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Great Speeches

Piloo Mody on Russian ‘friendship’ trap and how India paid the price when shopping for arms

On 21 April 1975, Godhra MP and founding member of Swatantra Party spoke in the Lok Sabha during a debate on defence expenditure and purchase of arms. 'We have been, especially since the last war with Pakistan, shopping round the world.'

Keep doing Hindu-Muslim if you want to come down to 6 seats from 182—Ram Vilas Paswan

On 10 December 1998, then-Hajipur MP spoke in the Lok Sabha on a discussion on atrocities committed on minorities in various parts of the country. 'If we learn to interpret the word 'minorities' correctly, I believe we will develop a feeling that those we are fighting against are the same blood as us.'

Communal spirit shouldn’t enter institutions. Don’t call AMU Muslim university, BHU Hindu—Nehru

‘The past holds us together; why should the present or the future divide us in spirit’, Jawaharlal Nehru said at his convocation address to Aligarh Muslim University students in 1948.

No insult to Ayurveda. AIIMS an attempt to bring good standards of medical education—Amrit Kaur

On 18 February 1956, 'Rajkumari' Amrit Kaur, India's first health minister, moved the Bill in Lok Sabha for the establishment of AIIMS in Delhi. She wanted it to have the powers and functions of a university because it will 'probably make revolutionary changes in curriculum as well as in modes of teaching'.

‘I am Pramod Mahajan. I belong to the single largest party and I am in the Opposition’

‘Gradually, opportunities to become Prime Minister in this Lok Sabha will increase for those who don't have any party’ said BJP’s Pramod Mahajan in Lok Sabha on 11 April 1997.

Don’t deride public sector. Evidence shows commercial banks in woeful state—Indira Gandhi

On 29 July 1969, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi delivered a speech in Lok Sabha on the nationalisation of 14 banks, saying the move was 'totally justified to ensure that hopes and aspirations of millions of our people are not sacrificed'.

When Vajpayee spoke to CII to allay fears—Let not Gujarat violence cloud the good in economy

On 27 April 2002, then-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered a speech at the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry, assuring the completion of Golden Quadrilateral and telling businessmen how deep and strong the roots of Indian secularism are.

Muslims don’t want reservation. We want to merge in the nation–Tajamul Hussain

On 26 May 1949, Constituent Assembly member Tajamul Hussain argued against the idea of reservation for Muslims, adding that such measures would do ‘more harm than good’.

‘Trade, not aid’—Narasimha Rao’s 1991 reforms speech that changed India’s economic landscape

On 9 July 1991, then-PM PV Narasimha Rao addressed the nation days before the Budget presentation, admitting that the job of repairing India's sick economy won't be easy, quick, or smooth.

‘Until Scheduled Castes get pen and stick in their hands, they will continue to be killed’

On 4 April 1968, Bansgaon MP Molhu Prasad delivered a speech in the Lok Sabha on the atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and their negligible representation despite reservation.

On Camera

Zubeen Garg saga is resembling Sushant Singh Rajput. Did we not learn our lesson?

Oceans sit between the Assamese singer and the Bollywood actor. But what their deaths reveal is a study in human behaviour as performed in the public sphere.

Niti Aayog recommends fully decriminalising 12 offences under new I-T Act to ‘foster more trust’

Recommendations appear in Niti Aayog’s Tax Policy Working Paper Series–II. It says there is a need to shift away from fear-based enforcement to trust-based governance.

India, UK sign £350 mn deal for Martlet. What are these Lightweight Multirole Missiles

In service with the British military since 2019, it is also known as the Martlet missile. Ukrainians have also deployed these missiles against Russian troops.

CJI, IPS, IAS & Homebound: A wake-up call 75 years in the making

Education, reservations, govt jobs are meant to bring equality and dignity. That we are a long way from that is evident in the shoe thrown at the CJI and the suicide of Haryana IPS officer. The film Homebound has a lesson too.