All stories by Shahnawaz Akhtar
Vasundhara Raje announces slew of sops for tribals
Rediff.com29 Jan 2014Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Wednesday announced a slew of sops, especially for the tribals, while replying to the governor's address in the state assembly.
Crime writers' forum is born @ Jaipur Lit Fest
Rediff.com20 Jan 2014Encouraged by the success of the ongoing crime and punishment series at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the Crime Writers Association for South Asia has been co-founded by Namita Gokahle and author Kishwar Desai.
'There's no need to quit journalism and join politics'
Rediff.com20 Jan 2014Create your own identity to reach the top, says journalist Ravish Kumar at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Shahnawaz Akhtar reports.
Prasoon Joshi: Not necessary to use vulgar word in item songs
Rediff.com20 Jan 2014The presence of National Award winning lyricist Prasoon Joshi at the Jaipur Literature Festival drew a packed house at the sessions he attended.
The myth of actors being God-like should be broken: Irrfan
Rediff.com18 Jan 2014Actor Irrfan Khan doesn't see it as a good sign when film stars are worshipped like God and feels that the myth should be broken. Shahnawaz Akhtar reports from Jaipur
AAP reflects the anger among Indians: Irrfan Khan @ JLF
Rediff.com17 Jan 2014The Aam Aadmi Party reflects anger, which is among the people of India, said film star Irrfan Khan at the Jaipur Literature Festival, which kicked off on Friday.
'Modi is a threat to India, especially Muslims'
Rediff.com17 Jan 2014The author of Face to Face, Ved Mehta did not mince his words when he said that Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi "will be a great danger to India" if he were to rule the country.
Jaipur literature fest: The grandest till date
Rediff.com16 Jan 2014In the seventh edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, not only there would be writers to discuss topics ranging from economics to food, politics to fiction and everything else in between but there would be a smartphone app for new age art and literature lovers while 240 speakers will comprises writers of 20 languages.
Award-winning writers, thinkers, Nobel Laureates to attend Jaipur Lit fest
Rediff.com14 Jan 2014Two Nobel Laureates, four listed writers of this year's Man Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, winners of Commonwealth Writers' Prize, Crossword Prize and film stars will be the attraction at the most sought after literary event in India -- the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Italian couple study the Aam Aadmi Party's representative democracy
Rediff.com13 Jan 2014Cristiano and Sofei Gianolla, an Italian couple, have traversed thousands of miles to understand the AAP movement and its version of representative democracy.
A tale of two 'janata darbars'
Rediff.com12 Jan 2014Newly appointed Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has taken yet another leaf out of Arvind Kejriwal's book.
Sikar gang rape victim's family threatened inside AIIMS
Rediff.com6 Jan 2014"I am Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's friend; no police can act against me." This is what some harassers told the family of the Sikar gang rape victim, who has just undergone her 20th operation in 17 months.
17 months, 20 surgeries: Sikar gang rape victim still awaits justice
Rediff.com3 Jan 2014"It has been 17 months; will our lives be spent only in hospitals? Will my sister be ever cured?", rues the sister of the 12-year-old gang rape survivor, on whom 20 surgeries have already been performed.
Now, Vasundhara wants to be aam-aadmi's CM
Rediff.com2 Jan 2014The winds of change are blowing fast in Indian politics. Not only is the power shifting to newer players, but so is the style of governance.
AAP's Lok Sabha dreams take off in Rajasthan
Rediff.com31 Dec 2013Delhi's ruling party is all set to tackle the Parliamentary polls in the desert state, says Shahnawaz Akhtar
Vasundhara Raje sworn-in as Rajasthan CM
Rediff.com13 Dec 2013Vasundhara Raje, who led the Bharatiya Janata Paty to a landslide victory in the Rajasthan assembly polls, was on Friday sworn in as the chief minister for the second time, in the presence of Narendra Modi and other top party leaders.
'Busy with polls', Rajasthan police fail to arrest rapist of basketball player
Rediff.com11 Dec 2013The man who has been accused of raping a national level basketball player almost a month ago has not been arrested yet by police in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.
People of Rajasthan have cleaned out 'garbage' Congress: Raje
Rediff.com10 Dec 2013Vasundhara Raje, who will be sworn in as Rajasthan chief minister on Friday, called the Congress garbage that has been cleaned from the state.
NOTA causes downfall of two ministers, BJP stalwart in Rajasthan
Rediff.com9 Dec 2013If the Aam Aadmi Party made an impressive debut in Indian politics in Delhi, so did the 'None of the Above' option in Rajasthan.
Raje's biggest critic wins with the highest margin
Rediff.com9 Dec 2013The only political development that would have not sound well to Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial candidate Vasundhara Raje on Sunday would be winning of another party leader and critic Ghanshyam Tiwari with a record margin.