All stories by Sheela Bhatt
From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon
Rediff.com21 Jul 2015Back in 2007, Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt had profiled Yakub after he was sentenced to death by the Terrorist and Disruptive Actives (Prevention) Act court for criminal conspiracy and financing air tickets to send co-conspirators for arms and RDX training to Pakistan.
Pakistan has not even made a turn, leave alone a U-turn
Rediff.com15 Jul 2015'India has to judge what Pakistan says to us, not what they say to a domestic audience,' a source tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com, explaining why India-Pakistan talks remain on track despite discordant noises from across the border.
From Rediff Archives: The strange case of Yakub Memon
Rediff.com15 Jul 2015Back in 2007, Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt had profiled Yakub after he was sentenced to death by the Terrorist and Disruptive Actives (Prevention) Act court for criminal conspiracy and financing air tickets to send co-conspirators for arms and RDX training to Pakistan.
Lalu-Mulayam-Mamata-Mayawati absence makes Sonia's iftar a political miss
Rediff.com14 Jul 2015Sonia Gandhi's iftar was meant to be a powerful show of unity of Opposition parties to take on the Modi Sarkar, but that was not to be...
Advani destroyed Agra summit with Pakistan: A S Dulat
Rediff.com6 Jul 2015Pakistan made a tactical error in not investing enough in L K Advani, former R&AW chief A S Dulat tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com
In the middle of Ramzan, Modi to visit 5 Islamic nations
Rediff.com4 Jul 2015It's a packed 5-nation, 9-day, visit for Prime Minister Modi as he heads to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, apart from Ufa in Russia.
'Sonia and Rajiv had no role in the Emergency'
Rediff.com26 Jun 2015'I do not think Rajiv Gandhi at that stage had any influence on his mother. Indira Gandhi relied totally on Sanjay and she looked upon him as a dependable son.' 'What really affected people and eventually Indira Gandhi was the sterilisation drive. She lost so badly in north India because of these drives.' 'She is the one who has given this aura of 'the family' to the Gandhis.' The second and final part of veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor, whose book The Emergency: A Personal Account was published recently, to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Independent India's darkest phase.
'Emergency was a time when everyone was scared'
Rediff.com26 Jun 2015Veteran journalist Coomi Kapoor, whose book came out recently, speaks to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com about Independent India's darkest phase.
'Lalitgate like Bofors, is there a V P Singh in this government or outside?'
Rediff.com25 Jun 2015Lalitgate is so much like the Bofors arms scandal that eventually brought down the Rajiv Gandhi government despite his humongous parliamentary majority, Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi tells Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.
L'affaire Sushma Swaraj marks end of Modi Sarkar's honeymoon
Rediff.com16 Jun 2015Right now, in Modi's Cabinet and in the BJP, there is no challenge whatsoever to Modi's leadership but even those leaders who have some potential, who the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh can think of backing in an unforeseen circumstance, are fast turning into damaged goods, reports Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.
Why Modi stood by an embattled Sushma Swaraj
Rediff.com15 Jun 2015Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com decodes why Modi has decided to retain her in the Union Cabinet despite this controversy and their many internal differences.
Myanmar 'hot pursuit' was planned before Manipur ambush
Rediff.com10 Jun 2015The counter-insurgency operation on the Indo-Myanmar was under planning for the last three months. The June 4 ambush that killed 18 Indian soldiers only hastened the attack. Sheela Bhatt provides exclusive details of the planning for the operation.
Why did Lalu Yadav surrender to Nitish Kumar?
Rediff.com9 Jun 2015Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com explains the compulsions that forced Bihar strongman Lalu Yadav to play second fiddle to Nitish Kumar.
'India has a vital stake in the digital renaissance'
Rediff.com5 Jun 2015'Everywhere our younger computer professionals are in the forefront, defending our national interest in every forum and keeping our flag flying high.'
'We now have a prime minister who talks'
Rediff.com2 Jun 2015'This is not a small change, it's a BIG change. People wanted to hear the voice of their PM. They can do so now. This is a big parivartan.'
K V Chowdary tipped to be new CVC, Vijai Sharma may be CIC
Rediff.com2 Jun 2015The anti-corruption watchdog posts have been vacant for the last nine months.
'Modi's Kashmir policy is very imaginative'
Rediff.com29 May 2015'I could have never imagined any other prime minister giving time to a separatist leader.' 'I think the Hurriyat should not be ignored. I think like Pakistan, they are being unnecessarily ignored.' A S Dulat, the former RA&W chief who visited Kashmir recently, speaks to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com
'Mufti now is very different from the Mufti of 2002'
Rediff.com29 May 2015'Mufti is much more mellowed, much more accommodating. He knows he is stuck and he knows that he cannot retreat now.'
Why did Dr Singh walk into Modi's web?
Rediff.com28 May 2015Appraising Rediff.com about the meeting, a source close to Dr Singh said Modi sought Dr Singh's advice on the economy and foreign policy. Dr Singh told Modi that he concurs with the Reserve Bank of India's concerns about the Indian economy.