Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools.
Articles by Smriti Kak Ramachandran
No threat to India-Bangladesh ties from China, Jamaat-e-Islami: Awami League
A delegation of the Awami League of Bangladesh meet Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and said ties between India and Bangladesh will not be affected due to China or Jamaat-e-Islami
Updated on Aug 09, 2023 12:44 PM IST
House nod for Delhi bill after fierce debate in Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha has passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, with 131 votes in favor and 102 against.
Updated on Aug 08, 2023 12:37 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
Delegation of Bangladesh’s Awami League to visit India at BJP’s invitation
The five-member delegation, led by Awami League presidium member and agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, includes party joint secretary general and information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud, party organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi and two women MPs
Updated on Aug 05, 2023 08:55 PM IST
Deadlock persists on Manipur, Opposition seeks early discussion in Rajya Sabha
The Opposition has demanded that a discussion on the pressing issue be held in the earlier part of the week beginning Monday.
Updated on Aug 05, 2023 04:44 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
Parliament logjam may end as Centre, Opposition aim for ‘middle path’
The deadlock over the modalities of discussing the situation in Manipur seemed to be nearing an end, with the opposition and the government likely to arrive at a middle path, leaders from both sides indicated on Thursday.
Updated on Aug 04, 2023 02:02 AM IST
Kharge, Dhankhar spar; ruckus hits Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday took offence to leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment that he defends Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Updated on Aug 04, 2023 01:57 AM IST
Manipur conflict: Can’t direct PM Modi to discuss issue in RS, says Dhankhar
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar refuses to issue a directive for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the Upper House to discuss the situation in Manipur, stating it would be a violation of his oath of office. Opposition parties had demanded the PM's presence.
Updated on Aug 03, 2023 12:26 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
Manipur, Haryana violence cast shadow on BJP’s claim of ‘double engine’ govt
In light of the violence, first in Manipur and then in Haryana, the Opposition has mounted an attack on the BJP.
Updated on Aug 03, 2023 09:47 AM IST
Can’t direct PM to be present in Rajya Sabha: Dhankhar tells Oppn on Manipur debate
Jagdeep Dhankhar said such a directive has not come from the Chair in the past and the Opposition’s insistence that he be present in the House was “ill-advised”
Updated on Aug 02, 2023 05:33 PM IST
Speaker, Chairman criticise Opposition’s stir as logjam continues
The Opposition’s insistence on PM Modi’s statement on Manipur is “constitutionally ill-premised”, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Tuesday.
Updated on Aug 02, 2023 02:46 AM IST
I.N.D.I.A won’t get support of public: PM
Modi made the comment during a meeting with a group of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) lawmakers in Delhi
Updated on Aug 01, 2023 12:20 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
Deadlock persists in Parliament as Manipur discussion stalls
The Opposition group stuck to its demand for a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a detailed debate on the matter under Rule 267.
Updated on Aug 01, 2023 01:17 AM IST
New faces in BJP’s national team
BJP President JP Nadda has announced a new national team, including leaders from various castes, in preparation for upcoming state assembly elections and the 2024 general elections. The team aims to balance regional aspirations and follows the party's social engineering strategy. The reshuffle includes the inclusion of controversial leader Bandi Sanjay from Telangana and the removal of three general secretaries. The team also includes former chief ministers, minority representatives, and leaders from various states. Further changes may be announced soon.
Updated on Jul 30, 2023 12:19 AM IST
JP Nadda rejigs BJP central leadership; Dilip Saikia among those dropped
Anil Anthony, son of AK Anthony, has been also included in the list of national secretaries, along with Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam.
Updated on Jul 29, 2023 12:05 PM IST
We don’t believe in buying peace but in establishing it, says J&K guv
August 5 will mark the fourth anniversary of the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories
Updated on Jul 24, 2023 12:30 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
PM Modi attacks Oppn at 39-party meet, says country trusts NDA
Modi dismissed the Opposition grouping, saying it was a negative and corrupt alliance while the NDA had pure intent, a clear policy and decisiveness
Updated on Jul 19, 2023 04:51 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
38 parties set to attend NDA meet today for ‘seva’ not ‘satta’: BJP
Thirty-eight parties have confirmed their participation at the meeting of the NDA scheduled for Tuesday, BJP president JP Nadda said.
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 04:49 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
‘Broke records in development’: CM Chouhan confident of victory in MP polls
“I am fully confident 2023 will not be 2018,” he said in response to a question by HT at an interaction with the media in Bhopal over the weekend.
Updated on Jul 17, 2023 08:18 AM IST
RSS seeks permanent peace in strife-hit Manipur, urges government for action
The RSS has expressed concern over the volatile situation in Manipur and called on the govt to take action for permanent peace and rehabilitation in the state.
Updated on Jul 16, 2023 01:46 AM IST
Annual RSS meeting to be held in Ooty
Contemporary political, social and economic issues are expected to come up for discussion at the meeting being held from July 13-15
Updated on Jul 12, 2023 12:35 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
First-time MPs excel in Parliament, reveals Lok Sabha secretariat data
The data, compiled for 250 debutant members who didn’t become ministers, showed that they asked 41,104 questions
Updated on Jul 11, 2023 01:32 AM IST
BJP central leadership likely to steer campaign for polls in Madhya Pradesh
Besides deciding the poll planks and issues that will be central to the campaign, the central high command will also take a call on whether to project chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the face of the election
Updated on Jul 09, 2023 12:31 AM IST
BJP steps up its poll prep, names 4 states' in-charges
The party has appointed election in-charges for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana
Updated on Jul 08, 2023 12:46 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
BJP appoints election in-charges for Telangana, MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the election in charge will be union minister Prahlad Joshi while the two co-in charges will be Nitin Patel and Kuldeep Bishnoi
Updated on Jul 07, 2023 05:13 PM IST
BJP shuffles pack with new chiefs for 4 states
New appointments are expected in several other states where the terms of the presidents are over and in those where BJP wants to reboot its 2024 strategy.
Updated on Jul 05, 2023 12:21 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
Eye on 2024 election, BJP shuffles deck and appoints new state chiefs
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced major organisational changes in four states of the country
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 04:51 PM IST
Implement schemes by Jan 26: PM to ministers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed ministers and bureaucrats to implement all projects and government schemes by January 26, 2024. He emphasized the need to explain the benefits of the schemes to the people and reach out to voters, stating that voters are becoming more educated. Modi also urged leaders to focus not only on the next general elections in 2024 but also on the broader timeline until India's 100th year of independence in 2047. The meeting discussed capital expenditure, flagship schemes, and budget proposals. The PM also highlighted infrastructure development and making India ready for 2047.
Updated on Jul 04, 2023 12:26 AM IST
UCC draft focuses on rights of women: Uttarakhand panel chief
The draft is likely to be the template that the union government will follow for a pan-India code.
Updated on Jun 30, 2023 11:53 PM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
BJP looks to revamp party, finalise electoral strategy before key polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a meeting of the council of ministers on July 3.
Updated on Jun 30, 2023 01:01 AM IST
Smriti Kak Ramachandran, New Delhi
PM Modi’s endorsement brings UCC back into the spotlight
For decades, both the RSS and the BJP have pushed for UCC that will be applicable for all communities and faiths to govern issues such as marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and division of assets
Updated on Jun 28, 2023 12:39 AM IST
