News for 'People's Union of Civil Liberties'

Lessons India can take from America

Lessons India can take from America

Rediff.com10 Feb 2017

'It will be a fine day when we can claim to have institutions in civil society as influential and as popular as ACLU, which is a strong body only because millions of Americans support its values.' 'When Indians take offence at how other Indians are treated, when we take injustice to others personally, we will begin to make India great,' says Aakar Patel.

Dalits, Urban Maoists and a plot to kill the PM

Dalits, Urban Maoists and a plot to kill the PM

Rediff.com14 Jun 2018

'Such a serious threat -- to assassinate the prime minister of India, no less -- was not handed over to the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad for investigation, but to the Pune crime branch.' 'So much for seriousness in tackling such a grave issue,' says N Suresh.

Nehru erased from Rajasthan school textbook

Nehru erased from Rajasthan school textbook

Rediff.com8 May 2016

Students of class VIII in Rajasthan schools will no longer study the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru in their social science textbook as references to the first prime minister have been dropped.

Lok Sabha passes criminal procedure bill, Shah says will defend rights

Lok Sabha passes criminal procedure bill, Shah says will defend rights

Rediff.com4 Apr 2022

The contentious bill providing for legal sanction to police to obtain physical and biological samples of convicts and detainees for investigation in criminal matters was passed by Lok Sabha on Monday, with Home Minister Amit Shah asserting it will act as a defender of human rights of law-abiding citizens.

People from any religion, including Muslims, can adopt: SC

People from any religion, including Muslims, can adopt: SC

Rediff.com19 Feb 2014

Irrespective of their religious background, people are free to adopt children, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, paving the way for the adoption of children by people from the Muslim community even though it is not allowed under their personal law.

What the lockdown could have avoided

What the lockdown could have avoided

Rediff.com24 Apr 2020

'As 1.3 billion people wait for our prime minister to tell us what to do and then vanish again from our television screens, it is worth noting that this is not how the rest of the world is being led,' points out Mihir S Sharma.

'Judiciary is nation's last hope'

'Judiciary is nation's last hope'

Rediff.com6 Jan 2023

'If you were to say today that the government should appoint judges to the high courts and Supreme Court, then I think that even those few good judges that we are getting today we would not get them.'

'They are protecting the police'

'They are protecting the police'

Rediff.com22 Feb 2016

'The Tamil Nadu government should ask Andhra Pradesh to speed up the investigation.'

The Women Who Made A Difference

The Women Who Made A Difference

Rediff.com8 Mar 2019

Sandeep Pandey salutes women who have contributed to social transformation in India after 1980.

'Big jolt to govt': Oppn welcomes SC order on J-K

'Big jolt to govt': Oppn welcomes SC order on J-K

Rediff.com10 Jan 2020

"Modiji reminded that nation bows before Constitution and not him!"

Big victory for Trump; US SC allows his travel ban to go into full effect

Big victory for Trump; US SC allows his travel ban to go into full effect

Rediff.com5 Dec 2017

The travel ban is the third version of a contentious policy that Trump first sought to implement a week after taking office in January.

'Vasundhara Raje is going against the Constitution'

'Vasundhara Raje is going against the Constitution'

Rediff.com24 Oct 2017

'This bill is to relieve the government of accountability and to cover up its corruption.'

Sikh driver in US called 'terrorist' by police

Sikh driver in US called 'terrorist' by police

Rediff.com29 Sep 2013

A Sikh truck driver in the US has alleged that traffic police in Mississippi called him a "terrorist" and a county judge later humiliated him by describing his turban as "that rag."

Protect environment for future generations: Kovind in farewell address

Protect environment for future generations: Kovind in farewell address

Rediff.com24 Jul 2022

The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of it for future generations.

'Goa's defectors are pawns on the chess board'

'Goa's defectors are pawns on the chess board'

Rediff.com8 Feb 2022

'Goa is a tiny state, but in terms of its Business of Politics, several powerful lobbies of India are involved in it, be it the mining lobby, hoteliers' lobby, casino lobby, hawala lobby, drugs lobby etc.'

Koregaon-Bhima case: SC refuses to interfere with arrests of 5 activists

Koregaon-Bhima case: SC refuses to interfere with arrests of 5 activists

Rediff.com28 Sep 2018

The apex court also rejected the plea to appoint a Special Investigation Team for probe.

'This govt is destroying all democratic institutions'

'This govt is destroying all democratic institutions'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2020

'Anybody and everybody who opposes this government for whatever reasons will be branded a terrorist and charged in such a manner that all human rights will be taken away.'

ED raids ex-Maha HM Deshmukh's premises; NCP cries foul

ED raids ex-Maha HM Deshmukh's premises; NCP cries foul

Rediff.com26 Jun 2021

The ED case came about after the CBI first carried out a preliminary enquiry followed by filing a regular case on the orders of the Bombay high court that asked it to look into the allegations of bribery made against Deshmukh by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

'The State is attacking us with guns on our heads'

'The State is attacking us with guns on our heads'

Rediff.com30 Nov 2022

'The way the society functions, I don't know, they are more concerned about animals than humans.'

Caution: You are still being watched!

Caution: You are still being watched!

Rediff.com24 Mar 2019

The government claims the existing safeguards under the law are adequate, lawful, towards a legitimate purpose and provide for a "proportionate interference" in citizens' right to privacy, reports Nitin Sethi.

Cong says cops barged into its HQ, beat up workers; Delhi Police denies

Cong says cops barged into its HQ, beat up workers; Delhi Police denies

Rediff.com16 Jun 2022

The Congress alleged that Delhi Police personnel forcibly entered its headquarters and beat up party workers and leaders on Wednesday, on a day the party staged vociferous protests against the questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate for the third consecutive day.

'Retired SC or HC judge must probe Vikas Dubey's death'

'Retired SC or HC judge must probe Vikas Dubey's death'

Rediff.com10 Jul 2020

'If you accept that situation you don't require the judiciary, the criminal procedure law, the Indian Penal Code or even the Constitution because there is somebody who decides who gets to live and who gets to die.'

Time for Aung San Suu Kyi to step aside?

Time for Aung San Suu Kyi to step aside?

Rediff.com10 Feb 2021

Some believe she should no longer be the face of the struggle to free Myanmar from the new military dictatorship, observes Prakash Bhandari.

Trump revokes Obama's order on transgender bathrooms

Trump revokes Obama's order on transgender bathrooms

Rediff.com23 Feb 2017

The Trump administration cited too many lawsuits and legal loopholes in the Obama-era regulation, which required public schools to allow students to use the bathrooms corresponding to their gender identities, as one of the reasons for its roll back.

A Messiah For Humanity Passes Into The Ages

A Messiah For Humanity Passes Into The Ages

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

Where does one find a man who shows no bitterness or animosity towards Hindus, even after a frenzied Hindu mob burnt his house down?, Jyoti Punwani asks in this tribute to a truly extraordinary Indian.

'They are using the pandemic to push their reforms'

'They are using the pandemic to push their reforms'

Rediff.com18 May 2020

'The Modi government is about privatising profits and nationalising losses.'

Man burns labourer alive over 'love jihad'; video goes viral

Man burns labourer alive over 'love jihad'; video goes viral

Rediff.com7 Dec 2017

The killer has been arrested.

George Fernandes, former defence minister, dies at 88

George Fernandes, former defence minister, dies at 88

Rediff.com29 Jan 2019

One of the most prominent leaders of the socialist movement in the 1970s, George Fernandes was a senior Janata Dal leader before he founded the Samata Party.

Gujarat/Himachal's 2024 Message For Modi

Gujarat/Himachal's 2024 Message For Modi

Rediff.com10 Dec 2022

The message for 2024 is that the man on the street is not going to be euphoric if the G-20 crowns Modi as king-emperor for 2023, or if India sends its first man to space just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Even a 'temple consecration' in Ayodhya, or a Uniform Civil Code, or both of them together, may not have enough electoral purchase if fuel and commodity prices are not rolled back, and money-in-the-pocket does not fatten, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

'A stain on govt's reputation which will last forever'

'A stain on govt's reputation which will last forever'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

'Stan's death is the culmination of a series of acts of abominable cruelty on the part of the Indian State.'

Will Trump free these 52 Indians?

Will Trump free these 52 Indians?

Rediff.com27 Jun 2018

'Through a translator, I was able to speak with several of the detainees from India who are seeking asylum.' 'I was saddened to hear the detainees tell us that they are being confined in their cells for up to 22 to 23 hours a day.' 52 Indian are among the 121 asylum-seekers held in an Oregon prison. Rediff.com Senior Contributor Pottayil Rajendran reports from New York on the case that is making headlines in America, India, indeed around the world.

'Human rights are being curtailed systematically'

'Human rights are being curtailed systematically'

Rediff.com13 Apr 2016

'Human rights violations are there in rural areas and in cities. In rural areas it is crude and in the open. In urban areas it is well hidden.' 'Awareness has grown several fold. India has 160 national and state human rights institutions. No other country in the world has this.' 'Unfortunately the right to association, right to assembly, freedom of expression, right to protest and discuss are all being curtailed systematically one by one.'

Can India Deal with Halahal In Amrit Kaal?

Can India Deal with Halahal In Amrit Kaal?

Rediff.com15 Aug 2022

We have our own problems for sure and they are not trivial, but for now, our economy is in not too bad a shape, our politics is as personality-driven and authoritarian as that of most countries in the world. We must make the best of what we have and not be excessively unhappy looking at the grass on the other side of the septic tank which may not be greener after all!, observes Shreekant Sambrani.

Why the world is worried about India

Why the world is worried about India

Rediff.com20 Dec 2019

'The feeling is growing that if India slips in the realms of liberal tenets, it will be a tragedy not only for the country, but also for the world because it will lose a remarkable role model,' notes Amulya Ganguli.

US Supreme Court upholds Trump's controversial travel ban

US Supreme Court upholds Trump's controversial travel ban

Rediff.com26 Jun 2018

The ban restricts entry of people from Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela.

Over 7,000 Indian-Americans to be hit after Trump scraps 'Dreamers' programme

Over 7,000 Indian-Americans to be hit after Trump scraps 'Dreamers' programme

Rediff.com5 Sep 2017

India ranks 11th among countries of origin for Deferred Action for Children Arrival students.

'This will lead to a very ugly assault on the Constitution'

'This will lead to a very ugly assault on the Constitution'

Rediff.com18 May 2018

'... in the form of possible payments to MLAs and horse-trading for the BJP to win.'

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.

Celebrating azaadi: Listening for the concern behind the complaint

Celebrating azaadi: Listening for the concern behind the complaint

Rediff.com10 May 2016

'We live in a time when hideous anger easily flares up, particularly on identity-related issues.' 'Often advocates of harmony and compassion fall victim to the same anger and end up hating the 'haters'!' 'This changes the moment we are able to turn the slanging match into a conversation.' 'More often than not you may find that there is agreement on a fundamental truth -- respect for the life and dignity of all.'

The BJP's Naam Hatao Campaign

The BJP's Naam Hatao Campaign

Rediff.com19 Jul 2017

'Modi has become confident enough not only to look forward to a second term in 2019, but also to celebrate the 75th year of India's Independence in 2022.' 'It will be in the fitness of things if the vestiges of the past are swept away and the country is reminded that the 1,200 years of 'slavery' under the Muslims and the British were a bad dream.' 'And what better way to achieve this objective than by rubbing out the names of the invaders?' says Amulya Ganguli.