News for 'Freedom of Information'

US with India in efforts to defend sovereignty: Pompeo

US with India in efforts to defend sovereignty: Pompeo

Rediff.com27 Oct 2020

Severely critical of China, Pompeo, cited killing of Indian Army personnel in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in a clash with the Chinese military, and asserted that both India and the US are taking steps to strengthen cooperation against all threats and not just those posed by the Chinese Communist Party.

Yasin Malik pleads guilty to all charges in terrorism case

Yasin Malik pleads guilty to all charges in terrorism case

Rediff.com10 May 2022

Separatist leader Mohammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday pleaded guilty to all the charges, including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), before a Delhi court in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities that disturbed the Kashmir valley in 2017, court sources said.

CNG rates hiked by 50 paise/kg in Delhi; remain same in Mumbai

CNG rates hiked by 50 paise/kg in Delhi; remain same in Mumbai

Rediff.com8 Mar 2022

CNG price in the national capital and adjoining cities on Tuesday was hiked by Rs 0.50 per kg, while an imminent increase in petrol and diesel price has been put on wait-and-watch mode for more clarity on global oil prices. CNG price in NCT of Delhi has been increased to Rs 57.51 per kg from Rs 56.51, according to the information posted on the website of Indraprastha Gas Ltd - the firm which retails CNG and piped cooking gas in the national capital. Following the firming up of international gas rates, IGL has been raising CNG rates by up to 50 paise (Rs 0.50) per kg periodically. Prices have gone up by about Rs 4 per kg this year alone.

Inspiring! The 2020 Padma Shri Awardees

Inspiring! The 2020 Padma Shri Awardees

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

Why the 2020 Padma Shri Awards are an honour truly worth celebrating.

Cong, govt spar in Lok Sabha over sedition cases

Cong, govt spar in Lok Sabha over sedition cases

Rediff.com16 Mar 2021

The Congress and the government engaged in a war of words in Lok Sabha on Tuesday over sedition cases with the opposition party alleging the stringent law is being misused, drawing a sharp retort from Union minister G Kishan Reddy who asked it not to lecture others on democracy.

UK's carrier strike group to conduct wargame with Indian Navy

UK's carrier strike group to conduct wargame with Indian Navy

Rediff.com16 Jul 2021

The UK said the deployment of the carrier strike group marks the start of "a new era of defence cooperation with allies in India and the Indo-Pacific."

'The women loved Elaben'

'The women loved Elaben'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2022

'Who would think of making a bank of poor women? She had vision and boldness.'

Godse hailed at Dharma Sansad, seer leaves stage in protest

Godse hailed at Dharma Sansad, seer leaves stage in protest

Rediff.com27 Dec 2021

Kalicharan Maharaj also used an abusive word against Mahatma Gandhi while delivering a speech at Dharma Sansad organised by an organisation at Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, drawing flak from the leaders of the ruling Congress.

'Independence came early because of the Naval Mutiny'

'Independence came early because of the Naval Mutiny'

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

'These naval sailors should have been given due respect as freedom fighters.' 'February 18, 1946 should be as important as January 26 because that date changed everything.'

Bhagwat bats for 'equality among Hindus', says no danger to minorities

Bhagwat bats for 'equality among Hindus', says no danger to minorities

Rediff.com5 Oct 2022

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said scare-mongering was being done by some that there was a danger to minorities, but asserted that this is neither the nature of the Sangh nor of Hindus.

India asks WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy changes

India asks WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy changes

Rediff.com19 Jan 2021

The government said that the unilateral changes are not fair and acceptable.

India natural ally of G7: Modi

India natural ally of G7: Modi

Rediff.com13 Jun 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is a natural ally for the G7 countries in defending the shared values from a host of threats stemming from authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation and economic coercion.

Sri Lankans on edge ahead of President's promised resignation

Sri Lankans on edge ahead of President's promised resignation

Rediff.com12 Jul 2022

Sri Lankans were on the edge on Tuesday as they waited whether embattled Gotabaya Rajapaksa will honour his offer to resign as president, amid signs that key members of the erstwhile powerful ruling family were attempting to flee in the face of massive public anger against them for mishandling the economy that has bankrupt the country.

'Insult of martyrs': Rahul slams govt's Jallianwala revamp

'Insult of martyrs': Rahul slams govt's Jallianwala revamp

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

Over 1,000 people were killed and hundreds wounded on April 13, 1919 when British troops fired indiscriminately on an unarmed gathering of thousands who had assembled in Jallianwala Bagh amid nationwide protests against the Rowlatt Act which had extended wartime repressive measures.

Alt News' Zubair gets 5-day bail in UP case, to remain in jail in Delhi case

Alt News' Zubair gets 5-day bail in UP case, to remain in jail in Delhi case

Rediff.com8 Jul 2022

It clarified that its interim bail order is with respect to the FIR lodged in Sitapur and has nothing to do with a case registered against him in Delhi.

Indian students among victims of racism in war-torn Ukraine: Mandela Foundation

Indian students among victims of racism in war-torn Ukraine: Mandela Foundation

Rediff.com6 Mar 2022

Some complained of being beaten up as they tried to join the fleeing crowds, purely because of their skin colour.

MP cabinet approves law against religious conversion

MP cabinet approves law against religious conversion

Rediff.com26 Dec 2020

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved the Religious Freedom Bill 2020, which provides for prison term of up to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any other fraudulent means, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said.

Incidents of judges being threatened serious: SC

Incidents of judges being threatened "serious": SC

Rediff.com6 Aug 2021

"There is no freedom to the judges to even file a complaint," a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said, adding that police or the CBI is not helping the judiciary if such complaints are filed.

Farmers' protest: Verdict on arrested scribe's bail plea today

Farmers' protest: Verdict on arrested scribe's bail plea today

Rediff.com2 Feb 2021

A Delhi court will pass the order on Tuesday on the bail plea of freelance journalist Mandeep Punia arrested by the Delhi Police from the Singhu border protest site here where farmers are agitating against the three contentious agri laws.

Modi's Sangamam: Less Of Tamil, More Of Politics

Modi's Sangamam: Less Of Tamil, More Of Politics

Rediff.com23 Nov 2022

The inaugural Sangamam turned out to be a political Hindutva function than a gathering on the Hindu religion, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

RBI Norms Don't Tackle Illegal Apps Menace

RBI Norms Don't Tackle Illegal Apps Menace

Rediff.com11 Oct 2022

Of the 2,562 customer complaints received between January 2020 and March 2021, a majority relate to illegal apps. At least two dozen suicide cases have been reported, perpetrated by the harassment by loan app operators, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

MPs watching Facebook Trump ban

MPs watching Facebook Trump ban

Rediff.com8 Feb 2021

MPs asked if the platforms have the right to take down or suspend accounts.

Chinese military drills near Taiwan conclude with island attack

Chinese military drills near Taiwan conclude with island attack

Rediff.com7 Aug 2022

The Chinese military, on the last day of its largest-ever military exercises to vent out its anger over United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, carried out island saturation attack drills in the Taiwan Straits, amid global concerns of a full-scale attack to annex the breakaway island which Beijing claims is part of its territory.

Will always protect personal messages: WhatsApp

Will always protect personal messages: WhatsApp

Rediff.com20 Jan 2021

The Indian government on Tuesday posed 14 questions to WhatsApp on its "invasive" changes in Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

On 135th foundation day, Cong vows to fight NRC, CAA

On 135th foundation day, Cong vows to fight NRC, CAA

Rediff.com28 Dec 2019

The leaders alleged that those who had no contribution in the freedom struggle wanted to spread fear 'in the name of nationalism', suppress the voice of people and were questioning the legacy of Congress.

Journalists move SC seeking inquiry into Pegasus issue

Journalists move SC seeking inquiry into Pegasus issue

Rediff.com27 Jul 2021

The petition, likely to come up for hearing within next few days, sought to investigate if the illegal hacking into the phones using the Pegasus spyware represented an attempt by agencies and organisations to muzzle and chill the exercise of free speech and expression of dissent in India.

Muslim Women And The Hijab Debate

Muslim Women And The Hijab Debate

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

When turbans are allowed on school and college campuses, or sacred ash on the forehead, can one ban the hijab? asks T N Ninan.

MEA draws Capitol Hill parallel as US reacts to farmers' protest

MEA draws Capitol Hill parallel as US reacts to farmers' protest

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Hours after the Joe Biden Administration reacted to the farmer protests, India on Thursday said the comments must be seen in their entirety and compared reactions to the violence at the Red Fort with those seen after storming of the United States Capitol.

Love Jihad must be declared ultra vires in 2021

Love Jihad must be declared ultra vires in 2021

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

The most strident criticism of UP's anti-conversion ordinance has come from the judiciary with several retired Supreme Court and high court judges having described it as being violative of Article 14 (Right to Equality), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion), 21 (Right to Life) and 25 (Freedom of conscience) of the Constitution, points out Rashme Sehgal.

Kalki and Rajaji: A Connection From Previous Lives

Kalki and Rajaji: A Connection From Previous Lives

Rediff.com25 Dec 2022

Fifty years ago today, December 25, 1972, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, one of the titans of India's freedom struggle, passed into the ages. Kalki Krishnamurthy, who penned the Tamil classic Ponniyin Selvan among numerous other novels, describes his first glimpse of the man who would become an august national leader and his cherished role model.

Another Kashmiri Pandit killed in J-K, fresh exodus call issued

Another Kashmiri Pandit killed in J-K, fresh exodus call issued

Rediff.com16 Aug 2022

Terrorists have stepped up attacks in the Kashmir valley over the past week.

'Beneath Hindutva right-wing's hatred for Nehru lurks a very deep fear'

'Beneath Hindutva right-wing's hatred for Nehru lurks a very deep fear'

Rediff.com19 Mar 2022

'Under the more strident Modi version of Hindutva, Nehru has almost become a contemporary political figure.' 'The ruling party knows that without total erasure and distortion of Nehru, their fantasies will always be wobbly.'

Mob attacks temple in Pakistan's Punjab, damages idols

Mob attacks temple in Pakistan's Punjab, damages idols

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

India summoned the Pakistani charge d'affaires in New Delhi and lodged a firm protest, expressing grave concerns at this reprehensible incident and the continued attacks on the freedom of religion of the minority communities and their places of religious worship in Pakistan.

What do Indians Vote For?

What do Indians Vote For?

Rediff.com3 May 2021

'Many Indians are not voting mostly on the basis of issues like the economy and their own well-being as measured by data provided by the government.' 'They seem to be as concerned and perhaps more concerned about other things, especially those that have to do with the harassment of India's minorities,' asserts Aakar Patel.

We're portrayed as a 'villain': SC during pollution hearing

We're portrayed as a 'villain': SC during pollution hearing

Rediff.com3 Dec 2021

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the states in the National Capital Region (NCR) to implement the orders of the panel on air quality management to curb air pollution while ruing that some sections of the media have 'portrayed' it as a 'villain' which wants to close down schools in New Delhi.

Parliamentary panel to Twitter: 'Law of land supreme, not your policy'

Parliamentary panel to Twitter: 'Law of land supreme, not your policy'

Rediff.com19 Jun 2021

Amid a tussle between the Union government and Twitter over the new IT rules, officials of the microblogging site on Friday deposed before a parliamentary panel chaired by Congress's Shashi Tharoor over preventing misuse of social media.

Migrant unrest: Maha scribe held for 'misleading' report gets bail

Migrant unrest: Maha scribe held for 'misleading' report gets bail

Rediff.com16 Apr 2020

Rahul Kulkarni, journalist with a Marathi news channel, was arrested by Mumbai Police on Wednesday, a day after several migrant workers gathered near Bandra station in Mumbai demanding that they be sent back to their home towns.

Checking Big Tech with a Self-Goal

Checking Big Tech with a Self-Goal

Rediff.com12 Jul 2021

It was amusing to hear Minister Jaishankar's argument of tech companies being influential non-State actors. If only he looked at his own party before saying what he did, notes Shyam G Menon.

Govt paves way for regulation of OTT platforms, online news

Govt paves way for regulation of OTT platforms, online news

Rediff.com11 Nov 2020

There was no law or autonomous body governing digital content in India so far. Now, OTT and other platforms, including digital news websites, are expected to fall within a governmental framework of rules and regulations.

SC panel on Pegasus seeks responses from public on 11 queries

SC panel on Pegasus seeks responses from public on 11 queries

Rediff.com26 Mar 2022

The committee has shared an online form consisting of 11 questions seeking comments of lay persons until March 31.