News for 'Karan Thapar'

SC protects The Wire's Varadarajan, Karan Thapar from arrest

SC protects The Wire's Varadarajan, Karan Thapar from arrest

Rediff.com22 Aug 2025

The Supreme Court has granted protection from arrest to The Wire's founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan and Consulting Editor Karan Thapar in connection with an FIR registered by Assam Police over a news article.

India's 'Tiger Man' Valmik Thapar dies at 73

India's 'Tiger Man' Valmik Thapar dies at 73

Rediff.com31 May 2025

Thapar had strong reservations about Project Cheetah, India's initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild. He argued that India does not have the necessary habitat or prey base to support free-ranging cheetahs and that the authorities lacked experience in managing spotted felines in the wild.

Journalist booked for sedition over remarks on Centre, Assam govt

Journalist booked for sedition over remarks on Centre, Assam govt

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

Guwahati police have registered an FIR against journalist and YouTuber Abhisar Sharma for allegedly ridiculing the Assam and Union governments and promoting religious enmity. The FIR invokes Sections 152, 196, and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Rediff.com18 Oct 2025

In May, 40 Rohingyas were blindfolded and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and then thrown into the sea and made to swim to an island in Myanmar. And after the Pahalgam attack, at least 300 Muslims were 'pushed back' to Bangladesh from Assam.

'ISI Had No Clue About US' Bin Laden Mission'

'ISI Had No Clue About US' Bin Laden Mission'

Rediff.com15 Sep 2025

'Shock, confusion, and paralysis reigned.' 'Pakistan was caught in a most embarrassing situation. It could neither claim credit for the operation nor admit to a dismal intelligence failure and lack of army preparedness.'

'If Pranab Was PM, Cong Would Have...'

'If Pranab Was PM, Cong Would Have...'

Rediff.com19 Dec 2024

'...still have lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but could have won 140 seats.'

'Cambridge: A place where I had a bloody good time!'

'Cambridge: A place where I had a bloody good time!'

Rediff.com12 Sep 2011

Television presenter Karan Thapar looks back at his Cambridge days and talks about the late Benazir Bhutto, his contemporary, selling tickets for a Pandit Ravishankar concert and what it takes to be an alumnus of the world's best university. Read on.

Narendra Modi walks out of TV interview

Narendra Modi walks out of TV interview

Rediff.com20 Oct 2007

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi cut short a television interview at his Ahmedabad residence on Friday after he was repeatedly asked questions about the post-Godhra riots in 2002. Modi terminated the interview to CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme midway when questioner Karan Thapar asked if he had any regrets about the Gujarat riots and also about his image as an anti-Muslim. Modi removed the microphone from his shirt and told Thapar that he cannot continue.

Rajan pans raising LPG cap, says it's misdirected subsidy

Rajan pans raising LPG cap, says it's misdirected subsidy

Rediff.com31 Jan 2014

Minutes after the Union Cabinet approved raising the cap on subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders from nine to 12 per connection in a year, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan questioned the decision, suggesting it was "misdirected subsidy".

Modi's elevation a winning decision, Advani will back him: Jaitley

Modi's elevation a winning decision, Advani will back him: Jaitley

Rediff.com15 Sep 2013

Hailing as a "winning decision" Narendra Modi's elevation as Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha polls, party leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday expressed confidence that sulking L K Advani will "eventually support" the move.

They didn't think it out: Nariman on Afzal's execution

They didn't think it out: Nariman on Afzal's execution

Rediff.com17 Feb 2013

"Our worst enemies couldn't have done it better," was how eminent jurist Fali S Nariman reacted to the manner of execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru without properly communicating it to his family.

'Let's not spend too much energy focusing on the Budget'

'Let's not spend too much energy focusing on the Budget'

Rediff.com19 Mar 2012

Interview with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission.

Rajan Mittal on why jobs won't be lost in retail sector

Rajan Mittal on why jobs won't be lost in retail sector

Rediff.com2 Oct 2012

Bharti Enterprises has had a joint venture with Walmart in the wholesale trade for years in India.

Congress govt 'killed' the Bofors case, says Jaitley

Congress govt 'killed' the Bofors case, says Jaitley

Rediff.com30 Apr 2012

The National Democratic Alliance government made all efforts to bring the alleged Bofors scam guilty to the book, but the successive Congress-led governments tried to "kill" the case, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley tells Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate show.

I told PM loot is happening in his name: Shourie

I told PM loot is happening in his name: Shourie

Rediff.com14 Feb 2011

Former telecom minister Arun Shourie responds to the Shivraj Patil committee's findings on the 2G spectrum scam, in this interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN programme 'Devil's Advocate'. Excerpts:

'One House nod enough for FEMA notification on FDI'

'One House nod enough for FEMA notification on FDI'

Rediff.com2 Dec 2012

The FEMA notification dealing with foreign direct investment in retail has to be passed by only one House of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has claimed belying the Opposition stand that the decision cannot be implemented if it falls in Rajya Sabha, where UPA lacks majority.

Pranab rules out replacing govt Lokpal Bill

Pranab rules out replacing govt Lokpal Bill

Rediff.com26 Aug 2011

Government on Friday ruled out replacing its Lokpal Bill with another, saying it will be better to have amendments to the one already introduced.

Yechury hints at leadership change in CPM

Yechury hints at leadership change in CPM

Rediff.com23 May 2011

The CPI-M on Monday admitted that some element of "alienation" and "anger" worked behind its drubbing in the recent West Bengal polls. Senior party politburo member Sitaram Yechury also did not rule out a change in the central leadership.

'Raja acted unilaterally in the 2G spectrum mess'

'Raja acted unilaterally in the 2G spectrum mess'

Rediff.com21 Feb 2012

Former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly says former telecom minister A Raja acted unilaterally in the 2G spectrum mess and that his Cabinet colleagues are not to be blamed. Speaking to Karan Thapar on CNN IBN's Devil's Advocate, Ganguly said it is not correct to apply the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility in the case related to the distribution of 2G licences on a first-come-first-served basis.

I wasn't put up by Congress: R P Singh

I wasn't put up by Congress: R P Singh

Rediff.com25 Nov 2012

Former Comptroller and Auditor General official R P Singh, who has stirred a controversy, has rejected the allegations that the Congress has put him up to defend the government on the audit report on 2G spectrum allocation which had estimated the presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

'We need one party running the country, not 10'

'We need one party running the country, not 10'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2012

We should now think positively and look at options and opportunities, says Deepak Parekh.

2G scam loss: Montek too says CAG was wrong

2G scam loss: Montek too says CAG was wrong

Rediff.com17 Jan 2011

In an interview with Karan Thapar on the CNN-IBN channel's Devil's Advocate programme, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia explains why he faults the controversial report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on 2G telecom spectrum allocation. Edited excerpts:

Misconduct by Bedi if organisers weren't on board: Hegde

Misconduct by Bedi if organisers weren't on board: Hegde

Rediff.com21 Oct 2011

Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde on Friday said it will be a "misconduct" if activist Kiran Bedi had not taken the permission of organisers of events for transferring the difference in money on air tickets to her non-governnment organisation.

'Broad range of reforms will get done in time'

'Broad range of reforms will get done in time'

Rediff.com13 Jul 2009

The Union government's response to the many comments and criticisms of the 2009-10 Budget was explored by Karan Thapar for Devil's Advocate, the CNN-IBN channel programme, with deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Manmohan Singh best person for the PM job: Khurshid

Manmohan Singh best person for the PM job: Khurshid

Rediff.com20 May 2012

Rubbishing all criticism of Manmohan Singh being a weak Prime Minister, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said he is the best person for the job and has provided "thoughtful, philosophical" leadership in uncertain times.

Ambani meets Karat

Ambani meets Karat

Rediff.com9 Feb 2009

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat are understood to have discussed the economic slowdown, the political situation and the CPI-M's position as a general election approaches.

NSA's clarification on television interview

NSA's clarification on television interview

Rediff.com4 Feb 2009

"It is further clarified that the underlying theme of the reply to the question on Indo-US relations was the high expectation India had from the Obama Administration with a hope being expressed that it would be possible for India to make the new Administration appreciate India's positions and views on the region, including Kashmir," the Media Adviser's statement said.

JuD fatwa on Vande Mataram unacceptable: Khurshid

JuD fatwa on Vande Mataram unacceptable: Khurshid

Rediff.com15 Nov 2009

The resolution of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind asking Muslims not to recite 'Vande Mataram' is "unacceptable" and will be "counter-productive", said Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

'Clearing investment bottlenecks a priority'

'Clearing investment bottlenecks a priority'

Rediff.com21 Nov 2011

In September, industrial growth fell to just 1.9 per cent, its lowest in two years. Inflation is at 9.73 per cent, its 10th month above nine per cent.

Ayodhya verdict the best possible: Digvijay

Ayodhya verdict the best possible: Digvijay

Rediff.com8 Oct 2010

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has said the verdict of the Allahabad High Court in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit was the best possible judgment under the circumstances.

India, Pak were close to pact on Kashmir:Musharraf

India, Pak were close to pact on Kashmir:Musharraf

Rediff.com17 Jul 2009

India and Pakistan were close to sealing an agreement on Kashmir and other contentious issues between the two countries when President President Pervez Musharraf was in power. "...I had told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he had agreed, of course. It was his turn to come to Pakistan and we had decided that if he comes and there is no signature on at least one out of those three, if not all the three, it would be a total flop and that must never happen," he said.

Made no mistakes: Khurshid on handling Anna fast

Made no mistakes: Khurshid on handling Anna fast

Rediff.com28 Aug 2011

Law Minister Salman Khurshid, a key negotiator with Team Anna, on Sunday said there may have been "errors of judgment" in handling Hazare's fast but there were no mistakes.

'Govt may not be able to open Bhopal relief case'

'Govt may not be able to open Bhopal relief case'

Rediff.com27 Jun 2010

The government is not likely to succeed in reopening the settlement issue in the Bhopal gas tragedy case, said noted jurist Fali S Nariman.

No wrong in letting Anderson go: Former minister

No wrong in letting Anderson go: Former minister

Rediff.com22 Jun 2010

Former Union minister Vasant Sathe said on Tuesday that there was nothing wrong or illegal in giving safe passage to then Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson and the Congress should not feel embarrassed about it.

'Safe passage to Anderson was in India's interest'

'Safe passage to Anderson was in India's interest'

Rediff.com18 Jun 2010

Maharaja Krishna Rasgotra, was India's foreign secretary at the time of the Bhopal gas disaster in 1984. speaks on whether Union Carbide Corporation chief Warren Anderson asked for and received safe passage, and did Anderson meet senior officials of the government of India while he was in the country.

26/11: 'India has not answered all our questions'

26/11: 'India has not answered all our questions'

Rediff.com13 Apr 2009

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, foreign minister of Pakistan, spoke to Karan Thapar on issues ranging from the spread of Taliban to the investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks and the trust deficit between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Govt opposed to inclusion of PM under Lokpal: Sibal

Govt opposed to inclusion of PM under Lokpal: Sibal

Rediff.com18 Jun 2011

The government on Saturday said prima facie it was opposed to the inclusion of the prime minister under the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the idea of covering him once he demits office.

'India will continue to be a terror target'

'India will continue to be a terror target'

Rediff.com22 Mar 2010

In an interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna says Indians will continue to be a target for terrorists, in Afghanistan and at home, and that he's convinced the United States fully shares India's concerns on fighting terror.

Where is the scam, asks Lt Gen Prakash

Where is the scam, asks Lt Gen Prakash

Rediff.com25 Feb 2010

Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash, who is facing a court martial in connection with the Sukna land scam, has alleged that Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor had not applied his mind before changing his decision to initiate proceedings against him. He also said the fresh court of inquiry ordered by the Armed Forces Tribunal would help bring out new facts and clear his role in the entire case.

Prachanda favours special relations with India

Prachanda favours special relations with India

Rediff.com24 Jun 2007

Prachanda also insisted that elections to the Constituent Assembly in Nepal be held in November or December, failing which his party would walk out of the government and launch a peaceful agitation.