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| December 04 2008 | |
A letter to the prime minister
So long as India's response to terrorism will be characterised by a shameless appeal along religious lines with political parties trying to consolidate their vote-banks as opposed to coming together to fight the menace, we will continue to be viewed as a soft target by our adversaries and we will continue to fight terrorists in our streets.
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| Decvember 03 2008 | |
The obvious battlefield is Pakistan
'New Delhi needs to work out its long-term option with clarity, objectivity and decisiveness in view of the extremely hostile 14,000 kilometres of borders. The other critical element is the substantial Islamic population in India that certain external forces want radicalised to create civil strife. Honestly speaking, given the internal and external security imperatives, non-governance is not an option for New Delhi.'
Remove politicians' security. Now!
Let each of these politicians be stripped of the security cover and perks. Let them feel like the common men they really are. Let them understand that they are the servants of the people -- and then let us find out how many of them actually want to serve the nation.
Why are we targeting politicians alone?
Merely paying taxes is not enough, the trouble is that no one wants to go beyond that and giving lectures to politicians.
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| Decvember 02 2008 | |
People's anger and a crumbling spy agency
If you watch the surge of emotions one thought clearly emerges that people are frustrated, desperate and wants things to change. They want to bury the chalta hai attitude.
It's a fight for humanity
We can't start overthrowing governments but we can keep a strict watch on them as citizens of a free world, who give a damn. We can also choose who we give power too. A democratic government is said to be: of the people, by the people, for the people. India is the largest democracy in the world and home to 1.2 billion people living all over the world. It is possible for a resounding voice to be heard if we speak together now, says Priya Kale.
Time to hold Pakistan accountable
The West should stand in solidarity with India in telling Pakistan that it cannot allow Lashkar-e-Tayiba to exist.
The consequences of the Mumbai attacks
Former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld once said that the enemy gets a vote. The Islamists cast their ballot in Mumbai.
Why do they hate a City of Dreams?
'This city will prove its true greatness not by 'getting on with it'; but, rather, by holding accountable those who perpetrated this act and those who allowed it to happen.'
Who was in Charge?
'For two days, no one moved to take charge, neither in Mumbai nor in Delhi.'
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| Decvember 01 2008 | |
Pakistan government can't rein in ISI
'We must with or without the cooperation of Pakistan get rid of the terror training camps, and let Pakistan know that any action against terror outfits inside their territory is no violation of their sovereignty. Instead, it will help them restore their authority and save India from murder and mayhem.'
The Taj Burns
Like New York, let us rise from the gray ashes, shaking off fear and despair to find peace. But let us find answers without darting down dark alleys of suspicion and down hawkish labyrinths. May we have the courage to do what it takes to rebuild a safe world for our children.
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| November 27 2008 | |
It's time India got its act together
This does not appear to be the handiwork of someone on a shoestring budget. This appears to be a 'battle' in a carefully crafted campaign, or several campaigns.'
The democracies MUST ensure they win
All those who support terrorism in any way must be held ultimately responsible for their actions. If Britain, the US or indeed India fails to carry the war to those who make terrorism possible, wherever they may be hiding, then they too most be equally held responsible for their appalling failure to protect their own citizens. The terrorists and their supporters have declared open war on the democracies and their citizens
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| November 25, 2008 | |
Why J&K's voter turnout is good news
It shows the electorate's growing faith in the credibility of the electoral process. People obviously think it is worth their while to line up in long queues in inclement weather because they believe that what they punch into their EVM machines is going to decide who will be the victor.
Where have the real friends gone?
The encounter made me think once again of the force and total hold of Facebook and Myspace on generation next.
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| November 24, 2008 | |
Sino-Indian ties: Troubled times ahead
Pranab Mukherjee was right when he suggested in Beijing sometime back that India-China relations will be one of the more significant factors that will determine the course of human history in the 21st century. If the present indications are anything to go by, human history is in for some tough times ahead.
Corruption is a violation of human rights
Legal and judicial measures for deterring corruption are only a part of the solution. The long-term solution lies in the realm of education at all levels.
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| November 21, 2008 | |
The Obama moment and the challenges it brings
For President-elect Obama the hard reality of governance is going to sink in rapidly. The world will wait to see if this triumph of hope, will transform into fulfilment of that hope.
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| November 19, 2008 | |
Why we must lose sleep over Hindu terror
But the crucial question is whether our politicians realise the continuous damage that they have inflicted on the unity and integrity of the nation by their recklessness? Do they realise the consequence of the rise of Hindu terror and what caused it in the first place? Do they sincerely believe that the government can effectively protect the minorities through its police, judiciary and other organs of the state?
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| November 17, 2008 | |
The real reason for Margaret Alva's exit
Could coteries in the Congress they have put Alva up to attacking Digvijay Singh by destroying his reputation? In other words, in the byzantine politics of the Congress, is Alva merely a lamb being led to slaughter by those who want to use her to get at other leaders including Digvijay Singh?
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| November 14, 2008 | |
Will Obama and India seize the moment?
India can positively engage Obama by seeking his cooperation in an initiative for a reform of the global governance system.This means moving away from parochial, short-term preoccupations and thinking big. Can our policymakers muster the will to do this?
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| November 12, 2008 | |
The end of the Dalai Lama's Middle Way?
The Dalai Lama has not dropped his dream to see the Tibetan people happy in the Land of Tibet. It may only take more time and other paths.
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| November 10, 2008 | |
Free at last!
And yet no one should make the mistake of thinking that the playing field has been leveled completely.
Naan will still be part of the Washington menu
If Obama takes the lead to get India into the Security Council, he would go miles ahead of Bush in befriending India.
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| November 07, 2008 | |
Deconstructing the Assam blasts
The challenge is: what can be done to prevent a repetition of such catastrophic acts of terror and violence?
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| November 05, 2008 | |
Obama and the four-letter word
Few leaders in contemporary world history have embodied hope and inclusiveness as much as the 44th President of the United States.
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| November 04, 2008 | |
The Obama I (don't) know
One Chicago law professor writes about another.
The Obama generation
What will its America look like?
To America, from abroad, with love
An American working in India is still optimistic about his country's prospects.
What if McCain wins?
One answer: a government of national unity, says Reihan Salam.
Six handicaps for John McCain
Though these setbacks are unfair, he can't overcome them by Election Day.
The Bush election
John McCain, let us admit, is battling not only Barack Obama but also George W Bush. This election is about Hope, Change, the New ... but all these slogans are uttered with Bush in mind. McCain is fighting with Bush on his back, and is losing because of Bush on his back.
Obama, Mayawati and the people around me...
Joe Biden has been in politics for 36 years, and had a net worth of about 66 lakhs. On hearing this my driver said, an Indian politician would have made at least Rs 1000 crores in that time.
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| October 29, 2008 | |
US elections: Waiting for bin Laden
Is OBL planning a similar entry into the poll scene before the Americans vote? It will be out of keeping with him if he does not. Watch out during the days to come.
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| October 27, 2008 | |
The battle is not for Marathi asmita
Time the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena cease talking about protecting the Maharashtrian asmita (pride) when they talk in support of fighting the influx of job-seeking migrants. Instead they should come clean on the fact that the present concern with regard to migrants is only economic.
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| October 24, 2008 | |
India's knee jerk reactions in Lanka
When he wants the attention of New Delhi, the Sri Lankan president or his administration dials Beijing and Islamabad and vice versa. So petrified is New Delhi at the prospect of Beijing or Islamabad consolidating its grip on the island nation that in the last two years India has given in to every whim and fancy of the Rajapaksa government.
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| October 23, 2008 | |
India's reluctant diplomacy in Lanka
Clearly, it is pressure from various parties in Tamil Nadu which appears to have forced the hand of New Delhi. The guess in political circles of Sri Lanka is that India chose the NSA as he represented the prime minister directly and wanted to give an impression to various constituencies in Tamil Nadu that it was getting tough with Colombo.
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| October 22, 2008 | |
Sri Lankan tsunami in Indian politics
New Delhi has fallen into the trap it assiduously dug since the current phase of escalation of hostilities in Sri Lanka in June/July 2006. The security establishment managers of the United Progressive Alliance simultaneously indulged the nationalist elements in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, the former in line with domestic political compulsions, the latter in the name of New Delhi's geo-strategic interests.
Some searching questions on terrorism
The Hindu Right has, ever since its inception, consistently used terror as its major weapon for stirring up Hindu passions so as to cultivate a Hindu vote-bank. This has been particularly the case on the eve of major elections, as is the case today, says Yogi Sikand.
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| October 21, 2008 | |
Raj Thackeray should revisit his past
Raj Thackeray, I hope, recalls the SUS's 'social commitment' -- the organisation's own words -- which was 'to create jobs and develop entrepreneurial opportunities for the sons of the soil'. Nowhere was it said then or later that opportunities would be created by scaring away the outsiders who seek to aspire for a better life in Mumbai, says Mahesh Vijapurkar.
India Looks East and discovers Tokyo
Relations between India and Japan seem to be at an all-time high, with the two countries making a concerted attempt to interact at various levels -- economic, political and strategic.
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| October 17, 2008 | |
Pak NSA in India as country slides downhill
New Delhi should constantly bear in mind that despite Major General Mahmud Ali Durrani's soft-spoken approach, crucial decisions on relations with India, particularly on terrorism-related issues, will remain in the hands of the Punjabi-dominated Pakistani military.
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| October 15, 2008 | |
Analysis: Will the Jhelum smile again?
It is time India acted like Lincoln and not like 'men of straw' who succumbed to pressure in 1947. It is time that India makes it clear that secession is not an option and that Indian unity is non-negotiable.
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| October 14, 2008 | |
View: Extremism and the misinterpretation of Islam
According to Islam, the declaration and conduct of jihad, in the sense of qital or physical warfare, and the establishment of Islamic laws related to collective affairs is solely the responsibility of the State. It is completely forbidden in Islam for non-State actors to form parties in order to engage in struggles or movements for this purpose
How safe are Pakistan's nuclear warheads?
Among Pakistan's neighbouring countries, India will be particularly vulnerable if Islamist terrorists and their Al Qaeda and Taliban brothers ever lay their hands on Pakistan's nuclear warheads as it is one of the nations that the Al Qaeda has named as an enemy. Being a contiguous land neighbour, it is also easier to target even if sophisticated delivery systems like ballistic missiles are not available
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| October 10, 2008 | |
India should reciprocate Zardari's overture
India can help Pakistan generously in its hour of crisis -- if it builds a relationship with it independent of the US. India must thin out troops in the Kashmir Valley, offer Pakistan security cooperation and joint projects in Afghanistan -- thus decisively defusing the Cold War-style mutual rivalry in that country.
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| October 08, 2008 | |
LK Advani: Don't communalise the fight against terror
The Navratri festival has begun. It will conclude on Vijayadashami, which symbolises the victory of Good over Evil. I suggest that, in addition to Ravan Dahan (burning of the effigy of Ravan), let Navratri pandals all over the country also do Atankvaad Dahan (burning the effigy of the Demon of Terrorism). Let it symbolise our collective resolve to make India terror-free, says L K Advani
View: Losing the psy-war in Afghanistan
There should be no doubt that if the Americans leave without finishing the job in Afghanistan they will be doing this at their own peril. In the globalised and borderless world of today, the US doesn't have the luxury that the British enjoyed of leaving Afghanistan to its own devices
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| October 07, 2008 | |
Harsh V Pant: India and the EU: A directionless courtship
The EU's lack of a strategic direction in foreign policy makes it difficult for it to respond effectively to new challenges such as the rise of India. India should leverage its growing economic and political profile in the international system to impress upon the EU that it's time for the EU to act seriously on its promise to make India a strategic partner.
US, Saudi Arabia revive Taliban's comeback
From the US perspective, the immediate political advantage of the Saudi involvement will be two-fold: its impact on Pakistani public opinion and, secondly, in countering the expanding Iranian influence within Afghanistan. The Saudi role would hopefully temper the stridency of 'anti-Americanism' in Pakistan, given their influence on the Islamic parties in Pakistan, especially the Jamaat-i-Islami
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| October 03, 2008 | |
Heed the cry of the armed forces
A nation neglects its soldiers at its peril. Instead of structural tinkering through pay commissions, it makes sense to have a separate pay commission for the defence forces.
How the nuclear deal helps India's power situation
According to a study by the Centre for the Study of Science, Technology and Policy based in Bangalore, there is a good chance of nuclear power contributing about 57,000 MW by 2030 through LWRs and FBRs. By building more PHWRs too -- with totally indigenous technology, but run on imported uranium fuel -- the level could touch 70,000 MW or higher
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| October 02, 2008 | |
Deal with US raises troubling questions
'The deal on offer creates a Tarapur-style trap of gigantic dimensions. In fact, the latest Act specifically empowers the US to do what it did in 1978 -- retroactively rewrite the rules of cooperation with India by enacting a new domestic law.'
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| October 01, 2008 | |
Why can't we be careful and change?
Safety consciousness of the people and the authorities is abysmally low to the extent of being non-existent. Care, caution and concern are always missing. The absence of a sense of safety and the required discipline to secure it in our daily lives is appallingly missing.
Why bother with news about blasts!
A time may come when human rights activists, liberals, intellectual elite, eminent persons, secularists and other lumpen elements may argue that it is okay for the State to fund the activities of such violent groups who according to them mean well to "liberate" those people who vibe on the same wavelength with them!
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| September 29, 2008 | |
Reprieve for Shivraj Patil sends the wrong message
And yet Patil's continuation raises a different question: What is going to be the criteria for becoming and remaining a minister? Wearing good clothes? Keeping the leader happy? Or should it also have something to do with performance?
Time for the police to come clean
The country could ill-afford such a situation where innocents are made to pay a price because an incompetent police wants to keep the record books filled. It is time now to ask sharp questions. And time has come for the investigating agencies to answer them. Quickly.
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| September 26, 2008 | |
In FATA, the war is just starting
It is in the interest of the US, of Pakistan and even of India (which will have to bear the brunt of a destabilised Pakistan) if Pakistan is forced to make the necessary course correction and combat Islamic radicalism.
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| September 25, 2008 | |
The govt's employment policy disappoints
The draft policy paper has opted for 'ignorance is bliss' and served platitudes which do not add up to a serviceable employment policy.
Wounded hearts
The aggressive conversions and the justification of it by the 'harvesters' are hurting Hindus as much as any other violence. Still there are saner ways to explain that hurt if there are saner platforms to receive those voices.
Should J&K polls be held on schedule?
When to hold elections in J&K is not an easy call to take, though there is nothing like a perfect moment. Clearly, the priority has to be to bring down the temperatures in the valley first before embarking on an electoral exercise.
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| September 23, 2008 | |
Steady progress at Sino-India talks
Unlike Indo-Pak talks, which are equally sensitive, India-China border talks have been low-key without arousing any kind of unrealistic optimism or expectation. Talks have been slow, but steady, without meeting any roadblock. This is symbolic of maturing of relationship between the two countries which has been achieved over the years.
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| September 22, 2008 | |
View: Manufacturing 'terrorists' the Indian way
The mounting indiscriminate arrests, torture and detention of vast numbers of innocent Muslim youth across the country in the name of countering terrorism not only makes a complete mockery of our claims to secularism and democracy but is a perfect recipe for making Muslim terrorism a self-fulfilling prophecy
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| September 18, 2008 | |
India sidelined in Lankan war
Perhaps the Indian establishment do not subscribe to the thesis that un-exhibited power is more potent. Innovative diplomacy and statesmanship with no nonsense approach is the need of the hour.
We need enforcement, not anti-terror laws
Right now what we need, as much as we needed them all along in the life of this nation, is proper law enforcement. Also, the law enforcement has to be done legally. That seems a little odd when said, but that's what we need.
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| September 17, 2008 | |
When cowards run, the State nation bleeds
If citizens encourage and harbour the wicked, forget dates like December 13 that should be remembered, forget to take revenge on anti-nationals, continue with their late-night parties when dead bodies of their fellow citizens lie splattered in busy fashion markets, no one can save that deadwood society.
The intent behind the terror attacks
Deadly enemies though they present themselves as, Hindu and Muslim chauvinists desperately need each other. Without each other they are incomplete, indeed unable to survive. That is what this series of blasts, as well as the entire history of Hindu and Muslim communalism, clearly suggests.
SIMI's 'success' is a result of our secular polity
SIMI does not believe in a nation-state. Its ultimate aim is to have an Islamic Caliphate with an Islamic India an integral part of such an arrangement. And to achieve this, SIMI sees secular, democratic modern India as a hurdle. Yet it is the secular cabal that acts as a cheerleader for SIMI!
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| September 16, 2008 | |
Terrorism is no crime, it is an act of war
'Once we acknowledge that terrorism is an act of war waged against India then it becomes the paramount duty of the central government to decide how long we will allow ourselves to bleed and how soon shall we put an end to this aggression.'
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| September 11, 2008 | |
The case against azadi for Kashmir
It is therefore time that India starts 'thinking the unthinkable' to end Kashmiri separatism. If the case for Kashmir's azadi rests only on numbers, then let us change the numbers in Kashmir. If this means settling people there from other parts of India, then so be it.
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| September 09, 2008 | |
What a Zardari presidency means
Zardari assumes Pakistan's presidency at a time when the very survival of the nation is at stake. There is nothing in his past to suggest that he will be successful in overcoming the challenges that Pakistan faces and there is every likelihood that a fresh round of political instability is just round the corner. India should hope for the best but get ready to face the worst in Pakistan in the coming months.
How the media created the Raj Thackeray bogey
It gave him the cause. Strange, but true. And also tragic.
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| September 08, 2008 | |
Political implications of the NSG waiver
Dr Manmohan Singh has emerged as the Congress' prime ministerial nominee for 2009. That is the first political implication of the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver.
In defence of the armed forces
There is a need for addressing the whole gamut of raising, equipping, manning, and governing the armed forces so that their effectiveness as a national institution is assured.
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| September 05, 2008 | |
Reiterations, not revelations
The US State Department's reply to Chairman Tom Lantos covered by the Washington Post is not a revelation, but only a repetition of what was plain as noon-day sun for anyone with a modicum of political savvy. In that sense, again, US Ambassador to India David Mulford is spot on when he says that all that the letter says had already been conveyed in an open and transparent manner to New Delhi and was already known to those whose business it was to keep track of developments.
The good that madrasas do goes unnoticed
As the ulema often point out, the voluntary services of the madrasas, generally provided completely free of cost, saves the public exchequer a huge amount of money, but yet their services in this regard, far from being appreciated, are generally reviled by those who have little or no understanding of the madrasa system.
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| September 04, 2008 | |
McCain-Palin: The GI Joe-Barbie ticket
Republicans, in choosing a woman, argue that they are the true party of feminists, even if their female candidate is anti-choice, pro-military, pro-guns, pro-religion in the public sector, anti-sexual education and is, in general, diametrically opposed to everything the feminist movement has achieved for American women.
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| September 02, 2008 | |
Kashmiri separatists are isolated from reality
India must sit tight and not succumb to pressure tactics. After the relative peace that Kashmir has got used to, let there be a dose of unrest for the Kashmiri to come to his collective senses.
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| September 01, 2008 | |
West Bengal: Communists paying for their bad Karma
Obviously, the Leftists are caught in a bind. If they use force against these protestors they would be doomed in the next elections. If they don't, surely Tata may exit Singur and relocate their Nano plant elsewhere, which means economic doom for the state.
Kosi's tragedy: Blunder after blunder
If the government had woken up on August 18, then a more planned evacuation was possible and most of the lakhs of people marooned today would not be there. It is clear that there has been a series of grave and criminal blunders that have led to this disaster of huge proportions. The trouble is, even now we do not know who people are whose neglect caused this disaster, and going by our track record we may never know who they are
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| August 29, 2008 | |
Why Kashmir is up in flames
'It is the obduracy of the valley -- that sees demons in any and every attempt at economic development as 'Indian imperialism' -- that has got the people of Jammu agitated.'
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| August 28, 2008 | |
India needs IITs for sports
'A goal should be set to take our medal tally to 10 at the London Olympics.'
Kashmir's 'azaadi' demand is about religion
'The Hindus of Jammu and the Buddhists of Leh find themselves in precisely the same position as did supporters of the Muslim League in pre-Partition India, only now the actors have reversed their roles.'
Treat the farmer as a joint-entrepreneur
Every landholder who was forced out without gains with the State acting as the broker who pays less than what the project pays to the government, is like that of a person who loses his land to an irrigation project. The dam has come up on his land and he got not a chew for that but those downstream reap the harvest, year upon year. Now read industrial project for 'irrigation' and the perspective is clear.
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| August 26, 2008 | |
Why Pakistan is reactivating the Kashmir front
Quite clearly, the reactivation of the Kashmir front is a clear signal to the politicians that they should not even think of making any deal with India without taking the views of the Pakistan Army into account.
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| August 25, 2008 | |
Mayawati's caste gambit
Mayawati needs to retain support of the Dalits without alienating other castes.
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| August 21, 2008 | |
Giving Kashmir away? No way
The nation needs answers and accountability about why in less than two months the marginalised separatist groups are once again being allowed to set the political agenda in the Valley.
Armed forces should put their house in order
‘Resources alone will not make the Indian armed forces the envy of its adversaries. It is the policy direction that is set by the military leadership and the quality of training imparted to its manpower that will make the difference. The debate on the wide-ranging changes that India's defence set-up needs should have been initiated long back by the armed forces themselves.’
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| August 20, 2008 | |
View: Who will be the next PM?
One reason why Sharad Pawar may be rooting for Manmohan Singh is to earn his goodwill, and the backing of all those forces who support what Singh stands for, and paradoxically of those inside the Congress who would not want Singh as prime minister again. The recent launch of the "Saam" channel in Maharashtra by the Sakal group considered close to Pawar is being seen as a preparatory move by Pawar
What Prachanda as PM means for India
If Prachanda is prudent and mature, he won't let relations with India be marred by anti-India posturing. Will he be able to do that? India's long border with Nepal has seen an unusual growth in madarssas and jihadi activities. Will Prachanda's Nepal help handle that?
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| August 19, 2008 | |
What Musharraf's resignation means for India
'What has been on view since the bombing of the Indian embassy at Kabul is consistent with some or most elements of the ISI turning into 'rogues'. These considerations concern us more in India rather than the ouster of President Musharraf or the state of democracy in Pakistan.'
Reciprocity and Hindu anger
At some point, after years or even centuries of submitting like sheep to slaughter, Hindus, the most peace-loving people in the world, those the Mahatma Gandhi once gently called 'cowards', those who cower in their houses at the least sign of riot, erupt in fury, uncontrolled fury.
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| August 15, 2008 | |
Serious implications for India in NSG draft proposal
Although New Delhi may have expressed satisfaction with its inoffensively packaged wording, the draft proposal carries serious implications for India. The draft is likely to attract even more India-specific conditions when it is taken up for consideration by the NSG, given the cartel's consensual decision-making process.
Sobering thoughts on Independence Day
The empty seats in the VIP rows, the thin crowds and the prime minister's pointed reference to terrorism from behind his bullet proof enclosure told its own tale about my beloved nation.
India at 61: Light and Lament
Meet Mother India's quiet army of political servants.
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| August 14, 2008 | |
Amarnath shadow on Doda's tenuous peace
The violence that is rapidly engulfing large parts of Jammu and Kashmir, set off by a controversial government decision to grant a tract of land to a temple trust in Kashmir, threatens to totally disrupt the already tenuous inter-communal relations in the region.
We do not belong to past dawns, but to the noons of the future
'Some say India is shining, others will tell you, India is incredible, India is the nation to reckon with in the future, but this India is still far from where she could and should be. '
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| August 11, 2008 | |
India's new challenges in Afghanistan
A stable, secure and prosperous neighbourhood is a sine qua non for the emergence of a great power. India cannot be merely seen as free-riding on the outside powers for regional stability.
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| August 07, 2008 | |
Jammu is not for burning
The unrest could have easily been avoided if only both the state and central governments at the highest levels had had the leadership, imagination and sensitivity to gauge the delicate nature of the crisis at hand and taken effective measures to address it.
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| August 06, 2008 | |
Appeasement is never good for a nation
Politicians might say that the Amarnath issue is not about religion, but it is all about religion.
Why UPA wants to delay monsoon session
Conceivably, the deferment of the Parliament session to beyond the second week of September has more to do with the nuclear deal with the United States than the alienation of Kashmiris or the wheeling and dealing by the UPA and its allies.
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| August 05, 2008 | |
Jammu's Hindu uprising
'What we are witnessing in Jammu is a Hindu intifada: The young and old, men and women, youth and children are locked in an unequal battle with the police and the army -- demanding the immediate revocation of the government order cancelling the transfer of 800 kanals of land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board.'
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| August 02, 2008 | |
We are not there yet
The ominous explanations of some of the NSG countries in the Board should alert to the perils ahead.
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| July 29, 2008 | |
How the trust vote will change Indian politics
What has however changed above all is the country's politics. It is in a state of flux, but broad contours of the new alignments are getting delineated. With the Left-Mayawati handshake, the country is once again headed for a tripolar polity. The UPA, NDA and the third front.
Not a done deal yet
Now that the United Progressive Alliance coalition has nine months in office, it must be transparent and accountable to those who pay and elect it to serve the people of India. A single mis-step on the 123 could irreparably damage rather than advance India's national interest.
Should we be ashamed of Kargil victory?
Has the Kargil victory, like so much else, fallen prey to petty, partisan politics?
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| July 28, 2008 | |
Incubus of Indian Mujahideen
'The emergence of the Indian Mujahideen as a new terrorist menace on the scene can be said to be the gravest development yet insofar as India is concerned.'
Could the terrorists have panicked?
'In none of the blast cases since October 29, 2005 have the law enforcement agencies obtained such powerful evidence. Deciphered painstakingly by the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Wagon-R and its cargo could lead the investigators to some of the terrorists.'
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| July 25, 2008 | |
The truth is security in India is a joke
'So, we are supposed to feel concerned about what happened in the 'IT capital' on Friday afternoon; we are supposed to slam terrorism 'in no uncertain terms'; we are supposed to light a candle in our hearts and mourn.'
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| July 24, 2008 | |
What China thinks about the N-deal progress
An authoritative and well-connected strategic affairs journal in China has come out with a prompt independent comment on the progress in the N-deal.
View: Why Somanth Chatterjee was expelled
Expulsion from the party often entails a social boycott of the person by the members of the political family, say insiders, and this is not going to be easy for Somnath Chatterjee who has spent the best part of his life in the CPI-M.
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| July 21, 2008 | |
Will nuclear power benefit the masses?
'We are being told that to cushion our energy needs from the volatile oil market, we need nuclear power. That's hogwash: Our power sector is not dependent on oil.'
Everyone is a suspected Judas
'With MPs bargaining like Shylock for their pet projects and with defections and desertions, the prime minister is besieged.'
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| July 18, 2008 | |
A sad saga of the PM's betrayals
The buzz is that Dr Singh has already secured the nuclear deal with the United States and a defeat on July 22 will not alter that reality.
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| July 16, 2008 | |
What if there is a free vote?
This is the ultimate paradox of the N-deal: A majority in the Congress would rather not have the deal and a majority in the BJP would love to have it, now that the military programme has been assured.
Lessons from a Kerala textbook
After reading the textbook and the controversial chapter we are left wondering as to what could have led the opponents of the book to conclude that the chapter promotes atheism.
IAEA draft: Invoking Para 29 won’t be easy
Agreements may provide rights but this does not mean asserting them or implementing them will be easy. India may consider itself to be on firm legal ground in invoking Paragraph 29, for example, in order to deal with the consequences of a fuel supply disruption, but the political opposition it will encounter internationally could be formidable. Some of this political opposition could even be couched in legal terms.
Afghanistan: Another frontier of Indo-Pak rivalry?
The increasing bonhomie in the Indo-Afghan relationship had posed a challenge to the ISI, which is interested in regaining its lost 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan.
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| July 15, 2008 | |
Is the nuclear deal about big business?
At a time when the global nuclear industry is somewhat dormant, India's ambitious plans to increase power generation capacity substantially through the nuclear route has come as a shot in the arm for nuclear suppliers who are looking for big money and to revive their industry.
| | | |
| July 14, 2008 | |
France and the nuclear deal
The question has to be asked of France: why don't you recognise Kashmir as you recognise Tibet? Then India need not sign a nuclear treaty with the US, which will bind her politically and economically to the Americans for two decades. France would be an excellent nuclear, economic and political partner for India.
There's plenty of room in the Democratic tent
Senator Obama has the ability to unite our nation as no one has done in my lifetime. Perhaps you need more proof, and in the coming weeks I'm sure he and his talented team of campaign staffers will show us.
Price for Samajwadi support = Oust Maya
That will be the last pound of flesh Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh wish to extract for the support they are giving the dying Congress party. Fortuitously, the Congress too wants a similar outcome.
Amar Singh: The man of the moment
The king of the politics of possibilities - Amar Singh, and he is back in action. Few have the ability to network and manipulate the levers of power as Singh does. A profile.
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| July 10, 2008 | |
View: Little to fault in IAEA agreement
The Left too, assuming it finds it possible to lay aside its fundamental objections (subservience to the US, infringement of India's sovereignty) to the main nuclear deal, would find little in the contents of the agreement to which it can take serious exception.
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| July 09, 2008 | |
Drawing lessons from the Kabul bombing
Each time an Indian life was lost, the top officials in Delhi reiterated their resolve not to be deterred by terrorists. A high level meeting of officials ensued to take stock of the security of the Indian personnel in Afghanistan. We, then, moved on. But does that approach suffice? Is anyone listening out there in the Hindu Kush? Isn't a comprehensive relook of policy warranted?
| | | |
| July 08, 2008 | |
The nuclear deal's essence is politics
‘The Indo-US nuclear agreement is a political deal masquerading as a technology treaty. The essence of the deal is politics, with technology and the energy it is supposed to bring simply a smokescreen. Power, to light up India, is not the driving force behind the deal. It is politics, and to be charitable to its prime proponents, of a global scale. The aim is to redraw the global politico-strategic framework under the guise of providing technology, energy, and power. But like all power that is not earned, produced, there is a cost. And it is this cost that gets the goat of most Indians.’
Analysis: The options before the UPA
The challenge before the Congress is to get its arithmetic right and mount an operation that is foolproof, particularly after the way things were botched up in Srinagar.
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| July 07, 2008 | |
Where Azad and the Congress failed in J&K
Azad had given Delhi the impression that he had got his act together. And Delhi -- both the home ministry and the Congress party -- were happy to take his word for it. The fact is that of late Delhi has been caught up in the nuke deal to the exclusion of all else.
Has the Left overplayed its hand?
The Left under the stewardship of the impulsive and inexperienced Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechuri and the like has overplayed its hand and needlessly thrown the nation into turmoil, besides finding itself outmaneuvered.
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| July 04, 2008 | |
The taxi drivers' guide to world politics
Pearls of wisdom are often attributed to the cabbie who comes up with profound insights on the outcome of elections or the course of the conflict, or what have you.
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| June 30, 2008 | |
The prime minister cannot take things personally
The people want Manmohan Singh to lead, not to hand in his resignation. For the last four years he has presided over the economy, which is now facing difficult challenges. An economist prime minister is expected to get a grip over the situation, not walk into the sunset because he is feeling let down.
Dr Singh, lead or leave
Manmohan Singh is a nice man but India needs an effective prime minister. May be it is time for him to stand down.
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| June 28, 2008 | |
If you have to die, do so around Delhi or Mumbai
The fact that the defence minister was represented by his deputy Pallam Raju, the fact that the navy and air staff sent two-star generals, shows that however high or mighty, if you should die as you must, you should do so somewhere in the vicinity of New Delhi -- or Bombay. Or else, too bad.
| | | |
| June 27, 2008 | |
Pilgrims deserve better
To my mind, whether or not the land in question should be transferred to the SASB is only a technical question, not the heart of the issue. The more important thing is whether the state government feels that it has an obligation to improve the facilities that would make the pilgrimage of thousands of Hindu devotees more secure and more comfortable.
Is China doing a Mayanmar in Sri Lanka?
India is worried over Rajapakse's policy of bringing in external state actors into Sri Lanka. In the past, India had to worry about China, Pakistan and the US. Now, Rajapakse has started courting Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Licensed to live
The 'love that dare not speak its name' has found a voice, and legitimacy. Sandip Roy on the sexual revolution, circa 2008.
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| June 26, 2008 | |
Mayawati's Sahara demolition is only a trailer
The demolition of Sahara Shahar's illegal encroachments is symbolic. The real assault will be executed at the right psychological and emotional moment, in true Mayawati style. Make no mistake.
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| June 24, 2008 | |
Nuke deal and the prime minister's dilemma
Two things have thrown a spanner in the works for the prime minister and the Congress. One is the UPA allies. The second development is the hike in the inflation rate, which jumped to 11.05 percent.
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| June 19, 2008 | |
Why I am fasting for Dr Binayak Sen
The 10-day fast by an array of illustrious and respectable persons around the globe is only an act of penance for the sinful act committed by the Chattisgarh police. I am contributing my bit by participating, in my own little way. I feel privileged and honoured to have been associated with this great cause in any way.
Salwa Judum: Strategy that backfired
What kind of strategy is it where you create 50,000 "enemies" to kill 500? Was it an experiment for India Inc to get tribal land vacated or a counter insurgency strategy gone horribly wrong?
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| June 16, 2008 | |
An inside account of Sino-Indian border talks
The boundary question may not affect the present comfort level in bilateral ties, as both sides agree to look beyond the border dispute in promoting relations with each other. One cannot be optimistic, however, about the likely scenario in the long run.
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| June 12, 2008 | |
How India can win the war on terror
The ultimate battle against Islamist terror has to be fought by the Muslims themselves, for they are its biggest potential victim.
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| June 11, 2008 | |
Pak army and the jihadi's second coming
In the past Pakistan had to contend only with India. But the situation today is vastly different. Any adventurism by Pakistan could easily invite the wrath of the world, especially the West. The question is whether the Pakistan army gives in to its jihadi fervour or whether the instinct for self-preservation acquires primacy.
In glow of victory, equations change in the BJP
Even as these intra party skirmishes go on, at a wider level, Rajnath Singh and L K Advani are moving in a parallel fashion, towards the attainment of the same goal, like Vajpayee and Advani, for all their rivalries, did in the past. Both played to different galleries, one to the moderate opinion, and the other to the Hindutva spectrum.
All you want to know about terrorism in India
'When a Kashmiri extremist attacks a soldier, it is wrong to call it a terrorist attack.'
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| June 06, 2008 | |
Stand up for the Indian soldier
One can't think of any major power in the world that treats its soldiers the way India does. It is indeed a sorry sight when India's bravest have to literally cry out for help from a callous politico-bureaucratic elite.
Inter linking rivers worse than 'India shining'
To begin with, inter linking of rivers is neither well thought out plan nor a development plan. It is essentially an extension of the big dam agenda that the Indian water resources establishment has been pursuing since the last 60 years. That agenda is not the best available option and has not been giving any additional benefits for over a decade.
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| June 04, 2008 | |
America is willing to change
'Youngsters, it's clear, are voting for Obama. Not only that, they canvass for him, add him to their Facebook and MySpace profiles, and talk about him over coffee and classwork. Should he win, he will be inexorably linked with my generation.'
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| June 03, 2008 | |
In-hurry Mayawati plans fast lane to Delhi
A strong-willed administrator, she takes quick decisions. Recently, she sanctioned the Taj Expressway, which will drastically cut the travel time from Delhi to Agra to two hours. The chief minister has also envisaged the Ganga Expressway, an 8 lane expressway, running over 1,100 km, across the entire state, from Greater NOIDA up to Ballia.
Can Sonia revitalise the Congress?
The Congress cannot do without the Gandhi-Nehru family, and they ensure the unity of the party. The Congress experimented with a Narasimha Rao and went back to the family. Sonia Gandhi neither faces a threat to her leadership nor a prospect of a split, which her mother-in-law had to contend with. But she will have to show a resoluteness she displayed in early 2004 if the party is to revitalise.
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| May 29, 2008 | |
Religious institutions should expose injustice
Sanathana Dharma has laid out some of the best principles for humanity to achieve equality, social justice, a violence-free society, and a prejudice-free mind. Let every Indian strive for educating oneself and the society in these golden principles.
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| May 28, 2008 | |
10 years on, nuclear shadow promises peace
'So many civil liberties activists have been killed by the State and their deaths left unaccounted for that I am beginning to despair.'
The saga of State impunity
Much depends upon how the civil society finally asserts itself in Pakistan. Along with democracy and aspirations of economic development, nuclear weapons would cease to be a threat and become a factor of regional stability.
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| May 27, 2008 | |
Karnataka results may lead to new alliances
It goes without saying that it will put new heart into the BJP cadre to gear them up for the important electoral battles that lie ahead. Conversely, it will affect Congress morale. Barring Haryana, the party has not won any state election in recent months.
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| May 23, 2008 | |
Politics: Crisis of leadership, not capacity
Instead of blaming politicians and parties, Indians must empower their elected representatives and bureaucracies to meet national challenges by making critical investments in leadership. One of the chief aims of Indian foreign policy is to establish the country as a great global power. It is no secret, though, that much of this battle must be won at home.
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| May 21, 2008 | |
Four years on, UPA losing direction
Unlike 2004 when Sonia Gandhi took things into her hands and hit the road and stitched up alliances, there is a lack of grip this time, as if things are on auto pilot. Cabinet meetings get over in minutes. People are glibly talking of a third front government in 2009 supported by the Congress.
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| May 20, 2008 | |
The Buddha is still smiling
Ten years after India's nuclear tests, C Uday Bhaskar reckons the country was well served by revealing its capabilities.
The UPA'S Ten Commandments
These legislative measures, excepting Right to Education Bill, which is yet to be introduced are like Ten Commandments which have impacted the polity and society in a significant way and will go a long way in ushering an inclusive society.
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| May 19, 2008 | |
Terrorism in the hinterland
'Terror targets cannot be protected by machines or manual security programmes alone. However, they can be countered to a great extent by enhancing cooperation among security agencies and timely intelligence sharing; strengthening political will; and most importantly public support.'
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| May 16, 2008 | |
Why Dr Binayak Sen must be released
'What is disturbing is that if this liberal middle space is gone, there would not be a counter voice to violence.'
With good intentions Bush ambushes Israel
As many analysts have pointed out, by excessively identifying with Israeli policies, Bush has actually worked against Israel's long-term interests. Indeed, the Jewish State has become more unsure now than in it was in January 2001 when Bush became president.
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| May 12, 2008 | |
Four years of UPA: Foreign policy adrift
The absolute control of the Communists on all realms of policy-making, the single point agenda of the Congress party to stay in power as long as possible and the insistence of the Bharatiya Janata Party upon destroying its credibility as a national party -- all have ensured that Indian foreign policy continues to drift without any real sense of direction.
Tokenism won't revive Sainik Schools
A nation neglects its security at its peril. And Sainik Schools are a pivotal cog in the security apparatus.
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| May 09, 2008 | |
Why did the 1857 celebration fizzle out?
'There seems to be something amiss and mysterious in the way 1857 was suppressed in 2007 and 2008.'
Politics has defeated the purpose of Pokhran tests
Without the lifting of the technology denial and India acquiring the ability to interact freely with all major nations economically and technologically India will not be able to have a real independent foreign policy which will make it an effective balancer of power. That was the real purpose of Pokhran II.
| | | |
| May 08, 2008 | |
The Chinese threat in the Indian Ocean
At a cursory look, the development of a new strategic submarine by China appear to be of marginal impact on India as Sanya base is far away from Indian shores and as such ground-based missiles in China could be deployed in the event of skirmishes between the two rising countries in Asia. Besides, the avowed aim in developing the new Jin SSBN is not to target India but the United States, in the Chinese quest to become a great power in the world.
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| May 05, 2008 | |
Why the Karnataka poll is critical
Every election has its own fallout but the implications of the Karnataka poll go beyond its borders. For the BJP, winning the state means gaining the much coveted entry into the south. A victory in Karnataka would give a fillip to the Congress, after the recent string of defeats, and it could boost party morale for the battles ahead in the Hindi heartland.
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| May 02, 2008 | |
Iran, India and the 'great game'
Central Asia with Iran as a major gas supplier is the arena where the new 'great-game' is being played out and China, India and Japan are all seeking to protect their respective energy interests for the medium term -- and pipeline politics is the new instrumentality.
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| April 30, 2008 | |
Implications of Olympic flame on Everest
The Chinese have sought to counter the soft power of the Western media through the soft power of the patriotic response of the Chinese people and the overseas Chinese Diaspora.
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| April 29, 2008 | |
India should fear China's defence spending
Due to China's vigorous military modernisation drive, the military gap between India and China is growing every year. China is now capable of inducting large numbers of troops into Tibet in a time frame that is likely to unhinge Indian war plans.
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| April 25, 2008 | |
China's strike hard policy in Tibet
If the effort of bidding and conducting Olympics is to showcase China's rise to the world, popular indictments at the global and Tibetan levels have unnerved Beijing. For so long Tibet is considered to be the minimalist foreign policy position for China, while the Olympics indicated its bidding for global legitimacy for its policies.
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| April 22, 2008 | |
Message from bypolls: Alliances are the key
Clearly alliances will be key for the Congress and the BJP and for that matter the UNPA in 2009 and in the state polls in the Hindi heartland later this year. The just held by-polls have only underscored this.
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| April 21, 2008 | |
The time is right for the desi vote
South Asians could empower the entire community by flocking to polling stations in all upcoming elections, and show the importance of their ballot.
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| April 18, 2008 | |
Why must India kow-tow to China?
'Is there any peace and Olympic spirit in a flame which has become the symbol of Chinese repression, arrogance and thirst for domination in Asia?'
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| April 14, 2008 | |
Proving the historicity of Ram
Valmiki knew Ram to be a human, a noble man, the best of his era and in his time wrote the Ramayana as both were contemporary. He has also shown Ram to possess human traits and emotions, just like any ordinary person. We, in our blind faith, have accentuated the question marks on the historicity of Ram and Ramayana by treating Ramayana like a fable and depicting its noble characters as birds and animals.
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| April 10, 2008 | |
The Supreme Court's stunning decision!
'It is time to acknowledge that the benefits of globalisation have remained in the privileged hands of a few, for whom the world begins and ends with fashion, Bollywood and cricket.'
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| April 09, 2008 | |
DRDO is not a lost cause
One hopes the big daddies of South Block and DRDO realise why radical reforms are so crucial.
For guest.
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| March 27, 2008 | |
India needs to change its Tibet policy
It is time for India to get out of its defensive mindset and timid approach in dealing with China. There are vital national security interests at stake. Relations with China must be handled from a strategic, not a legalistic, perspective.
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| March 26, 2008 | |
Change will come from within China
In 1986, during an interview, the Dalai Lama told me: "We Tibetans can't do anything, except to keep their culture alive. A change will come from within China; it is our only hope". Twenty two years later, I believe this statement is the closest to a possible future scenario or 'solution'.
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| March 25, 2008 | |
Yousuf Raza Gillani: Tough man for a tough job
The new prime minister has the distinction of saying a big 'no' to both President Pervez Musharraf and the late Benazir Bhutto many times. Gillani has always been loyal to his party but he is not a 'yes man', a quality which impressed Zardari.
Kamlesh Sharma: Our Man at the Commonwealth
Sharma has to be a catalyst working like an honest broker pleading for the interest of the developing countries of the Afro-Asian region with the developed West. He has to tread cautiously carrying with him the goodwill of both the developed countries and that of the developing countries.
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| March 24, 2008 | |
Changing fortunes across Taiwan strait
The one country which has played its cards with impressive dexterity ever since the beginning of the crisis is India. It has avoided any judgmental observations, while generally appealing for return to the path of peace and reconciliation, and reiterating its time-honoured policy of accepting Tibet as part of China.
Making sense of the Tibetan imbroglio
The one country which has played its cards with impressive dexterity ever since the beginning of the crisis is India. It has avoided any judgmental observations, while generally appealing for return to the path of peace and reconciliation, and reiterating its time-honoured policy of accepting Tibet as part of China.
Tibet: Resuming dialogue is the only way
With 150,000 Tibetan citizens living in exile on its soil, many of whom shuttle between India and Tibet frequently, India nevertheless has a role in the resolution of this issue. Also, with Tibet under its control China has become India's Himalayan neighbour
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| March 19, 2008 | |
Talbott is right, so is Sinha
It was the NDA government that had first mooted the idea of additional nuclear installations being subjected to International Atomic Energy Agency inspection in return for civilian nuclear co-operation. On the basis of this, it was logical for Talbott to assume that the NDA government would have accepted the present deal or even something less. He had read the minds of his interlocutors correctly.
Provincialism: Problems of Mumbai
Sooner or later, India will have to address the issue of regional disparity. Unfortunately the solution lies in social and political reforms in the BIMARU states. Presently there seems no sign of it.
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| March 18, 2008 | |
Sonia Gandhi@10: A mixed bag
Sonia Gandhi's major failure has been on the party front. The Congress is hardly a major player in the country's four large states -- UP, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal -- which account for 200 seats. If anything, the situation has deteriorated in these states.
Congress has Left in debt trap
The Left Front had a choice in September 2007, either to push for an immediate general election or to permit the United Progressive Alliance to complete its full term without making a fuss. In trying to be too clever by half the Left Front must now both swallow the chillies of humiliation at being outwitted and accept the lash of public anger in an election.
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| March 17, 2008 | |
Provincialism: A new internal security threat?
What happened in the northeast and Punjab in the early 1980s ought to be remembered. It is true that public memory is short, but surely analysts and the government should know better.
In Tibet, China dishonours Olympic spirit
For decades, the Chinese 'minorities', particularly the Tibetans, have been wanting to express their deep-rooted resentment against a regime which slowly but surely is annihilating them.
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| March 14, 2008 | |
Nuclear dilemma: The road ahead
While the bilateral agreement with the US will broadly spell out the parameters with in which the deal operates, stipulating the rights and obligations on both sides, the safeguards arrangement with the IAEA will showcase the actual implementation of the agreement.
Sonia's 10 years: Lacking in vision
Sonia Gandhi has had little to show, apart from stitching together a ramshackle coalition and somehow sticking to power. But, if she had given the green signal to the nuclear deal and called the Left's bluff, she would have become the darling of the middle classes. And even those who did not understand the intricacies of the deal would have appreciated her gumption in standing by her prime minister and taking a decisive step. The world belongs to the bold, not to the timid.
McCain is a man of great conviction
As a citizen of this country, as a small businessman who is proud to contribute to its economy, and as someone who has been fortunate enough to interact with him over a period of time, I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind when I say that Senator John McCain is, among all the available options, the one best fitted to be the next President of the United States.
China's Olympics and the '3 evils'
A successful conclusion of Beijing Olympics would give China the much needed fillip to not only rise further in the global order but also the "political legitimacy" in the major capitals across the world. However, the journey towards great power status is arduous, if not impossible to realise.
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| March 12, 2008 | |
McCain would be best for the US and India
Senator McCain has been a consistent advocate of free trade. If he merely persists with the Bush administration's stance towards India, arguably the most pro-Indian of any administration since 1947, he would inarguably be the best for both countries.
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| March 07, 2008 | |
Why Musharraf fears the Sharif-Zardari coalition
The general election was held about three weeks ago in Pakistan, but the president of the country is reluctant to call the meeting of the new National Assembly.
Pakistan's democracy faces its biggest test
After the euphoria of 'revenge of democracy', the Pakistani political establishment is coming to grips with the fact that the verdict of the February 18 general elections in Pakistan is more than anything else, a test of democracy.
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| February 28, 2008 | |
Will Zardari dump Sharif?
'If Zardari is to go by US advice and mange a majority by taking on help of the pro-Musharraf League, he will in effect be defying the popular mandate.'
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| February 27, 2008 | |
US must adopt a tough Al Qaeda policy
The United States must henceforth adopt policies that treat Al Qaeda and the Taliban as a hostile state, says scholar Harold Gould
| | | |
| February 26, 2008 | |
A powder-keg on the border with China
India will, therefore, be committing a grave blunder by banking on the anaesthetising phraseology of the various formal agreements with the Chinese and time being the healer. It should clinch the issue by holding brisk and business-like parleys.
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| February 22, 2008 | |
India should stand up to China as an equal
The satisfaction we seem to derive from semantic play by the Chinese on these two issues reflects our mental acceptance of an inferior status vis-a-vis China and our readiness to be patronised by that country. We should not demand equality from China, we should behave as equals. We should protect our interests more forcefully.
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| February 21, 2008 | |
US will pressure PPP to keep Musharraf
The Bush administration may fail to save its most trusted friend because the PPP and PML-N are determined to form a coalition and clip all those powers through which a president can dissolve parliament.
Has the BJP become pseudo-secular?
Although there is no indication of a genuine change of heart, what is probably happening is that the BJP is slowly undergoing a process of becoming acclimatised, as it were, to India's diversity.
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| February 18, 2008 | |
Musharraf heading for a painful end
By the evening of February 18 it was clear that Pakistan People's Party, PML of Nawaz Sharif and Awami National Party have swept three provinces and the PML-Q performed well in Baluchistan.
Mayawati may settle for deputy prime minister
She may not be thrilled to compromise and subdue her vaulting prime ministerial ambitions. Her BSP is just a little short of becoming an all-India party. Therefore, she has no choice -- at least, not this time.
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| February 15, 2008 | |
Why the Pakistan elections will be rigged
The Pakistan army actually faces a no win situation: if the elections are stolen very brazenly, then there is every possibility that the army will have to douse the fires that engulf the country; on the other hand, if the results are scientifically managed then there will be prolonged political instability, something that Pakistan can ill-afford at this point in time. Clearly, very interesting times lie ahead for Pakistan.
Is being Indian not enough?
'To live a secured and politically correct life in India, its better to have a provincial identity than just be an Indian.'
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| February 14, 2008 | |
How India can acquire great power status
To avoid heading the way Pakistan is going and to realise its full potential, India will have to learn to use the 'stick' in tandem with the 'carrot'. With unique geo-political opportunities that exist for India on the international chessboard due to it's inherent strengths in several areas, to reach for the sky should not be all that difficult!
Vision, an honest mind & a nationalist spirit
Do we need short-term easy gains, that lead to catastrophe? Or long term progress? India will have to choose very soon when it elects its next government.
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| February 12, 2008 | |
Arunachal: The land of rising ire
Indeed, as regards Arunachal Pradesh, the situation has got worse. Whereas in the past China's interest was confined to the district of Tawang, in recent times, it has blatantly enlarged its claim to cover the whole state
Why is Taslima Nasreen a prisoner?
It is not often understood that foreigners too have constitutional rights, one of most important of them being the right to life and personal liberty. Clearly Taslima's right to life and liberty have been violated by her detention. Unless the government has good reasons to justify her detention, she must be set free.
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| February 07, 2008 | |
China uneasy over PM's Arunachal visit
The tracing of internal dimensions of Dr Singh's visit to Arunachal by the Chinese experts (pressure from the Indian military and the need to 'balance' the moves of anti-China hawkish sections in India) seems to reflect China's doubts over the likely impact on the border talks coming from future political equations in India, especially in the context of general elections due in that country next year.
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| February 06, 2008 | |
Security in the Asian Century
What seems certain is the growing influence of major Asian countries on the structures and processes of international relations in Asia. At the same time, we cannot overlook the influence of external actors on the continent. Asian security in the 21st century will thus be shaped by the interactions between major Asian powers and influential external actors such as European Union, Russia and the United States.
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| January 25, 2008 | |
Rediscover the Sainik school
The decreasing interest in joining the armed forces should worry not just the ministry of defence but the nation too.
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| January 24, 2008 | |
France's Hyper President comes calling
When President Chirac arrived in Mumbai in 1998, he declared: 'In India, France is not at the level where it should be.' Ten years later, it is still true. France has a role to play in India, but will Delhi |
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