I am scared too.

Thank you.

Thank you so much. Can't think of a single source off-hand am afraid but will try and look for one.

Well, Pakistan could break up. A strong and stable Pakistan is not in India's best interests. A broken-up Pakistan will suit us better, no matter what the peaceniks tell you.

I am as alarmed as you are.

If I knew the answer to that question I would be running Indian football.

Agree that our policemen are out of shape but I'm not sure that this is an exclusively Indian problem. Have you seen the cops in the American mid-West and the South.

You're right. I have just been too distracted to give it the attention it deserves.

That's an excellent idea. Thank you.

I think one of the lessons of history is that we are condemned to live with the errors of the past, sadly.
 

Yes, there is something to what you say. But we can't shirk responsibility. They are in power because we elect them.

There is no retirement age for politicians in most countries. Ronald Reagan was hardly a spring chicken.

I support the ban.

It's difficult enough writing one every week! But I do restaurant reviews for Mint occasionally and I will put them on the site.

How do you engage economically with Pakistan? Provide a market for their heroin?

 Frankly, I am not sure that this approach will work. The Kashmiris themselves were weary of violence. But two things have
happened. One: Pakistan has sent fresh terrorists across the border. And two: there is a new generation that believes it is waging a holy war against Indian occupation. You can tire out your internal enemies but if your neighbour is a terrorist state then this strategy will not work.

No.

 I have always said that jehadi terrorists should be described as such. Of course, they have a religion and their violence springs from it. So it is with Hindu terrorists. So, let's stop pussy-footing around and hiding behind euphemisms.

If you feel so strongly, send him an email and tell him this.

No favourites.

She is a bit of a nutcase.

No, because the evidence is still coming in.

Will think about it. Thanks for the suggestion.

I think morality has had less and less place in our foreign policy since the 1990s.

I do.

Have not tried them. Thank you for the suggestions.

Because I don't like it.

I think it is flourishing. And that's great.

I would have been happier with Hegde if he had not withdrawn his resignation. Now, the whole thing seems like a drama.

 That's actually not true. If you read BJP supporters then you will find many abusive terms for the Congress, all focussing on secularism and dynasty.

Agreed.

That’s a fair and reasonable position.

I think you are right.

No harm done in talking. Nothing gained by sulking.

You are  wrong. When a text is forwarded to you from your Indian phone, the foreign service provider charges for the incoming text. This charge is collected from you by your Indian service provider.
 

He sounds like a carpet salesman in a not very reputable shop.

There isn’t and we don’t.

Sure.  Last time I tried Bo.Lan and Hyde and Seek. Both are terrific. Try Kanitha (the Sukhumvit branch is best) for Thai food. The Four Seasons has great restaurants too.
 

 Farooq is right.

Not an expert on Anwar Sadat but I very much doubt if he was one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century.

Agreed that our security infrastructure is pathetic when compared to Israel's. Not sure you see the contradiction between having no death penalty on the one hand and sending Mossad out to kill people on the other.

Not my area of expertise. You should really ask somebody who knows Karnataka politics well.

Thank you for your views.

I have enormous respect for Manmohan Singh and I think he is a very good Prime Minister. I just don't think that he is the best thing to have happened to India since 1947.

You are right.

There is a piece in the archives that echoes some of your views.

Sure. Do send it.

 T. N. Ninan.

Depends on  the restaurant – and the city.

Both.

That it was a perfectly normal award but they agreed that Chatwal is the first man whom the CBI has prosecuted to have received the Padma Bhushan.
 

Yes.

Pawar makes his own rules --- and his own money.

They take liberties with the cross all the time.

Very annoyed to miss it. Only saw the final.

I think you are wrong on both counts. He was never the best thing to happen to us since independence and nor has decline been so great.
 

 Don’t drink Scotch, alas.

Because people re-elect the same politicians at every election.

Diesel and Kerosene are sold at low rates because the government takes on the difference between cost and sales price.
 

I am overwhelmed. Thank you.

Because our politicians are of low quality.

Could be but hard to say.

It has been done time and time again for individuals but it makes no difference.

The army is rarely used these days so the civilian infrastructure seems to be working.

No.

Not at all.

I am for deregulation of petrol.

Parallax View is on the site.

In Delhi. Thank you.

Many thanks.

Sure. There is a mail id on the site.

And for smokers………..

Good idea. One day…..

It is a scandal. We should catch the guys who did it, lock them up and throw away the key.

Thank you. Not my geographical area of expertise alas.

Not entirely true. I quoted a Headlines Today report which counts as follow-up.

South Extn.

They do try all these methods but sometimes they fail.

Bandhs serve no purpose. The Opposition  should try and raise these points in parliament instead of disrupting it.
 

Frankly, I cannot understand why we have failed so miserably to control inflation.

Sorry to offend you and the un-named millions but the man is dangerous.

And now he wants to be moved to another ministry.

I have never been in favour of renaming cities after political leaders. It is silly.

Don’t be so childish. Lots of people say things against Muslims and still have two hands. Nor are they framed in criminal cases.

That said, I think we should hunt down the people responsible for this latest outrage, lock them all up ---- including those who spurred them on --- and throw away the key.
 

Thank you!

Thanks so much. Have texted you.  

Nothing, as long as the politicians are in league with them.

Thank you so much. You have made my day.

Above average, I guess.

Agreed. But there is no doubt that discrimination is bad and should be stamped out.

Sorry but can you not see the difference between Ruchika Girhotra who  was molested and terrorized  by a policeman and Viveka Babajee who had a fight with her boyfriend? You insult people like Ruchika when you ask such questions.
 

It is nobody’s case that all madrasas are bad or that all conservative Muslims are jehadis. But equally, it is hard to deny that jehadis tend to send more money to madrasas than to secular schools.
 

Read Parallax View.

You are right. It is worrying.

 It is an anomaly that must be corrected.

It is all theatre and drama now.

Journalism.

That’s a comment, not a question.

No. It was never this bad--- not even in Nagaland.

Thank you so very much.

It has got written about hasn’t it? Do you think the message has not got across?

Yes.

Do not accept your argument but if your point is that non-executive directors cannot be held criminally liable then yes, I think your view has some merit.
 

Because they cannot attack China.

It is a very dull magazine. There should be a piece about this on the archives.

I think the vegetarians-only rule may well be unconstitutional. Has any one done a test case?

Don’t know much about the case but the law should apply to all, rich or poor, gay or straight etc.

I like him. Like millions of other people.

Yeah, the traffic is crazy. Glad you liked Indian Accent.

Do not agree with Mahesh on this issue.

An internal scholarship given by the college itself.

Have not read it.

Sure but I live in Delhi. Do you come here at all?

I support the ban.

Agreed. Perhaps the judge will see it that way.

I have no time for somebody who says that Osama bin Laden was not behind 9/11.

You write what you believe. They write what they believe.

He is a member of the BJP whenever the party needs him. And they clearly need him now.

Not an expert on the city.

Still around. Still waiting for more bakras.

The website is not really the place for that  while the case is on court. Suffice it to say, that my lawyers argued that the case was without merit.
 

I think it is a great idea. More young people should join politics.

I am sorry but I do not need Christopher Hitchens  to tell us about India’s independence struggle.

No idea. Ask the Times.

Acceptable to Fox News, I think.

He is a dangerous demagogue. I support the UK government.

He will not.

Not going to be there, sadly. My loss entirely!

Ok. Will do.

The tree house location along with all other details are on the NDTV Good Times website. I would advise waiting till the monsoon is over before planning a trip to Kerala.
 

I like the Pierre in New York. I also like the St. Regis. The Four Seasons and the Mandarin have many adherents too.

Don’t know LA but my diaries of New York and San Francisco are on the site.

The Sagar chain is good value. Swagath and Dakshin do good South Indian non-vegetarian.

Still going on. We had a hearing last week.

Good.

He has nowhere to go. And he was right about them.

Yum Yum Tree for lunch and Zest for dinner--- it is near enough to Gurgaon.

Oh dear, I hope they update it.

Goa in the rains is nice. The Taj Holiday Village usually has good packages for the monsoons.

Of course. If these reports are confirmed by further investigation then they could be game-changers.

Not a subject I know a lot about I am afraid. Try somebody in the Indian coffee industry.

 I’m not sure the DVD’s are on sale. If you send me a mail at the address on the web-site, I will get Discovery to respond.

The rule of law should apply to everybody. Sadly, politicians are the worst offenders and protect their own kind.
 

Yes. There are many cases in Punjab and in other spots. Also, in Delhi, the cops involved in the Barakhamba Road execution are in jail.
 

 Counterpoint is on this subject.

Yes. Buy several cans of baked beans. Chop onions. Saute onions with readymade chili corn carne masala (easily available at most shops), add barbecue sauce and tomato puree to taste. Now add beans. Mix gently over low heat. You now have Texmex beans.  
 

Have you tried the China Kitchen at the Hyatt or Indian Accent at the Manor?

They go on the site immediately so they are easy to access.

Everybody is guilty. There are no real culprits and false culprits.

Good point. 

Will watch the last few matches. Not rooting for anybody.

There is a Counterpoint on this subject on this website.
 

Too many people doing talk shows these days, alas.

Not sure Rajaram is a historian.

Writer.

There is an Admakers’ Bistro at Soi Ruam Rudee but have not been.

She should.

Good idea. Not sure I know enough as yet to write about them, though.

Thanks! Always a pleasure.

The media houses are not left wing. And most of India is not right wing.

Interesting perspective. No strong views, myself.

If I had a solution to the Middle East problem, I would be receiving my Nobel Peace Prize not answering questions on the site.
 

There are many contradictions in our Middle East policy.

 The Congress is okay. Not so sure about Bengal.

Thank you so much!

 There  are many biographies that will give you the answer your question deserves.

I have no idea. Why don't you ask PETA?

Got tired of it. Perhaps the urge will strike me again.

Can you think of any DD `gem' in the last five years?

My view is a little more radical: a Presidential system.

I hate deep-pan pizza so that rules out Chicago.

Rest assured that if A.K. Antony became Railway minister there would be more trains to Kerala. So, I am not sure that your parallel is valid.

I am not as whole-hearted a supporter of Israel as you seem to be, but yes, we can learn from them when it comes to fighting terror.

Don't know enough about South Africa but a better example is the BBC. These models work in some countries and don't work in others.

Yes to the first and no to the second.

Independent auditors to assess the value.

Not fair. There have been many columns on the subject.

Not really. Thanks so much but it is not my thing.

I think all parties including, the Congress, have  difficulty in applying consistent standards when it comes to dynasty, sadly.
 

Because he does not agree with your highly coloured assessment.

Wrong. Politics cannot and should not be only about dynasty.

The DMK is blackmailing the Congress into keeping him in office.

Have been abroad and have not seen the channel of late.

There are  two columns on the site on this issue.

On a break!

Not read.

You’ll have to ask him.

How interesting! Not true of Bangalore certainly. But will check out other South Indian cities. Thanks for the tip.

None do.

All details are on the NDTV Good Times site.

Nehru.

Often wondered about this. There is a very successful show on Sony that does glorify our investigators, however.

Yes.

Yes. He is an utter and complete crook.

Do not agree.

Kamal Nath was a long-time ago; did many more episodes after that. Now on a break.

Do not agree with Outlook.

There has been a lot of criticism in the media.

There is a piece on one year of the UPA on the site.

No, only seen the first seven episodes.

He was a bureaucrat and his media interactions reflect that.

Sadly, no.

Sadly, we don't.

 It is an old controversy. Many people have expressed the same view as you.

I don't think Doordarshan should continue to exist in its present form. It is just a massive waste of taxpayers' money.

I don't think we have the best schooling system so clearly we disagree profoundly.

 It would. But he is a prisoner of his followers.

The boy could have refused to answer questions or to appear on TV. But in general, I agree with you. The media can be very insensitive.

Thank you so much.

I would love to be religion-blind. But do you think it would solve the problems of discrimination and religious violence?

I have not seen it.

Your point is?

The finance minister refuses to concede this point and argues that he needs the money.

Comment is free. But two points. One: who the hell is Sanjeev Gandhi? But two: who appointed you spokesman for “the young India”?
 

And all this became okay once we tested a bomb?

They  are acting not dreaming. Their actions may not be effective but the decision to act has been taken.
 

If you do read things on the website as you say then why not read the articles where I have dealt with these issues?
 

Cathay.

It is not a society that supports freedom of speech.

Interesting point!

I am very sceptical but I guess he knows what he is doing.

Which journo  keeps writing even though he is in his 90s?

Do you want us to become a religious state like Pakistan?

You were not proud of being an Indian till the point we tested a nuclear device? Can this really be true?

Agree entirely.

Not my area of expertise but I agree with you.

All the time!

If it was only about Islam, then why are we  not facing the same problems from Bangladesh.
 

Good questions. But I am not the one with the answers.

Have only  seen the first eight episodes. Will wait before coming to any conclusions.

Yes. It is a serious problem.

I recommend books by Jay Rayner, Michael Ruhlman and Jeffery Steingarten.

Did not see it I am afraid.