News for 'Liberal'

'Blaming India Is Pakistan's Go-To Excuse'

'Blaming India Is Pakistan's Go-To Excuse'

Rediff.com25 Mar 2025

'Neither are Baloch insurgents capable of breaking up Pakistan, nor has Pakistan learned any lessons from the 1971 debacle that led to the country's dismemberment.'

Mujib didn't declare freedom: Bangladesh changes textbooks

Mujib didn't declare freedom: Bangladesh changes textbooks

Rediff.com2 Jan 2025

The textbooks also removed the title 'Father of the Nation' for Mujibur Rahman.

'Yes, I Did Feel Uncomfortable'

'Yes, I Did Feel Uncomfortable'

Rediff.com19 Feb 2025

'Four days before the shoot, I cut down my water intake to just one litre per day, eliminated salt and carbs, and focused solely on protein.' 'By the time we shot the scene, I was just waiting for it to be over, so I could finally drink water again!'

FM unveils simpler tax law, middle class gets relief

FM unveils simpler tax law, middle class gets relief

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday unveiled 'transformative' tax reforms that ranged from a simpler income tax law to higher TCS threshold for remittances and income tax benefits for middle class.

Was Modi Right About The Opposition?

Was Modi Right About The Opposition?

Rediff.com8 Mar 2025

'While suppression of information is acceptable for the government, the Opposition's efforts at pinning the government and its leaders is labeled anti-national,' points out Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

How Modi Bounced Back From Lok Sabha Setback

How Modi Bounced Back From Lok Sabha Setback

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

A new kind of history has been created in Maharashtra. Accept it. We need to give credit where it's due. Modi led this change... from the setback of June 4 to November 23, notes Sheela Bhatt.

The Lady Judge Who Heads Gujarat UCC Panel

The Lady Judge Who Heads Gujarat UCC Panel

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

On the basis of her committee's report, the UCC in Uttarakhand established mandatory registration for marriages and live-in relationships, banned polygamy, and provided equal inheritance rights for women.

Protesters set afire Mujibur Rahman's home in Dhaka during Hasina's address

Protesters set afire Mujibur Rahman's home in Dhaka during Hasina's address

Rediff.com6 Feb 2025

A large group of protesters vandalized and set fire to the residence of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka during a live online address by his daughter and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The incident occurred as Hasina was delivering a speech organized by the Awami League's now disbanded student wing Chhatra League, calling upon the countrymen to resist the current regime.

Delhi stampede: Oppn slams govt, seeks Vaishnaw's resignation

Delhi stampede: Oppn slams govt, seeks Vaishnaw's resignation

Rediff.com16 Feb 2025

Opposition parties in India have demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after a stampede at New Delhi railway station killed 18 people. They blamed the government for "gross mismanagement" and accused them of "covering up" the death toll. The stampede occurred on Saturday night as passengers rushed to board trains for the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj. The Congress, the Left, Trinamool Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have all criticized the government's handling of the situation, while BJP leaders have defended the government. The incident has highlighted the failure of the Railways and the government to make adequate arrangements for the large number of devotees travelling to Prayagraj.

Sikh ally withdraws support, Trudeau govt in trouble

Sikh ally withdraws support, Trudeau govt in trouble

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh has announced that he is withdrawing support to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.

'Action Needs To Be Taken Against Ranveer Allahbadia'

'Action Needs To Be Taken Against Ranveer Allahbadia'

Rediff.com10 Feb 2025

'He should be made an example of so that others will follow the law.'

After The Oval Office Fracas, What Next For Ukraine?

After The Oval Office Fracas, What Next For Ukraine?

Rediff.com3 Mar 2025

Trump knows by now that the western narrative of Biden's war is a load of bullshit peppered with falsehoods and outright lies, and that the war erupted only out of the diabolic western plot to poke the bear, which got provoked finally and hit out, explains Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Trump's reciprocal tariffs and WTO rules: An explainer

Trump's reciprocal tariffs and WTO rules: An explainer

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

American President Donald Trump has announced imposing reciprocal tariffs on its major trading partners including China that levy higher import duties on goods shipped from the United States. He has already announced a 25 per cent duty on steel and aluminium imports, which will come into effect from March 12.

Delhi has become Aapda-mukt: Modi in victory speech

Delhi has become Aapda-mukt: Modi in victory speech

Rediff.com8 Feb 2025

Hailing the Bharatiya Janata Party's Delhi assembly polls victory as 'historic', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a stinging attack on the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress, saying the country needs a serious political transformation and not politics of 'dhoort-ta (deceit) and moorkhta (foolishness)'.

From heartbreak to triumph! Madison Keys ends 16-year wait

From heartbreak to triumph! Madison Keys ends 16-year wait

Rediff.com25 Jan 2025

Good things come to those who wait as the saying goes -- but Madison Keys's wait may have seemed interminable.

An Agitation That Woke Up Kerala

An Agitation That Woke Up Kerala

Rediff.com20 Mar 2025

It was a protest which held a mirror to the government of a state taking pride in its commitment to democracy, gender equality and social indices.One person, who in his employed days had known governments and political parties at close quarters, told me that public perception of how the Kerala government handled the ASHA workers' strike had been terrible, reports Shyam G Menon.

President's Rule In Manipur: Need Of The Hour

President's Rule In Manipur: Need Of The Hour

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

The solution to Manipur's problems lies in the government giving concessions to Meitis in jobs and education and to accept autonomy for the tribal dominated areas inhibited by the Kukis, suggests Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

'Mass Hindu migration from B'desh unlikely at present'

'Mass Hindu migration from B'desh unlikely at present'

Rediff.com9 Dec 2024

Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee has said the current situation in Bangladesh is unlikely to trigger a fresh round of exodus of minority Hindus into India. He believes that migration is primarily driven by social networks and economic opportunities rather than persecution. Banerjee, known for his work in poverty alleviation, further emphasized that India's overt preference for Hindu migrants from Bangladesh in the past has been a significant factor in their migration, rather than attacks on the community.

What If China, America Make Up?

What If China, America Make Up?

Rediff.com13 Feb 2025

Trump spoke approvingly of his recent telephone conversation with Xi Jinping. This could indicate the possibility of America and China reaching some level of tactical accommodation, which would not be good news for India, points out Ambassador Shyam Saran, a former foreign secretary.

Deep State And Beyond: The Rise of Conspiracy Theories

Deep State And Beyond: The Rise of Conspiracy Theories

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

From bhikshus of Ashokan 3rd century BC and medieval Sufis to Oxfam, Omidyar and Soros now, non-State actors have any real power only when they work in conjunction with a real State, asserts Shekhar Gupta.

2 more Hindu priests arrested in Bangladesh: ISKCON

2 more Hindu priests arrested in Bangladesh: ISKCON

Rediff.com30 Nov 2024

Historically, Hindus made up approximately 22 per cent of Bangladesh's population during the 1971 Liberation War.

Dr Singh asked JNU VC to be lenient with protesting students

Dr Singh asked JNU VC to be lenient with protesting students

Rediff.com27 Dec 2024

Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh was shown black flags at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) by Left-backed students who were staging a protest during his visit to the campus in 2005. The incident led to show-cause notices to students by the university with few of them getting detained by the Delhi Police. However, a day later Dr Singh intervened, suggesting to the then vice chancellor (VC) B B Bhattacharya to be lenient with students.

Trump Turns Up At Lit Fests All Over!

Trump Turns Up At Lit Fests All Over!

Rediff.com15 Feb 2025

The dramatic moves of Donald Trump, which have shaken up the global order, dominated the discussion. A sense of bewilderment prevailed, but there was also expectation that President Trump would settle down to a more traditional style of governance after a time of shock and awe, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan, an attendee at literary festivals in Calicut, Jaipur, Kochi, Sharjah and Thiruvanathapuram.

Are Trump and Musk Dismantling American Democracy?

Are Trump and Musk Dismantling American Democracy?

Rediff.com22 Feb 2025

We the people are left in the wind, waiting on the whims of an unengaged president and an oligarch with a nearly bottomless wallet, observes Sree Sreenivasan.

1971 War: How Mukti Joddhas Saved An IAF Pilot

1971 War: How Mukti Joddhas Saved An IAF Pilot

Rediff.com3 Dec 2024

Squadron Leader Kanwal Deep Mehra's daredevilry during the 1971 War brought down a Pakistani F-86 Sabre. But he had to bail out of his plane, was badly injured. Then a fierce band of armed guerillas evacuated him to safety at great risk to their lives.

'It Was Always About The Bride'

'It Was Always About The Bride'

Rediff.com25 Feb 2025

'Her story, her life, her aspirations and struggles...' 'Indian weddings are not just about fuschia, pink and dancing. They have many nuances.'

Hemant Soren to take oath as Jharkhand's 14th CM today

Hemant Soren to take oath as Jharkhand's 14th CM today

Rediff.com28 Nov 2024

This will be the 49-year-old JMM leader's fourth stint as chief minister. Soren retained the Barhait seat, defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of 39,791 votes in the recent assembly polls.

How will Modi deal with India's liberals?

How will Modi deal with India's liberals?

Rediff.com15 Jun 2019

'He can at least invite them for tea in small groups once a month on Sundays.' 'If nothing else, he will have the pleasure of ruining their weekend,' suggests T C A Srinivasa Raghavan.

'You Gave India More Than You Got Credit For'

'You Gave India More Than You Got Credit For'

Rediff.com27 Dec 2024

'The demise of #ManmohanSingh ji who (looking back) presided over India's actual 'Acchey Din' feels like the end of an era when India was actually (more) democratic, when Indians were free(er) of fear & intolerance and when Indian public discourse had more decency.'

Mismatched Season 3 Review: Breezy Watch

Mismatched Season 3 Review: Breezy Watch

Rediff.com14 Dec 2024

Like most rom-com shows, this one lives up to the feel-good factor to a large extent despite getting a bit boring here and there, observes Namrata Thakker.

A 1971 War Hero Flies Into The Ages

A 1971 War Hero Flies Into The Ages

Rediff.com27 Jan 2025

Wing Commander Pratap Marathe's story is one of dedication, bravery, and humour, a shining example of the spirit of the Indian Air Force. Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd) salutes Wing Commander Marathe who passed into the ages last week.

It's raining freebies in Delhi, but voters' issues ignored

It's raining freebies in Delhi, but voters' issues ignored

Rediff.com11 Jan 2025

With such announcements grabbing the voters' attention, critical issues like pollution, especially the smog that chokes Delhi every winter, remain largely unaddressed. Many residents have raised concerns over the lack of concrete action plans to combat air pollution, which continues to pose a severe health risk to Delhiites.

Women Voters: The Rising Power Transforming Politics

Women Voters: The Rising Power Transforming Politics

Rediff.com15 Jan 2025

'Women' as a political constituency appears to be an idea that has come of age. It is changing India in ways that we only dimly understand, asserts Aditi Phadnis.

Netanyahu's Gaza Plan: Trap For Trump?

Netanyahu's Gaza Plan: Trap For Trump?

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

'Netanyahu lured Trump into a trap by enticing him with a seductive scenario of massive lucrative business in Gaza's reconstruction.' 'Trump's imagination is running riot, completely disconnected from ground realities,' asserts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Rediff.com21 Sep 2024

There are few leaders in the Opposition line up who can claim a path to party leadership like Sitaram Yechury and certainly, very few who blended that ascent through student politics with awareness about non-elite real India, urban India and liberal politics, as he did, notes Shyam G Menon.

BJP storms to power in Delhi after 26 yrs as AAP bites dust

BJP storms to power in Delhi after 26 yrs as AAP bites dust

Rediff.com8 Feb 2025

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday returned to power in Delhi after more than 26 years to sweep away the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party with a two-thirds majority on the back of a hyper localised campaign and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'AAP-da'(disaster) blitzkrieg.

Being liberal in #NewIndia

Being liberal in #NewIndia

Rediff.com28 Jul 2017

'How you live serves as a much better track record than your timeline,' says Mitali Saran.

50:50 Chance Of An RBI Rate Cut

50:50 Chance Of An RBI Rate Cut

Rediff.com4 Feb 2025

'If it doesn't, it will continue with measures to infuse liquidity, signalling a new cycle,' predicts Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

What Will FM's Budget Speech Focus On?

What Will FM's Budget Speech Focus On?

Rediff.com30 Jan 2025

The finance minister, in her Budget speech, should focus more on what she is directly responsible for, rather than on programmes where her role is largely supportive, notes Nitin Desai.

Willing to lead INDIA bloc if....: Mamata Banerjee

Willing to lead INDIA bloc if....: Mamata Banerjee

Rediff.com7 Dec 2024

Asked why she is not taking the charge of the bloc, given her credentials as a strong anti-BJP force, Banerjee said, "If given the opportunity I would ensure its smooth functioning."