All stories by SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF
10 ways in which Modi changed my life for the better
Rediff.com8 Apr 2019Syed Firdaus Ashraf lists 10 ways in his life has improved under the first Modi Sarkar.
'Modi has rock star status'
Rediff.com6 Apr 2019'While Modi is undoubtedly the star of the show, the online sphere has found in Modi the champion to re-engineer what it means to support the right.'
'The Gandhi family only give false promises'
Rediff.com3 Apr 2019'During every election, the Gandhis come and inaugurate some projects and then leave without completing it.'
'75% of India will vote against Modi'
Rediff.com30 Mar 2019'The next prime minister will be from an Opposition party and not from the BJP.' 'The BJP may be the single largest party, but not with a majority and there will be a fractured verdict.' Anti-Modi and non-BJP parties will be in a majority.'
'India has emerged as a military power in space'
Rediff.com27 Mar 2019'India has demonstrated that if tomorrow, any enemy country that has a lot of satellites threatens it, India can (bring them down).'
Advani's political yatra comes to an end
Rediff.com22 Mar 2019Syed Firdaus Ashraf traces the trajectory of Lal Kishan Advani from the highs of the 1990s to the present, when he may have to watch the elections from the sidelines.
'Boeing crisis won't impact Indian aviation'
Rediff.com15 Mar 2019'Indian aviation is having a lesser number of aircraft.' 'Besides the Boeing 737 MAX, you have the A320Neos which Indigo is currently grappling with because of a lack of pilots.' 'This has led to cancellation (of flights) and therefore the prices of air tickets are on the higher side this season although generally in March ticket prices are on the lower side.'
'Modi will win with a lesser majority'
Rediff.com12 Mar 2019'But in 2024, the people of India will throw him out of power as the contradictions in him will be apparent.'
'Sri Sri should not have been part of the panel'
Rediff.com8 Mar 2019'Earlier, Sri Sri told me we (Muslims) must give up our claim to the Babri Masjid site and be large-hearted.' 'Sri Sri has always taken sides on this issue, and isn't neutral at all.'
'I wish farmers had the power to blackmail'
Rediff.com7 Mar 2019'What is bank recapitalisation? When the rich take loans and do not return and the government returns that money to the banks.' 'What is restructuring 5:25 scheme? The government says don't return now, just tell us you will return after five years.' 'Why don't we apply these schemes to farmers?' 'I want to increase the power of farmers to blackmail the government as everyone in the country has the power to blackmail.'
'Don't ask pilots to fly MiG-21s, it's a threat to their lives'
Rediff.com5 Mar 2019'Till date there have been 482 accidents on account of failure of this aircraft and 171 IAF pilots have lost their lives.'
A rally that cost Rahul many voters
Rediff.com2 Mar 2019Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com attended the Congress president's rally in Mumbai on Friday, and explains why people who came with high hopes left disappointed.
'Pakistan can't sustain even 3-4 days of war'
Rediff.com27 Feb 2019'There is hope that in the next 48 to 72 hours there will be some kind of movement forward to de-escalate and not heighten the tension.'
'Taking on terrorists through air strikes is extremely difficult'
Rediff.com27 Feb 2019'It is purely based on real-time hard intelligence.' 'Timing is important. When you are attacking at 3.30 am, then everybody will be in the academy of terrorists.' 'If you attack at 10 am then someone will be out, so timing is very important.' 'Therefore, 3.30 am is the time when every terrorist is sleeping.'
'PM can't say cleaning sewers is a spiritual experience'
Rediff.com25 Feb 2019'If you think this is a kind of spiritual experience, you will fall into a trap of your own.' 'Why are the people dying, why is the prime minister not thinking about it?'
'Politics took precedence over justice to women'
Rediff.com22 Feb 2019'The government know very well how to pass a bill in the Rajya Sabha with consensus.' 'They got consensus from Opposition parties on the 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections.' 'In instant triple talaq, the BJP wanted to take sole credit.' 'They wanted to take credit and see that other parties suffer (political) loss.' 'Therefore, the bill got stuck.'
'If you stop water to Pakistan, you will flood J&K'
Rediff.com22 Feb 2019'In the last 55 years India and Pakistan have gone to wars, but nobody spoke about scrapping the Indus Waters Treaty.'
Why cellular operators are against Rajini's 2.0
Rediff.com21 Feb 2019'Everybody has freedom, but you cannot start a fire in a crowded theatre.'
'The Kashmiri has had enough of Pakistan'
Rediff.com20 Feb 2019'He knows India is going nowhere.' 'India will never let go of Kashmir, so he wants to settle with India.' 'Settle honourably with peace, dignity and justice.'
Why the ISI now backs Masood Azhar
Rediff.com18 Feb 2019'Jaish is known for its fidayeen activities.' 'This well trained human resource backed by military-based training makes the JeM an obvious choice over the LeT and HM.'