'There was outside intervention which is what led to the initial violence.' 'Once the violence started, there was a brutal lathi-charge by the police.'
Billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala explains why he thinks Modi should be at the helm of India.
'The right wing has worked for 70-80 years at the grass roots before it burst onto social media.' 'Social media is an extension of its formidable work in society.' 'If you think you can fight them on social media, forget it. You can't.'
The classic Marathi movie Simhasan would be an interesting watch today as it draws a parallels to the current political turmoil in Maharashtra.
'We cannot believe the police encounter story at all.' 'They were in the hands of the police and they were de-weaponised.' 'They didn't have weapons. How can you kill them?'
'He is not acting solo.' 'The plot may have people within the Congress and outside.'
'The Muslim community is disappointed with this judgment.'
Ahead of the elections, a lot had been spoken of the large number of leaders defecting from the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena. In fact, a month before the polls, more than two dozen Congress-NCP leaders quit and joined the BJP in hopes of riding high on the Narendra Modi wave. While for some the shift has brought in good fortune, for others it has brought loss. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com analyses how these defectors have fared.
'Before entering Tihar jail, she told us not to worry and that we will together come out of this crisis soon.'
'The suppression is mounting and people may react.'
'A political party taking the law into its hands is objectionable, especially in the context of the 2002 incidents in Gujarat.'
'Verdict shows they had illegally imposed President's rule in Uttarakhand.'
'They are trying to make the situation bad for Indian Railways so that they can hand it over to private companies.'
'She said she could have taken so much energy from her father had she got a chance to meet him before his death.'
'In many cases, I didn't take money because the Indian students had run out of cash.' 'The biggest high was the blessings that these students's parents used to give me on the phone or send messages thanking me on WhatsApp.'
'We will talk to Muslim, Christian organisations and form a broad alliance so that every temple, church and mosque will have freedom to manage their affairs and not to be intervened upon.'
'We cannot afford to be complacent about our food security needs.'
'The Supreme Court has reiterated that marriage is an important institution but it cannot depend on criminal prosecution.' 'It has to rest on certain surer foundations like love, mutual trust etc.'
'They also think that if all opposition parties rally behind him, then 2024 will be Rahul versus Modi and that will be advantage BJP'
A Mumbai restaurant celebrates Sanjay Dutt's release by serving Sanju Baba Chicken, FREE!
'The Congress wants to deprive Modi another term in 2024 and for that they are ready to make any sacrifice.'
'When he was killed, did you ask questions of the Muslim community? When we spoke of 'aar-paar' you are asking questions.'
'Only then will we withdraw the agitation.'
'They were only chanting one slogan, "Ghar jaana hai (we want to go home)".'
'The Congress may have made mistakes, but their ideology is not wrong. India will not function if you do not believe in unity in diversity,' declares filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reports from Lucknow.
'Earlier, a lot of fear was in the minds of people that the BJP is anti-Christian and anti-minority, but over the years people have learnt to accept that the BJP is just another national party.'
'After the Parliament election results many people are confused and that is why this crisis has erupted
Worried over those under home quarantine going out and mingling with others, the Karnataka government wants them to confirm their location through selfies.
'One man went berserk or rogue that does not mean the Mumbai police should be ashamed.'
If you want Ranbir to get the girl, this film isn't for you.
Syed Firdaus Ashraf is startled by the prices for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shivaay tickets.
'The Akali government is not responsible for the Punjab power crisis as Mr Sidhu is saying.'
'I wonder what Zaibunissa Kazi would feel if she saw the trailer for Sanju.' 'An effort that proves movies are made about celebrities who get away after committing a crime while poor souls like Zaibunissa rot all their lives in prison only for knowing a star like Sanjay Dutt,' says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'It will be a long time before we will see the likes of Vajpayee again.'
'The Government of India should start a dialogue with the people of Ladakh, but the trouble is they are not willing to listen to our grievances.'
'The BJP had a big threat from the Congress in J&K, therefore they were threatened by us.'
Less than half the ministers in Team Yogi are not long-term BJP members. Many old-timers have been dropped.
'Use of the word 'genocide' for Kashmiri Pandits is absolutely wrong.'
'The most important thing is that medical aid reaches people whenever required.'
'Priyanka did draw huge crowds and eventually all of those ended up voting for the Samajwadi Party.' 'The voters today are smart enough to vote for the party which they know is going to win or they know this party will come second, but no way will they vote for a party which will come third or fourth.'
