Page 2 - Shekhar Gupta

Territory China is after

The issue isn't land. But the pity is that the larger political, strategic and geopolitical debate India needs, its broken democracy isn't ready for

Three polls, three parties, three outcomes

In the shadow of their triumphs, the limitations of the Modi magic outside Gujarat, and of Kejriwal beyond Delhi, have been exposed

Victory in the mirror: Has India really found its sweet spot?

India has much to be proud of and celebrate. But there is also much that is wrong, much that looks dangerous, and much that reminds us of the perils of declaring victory too soon

SC verdict on hijab: A lose-lose battle

India's hijab supporters will lose even if they win the Supreme Court battle. Because the real war is fought in politics

From Rajpath to Kartavya Path: Modi's predictable path

His emphasis on kartavya or duties throws the ball in the citizen's court and is central to his political proposition. This is something he has been writing and saying since he took power

Tiranga vs Tiranga

India's most audacious new party has joined the battle with Modi, freebies and nationalism. The latter is more visible. So they will match it, Tiranga for Tiranga, slogan for slogan, tweet for tweet

Taking on Modi's BJP

The future challenger to Narendra Modi would be somebody who can bring the Hindus and Muslims together again. The Hindus as Hindus, not broken caste groups

Sack of the Hindu caravan

Not just Congress but all 'secular' parties like SP, RJD and BSP, which are frustrated with current arrangement under the Modi-Shah BJP, need to answer one question: How did you lose your Hindu vote?

Agnipath, fire and misfire

Modi govt's biggest flaw has been its disinclination to accept limitations of electoral majorities. This ruined land acquisition and farm reform, and stalled labour codes

The great damager

Dictator Musharraf badly damaged Pakistan: Assassination of Benazir, 26/11 attacks in India and the US Navy SEALs raid that killed Osama in Abbottabad. But he believed he was a democrat

Small state, big brother

Assam-Mizoram violence is an outcome of BJP trying too hard to 'integrate' distinct northeastern states. This has unleashed latent regionalism

Best of BS Opinion: Central Vista project, Covid-19 crisis, and more

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for Saturday

Shekhar Gupta: Indian judiciary and law of Habeas Porcus

It's the prime responsibility of judiciary to ensure our liberty and habeas corpus is the usual route. But 'bail, not jail' is being murdered and cremated routinely

Shekhar Gupta: Politics takes economic turn

New ideological battle lines have been drawn in Indian politics and they're on economic terrain. It is change for good

Best of BS Opinion: Banking's game of pretend, Japanese biz custom & more

Here's a selection of Business Standard opinion pieces for the day

The TRP trap: Media seems to have hit the self-destruct button

A weakened media at war with itself is an ideal situation for the establishment to step in

Suspect all, fix all: A mindset that begins at the top, trickles across

It's not just Modi government or BJP, but even state governments, judiciary are getting caught in a 'we suspect all' mindset. Is India becoming a National Suspicion State?

Shekhar Gupta: Shrine for secularism

Indian secularism didn't die with the Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan. It is enshrined in the basic structure of our Constitution and is still worth fighting for and preserving

The so very predictable Chinese: Ladakh episode should come as no surprise

The Chinese are far from inscrutable and India shouldn't be surprised by Ladakh. It should've been anticipated when the status of Jammu & Kashmir was changed

Vande Bharat vs Bharat ke Bande: Is Modi losing his political touch?

PM Modi's pandemic messaging has been mostly directed at the middle class and elites and there's little empathy for the poor millions. Is he losing his political touch?