Search

• Wrong for the right reasons

  Broadcast On September 16, 1998

  ... morality. In fact it's about hypocrisy - and beyond that politics. Americans - like citizens of other countries - have one standard of behaviour for themselves and another for those they pretend to ...

• With politicians like these …..

  Broadcast On June 26, 2008

  The struggle over the Indo-US nuclear deal could show up Indian politics at its worst. Party political interests may triumph over those of the nation. Easy options could be preferred to tough decisions. ...

• WHY LK ADVANI IS A TRULY SPECIAL POLITICIAN FOR ME

  Broadcast On February 11, 2024

  ... accept my advice. In the process, he allowed me a glimpse into the secret inner workings of Indian politics.   Now that he’s been conferred the Bharat Ratna I want to recount my first interview with ...

• Why I respect Ram

  Broadcast On July 31, 2000

  ... conclusions to offer. Bad luck as much as bad judgement is to blame for Ram’s debacle. His attraction to journalists as much as his blindness to the perils of politics misled him. His belief that the ...

• Whose nose is longer?

  Broadcast On October 20, 2005

  That Indian politics is rotten is undeniable. The more relevant question is how rotten? A study of the candidates in last tuesday’s first round of polling in Bihar provides a horrifying answer. It reveals ...

• When the finger points at you

  Broadcast On March 18, 2002

  ... suppose you’re right and the press is guilty of painting every MP with the same brush. That’s only an exaggeration not a crime.” “It’s unforgivable. And do you know why? Because Parliament and politics ...

• When the elderly are, in fact, the young ones

  Broadcast On April 3, 2000

  ... salute at the independence-day parade. There were long articles on the island’s suppressed politics, its new vibrant economy, its burgeoning tourism and its multi-ethnic culture. Millions accepted the ...

• When individuals win and institutions lose

  Broadcast On March 11, 2018

  ... joined politics and gone on to become cabinet ministers. Yet M. S. Gill was unconcerned about the questions this raised regarding his neutrality as CEC or, for that matter, the institution itself. We’ve ...

• What Modi meant when he wished Rahul

  Broadcast On June 25, 2017

  ... Gandhi. Frankly, I can’t see that happening anytime soon. Nor can most Congressmen! But then the joy of politics is you never know when things will go topsy-turvy and when they do it usually happens in ...

• WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A MUSLIM IN INDIA?

  Broadcast On December 24, 2023

  ... and tribes.   Even in politics, where once their voice was heard, it’s diminishing and receding. In proportionate terms, they should have 74 seats in the Lok Sabha. They have 27. In not one of our ...

• What I admired about Jaswant Singh

  Broadcast On October 4, 2020

  ... rare. In Indian politics it’s probably unique.   Let me end by quoting from a third interview done days after his expulsion. “I didn’t think they would be so small-minded, so narrow-minded, so nervous ...

• Well, Mr. Zaidi, for your sake I’ll repeat myself

  Broadcast On November 1, 1999

  ... politics of Oman.  It is an absolute monarchy.  Sultan Qaboos is both very gifted and very guarded.    There is no opposition although his admirers claim there is little need ...

• Well begun, Mr Gandhi, but the jury is still out on this

  Broadcast On April 26, 2015

  ... with the audience. More importantly, it unnerved the BJP. This is because even if the charge is untrue or unprovable it could, nonetheless, stick. That’s what counts in politics. The third quality – and ...

• We, neighbours, are like two peas in the same wretched pod

  Broadcast On February 28, 2016

  ... sadly, we do it far more than they do – point out we are like two peas in the same wretched pod. The more politics divides us the more we end up responding in similar ways. Clearly, the history, culture ...

• We need a strong Leader of Opposition

  Broadcast On June 23, 2019

  ... cent of the seats can make a legitimate claim to leadership of the opposition? But no one seems to have thought of this. Let me end with a comment on Lok Sabha Speakers. They’ve played politics rather ...

• WE HAVE TURNED OUR BACK ON RUSHDIE

  Broadcast On August 21, 2022

  ... anything when they learnt of the attack on Rushdie? Or has politics and the fear of offending muslim voters – or the Iranian government – silenced them?   The full truth is the External Affairs Minister ...

• We can’t afford to have polls every year in this manner

  Broadcast On November 8, 2015

  ... literally, no respite and no escape. Consequently, there’s no getting away from the negativity of our brand of politics. A healthy – even at times quarrelsome – debate is one thing but the constant flood ...

• Unimpressed by power and money - that’s the message

  Broadcast On February 15, 2015

  ... and shatter their dreams. As important is what Arvind and AAP symbolize: a different politics from politicians who were people like us. But let me venture a step further. Perhaps AAP’s victory also heralds ...

• Understanding Rahul

  Broadcast On March 10, 2013

  ... to speak out and reveal his actual thinking. The question is what does that tell us about him and what are the implications for the Congress Party and Indian politics? First, what exactly did he say? ...

• Understanding Jinnah

  Broadcast On June 9, 2005

  ... claim, in the 1930s he was one of London’s leading lawyers. No other Indian has achieved this distinction.” “All right”. Pertie had clearly had enough of Jinnah’s personality. “What about his politics?” ...