“We’ve been waiting for it for 7,000 years. For the first time in history, we have our own President, elected by us.”
Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Freedom and Justice Party, whose candidate Mohamed Morsy became the country’s first democratically elected leader (Time, July 9)

“Our citizens are not safe and there is a war going on in the country… I would advise the PCB not to invite foreign teams.”
Shoaib Akhtar, former Pakistani cricketer, on the Pakistan Cricket Board inviting foreign cricket teams to play in Pakistan (Times of India, July 21)

“Trickle down theories don’t address legitimate aspirations of the poor. We must erase poverty from the dictionary of modern India.”
Newly-elected President Pranab Mukherjee after the swearing-in ceremony on July 25

“Indian Railways is really the largest open-air toilet in the world…”
Jairam Ramesh, rural development minister (July 27)

“We must know that children are taught in schools and educated at home.”
Journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie at a book launch in Bangalore (July 29) 

“Politicians dutifully disclose their increasing assets at each election but no questions are ever asked about how they acquired this wealth nor are any explanations provided.”
A.G. Noornai, well-known lawyer-commentator on how the political class has looted India (The Hindu, July 30)

“Although it is my desire that we fetch gold, I know it will be no less than a miracle if we do it in London.”
Former Olympian Milkha Singh on India’s dim chances of winning a gold in athletics (India Today, July 30)

“It is in India’s interests, to ease demographic pressure on its border states by supporting Bangladesh’s development.”
Nitin Pai, founder Takshashila Institution, on the recent riots in Assam between Bangladeshi migrants and locals (Business Standard, July 30)