Rajesh Mahapatra

Demonetisation 100 days: It’s time Modi govt said note ban was a mistake

On February 7, the PM spoke in Parliament on demonetisation. Given that this was the first time he spoke on the issue in the House, one expected the PM would support his claim with hard data and empirical evidence. Unfortunately, he didn’t. He didn’t because he can’t.

Political donations: It’s time to revisit the idea of a National Election Fund

Cleaning up the system of political funding will help close the tap on a potent source of black money. It will also ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in a multi-party democracy such as ours

Budget 2017: The numbers are deceiving, they hide more than they reveal

At first glance, the budget numbers look reassuring but a closer examination of the numbers tells another story,

Arun Jaitley says Budget 2017 meant to help the vulnerable, not the affluent

Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday the philosophy behind his budget is to spend more on identified success stories and carrying on with the government’s campaign against black money.

Budget 2017: It is time Arun Jaitley opted for fiscal expansionism

The present-day economic context and evidences from the past make a compelling case for the government to loosen its purse strings. Should the finance minister opt for a higher fiscal deficit, it ought to be on account of spending creates assets, jobs and an opportunity for inclusive growth

Budget 2017-18: For Arun Jaitley the challenges are many, the solutions few

It remains to be seen how the lawyer-turned-politician balances the competing demands on the money his government has. As some would say, the real verdict on Arun Jaitley’s budget will come when the results for these elections are declared on March 11

Demonetisation: Why PM must pay attention to YV Reddy’s warning on RBI

Former RBI governor YV Reddy doesn’t have a reputation for speaking out of turn. If he has chosen not to sit out, there is reason to believe the credibility of the RBI has been seriously undermined

To implement GST, Modi must now rekindle the spirit of Team India

The demand for higher compensation apart, new fault lines have surfaced within the GST Council, which is finding it difficult to reconcile differences between the Centre and the states in matters relating to jurisprudence and control -- who taxes whom and what

An ‘action-packed’ 2017 foretold by events of New Year’s eve

A more aggressive BJP could mean governance at the Centre will suffer. Key economic reforms will either get delayed or shelved. An accommodating BJP, on the other hand, could help Parliament do business.

The New Year resolution Delhiites would want Modi and Kejriwal to make

If the expectations of the local BJP unit were to weigh in on the choice of Jung’s successor, Delhi may end up with an administrator and a political scenario that would further escalate the turf war.

Getting Parliament to work: If Vajpayee could do it, why can’t Modi?

What Parliament has been missing most is the absence of towering personalities on either side. In the past, we had such leaders in the Opposition as Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the BJP, socialist Madhu Limaye, the Janata Dal’s Chandrashekhar and Indrajit Gupta from the CPI, who could defuse such situations

Tamil Nadu after Jaya an opportunity, but cashing in will be tough for BJP, Cong

Breaking fresh ground in Tamil Nadu for a national party is easier said than done. Whenever a section or group of Tamil society has felt abandoned by the dominant Dravidian parties, it hasn’t been appropriated by a national party

Simultaneous polls: The argument is as flawed as its assumptions

Frequent elections aren’t bad because they cost money. They are bad when they are occasioned by a fragmented polity and eroding legitimacy of political parties, as has been India’s experience over the past three decades

The war on black money is missing its targets by miles

It appears now that the prime minister’s bold initiative runs the risk of getting derailed because the government machinery has failed him. Worse, in their attempt to make up, the authorities charged with the responsibility of executing the plan are creating a new imagery of the enemy

Demonetisation: Inconvenience to insecurity, the narrative is changing

I see a once-assured narrative steadily wilting. The earlier almost nonchalant and casual attitude that demonetisation was going to be all but a temporary ‘inconvenience’ seems to be rapidly mutating. Anxiety has replaced hope and the previous unflappable patience is making way for discernible worry and anger.

Demonetisation: Understanding the politics behind what PM sees as a game changer

The BJP is looking at new social alignments. The demonetisation needs to be looked at in this context. The have-nots appear to have endorsed the prime minister’s decision. The cash hoarded by their immediate employer and exploiter is the most familiar imagery of black money for them.

Haryana completes 50 years: Why the state’s success is self-limiting

The state has made impressive strides in 50 years, but Khattar’s culturally regressive agenda and failure to push for an equitable social order pose serious risks to the state’s failure.

Yadav vs Yadav: Akhilesh’s assertion is right, but it comes at a wrong time

Most political observers believe Akhilesh has the broadest support within the party and will eventually have Mulayam on his side. That the ongoing crisis will see the younger Yadav emerging stronger and a Samajwadi Party that will be more in sync with modern-day politics

The Congress at crossroads: For India’s grand old party, it’s now or never

The party must also move to decentralise decision-making in the party. Even today it has many promising faces across states who can lead the party in their own right

BRICS covers ground on terror, but outcome may have fallen short of Modi’s hope

The five-nation BRICS grouping may have endorsed the strongest ever statement on terrorism but diplomacy observers are not sure if the outcome matched the hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised through a forceful pitch on the issue.

Modi calls Pakistan the mother ship of terrorism

Modi calls Pakistan ‘mothership of terror’, fails to get consensus at BRICS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday succeeded in getting BRICS members to make their strongest statement on terrorism but a consensus eluded India’s efforts to nail Pakistan-based terror groups.

Selective approach to terrorism will be futile: PM Modi at BRICS Summit

A selective approach to countering terrorist individuals or organizations will be futile and counter-productive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

Country in India’s neighbourhood is ‘mother ship’ of terror: PM Modi

The “mother ship” of terrorism is a country in India’s neighbourhood and extremist modules across the world are linked to it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, referring to Pakistan.

Russia supports India on terror, China still on fence

India, Russia ink defence, energy deals

PM Modi nudges China on Masood Azhar ban, NSG bid ahead of BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday nudged Chinese President Xi Jinping to forge a common ground on designating Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, saying the two countries should improve coordination within the UN panel that decides on such sanctions.

India, China recognise terrorism as key issue: MEA after Modi-Xi talks

India and China are expected to discuss the fallouts of the deadly cross-border terror attack on an army camp at Uri on Jammu and Kashmir last month attack by Pakistan-based, while India will make a pitch with its eastern neighbour to further isolate Islamabad, for backing terror infrastructure.

Slowing economies, divergent outlooks: BRICS needs mortar to be relevant

The hope from BRICS was that it would bring equity to global economic architecture and offer a political counterweight to model that would match the advanced West. A decade on, as leaders of the five member nation meet at the 8th annual summit, that ambition remains to be realised.

‘Old friend’ Russia’s stand on combating terrorism mirrors our own: Modi

Russia’s stand on combating terrorism mirrors that of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, amid increasing focus on cross-border terrorism from Pakistan and New Delhi’s push to globally isolate Islamabad.