Viju Cherian

Sasikala Natarajan: Jayalalithaa’s close aide, the power behind the throne

Described by many as ‘Amma’s’ conscience keeper, the question now is whether Sasikala will emerge as a central figure for the rudderless party workers to rally around?

Who after Jayalalithaa: Can Panneerselvam carry AIADMK into the future?

Jayalalithaa’s passing creates a power vacuum in the state because there isn’t a leader in the AIADMK of her stature and there isn’t, at least at the moment, a leader who unites and can carry the party together.

Karnataka must tread carefully while celebrating Tipu Jayanti

While the Siddaramaiah government should not be pilloried for celebrating a great ruler from the region, it is not clear if it is doing enough to have healthy and informed debates on Tipu Sultan. In the wake of the high court observation, the onus on the government to tread carefully increases

Unicef’s ‘clear the air’ report: Government watches as we breathe toxins

A lack of political will and the flawed argument that environmental protection is anti-development should change. The road to development cannot be paved on the backs of an unhealthy, sick population

Celebrity endorsement: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’

The government is right in proposing that celebrities be responsible while endorsing a product. The popularity and impact they have should not be used to mislead the general public

Mob vs Karan Johar: It’s a pity when citizens are forced to profess patriotism

I feel sorry for Karan Johar because an individual has been pushed to a corner and threatened by a mob using “nationalistic sentiments” as an excuse to browbeat him into professing his patriotism — as though Pakistan-bashing is the meter to measure an Indian’s patriotism

At Bisada, the tricolour loses its colour

Bisada witnesses the misuse of Indian flag and communal politics

The events in Bisada show that misguided nationalism when mixed with communal politics has the potential to become a highly-inflammable cocktail

Rabid actions by politicians will not solve Kerala’s stray dog menace

That Monday’s protest happened in Kottayam, a town which claims to be the first in India to achieve 100% literacy, is proof that literacy has no correlation to compassion or even common sense

O Trump! Keep Jerusalem out of your politics

His statement might win him the applause among sections of Jews but it does little to furthering peace in West Asia, especially the Levant — and that’s not a good sign of a world leader

The forgotten ‘Sarabjits’: 5 Indians in UAE jail

The ‘Sarabjits’ that the country forgot: Five Indians in UAE jail for spying

Karthiyani, a housewife from Tamil Nadu, is getting frustrated by the day. It has been months now that she had been dialing a phone number of the ministry of external affairs, seeking help to secure the release of her husband in jail in Abu Dhabi in the UAE. To her dismay, the phone rings but no one answers.

The BJP gets it wrong in Kerala, again

Vamana Jayanti: BJP gets it wrong in Kerala, again

#PoMoneShahji is reflective of the bitterness with which the BJP chief’s greeting has been received. Amit Shah’s “Vamana Jayanti” greeting also runs counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Onam message in the past

Pokémon Go: Can a virtual egg defile religious sentiments?

While religious sentiments that confirm to the laws of the land need to be respected, this PIL is stretching the argument a bit too thin. It’s not that a believer offering prayers at a temple is going to see a Pokémon egg

Parties must stop rewarding actors for their ‘guest appearances’ in Parliament

Actors might be an integral part of electioneering and are good crowd-pullers, but should they be “rewarded” by nominating them to the Rajya Sabha?

Stop this song and dance, get down to work in Tamil Nadu

AIADMK MLAs, who paint a sorry picture of themselves as representatives of the people, should be ashamed of the way they have reduced what many consider the temple of democracy into the theatre of the absurd

Pinarayi Vijayan must be more chief minister and less comrade

As a political leader Pinarayi Vijayan is well within his rights to call for support the September 2 strike, but as the chief minister he is wrong

Why helicopters for netas will not reduce Delhi’s traffic jams

While there is a case for increasing the commercial use of helicopters, restricting it to transport only netas and VIPs defeats the purpose. It feeds into the existing imbalances in society and is a sad reflection of the “VIP culture” that our administrators are all so used to

This asana will not improve education in Mumbai civic schools

Lack of qualified teachers and drop in retention are far more pressing issues than yoga

Compassion towards stray dogs does not mean putting human lives at risk

Stray dog attacks on humans should not be used as an excuse to meet out cruelty towards animals

Has Kerala, God’s Own Country, become a hub for terror-related activities?

There’s a growing undercurrent of terror in Kerala that’s largely going unnoticed. The Perumbavoor robbery case points to this.

Putin-Erdogan bonhomie: Turkey turns to Russia as West prevaricates

It’s an irony that Turkey, which survived an attempt to derail its democracy, does not turn to the West, but to Russia, which is not always a paragon of democracy

Quetta attack and Pakistan’s footsie with terror groups

The Quetta attack points to the rivalry among terror groups and exposes Islamabad’s duplicity of condemning terror while allowing terrorists to roam freely

KM Mani cannot shake-up Kerala politics

The LDF will be indifferent, the NDA will be eager and the UDF should be concerned with Mani’s exit

Chemical gas attacks in Syria: The civil war is far from over

The humanitarian crisis is getting bigger with every passing day, and there isn’t a roadmap yet. Unless the situation in Syria improves, stability in Iraq cannot be achieved

What’s in the name? After Bangla, let it be Govarashtra, Dilli and Gulfalam

Now that West Bengal is shedding its colonial tag, what names should other non-desi states take

Libya crisis: US air strikes will not help clear the fog of war in Tripoli

If Hillary Clinton wins in November, one hopes that where she failed as secretary of state she wins as president — and does justice to the people of Libya

Gulf labour crisis: Is India prepared for the returning NRIs?

With more Indians set to return from West Asia over the next few years does the Government of India have a plan on how to address this wave of returnees?

Life without Britain: European Union will struggle to survive

The financial implications of Britain’s exit from the EU will be manifold, and if market reactions are anything to go by it’s going to be a tough ride.