The Times of India

The government is corrupt and incompetent. People are, quite rightly, sceptical of its integrity. But it has not fudged the poverty data to exaggerate the fall in poverty, as alleged by innumerable politicians and TV anchors. I have long criticized […]

The government is corrupt and incompetent. People are, quite rightly, sceptical of its integrity. But it has not fudged the poverty data to exaggerate the fall in poverty, as alleged by innumerable politicians and TV anchors. I have long criticized

Most political pundits have explained the Uttar Pradesh assembly election results in sectarian terms. They say Mayawati’s BSP lost Muslim voters to the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Brahmins to the Congress and BJP. However , this is mere speculation. We

The state election results surprised many. This column predicted that in 60% of states, incumbents that accelerated GDP growth would win. That model proved right in Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand – 60% of cases! The prediction for Uttarakhand was that

After over a month of suspense, the counting of votes will begin in two days for the elections to five state assemblies. Predicting elections is a mug’s game, especially in four-cornered contests of the sort witnessed in Uttar Pradesh. Anybody

UP chief minister Mayawati has become famous -some will say notorious – for erecting dozens of giant statues in Lucknow of dalit icons like B R Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and herself. This is, of course, a grandiose political exercise. Yet

UP chief minister Mayawati has become famous -some will say notorious – for erecting dozens of giant statues in Lucknow of dalit icons like B R Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and herself. This is, of course, a grandiose political exercise. Yet

The Eurozone crisis has led some to predict its collapse, and others to fear that Europe will become a German empire. But a third line of thought, from those wanting a far more integrated Europe, holds that the crisis is

Germany lost World War 1 and World War II. Wags looking at the Eurozone crisis say Germany is now winning World War III, without any weapons, through sheer economic domination of Europe. Hitler launched World War II demanding a little

Critics say rising inequalities in India are sparking mass resentment and Maoist insurrection. Really? Tribals in the Maoist belt certainly hate those who are growing rich by exploiting them. But do tribals know or care about Mukesh Ambani, the richest