News for 'Society for Policy Studies'

'There is no evidence that Modi ordered the killings'

'There is no evidence that Modi ordered the killings'

Rediff.com10 Feb 2014

Lawyer and scholar Vinay Sitapati says the 'Get Modi' strategy largely misses the efforts to prosecute people evidently guilty of violence and murders in the Gujarat riots in favour of "a narrow quest to stop one man from becoming prime minister."

The nowhere people: Pakistan Hindu refugees in India

The nowhere people: Pakistan Hindu refugees in India

Rediff.com10 Oct 2018

'All these people want is a secure home where they can live and earn in peace.'

Manmohan's advice for Modi: 'No free market without freedom'

Manmohan's advice for Modi: 'No free market without freedom'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2015

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday stepped into the raging debate on intolerance by condemning the murders of dissenters and some on the basis of what they eat and said the nation is deeply concerned at the "blatant violation" of the right to freedom of thought, belief and speech by some violent extremist groups.

Assault or murder of thinkers can't be justified: Manmohan on intolerance

Assault or murder of thinkers can't be justified: Manmohan on intolerance

Rediff.com6 Nov 2015

Amid a raging debate over intolerance, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday deplored "blatant violation" of the right to freedom of thought by "some violent extremist groups" and shared the view that it was an "assault on the nation".

Pakistan won't fight a war with India at this time

Pakistan won't fight a war with India at this time

Rediff.com7 Oct 2016

'Pakistan will try to escalate covert operations through terrorism,' says Dr Shalini Chawla.

Demographic dividend or impending catastrophe?

Demographic dividend or impending catastrophe?

Rediff.com26 Aug 2016

No country has grown without educating its people. India's shameful lag in primary and secondary education has persisted for several decades, and the crisis in higher education is now threatening a social and political calamity, says Ashoka Mody.

How India's heritage of pluralism is being undone

How India's heritage of pluralism is being undone

Rediff.com19 Sep 2013

The main culprit in vitiating the inter community/caste/class relations has been the so called 'targeted' approach. This is nothing but discrimination on the basis of faith/caste/class. When an equally poor and deprived child is denied scholarship, despite equal merit, resentment begins to brew, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.

'Relax son, it's just advertising'

'Relax son, it's just advertising'

Rediff.com8 Aug 2016

'Cynics don't make it big in advertising.' 'Often, the medium calls for a rock-like commitment to puny, easily digestible ideas.' 'Here's a text that understands this facet of advertising and one that keeps its tone breezy and reporter-like; that's set across a wide canvas but one that never overstates its own importance,' says Sreehari Nair.

How cash became a bad word

How cash became a bad word

Rediff.com13 Dec 2016

Ajit Balakrishnan on understanding the anti-cash chorus.

'The real farmer doesn't go out to agitate'

'The real farmer doesn't go out to agitate'

Rediff.com3 Oct 2018

'Most of the agitations are staged by the Opposition to disturb the peace of the state.'

Modi must not be deceived by Xi

Modi must not be deceived by Xi

Rediff.com8 Jul 2017

'Breaking out of the corner into which China has painted itself would be a feat.' 'Whether Xi is able to pull it off will be known in the coming days,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant and member of the Joint Intelligence Committee at the time of China's invasion of India.

The dangerous threat of nuclear terrorism

The dangerous threat of nuclear terrorism

Rediff.com5 Apr 2016

During last week's Nuclear Security Summit, President Obama asked the media to leave and then screened videos depicting plausible scenarios pertaining to nuclear terrorism.

'We know India can run -- judging by cricket -- but can it fly?'

'We know India can run -- judging by cricket -- but can it fly?'

Rediff.com18 Mar 2015

The elements are all aligned to make India a global powerhouse, says IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde.

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

New York City Hall welcomes Nisha and Udai

Rediff.com20 Mar 2014

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced the appointment of Nisha Agarwal, one of the leading advocates in the city for the immigrant communities, as commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.

After UP and Maharashtra, Punjab announces loan waiver for farmers

After UP and Maharashtra, Punjab announces loan waiver for farmers

Rediff.com19 Jun 2017

The initiative would provide double the relief announced by the states of UP and Maharashtra, the Punjab CM said.

The implications of President Park's state visit to India

The implications of President Park's state visit to India

Rediff.com20 Jan 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to India will enhance economic and military ties between the two countries and give the relationship a strategic dimension, says Jiye Kim.

'We will give up our demands if all reservations are cancelled'

'We will give up our demands if all reservations are cancelled'

Rediff.com25 Aug 2015

The Patels of Gujarat are seething and they have warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel of consequences if their demands for reservations are not met.

The danger signal from the Muzaffarnagar riots

The danger signal from the Muzaffarnagar riots

Rediff.com19 Sep 2013

It is rare for communal riots to spread to rural areas. The UP riot is the first time after the September 1969 Gujarat riots that a rural area have been affected. Electoral politics which divide society in majority/minority, going on since the early 1990s, is a major contributing factor to this heightened tension between communities, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale in the first of a two part series.

How the Congress can win the 2018 elections

How the Congress can win the 2018 elections

Rediff.com30 Dec 2017

'The Congress shall have to take some brave-tough decisions to give a new social face to the party and its leadership composition,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Let the army decide whom to promote!

Let the army decide whom to promote!

Rediff.com1 Apr 2015

'The government must make clear once and for all that promotions in the Indian Army are not the right of individuals, but a privilege given in accordance with role and function.'

Months before 8/11, MP, Haryana probed note ban

Months before 8/11, MP, Haryana probed note ban

Rediff.com24 Dec 2016

Months before 8/11, MP, Haryana probed note ban

Why students unions at universities must not be curbed

Why students unions at universities must not be curbed

Rediff.com4 Jul 2016

The State is trying to curb the students movements, therefore, there are suspicions against some of the Subramanian report on education's recommendations, says Mohammad Sajjad.

Will there be space for dissent in Modi's India?

Will there be space for dissent in Modi's India?

Rediff.com19 May 2014

'In Modi's moral majority, words like security become problematic and a moral majority can turn devastatingly inquisitorial. It turns history into a preferred flatland of the nation State challenging cultural diversity in the name of majoritarianism expressed as patriotism. Dissent almost immediately becomes seditious,' says Shiv Visvanathan.

Lift AFSPA, ban pellet guns, Opposition suggests at all party meet on Kashmir

Lift AFSPA, ban pellet guns, Opposition suggests at all party meet on Kashmir

Rediff.com12 Aug 2016

It was also suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Kashmir to assess the situation but the government did not make commitments regarding any of their demands.

Is this how we treat our doctors?

Is this how we treat our doctors?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2017

'Does it make any difference to you, that one of our doctors almost lost his vision, while you delayed in immediately getting the right care for your family member, as per his advice?'

'More than any election since 1977, this election is about an individual'

'More than any election since 1977, this election is about an individual'

Rediff.com7 May 2014

Leading think tank discusses a likely Narendra Modi government and America's engagement with the man US once scorned. Aziz Haniffa reports

'As long as Pakistan exists, we can't say it was a flawed idea'

'As long as Pakistan exists, we can't say it was a flawed idea'

Rediff.com12 Dec 2014

'Muslims, like people of all other faiths, are quite comfortable with the idea of nationalism and democracy today. But are they following Islam in its spirit? That is a different question.'

RSS Union: 'Govt is bringing Syria in labour reforms'

RSS Union: 'Govt is bringing Syria in labour reforms'

Rediff.com28 Mar 2018

'With this amendment, permanent employees will cease to exist.' 'The government should give a human touch and human face to labour reforms.' 'Ideas like survival of the fittest, might is right, etc, are rules of the jungle.' 'They cannot give new terms like hire and fire to jungle law.'

How India is changing under Modi

How India is changing under Modi

Rediff.com3 May 2019

'Extravagant new promises can buy him time, but far from solving the problem, they compound the risk.' 'His main alternative is to stress not aspirations, but resentments.' 'He has already de-emphasised aspirational appeals: Nothing has been heard for over two years of the coming of achhe din,' points out James Manor.

'After Modi, Amit Shah, the next big leader is Adityanath'

'After Modi, Amit Shah, the next big leader is Adityanath'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2017

'The BJP is not the party it was 10 years ago. It has changed. It is emerging like the Congress.' 'Sometimes, I feel the BJP has taken the Congress' space.' 'Its politics is also resembling the Congress.'

Mr PM, what were you trying to tell the nation?

Mr PM, what were you trying to tell the nation?

Rediff.com4 Sep 2017

'The BJP has sent out a message that its allies are at its mercy.' 'The allies cannot pressurise or bargain with the BJP any more,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

'People seem to be mesmerised by Modi'

'People seem to be mesmerised by Modi'

Rediff.com24 May 2017

'The BJP has latched on to the idea of nationalism, but the nationalism they advocate is not nationalism as we have understood it since the time of the freedom movement.' 'This is not secular nationalism, it is Hindu nationalism.' 'It is a form of nationalism that is exclusionary and it tends to conflate national interest with the government.' 'So, if you disagree with the government, for example, on surgical strikes or demonetisation, you are anti-national or holder of black money.'

How Mayawati-Akhilesh plan to defeat Modi-Shah in UP

How Mayawati-Akhilesh plan to defeat Modi-Shah in UP

Rediff.com11 Oct 2018

'The SP-BSP have almost come to an understanding that the BSP will take the larger share of parliamentary seats and take care of national politics.' 'The SP in future assembly elections will take larger seats and take care of state politics.'

'The first hint Trump will be tough on Pakistan'

'The first hint Trump will be tough on Pakistan'

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

'In the past the US has been reluctant to name Pakistan directly in an US-India joint statement.'

COPD: 2nd biggest cause for deaths in India

COPD: 2nd biggest cause for deaths in India

Rediff.com5 Feb 2019

'COPD causes an economic loss of Rs 35,000 crores.' 'We cannot afford to lose such a huge amount due to one disease.' 'COPD is a non-communicable disease and that's why it remained low in priority.' 'The time is right to shift the focus to COPD as HIV/AIDS and TB are under control. 'This badly neglected disease has become the second largest cause for deaths in India.' 'It is time for us to wake up and give due importance to this disease.'

Jignesh Mevani is busy fighting the good fight

Jignesh Mevani is busy fighting the good fight

Rediff.com1 Jan 2018

'I fight for anyone who is poor, marginalised or victimised.' 'If a Dalit factory owner is inflicting atrocities on his Brahmin worker, then I will fight for the poor Brahmin.'

Art 370: 'Who will suffer more? It's the security forces!'

Art 370: 'Who will suffer more? It's the security forces!'

Rediff.com13 Aug 2019

Dr Behera speaks about how the nationwide positive reaction to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir indicates that the very idea of India is changing. From a diverse, multicultural entity, could India be becoming a place where assimilation is more important than accommodation?

Top US CEOs reaped billions from stock gains in recent years

Top US CEOs reaped billions from stock gains in recent years

Rediff.com25 Mar 2015

The reason for the windfall: the soaring value of their stock awards.

'The Modi government is in panic mode'

'The Modi government is in panic mode'

Rediff.com5 Sep 2017

'Modi and his team have read the message from the ground.' 'People have started questioning what they have achieved by putting Modi in power.'

4 ways to address the net-neutrality issue

4 ways to address the net-neutrality issue

Rediff.com17 Jul 2015

A DoT panel has backed net neutrality and made some recommendations to push the cause