Victims Of The Crash Small investors like Girish Patel of Ahmedabad have lost much of their life's savings in the stock market crash. A profile of some middle-class investors who burnt their fingers.

Villains Of The Crash SEBI Chairman D.R. Mehta along with bankers, and brokers must share the responsibility for allowing yet another scam by their acts of commission, and omission.

What's Next For The Economy?
For the third time since 1997, a combination of sliding stock markets, political instability, and global slowdown threatens to turn the hopes of an economic take-off into despair.

Numbed By Disgrace
The BJP, still in shock, begins life after the Tehelka expose with a new president and a combination of hope and bluster. A swot analysis.

"I'd choose Musharraf"
Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto talks about her relations with her country's politicians, Indo-Pak relations and Kashmir in an interview to Aaj Tak.

Official Obstacle
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi eggs on workers to go on a strike that is adversely affecting production, and profits.

Fire Fighting
As the Tehelka controversy slows the defence deals, the Government takes steps to revamp the set-up and streamline the weapon procurement system.

COVER STORY: THE STOCK SCAM; FALLOUT

S.L. Rao, Economist and former director-general, NCAER

Yes, but it won't take the political uncertainty caused by the Tehelka expose to affect the reforms proposed in the budget. That's simply because the Government had promised to do things it was in no position to do without political consensus.

Surjit Bhalla, President Oxus Research
Yes and no. The fallout of the Tehelka expose will depend on the outcome of the forthcoming assembly elections. It is an open call. If the NDA allies do well, the economic reforms will be back on course.

Pradeep Srivastava, Principal Economist, National Council for Applied Economic Research
Yes, the recent developments have put the Centre on the defensive and this is not going to help matters much. The budget had presented a "wish list" of reforms. There is a deeper issue here, though. Why are the reforms susceptible to the malodorous circus of the political elite?

B.B. Bhattacharya, Professor, Institute of Economic Growth
Yes, the stock market crash and the Tehelka expose have dampened business confidence which had got a boost from the budget. The Government should hasten the pace of reforms.

M.R. Madhavan, Vice-President, Research,
Bank of America
Yes, the latest crisis limits the Government's ability to push through reforms like the commercialisation of infrastructure, setting up of an efficient judicial system to resolve commercial disputes quickly and improvements in agriculture infrastructure to boost crop output.

Ashima Goyal, Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research
No, this Government has shown great persistence in carrying out reforms in the face of setbacks. I am sure it will continue to do so. Rather than say everyone is corrupt it is better to find out what induces corruption in the system and then reform it.

U. Sankar, Director, Madras School of Economics
Yes, though political parties have the right to air their views and draw attention to some pressing issues, there should be limits on the time allowed for such purposes. They shouldn't stall Parliament's proceedings for many days and waste valuable time and public money.

MetroScape

Collaborative Class
Italian designer and architect Tarshito Nicola Stripoli has been busy rearranging world geography.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Salon: Jacques Dessange

Mumbai Theatre:
IMAX dome

Mumbai Restaurant:
Watering Hole

The ambitious Anandgarh township proposal stirs another round of controversy as a high court order foils the Punjab Government's plans of acquiring land for the project. INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Ramesh Vinayak reports in
Despatches.