News for '-freedom-of-expression'

TN YouTuber detained for criticising CM Joseph Vijay

TN YouTuber detained for criticising CM Joseph Vijay

Rediff.com8 Jun 2026

Well-known YouTuber Maridhas was detained by a special team of the Chennai City Police for allegedly posting critical videos targeting the TVK government, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, and several state ministers. He was apprehended in Madurai and is being brought to Chennai for further interrogation.

Why India Rejects Claims Of Human Rights Violations

Why India Rejects Claims Of Human Rights Violations

Rediff.com19 May 2026

India has rejected allegations of human rights violations for the second time in three days, emphasising its constitutional values of justice, liberty, and freedom of expression. The remarks were made by Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, in response to questions from a Norwegian journalist.

MBBS student faces probe over remarks at comedy show

MBBS student faces probe over remarks at comedy show

Rediff.com12 Jun 2026

Mumbai's civic-run KEM Hospital has initiated a two-member committee probe into controversial remarks made by MBBS student Sejal Pawar regarding male cadavers during a stand-up comedy show, which the hospital dean deemed 'unacceptable'.

Pakistan Arrests Activists For Anti-Army Social Media Posts

Pakistan Arrests Activists For Anti-Army Social Media Posts

Rediff.com29 May 2026

Pakistani authorities have arrested eleven social media activists in Punjab province for allegedly spreading provocative content against the army and inciting public unrest.

In Norway, India rejects allegations of violation of human rights

In Norway, India rejects allegations of violation of human rights

Rediff.com20 May 2026

India has reiterated its commitment to human rights and democracy following criticism from a Norwegian newspaper commentator during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Norway.

India trashes claim of declining minority rights, media freedom

India trashes claim of declining minority rights, media freedom

Rediff.com17 May 2026

India has rejected allegations of declining media freedom and erosion of religious and minority rights, asserting that the country is a vibrant democracy that guarantees free speech to all.

LSR Students Clarify Protest Stance Amid Principal's Defence

LSR Students Clarify Protest Stance Amid Principal's Defence

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

Students at Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College have issued a statement clarifying their recent protest, asserting it is not biased against any political ideology. This comes as the college principal, Kanika K Ahuja, addresses the situation and ongoing dialogue between students and the administration.

St Francis Xavier remarks: Goa police to issue LOC against Khattar

St Francis Xavier remarks: Goa police to issue LOC against Khattar

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Goa Police are initiating a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Gautam Khattar after alleged objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier. Khattar is accused of hurting religious sentiments and creating communal discord. The move aims to prevent him from fleeing the country as police search for him.

Goa Police Issue Lookout Notice For Speaker Over Saint Remarks

Goa Police Issue Lookout Notice For Speaker Over Saint Remarks

Rediff.com22 Apr 2026

Goa Police have issued a Look Out Circular against right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar for alleged objectionable remarks against St Francis Xavier and arrested his brother in Uttarakhand. The arrest follows widespread condemnation and protests over Khattar's remarks at an event in Goa.

'May harm India-Israel ties': Oscar-nominated film delayed

'May harm India-Israel ties': Oscar-nominated film delayed

Rediff.com20 Mar 2026

The India release of the Oscar-nominated film 'The Voice of Hind Rajab', based on the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces, is facing delays as the distributor awaits a censor certificate.

Samajwadi Party Leader Faces Charges Over Eid Protest Appeal

Samajwadi Party Leader Faces Charges Over Eid Protest Appeal

Rediff.com17 Mar 2026

A Samajwadi Party leader has been booked for allegedly urging Muslims not to celebrate Eid as a protest against a US attack on Iran, claiming it was an appeal from jailed leader Azam Khan.

Not the country I grew up in: Naseer after Mumbai University drops him from event

Not the country I grew up in: Naseer after Mumbai University drops him from event

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has publicly criticized Mumbai University after being uninvited from a student event, citing concerns over freedom of expression and the current political climate.

YouTuber critical of some Islamic practices stabbed in Ghaziabad

YouTuber critical of some Islamic practices stabbed in Ghaziabad

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

YouTuber Salim Ahmed, known as Salim Wastik, was stabbed in his Ghaziabad office after allegedly posting controversial videos. Police are investigating the attack and have filed an FIR.

Neha Singh Rathore Granted Anticipatory Bail in Social Media Post Case

Neha Singh Rathore Granted Anticipatory Bail in Social Media Post Case

Rediff.com10 Mar 2026

The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to folk singer Neha Singh Rathore in connection with a case filed against her over a social media post related to the Pahalgam terror attack. The court's decision comes after Rathore appeared before authorities and cooperated with the investigation.

'Kasab Drank Urine, Didn't Eat Biryani'

'Kasab Drank Urine, Didn't Eat Biryani'

Rediff.com6 Apr 2026

'The jail staff told me Kasab was served only jail food and not biryani.' 'They told me that Kasab was beaten regularly after court proceedings.' 'And they filled Kasab's bottle with urine so that whenever he felt thirsty he used to drink urine.'

T20 World Cup final: Letting players dictate their terms: Surya's captaincy philosophy

T20 World Cup final: Letting players dictate their terms: Surya's captaincy philosophy

Rediff.com7 Mar 2026

Suryakumar Yadav discusses his leadership philosophy, emphasising the importance of freedom and individuality for players to thrive. He shares insights on learning from Rohit Sharma and preparing for the World Cup final.

Freedom of expression is India's success mantra

Freedom of expression is India's success mantra

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

'Very very pleasing (with the way the series went). We knew there would be challenges that we could face.'

Ghooskhor Pandat row: Neeraj Pandey withdraws title, SC disposes of plea

Ghooskhor Pandat row: Neeraj Pandey withdraws title, SC disposes of plea

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has disposed of a plea against the Netflix film 'Ghooskhor Pandit' after filmmaker Neeraj Pandey withdrew the title and promotional material. The court acknowledged Pandey's affidavit and expects the controversy to be resolved.

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Punjab Kesari Tells AAP Govt: 'We Won't Be Cowed Down'

Rediff.com22 Jan 2026

'If you want to force the press into blacking out the Opposition's views or colour the news to your own liking, we will not do so.' 'We stand by freedom of expression. It is our Constitutional right. We stand by our Constitutional right.'

Winter Olympics! IOC disqualifies Ukraine skeleton star over helmet

Winter Olympics! IOC disqualifies Ukraine skeleton star over helmet

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Games for wearing a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia. The IOC offered alternative ways to honor the athletes, but Heraskevych's team plans to appeal the decision.

'Kerala Story 2' sparks fresh political firestorm ahead of release

'Kerala Story 2' sparks fresh political firestorm ahead of release

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

The trailer of the film, produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kamakhya Narain Singh, released on Tuesday and landed straight into controversy. It tracks the stories of three Hindu women from three different states going against their families to marry Muslim men and then being forced to convert.

'Kerala Story 2' sparks fresh political firestorm ahead of release

'Kerala Story 2' sparks fresh political firestorm ahead of release

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

The upcoming Hindi film 'The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond' is embroiled in controversy, similar to its predecessor, with accusations of hate propaganda and defenses of legitimate concern over religious conversion.

Rahman On Communal Remark: 'Never Wished To Cause Pain'

Rahman On Communal Remark: 'Never Wished To Cause Pain'

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

A R Rahman: 'I feel blessed to be Indian, which enables me to create a space which always allows freedom of expression and celebrates multicultural voices.'

'Free speech isn't the issue anymore, survival is'

'Free speech isn't the issue anymore, survival is'

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

Leading Bangladeshi newspapers report increasing threats to media freedom following attacks on newspaper offices, raising concerns about journalists' safety and freedom of expression.

The Fall of India's Development Ambitions

The Fall of India's Development Ambitions

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Like the realisation on the failure of development, we have also internalised the failure on democracy, argues Aakar Patel.

Bareilly magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigns over UGC rules, alleges 'anti-Brahmin campaign' in UP

Bareilly magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigns over UGC rules, alleges 'anti-Brahmin campaign' in UP

Rediff.com27 Jan 2026

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline after he resigned from service in protest against government policies.

Kochi Biennale faces Christian group's ire over Christ painting

Kochi Biennale faces Christian group's ire over Christ painting

Rediff.com31 Dec 2025

A painting displayed at the Kochi Biennale has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from Christian groups, who allege that the artwork hurts religious sentiments by presenting a distorted depiction of Christ's Last Supper.

UN voices concern over violence in B'desh, Hindu man's lynching

UN voices concern over violence in B'desh, Hindu man's lynching

Rediff.com23 Dec 2025

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern over the violence in Bangladesh, including the lynching of a Hindu man. The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has also expressed concern over the killing of a protest leader.

Freedom of expression under threats worldwide, including India, warns Rushdie

Freedom of expression under threats worldwide, including India, warns Rushdie

Rediff.com16 May 2023

In a video message from New York on Monday night, the 75-year-old Mumbai-born author who has lived under the shadow of a fatwa since The Satanic Verses was published in the 1980s said it was important to continue to fight for the freedom to express and to publish.

Why China's Claim On Shaksgam Valley Is Baseless

Why China's Claim On Shaksgam Valley Is Baseless

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

Today's situation in the Shaksgam Valley is the consequence of what happened in Gilgit in 1947. But is India ready to militarily get back its territories? asks Claude Arpi.

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

'Maoist Leadership Has Been Totally Eliminated'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

'The Maoist leadership spread fear that surrender meant torture or death. Once that false narrative collapsed and our operations proved transparent and credible, the surrender momentum became irreversible.' 'From 42,000 square kilometres, Maoist activity is now confined to barely 500-600 square kilometres -- less than two per cent of Bastar. This is their last remaining base area.'

'Kamasutra and Christmas' event in Goa cancelled after outrage

'Kamasutra and Christmas' event in Goa cancelled after outrage

Rediff.com24 Nov 2025

The Goa police have ordered the cancellation of the four-day event, which was advertised on social media under the banner of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation.

Yami Slams A Trend That Feels Like 'Extortion'

Yami Slams A Trend That Feels Like 'Extortion'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

'This so called trend of giving money, in the disguise of marketing a film, to ensure good 'hype' for a film is created or else 'they' will continuously write negative things (even before the film is released), until you pay 'them' money feels nothing but kind of extortion.'

Has Technical Tweak Hampered Gill's T20 Game?

Has Technical Tweak Hampered Gill's T20 Game?

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

To be or not to be could well be the dilemma in Shubman Gill's mind as he crisscrosses formats, having tweaked his technique from an unorthodox style to a more classical one that is not quite yielding the returns he may have envisaged in T20 Internationals.

Stop Wasting UN Time: India Hits Back At Switzerland

Stop Wasting UN Time: India Hits Back At Switzerland

Rediff.com11 Sep 2025

India on Wednesday slammed Switzerland's remarks on minorities at the Human Rights Council, urging the Swiss to focus on their own issues like racism, systematic discrimination, and xenophobia instead of lecturing India.

Assembly elections voter list to be used for Maha civic polls: SEC

Assembly elections voter list to be used for Maha civic polls: SEC

Rediff.com4 Nov 2025

The State Election Commission will adopt the voters' list of the assembly elections for civic polls, the Bombay high court was told on Tuesday, while hearing a plea by an 18-year-old woman who claimed her application to enrol as a voter after she turned 18 in April 2025 was not accepted.

Nepal bans Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Nepal bans Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Rediff.com4 Sep 2025

Nepal has banned several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, for failing to register with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. The ban affects millions of Nepalese citizens and has drawn criticism from journalists and freedom of expression advocates.

Kannan, who quit IAS over Article 370 abrogation, joins Congress

Kannan, who quit IAS over Article 370 abrogation, joins Congress

Rediff.com13 Oct 2025

Former IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan, who resigned from service in 2019 as a mark of protest against the "shutdown" of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, joined the Congress on Monday.

Dhaka: 1971 war veterans jailed on terrorism charge

Dhaka: 1971 war veterans jailed on terrorism charge

Rediff.com29 Aug 2025

A Bangladeshi court has sent 16 people, including veterans of the 1971 Liberation War, to jail under the Anti-Terrorism Act after a mob disrupted their public discussion.

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Rediff.com18 Oct 2025

In May, 40 Rohingyas were blindfolded and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and then thrown into the sea and made to swim to an island in Myanmar. And after the Pahalgam attack, at least 300 Muslims were 'pushed back' to Bangladesh from Assam.