Democracies prize free speech and criticism of public figures. Even false criticism of public figures does not qualify as slander in the US and other countries unless accompanied by malice. This can be irksome to politicians. Former Tamil Nadu chief …
Netas should not go overboard on defamation suits Read More »
The storming of the presidential palace and ignominious flight of President Gotabay Rajapaksa from Sri Lanka was so dramatic that numerous theories were spun to explain away a routine economic bankruptcy. This arose from years of high fiscal deficits (government …
India’s position has fallen from 142 to 150 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index for 2022 of Reporters Without Borders. India’s position on the Index was a terrible 140 even before the BJP came to office …
How rise of low-cost guerilla media aids press freedom Read More »
Covid and the Ukraine war have created high inflation and recessionary trends with political consequences across the globe. Inflation of 13.7% facilitate Imran Khan’s ouster in Pakistan. An 18% inflation rate may oust Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka. Many African …
Why Ukraine war will cast a shadow on BJP prospects in Gujarat Read More »
When the BJP swept Uttar Pradesh’s state election’s five years ago, it was clearly Narendra Modi’s victory. This time it was also Yogi Adityanath’s victory. UP has denied chief ministers of any party re-election for 37 years. Yogi has bucked …
I have covered many election rallies but never come as close to death as at a rally of Akhilesh Yadav, head of the Samajwadi Party, in Ballia, eastern Uttar Pradesh, on March 1. Some of us journalists had been allowed …
What a close shave in UP tells us about BJP’s prospects Read More »
I have always wanted the statue of King George on Rajpath to be replaced by one of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation. But now the BJP has decided to install a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose. This is a …
Readers may be horrified that a new survey of YouGov, Mint a and CPR suggests that 51% of Indians are disillusioned with democracy and would prefer rule by a strongman, General or technocrat. However, be careful in interpreting these finding. …
Do Indian voters really prefer rule by a strongman? Read More »
Last year, India got an economist\’s budget. But with five states going to the polls soon after the Budget, radical reform is unlikely this time. An “election budget” is typically one before a general election, high on populism and low …
Aakar Patel, former head of Amnesty International in India, has savaged the seven years of Narendra Modi\’s rule in his latest book, Price of the Modi Years. Backed by considerable research, it has more credibility than other rhetorical denunciations of …
A new book on the Modi years mixes actuality with amnesia Read More »
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