Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies.
Articles by Saubhadra Chatterji
India wants EU to make carrot & stick package
New Delhi will ask stronger European economies like Germany or France to collectively introduce a financial package to wriggle the euro zone out of its current crisis. At the same time, it will also like to see commitments from the trouble-makers like Greece and Portugal to adhere to strict financial discipline and introduce reforms. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 21, 2011 09:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New York
Panel proposes hike in OBC creamy layer ceiling
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended raising the annual income bar of Other Backward Classes (OBC) creamy layer from the existing Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 9 lakh. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 20, 2011 11:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
PMO steps in to curb misleading ads
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has cracked the whip to curb misleading advertisements through a new regulatory mechanism. Making clear that it wants a speedy implementation, the PMO also asked the consumers affairs ministry to prepare the first draft of the mechanism in a month. Saubhadra Chatterji and Sanjib Kr Baruah report.
Updated on Sep 17, 2011 01:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Sanjib Kr Baruah, New Delhi
Mamata says no to Pranab's officer choice
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's unpredictable nature has again hit finance minister Pranab Mukherjee: the minister failed to get a particular IAS officer from Bengal for his North Block office as Banerjee shot down his request citing shortage of officers in her administration. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 16, 2011 11:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
House panels formed, jailed MPs kept out
Former telecom minister A Raja (DMK), former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda (Independent) and Suresh Kalmadi of Congress - the Lok Sabha MPs currently in Tihar Jail facing corruption charges - have temporarily lost their places in the Parliamentary standing committees.
Updated on Sep 15, 2011 11:41 PM IST
None | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
All parliamentary panels to get going
After a delay of two weeks, all the parliamentary standing committees, including the ones that are examining the Lokpal and Land Acquisition Bills, are set to be reconstituted on Wednesday. Saubhadra Chatterji and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi report.
Updated on Sep 14, 2011 01:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, New Delhi
PM, Pranab away at the same time
The third week of this month is set for a rare spectacle in the UPA administration: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the cabinet's number two - finance minister Pranab Mukherjee - will be out of the country at the same time. Incidentally, both will be in the US for official engagements. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 13, 2011 12:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Multi-party group to visit Nepal soon
A top Indian political delegation comprising leaders from four major parties is set to meet the newly-elected government in Nepal later this week. Nepal is now run by Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai. Saubhadra Chatterji and Jayanth Jacob report.
Updated on Sep 11, 2011 11:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Jayanth Jacob, New Delhi
Rahul Gandhi calls for intensified campaign on flagship programmes
After the return of party chief Sonia Gandhi from hospital, a rejuvenated Congress signaled an intensified campaign against the BJP-led opposition. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 10, 2011 10:39 PM IST
None | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Another stormy session ends
Another unsuccessful Parliament session for the government came to an end on Thursday. The UPA allotted 26 working days for the session and conceded more time on opposition-sponsored debates. Parliament monsoon session 2011
Updated on Sep 09, 2011 01:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Mamata might pay a visit to Bangladesh later this year
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has indicated that she may go to Dhaka later this year accepting a pending invitation from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after refusing to accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Dhaka tour, that kicked off on Tuesday. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Sep 06, 2011 11:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
To put fare hike on track, Rlys mull fuel-linked plan
As the railways ministry braces to hike passenger fares after a decade, it may introduce a flexible increase in sleeper and 3-tier AC classes, linking it to the fluctuations in fuel prices. Saubhadra Chatterji reports. What ministers did
Updated on Sep 05, 2011 02:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Jyoti Basu had doubts about Karat's skills
Former West Bengal chief minister and CPM veteran Jyoti Basu had concerns about the abilities of Prakash Karat before he was slated to take over the reins of the party, a US diplomatic cable claimed.
Updated on Sep 05, 2011 12:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Prez accepts justice Sen's resignation
Barely a few hours before the Lok Sabha was to take up the impeachment motion against Calcutta high court judge justice Soumitra Sen on Monday, the President on Sunday evening signed the notification accepting his resignation. Nagendar Sharma and Saubhadra Chatterji report.
Updated on Sep 05, 2011 02:17 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Nagendar Sharma and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
'Mulayam wanted to topple UPA-1'
In a chat with a US embassy Poloff (political officer) on December 3, 2004, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said Mulayam Singh Yadav asked DMK, (the then third largest UPA partner) to withdraw support.
Updated on Sep 04, 2011 12:54 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
James Bond, Railways new brand ambassador
The famous chase sequence in the latest James Bond movie will delight Indian fans as the super spy will be fighting the villain on the roof of an Indian train somewhere in Goa, before the train falls into a sea.
Updated on Sep 03, 2011 02:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
PM reminds ministers to declare their assets
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sent a second reminder to his ministerial colleagues to disclose their assets and liabilities in time.
Updated on Aug 29, 2011 11:41 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Idea of poll reforms impractical: Parties
Before Anna Hazare can get on his next mission of electoral reforms, parties have expressed reservation about the social activist’s new demands. Saubhadra Chatterji reports. Should citizens have the right to recall their MPs?
Updated on Aug 30, 2011 02:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
'Anna should show respect to House, end fast'
Anna Hazare’s insistence on going ahead with his fast despite appeal from the Prime Minister hasn’t gone down well with a section of the civil society. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Aug 26, 2011 11:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
UPA set to downsize anti-reforms brigade for economic growth
With the second-generation reforms pegged as a crucial tool to boost economic growth, the second UPA is trying to remove various bottlenecks.
Updated on Aug 23, 2011 12:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Let's talk, PM tells Team Anna
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh struck a conciliatory note towards Anna Hazare on Saturday, emphasising that the government was open to "discussion and dialogue" with the social activist who is on an indefinite fast to demand introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament. Saubhadra Chatterji and Aloke Tikku report.
Updated on Aug 21, 2011 09:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji and Aloke Tikku, New Delhi
Govt isolated as DMK, Trinamool keep off Anna
Key UPA allies including, Trinamool Congress and NCP, shunned the Congress while the coalition government received flak both inside and outside Parliament on Monday over the Anna Hazare issue.
Updated on Aug 18, 2011 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Oppn eyes PAC spot; might spell disaster for govt
In a move that may add to the woes of the UPA government, the opposition parties are trying to get one of their members elected to the parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Updated on Aug 18, 2011 12:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Refusing to leave jail, Anna holds government hostage
The televised arrest of Anna Hazare and his refusal to leave Tihar Jail after the government decided to release him may turn out to be yet another setback for the Congress-led UPA coalition, fighting a perception battle and beleaguered by a series of corruption scandals. Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, Saubhadra Chatterji & Nagendar Sharma report. From Mayur Vihar to Tihar | Road ahead | Unfolding action | Lokpal bites | Debate and vote* One arrest unites thousands* Indian students in US bat for Hazare* Graft fight to spill over to Wednesday* Anna's village furious over sudden arrest* Someone else is funding campaign for Hazare: Sibal
Updated on Aug 17, 2011 07:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, Saubhadra Chatterji & Nagendar Sharma, New Delhi
MPs to get swanky, hi-tech apartments soon
The House Committee of the Parliament has approved an urban development ministry proposal to demolish the existing two-storey buildings on North and South Avenue and replace them with swanky, hi-tech three-storey apartments. Life in politics
Updated on Aug 14, 2011 02:12 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji & Moushumi Das Gupta, New Delhi
Congress taps BSP, SP to thwart oppn move
As opposition leaders gear up to revive the 2G spectrum scam in the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Congress members have decided to launched a multi-pronged strategy to thwart their move.
Updated on Aug 14, 2011 02:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Cong not to drop ministers on a hunch
The Congress has taken a U-turn from its earlier policy of dropping ministers in the wake of alleged scams against them. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Aug 11, 2011 11:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Govt wants outsider to head AI, more heads set to roll
More heads are set to roll in the top management of the ailing Air India, apart from its CMD Arvind Jadhav. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Aug 09, 2011 11:49 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Manmohan hints at Left link again
Talking about the US debt crisis and the domestic political situation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh surprised a delegation of Left parliamentarians on Monday by indicating a wish to revisit his relations with them. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.
Updated on Aug 09, 2011 12:41 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Antony first among equals in Cong quartet
A party in which all authority derives from the Gandhi family, how close a leader is to the family matters. The reason why, the appointment of a four-member panel to "look after all matters related to the Congress party" by Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her absence has prompted various analyses within the party.
Updated on Aug 06, 2011 02:36 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Aurangzeb Naqshbandi and Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
