News for 'Amnesty India'

The Indian State is always up to mischief against citizens

The Indian State is always up to mischief against citizens

Rediff.com3 Sep 2018

'The individuals whom this government and its media call 'Urban Naxals' should not have been arrested.' 'In any civilised democracy (which India is not) this would not have happened,' argues Aakar Patel.

How many more suicide bombers are there?

How many more suicide bombers are there?

Rediff.com18 Feb 2019

'The fact that a rural Kashmiri boy was brainwashed into killing himself and others means there is an active programme that exists which does such recruiting and there will potentially be other such individuals out there,' warns Aakar Patel.

What is the biggest concern about GST?

What is the biggest concern about GST?

Rediff.com12 Apr 2017

As corporate India gears up to be GST-ready, the ongoing litigation and tax dispute cases are something most businesses are cagey about.

Can the Opposition take on BJP's incompetence?

Can the Opposition take on BJP's incompetence?

Rediff.com23 Oct 2018

'There is no shortage of material for the Opposition to develop and deploy a campaign against the government.' 'Are we seeing signs that it exists? I confess that I do not see it,' says Aakar Patel.

The BJP is not Right

The BJP is not Right

Rediff.com28 Jun 2018

'We should not use and confuse the word Right to define Hindutva.' 'Doing so blurs the issue because it gives the BJP attributes that it does not have and does not even want,' says Aakar Patel.

Jaitley should practise what he preaches

Jaitley should practise what he preaches

Rediff.com29 Jan 2019

'The government should refrain from 'adventurism' and 'megalomania'.' 'But this should be true of reckless government action against every Indian, whether or not they are wealthy or have access to the finance minister even when he is in hospital,' says Aakar Patel.

How far will the Cybertruck go?

How far will the Cybertruck go?

Rediff.com12 Dec 2019

'The unveiling of the Cybertruck seems to me the turning point in the design and manufacture of automobiles in much the same way as American skyscrapers were the turning point of architectural design in the world,' says Aakar Patel.

Kerala should not be denied foreign aid

Kerala should not be denied foreign aid

Rediff.com27 Aug 2018

'To deny our people help in the time of their greatest need is cruelty,' says Aakar Patel, winner of the 2018 Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting.

Pak enjoys killing us; Modi understands our pain: Baloch leader

Pak enjoys killing us; Modi understands our pain: Baloch leader

Rediff.com1 Oct 2016

Activist Mazdak Dilshad Baloch expressed satisfaction with the Indian response to the "Baloch appeal", saying Modi's Independence Day speech had played "a major role in spreading awareness" about the "atrocities" of the Pakistani State on Balochistan.

Bangladesh unions sue FIFA over Qatar World Cup workers' rights

Bangladesh unions sue FIFA over Qatar World Cup workers' rights

Rediff.com9 Dec 2016

Bangladesh labour activists said on Friday they had joined a lawsuit in Switzerland against world soccer body FIFA for allegedly failing to use its influence to ensure people working on 2022 World Cup facilities in Qatar are treated fairly.

Imran Khan won't save Pakistan

Imran Khan won't save Pakistan

Rediff.com24 Jul 2018

'What is required is to make Pakistan less war-like and more modest in its ambitions. To normalise with India and to reduce the State's fondness for religion.' 'It is pragmatism and not charisma that it required and it is by being boring and not heroic that this can be achieved.' 'This is the moment of realisation which brings the Pakistani leader into conflict with the army.' 'Imran Khan will learn the lesson in time,' says Aakar Patel.

Why I Voted

Why I Voted

Rediff.com22 May 2019

'There will be millions of us who will feel fear and insecurity because of the menace of majoritarian ideology.' 'It is for the wellbeing and security of those of my fellow Indians, who are affected and who I care for, that I have voted,' says Aakar Patel.

Why dance bar judgment is absolutely right

Why dance bar judgment is absolutely right

Rediff.com25 Jan 2019

'The same instinct that thinks that women should remain at home and not be at the workplace, objects to the dance bar.'

Jaitley's gift: A 'Rs 200 crore statue' Budget!

Jaitley's gift: A 'Rs 200 crore statue' Budget!

Rediff.com12 Jul 2014

That "Rollback Budget" ushered in an era of rollback.

CBDT probes 50 IRS officers for suggesting to tax super-rich

CBDT probes 50 IRS officers for suggesting to tax super-rich

Rediff.com26 Apr 2020

In a statement, the CBDT, which is the apex policy making body for direct tax policies, said it has never asked IRS Association or these officers to prepare such a report and no permission was sought by them before making the report public. 'It is unequivocally stated that CBDT never asked IRS Association or these officers to prepare such a report.

Maldives parliament impeaches vice prez over plot to kill President

Maldives parliament impeaches vice prez over plot to kill President

Rediff.com5 Nov 2015

Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb was on Thursday impeached by the Parliament overwhelmingly over an alleged attempt to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen and faces terrorism charges as lawmakers approved state of emergency in the island that has sparked concerns globally.

Ultimate victory in Sabrimala will be of women

Ultimate victory in Sabrimala will be of women

Rediff.com7 Jan 2019

So long as no females were allowed to pray there, the strength of emotion kept the issue burning. As more and more women do this, the matter will fade.

6 questions on the 1998 nuclear tests

6 questions on the 1998 nuclear tests

Rediff.com14 May 2018

'1998-1999 was the only year in the last quarter century that India had net-negative foreign investment.' 'Foreign money ran away from India that year because capital is a coward and does not like uncertainty of the sort produced by such casual treatment of a destructive technology,' says Aakar Patel.

We now think of our own people as enemies

We now think of our own people as enemies

Rediff.com10 Oct 2018

'We have unleashed a nastiness and viciousness in ourselves that had been bottled up before.' 'This government has helped uncork it, possible forever, and to my mind that is its most significant achievement.'

'UPA, NDA approach to black money seems similar'

'UPA, NDA approach to black money seems similar'

Rediff.com31 Oct 2014

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who is one of the petitioners in the black money case, makes a case for the revelation of all the names of account holders that the government has submitted to the Supreme Court.

Uphold rights of all citizens, allow them to protest: Kerry

Uphold rights of all citizens, allow them to protest: Kerry

Rediff.com31 Aug 2016

He said one has to respect rights of all our citizens, regardless of ethnicity, language or creed.

Road not taken in Afghanistan's tryst with peace

Road not taken in Afghanistan's tryst with peace

Rediff.com28 Sep 2019

As Afghans head to the polling booths to elect a new president, a contested and fraud-marred elections could potentially throw Afghanistan into a renewed cycle of violence and instability, says Dr Shanthie Mariet D'Souza.

What Naipaul understood and Vajpayee didn't

What Naipaul understood and Vajpayee didn't

Rediff.com23 Aug 2018

In any institution that has a passionate ideology, the moderate is always vulnerable to the person who is more extreme, because that is what the supporters want.

CAG to audit fallout of demonetisation

CAG to audit fallout of demonetisation

Rediff.com26 Mar 2017

The CAG audit may look into expenditure on printing of notes, RBI dividend payout and banking transaction data.

Ayodhya must inspire faith, not hate

Ayodhya must inspire faith, not hate

Rediff.com26 Nov 2018

'It is not with feelings of devotion or piety that these people are gathering.' 'It is mostly with emotions of hatred.' 'Listen to their slogans and their rhetoric and this becomes immediately clear,' says Aakar Patel.

Indian politics needs to watch out for Ravan

Indian politics needs to watch out for Ravan

Rediff.com18 Sep 2018

'It is only when those who are oppressed stand for themselves that society is forced to create space for them,' says Aakar Patel.

What Rahul needs to do NOW!

What Rahul needs to do NOW!

Rediff.com21 Nov 2018

'There will be an instant and positive change in the way Rahul Gandhi is perceived by millions if he says he is not a candidate for PM,' suggests Aakar Patel.

Nothing will change under Imran: We will still hate each other

Nothing will change under Imran: We will still hate each other

Rediff.com1 Aug 2018

'Many fresh faces have come before him on both sides, and every sort of individual -- liberal, conservative, hardliner, dictator -- has come and gone.' 'I think we just seem to be happier when we hate one another,' says Aakar Patel.

Modi has become a father figure

Modi has become a father figure

Rediff.com23 Jan 2018

Modi wants a 'change in the Indian citizen's character.' 'An internal transformation.' 'This is reformation of the sort that is usually done by spiritual and religious leaders.' 'It is not in the domain of popular politics,' points out Aakar Patel.

Will hanging rapists stop rape?

Will hanging rapists stop rape?

Rediff.com17 Apr 2018

'The death penalty exists in India for murderers. Is it a deterrent and does it stop murders?'

Why the Opposition wants to remove Modi

Why the Opposition wants to remove Modi

Rediff.com11 Jul 2018

'Except for the Akali Dal and Shiv Sena, the BJP has not found any permanent friends.' 'This is because most parties are genuinely concerned about what Hindutva politics does to Indian society,' argues Aakar Patel.

What I learnt when the government raided my office

What I learnt when the government raided my office

Rediff.com29 Oct 2018

'Almost exclusively, their interest was in the work that we were doing that they thought of as being "anti-national". One of them even used that specific word,' says Aakar Patel.

What poking fun at army over Yeti signifies

What poking fun at army over Yeti signifies

Rediff.com4 May 2019

The venom and contemptuous sarcasm evident on the army's tweet on the Yeti and my reply has something to do with the intrinsic hatred that a section of the media nurses against the right wing, says Tarun Vijay.

If Rahul wants Delhi, he has to first win in the states

If Rahul wants Delhi, he has to first win in the states

Rediff.com3 Mar 2018

Why are states important to win for national parties? What is the significance of local power? That was what we should have a look at because the Congress has been squeezed out of power in more states today than it has ever been in history.

Modi's health plan should be applauded

Modi's health plan should be applauded

Rediff.com7 Feb 2018

'Modi's health scheme has changed the national conversation. For that reason it must be supported.'

Can the Opposition pick itself up?

Can the Opposition pick itself up?

Rediff.com28 May 2019

Nobody understands the deep causes of defeat and victory better than the defeated. The defeated have been to all the battlefields. They have looked into the eyes of their soldiers and those of the opponents, says Aakar Patel.

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Why is there no Mann Ki Baat to stop lynchings?

Rediff.com2 Jul 2018

'If lynchings are happening frequently in India, it is the responsibility of those who lead the country to try and end them, not promote them,' says Aakar Patel.

Why the NRC is cruel

Why the NRC is cruel

Rediff.com7 Aug 2018

'I do not think that we are showing Hindu humanity and humaneness in the process of the National Register of Citizens.'

US, India should try to keep Lanka away from China's sway

US, India should try to keep Lanka away from China's sway

Rediff.com21 Sep 2013

Since the US and India broadly share similar interests in Sri Lanka, they should coordinate closely to ensure that the country preserves its democratic institutions, says Lisa Curtis

'It's a clear declaration of emergency': Rights groups on raids on activists

'It's a clear declaration of emergency': Rights groups on raids on activists

Rediff.com28 Aug 2018

Pune police on Tuesday raided homes of prominent Left-wing activists in several states and arrested at least five of them -- poet Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj in Faridabad and Chhattisgarh and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha in Delhi.