News for 'International Religious Freedom'

Gujarat resolution calls for action against BBC for Modi documentary

Gujarat resolution calls for action against BBC for Modi documentary

Rediff.com10 Mar 2023

The Gujarat Assembly on Friday passed a resolution requesting the Centre to take strict action against BBC for tarnishing the image and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its documentary on the 2002 riots in the state.

IS has arrived at India's doorstep

IS has arrived at India's doorstep

Rediff.com2 Jul 2016

'If Islamic State were to get entrenched in Bangladesh and Myanmar it will have disastrous implications for India as both countries border India's northeast, a restive and volatile region,' says Rajeev Sharma.

'Dishonourable act': Varun turns down Oxford union invite to speak on Modi govt

'Dishonourable act': Varun turns down Oxford union invite to speak on Modi govt

Rediff.com16 Mar 2023

Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Varun Gandhi has turned down the Oxford Union's invite to speak at a debate on whether India is on the right path under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he sees no merit or integrity in voicing domestic challenges at an international forum and that such a step will be a "dishonourable act".

G20 Summit: Dream Come True For India

G20 Summit: Dream Come True For India

Rediff.com11 Sep 2023

India's dream to be in the forefront of international politics has come true. India has placed itself firmly as a major player in the shaping of a new world order, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Nothing will stop me speaking my mind in F1: Hamilton

Nothing will stop me speaking my mind in F1: Hamilton

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

Lewis Hamilton vowed to continue speaking out despite Formula One's governing body clamping down on drivers

Breaking protocol, US to host Modi on a 'special gesture date'

Breaking protocol, US to host Modi on a 'special gesture date'

Rediff.com6 Jun 2014

In a significant departure from tradition, the United States has decided to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi by working out a "special gesture date" around the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly meeting that is scheduled to take place on September 26 in New York.

Dalai Lama an honoured guest: India rejects China's charge

Dalai Lama an honoured guest: India rejects China's charge

Rediff.com7 Jul 2022

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the birthday greetings by the prime minister to the Dalai Lama should be seen in this overall context.

'A lot of Israeli soldiers will lose their lives'

'A lot of Israeli soldiers will lose their lives'

Rediff.com26 Oct 2023

'Hamas is going to be prepared. There will be booby traps and tunnels; it's going to be door to door fighting.'

'Terrorism factory' Pakistan mistreats religious minorities: India at UNHRC

'Terrorism factory' Pakistan mistreats religious minorities: India at UNHRC

Rediff.com15 Mar 2017

India on Wednesday asked Pakistan to rein in its "compulsive hostility" towards it and fulfil its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which has become a "hub" for the global export of terror.

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

Rediff.com11 Jan 2024

What the INDIA alliance needs is neither a counter to Modi's tall personality and undiminished charisma nor a counter-narrative to his Hindutva agenda, now centred on the Ayodhya temple consecration on January 22, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

Modi's guarantee India will be 3rd largest economy in BJP's 3rd term, says PM

Modi's guarantee India will be 3rd largest economy in BJP's 3rd term, says PM

Rediff.com27 Jul 2023

He slammed naysayers for opposing developmental projects, saying some people have a habit of trying to stall any good work.

Officials 'intimidated' Indian journalists critical of govt: US report

Officials 'intimidated' Indian journalists critical of govt: US report

Rediff.com13 Apr 2022

India in the past rejected similar reports.

Why BJP's Dominance Will Continue

Why BJP's Dominance Will Continue

Rediff.com24 Jan 2023

There is no sign of it losing popularity with a significant section of the voting population, which appears to be attracted to the party for identity reasons, observes Aakar Patel.

Everyone deserves a voice in their govt, Blinken tells civil society

Everyone deserves a voice in their govt, Blinken tells civil society

Rediff.com28 Jul 2021

All people deserve to have a voice in their government and be treated with respect no matter who they are, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday while noting that Indians and Americans believe in human dignity, in equality of opportunity, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion and belief.

Modi-Trump meeting: Calling a Spade a Spade

Modi-Trump meeting: Calling a Spade a Spade

Rediff.com28 Jun 2019

'The change of vocabulary in the India-US conversation was significant and refreshing.' 'It matched the styles of Trump and Modi.' 'The differences were not papered over, but there was determination to resolve them in the days ahead,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Is Shah Rukh Khan Defending Pathaan?

Is Shah Rukh Khan Defending Pathaan?

Rediff.com16 Dec 2022

Appearing before cheering fans at the star-studded opening ceremony of the Kolkata International Film Festival in Kolkata on Thursday, Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan spoke of staying positive and alive, and on the new crop of historical films being steeped in 'fictionalised jingoism'.

The Scene That Made Manoj Bajpayee Nervous

The Scene That Made Manoj Bajpayee Nervous

Rediff.com2 Mar 2023

'There's this one scene in Gulmohar that belongs to Manojji and everyone was excited for him.' 'The evening before we were to shoot it, everyone, from Sharmilaji to the junior most actor, wished him luck.'
'He was suddenly nervous.'
'The next day, 14 actors, from Sharmilaji and Amol Palekar to Suraj Sharma, all watched him perform.' 'It was like being back in film school.'

Sikh solider sues US military over 'discriminatory' testing

Sikh solider sues US military over 'discriminatory' testing

Rediff.com1 Mar 2016

In a first of its kind lawsuit, a decorated Sikh-American soldier has sued the US military, alleging that because of his religious beliefs he is being subjected to "discriminatory" testing that no other soldier in the US army goes through.

US cannot keep avoiding Modi: Experts

US cannot keep avoiding Modi: Experts

Rediff.com11 Dec 2013

Two former senior United States diplomats, with more than 60 years experience in South Asia between them, have exhorted Washington to establish communication with Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi sooner than later.

Adityanath govt mulls ordinance against 'love jihad'

Adityanath govt mulls ordinance against 'love jihad'

Rediff.com18 Sep 2020

The aim is to ensure that such crimes are checked and effective action is taken against the culprits.

Qatar World Cup: Minor offences won't result in arrest

Qatar World Cup: Minor offences won't result in arrest

Rediff.com21 Sep 2022

Qatar is trying to strike between respecting religious traditions and accommodating the raucous exuberance of more than a million visiting soccer fans.

Made a comeback to show that you can be a world champion and still have a complete life: Sania Mirza

Made a comeback to show that you can be a world champion and still have a complete life: Sania Mirza

Rediff.com20 Feb 2023

With the curtains set to drop on her illustrious career, Sania Mirza opened up on her journey to the top and the struggles she faced as a woman athlete.

Salman Rushdie: The free speech champion whose 'verses' put his life at risk

Salman Rushdie: The free speech champion whose 'verses' put his life at risk

Rediff.com13 Aug 2022

The attack on Rushdie sent shock waves around the world, with world leaders and literary stalwarts saying they were appalled at the attack on the author who championed free speech and lived under the threat of assassination for nearly half his life.

What happened to Priya Pillai could happen to many of us

What happened to Priya Pillai could happen to many of us

Rediff.com16 Feb 2015

'No private citizen can be prevented from holding or propagating in India or abroad, a view contrary to that of the government of the day. The government, it seems is misreading the mandate in the Lok Sabha as being a mandate to crush dissent. In times when ruling parties have brute majorities in Parliament, the true test of safeguarding democracy is its ability to allow dissenting voices to be heard,' says Indira Jaising, the former additional solicitor general.

Alt News co-founder Zubair sent to 4-day police custody over 2018 tweet

Alt News co-founder Zubair sent to 4-day police custody over 2018 tweet

Rediff.com28 Jun 2022

Police had sought an extension of Zubair's custody by five days.

Samajwadi MP booked for sedition for defending Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

Samajwadi MP booked for sedition for defending Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

Rediff.com18 Aug 2021

Samajwadi Party member of Parliament Shafiqur Rehman Barq has been booked for sedition following his recent remarks allegedly defending the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and equating it with India's own freedom struggle, police said on Wednesday.

'People of India had to choose between worst and horrible'

'People of India had to choose between worst and horrible'

Rediff.com19 May 2014

The Mahatma's descendants differ over Modi and the BJP victory... US-based Coalition Against Genocide vows to oppose Modi... Only Hindu US Congresswoman congratulates Modi... George Joseph/Rediff.com reports from New York.

'Banning athletes who kneel is breach of human rights'

'Banning athletes who kneel is breach of human rights'

Rediff.com14 Jun 2020

The stance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in potentially banning athletes who kneel in support of anti-racism protests is a breach of human rights, the Global Athlete movement said on Sunday. Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".

'If he was in India, Einstein wouldn't have got out of school'

'If he was in India, Einstein wouldn't have got out of school'

Rediff.com24 Mar 2023

'Most students find it difficult to cope with the way they are expected to learn at the IITs.' 'So, all the students face the same stress.' 'But those students who are mentally weak are more affected.'

US Plays the Tibet Card

US Plays the Tibet Card

Rediff.com4 Jan 2021

China is acutely conscious of the need for the next Dalai Lama to be under its control. It was for this reason that China recently stressed their claim on Arunachal Pradesh. There were rumours that the next Dalai Lama may be found in Tawang. If that happens, India-China relations will become tense and there may be demands for the child to be handed over to the Chinese, points out Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Time for Congress to get down from high horse

Time for Congress to get down from high horse

Rediff.com27 Jan 2022

What we have in the Congress is a useful glue to hold a non-cultural, unified Opposition together. That is the sacrifice the Congress must be willing to live with if showing the BJP the door is what the collective Opposition wants, observes Shyam G Menon.

Xi makes first visit to Tibetan town bordering Arunachal Pradesh

Xi makes first visit to Tibetan town bordering Arunachal Pradesh

Rediff.com23 Jul 2021

Xi arrived at the Nyingchi Mainling Airport on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups, Xinhua news agency reported.

US envoy: DC has spoken to Delhi about intolerance, NGOs

US envoy: DC has spoken to Delhi about intolerance, NGOs

Rediff.com16 Dec 2015

'Yes, we engage when those issues come up and try to strike that balance between what is an internal domestic matter for the government to resolve, and what's an issue that actually should be raised on the bilateral level.'

Delhi riots toll reaches 38 as crime branch takes over cases

Delhi riots toll reaches 38 as crime branch takes over cases

Rediff.com27 Feb 2020

Eleven more deaths were reported on Thursday, taking the total death toll to 38, a senior Delhi Health Department official told PTI.

New Ways To Fight Terrorism in Kashmir

New Ways To Fight Terrorism in Kashmir

Rediff.com7 Jun 2022

In the Kashmir Valley, we need to begin to make a distinction between an insurgent who fights the security forces and a terrorist who murders unarmed civilians, suggests Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Rediff.com25 Nov 2020

"I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uyghurs, the Yazidi -- what ISIS did to them was truly cruel -- or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in the church," Francis says in a new book, Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future, published on Monday.

'Modi engages mostly in personal theatre'

'Modi engages mostly in personal theatre'

Rediff.com27 Nov 2020

'... while leaving the dirty work he orders to his subordinates.'

India@75: Beacon Of Light In Gloomy World

India@75: Beacon Of Light In Gloomy World

Rediff.com15 Aug 2022

World over, pluralism is in retreat. Luckily for us, Indian pluralism and its consequent tolerance of diversity is rooted in our basic values. As long as we remain faithful to these values and keep our institutions in good health, the Indian miracle of last 75 years is likely to last centuries, asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

'US-India should focus on trade to counter China'

'US-India should focus on trade to counter China'

Rediff.com14 Dec 2020

'I hope that the incoming Biden-Harris Administration works with India to address some of the most profound geopolitical transboundary challenges.'

Statements made in Dharam Sansad not Hindutva: RSS chief

Statements made in Dharam Sansad not Hindutva: RSS chief

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

The Sangh chief said, "Even Veer Savarkar had said if the Hindu community gets united and organised, it will speak about the Bhagwad Gita and not about finishing or harming anyone."