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Sri Lanka's food & economic crisis is due to whimsical policies, reckless populism & fiscal profligacy. It is a cautionary tale for all poor nations. Many states in India are indulging in reckless short-term freebies for electoral gain, ignoring growth & core functions.1/2

Heartiest congratulations to Sri NCB and the NDA partners for a remarkable success in AP in a defining election. The people emphatically rejected the notion of governance as individual, short-term welfare alone at the cost of long-term collective needs and economic growth. And

Sri Ramoji Rao's passing is an irreparable loss to Telugu society and Indian journalism. An uncompromising, self-made giant, he always stood for fearless fighting spirit, dedication, innovation, integrity, credibility, farmers' welfare and public good. He strode like a colossus

Rishi Sunak did not become PM because of his minority faith or race; he became PM because Conservative MPs believed that he was the best bet for their party and the country. Internal democracy in parties is the key. 1/2

A doctor in Russia says, “It is impossible to get Coronavirus infection in the Church; it is a holy place.” Clearly her ‘education’ has no impact on her life. And decades of communist rule did not get rid of superstition! No wonder we harbour many irrational beliefs in India.

The perpetrators of such heinous crimes deserve the harshest punishment, but by swift due process in a court of law. The police were obviously under unbearable pressure; but extra-Judicial killings will only make innocent people victims over time. Due process protects all of us.

SP Balu’s passing is a great loss to our culture and society. He was an exceptional musician, a singer with a divine voice, a fluent actor, a pleasant personality and a great artiste in every sense. We lost a titan who will be remembered for long. Om Shanti

AAP's success in Punjab is a hopeful sign for democracy. Success without vote buying, with focus on corruption-free services, and quality education & healthcare with a mix of of freebies is a step forward. States have now power to reshape governance; Punjab could lead reform.1/2

Happy day for the family: daughter graduated from Gandhi Medical College today. It seems like yesterday she joined Medicine; now she is Dr Snigdha! How time flies!

Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry’s passing is a great loss to Telugu literature and films. A gifted poet, a great citizen and a good human being, he enriched the lives of those around him. He was a great friend and supporter to me and Loksatta movement. We miss him. Om Shanti.

Mr Kamal Nath announced that they will revert to Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in MP if Congress were elected to power. It seems increasingly clear that India's oldest national party has given up on health of public finances, and puts electoral success above everything. 1/n

KCR’s argument is absolutely right. As a nation, excessive centralisation and rigid uniformity pulled us down. On all key indicators, India is ranked among bottom five (with Pak, Bangladesh and Nigeria ) among 49 large economies above $200B gdp. We need unity + true federalism.

Heartiest congratulations to Sri M Venkaiah Naidu and Sri Chiranjeevi on being conferred Padma Vibhushan. We salute their service and accomplishments. Congratulations to all other Padma awardees. Celebrating achievements of all Indians irrespective of caste, religion, region and

Telugu cinema and culture lost a Colossus, an exceptional director and artiste in K Viswanath's passing. I still vividly remember the spontaneous applause of the pan-Indian audience at LBSNAA after the screening of 'Sankarabharanam'. He gave us pride, joy and culture. Om Shanti

The colossal failure of TS Intermediate Board punished students and parents for no fault of theirs. TS govt destroyed the existing well-functioning system instead of improving. Do no harm is the first principle in medicine and governance. Reckless decisions have human cost.

Heartiest congratulations to all parties for a spirited campaign and to all the elected representatives for earning the right to represent the people. It is a significant triumph for BJP/NDA to be elected to office third time in a row - a feat last achieved 62 years ago. BJP

Indian air attack on terror infra in Pak & POK is perfectly in accordance with global norms. Pak establishment must think long & hard before responding. War against terror is a long one; this is only one episode. We need to work on many fronts with long term strategy.

My salute to Delhi voters; a great verdict. This is a vote for delivery of public goods - school education & healthcare, and for genuine devolution. We have a lot to do to really improve outcomes; but this is a great start. Hearty congratulations to Arvind, AAP & team.

All sections of people - Hindu or Muslim- want an end to the needless polarisation on Ayodhya issue. A local dispute became a national problem because of partisan politics and quest for relevance of a few groups. Let us close this chapter and focus on future of our children.

The rare occasion when you watch TV ‘news’, you would think India has solved all problems- edu&health, infrastructure, jobs, rule of law ...- and we only have to figure out how someone sadly lost his life, or who used relatively harmless recreational drugs. Can we wake up?

The then PM, Dr Manmohan Singh said before 2014 polls that Modi would be a disaster as PM. Now Modi implies that Dr MMS is anti-national and is conspiring with Pak to defeat BJP in Gujarat. Such reckless comments have no place in a civilised democracy. Election is not war.

The election fight in Andhra Pradesh finally boils down to competition between private money efficiently distributed to voters vs freebies with public money efficiently delivered. Somebody has to win at the polls; but the people and soul of democracy have lost. We have a crisis.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an extraordinary leader with exceptional qualities of head and heart- as a human being, party leader and national leader. His impeccable conduct as leader in the face of NCM won all hearts: no camps or buying of MPs. A true statesman and democrat.

#2GVerdict: The Verdict is disappointing, but not surprising. Only 6-10% cases end in conviction in India without confession. With weak, pliable investigation & prosecution, poor forensic infra, and dilatory, tortuous justice system we cannot enforce rule of law.

Let’s hope that the TN example will spread to the whole country. Tamil Nadu led the country in populism and personality cult; now TN is setting an example for mature political culture. Kudos to Mr MK Stalin for bucking the trend.

Discontinuing ₹2000 notes is welcome; and it is being done in a measured, non-disruptive manner. A lot more needs to be done to curb black money. There are 3 main drivers of cash economy: 1. Corruption 2. Real estate transactions 3. Voter inducements in elections Massive,

The vast improvement in PSB performance in the last ten years is indeed remarkable. NPAs fell from a high of >12% to a very low of about 2%. Banks' profits are at record levels. Prudent management of money - by the government and the banks - matters a great deal for our

Ratan Tata's passing leaves a great void in our corporate world and public space. He symbolised the best values Tata group is famous for: ethical practices, public trust, innovation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, trusteeship for the whole society and public good above

I voted along with my family. Polling process was smooth; most people got the voter information slips in advance. Many elderly people stood in the queue by 7 am. Our democracy is real and robust. Please go early and vote. And whoever is elected to office, let us embrace and

If Delhi Exit Polls hold true and AAP govt is re-elected, it shows the maturity of voters. BJP got 56% in LS polls; now 7 months later AAP may be getting >50%. Once local govt is effectively empowered, people see the link between vote and tangible gains to them.

The perils of competing channels and working digitally from home! While I was on live tv, a competing channel bullied my long-suffering wife to interrupt me, claiming that my voice was not audible. Hence the humorous interlude. My apologies to viewers.

I congratulate the youth who r organising & mobilising public opinion on the solemn pledge of special status to AP. Protest peacefully.

Far too many Indians silently suffer from depression and related illnesses. We need to remove the stigma attached to mental illness and have a healthy conversation at home, and in media & public discourse. We need to build support system and skills to address the growing problem.

Great that Rishi Sunak is the next PM of the UK; all Indians would rejoice his success. Even more important, a young, talented politician of colour could reach the top on his merit and performance, and genuine democracy in the country and the party allowed it.

statement seeking harmony among all Telugu people is pragmatic and wise. Parties dividing and polarising people for political gains will hurt them eventually. Also any group always voting for one party blindly- on grounds of caste, religion or region - will hurt them too.

Voted in the first hour of polling. Some things are improving: voter slips came in advance; VVPAT worked fine. The problems of our elections lie in the politics, governance & feudal, centralised power; not with the polling process.

The nation should stand by PM on this far-reaching step. Biggest opponents will be vote-buying politicos & corrupt babus. Ppl must stand up.

Congratulations to Congress party and all the elected legislators in Karnataka. Ubiquitous corruption, lack of credible local leadership and poor governance led to change of government. With all the flaws, ours is a robust and healthy democracy. Voters are doing their job;

The Interim Budget for FY 2024-25 in an election year is quite remarkable. Exceeding fiscal deficit targets, not yielding to the temptation to resort to pre-election individual short-term welfare measures, continuing focus on infrastructure, investment and R&D, maintaining

The announcement of Bharat Ratna awards posthumously to three great Indians is a welcome recognition of their contribution to post-independence India. Sri PVN steered the ship of state with great clarity, deftness and sense of purpose converting a crisis into an opportunity. Dr

Heartiest congratulations to Shri LK Advani ji on the well-deserved honour of Bharat Ratna. For seven decades Lal ji symbolised integrity, patriotism, courage in the face of adversity and deep commitment to promote long-term public good transcending partisan and political

GoI scored a spectacular self-goal on Central Vista project. In the midst of the COVID crisis and the severe resource crunch, this profligacy smacks of insensitivity and misplaced priorities. Govt would do well to postpone the project.

There is increasing demand-supply gap in COVID vaccines. It is premature to extend vaccination to 18-45 yrs. Better to focus on >45, and postpone shots for 18-45 yrs for a month or so. As vaccine supplies pick up, the facility can be extended to all those above 18 yrs.

Our elections are more a media spectacle than a democratic process to choose a government and to give mandate for a set of policies; the IPL of politics! It’s all about who is in and who is out! Now that the spectacle is over, can we focus on what needs to be done post-election?

Budget seems to focus on state’s primary role- infra, education, healthcare and social security net. We have 439 PSUs yielding very little & wasting precious assets. Selling them & focusing on core functions is welcome. Is ₹2.23 Tr health allocation real? If so, long-overdue.

Our obsession with politics as a power game must end. Who wins or loses is irrelevant to our lives. The only things that matter are what happens to our lives and future - do opportunities and incomes rise, & are freedom & harmony enhanced. Can we grow up and go back to basics?

Congratulations to govts of AP & TS for their mature, statesmen-like approach to resolve pending issues between the states, and promote harmony among Telugu people. Cooperation on river water sharing is necessary and welcome. Lifting Godavari waters up to NSP seems feasible.

Congratulations to TRS & KCR on a strong mandate; and to Congress iin Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh. MP verdict is still not out; but creditable performance by SS Chauhan. In all elections - local, LA or LS - verdicts are on State govt. Unity is not uniformity. Empower the States.

Given our current political climate, freebies are unstoppable. Can we cap all consumption subsidies at <15% of total public spend; club them all & transfer lump sum cash directly; and focus seriously on infra, edu outcomes & healthcare? Time is running out. A modest proposal.

Hearty congratulations to Sri Revanth Reddy and the other members of the Council of Ministers on their assumption of office. Growth with welfare, fiscal discipline, rule of law, decentralisation of power, in-situ urbanisation through development of small towns, quality education

Congratulations to all the newly elected representatives in the four major states. Free and fair elections, genuine competition, clear verdicts and peaceful transfer of power are a tribute to the strength of our democracy. While local factors vary, there are clear signals from

Late Sri N T Ramarao made an indelible imprint on Telugu culture and language, and on Indian politics and public life. He brought politics from feudal elites to the people, practised ethical politics, combined passion for welfare with commitment for delivery and growth, promoted

Stephen Hawking's passing is an irreplaceable loss to modern science and society. His is triumph of spirit over disease and disability. He brought cheerful optimism and enthusiasm to challenges of science and society. Truly a great and inspiring life.

A wholly preventable and ghastly tragedy. We shd have developed strong protocols after the colossal tragedy of Bhopal in 1984. Ad hoc approach and ignoring lessons of past are endemic to our governance. We need effective zoning, corruption-free regulation & sensible protocols.

It is indeed a sad day. We lost a promising leader with commitment to public good, integrity and record of service. Irrespective of party affiliation the nation needs to attract, promote and retain good leaders. Parrikar will be missed. RIP

“Unconstitutional methods are nothing but the Grammar of Anarchy, and the sooner they are abandoned, the better for us.” - Dr B R Ambedkar. We have freedoms & peaceful transfer of power. We still need to learn the art of democracy, reasoned debate & compromise. Happy R-Day!

Sad to see parties politicising even such a bold, strong move.We must forget partisan politics&stand united to transform India.INDIA FIRST.

A fiscally responsible, growth-oriented budget with the right emphasis on agriculture, skills & employment and boost to manufacturing and MSMEs. Fiscal deficit is further brought down to 4.9% - a creditable achievement. Balance between welfare and growth, and focus on inclusive

Russia is the biggest exporters of oil & gas; sanctions will not affect them in the short term. In fact oil price surge will benefit Russia, rewarding the aggressor. We should redouble global efforts to transition to renewable energy and make oil & gas irrelevant in 20 yrs. 2/2

The words ‘NORMAL’, ‘STABLE’, KIND’ & ‘DECENT’ have never been more reassuring! Congratulations, President Biden! Congratulations, America!

We live in a topsy-turvy world. Parl makes laws without thorough debate! Govt fails to defend sound laws! Farmers protest to overturn laws that give them freedom & choice!! Courts whose job is to determine constitutionality of law want to debate merits & demerits of policy!!!

The drama of choosing CMs once again shows how fragile our system has become. At national level, Westminster model works in a diverse country. But in states people must have the right to choose the leader to head govt. Direct election will improve govt and outcomes hugely.

There are no shortcuts to strengthening rule of law - investigation, forensics, police capacity, prosecution, judicial procedure, trials. Weak, ineffective, arbitrary/selective rule of law will endanger the whole society. The first task of state is speedy and efficient justice.

Happy Independence Day. May we strive to fulfill the promise of freedom for all our people. Quality education for all to fulfill the potential of every child, decent healthcare for all to eliminate avoidable suffering and rule of law protecting rights of all - that is freedom.

We have mass poverty, 90% in unorganised sector, and millions of seasonal migrants. The local admn can provide shelter and food; but our capacity is limited. It is best to help them get back to their home towns/villages. The lockdown may be extended where needed.

Even if parties nominate the right candidates, our political culture & electoral system demand vast expenditure for vote buying and inducements (₹2cr for corporator, ₹20-30 cr for MLA in many states). We need a system that allows rise to power by ethical and rational means. 2/3

It is said, we tend to judge others by their worst examples, and ourselves by our best intentions. Learning from others is key to progress.

Excellent effort. Congratulations to district administrations and healthcare workers in AP for outstanding work. It shows India can do 10 M or more vaccinations a day if only production is ramped up. China reached 20 M a day in June. We can do it too.

AAP made real efforts to improve basic services & curb corruption. The focus on quality school education and a viable and effective public health system are spot on, and should be emulated all over India. Local empt made people see the results and vote for outcomes.

We need a serious debate on social media and free speech. No right is absolute. We have no right to overthrow constitutional order spreading lies, or promote hatred & violence, or undermine public health in the guise of free speech. There is a hierarchy of rights & principles.

PM is right: loan waivers do not solve farm crisis. Retail chains shd be invited on large scale to compress market chain & improve logistics, processing & exports. Tariffs shd be imposed on agri imports & the revenue shd be passed on to pulses & edible oil farmers as incentive.

Sad that such utter lies are attributed to me in social media. Loksatta and I always stay away from partisan positions and prejudice; what matters is not the power game, but the outcomes for the people. All of us should respect people’s verdict and work for a better society.

If farmers have greater choice to sell to whoever and wherever that gives a good price, if there is contract farming with safeguards to give assured price and improve quality, and if trading and storage restrictions are removed, who will lose? Why should farmers not have freedom?

Happy Independence Day! For a poor, multi-lingual, diverse nation with no prior democratic experience we defied expectations and achieved a lot in 75 years. If we focus on rule of law, quality education and healthcare, and local empowerment, the future is ours! Rejoice & resolve!

All democracies went through tortuous evolution. Things will change for the better, but slowly. A reformer needs 'infinite patience'. The best chance for India now is rapid economic growth and focus on enhancing earning capacities and opportunities for the poor. I remain an

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all. 80 years ago yesterday, WW2 started. In these 80 yrs, the world changed dramatically. We now have antibiotics, vaccines, consumer goods, Internet, mobile phones, unprecedented peace, stability and prosperity.We have lots to do; but we have come far.

Modern age is built on rational thought & enlightenment. The merits of an issue should be decided by evidence & logic, not by loudness of voice and applause. ‘Often a hen that only laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid.’ - Mark Twain. Could we tone down decibel level?

MS Swaminathan lead a full and productive life. He was a symbol of India's green revolution; he and many other passionate, committed agricultural scientists made possible what was regarded as near-impossible. A nation that was living ship-to-mouth under PL-480 became self-sufficient within a decade. A grateful nation will always remember those great humanists and scientists along with the courageous farmers, and Indira Gandhi, C Subramanian and B Sivaraman, the then PM, Minister and Secretary, GoI, and the great Norman Borlaug for making India self-sufficient. MSS's life-long work endures. Om Shanti

The passing of Sri Sitaram Yechuri is a great loss to our public life. You may or may not agree with some of his policies, but he symbolised civility, grace and a sense of public purpose. We will miss him. Om Shanti. PS: I should have posted this message earlier; but I was down with chikunganya, and could not even tap the mobile!