Let’s Organise Indians for a Strong Republic
Join us on Facebook The people around Anna Hazare in Ramlila Maidan have injected a dangerous element into the Indian polity that presents a threat to India’s national interest. This is a Facebook page...
View ArticleOn NDTV: The consequences of Hazaremania
A crossroads, not a victory (You can also view it on NDTV’s website) The points I made (or wanted to): 1. The conclusion of Anna Hazare’s fast after a compromise is not a victory for anyone. It’s a...
View ArticleMiddle India’s political game-changer
Why the Annawalas must endorse individual candidates in the coming elections This is the original draft of today’s DNA column. Anna’s candidates It’s the season for game-changers. Everyone is proposing...
View ArticleJayant Choudhry on debating IT rules in parliament
Jayant Choudhry, the Rashtriya Lok Dal MP from Mathura was the only legislator who expressed in the Lok Sabha concerns raised by citizens against the draconian Information Technology Rules (IT Rules)...
View ArticleWhat to debate when you are debating in the dark
The General’s birthday lawsuit is a red herring Much is being said and written, often with great passion, about the controversy over General V K Singh’s age. [See Mint's editorial, Manoj Joshi's...
View ArticleOn Constitutional Morality – 1
Are we destined to oscillate between populism and constitutionalism? Here’s an extended excerpt from Andre Beteille’s Dr B R Ambedkar Lecture, delivered at the Administrative Staff College of India, on...
View ArticleOn Constitutional Morality – 2
Freedom, self-restraint, recognition of plurality and the scepticism to claims of representation Here are some excerpts from Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s essay on on constitutional morality from the November...
View ArticleThree thoughts for the Republic
On constitutionalism, a competent state and the importance of strengthening federalism For quiet contemplation on Republic Day: On constitutional morality; the need to get basic functions right; and on...
View ArticlePopulism, freedom and democracy
Defending free speech is best done by voting The Indian governments’ second cave-in over Salman Rushdie at Jaipur last week should worry us. The Rajiv Gandhi government’s surrender to Muslim...
View ArticleNo kangaroos in Karnataka
The zeal to prosecute corrupt public officials must be matched with tight adherence to the law You might have missed it in the din surrounding the recent state assembly elections but the Karnataka High...
View ArticleOn NDTV: On the draconian cyber law
The draconian Information Technology Rules have created an environment that threatens our freedom What about free speech, which makes it possible for me to disparage the IT rules as being poorly...
View ArticleOn the government’s decision to block some social media content
On free speech and extraordinary circumstances Here’s a segment from yesterday’s NDTV’s Nine ‘o Clock News You can catch the entire programme here. For more details and an analysis of the blocked...
View ArticleA new system is not the answer
The best way to transform India is by making the system work as it should In a post on his very active Facebook page, Ashwin Mahesh—public policy activist, scientist and politician, all rolled into...
View ArticleWhy protests are not constitutional methods
The right to protest peacefully is not in doubt. The wisdom is. Longtime readers of this blog will know that The Acorn has been a relentless advocate of constitutional methods in conducting our public...
View ArticleThree thoughts for the Republic
We must strengthen the Republic For quiet contemplation on Republic Day: Why strengthening the republic will strengthen our freedoms; why we need to make this system work; and why protests are not...
View ArticleWhy the President of India must reject the Food Security ordinance
President Pranab Mukherjee must reject the Union Cabinet’s unjustified ordinance The UPA government’s Food Security Bill (brief) is likely to cause severe damage to the Indian economy, while saddling...
View ArticleRobbery is not right
The ‘rights-based approach to development’ is immoral and illiberal Why was there ideological collusion in the passage of a bill that promises ‘food security’ but is certain to severely undermine...
View ArticleThe internet is freest in US hands
Internationalising internet governance will abridge liberty and restrict free speech Edward Snowden’s revelations have strengthened demands for “extricating the internet from US control.” This is not a...
View ArticleGood ideas, not just honest people
The politics of populism or misplaced notions of polity? An interview with Sunday Guardian‘s Atul Dev on the Aam Aadmi Party’s government’s actions in Delhi. The AAP’s dharna against the Delhi Police...
View ArticleOn freedom of religion
The only restrictions to propagation of faith are force and fraud. The last few months have seen the return of religion-related issues into the public discourse. While many of these issues have existed...
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