Opinion

Opinion: Yogi Adityanath, Star Campaigner, Didn’t Deliver – Fortunately

While the elections today may have paused the Adityanath juggernaut, party members believe that it is early to expect the BJP to speak the language of inclusion leading up to 2019. Some suggest that the BJP could take a more strident approach to hate politics in the hope of polarizing votes in the Hindi heartland.

Opinion: I Walked With Farmers Through Mumbai. What I Found.

Promises have been made in the past and it is very likely that now, like then they will not be fulfilled. It is also likely that compromises could be made by leaders, that the farmers could return to our indifferent city the next year to serve us another reminder of their pain.

Opinion: Bigotry And Islamophobia In Bhansali's "Padmaavat"

Beneath the grandiosity and stunning frames of "Padmaavat" lies a disturbing attempt at selling dangerous stereotypes that might yield immediate favors for Bhansali but leaves a disturbing impression of a community on a generation that seeks great inspiration from popular cinema.

Opinion: Modi-Shah Will Not Lose Gujarat For Another Decade Is My Bet

If elections are about perception, then the BJP won Gujarat even before Rahul Gandhi launched his extensive campaign in the state. In the last few months, much has been made about his aggressive campaigning in the state. About the Patidars and Hardik Patel's electoral speeches. About GST and the impact it has on the traders in Surat and in the business community.

Opinion: With Its Leader's Taj Mahal Rant, BJP Tests Ground For 2019

Before you dismiss the statement on Taj Mahal as a publicity stunt by a divisive leader, beware, the government is testing waters. It is trying to understand, gauge and explore new grounds that can further and fuel its narrative.

Opinion: What Nitish Kumar Has Put At Risk With Re-Choosing The BJP

Nitish Kumar could have done nothing better in his life than be a politician - he has maneuvered his career graph with great deftness and a flair for political calculation.

Opinion: Already, Signs That Fadnavis' Loan Waiver Will Backfire

In the last two weeks, while we were busy professing nationalism over the India-Pak match and more, farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra were fighting an unpopular battle, news of which was being reported by regional newspapers.

Opinion: I Am A Practicing Muslim. My Concerns Right Now For India Are...

I write this today as a Muslim, a practicing Muslim who believes in the tenets of Islam, in Ramzan, in namaz, and I believe I can continue to be liberal and secular while being proud of my faith.

Opinion: Rahul Gandhi's Disappearing Act Jeopardizes His Party

I do not think Rahul is a well-meaning loser, I am sure he, like most humans, is gifted and has his own personal goals and aptitude. But if that is the case, why is Rahul Gandhi making an entire party feel claustrophobic with uninspiring leadership?

Opinion: How Amit Shah Won Uttar Pradesh For Modi

Today, much against expectation and the media rhetoric around me, I would like to place the crown firmly on Amit Shah's head for leading the BJP to one of its most iconic victories in Uttar Pradesh, a mandate that even surpasses the one given to Kalyan Singh in 1991.

Opinion: Devendra Fadnavis And The Art Of Winning Mumbai

Nagpur boy Devendra Fadnavis and his one-time political rival and union Minister Nitin Gadkari have managed to retain Maharashtra for the BJP.

Opinion: Modiji, This Is Not The Language Of A Vikas Purush

This is 2017 and as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's followers insist, we "liberals" remain stuck on his alleged role in 2002 and not his development agenda. One can agree that the allegations have grains of truth in it. But every time, we the liberals try to focus on the work done by the NDA government or hear Modi speak about the welfare of UP, he strikes an ominous b...

Opinion: Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi's Claim Of Secularism Exposed

There are many documents that highlight the plight of the women and displaced children of Muzaffarnagar, and it is highly unlikely that both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are not privy to them. So when both leaders who are looking at a possible assembly victory as their big ticket for 2019, look the other way while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, how different are the...

Opinion: Thackeray's Exit Shows His Weakness And BJP's Strength

It came as no surprise to anyone when last week the Modi-led NDA government awarded Sharad Pawar with the Padma Vibhushan. Within a day, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray announced that it would fight alone in the election for the very important Mumbai corporation or BMC.

Opinion: With 3 Muslim Characters, Shah Rukh Khan's Big, Brave Message

When those who can and are in power refuse to engage, allowing ignorants hold centre-stage in dialogues on sexism, religion, culture and social norms, when those in power are forcing the narrative to fall in the realm of stereotypes, this reassertion is a timely reminder of the normal.

Opinion: Amit Shah Moves To Divide Yadavs In UP, Nitish-Lalu In Bihar

Whether Shah manages to make big gains with the Yadav feud in Uttar Pradesh and Nitish Kumar in Bihar will take time to unfold. But what is established is that Shah is to be taken seriously as the big divider.

Opinion: Frank Islam, From Azamgarh, A Big Face Of Team Hillary Clinton

Frank Islam started his career with just about 500 dollars in his pocket and one employee.

Opinion: Smriti Irani, Superb Orator, Problematic Educator

The debate over the last two days which started off with a discussion over Rohit Vemula's suicide and the JNU controversy sought serious answers from the HRD minister, but turned into a shallow display of victimhood and misplaced sexism.

Opinion: Who's Really Insulting India? It's Not Students.

Rana Ayyub on JNU

Opinion: Like Rahul Gandhi, Modi Government Mishandles Student Protests

Like the Congress, which insists on presenting Rahul Gandhi as a youth icon despite not being able to connect with the youth in two consecutive terms of the UPA, our people's Prime Minister and his government too seems to have lost the plot in dealing with students.