(Article written in 2009) It was a couple of days after the deadly Israeli attack on a Lebanese village Kfar Kana that killed scores of innocent children, on the 31st of July 2006, that the Prime Minister of Israel chose to come out with a statement. And what a statement it was! “There are no […]
Articles
NEEDED A DIFFERENT COUNTER-TERRORISM INFRASTRUCTURE
RAM MADHAV (Views expressed here are personal) India probably doesn’t need another Central Agency by name NCTC – National Counter Terrorism Center – a name borrowed from the Center that has been established in the US after 9/11. As it always happens Chidambaram, as Home Minister, became enamored of the idea of replicating it in […]
The Kumbh – 13 Tragedy
Tragedy at Kumbh is shocking. May the departed souls attain Moksha. It is an uneasy feeling to know that people had to die in dozens just because of the callousness of some. This is not first time that such a big congregation is taking place in Prayag. The Kumbh last time was in 2001. There […]
Strategic Culture
We Need a New Strategic Culture India has earned the sobriquet ‘Soft State’ due to its handling of terrorism and hostile neighbours over the years. After the hanging of Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist responsible for Mumbai attacks in 2008, some commentators opined that India has now shed the image of a Soft State. Is it […]
DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION DESERVE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE?
DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION DESERVE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE? Last week in Brussels I bumped into a junior level official at the European Commission. Brussels has one of the best public transport systems – underground and overground metro, tram and bus – and our chance meeting happened in one of the overground metros. It was in […]
RTE Judgment: Minority Schools won’t teach minority poor
Every child in India should have a fundamental right to basic education. With this laudable aim the 86th Amendment of the Constitution was introduced by adding Section A to Article 21 in our Constitution in 2002 during the NDA regime. The idea was mooted originally by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, the NDA HRD Minister. […]
No Reservations in Lokpal Please! Let one Act be for All Indians
It is clear now. Nobody wants the Lokpal Bill to be passed in Parliament. The ruling party has always betrayed unease at the prospect of a strong Lokpal for reasons not difficult to fathom. The Opposition, although seemed committed to the idea of an institutional mechanism to combat institutionalised corruption, is apprehensive of the motives […]
REANGS – VICTIMS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN MIZORAM
They are popularly known in the North East as Reangs. They are the non-Christian tribe, whose original name is Bru. They inhabited the southern parts of the Christian dominated state of Mizoram. Being non-Christian in a Christian state had its price. Repeatedly subjected to persecution at the hands of the Mizo population as well as […]
COMMUNAL & TARGETED VIOLENCE BILL – 2011
Text of my forthcoming book on the UPA Government’s proposed Bill titled Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Justice and Reparations) Bill – 2011 is available at the link given below: https://sites.google.com/site/rammadhav/communal-violence-bill
Government Should Accommodate Anna’s Suggestions in the Lokpal Bill
Anna Hazare’s decision to go on fast once again from 16 August is going to stir up nationwide reactions. It is clear from the response of the Government that there is enormous anxiety over how the proposed fast would turn out. Would it attract same attention nationally as it did before or it would fizzle […]