G Pramod Kumar | Firstpost

Thursday, May 17th 08:34 AM IST

Jaya’s first year of mega promises; are we seeing results yet?

May 16, 2012

Chennai: As Jayalalithaa completes her first year in office, which was marked by an unprecedented media blitzkrieg across the country, what remains in one’s mind are her glorious announcements of mega schemes for the socio-economic development of the state. In fact, the scale and reach of her schemes, and the constituencies #Chief minister #J. Jayalalithaa #Tamil Nadu #WhyNow
From jail to political wilderness, what next for Raja?

May 15, 2012

Now that the former telecom minister A Raja is out on bail in the 2G case, the most eagerly awaited question in Tamil Nadu is about his political future and his access to the Karunanidhi household. Will he get a grand reception from the DMK cadres similar to what Kanimozhi got #A Raja #ConnectTheDots #Kanimozhi #M K Stalin #M. Karunanidhi #Rajathi Ammal
Chennai is certainly back as India’s auto-capital

May 15, 2012

Chennai: Chennai’s Detroit-tag appeared more credible on Monday with Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa signing five MoUs with auto majors for setting up production plants near the city. The companies that will set shop near Chennai are Yamaha, Ashok Leyland-Nissan Motor Company, Daimler-India Commercial Vehicles, Eicher Motors and Philips Carbon. Together #Ashok Leyland #Automobile industry in India #Chennai #Jayalalithaa #NewsTracker #Nissan Motors
Cult of violence: Will it take even Kerala off CPM’s grip?

May 14, 2012

A few months ago, the car in which two CPM leaders were travelling get attacked in Kannur in North Kerala. There is no major hurt to the two leaders, known for their intemperate public behaviour, but they allege that it was a plot to kill them. A few days later, a #Chandrasekharan #Communist Party of India #Kannur #PoliticalPlay
The Jaya-Modi-Patnaik axis: Best practices or politics?

May 11, 2012

Is Jayalalithaa-Narendra Modi-Navin Patnaik the new anti-Congress, pro-BJP political axis emerging in India? It looks like it. And definitely it is not just NCTC and those anti-state bills that bring them together. In the coming months, if a few more gravitate towards them, they will be the most influential post-poll political block. Interestingly, #Bharatiya Janata Party #J. Jayalalithaa #Narendra Modi #PoliticsDecoder
Kudankulam activists try new combos to stop nuke plant

May 10, 2012

In practical terms, the Kudankulam agitation that tried its best to stall the Rs 14,000-crore nuclear power plant in southern Tamil Nadu is over — the giant generators of the plant will start rolling in a month or two. However, it is throwing up a new idea for community-led protests: surrender #Kudankulam nuclear plant #NewsTracker #People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy #Struggle Committee #Tirunelveli
Mullaperiyar dam: it’s our science versus your science now

May 8, 2012

Two Kerala ministers, PJ Joseph and KM Mani, will not believe anybody but themselves on the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam and seem to be extremely sure of their knowledge on the issue, its engineering and the scientific studies commissioned by the state government. It is not surprising that they don’t #Congress #Kerala #Kerala Congress #Mullaperiyar Dam #OnOurMind #P. J. Joseph #Tamil Nadu
Marxist-rebel murdered in Kerala: finger of suspicion troubles CPM

May 6, 2012

Trivandrum: Even after 38 hours, Kerala is yet to recover from the unprecedented grip of outrage and pain caused by the brutal murder of an immensely popular CPM-rebel leader in the northern district of Kozhikode. The slain leader, TP Chandrasekharan (51), was hacked 51 times by an armed gang on Friday #Chandrasekharan #Communist Party of India #Kozhikode #Malayali people #PoliticalPlay
Hamied does it again: Will Cipla’s price cut transform healthcare?

May 4, 2012

A little over ten years ago, Cipla promoter YK Hamied’s decision to manufacture generic anti-HIV drugs single-handedly changed the equations of the AIDS-medication game in the world and rewrote the history of the epidemic. It also dramatically transformed the lives of millions of affected people in poor countries across all the #Cipla #Generic drug #NewsTracker #Pharmaceutical drug #Pharmaceuticals policy #YK Hamied #Yusuf Hamied
Kamal Hassan’s Vishwaroopam and the many ‘firsts’

May 4, 2012

The “first look” of the most awaited Kamal Hassan movie, Vishwaroopam is out, accompanied by a bagful of interesting trivia that make his ventures unique. Touted as one of the most expensive films in India, estimated to have cost about Rs 150 crores, Vishwaroopam is a spy-thriller and is a complete #MovieBiz #Rajinikanth #Vishwaroopam

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Editor's picks

Jaya, Modi and the PM's job after the next elections

What is the political significance of Jayalalithaa’s multi-crore media blitz in the national print media?
Stop howling about rupee and accept its decline

The rupee’s fall is based on fundamental factors and the government or the RBI cannot stem the fall in the short term.
When jihad backfires: Pak plays a losing game with India

For all the jihadi terror that Pakistan stokes in Afghanistan and India, the arc of history is bending decisively against it – and in India’s favour. Here’s why…
Parliament at 60: How rich are our netas!

Being an MP in India is hardly unprofitable, most of our nations legislators have seen their incomes rise and their rising wealth also ensures they stay in power.

From jail to political wilderness, what next for Raja?

Now that A Raja finally is out on bail what does his political future hold for him? More importantly how safe is he given he is supposed to be the man who knows too much in the case?
MPs United: 542, Cartoons: 1. Is Mamata having the last laugh?

Our fractious politicians have finally found an issue worth uniting over – the grave danger posed by cartoons. As MPs across the political spectrum railed against cartoons, was Mamata Banerjee thinking “I told you so”?
Chennai is certainly back as India's auto-capital

Chennai’s Detroit-tag appeared more credible on Monday with Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa signing five MoUs with auto majors for setting up production plants near the city.
BJP's dilemma: How do you solve a problem like Yeddyurappa?

BS Yeddyurappa’s challenge to the BJP needed a surgical response, but it has opted for homoeopathic medication.The party will regret this months from now.

Parliament at 60: Pardon us, MPs, but your slip is showing...

There is much that is flawed about our parliamentary democracy, and our parliamentarians are in supreme denial if they refuse to acknowledge their failings.
SIT vs Amicus Curiae report: A triumph of democracy

The contrasting reports reveals that while justice might be distant, the law as a process still works – more so as the Modi juggernaut stumbles on a 25-page amicus curiae brief.
Gurgaon BMW crash: Another 'big money' cover-up?

The cover up of sorts has began. The BMW belongs to one Devender Shehrawat, who runs a transport business in Gurgaon. But curiously, a man named Rajesh has claimed responsibility for the accident.
The story of Shiksha Kendra: RTE shutters schools for poor

Unrecognised institutions like DPS Mathura Road’s afternoon school for first-generation learners and children of daily wage labourers are closing their doors as per the new rules. But is this a tragedy?

Samson Option: Will Yeddy take Karnataka BJP down with him?

The Karnataka unit of the BJP is on the verge of a split as BS Yeddyurappa threatens to bring down the entire party edifice on its head.
'Come to Baba': Ramdev to fight for quota for Muslims

Baba Ramdev reaches out to Muslims – evidently to ‘de-saffronise’ himself. It could be a bit of a risky gambit.
F1: Hamilton stripped of pole in Spain

He was sent to the back of the starting grid after his McLaren team failed to put enough fuel in the Briton’s car.
Rescue Ambedkar from the clutches of Dalit leaders

Ambedkar must be freed from his ‘Dalit’ branding and treated as an Indian icon first.

Toon trouble: Why Dalits prefer the Ambedkar myth to reality

The manufactured outrage over a cartoon is a signal that Dalits want to consolidate power. This is why they need to elevate Ambedkar from reformer to prophet.
The media has twisted SIT report on Modi out of shape

The media has got it wrong in the way its has reported the SIT statement on what Modi said behind “four walls”.
DIG loose talk: Why we must stop making the symptom the disease

The country lacks a consensus on what is criminal. It has helped perpetuate evil practices.
Aamir hasn't quite brought back 'Ramayan' magic on Sundays

The initial ratings disclosed by TAM do not show a big surge for Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate. Will future Sundays change that?

Tale of ant and grasshopper: Lessons for Europe, India

In India, the ant is represented by the people who work hard and save money for the future. The government, on the other hand, is the grasshopper that lives off the savings of the hard-working Indian
The Jaya-Modi-Patnaik axis: Best practices or politics?

Is Jayalalithaa-Narendra Modi-Navin Patnaik the new anti-Congress, pro-BJP political axis emerging in India?
How a Zuckerberg hackathon inspired the Bing-FB redesign

Bing’s search is all set to get more social. So how did this new design change take place for Bing?
Meet the real star of Ishaqzaade: Habib Faisal

The big buzz film opening this weekend is Ishaqzaade. While the flashbulbs are going off for the young stars Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, film buffs are excited about the man behind the camera – Habib Faisal.