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Author archives: sumana sarkar

Of Onion Cartels & Skyrocketing Prices

With the first batch of imported Egyptian Onions entering the Indian wholesale market, Onion prices are finally breathing a sigh of relief. Wholesale prices saw a significant dip down by nearly Rs 10 per kilogram. But it is an open secret that this is only an ad hoc measure, a temporary solution and the problem is nowhere gone. It is almost the same scenario for the past couple of years. […]

How To Convert A Slump In Markets Into Profitable Investment

After the sharp fall in global markets overnight am sure many retail investors are right now sitting in deep losses or trying to cut their position by selling off the investment at whatever rate possible. Well you might be surprised but you are bracing yourself for way bigger losses going forward. Well you might ask, what is one supposed to do then in this scenario? My answer is stay calm, […]

NSA Talks Collapse: Future Of Indo-Pak Relations

In what can be considered as ominous clouds, the supposed National Security Advisor level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled for Sunday collapsed just hours before it was about to begin. Not only is it a clear indication of the inherent mistrust between the two nations but also the fact that force can’t be a way to resolve these long standing disputes. As uncertainty looms large over the future of […]

Indo-Pak NSA Talks: India Firm On No Hurriyat Stance

The fate of the soon to be held NSA talks between India and Pakistan on August 23-24 hangs in balance. It is still uncertain whether Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval would indeed meet his Pakistani counterpart, Sartaz Aziz. Though it has got no connection with the talks doing the rounds across media circles of both countries since last evening, the likelihood of these talks seem significantly reduced in the […]

One Rank One Pension: The Problem Of Implementation

One of the key highlights of Modiji’s speech on August 15 from the ramparts of the Red Fort was in what he did not mention rather than what he spoke on. Yes you guessed it right, I am speaking about the One Rank One Pension issue. An election agenda for both BJP and the Congress last year, it unfortunately continues to gather dust in files travelling between the various offices […]

Freedom Of Press In India: The Shocking Reality

It is the Independence Day weekend and quite naturally the I-day spirit is everywhere. From freedom to choose discount offers to freedom to sleep, almost every conceivable form of freedom is on offer right now. I decided to take this opportunity to assess the state of freedom of press in our country. As an Indian I have always been immensely proud of the constitutional encouragement that Press gets in the […]

The Adil-Anderson Connection: India’s Loss, A Gandhi-Family Friend’s Gain?

  For most of the post-1980 generation in India, Adil Shahryar is a name that they are not even aware of or ever heard but the question then is why did this name create such a stir in the Parliament and why did it become the Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi’s red faced moment in the Parliament. With Sushma Swaraj hinting at the alleged quid pro quo by the then […]

Pandemonium In Parliament: Death Of Democracy!

It was pandemonium in the Lok Sabha and as the Monsoon Session approaches its closure. Chaos was the order of the day and indiscipline resigned supreme. Suddenly the country’s highest altar of democracy looked nothing more than playgroup classroom filled with unruly toddlers running all over, throwing things each other and decibel levels that could potentially render others deaf. Even as I pen these words, my head hangs in shame. […]

Monsoon Washout, What’s Modi’s Plan B?

Somehow the monsoon washout in the Parliament reminds me of the 2nd term of the UPA regime and the long history of absolute policy paralysis that the country witnessed. However with Parliament coming to a standstill, the reforms agenda has more or less taken a back seat at least for now. There is a urgent need to put the reform rail on track not just in the interest of the […]

Modi’s Peace Pact With Nagas: The Big Picture

It was a historic pact signed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 3 when the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) inked the peace treaty with the centre. This accord which was signed in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, is seen as a major step in bringing about peace not just in Nagaland but the entire north eastern part of the […]