Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for electing a strong and stable government in an uncertain world beset by geopolitical tensions as the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday released its manifesto, prioritising development and welfare while shunning populist measures and contentious issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Issuing its recommendations on Net neutrality, Trai has also suggested a multi-stakeholder body comprising telecom and Internet service providers, content providers, civil society organisation and consumer representatives for monitoring and investigation of violations.
The Dantewada bloodbath of Central Reserve Police Force jawans has shocked civil society. Most feel a dialogue between the government and non-governmental organisations could have reaped better results than the violent route the government has pursued against the Naxalites.
Activist Anna Hazare started his one-day fast at Rajghat in Delhi to protest against the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters during their agitation against corruption.
'Don't be surprised if the Census forms come with a caste box.' 'I will be surprised if it doesn't. It will be a point conceded to Rahul Gandhi and his allies,' asserts Shekhar Gupta. The BJP machine could take all 3 in its stride, but this election has changed that, notes Shekhar Gupta.
Addressing a press conference a day after Maliwal alleged that a member of Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her, Singh said AAP supremo Kejriwal will take strict action in the matter.
Professor Niraj Verma, operational head of the first India Chair in Democracy and Civil Society in the US, in conversation with Aziz Haniffa
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would participate in the Karnataka leg of the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" led by Rahul Gandhi that will be entering the state on September 30, state party chief D K Shivakumar said on Friday.
Ajmal in an interview to a media house on Friday had commented on women and Hindu men as well as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, purportedly as a rejoinder to his remarks on 'love jihad'.
The commission is also likely to call certain organisations and people for a personal hearing in the coming days.
The way appears to have been cleared for Anna Hazare to end his fast possibly on Friday when Parliament will discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill along with other civil society drafts on the subject after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made the ice-breaking offer.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare started his indefinite fast unto death on Tuesday to press for the demand to involve civil society in formulation of the anti-graft Lokpal (ombudsman) bill.
'Who is the government to decide about my religion?' 'We are governed by the Constitution. The Constitution has given me the independence to follow my religion.'
Former Union law minister and civil activist Shanti Bhushan has urged the government to hold an open debate on the Lokpal Bill so that the people of India get to know the stance taken by the various members of the drafting committee.Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, chairman of the Lokpal Bill Drafting committee, is yet to respond to Bhushan's demand.Bhushan, who is one of the five representatives of the civil society on the panel, said the government was backtracking.
Holding up pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ, he referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (do not be scared, do not scare others)".
The Uttarakhand assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, which may serve as a template for other Bharatiya Janata Party-run states to enact similar legislation.
The United States on Monday said a civil nuclear deal cannot be finalised with Pakistan till it addresses the world community's concerns about proliferation and explains its opposition to the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.
'On the international platform, the prime minister is talking about freedom of speech and he should be ashamed of it'
The Congress on Monday said the 150-day Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 7 covering 3,500 km will be the party's biggest ever 'Jan Sampark' programme and Rahul Gandhi will walk 'all the way' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
The Centre gave an assurance to the court that the building would not be demolished.
The aid will directly benefit 25,000 people from some of the worst hit areas of the state, adding a humanitarian expert from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations has also been deployed to assess the situation in the state.
'...but subjecting our heritage to rigorous evidence-based understanding.'
One of the biggest myths being propagated is that nuclear cooperation with the US is the answer to India's energy crisis, which in any case would not see the light of the day before 2016. Also Indian Parliament and citizens have been kept in dark about the cost of electricity from foreign-built nuclear power reactors.
Dr Renu Raj cracked the UPSC exams at her very first attempt. 'You should be sensitive to what is happening in society and you will get through the exams,' she tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com
Terming as "absolutely false" the allegation that Ishrat Jahan, who was killed by Gujarat police, had terror links, her sister Musharrat on Saturday claimed she was innocent and murdered.
This is the full text of the address to the nation by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of India's 78th Independence Day.
'How come the BJP won even in the Muslim belt? I am 100% sure that the BJP would not win in the Muslim belt.'
Twitter said it will continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency, a commitment to empowering every voice on the service, and protecting freedom of expression and privacy under the rule of law.
'Nobody wants to run an exploitation factory.'
The panel suggested changes in laws relating to marriage, divorce, alimony, and marriageable age for men and women.
Pakistan on Monday summoned India's Charge d'Affaires to the ministry of foreign affairs and conveyed its concern over the alleged hate speeches made at a conclave held in Haridwar recently to incite violence against the minorities.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said it has given special instructions to its Safai Sainiks to collect dishevelled or soiled flags separately.
At a public hearing in New Delhi on Monday, civil society and community members shared accounts of the evictions and anti-encroachment drives.
'Working from home is a privilege for many, while showing up every day to serve others is a measure of devoted service to fellow humans required of many jobs in service to each other that create a civil society,' a CEO responds to Sree Sreenivasan's Work Remotely Forever Pledge.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare is all set to launch his second fast against corruption in New Delhi from August 16. He, and his followers, are peeved by the government's shrewd strategies to quell the civil society movement for a stronger Jan Lokpal Bill.
With the reality of coalition politics staring the BJP in its face, this was inevitable, points out Ramesh Menon.
A day after talks on Lokpal Bill failed, activist Anna Hazare on Thursday accused the government of having no intention of enacting a strong anti-corruption law and said he will undertake an indefinite fast from August 16 if a diluted legislation is introduced.
Despite the fact that the number of Manipuri women voters at more than 10.57 lakh, outnumber males (9.90 lakh) and are known to take the lead when it comes to civil society movements, women find it difficult to rise in electoral politics against the tradition of male dominance.
'It is important for actors with a voice to use it for the correct cause.'
'Today, the State is permanently going after politicians, but also civil society, academics and all those it is threatened by or irritated with.'
