Modiji, bullet train corridor over aloo-sabzi corridor? Why?

February 13, 2018

In the days before the BJP-led government abruptly merged the Railway Budget with the General Budget, there used to be a separate debate in parliament on the Railway Budget and, thereby, the state of Indian Railways. This was a serious matter, in keeping with the important role that the Railways play in India’s economy and society. In the Rajya Sabha, 12 hours were devoted to discussion on the General Budget and 12 hours for the Railway Budget.

‘Feku’ Federalism exposed. Check out these 6 questions

February 12, 2018

As a grandchild of Indian Railways – my maternal grandfather and several members of my mother’s extended family worked for the Railways – I have a special affection for this institution, and for trains in general. My political career has seen me observe and work with the Railways in more than one capacity, and I used to be a keen student of the Railway Budget till the BJP-led government went and derailed it. Since then I have listened to the Finance Minister’s Budget speech with extra care – both to try and make sense of the government’s financial and economic plans, as well as to pick up the appallingly few lines that are now devoted to the gigantic infrastructure of the Indian Railways.

Questioning the Budget does not make me anti-national

February 3, 2018

In many ways, the Economic Surveys of the NDA government have tended to be more honest documents than Budget speeches, especially with the sleight-of-hand of budgetary and economic figures.

Modi’s regime of superheroes is a myth. Take a look

December 10, 2017

While finalising the themes and essays for my newly published book Inside Parliament, I considered an idea about how bogus numbers, rather than bogus ideas, were now the preferred propaganda tool. 

PM knelt when entering Parliament. That respect gone

November 21, 2017

My first political book, “Inside Parliament: Views from the Front Row” – a compilation of essays on parliament, policy and contemporary political issues – will be in stores from November 24. The essay you are about to read didn’t make it to the book. Actually, the urgency of the matter is playing out before us in real time. If my book were to have come out in six months’ time, this essay would definitely have been included.

Coalition of regional parties is what India needs

May 2, 2015

Watching Arvind Kejriwal’s speech at Delhi’s Ramlila Grounds shortly after he was sworn in as chief minister, I was glad he tempered the overenthusiasm and too-keen ambition of some of his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) colleagues. Running a government in Delhi was his priority, he said. He cautioned against any “arrogant” attempt to expand the party’s footprint and contest elections in several other states.

My top ten speeches this Budget Session in Parliament

March 25, 2015

Parliament is a great place to contemplate, deliberate and legislate.

During the Budget Session of Parliament, I received many opportunities to raise concerns on meaningful subjects.

Here are the links to videos and transcripts.

Banning beef goes beyond religious connotations

March 9, 2015

When I mentioned it to him, a well-meaning political friend urged me not to touch the subject or write about it. “Beef is a sensitive issue,” he said, “it has religious connotations. And you are a Christian…”

By using ordinances the government is mocking Parliament

February 22, 2015

After President Pranab Mukherjee, it is now Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan who has cautioned against the repeated and knee-jerk use of ordinances. Speaking at a conference in Lucknow, she said, “Ordinances should be kept to the minimum as far as possible. They have a very limited life and need to be passed by Parliament to become a law.”

Women shakti and the big TMC bypoll win

February 18, 2015

The recent by-elections in West Bengal, for the Bongaon parliamentary seat and the Krishnaganj assembly seat, resulted in big victories for the Trinamool Congress. They established the trend, evident in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and subsequent by-elections, that Trinamool remains the dominant party in the state. However, the CPI(M) is slipping rapidly from its second position and ceding ground to the BJP. Of course, both these parties are too far behind Trinamool for us to be seriously worried.