On the final day of his two-day visit to India's financial capital, Congres vice president Rahul Gandhi tried to connect with Mumbaikars by raising the issue of high electricity bills en route his padyatra from National College, Bandra to Dharavi, Asia's largest slum colony.
rediff.com's Prasanna Zore analyses Rani Mukerji's latest film.
'This was long expected because Mahendra Karma was on the Maoists's hit list... I don't think the Maoists cared as much about the consequences as they cared about the fact that they had to get rid of Mahendra Karma. Whatever else they do or don't do now, they can say they have revenged Salwa Judum.' Sociologist Nandini Sundar on the Maoist massacre and its aftermath.
Five people in the know narrate the sordid story that is fast exploding into a pornography scandal, allegedly involving businessman Raj Kundra.
While BJP workers gleefully celebrated the victory of the party and its leader Narendra Modi for a third time, Congress workers could barely hide their feeling of dejection. Sonil Dedhia and Prasanna D Zore were present at the BJP and Congress headquarters to witness the celebrations as well as the disappointment.
On the final day of the Gujarat election, Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore takes a day-long tour of Juhapura in Vejalpur (dominated by India's biggest minority), Naroda Patiya in Naroda (with an explosive mix of the majority and minority communities) and Maninagar (dominated by the majority community) in Ahmedabad. This is what he discovered.
Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer Anita Karwal tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore about the amazing ways state electoral officers boosted voter sentiment, and the likely reasons behind the high turnout in the first phase of the assembly election. An exclusive interview!
'But still they have filed FIRs against me under section 505 of the IPC.' 'These were draconian laws that were misused by the British East India Company against the soldiers who participated in the mutiny (of 1857).'
The magnificent Jat community has taken his tears to its heart, observes Sudhir Bisht. In Tikait, they see their late leader's son, the son of their doughty farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait, says Dr Sudhir Bisht.
Santokben Jadeja's son Kandhal, contesting from Kutiyana assembly segment in Saurashtra, is all set to carry forward his family's legacy with no fear of his opponents or shame about his criminal record, reports Prasanna D Zore
'...to give him a signal that you cannot ignore Maharashtra, you are too close to the Centre.' 'I can see some kind of rivalry also in this, but it is better that the NIA goes deep into it.'
'The Modi government must tell us what this person's connection with the BJP is.'
'There will be more than three to four lakh tractors and farmers, four to five times that number, displaying their resolve in front of a deaf, mute and a government blind to their plight.'
'A movie to bring back memories of your innocent, carefree, childhood,' says Prasanna Zore.
'There is no question of joining hands with the BJP.'
Baadshah Pehlwaan comes out as a film is not only as a thorough entertainer but also a thought-provoker, feels Prasanna D Zore.
Real time monitoring of all the 23,000 booths where polling will take place on Monday will ensure a free and fair election, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer Anita Karwal tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore.
Right to Information activist Anjali Damania tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore that she is confident that if a judicial probe is ordered into the irrigation scam, NCP leader Ajit Pawar would surely be implicated.
'In Maharashtra he didn't buckle under pressure.' 'We expect him to do the same as the CBI Director.'
Can Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi ever wash away the taint of the 2002 anti-Muslim riots? Prasanna D Zore spent five days in Ahmedabad meeting several Muslims across the socio-economic-caste divide, to find out what the community feels about Modi.
While a massive crowd gathered of 25,000 thronged Congress President Sonia Gandhi's rally in Keshod, only 3,000 showed up when the Gujarat chief minister campaigned in the Junagadh town. Prasanna D Zore reports
In a move that shows the urgency and seriousness with which the UPA 2 is planning the execution of first phase of direct cash transfer scheme before the January 1, 2013, deadline it has set for itself, the Union government has notified formation of two core committees -- called Mission Mode Committees -- tasked with rollout of the scheme. Prasanna D Zore reports from New Delhi.
Thousands of people from all walks of life have kept a vigil outside Matoshree -- the residence on ailing Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray -- hoping for some good news about their beloved leader's fragile health.
Vishwaroopam is flawed and a big disappointment from Kamal Haasan, writes Prasanna D Zore.
'The voters of Maharashtra have taught a lesson to Modi's arrogance.'
Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai, a confidant of Uddhav Thackeray, said the party is now looking to implement the 50:50 formula with its ally the BJP.
The former Miss India on men, saris and 'jumping jhapak'
'This is PM Modi's victory. 100 per cent.'
'But thereafter the same trend is again getting popular and that is what is disturbing and alarming.' 'If this practice goes unchecked, then the entire edifice of the rule of law which gives protection to citizens of this country would crumble into pieces.'
'Our legal team is doing their best to argue the matter in the court.'
'We would advise investors to hold on to multi-cap funds and not invest further until further clarity emerges.'
This is how Mumbai's civic administration, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation along with Mumbai Police are dividing the city into 'Containment Zones' to prevent the spread of the deadly Coronavirus as the tally of those testing positive and those dying because of it shows no sign of abatement.
Laal Kaptaan deserves a watch just for Saif's spunk, raves Prasanna D Zore.
'They wil show the whole world see how this government is treating its farmers.'
'It was because of the huge selloff in the Indian equities that the rupee fell so sharply against the dollar on Friday.'
Fresh from the hat-trick in the assembly polls, which pitch-forked him in the BJP's prime ministerial candidates' race, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said if he had committed any mistake, he seeks forgiveness from the people.
'That is why he is able to deliver. That is what makes Narendra Modi, Narendra Modi,' Gujarat Minister Jay Narayan Vyas tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore.
After completing a hectic day of campaigning among the voters of Maninagar, Shweta Bhatt answers Prasanna D Zore's posers with the ease of a master politician. Read on to know why she decided to take on Narendra Modi, how campaigning has changed her and how she copes with all the stress that comes with fighting against a chief minister as powerful as Narendra Modi.
Ashrafbhai Pathan of Sanand, Gujarat, is an ardent Narendra Modi fan. "Ask any Gujarati today what Narendra Modi means to them and the future of the next generation and hear them articulate about Modi's achievements and vision," he tells anyone who cares to listen. Prasanna D Zore and Reuben NV report
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday released the Bharatiya Janata Party's manifesto for the state assembly elections, saying that it is a blueprint for development of all sections of the society.
