Humility in victory, introspection in defeat
If the Congress party needs to guard against the triumphalist revival of ‘Congress culture’, both the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party must also re-evaluate their political strategy… 19 May … Continue reading
Watch me on the new government’s challenges @ CNN-IBN
I took part in an interesting hour-long discussion on CNN-IBN last night with Kapil Sibal and Lord Meghnad Desai on the new government’s challenges. We spoke about the economy, reform, … Continue reading
Left is out but UPA foreign policy may not swing right
The world is not what it was when Left parties withdrew support… 17 May 2009The Hindu Left is out but UPA foreign policy may not swing rightThe world is not … Continue reading
Why India’s communists wield influence
The Wall Street Journal Asia asked me to do a piece on why the Communists in India are such a key player in the national elections. Here’s my two cents … Continue reading
Where silence prevails, justice will not
Narendra Modi is unwilling to even apologise for the Gujarat massacres because neither religious India nor political India considers his involvement a liability… 2 May 2009The Hindu Where silence prevails, … Continue reading
Set Binayak Sen free now
Alongside the arming of private militias, the jailing of a human rights defender for two years on trumped up charges is proof that there is no rule of law in … Continue reading
An interview on the Indian elections
Radio Free Europe interviewed me day before yesterday on the ongoing Indian election campaign and the policy implications of a change in government when the results are declared mid-May…. 17 … Continue reading
A campaign where hate is integral
Visiting a local BJP office in election mode reveals more about the true nature of the party’s politics than the dissembling of its national leadership… 16 April 2009The Hindu A … Continue reading
Dateline Orissa: In Kalahandi, battle for livelihood trumps war for votes
An open challenge to those who speak of development as an inclusive process… 13 April 2009The Hindu ELECTIONS 2009In Kalahandi, battle for livelihood trumps war for votes Siddharth Varadarajan Of … Continue reading
Dateline Orissa: Fear still stalks Kandhamal
The BJP hopes to capitalise on polarisation, insecurity by turning the focus on minorities 11 April 2009The Hindu ELECTIONS 2009Fear still stalks KandhamalThe BJP hopes to capitalise on polarisation, insecurity … Continue reading
A familiar stench
Varun Gandhi’s bigotry against Muslims is hardwired into the DNA of the BJP and Sangh Parivar. That is why he is still his party’s candidate for the elections… 24 March … Continue reading
Scary: Taliban, ours and theirs
Exhibit #1:From The Hindu on February 19: Register FIR against Renuka: Mangalore court Staff Correspondent MANGALORE: A court here on Wednesday directed the Mangalore rural police to register a first … Continue reading
The real Modi story…
Via Ruchira Gupta, Salil Tripathi in Mint exposes the hollow reality behind the impressive investment figures Narendra Modi has been touting as his big achievement in Gujarat. The key point … Continue reading
India Inc. and Modi
My friend and former colleague, Jyotirmaya Sharma, has written the best piece I’ve seen on the craven ‘Modi for PM’ slogans raised by Sunil Mittal, Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani … Continue reading
Siddharth Varadarajan 