News for 'National Campaign for People's Right to Information'

'PBD has lost its charm in attracting NRIs and PIOs'

'PBD has lost its charm in attracting NRIs and PIOs'

Rediff.com6 Jan 2014

India needs to come up with new ideas to make the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas more appealing to overseas Indians. The Diasporas talents should be used for the country's development, says Thomas Abraham, founder of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin

'A PM must encourage debate, discussion and even dissent'

'A PM must encourage debate, discussion and even dissent'

Rediff.com23 Jul 2018

'Being authoritative is one thing -- Nehru was that -- but being authoritarian is quite another -- the current prime minister is clearly one.'

The man who 'exposed' Kejriwal govt on onions

The man who 'exposed' Kejriwal govt on onions

Rediff.com21 Sep 2015

'I came to know that there was a big racket going on in the selling of onions. Private players were hoarding onions and these things cannot happen unless they have political patronage.'

'The AAP government in Delhi is in chaos'

'The AAP government in Delhi is in chaos'

Rediff.com20 Jan 2014

'Today, in response to the rape of a foreigner in the city, AAP leaders are saying the Delhi police is not under them -- when I had said the same, nobody wanted to hear it. They themselves are facing the same situation. I would say, it is a learning process for the AAP,' says former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who was vanquished by the AAP's Arvind Kejriwal in the recent assembly elections.

'In 11 months, India has been pushed back by several decades'

'In 11 months, India has been pushed back by several decades'

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

'Tell me, what is more important to Modi -- his position as prime minister or as an RSS pracharak?' 'We feel he gives priority to his position as an RSS pracharak. Otherwise, why did he not agree to go to Parliament as the prime minister of the country and air his opinion on ghar wapsi as demanded by the Opposition?'

Nagaland: One political compromise after another

Nagaland: One political compromise after another

Rediff.com10 Aug 2015

'The Naga Hills region, Nagaland and Manipur, have had the most uncaring and corrupt state governments with little to show on the ground despite the nation's highest per capita development expenditure,' says Mohan Guruswamy.

Congress leaders have put the party on life support in Maharashtra

Congress leaders have put the party on life support in Maharashtra

Rediff.com30 Dec 2013

A divided party -- not the quashing of the Adarsh report -- will spell doom for the Congress in Maharashtra, argues Neeta Kolhatkar.

Debunking 10 myths about China and the South China Sea

Debunking 10 myths about China and the South China Sea

Rediff.com12 Jul 2016

In anticipation of a verdict to be delivered by the International Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Tuesday, China has orchestrated a worldwide campaign to defuse its findings.

5 things Modi needs to do ASAP

5 things Modi needs to do ASAP

Rediff.com8 Nov 2015

'The prime ministership needs a statesman, not a politician, and 18 months into the job Modi is yet to learn the difference between the two,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy.

Why the Congress needs to sack this man for survival

Why the Congress needs to sack this man for survival

Rediff.com13 Dec 2013

'The Congress can't return to power unless it reins in prices, lowers interest rates, taxes the rich,' says Praful Bidwai. 'If this means sacking those most responsible for the UPA's pro-big business policies including Finance Minister Chidambaram, so be it!'

The battle is now for the Tipping Point in Kashmir

The battle is now for the Tipping Point in Kashmir

Rediff.com14 Aug 2015

'How does one get to weaken all those pillars on which the Deep State of Pakistan and the Separatists rely to prevent the situation reaching that point; how must this stage of the proxy war be countered? In many ways the strategy being followed by the adversaries is a smart one, acting within threshold and avoiding overpitch,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).

How the government is smothering dissident NGOs

How the government is smothering dissident NGOs

Rediff.com20 Jun 2014

Muzzling NGOs is unbecoming of a democracy. Self-confident democracies encourage, indeed applaud, the involvement of citizens' associations, including NGOs, in social and political decision-making and development planning. Instead, our paranoid government bullies and terrorises them, says Praful Bidwai.

Mumbai to Kolli Hills: Anirudh Prasadh changes the fortune of poor farmers

Mumbai to Kolli Hills: Anirudh Prasadh changes the fortune of poor farmers

Rediff.com17 Jun 2015

A chemical engineer, Anirudh gave up his high-paying job to work for welfare of farmers in Tamil Nadu.

We still believe the BS leaders sell us. You know why? We are Indians!

We still believe the BS leaders sell us. You know why? We are Indians!

Rediff.com25 Apr 2014

Our generation got independence too easy, we take our freedom too lightly, we treat our country and environment like toilet paper and take the easy way out because we have no sense of pride or self worth except when it is an India-Pakistan match. We need to be broken more so that we may rise, says film director Suparn Verma.

'The change from pessimism to confidence is a major achievement'

'The change from pessimism to confidence is a major achievement'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2016

'This has to be seen in the context not only of the legacy we inherited, but also of global economic weakness.'
'If after inheriting the very bad situation we have reached this level despite consecutive years of drought and no growth in the world economy, it is no accident.' 'It is a result of the sound macro economic policies followed by this government.' 'We have eschewed populism and stuck to a path of fiscal prudence.'

How AAP routed the BJP: Read this interview!

How AAP routed the BJP: Read this interview!

Rediff.com10 Feb 2015

'The partnership of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi has made their biggest mistake. They have been very successful for their party in the last two years, but this batting pair has made the biggest political mistake of their life so far, which is calling Kejriwal a chor. It will backfire on them.'

How foreign NGOs fuel India's anti-uranium lobby

How foreign NGOs fuel India's anti-uranium lobby

Rediff.com1 Dec 2014

'We need uranium to fuel our reactors. Our scientists and engineers have been handling uranium safely since 1967. They must not feel disheartened by the activities of well motivated local or foreign agencies.'

'If you want change, you must get your hands dirty'

'If you want change, you must get your hands dirty'

Rediff.com5 Jun 2015

Former Watson Fellow and social entrepreneur Srikar Gullapalli talks about the issues affecting India's growth and tells us why he wants more people to actively participate in building a bright future and put India on the global map.

Here's what Obama said in last presser as US Prez

Here's what Obama said in last presser as US Prez

Rediff.com19 Jan 2017

"At my core I think we're going to be OK," Obama said.

Bengaluru's infrastructure mess taints Karnataka's future

Bengaluru's infrastructure mess taints Karnataka's future

Rediff.com11 Jul 2016

Bengaluru dominates Karnataka's economy and its infrastructure mess compounds the problems, with policies lagging need and expectations.

After Sunday, is there a way out for the Congress?

After Sunday, is there a way out for the Congress?

Rediff.com5 Dec 2013

Sunday's results may be a bitter pill that the Congress has to swallow -- that its future cannot be hitched to Rahul unless he can resonate with the people, feels Saroj Nagi.

Trump rolls back Obama climate change measures

Trump rolls back Obama climate change measures

Rediff.com29 Mar 2017

White House said Trump strongly believed that protecting environment and 'promoting our economy are not mutually exclusive goals'.

'We assist to bankrupt ideology of violent extremism everywhere'

'We assist to bankrupt ideology of violent extremism everywhere'

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

In his penultimate State of the Union address, Barack Obama said that the economy is improving.

'Yeh sarkar paisewalon ke liye theek hai'

'Yeh sarkar paisewalon ke liye theek hai'

Rediff.com23 May 2015

'Promise less, exceed expectations' should be the lesson for the Modi government

TRAI bars differential tariff for Internet access

TRAI bars differential tariff for Internet access

Rediff.com8 Feb 2016

TRAI said that Internet service providers would not be allowed to discriminate on pricing of data access for different web services.

India's Modi promises US CEOs a return to market reforms

India's Modi promises US CEOs a return to market reforms

Rediff.com30 Sep 2014

US congressional leaders on trade and finance wrote to the US International Trade Commission calling for a second investigation into India's 'unfair' trade practices, detailing any changes under Modi.

Fighting black money: Modi has failed to keep his promise

Fighting black money: Modi has failed to keep his promise

Rediff.com11 Apr 2016

In his massive election rallies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi often caught voters fancy promising that each individual would get Rs 15-20 lakh in his bank account if he came to power.

No-trust debate: Best and Worst performers

No-trust debate: Best and Worst performers

Rediff.com21 Jul 2018

The biggest winner was Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who ran her ship with self-confidence and aplomb.

Black money is all about rhetoric, says Mohandas Pai

Black money is all about rhetoric, says Mohandas Pai

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services says that the government often forgets that its prime duty is to serve the people and not some sick public sector units.

'This govt is beholden to the capitalists who hold accounts abroad'

'This govt is beholden to the capitalists who hold accounts abroad'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2014

The second and final part of advocate Prashant Bhushan's interview with Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com. Bhushan is one of the petitioners in the black money case in the Supreme Court

'This govt is beholden to the capitalists who hold accounts abroad'

'This govt is beholden to the capitalists who hold accounts abroad'

Rediff.com3 Nov 2014

The second and final part of advocate Prashant Bhushan's interview with Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com. Bhushan is one of the petitioners in the black money case in the Supreme Court

Virushka: How the romance unfolded

Virushka: How the romance unfolded

Rediff.com12 Dec 2017

Even in a country where Cricket and Bollywood have always been a potent mix, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's fairytale romance is special.

Why Rahul came across as half a leader on TV

Why Rahul came across as half a leader on TV

Rediff.com28 Jan 2014

Amethi's member of Parliament failed to use his first formal television interview to reach out to the people in general and the electorate in particular ahead of the crucial elections in which the Congress has already been written off by opinion polls and surveys. He did little to change that impression by failing to exploit the platform provided to him.

Yoga: The hip new fad in the land of its birth

Yoga: The hip new fad in the land of its birth

Rediff.com5 Jul 2018

Today, it is modish to be part of a yoga class, to post stories on Instagram while striking an impressively complex asana in a bralette and crop-top paired with neon yoga pants, to bond over green tea and yoga bars after a strenuous session at the studio and have subscriptions to yoga studios, not ashrams, says Manavi Kapur.

This small Balochi group led by a 72-year-old broke Mahatma's record

This small Balochi group led by a 72-year-old broke Mahatma's record

Rediff.com26 Feb 2014

Protesting against enforced disappearances in Balochistan, Abdul Qadeer Baloch, 72, has led a small group that has covered more than 2,000 kilometres on foot, breaking the 84-year-old record set by Mahatma Gandhi during his Dandi march. Hamid Mir reports from Islamabad.

'A country that does not respect its soldiers is doomed to fail'

'A country that does not respect its soldiers is doomed to fail'

Rediff.com29 Oct 2015

'Think about this: A widow of a jawan is drawing only Rs 3,500. If OROP is implemented, she will get additional Rs 1,500. These poor girls are young and have no source of income; they are trying their best to just make ends meet. It is the pain of these situations that has driven me to this.' 'We don't want to put pressure on the government -- that's not our intention. We have full faith in our prime minister. We are asking for a meeting with him, and when we get that, we are sure he will not only give us what we are asking for, but 10 per cent extra.' Major General Satbir Singh, who headed the OROP agitation at Jantar Mantar, speaks out.

Is seeking votes in name of religion corrupt practice, asks SC

Is seeking votes in name of religion corrupt practice, asks SC

Rediff.com26 Oct 2016

Religion or caste is a key part of India's political discourse, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday and asked whether seeking of votes on that basis would amount to "corrupt practice" under the election law.

Agricultural minister's silence on land bill strategic or tactical?

Agricultural minister's silence on land bill strategic or tactical?

Rediff.com28 Mar 2015

The fact that everyone but Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is speaking on the issue only gives credence to the specious fears of farmers that this government is out to get them. Aditi Phadnis reports

10 economic commandments for Modi

10 economic commandments for Modi

Rediff.com29 Sep 2017

Instead of a consumption stimulus the government must address the NPA issue with a war footing and invest in infrastructure, affordable housing and exports, says Sanjeev Nayyar.

There's a rifle aimed at Vivek Murthy

There's a rifle aimed at Vivek Murthy

Rediff.com3 Apr 2014

The National Rifle Association aims to shoot down Vivek Murthy's Senate confirmation as United States Surgeon General, Aziz Haniffa reports