My Columns: Without Fear and Favour

Narendra Modi’s Speech at the UN General Assembly By  Deepak Parvatiyar September 28, 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched upon almost all major issues confronting the world in his maiden about 35-minute speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday. On hindsight, it did appear to be multi-focussed, but in totality succeeded in conveying one strong message – the arrival of an assertive India at the centre-stage of world politics! Consider these points that he made in the course of his speech: “I am … mindful of the expectations of the world from 1.25 billion people. “India is part of the developing world, but we are prepared to share our modest resources with those countries that need this assistance as much as we do. “India is a country that constitutes one-sixth of humanity; a nation experiencing economic and social transformation on a scale rarely seen in history. “Every nation’s world view is shaped by its civilization and philosophical traditio

The big Jaya Verdict and the after effects By  Deepak Parvatiyar September 28, 2014 In contemporary Indian politics, only few match Jayaram Jayalalithaa’s charisma, yet none matches her guile! In her over three-decade-long political career, often marred by charges of corruption against her and her close associates, the feisty lady faced many legal battles and emerged unscathed. This time again, the political career of the enigmatic chief minister of Tamil Nadu is now at stake following her conviction in an 18-year-old disproportionate asset case by a special court. The court held her guilty of acquiring assets worth Rs 66.65 crore through dishonest means during her first tenure as chief minister between 1991 and 1996 and sentenced her to four-year imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore. The co-accused in the case – Jayalalithaa’s former friend V K Sasikala, Sasikala’s nephew V N Sudhakaran and sister-in-law J Illavarasi – too have been sentenced to four