Islamabad’s handling of Hafiz Saeed only confirms the fact that it continues to see terrorism as a convenient tool to achieve its vested interests. Pakistan believes that Saeed and his terror network can bog down the Indian security establishment more than anything else. This is precisely the reason why it continues to handle the JuD chief with kid gloves. Action on Hafiz Saeed is a must for the composite dialogue process to move forward.

Does freedom of expression give the right to offend?

Swapan Dasgupta - Husain has handed out an unqualified victory to those who feel that free speech and expression cannot include the right to offend. That Husain abandoned India for an Emirate that is devoutly Islamic, conservative and doesn't remotely qualify as a democracy has only compounded the problem.

Reservations and the idea of equality

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr - Women’s reservation bill too is supposed to promote gender equality but what it really does is create yet another special interest. And the power of the state is increased yet again. Women will remain beholden to parties and their agendas. The argument that a women’s constituency will force the political parties and the state to pay attention to women’s issues is not convincing because women do not constitute a homogenous segment.

Only miracle can save the women's bill now

Sheela Bhatt - There was shock within the non-Congress Members of Parliament to see how the government remained inactive within the Rajya Sabha when the Women's Reservation Bill was tabled on Monday. Only a miracle and government's sincere political will can keep alive the bill tomorrow.

Reservation as panacea does not work

Abantika Ghosh - Where is the ground for the assumption that simply trebling their numbers – which would also mean a lot of women being elected merely because the parties need to be seen to be adhering to the legislation they managed to clear so painstakingly – will have a multiplying effect on their effectiveness too? I would rather have a male MP who – hopefully – talks about issues that concern me than a woman who is there merely because of her sex. It is a waste of my vote.

हुसैन की बदरंग तस्वीर

डा. निरंजन कुमार - जिस देश ने उन्हें पद्म भूषण, पद्म विभूषण और अन्य अनेक पुरस्कार, राज्यसभा की सदस्यता आदि से नवाजा उसकी नागरिकता छोड़ देना एक तरह से देश के मुंह पर तमाचा मारना ही है। यह सही है कि उनके साथ पिछले कुछ वषरें में शिवसेना जैसे संगठनों ने बदसलूकी की, उनकी चित्र प्रदर्शनियों में तोड़फोड़ की, जिन्हें जायज नहीं ठहराया जा सकता। जहां तक हुसैन का सवाल है, इसके लिए वह भी कम जिम्मेदार नहीं हैं। हिंदू देवी-देवताओं के नग्न चित्र बनाकर एक तरह से उन्होंने देश के साप्रदायिक माहौल में जहर घोलने का कार्य किया।

India must wage its own war

Our self-respect demands that we should stop begging Pakistan to put an end to cross-border terrorism. Instead our message, through deed and not word, should be: “Do your worst, but do not blame us for the consequences.” We should mean business in tackling terrorism and the war against terror to its logical conclusion. Our security forces and and intelligence agencies can do it, provided the Government wills it and means it. To win this war the Government will have to stand firm.