1. Exclusive | ‘India Must Rescue Our Democracy’: Ex-Maldivian VP
As the crisis continues in Maldives after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency earlier this week, former vice president of the country, Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, has sought India's intervention to "rescue Maldivian democracy."
In an exclusive chat with The Quint, the former vice president of the Indian Ocean archipelago detailed the Maldivian government’s crackdown against institutions and Opposition leaders in his country, and outlines what role India can play to resolve the crisis.
Ahmed had served as the fourth vice president of Maldives from 2013 to 2015. Before that, he had also held the posts of minister of justice, minister of civil aviation and communication and minister of home affairs. However, Ahmed was impeached in 2015 on charges of attempting to stage a coup. He subsequently moved to the United Kingdom.
Watch the full interview here.
2. The Real Pad Man’s Inspiring Story Gives This Film Wings
Akshay Kumar is a man on a mission – to solve India's problems one film at a time. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha had him carry the baton to build toilets for rural India. In his latest outing, he follows the less-travelled path of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a maverick genius who made low-cost sanitary napkins freely available.
This was no mean feat in a country where menstruation is still a taboo and women’s hygiene finds no place in the list of national priorities. It is an inspiring story and deserves to be told evocatively.
Pad Man, helmed by R Balki and engulfed in the Akshay Kumar’s ‘do-gooder’ halo, ends up telling a throbbing real tale in a filmy fashion.
Read the full story here.
3. BJP Not An Election-Winning Machine: Sachin Pilot to The Quint
Son of former politician and minister Rajesh Pilot, Sachin Pilot became a Member of Parliament at the age of 26. At 35, he was appointed the to lead the Congress in Rajasthan and after the party’s recent victory Alwar and Ajmer bypolls, Sachin Pilot is undisputedly one of the most famous Congress leaders of the state.
Pilot spoke exclusively to The Quint’s Editorial Director Sanjay Puglia and discussed a range of issues, right from the Congress’ recent victory in the Rajasthan bypolls to secularism.
“I am the Rajasthan Congress chief. Who gets what post in the future, I neither know about it nor care,” said Pilot, when asked about the possibility of him being the next CM of Rajasthan. Pilot said that it has never been the tradition of the Congress party to declare CM faces before an election, only the BJP indulges in that habit.
Read the full interview here.
4. 12 Questions P Chidambaram Has For Modi Govt On Budget 2018
Ever since Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Narendra Modi government’s last full Budget on 1 February, the country has been divided over the effectiveness and practicality of the Union Budget 2018.
While some hailed the Budget for introducing schemes such as the National Health Programme and reintroduction of the long term capital gains (LTCG) tax, there are others who are calling it an eyewash.
Former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, who had earlier in an interview to The Quint’s Sanjay Pugalia called the Budget a jhumla, launched a fresh attack on the Modi government’s annual Budget.
Amid uproar in Parliament, Chidambaram posed 12 questions to the Modi government over the annual Budget.
Read the full story here.
5. ‘Pakodas’: Back Where They Belong, On Your Plates, Not Politics
What is winter without ek pyali chai and garma-garam pakode! And what are pakodas if they aren’t from the legendary Khandani Pakoda Wala!
Located at Nauroji Nagar is a humble shack, serving lip-smacking fritters or pakode since 1962! It was founded by Mr Balram and is now run by his grandsons and great grandsons. They serve around 500 customers daily, a number which often shoots up to 600 on weekends. Prateek Dhingra is very proud of his lineage and has his own ideas for the future.
They have 17 different types of pakode! From the tried and ‘tasted’ ones like the paneer and bread pakoda to the unknown and never-heard-of lotus stem pakoda. The lotus stem or bhee is most commonly used in Asian cooking. It is very popular in Punjab and Sindh. In Kashmir, it is known as Nadaer Monj, and is sold as a popular street food.
Watch the full video here.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)