independence. Thanks to Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani launching his anti-corruption 'rath yatra' from this village in Bihar's Saran district, it has finally received an electrical connection. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday inaugurated a power project, barely two hours before he is scheduled to flag off Advani's yatra.
He announced his 24-hour fast in a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, speaking at length about his anguish over the ruckus in the House during the passage of two farm bills on Sunday.
What do we know about India's devastating second wave, and can we assign responsibility for it?
The in-fighting within the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken its toll and the party has lost the prestigious constituency of Udupi-Chickmagalur to the Congress. The by-election to this Parliamentary constituency, which was earlier held by Chief Minister D Sadananda Gowda, was won by the Congress candidate by over 40,000 votes.The seat had fallen vacant as Gowda had resigned as a member of Parliament after he was appointed the chief minister.
The city can wait, indefinitely. Of course, its citizens don't count. Those who thought they did and went to vote for a change have fooled themselves, says Mahesh Vijapurkar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the Emergency, imposed in 1975, as the biggest blow to democracy and said its memories should be kept alive to draw lessons to further fortify the democratic framework and values in the country.
Director Arun Kumar's Tamil film Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is a realistic story about the lives of ordinary people and their simple desires, says S Saraswathi.
'The Ayush minister (Shripad Yesso Naik) himself was suffering from COVID-19 and got treated in a modern hospital.'
An active, vigilant citizenry is a vital partner in the fight against terrorism. However, Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, founder of the Lok Satta Party, argues that this can only be possible with a new legal framework that emphasises efficiency and inclusiveness.
The first half though is not exciting as most of it is wasted on a meaningless romantic angle with some tiresome comedy, feels S Saraswathi.
Former India captain and Karnataka State Cricket Association president Anil Kumble said that the KSCA was able to work for the progress of cricket in the state because his team was successful in keeping away former secretary Brijesh Patel and his associates from the helm of affairs.
The charming performances by the lead actors make director Pandiraj's Idha Namma Aalu worth a watch!
None of the remaining three Indians, including Rohan Bopanna, could make the main singles draw of the Aircel Chennai Open. All of them suffered defeats in the second round of the qualifying event, on Sunday.
All four formulations of the Lokpal Bill have a common feature that addresses a major obstacle to anti-corruption legislation. However, the four versions differ on several aspects.
'The BJP may well be his ultimate destination.' 'In the process, he has probably shot himself in the foot.' 'It is unlikely that either Scindia or Pilot will be anything other than a No 3 or a No 4 in the Modi-Shah dispensation,' predicts Amulya Ganguli.
The narrative has a humorous streak throughout.
The Andhra Pradesh Legislature descended into chaos today when Telangana Rashtriya Samiti and Telegu Desam Party MLAs hailing from Telangana region virtually manhandled Governor E S L Narasimhan during which the mike and the lectern were uprooted and chairs on the podium pulled down.
Earlier, TRS and TDP MLAs disrupted Governor ESL Narasimhan's speech on the opening day of the assembly's Budget session. They tried to tear his speech copy and climbed on the podium.
Modi did not consider these deaths important enough to express regrets. Will these lives continue to count for nothing? asks Jyoti Punwani.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that Team Anna's Jan Lokpal Bill could form the basis of discussions on Lokpal bill in the parliament.
Telangana Rashtra Samiti Member of Parliament and film actress Vijayasanthi and Congress Member of Legislative Assembly T Jayaprakash were on Saturday arrested on charges of making inflammatory remarks. Vijayasanthi, 44, was later produced before the Additional Metropolitan Magistrate at Nampally, who sent her to 14 days judicial remand. Later, she was shifted to the Mahila Chandhalguda jail.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday refused to put on a saffron shawl and a saffron badge offered by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders at Sitab Diara and Chapra during the launch of L K Advani's rath yatra against corruption. At the public meeting in Sitab Diara, the birth place of Jayaprakash Narayan, Kumar refused to put on a saffron shawl given by BJP leaders. He was then given a white shawl by BJP leaders.
An interesting contest is on in Malkajgiri, the biggest Lok Sabha constituency in the country.
Based on a short story, Run Raja Run is directed by newcomer Sujeeth.
A prominent Sri Lankan Tamil journalist, whose arrest and subsequent 20-year sentence for 'supporting terrorism' had drawn international condemnation, has been pardoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa has ordered the release of Jayaprakash Sittampalam Tissainayagam, who was recently released on bail after being sentenced to a jail term of 20 years.Tissainayagam was arrested in March 2008 and later charged under the anti-terrorism legislation, was released on bail.
Debutant director Ravi Kumar deserves all the credit for Indru Netru Naalai, writes S Saraswathi.
Ram Vilas Paswan, 74, who was the Lok Janshakti Party patron, had undergone a heart surgery at a hospital in New Delhi a few days ago.
