Politics News - Page 11

Why capital punishment is the least effective solution

Criminal law is least effective when it's motivated by anger against its defendants. Perhaps that's why the Indian Penal Code, argues that capital punishment should only be handed out in the rarest of rare cases.

Anna's backroom boys did a great job, but the frontroom?

Anna's backroom image builders choreographed a great presence for Anna. But did his frontroom boys and girl spoil the show?

Anna's India: Why a sob story works better than logic

Should a hunger-strike with its emotional appeal be given much more attention than logic? But this is what happens in India time and again: a sob story gets results, not sober thinking.

A deluded Team Anna is feeding a dangerous intolerance

The increasingly strident self-righteous tone of Team Anna and its wholesale intolerance of those who challenge its position on the Lokpal bill debate are symptoms of an out-of-control movement.

The Cong plan to neutralise Anna is still on course

Despite a shift in public mood against the government after the arrest of key Team Anna members, the government seems to be working to a plan. It believes the middle class protest will ultimately taper off as people tire of coming onto the street.

In politics, 80% is downhill, 20% is upswing: Jairam Ramesh

Cabinet minister Jairam Ramesh talks on politics, role models, the IITs, and how he managed to make it to ministership because of Sonia Gandhi.

Coastal security is a joke: Mumbai is sea-blind

First MV Wisdom, and now MV Pavit's unannounced drift to Mumbai's shores shows that despite government 'action' following 26/11, the city's coasts remain vulnerable.

All in for the almighty

The indomitable Bellary brothers continue to be a pillar of strength as well as the sharpest thorn in Karnataka BJP’s side. Towards the weekend, the BJP leadership was in a tizzy over who made Janardhan Reddy a minister in the state cabinet.

Decibel kings: Manish Tewari & other party spinmeisters

Today’s party spokespersons are spinmeisters who go with the flow. They don’t deliver information, provide a clarification or correct an impression but try and monopolise the air waves as much as possible to set the agenda for print the next day.

Norway's Hindutva link: Is it guilt by association?

The glee with which Stalinists are latching on to the Oslo shooter on the basis of his manifesto is appalling.

How the Madanis used Delhi's Urdu press to oust Vastanvi

Maulana Vastanvi's ouster as Darul Uloom V-C was preceded by a slander campaign against him launched by some Delhi-based Urdu newspapers, whose loyalties had obviously been bought by the Madanis of Deoband.

Gorkhaland struggle may not end with Mamata's deal

Granting more autonomy to the GTA (not to forget the Rs 200 crore annual grant from New Delhi for the next three years) may not easily bring political tranquillity to Darjeeling.

Indo - US talks: Mutual sensitivities must be taken into account

While sitting across a table for  meaningful talks, it is imperative that mutual sensitivities are appreciated and a bit of give and take is resorted to most diplomatically.

Gorkhaland agreement: Hope the hills indeed go alive

Mamata has bought herself time, not a complete solution; for GJM chief Bimal Gurung it’s perform or perish from now on.

Postcard from Fundookistan: How to use temple treasure for social good

An honourable Fundookistani minister talks about liberating treasure from a Very Old Temple to use for greater social good and poverty alleviation in his country, which may be more familiar than many of us realize.

Salwa Judum: SC throws baby out with the bathwater

The Supreme Court has ended Chhattisgarh's disgraceful practice of using tribals in the frontline of anti-Maoist operations. But its order is so full of ideological prejudice and pretenses that it will surely have to be reviewed.

What we need: A Pota-like law, and an elite intelligence wing

There are times when normal laws cannot be used to counter terrorists. The US' tough approach post 9/11 shows that giving no quarter to terrorists works. We have to bite the bullet on this.

Why netas and public must be banned from tragedy tourism

Mumbai and other cities have been through enough terrorist attacks to have evolved a proper protocol on dealing with the aftermath. Politicians and public have to be kept away from blast sites and hospitals for a while

The Lokpal bill...Slip slidin' away

The Lokpal bill looks like it is to be buried yet again - just like it has consistently been buried for the last 45 years.

Brand Anna and the law of diminishing returns

Recent events and circumstances surrounding the drafting of the Lokpal Bill have inadvertently proved that the law of diminishing returns, fundamentally a law of economics, applies to the political process too.

Kanimozhi Saga: Perfect plot for Mahesh Bhatt and Anu Mallik

Karunanidhi's tears at Kanimozhi's plight has all the elements of an epic tragedy. But somehow I am not as moved as I should be.

Dear readers: some Anna clarifications

The support for Anna Hazare’s all-or-nothing position stumps me. He could do it as climbers do — climb a bit, set up camp; climb some more, set up a second camp. And a third and a fourth...

Why Karnataka is saying no to the UNESCO tag

The Karnataka state government's refusal to allow a UNESCO tag for the Western Ghat forests is because it will prevent them from plundering these sites at will.

Swami Nigamanand’s death is not a tragedy, it is a travesty

If actions speak louder than words, then Nigamanand’s struggle ought to be screaming sense into us. But it's doubtful that it will do that.

ULFA's Paresh Baruah factor: Lots of fight, lesser might

Paresh Baruah is a spent force. His ultimatum to an oil and gas company is a desperate bid to stay relevant.

Don't let the sun go down (on me)

A full monty of diversionary tactics are taking the attention away from the real issue at hand.

It's the black money, stupid

The greatest tragedy of the Baba Ramdev fracas is that we'll now be talking about everything except the most important issue at hand, writes Firstpost community blogger, Shining Path.

All unquiet on the Naga front

Manipur-Nagaland tension is only beginning to rankle again. But the ripples are yet to be felt in far off New Delhi.

No, Mr Maran, greed is not good

Sun TV, the number one Tamil language channel, is threatended thanks to a moment of stupidity and greed.

Why is the LTTE wooing India?

We have seen India engaging the ISI in recent backroom talks; we have seen India tolerating the return of Taliban. It is not totally implausible to think that there may be some diplomat advocating a patch-up with the LTTE.