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  By Prasanto K. Roy Over the weekend, the Indian establishment demonstrated how bizarre the mix of political insecurity, intolerance to criticism, and sheer stupidity could be. Mumbai police arrested Hari K. Prasad, chief of Indian research and development firm Netindia. Congress-BJP pact on n-liability bill is sign of political maturity (Comment) ( 11:04 ) By Amulya Ganguli Notwithstanding minor differences over the draft of the nuclear liability bill, the fact that the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - and even the Left - are on the same page on its passage through parliament is a positive sign. Superbug scaremogering: It's not the end of antibiotics (Comment) ( 11:35 ) By Narayanan Suresh After the swine flu, or the Influenza A H1N1, virus achieved media superstardom in the past 12 months before bowing out of the world stage unceremoniously last week, its place has been taken by a new superstar. Kashmir: amend armed forces act, switch to rubber bullets (Comment) ( 10:54 ) By Amulya Ganguli When the prime minister of India refers to the alienation of a state, delivers a televised address in the language of the region and promises autonomy, the seriousness of the situation is not in doubt. India's death threat for the BlackBerry (Comment) ( 22:24 ) By Prasanto K. Roy So the die is cast. In a meeting on Thursday, India's home ministry asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to read the riot act to mobile operators running BlackBerry services: Either provide full access to Indian law enforcement, or face a shutdown on Sep 1. Revised norm on public holding will prevent stampede of issues (Comment) ( 13:51 ) By Jagannadham Thunuguntla The government's decision to amend the minimum public holding norms for listed companies has been a sensible and practical decision, taking into account the absorbing capability of the markets and the prevailing conditions. India is wasting its time chasing BlackBerry (Comment) ( 12:04 ) By Prasanto K. Roy You're a Delhi-based wannabe terrorist needing to communicate with your handlers. What do you do? Invisible-ink notes are passe, as are carrier pigeons. You will, of course, use electronic options. Why India's $35 computer joke isn't funny (Comment) ( 12:56 ) By Prasanto K. Roy Here we go again! India's Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has "launched" a $35 computer, evidently a "dream project" of his. The touch-screen, Linux-based device looks iPad-inspired, but we know little about how it works. Mamata: How regional leaders misuse national roles (Comment) ( 09:15 ) By Amulya Ganguli The allegations against Mamata Banerjee that her preoccupation with West Bengal politics is preventing her from giving greater attention to the railway ministry have reopened the question whether regional leaders are capable of discharging national responsibilities. Headley disclosures are a fit case for RTI (Comment) ( 09:02 ) By Mayank Chhaya The rash of leaks from disclosures made by key Mumbai terror plotter David Coleman Headley gives a glimpse into the reasons why he managed to strike a deal with the US authorities to take the death penalty and extradition to India off the table. Defining moment expected for corporate mergers, takeovers (Comment) ( 13:57 ) By Jagannadham Thunuguntla There is widespread anticipation regarding possible revision of the threshold limit for mandatory open offers for the purpose of takeovers from current level of 15 percent to 25 percent. If that eventually happens, interesting shareholders' activity can be expected in several listed companies. For NRIs, India has now arrived (Comment) ( 12:06 ) By Kul Bhushan "Oh nooooo!" groan many non-resident Indians (NRIs) as they stood in long queues for immigration after arriving at Delhi airport. Battling jet lag after a long-haul flight and then waiting in an almost immobile queue becomes their first experience of coming to their motherland. No more. Maoists may soon realise that India is not a soft state (Comment) ( 09:01 ) By Amulya Ganguli Knowingly or otherwise, the Maoists are engaged in a dangerous game which can ultimately prove disastrous for them. It is clear that their present tactics involve attacking the police and the paramilitary, mainly the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Honour killings: Chickens of identity politics come home to roost (Comment) ( 11:22 ) By Amulya Ganguli Even a decade ago, khap panchayats - the caste-based village councils with their kangaroo courts functioning mainly in Haryana - were virtually unknown, and sporadic "honour killings" were reported only from northwest Pakistan. Now, these make headline news in India almost every day. India's interest in Latin America must go beyond World Cup (Comment) ( 09:07 ) By Dave Ramaswamy There is an important reason why enthusiasm for South America should persist beyond the World Cup: The Mercosur countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are global agriculture superpowers as well. They are already shipping their surpluses worldwide and, as farm outsourcing hubs, have the potential to meet India's food needs in the coming decades. Direct Tax Code proposal has welcome respite for individuals (Special) ( 11:06 ) By Vikas Vasal Many suggestions were made in response to the draft Direct Tax Code on issues impacting individuals. It is quite encouraging many of the suggestions have been incorporated in what the finance ministry calls the revised discussion paper on the code. BJP has to grapple with old friends, sulking allies (Comment) ( 12:04 ) By Amulya Ganguli The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in the throes of change. While several former members like Jaswant Singh and Ram Jethmalani are returning to the party, some of its allies are showing signs of restiveness. South Africa is having a ball - with World Cup (Comment) ( 10:49 ) By Rajiv Bhatia The World Cup 2010, a historic first for Africa, is set to begin in a few days. For host nation South Africa, it is about football and much more. The recent photograph of 91-year-old Nelson Mandela, caressing the 18-carat gold trophy and beaming with joy, said it all. Regardless of who lifts the World Cup, South Africa is already a winner. Bengal verdict: Left has only itself to blame (Comment) ( 10:40 ) By Amulya Ganguli The West Bengal poll results may well mark the beginning of the end for the Left. Even the most optimistic among its supporters can no longer expect the Communists to win next year's assembly elections. Why does China keep seeking reassurances on Tibet? (Comment) ( 09:16 ) By Mayank Chhaya It would have been amusing were it not gratuitous for Beijing to raise the Tibet issue with India's visiting President Pratibha Patil. China has ingrained Tibet so much into its global diplomatic discourse that there is almost no escape for anyone of consequence from taking a position on the dispute, preferably to Beijing's liking. Fertiliser sector reforms will attract fresh investments (Comment) ( 10:23 ) By Satish Chander The fertiliser sector in India has been through difficult times in recent years. Stagnant production, no fresh investment and poor financial health of the units were accompanied by high level of import, imbalanced use of nutrients and deteriorating soil health. Mounting subsidy bill posed a serious fiscal management problem to the government. What has happened to my beloved Mangalore? (Comment) ( 13:17 ) By Maxwell Pereira Is it a curse that's hit Mangalore? Why is it so much in the news in just the last two years for all the wrong reasons?...for vandalism, desecration of religious places, molestation and moral policing over young girls, for rent-a-riot shockers, and now for the deaths of 158 in a colossal tragedy caused by the ill-fated Air India Express crash at its Bajpe airport? The goose with the golden spectrum (Comment) ( 12:24 ) By Prasanto K. Roy Finally, it's over. Eleven years after the birth of third generation (3G) telephony and near the end of its life, India's auction for enabling spectrum or airwaves concluded May 19. Government's anti-Maoist policy mired in confusion (Comment) ( 08:43 ) By Amulya Ganguli Notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's description of the Maoist insurgency as the gravest internal threat faced by India, the government seems unsure about how to proceed against the leftwing rebels. As a result, the Maoists seem to have gained the upper hand at present, carrying out their acts of depredation - killing security personnel and blowing up railway lines - with impunity while the government gives the impression of helplessness. Inside Imphal: Discontent and dialogue (Comment) ( 09:44 ) By Rajiv Bhatia As our flight from Delhi landed at the airport in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, the relief was palpable. The temperature at 28 degrees Celsius was welcome. But my happiness was short-lived.
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Assam
