Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb.
Articles by Anirudh Bhattacharyya
Brawn and bikinis
A Harvard University student has become the first Indian-American to be featured in the magazine Sports Illustrated’s celebrated swimsuit issue. Sonia Dara appears in the 2010 issue that went on sale in the US on Tuesday, reports Anirudh Bhattacharyya.
Updated on Feb 11, 2010 12:10 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Call for top Obama NRI to quit
Rajiv Shah, the seniormost Indian-American in the Obama Administration, may be coordinating the American relief effort in quake-hit Haiti, but a senior Congressman has demanded for his removal from the post of Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development for lacking minority staffers.
Updated on Feb 06, 2010 01:07 AM IST
None | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
India no longer strategic partner
When the US Department of Defence’s 2006 Quadrennial Defence Review or QDR was released, many analysts saw within that the prospect of cooperation between India and the US on a common threat — loose nuclear weapons in Pakistan, reports Anirudh Bhattacharyya.
Updated on Feb 05, 2010 12:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
NRI inspired American army gay policy
Even as U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen told a Senate Armed Forces Committee that the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy about gays serving in the U.S. military should end, a young Indian-American Air Force officer played a significant role in influencing the decision.
Updated on Feb 04, 2010 12:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Sena’s stance is unhealthy, undemocratic and insensitive: SRK
Even as the Shiv Sena asked theatres to boycott Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film, My Name is Khan, because he supported the inclusion of Pakistani players in Indian Premier League teams, the actor was “saddened” but undeterred.
Updated on Feb 03, 2010 01:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
SRK undeterred by Shiv Sena's threats
The Shiv Sena may want theater-owners to boycott SRK’s latest film, My Name is Khan, over his statement supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL, but the actor is undaunted by those threats.
Updated on Feb 02, 2010 02:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
US is at war with Lashkar: ex-CIA official
The United States is now “at war with Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT)”, according to a former senior official of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Updated on Jan 30, 2010 01:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
26/11 probe: Headley pleads not guilty
Despite cooperating with US federal prosecutors and investigators, Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley pleaded not guilty to all charges, including those relating to the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Updated on Jan 28, 2010 12:05 AM IST
None | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Rana pleads not guilty to plotting 26/11
Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana on Monday pleaded not guilty of being involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The case is now scheduled for a status hearing in a Chicago court on February 24.
Updated on Jan 26, 2010 12:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Pak to get spy drones from US
The US will provide a dozen unarmed aerial spy drones to Pakistan for the first time as part of an effort to encourage Pakistan’s cooperation in fighting Islamic militants on the Afghanistan border, American defense officials said, report Anirudh Bhattacharyya and Elisabeth Bumiller.
Updated on Jan 22, 2010 11:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya and Elisabeth Bumiller, Islamabad
Status quo on Indo-US ties
As Barack Obama completed one year as the United States President, the bilateral equation between India and America was marked by excellent atmospherics and, most significantly, a lavish State dinner hosted for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Washington in November.
Updated on Jan 21, 2010 12:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
NRI held in one of US ’s biggest bribe stings
A Briton of Indian origin was among 22 people arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of attempting to bribe the Defence Minister of an African country in what is being described as the largest ever corruption expose of its kind in the US.
Updated on Jan 21, 2010 12:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
US analysts warn of Pak terror attack on India
A leading American think tank has warned that as the Al Qaeda comes under pressure in its havens along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, it may attempt to counter that by masterminding major terrorist strikes against India.
Updated on Jan 19, 2010 01:18 AM IST
None | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Chicago court indicts Rana
A federal grand jury in Chicago on Thursday formally indicted Tahawwur Hussain Rana (49) — arrested along with David Headley for their links to the Laskhkar-e-Tayebba — for conspiring to carry out the Mumbai 26/11 attacks of 2008.
Updated on Jan 16, 2010 01:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
US charges Rana with plotting 26/11
A federal grand jury in Chicago on Thursday indicted Tahawwur Hussain Rana (49) — arrested along with David Headley for their links to the Laskhkar-e-Tayebba — for conspiring to carry out the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Updated on Jan 16, 2010 12:29 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Killer quake flattens Haiti
Dazed and injured Haitians sat on darkened streets pleading for help on Wednesday. Untold thousands had died and many more were trapped in tons of rubble brought down by the strongest earthquake to hit this poor Caribbean nation in more than 200 years.Tectonic tragedy: how the Haiti earthquake happened
Updated on Jan 14, 2010 12:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
India in Security Council?
India is virtually guaranteed a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) representing the Asia region. This is because the only other candidate for the seat, the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, withdrew its candidacy recently.
Updated on Jan 12, 2010 12:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
The jazz player
New riff an Indian master of the original American music form produces jazz album of the year, reports Anirudh Bhattacharyya.See graphics
Updated on Jan 10, 2010 01:41 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Rana deserted Pakistan army
Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana, who faces U.S. charges in the terror plot against the Danish newspaper and has also been accused of having prior knowledge of the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai, didn’t manage to secure his release from detention at a hearing in Chicago.
Updated on Jan 08, 2010 12:30 AM IST
Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Rana likely to challenge his detention
Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian who has been charged in a Chicago court for terror along with David Coleman Headley, is expected to contest his detention before a Federal judge on Wednesday.
Updated on Jan 07, 2010 12:54 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
3 Idiots is Bollywood’s top grosser ever in US
Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots has set a new box office record for Bollywood films in the United States. Within two weeks of its release, it has grossed $4.8 million, according to two major box office tracking websites, Hollywood.com and Deadline Hollywood. No other Bollywood film has ever crossed the $4 million barrier before. Anirudh Bhattacharyya examines...
Updated on Jan 05, 2010 01:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Fewer Hindus declare religion in US: Study
Data released by the US Census Bureau has a startling finding: When it comes to religious self-identification, the number of people declaring themselves Hindus has dropped by nearly a quarter since 2001.
Updated on Dec 25, 2009 12:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Eight months on, US finally fills H1B visa quota
The slots for H1B visas for 2010 were finally filled on December 21, making it the longest time it has taken to meet the quota in five years.
Updated on Dec 23, 2009 08:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
Rana was in on 26/11 plot
Tahawwur Rana, the Pakistani-American arrested along with Lashkar-e-Tayyeba agent David Coleman Headley, knew about the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai in advance, said a memorandum filed on Monday in the Chicago court where the two are being tried. Anirudh Bhattacharyya reports. See graphics
Updated on Dec 16, 2009 02:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York
What next in Headley and Rana case
The evidence filed on Monday in Chicago means that David Coleman Headley's co-conspirator Tahawwur Rana will find his charges upgraded. He'll now be charged with a direct link to a terror conspiracy, which can lead to life imprisonment.
Updated on Dec 15, 2009 11:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya & HT Correspondent, New Delhi & New York
US dailies remove plagiarised articles by Indian writer
Mona Sarika has been a prolific writer and her articles have appeared in major media vehicles including the online version of the Wall Street Journal, the Huffington Post and Foreign Policy.
Updated on Dec 06, 2009 12:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Washington
The implications of Obama's Afghan policy for India
U.S. President Barack Obama’s new policy for Afghanistan may include reassuring elements for India such as increased troop levels, reversing the momentum of the Taliban and going after “safe havens” for terrorists on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, but it has immediately raised a red flag for analysts with the setting of a timeline for a withdrawal, even if phased, starting in July 2011, reports Anirudh Bhattacharyya.
Updated on Dec 03, 2009 12:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Washington
United States of Lashkar
The latest US export to India: Lashkar terrorists. After a hiatus of four years, Lashkar-e -Tayyeba is once again back to recruiting Western Muslims for the Pakistan terror outfit’s jihad against India, report Pramit Pal Chaudhuri and Anirudh Bhattacharyya.
Updated on Nov 22, 2009 01:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Pramit Pal Chaudhuri and Anirudh Bhattacharyya
Team Obama has record desi membership
When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Washington on Sunday, he may well be pleasantly surprised to find that Indians figure not just in his delegation but also across the aisle. American President Barack Obama’s Administration has a record number of Indian-Americans. Prominent Appointees
Updated on Nov 18, 2009 01:10 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Washington
US Sikhs go beyond protests to raise ’84 riots awareness
Twenty-five years after the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India, the US-based Sikh organisations have moved away from demonstrations to a “justice awareness campaign”.
Updated on Nov 03, 2009 11:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Anirudh Bhattacharyya, New York