Who is mucking up India's defence build-up?
The reality is that Indian defence modernisation is lagging behind and the government and the present defence minister is largely responsible for the sad state of affairs today in the military realm. 'US should encourage India to be more flexible'
With the desire to fight asymmetric warfare against India eliminated, Pakistan would also be discouraged from making alliances with the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, and Al Qaeda. Why Shivaji is a pan-Indian hero
It is time to free this great son India from the shackles of narrow regionalism, says Colonel Anil Athale (retd). Now candidates can spend upto 60% more on polls
At a time when there has been a hue and cry over the use of black money for the election campaigns of politicians, on February 23, the Union law ministry quietly issued a notification increasing the maximum limit on expenses that can be legally incurred by candidates standing for elections by a substantial 60 percent. Centre must take lead in police reforms
The Supreme Court's directives embody an inclusive package that can play an instrumental role in transforming the police. First by following the directives, and then persuading Congress-ruled states to follow suit, the Union government must set the ball rolling on police reforms, says Devyani Srivastava. Does the World Cup face a terror threat?
Carrying out terror attacks during the World Cup in India may be an urgent necessity for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Inter Services Intelligence before the common Pakistani begins to ask questions as to why his country has been denied the holding of the World Cup. Deoband and the machinations of the mullahs
For many mullahs, religion and religious institutions are simply tools to feather their own nests and to whip up the support of the credulous by projecting themselves as pious defenders of the faith, says Yoginder Sikand PoP Ganesh idols -- sentiment v reason
Instead of the instinctive outcry that sentiments are hurt, the political leadership ought to avoid emotions and opt for reason for what has been suggested is good for us. They ought to cease stoking the fire and accept the reality, says Mahesh Vijapurkar. Is the Supreme Court immune?
The Constitution lays out a laborious process for removing a judge, deliberately so because it must never be done on a political whim. History shows that no Supreme Court or high court judge has ever lost office in such fashion. The best defence against judicial misbehaviour, to use the American term, is 'peer pressure.' Sharm-el-Sheikh like surrender in Thimphu
The Indian people need to know what the Manmohan Singh government expects to achieve from the dialogue from Pakistan. This obsession of normalising of relations with Pakistan, even if this is at the cost of India's territorial unity and integrity, is acquiring dangerous dimensions, says Sushant Sareen. Islamic leadership may not solve Egypt's woes
The dominant version of Islam that informed Egypt's revival seemed to be harsh, fun-less and punitive, and, at the same time, thoroughly incapable of providing a progressive alternative to Mubarak's regime, says Yoginder Sikand Why social media revolutions cannot last
Rajeev Srinivasan on whether social media can lead to lasting change, or whether it is merely a flash in the pan. What Egypt's revolution means for India, the world
The Middle-East may not look the same in the times ahead, says Vikram Sood. Raymond case: 'Anti-US wave in Pak to intensify'
Senior analyst B Raman gauges the pros and cons of the Raymond Davis case which is on the verge of denting American ties with Pakistan. Children of a Lesser God
Rajeev Srinivasan on how the uncaring State does not give a damn about the rights of the poor and the middle class. A static government and its bumbling ministers
When educated ministers like Kapil Sibal and P Chidambaram are forced to defend the indefensible it shows a certain desperation in the top power structures in the ruling UPA, says Virendra Kapoor. Kashmir Solidarity Day: It's all hogwash, silly!
Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed in Pakistan on February 5, as it has been every year since 1990. The propaganda that is being organised is on predictable lines. B Raman: 'KS encouraged me to take up writing'
There can be no better tribute to K Subrahmanyam's memory than for the government to appoint a group to revisit his ideas and recommend what further action needs to be taken on those ideas, says B Raman KS was the doyen of strategic thinking in India
C Uday Bhaskar shares his fond memories of the late K Subrahmanyam, who laid the foundation for strategic thinking in India Tribute: The guru of strategic writing in India
KS recognised the absolute necessity of integrating defence policy with foreign policy and he was as adept in foreign policy formulations and advocacy as he was in spelling out defence and nuclear policy. TP Sreenivasan pays tribute to a strategic thinker like none other Tri-Valley students treated like Gitmo detainees
Some Indian students, many of the from Andhra Pradesh, have fallen victims of the Guantanamo Bay mindset of the United States authorities which permits them to use demeaning and dehumanising methods against suspects under investigation or detention in order to prevent them from escaping and to locate them by using the Global Positioning System if they manage to escape. Wake up, the peril is looming
India needs to be concerned about the implication of restive people wanting to change regime after regime, says Mahesh Vijapurkar. How the State oppresses the 'little people'
Rajeev Srinivasan on how insurgents and terrorists seem to have more human rights than the average citizen in India. 'Silence over Jihadi violence is equally barbaric'
Senior analyst B Raman questions and deeply condemns the near-to-total silence of Valley separatists over the barbaric murder of three Kashmiri girls by suspected LeT militants. Why the Karmapa issue could hurt Indo-China ties
The controversy is a sensitive issue which could have an impact on relations with China and could hurt the feelings and sensitivities of the followers of the Karmapa, say B Raman. The case for CVC P J Thomas
If the UPA or the Opposition wants the CVC out it must use due process of law, not insult and innuendo. Prosecute him if he is guilty, praise him if he is innocent, but at all costs respect the office that he holds, says T V R Shenoy. January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010