News for 'Human and Civil Rights'

Arvind Kejriwal: His own worst enemy

Arvind Kejriwal: His own worst enemy

Rediff.com26 Feb 2018

The street-fighter is back and the introspecting, sparingly speaking avatar of Kejriwal has gone on an extended recess. In this grime of heightened Delhi politics, all the good work done by the Delhi government may go down the drain, warns Sudhir Bisht.

Sheena Bora Trial: What's wrong with Peter?

Sheena Bora Trial: What's wrong with Peter?

Rediff.com5 Dec 2018

He is, at the closing of 2018, a man quite different from the Peter Mukerjea who entered judicial custody three-and-a-half years ago. He is a man not yet convicted of a crime, but already suffering for it, like the hundreds that enter these courts every day and the thousands Peter shares jail space with in a central Mumbai prison.

'Killing 20 people is a massacre; you can't call it an encounter'

'Killing 20 people is a massacre; you can't call it an encounter'

Rediff.com8 Apr 2015

'There is a mafia operating in that area that lends money to these labourers. Loans are paid off with red sandalwood. The actual smugglers don't need to come to the area.'

Modi, Indira Gandhi and bad economics

Modi, Indira Gandhi and bad economics

Rediff.com30 Dec 2016

'All of Indira Gandhi's bad economic ideas are being strengthened, from nationalised banks to anti-poverty, handout yojanas,' says Shekhar Gupta.

Give us our gods back!

Give us our gods back!

Rediff.com17 Jul 2018

Shashi Tharoor says the British Museum should change its name to Chor Bazaar because whatever it has within its portals is the result of 200 years of theft. The museum is once again in the eye of a storm for the possession of a statue of a god Hindus, across the world, worship as the Supreme Being.

Is this how we treat our doctors?

Is this how we treat our doctors?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2017

'Does it make any difference to you, that one of our doctors almost lost his vision, while you delayed in immediately getting the right care for your family member, as per his advice?'

Pak attacks: Imran can't escape responsibility

Pak attacks: Imran can't escape responsibility

Rediff.com7 Mar 2019

'Imran cannot escape responsibility for providing a mask to the Pakistan army to engage in unlawful activities and to wage aggression after India retaliated to the terrorist attack,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Why Kerala's start-up ecosystem is unique!

Why Kerala's start-up ecosystem is unique!

Rediff.com1 Nov 2019

'We have integrated start-up space created in almost all the 14 district headquarters of the state.'
'They have incubation facilities providing entrepreneurs common facilities like shared software, legal support, fab labs, hardware, manufacturing facilities and services like chartered accounting facilities, etc, enabling the start-ups to concentrate on technology R&D and product development.'

'Article 370 is the only bridge which connects the people of J-K to the people of India'

'Article 370 is the only bridge which connects the people of J-K to the people of India'

Rediff.com12 Apr 2019

'If you go by the essence of the Constitution of India, I don't see any problem in having a separate PM for J-K.'

The electoral choice on offer

The electoral choice on offer

Rediff.com9 Apr 2014

A Narendra Modi administration would believe more in decentralisation than would a Rahul Gandhi administration, says Arvind Panagariya.

HC asks Navy to consider transgender for alternate job

HC asks Navy to consider transgender for alternate job

Rediff.com30 Oct 2017

"Here is an opportunity to look at it from a different perspective. It is an out of the box situation. It maybe a first of its kind situation.

Banks should pass on the rate benefit to customers: Shaktikanta Das

Banks should pass on the rate benefit to customers: Shaktikanta Das

Rediff.com5 Aug 2019

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das tells Anup Roy, Raghu Mohan and Niraj Bhatt that it is time for banks to lower interest rates and start lending to cash-starved finance companies after due credit appraisal and proper risk assessment.

How will the Game of Thrones play out in Tamil Nadu?

How will the Game of Thrones play out in Tamil Nadu?

Rediff.com19 Aug 2018

'Tamil Nadu's youth bulge will soon be 70 per cent of the population, many of them smartphone-toting millennials looking for gains more tangible than what screen gods can give,' says Sunil Sethi.

Obama vows to hunt terrorists, seeks new war powers

Obama vows to hunt terrorists, seeks new war powers

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed to relentlessly hunt down terrorists from Pakistan to the streets of Paris and called on Congress to approve new war powers against Islamic State militants.

'US has failed to hold Pakistan's feet to the fire'

'US has failed to hold Pakistan's feet to the fire'

Rediff.com21 Sep 2016

'Part of the problem lies in the US failure to stay focused on the goal of convincing Pakistan to crack down on terrorists that attack India.'

Triple talaq 'cruel' and 'most demeaning', says Allahabad HC

Triple talaq 'cruel' and 'most demeaning', says Allahabad HC

Rediff.com8 Dec 2016

The high court further observed that the triple talaq practice, sanctioned under Muslim Personal Law that governs marriage, property and divorce violates the rights of Muslim women.

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Will the Supreme Court declare the Aadhaar Act a black law?

Rediff.com11 Jun 2018

Unless the judges factor in the ungovernability of technologies and their beneficial owners, present and future Presidents, prime ministers, judges, legislators and officials handling sensitive assignments may become redundant with reference to their age-old roles for securing 'national resources and assets', warns Dr Gopal Krishna.

Airlift Review: Akshay is impressive

Airlift Review: Akshay is impressive

Rediff.com22 Jan 2016

'Even when toasting a true story, say our movies, a superstar is worth more than a real hero,' says Raja Sen.

Najeeb Jung: The man who may run Delhi

Najeeb Jung: The man who may run Delhi

Rediff.com13 Dec 2013

If an elected government had been sworn in, Jung's tenure and the government would have been more or less co-terminus and Jung would have been just the ceremonial head of Delhi. Now, he will run Delhi, pending another round of assembly elections, says Aditi Phadnis

Ford Foundation funding dries up as Modi clamps down on NGOs

Ford Foundation funding dries up as Modi clamps down on NGOs

Rediff.com14 Jul 2015

Modi denies the charges and was exonerated in an Indian Supreme Court inquiry in 2012.

Anyone know what Modi and Xi discussed?

Anyone know what Modi and Xi discussed?

Rediff.com1 Aug 2018

'Till today, we don't know what PM Modi discussed with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, but we have been told that the relations have been reset.' 'We have no evidence from China to show that anything has changed, even though India had made several gestures in preparation for Wuhan,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

What changed for India after Balakot airstrike?

What changed for India after Balakot airstrike?

Rediff.com5 Mar 2020

A realistic assessment will tell us that not much has changed between India and Pakistan; the relationship remains as fraught as before with little prospect of reconciliation, notes Ajai Shukla.

The man who got the activists arrested

The man who got the activists arrested

Rediff.com31 Aug 2018

'They have realised that class war is not possible in India, so they are trying to bring about a caste war.'

Obstruction and obfuscation have become hallmark of opposition: BJP

Obstruction and obfuscation have become hallmark of opposition: BJP

Rediff.com7 Jan 2017

The political resolution passed at the party's national executive claimed that the Modi government has created a new "history" in the direction of the poor's welfare with its bold initiatives.

COVID-19: Why are so many young people dying?

COVID-19: Why are so many young people dying?

Rediff.com8 Jul 2020

'We started analysing young patients and realised that they had causes like undetected diabetes, which suddenly flares up during COVID-19.' 'Secondly, hypothyroidism was one of the factors.' 'And obesity.'

The Incomparable Ved Mehta

The Incomparable Ved Mehta

Rediff.com11 Jan 2021

On a visit to India in 2013, writer Ved Mehta -- who passed into the ages on Sunday January 10, 2021 - gave Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel a rare glimpse into his state of mind and what he thinks of the changes he encounters in his motherland.

Time for Sri Lanka and India to reset ties

Time for Sri Lanka and India to reset ties

Rediff.com23 Jan 2015

President Maithripala Sirisena's government in Colombo has clearly decided to restore some balance in its diplomatic outreach, which presents a great opportunity for India.

New Pak PM mentions Kashmir 14 times, India 17 times in UN speech

New Pak PM mentions Kashmir 14 times, India 17 times in UN speech

Rediff.com22 Sep 2017

'If India does venture across the LoC, it will evoke a strong response.'

'Every single child matters, every single childhood matters'

'Every single child matters, every single childhood matters'

Rediff.com10 Dec 2014

Kailash Satyarthi, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, in front of packed crowd made a rousing speech asking every person to come together and set our children free. He honoured those who came before him and also said that he accepted this honour on behalf of all the martyrs and activists in India. Here's the transcript of his moving acceptance speech.

'Wonder what they are trying to hide'

'Wonder what they are trying to hide'

Rediff.com21 Mar 2016

'The Indian government has accepted and is a party to international agreements, standards and conventions on religious freedom.' 'We did not force it on them. We are not trying to impose something on them that they haven't already agreed to...' 'India has never allowed us to visit, which is very disappointing for such a wonderful country with such a rich democratic tradition. They seem to be afraid to let us in.'

'In its imperial mood, China is surrounding India'

'In its imperial mood, China is surrounding India'

Rediff.com1 Apr 2018

'It is very much a danger.' 'With Tibet following the India tradition of ahimsa and the global visibility of the Dalai Lama who embodies these values, he should be supported by India as a diplomat.' 'It would be in India's self-interest and instead of being embarrassed about his presence, India should recognise this (role).' 'By appeasing China, India does not get anything in return; they (the Chinese have not stopped) claiming Arunachal, part of Kashmir, etc.'

Why extrajudicial killings will never bring lasting peace

Why extrajudicial killings will never bring lasting peace

Rediff.com12 Jul 2013

It's perverse to rationalise 'controlled' killings or torture -- without going down a slippery moral slope. Once the state stoops to torture, it's liable to sink into tyranny, says Praful Bidwai.

Every Indian must salute these patriots

Every Indian must salute these patriots

Rediff.com9 Apr 2018

BharatShakti.in Founder Nitin A Gokhale pays homage to Mr E N Rammohan and Colonel M B Ravindranath, two genuine Indian heroes who sadly passed into the ages on Sunday

Aadhaar is against Arthashastra, Hadith and Bible

Aadhaar is against Arthashastra, Hadith and Bible

Rediff.com9 Oct 2017

It emerges that not only does the CIDR project fails the test of fairness, justness and reasonableness besides the test of not being fanciful, oppressive or arbitrary; it also fails the test of Arthashastra, Hadith and the Bible.

Bleeding hearts! Don't bleed the nation!

Bleeding hearts! Don't bleed the nation!

Rediff.com25 Feb 2016

'All their idealism, intensity of emotions, acute sense of right and wrong, and burning passion for public causes can never serve as justifiable grounds to be touted by students of any country, let alone of India, with all its fragility and vulnerability, to question its unity in the name of freedom of expression,' says B S Raghavan.

New UN chief has an Indian connection

New UN chief has an Indian connection

Rediff.com7 Oct 2016

'Antonio Guterres takes over as the UN secretary-general with tremendous goodwill as the process of his election was without the usual horse trading and compromises.' 'We have every reason to believe that he will be sensitive to Indian positions,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

'Terrorism should not be branded Hindu or Muslim'

'Terrorism should not be branded Hindu or Muslim'

Rediff.com19 Jul 2017

'They have the same pet peeves, the same ruse, the same beliefs, the same justifications.' 'All terrorists thrive on the premise that by perpetuating violence and bloodshed on innocents, they are justifying the injustices done to their community.'

Yashwant Sinha leads team to meet Hurriyat; BJP, Centre deny sending him

Yashwant Sinha leads team to meet Hurriyat; BJP, Centre deny sending him

Rediff.com25 Oct 2016

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday created ripples as he led a five-member delegation of civil society members to meet separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a bid to break the three-month impasse in Kashmir triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.

Climate Change: Looking for hope beyond Lima conference

Climate Change: Looking for hope beyond Lima conference

Rediff.com22 Dec 2014

With the weaker-than-expected agreement at the recent Climate Change Conference at Lima, there is an urgent need to highlight endeavours in civil society and business for a sustainable global economy with grassroots empowerment, say Rajni Bakshi.

The time will come when America can dictate to India, and expect to be obeyed

The time will come when America can dictate to India, and expect to be obeyed

Rediff.com3 Mar 2014

'A plausible American tactic,' Rajeev Srinivasan suspects, 'would be to try and prevent the BJP and Modi from coming to power by splitting the anti-Congress vote using the AAP, and in case that fails, to follow up with a Plan B to make India ungovernable, to create mass conflict through their agents.'