'Just because there is some misunderstanding, you cannot recall the chief secretary.' 'This is not a good development. This is an assault on federalism.'
The EPS camp believes that the BJP was already arm-twisting the AIADMK into conceding more seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections 'than they deserve' observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
This legislation, passed in 1967 on the recommendations of the National Integration Council to combat communalism, casteism, regionalism and linguistic chauvinism and to deal with associations engaged in secessionist activities, has changed colour over time and has now become a statute that has created new categories of offences and punishments, 108 ex-bureaucrats said in an open letter.
The move bears significance in the wake of November 9 judgement of the Supreme Court which allowed construction of a Ram Temple in the disputed site in Ayodha.
Mihir Bhat, fellow at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative who is also the director of the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, discusses with Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa about what the National Integration Council should focus on.
The proposed Communal Violence Bill on Saturday ran into trouble with the National Democratic Alliance-ruled states and Congress ally Trinamool Congress opposing it as "dangerous" legislation and arguing that it would hurt the federal structure of the country.
'Section 153A is not meant to protect fragile sentiments of the majority Hindu community who choose to get offended by slogans celebrating the success of the Pakistani cricket team.'
Chief Ministers of a number of states including those from Gujarat, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Saturday skipped the meeting of the prime minister-led National Integration Council in New Delhi.
Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the use of violence, as an instrument of protest was the biggest challenge before the country.
Security agencies probing the Delhi high court blast are taking every email seriously, but they haven't ruled out the possibility that they may have been sent by someone who wanted to play a prank, the government said on Saturday. Talking to reporters after a day-long National Integration Council meeting, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said, "We are not dismissing any email. We are investigating each and every email we have got."
Addressing the 15th meeting of the National Integration Council in Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that terrorism and Naxalism are the biggest problems that India faces. He stressed on the need to strengthen the country's intelligence gathering apparatus. The PM also stated the need to identify and address causes of radicalisation of youth, among other issues plaguing India. Here's the full text of Dr Singh's speech.
Among the new entrants in the council headed by the Prime Minister, which will now have 147 members, are Ambika Soni, Dayanidhi Maran and Salman Khursheed have made their entry as Union Ministers while BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have come in as Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively.
B S Raghavan, West Bengal's former chief secretary, worked with Indira Gandhi for many years. He remembers the late leader on her 25th death anniversary.
Speaking at the National Integration Council meet in New Delhi, Modi identified 'economic strife on account of growing disparities' as the root cause 'promoting divisive feeling and hindering the process of national integration.' Quoting from a speech made by Singh during the NIC meet in 2005, Modi pointed out that the Prime Minister also held a similar opinion when he said that 'relative inter-regional disparities are also a problem and must be addressed'.
After sparking a furore by demanding a judicial inquiry into the killing of militants in Delhi's Batla House, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Monday said he had never called the encounter "fake", but felt that the issue of insecurity among minorities should be addressed.
"The government is trying to promote vote-bank politics by avoiding a discussion on terrorism. Terrorism is the biggest enemy of the country but still the government has no courage to say so," Modi told media persons. Accusing the Centre of adopting a 'casual approach' on the issue at the NIC, he said the government was not ready to discuss terrorism which has affected the whole country badly.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj strongly defended National Security Advisor M K Narayanan in the National Integration Council meeting on Monday when Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh took exception to the NSA's reply to his demand for a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter, in which two alleged terrorists and a Delhi police officer were killed.
The BJP-ruled states on Monday raised their concern over non-inclusion of terrorism in the agenda of National Integration Council (NIC) meeting.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has objected to exclusion of terrorism from the agenda of National Integration Council (NIC) meeting.
Cong leader Anand Sharma said the PM should provide a 'healing touch' and should call a meeting of all CMs at the NIC to discuss this matter.
Indications are that Modi will have words of encouragement for Stalin, and the meeting is likely to be much less acrimonious than critics of either would want it to be. notes N Sathiya Moorthy.
'The BJP's use of nationalism was a major factor in its likely victory,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
The National Integration Council, which discussed ways to check communal violence, on Monday condemned all forms of violence intended to disturb communal harmony and resolved to take immediate action against those involved in it.
Adityanath also recommended that all other SBSP members holding the rank of minister of state be removed immediately.
Against the backdrop of riots in Muzzafarnagar, Minorities Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan on Wednesday said the Centre would try to build consensus among political parties to get the Anti-riot Bill passed in Parliament.
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani, who shares a warm relation with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar notwithstanding the severing of ties with the Janata Dal-United, will skip the party's October 27 rally.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Tuesday alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had got 10,000 burqas stitched for its 'Karyakarta Mahakumbh' to be held in Bhopal on Wednesday, for which a real estate company had paid Rs 42 lakh to the tailor, a charge denied by the BJP.
Communist Party of India-Marxist on Monday said the recent communal incidents were part of a "planned effort" by communal-political forces and the upcoming Lok Sabha polls seemed to be a "catalyst" for communal activities.
In a time of crisis like this, a government needs its people and politics united. A nation of India's size and diversity can't fight a stronger rival with fraying social cohesion, observes Shekhar Gupta.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh puts it succinctly: "Arun Jaitley was every non-BJP person's favourite BJP-ite."
Strident Hindutva has not been the Shivraj Singh Chouhan's hallmark in his long tenure as chief minister. What has changed?
'Modi has lost a great opportunity to show himself to be a leader, mentor and path-setter, capable of rising above narrow party interests,', says B S Raghavan, the distringuished civil servant.
Conflicting views are emerging over the proposal to ban Sanatan Sanstha, a right wing group allegedly linked to the killing of Govind Pansare.
Possibly for the first time since Prime Minister Indira Gandhi called upon the nation to donate/sacrifice for the 'Bangladesh war' efforts, and also suffer blackout at nights with patience and pride, has the nation reacted so very positively to the government's diktat, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
'If development, investment, employment, implementation, credibility and commitment are ensured, security will automatically improve and subversive and militant elements will lose ground and be neutralised by the people themselves,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.
'Speaking this year from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he excelled himself in content, diction and delivery -- all extemporaneously flowing, replete with felicitous expressions and captivating word play. 'The only other Indian prime minister with whom he stands comparison is Jawaharlal Nehru who too shunned prepared speeches and established instant rapport with his audiences,' says B S Raghavan.
Farm loan waivers should not be regarded as expenditure but as incentive and investment, argues B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.
'The monumental first Modi wrought in 2014, followed by the miracle in Uttar Pradesh, is not a matter for celebration, but an ominous warning of the perils ahead.' 'There are 5 areas which Modi has to address immediately and relentlessly if he has to live up to all that the people are taking him for,' says B S Raghavan, the distinguished civil servant.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances