News for 'International Religious Freedom'

Satyameva (Kadapi) Jayate. Truth Triumphs, Sometimes

Satyameva (Kadapi) Jayate. Truth Triumphs, Sometimes

Rediff.com10 Mar 2015

'Many who haven't even seen the documentary are claiming that it defames and damages the image of India, makes it sound unsafe, and gives the rapist a forum.' 'This couldn't be further from the truth, and the film shows the best qualities of India and Indians in standing up against evil as much as it shows the unvarnished truth.'

India must overcome 'tremendous' challenges to realise potential, says top Indian-American diplomat

India must overcome 'tremendous' challenges to realise potential, says top Indian-American diplomat

Rediff.com11 May 2016

The US wants its trade with India to grow multi-fold, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told lawmakers.

Islamic clergy must stop criminals from hijacking Islam

Islamic clergy must stop criminals from hijacking Islam

Rediff.com17 Nov 2015

'If religious scholars and preachers declare suicide attacks as un-Islamic and decree that suicide bombers will be denied an Islamic burial and funeral rites, it may dissuade some would-be terrorists who dream of an afterlife in heaven,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

US varsity returns $3 million grant; claims donors were 'Hindu right-wingers'

US varsity returns $3 million grant; claims donors were 'Hindu right-wingers'

Rediff.com23 Feb 2016

A top US university is "walking away" from the $3 million grants it received to establish endowed chairs in India studies after alleged that the donors had "extreme right-wing notions".

Modi to share dossier on UK-based Sikh radicals with Cameron

Modi to share dossier on UK-based Sikh radicals with Cameron

Rediff.com12 Nov 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to ask Britain to take strong action against Sikh groups trying to revive the demand for a separate Khalistan and their attempts to radicalise Sikh youth besides giving them training on how to make bombs.

No other PM has come close to Nehru's success

No other PM has come close to Nehru's success

Rediff.com14 Nov 2019

'His contributions in setting up transparent precedents of governance are still basically intact despite the cynicism of several of his successors,' notes Jamini Bhagwati.

UP guv chides elite Lucknow club for denying entry to kurta-clad cleric

UP guv chides elite Lucknow club for denying entry to kurta-clad cleric

Rediff.com14 Sep 2015

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq was told explicitly that it would be possible for him to enter the club premises only if he changed into a shirt-pant or a suit. The organisers' pleas fell on deaf ears and Maluana Sadiq had no choice but to leave the club, much to the embarrassment of the arrangers.

'I am comfortable with the level of nudity in Rang Rasiya'

'I am comfortable with the level of nudity in Rang Rasiya'

Rediff.com3 Nov 2014

'I have always had a rather unconventional approach to my work. The films I have chosen don't always fit into the conventional Bollywood graph,' Nandana Sen tells Rajul Hegde.

They tell me Avijit Roy was killed; you are next: Imran H Sarker

They tell me Avijit Roy was killed; you are next: Imran H Sarker

Rediff.com5 Apr 2015

Interview with head, Blogger and Online Activists Network.

'Naik evokes a closed reading of the Quran to establish Islamic supremacy'

'Naik evokes a closed reading of the Quran to establish Islamic supremacy'

Rediff.com11 Jul 2016

'Naik is an outcome of an image-centric Islam, which is linked to the technological changes introduced by new media.' 'English educated upper middle class Muslims embraced Naik's image-centric Islam in the 1990s.' 'Television converted him into a religious object.'

15 BEAUTIFUL stories, told on screen

15 BEAUTIFUL stories, told on screen

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

Aseem Chhabra introduces us to the best of Berlinale.

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

FULL TEXT of President Ram Nath Kovind's first speech

Rediff.com25 Jul 2017

'I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me.'

COVID-19: 'We are lucky it came later to India'

COVID-19: 'We are lucky it came later to India'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2020

'People are getting admitted to hospital two to three days before their death in a very serious respiratory compromise state and they are passing away within 48 hours.' 'Those who are coming early in the disease, the minute they are suspicious that they have COVID-19, the recovery rate has been much, much, higher.' 'The moral of the story is: We must destigmatise COVID-19.' 'People should be told: 'Look, if you have anything like this, please come immediately'.'

FULL TEXT of President's R-Day address to the nation

FULL TEXT of President's R-Day address to the nation

Rediff.com25 Jan 2017

The President talked about demonetisation, electoral reforms and disruptions in Parliament.

50 Years On: Who was the real Veer Savarkar?

50 Years On: Who was the real Veer Savarkar?

Rediff.com26 Feb 2016

'One hopes the younger generation sees Savarkar him for what he was and does not view him through a distorted prism.' 'This is the least one could do for someone who devoted his whole life to Indian freedom struggle, elimination of caste, succour to Dalits, and instilling of strategic culture in India,' says Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd) and Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

'For Tagore, human beings were far more important than the concept of a nation'

'For Tagore, human beings were far more important than the concept of a nation'

Rediff.com8 Mar 2016

'Tagore repeatedly denounced the "My country, right or wrong" attitude.' 'We often use the phrase "unity in diversity" like a cliche and often make diversity secondary, giving precedence to unity.' 'You do not have to shout from the rooftops that we are very tolerant.'

The double standards over conversions

The double standards over conversions

Rediff.com18 Dec 2014

The million dollar question that begs for an answer is: Why is it that an amateurish attempt to convert a handful of Muslims by fringe Hindu elements garners so much attention while large scale systematic attempts to subvert Hinduism go unnoticed or are deliberately overlooked? If this is not double standards then what is, asks Vivek Gumaste.

7-hr stand-off as Jamia protesters' march to Parliament stopped

7-hr stand-off as Jamia protesters' march to Parliament stopped

Rediff.com10 Feb 2020

Despite repeated appeals from the police and the varsity authorities, the protesters refused to end their agitation. Police said the protesters did not have permission to march towards Parliament.

India and China have to narrow down differences: VP Ansari

India and China have to narrow down differences: VP Ansari

Rediff.com28 Jun 2014

India and China have to narrow down differences and build on convergences by exploiting the potential of Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful co-existence propounded by the two countries along with Myanmar in 1954, Vice President Hamid Ansari said on Saturday.

'It is a very tough time to be a film-maker in this country'

'It is a very tough time to be a film-maker in this country'

Rediff.com30 Nov 2017

'What is happening is worse than Talibanisation.' 'There is no way a film-maker can fight these fringe groups, these extra-constitutional authorities.'

Legal reforms is the answer to Kathua/Unnao, not vigils

Legal reforms is the answer to Kathua/Unnao, not vigils

Rediff.com26 Apr 2018

'Loss of faith in the fairness of the system and the perception that one cannot expect justice are the first few steps to the slippery slope of anarchy,' warns Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

What does the government have against Nude and S Durga?

What does the government have against Nude and S Durga?

Rediff.com16 Nov 2017

Every time a filmmaker wishes to explore history or religion on his or her terms, self-appointed experts and limelight-seeking zealots swoop in to protest, says Sukanya Verma.

Sonia at Nehru conference: 'No India without secularism'

Sonia at Nehru conference: 'No India without secularism'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2014

Seeking to reassert Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said secularism is a compelling necessity for a country as diverse as India.

The end of the world, as we knew it

The end of the world, as we knew it

Rediff.com4 Feb 2017

'An isolationist US and a disintegrating European Union will create a power vacuum that only China is in a position to fill -- a conclusion that is uncomfortable but unavoidable,' says Nitin Desai.

'Why are we handing over our territory to Pakistan?

'Why are we handing over our territory to Pakistan?

Rediff.com13 Jun 2016

'Our policy seems to be to give away part of J&K, even though we are entitled to the entire state.' 'The Congress has done so, and the BJP is following the same policy.' 'No one is applying their mind to the legal position.' 'Kashmir is not a part of Pakistan under its own constitution.'

Opposition sees red over chanting of 'Om' on Yoga Day

Opposition sees red over chanting of 'Om' on Yoga Day

Rediff.com17 May 2016

While Congress criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government for being "insensitive", saying yoga, a great discipline of ancient India, does not belong to the saffron party, Janata Dal-United termed it as yet another attempt to "impose the communal agenda" on Indian masses.

The unfair witch-hunt of Hamid Ansari

The unfair witch-hunt of Hamid Ansari

Rediff.com3 Sep 2015

Hamid Anasari's was not talking of reservation for the whole religious community to which he too happens to belong. Yet, sections of media chose to put words into his mouth and then subject him to the criticism he never deserved. This does not augur well for our media or democracy, says Mohammad Sajjad.

A gentle Independence Day reminder

A gentle Independence Day reminder

Rediff.com15 Aug 2015

This is just a brief reminder, dear fellow citizens, that none of us needs permission or sanction to be Indian, in whatever way we choose, as long as it doesn't break the law.

No military solution to Syrian crisis: India

No military solution to Syrian crisis: India

Rediff.com22 Jan 2014

India on Wednesday asserted there can be no military solution to the lethal Syrian conflict and societies cannot be "re-ordered from outside" as people have the right to choose their own destiny.

Why the 2019 election is pivotal for India

Why the 2019 election is pivotal for India

Rediff.com28 Jan 2019

The 2019 election gives the Indian public the same choice: Between growth and oligarchs (or, in our case, dynasts and crony capitalists). If we chose wisely, well and good. If not, well, we have the Nehruvian Rate of Growth and massive corruption to fall back on. In a large sense, it is a choice between the India of the Lutyens elites and the Bharat of the real citizen, says Rajeev Srinivasan.

Column: Indira, Rajiv didn't die as martyrs

Column: Indira, Rajiv didn't die as martyrs

Rediff.com20 May 2019

'They were the leaders of my country and the children of Mother India, but they didn't die as martyrs.' 'They were killed, most unfortunately, by a well planned enemy plot, and they were victims of political violence,' states Sudhir Bisht.

Bangladesh's Islamist groups: 'Sheikh Hasina has chosen to turn a blind eye'

Bangladesh's Islamist groups: 'Sheikh Hasina has chosen to turn a blind eye'

Rediff.com3 Jul 2016

'I have noticed how a certain country wants to establish the presence of ISIS in Bangladesh.' 'Are these terrorists working under some religious inspiration or they are being lured by an obnoxious amount of money?' 'For some mysterious reasons, no action is taken by the government against suspicious organisations.'

Paper ballots, pre-poll alliances: Congress's resolutions at 84th plenary

Paper ballots, pre-poll alliances: Congress's resolutions at 84th plenary

Rediff.com17 Mar 2018

This, the Congress said in its political resolution, was necessary as there were misgivings on the 'misuse' of EVMs to 'manipulate the outcome contrary to popular verdict.' The resolution called for reverting to the old practice of paper ballot as adopted by other major democracies to help restore the credibility of the electoral process.

215 killed as blasts rock Sri Lanka on Easter

215 killed as blasts rock Sri Lanka on Easter

Rediff.com21 Apr 2019

Seven persons had been arrested in connection with the blasts.

2019: The year in photos

2019: The year in photos

Rediff.com2 Jan 2020

We sorted through countless photographs taken around the world to come up with the top photos of 2019. Together these images tell the story of the year -- capturing moments of hope and heartbreak, triumph and tragedy.

'Sonia shields perpetrators of the Sikh genocide in 1984'

'Sonia shields perpetrators of the Sikh genocide in 1984'

Rediff.com6 Sep 2013

"Though Sonia Gandhi was not a member of the Congress in 1984, she later became president of the party and now she shields the perpetrators of the genocide of Sikhs in 1984," alleged attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to Sikhs for Justice, which has filed a civil suit against Gandhi in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

READ: Mahua Moitra's takedown of UAPA amendments

READ: Mahua Moitra's takedown of UAPA amendments

Rediff.com25 Jul 2019

"Features of the Bill are anti-people and anti-Constitution...it is a very dangerous act," the fiery TMC MP said.

Nila Vikhe Patil, Swedish politics' Indian star

Nila Vikhe Patil, Swedish politics' Indian star

Rediff.com13 Mar 2019

Her great grandfather began sugar co-operatives in Maharashtra. Her grandfather was an eight time MP. Her uncle is currently leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly. Her cousin joined the BJP on Tuesday, March 12. Nila Vikhe Patil, who could one day become prime minister of Sweden, unravels her India connections in an e-mail interaction with Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.

There is no stop to the national anthem controversy in the US...

There is no stop to the national anthem controversy in the US...

Rediff.com26 Sep 2017

Trump trying to divide us, cries NBA star LeBron James even as Cowboys, Cardinals link arms amid anthem protests

From beef to James Bond's kiss, 2015 was the year of bans

From beef to James Bond's kiss, 2015 was the year of bans

Rediff.com29 Dec 2015

'The desire to force others to act according to the way we want the world to be is strong in our parts. This is particularly so because we have not fully internalised the idea of individual liberties. The fact is that our moralism will get us into trouble,' says Aakar Patel.