Barkha Dutt
Barkha Dutt is consulting editor, NDTV, and founding member, Ideas Collective. She tweets as @BDUTT.
Articles by Barkha Dutt
The immense integrity and courage of Deepika Padukone, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 11, 2020 05:27 PM IST
In a risk-averse and status-quoist industry such as Bollywood, it’s not easy to go against the tide
Anti-CAA protests: The assertion of nationalism and idealism
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON DEC 27, 2019 07:03 PM IST
The protests have signalled the arrival of a new young constituency. And the BJP has alienated it
How Citizenship Act, NRC will alter the idea of India, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON DEC 14, 2019 06:36 AM IST
All of us will have to prove our Indianness. And the poorest and the Muslims will be the most hit
Pragya Thakur has to go. She has undermined BJP’s own position, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 30, 2019 06:05 AM IST
If the party believes in nationalism, it must act. Or it will be seen as compromised on the issue
Sabarimala: With its ‘essentiality doctrine’, has SC walked into a trap? | Opinion
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 16, 2019 08:09 AM IST
The court is not the clergy. Instead of deciding on what is integral to faith, follow the Constitution
How the BJP went against its India-first narrative, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 04, 2019 08:35 PM IST
The MEPs’ visit, its host’s credentials, and the lockdown have negated the gains the government had hoped for
The PMC Bank fraud exposes the limits of capitalism, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON OCT 19, 2019 06:57 AM IST
What makes this especially outrageous is that this could have been caught much earlier
In polarised times, a Gandhi in Kashmir, a Gandhi for Kashmir, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON OCT 04, 2019 07:16 PM IST
J&K needs a facilitator of conversations among soldiers, politicians, people. It needs a strategist
The Modi government must allow politics to return to Kashmir, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON SEP 07, 2019 08:52 AM IST
It must integrate Kashmir, lift curbs and release leaders. Otherwise, separatists will get stronger
Article 370 is gone. It is time to open Kashmir’s political space
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON AUG 23, 2019 06:47 PM IST
Preventing deaths was the State’s first priority. But it now must allow political leaders to operate
Opinion | Article 370 fallout: Marginalisation of the Kashmiri mainstream
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2019 07:20 AM IST
Having weakened pro-India politicians, haven’t you only ended up strengthening the extremists?
The Kargil war: ‘Izzat’ and honour for the soldier, after the headlines fade
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUL 27, 2019 10:12 AM IST
The 20th anniversary of the war is a good time to internalise issues that have alienated the military
It’s not about streamlining, it is about freedom of the Press
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON JUL 12, 2019 06:32 PM IST
The finance ministry’s paternalistic curbs on PIB-accredited journalists must be revoked
Rahul Gandhi wants to resign. Here’s why this may be farcical, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2020 09:45 PM IST
If the Gandhis continue to control the party, they may as well give up any insistence on quitting
Analysis | India needs a new Opposition party. Here’s what the Congress needs to do
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUN 14, 2019 06:27 PM IST
India desperately needs a new opposition. Among the available options, this can only emerge if one of the existing regional leaders develops a national footprint or if the Congress is reorganised to be a newly born mélange of assertive state chieftains. If Narendra Modi’s mega mandate isn’t enough to shake them out of their stupor, they must ready for political extinction.
Opinion | Modi’s mandate shows that the age of the part-time politician is over
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 31, 2019 08:32 PM IST
Modi clearly lives and breathes politics every waking minute of the day. As does Shah. In fact that the PM is a bachelor and has no children has also reinforced the perception of him as a spartan leader whose life is fully consumed by politics. More than dynasty, the Gandhis have to contend with a new-style politics that demands absolute mindspace from them.
Opinion | Seven ways to unpack Modi’s handsome victory
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 24, 2019 01:54 PM IST
The story of Modi’s rise and rise cannot be told without chronicling the abject failure of the Congress and the complacency of its leadership. Even in the three states it won in the December assembly elections, the party was unable to consolidate its position
Will 2019 be a wave election or an election driven by silent voters?
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON MAY 03, 2019 06:20 PM IST
Many people may have decided not to open up to pollsters or journalists about their preferences
Pragya Thakur is anti-national. So is the BJP’s decision to field her
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON APR 19, 2019 07:03 PM IST
This humiliation of a gallant Ashok Chakra hero by the BJP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate is an insult not just to Hemant Karkare’s individual sacrifice; it is a smear on the uniform.
Opinion | Adityanath calls the Indian Army ‘Modi Sena’. Why we should all be furious
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON APR 05, 2019 06:36 PM IST
Surveys routinely show that the Indian Army is the country’s most trusted institution. It remains unscathed by the cynicism and lack of trust that has plagued almost every other pillar of democracy. But while the army has always been the first frontier of protection; it must now rise to keep its own essence secure.
Opinion | Is the Congress playing for 2019 or 2024?
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAR 22, 2019 09:17 PM IST
It appears to be hell-bent on revival instead of resuscitation. When the fight is existential, shouldn’t the party opt for pragmatism over pride?
Opinion | We must reclaim our nationalism from the clutches of pseudo-patriots, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAR 08, 2019 06:43 PM IST
The Left is embarrassed to show any loyalty to the Indian State, leaving the space to the rightwing
After Pulwama, be tough with Pakistan. Be smart internally with Kashmir
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2019 08:02 PM IST
To smear all Kashmiris - as the Meghalaya Governor has done without any public admonishment from the Modi government - is not just wrong; it only helps Pakistan.
Opinion| The BJP has got its timing on corruption all wrong, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2019 09:07 PM IST
To act on corruption charges in the twilight of its tenure is not smart politics. It may have handed over the advantage to the opposition
Will the ‘behen’ be the Congress’s counter to ‘Behenji’ in UP? | Barkha Dutt column
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 25, 2019 07:46 PM IST
The Priyanka Gandhi-Jyotiraditya Scindia project is about the long-term revival of the party in a state that has voted for three Congress prime ministers of the Nehru-Gandhi family. A respectable performance in UP, which can constrict the rise of non-BJP parties, will give the Congress the pivot position in any negotiation by opposition parties over who should be the next PM.
More transparency was required in Alok Verma’s removal, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 11, 2019 07:40 PM IST
Verma ought to have been given an opportunity to appear before the panel and present his defense. The government should have also addressed the issue in the public domain. If the charges against the head of India’s premiere investigative agency are so grave and are seen to have prima facie merit, don’t the people have a right to know?
Opinion | Mistakes Modi and Rahul could make after the assembly elections, and should not
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON DEC 15, 2018 01:24 PM IST
Both parties need to understand that arrogance has no place in Indian politics and hubris will extract a cost.
Kartarpur exposes a lack of coherence in India’s Pakistan policy, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON DEC 01, 2018 10:28 AM IST
This is not to say that Pakistan speaks in one voice or is consistent in its India policy. When Shah Mehmood Qureshi met us in Islamabad, he categorically said: “This is no googly” to emphasise the sincerity of its intentions. A day later at a public function, he did a complete u-turn and boasted that his government had bowled a googly that compelled India to send two ministers to Pakistan.
US media vs Donald Trump: Indian media still waits for its finest hour
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 16, 2018 06:00 PM IST
The most powerful statement from America is that even the right-wing television network Fox News (many of its anchors are open supporters of Trump) stood up to be counted with its support for CNN’s legal suit for basic access to the White House. This would never happen in India where journalists are too busy weakening each other, leaving politicians to have the last laugh.
MJ Akbar is accused of rape. Can we stop talking about his ‘legacy’?
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 02, 2018 06:48 PM IST
Rape is a criminal offence and one of which the State can take suo motu cognisance