News for 'National Security Archive'

The Looming Tower: How 9/11 happened

The Looming Tower: How 9/11 happened

Rediff.com6 Apr 2018

The Looming Tower reveals the bitter CIA-FBI turf battles that led to the worst terrorist attack in America's history.

How Modi govt changed land laws to benefit private firms

How Modi govt changed land laws to benefit private firms

Rediff.com5 Feb 2015

Land ordinance has done away with consent and social impact assessment.

'No objection to constructing 10 Parliaments'

'No objection to constructing 10 Parliaments'

Rediff.com21 Jan 2021

'But you cannot encroach upon the spaces that belong to the public.' 'For this new Parliament building, we envisage a minimum of 400 trucks, the huge long trailer trucks will be coming in day in and day out right into the heart of the national capital.' 'It will completely destroy Delhi's peace.' 'The beautiful sylvan surroundings of the quiet, beautiful, New Delhi is going to be destroyed for all time to come.'

How Nehru could have saved Tibet from China

How Nehru could have saved Tibet from China

Rediff.com29 Sep 2020

Arpi deserves to be complimented for the commitment and hard work that have gone into this production. The frustrations of seeking reliable documentation from the catacombs of the Indian bureaucracy did not deter him from going after the best information available, and the result is one that he can take much satisfaction in. Ambassador Prabhat P Shukla, Member Advisory Council, Vivekananda International Foundation, reviews Claude Arpi's The End of an Era: India Exits Tibet.

Mahatma Gandhi's march of 1913 re-enacted in South Africa

Mahatma Gandhi's march of 1913 re-enacted in South Africa

Rediff.com4 Dec 2013

Hundreds of people joined a special commemoration of the centenary of what is now known as The Great Transvaal March by Mahatma Gandhi and his followers in 1913 at the town of Volksrust in South Africa.

'There would have been no India without Patel'

'There would have been no India without Patel'

Rediff.com31 Oct 2018

'Most Indians know very little about Patel which is a great shame.'

NITI Aayog: Changes aplenty but cloud over fund allocation remains

NITI Aayog: Changes aplenty but cloud over fund allocation remains

Rediff.com3 Jan 2015

Even if the new body focuses on long-term planning, it is unlikely to do so through five-year Plans.

Beware of opportunist China!

Beware of opportunist China!

Rediff.com27 May 2020

'It is time we Indians stop our internal bickering and present a united front to Chinese machinations,' advises Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Revisiting Geronimo: The op that killed Osama bin Laden

Revisiting Geronimo: The op that killed Osama bin Laden

Rediff.com2 May 2016

We present to you a blow-by-blow account on what happened on the night of May 1, 2011, when the terror mastermind was killed

Exclusive! How China released Indian troops after the 1962 War

Exclusive! How China released Indian troops after the 1962 War

Rediff.com6 Dec 2019

'All PoWs recounted that one of the worst aspects of their captivity in Tibet was the constant attempt at brainwashing by Chinese Communist propaganda,' reveals Claude Arpi.

Who will blink first? Xi or Modi?

Who will blink first? Xi or Modi?

Rediff.com29 Jun 2020

'There is a compulsion to look hard, decisive, and risk-taking; start something; and then conclude it in a way you can claim victory.' 'That is not such an easy option against China,' notes Shekhar Gupta.

When the IAF trained Pakistani pilots!

When the IAF trained Pakistani pilots!

Rediff.com17 Feb 2021

Air Commodore Nitin Sathe discovers how the IAF trained Pakistani air force pilots, during the 1971 War, which led to the birth of the Bangladesh air force.

In photos: Reliving the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

In photos: Reliving the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

Rediff.com19 Jul 2019

Fifty years ago on July 20, 1969 with these words American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" E Aldrin made history by becoming the first human beings to set foot on another world -- the moon. It was an event that was watched by millions on television and one that remains etched in all our memories. Collected here are 17 images of that historic mission, a "giant leap for mankind".

'Which way is the wind blowing?'

'Which way is the wind blowing?'

Rediff.com15 Mar 2019

Sir Mark Tully on the magic of Indian elections. A fascinating excerpt from The Great March of Democracy: Seven Decades of India's Elections.

Clean Ganga project has a long way to go

Clean Ganga project has a long way to go

Rediff.com5 Jun 2021

'There will always be hiccups given that the Namami Gange programme is spread over different sectors and involves several agencies.'

There has been no sudden rise in my assets: Rail Minister

There has been no sudden rise in my assets: Rail Minister

Rediff.com27 Oct 2014

Disclosing details of his assets, he said the reports about the rise in his wealth had been done without checking facts.

When Mandela hugged a Kolkata cop

When Mandela hugged a Kolkata cop

Rediff.com6 Dec 2013

Kolkata police sergeant Guruprasad Banerjee, who acted as an escort to Nelson Mandela's convoy during his visit to Kolkata in October 1990, recalls the legendary anti-apartheid activist as one of the most down to earth international dignitaries.

'Nehru didn't impose secularism'

'Nehru didn't impose secularism'

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

'His secularism merely declared the equality of all religions in India under fundamental rights.'

Prez @ Sabarmati: Real dirt lies in the mind; swachch abhiyaan must begin there

Prez @ Sabarmati: Real dirt lies in the mind; swachch abhiyaan must begin there

Rediff.com1 Dec 2015

The real dirt of India lies not on the streets but in "our minds and in our unwillingness to let go of views that divide society into them and us", President Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday emphasising on cleansing minds of divisive thoughts.

Foreign policy, declassified

Foreign policy, declassified

Rediff.com21 Feb 2014

The external affairs ministry's files, as distinct from those of the ministry of defence or the agencies, at least from before 1974 should be declassified. And if select files that are more than 40 years old are not to be declassified, the ministry should follow explicit guidelines to justify taking such a view, says Jaimini Bhagwat.

Govt action against Sun Group is legally untenable'

Govt action against Sun Group is legally untenable'

Rediff.com20 Jul 2015

Sun Group CFO S L Narayanan's interview.

The Modi factor: NRIs show love for equity assets

The Modi factor: NRIs show love for equity assets

Rediff.com16 Feb 2017

The Indian diaspora remain bullish despite single-digit equity market returns since May 2014, says Pavan Burugula.

What did Modi's US visit achieve?

What did Modi's US visit achieve?

Rediff.com1 Oct 2019

'No amount of digression can hide deflect the fact that the PM's visit was badly conceived, planned and executed,' argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Sebi probing MCX stocks crash

Sebi probing MCX stocks crash

Rediff.com1 Aug 2013

FTIL stock on Thursday fell by over 60 per cent in early morning trade, while that of Multi Commodity Exchange plunged by 20 per cent following concerns about another group entity National Spot Exchange Ltd.

This hero stops the plunder of India's past

This hero stops the plunder of India's past

Rediff.com14 Oct 2015

'Imagine how secure are our seaports and airports that 10,000 objects can leave every decade and our custodians are not even aware?' 'This kind of targeted looting when thieves pick and choose the best of Indian art and steal on an industrial basis will eventually impoverish our great land.'

How Pakistan surrendered in 1971

How Pakistan surrendered in 1971

Rediff.com16 Dec 2020

'You have been surrounded from all directions, if you want the safety of your troops and your personal safety, we will give you eight hours to make up your mind to surrender.'

'Reports of Netaji's death should leave no doubt in anyone's mind'

'Reports of Netaji's death should leave no doubt in anyone's mind'

Rediff.com28 Apr 2015

'There is no evidence that it was Nehru who ordered this surveillance (on Netaji's kin). It was a very low-level Bengal-based operation.' 'Netaji's grandnephew Sugata Bose has written in his book on the leader that the existing evidence that Subhas Bose died in that plane crash is overwhelming. No historian looking at that evidence can come to a different conclusion.' 'Contrary to popular belief, there were very little differences among the three (Netaji, Nehru and Gandhi). Netaji was of the opinion that some amount of violence was necessary to bring independence for India.' Historian Rudrangshu Mukherjee says that the controversy over the alleged spying on the kin of Netaji is a damp squib.

India, the lamb state

India, the lamb state

Rediff.com18 May 2014

'Until India fully absorbs the fundamentals of international relations, it will continue to get evil for good,' says Brahma Chellaney.

12 things you may not know about Apollo 11 mission

12 things you may not know about Apollo 11 mission

Rediff.com16 Jul 2019

It has been a half-century since Neil Armstrong stepped out of a lunar module and onto the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969 and declared, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." The moment heralded a golden age of space exploration that was set in motion just eight years earlier in 1961, when United States President John F Kennedy promised before Congress to put a man on the moon before the decade was out. Here are some lesser-known facts about the historic first mission:

SC upholds Aadhaar, says it's not needed for cellphones, banks

SC upholds Aadhaar, says it's not needed for cellphones, banks

Rediff.com27 Sep 2018

The apex court's five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Aadhaar is meant to help benefits reach the marginalised sections of the society and takes into account the dignity of people not only from personal but also from community point of view.

The forgotten heroes of Indian democracy

The forgotten heroes of Indian democracy

Rediff.com17 Jan 2019

'A robust electoral democracy provides the institutional basis for the generation and regeneration of political hope.'

Indira's greatest triumph was not Bangladesh

Indira's greatest triumph was not Bangladesh

Rediff.com17 Nov 2017

'According to me, her finest hour was in 1983-1984 when she neutralised a combined US-Pakistan-British conspiracy to Balkanise India by creating an independent Sikh State of Khalistan,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). A special assessment of Indira Gandhi on her centenary.

War and Pakistan's 3rd front

War and Pakistan's 3rd front

Rediff.com7 Mar 2017

India is not making a choice of war over peace. Rather it is at war, a war thrust on it by a sick militaristic State, says Sankrant Sanu.

Netaji's grandnephew: 'Hard to reconcile Nehru with spying against our family'

Netaji's grandnephew: 'Hard to reconcile Nehru with spying against our family'

Rediff.com20 Apr 2015

'The evidence about a plane crash that killed Netaji as stated in the Shahnawaz Committee report, is quite strong.' 'None of the files that I read bear any evidence that it was Nehru who ordered this kind of intrusive surveillance.' 'The government's excuse that declassifying some files may affect India's relations with friendly foreign countries is not a credible one.' Subhas Chandra Bose's grand-nephew and Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose on reports that his family was under surveillance for 20 years and the rumours over Nataji's death.

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Rediff.com11 Jun 2018

Unless the judges factor in the ungovernability of technologies and their beneficial owners, present and future Presidents, prime ministers, judges, legislators and officials handling sensitive assignments may become redundant with reference to their age-old roles for securing 'national resources and assets', warns Dr Gopal Krishna.

Can Niti Aayog transform India?

Can Niti Aayog transform India?

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

'A lot will depend on the first Aayog and the power it derives.'

The 'Indiana Jones' who is returning our past to India

The 'Indiana Jones' who is returning our past to India

Rediff.com10 Jun 2016

A group of concerned individuals as the India Pride Project and the support of one man dubbed America's Indiana Jones has resulted in the return of India's heritage back to the country, says Vijay Kumar.

'Why are we handing over our territory to Pakistan?

'Why are we handing over our territory to Pakistan?

Rediff.com13 Jun 2016

'Our policy seems to be to give away part of J&K, even though we are entitled to the entire state.' 'The Congress has done so, and the BJP is following the same policy.' 'No one is applying their mind to the legal position.' 'Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan under its own constitution.'

India@70: Reliving the struggle for freedom

India@70: Reliving the struggle for freedom

Rediff.com14 Aug 2016

As India celebrates its 70th Independence day, Rediff.com pays homage to millions who laid their lives for the country's freedom.

10 most DARING jailbreaks in history!

10 most DARING jailbreaks in history!

Rediff.com30 Jun 2015

They broke free yet failed to evade the clutches of law.