'The people of Gujarat are more religious than people of other states, this gives the BJP an advantage.'
Want to live in Maharashtra, follow these eight rules or get jailed. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com on the proposed Maharashtra Protection of Internal Security Act.
'The BJP has killed public anger. They have killed people's self-respect.'
Syed Firdaus Ashraf is unimpressed by the Uri trailer.
'The Abdullah family is the problem and facilitator of the instability that we are seeing in Kashmir.'
'What is the harm in having more polling booths?'
'The background for the Saudi-Pakistan agreement is the fact that the regional security order has collapsed due to the Israeli attack on Doha.' 'The Americans have largely abandoned their security guarantee for West Asia and the region has no choice but to look at alternatives.'
Cafe Irani Chaii is Mansoor Showghi Yezdi's attempt at preserving Irani culture in an age of globalisation, where old cultures are swiftly fading away.
'Why should I as a common man not know where my parents are in Kashmir, how they are doing. It is my right,' student Mohammed Aleem Syed, who moved the Supreme Court to be allowed to visit Kashmir, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'I came for my national service. I am the son of people like Gandhiji, Nehru, Patel, Dr Ambedkar and Maulana Azad.'
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com comes across a Ganesh temple in Kashmir's summer capital that remains a well kept secret.
'In Independent India's politics you will not find any leader of a political party who has not contested elections or not held a powerful post.' 'It was only Balasaheb who never contested elections or held a post.' On the occasion of Balasaheb Thackeray's 99th birth anniversary, close aide Subhash Desai recalls vignettes about the Shiv Sena founder.
... Why care for the truth when the legend so interesting, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'It could be the Pakistan army's commercial interest, tactical or strategic interest or one of their leaders.' 'Even if you send a message that we have attempted to kill one of the Pakistani generals, that itself will serve the purpose.'
'Pakistan cannot sustain a war with India for more than four days. They are in such dire straits. At best they can sustain war for one week.'
'The 2024 general elections proved that UP is not Gujarat.'
'Delhi's streets were not alleys but an artist's canvas,' the eminent poet Mir Taqi Mir noted more than 150 years ago. Syed Firdaus Ashraf savours the sights and cuisine of the national capital.
'Journalists must ask the Mumbai police why are they sending notices via X to cartoonists.' 'The Mumbai police must come clean. Who is giving them such orders?'
'The LTTE were the pioneers of that.'
'...by saying since you have come say everything against your party.'
'These beach shacks were meant to protect the employment of local Goans who in turn would showcase Goan cuisine and culture on the beaches of Goa.'
'This is leading to anarchy.'
This Web series is more about wine, opium, sex, more sex, gay love and incest, rues Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'The BJP claims they have eight lakh cadres in the Kashmir Valley so why can't they contest elections from Kashmir?'
Satyamev Jayate 2 has a dated, circa 1990s script which won't find acceptance with today's generations, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'I represented India across the world, but here, in my own country, I was treated in this bad manner.' 'Everyone in Prayagraj respects me a lot and it is in this same city that I became homeless.'
'I want to die with my finger on the click button of the camera,' veteran photographer Pradeep Bandekar, who passed into ages early on Sunday morning, told Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'Muslims need to work according to strategy and not fall into the trap of Opposition parties.'
'When I see people's faces I can see that there is a certain sadness in their eyes which makes me unhappy as a person.' 'I want to see people happy in their lives.'
'The situation is so bad that it is not possible for me to explain in words how bad the conditions are for the common man of Manipur.'
'...in the minds of the youth of Assam.' 'Now, no protests happen in Assam because of fear of police encounters.'
'They will be in prison all their life and they will understand what suffering means to Reuben's and Keenan's families.'
'During Eid Muslims get Eidi, but Opposition parties never gave that to them.' 'When PM Modi is giving Eidi to Muslims Opposition leaders are getting upset.'
'Today, both in the hills and valley there is radicalised militant activity which poses a direct national security threat.' 'This kind of militancy in Manipur is unprecedented, I have never seen such largescale militancy in my life.'
'He had a knife in each hand.' 'And something just kind of took over and I just grabbed him.'
'He also understands and foresees potential challenges.'
Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com finds out why Sacred Games has run into trouble.
Tral, the former hotbed of terrorism, rocks to the music of democracy.
'Maharashtra is virtually in a debt trap.'
'Apparently, the EC deals with such communications as mine in a summary manner, and it has no intention to conduct its affairs, as a quasi-judicial authority ought to.'
