News for 'Release of Political Prisoners'

Lalitgate: Govt slams Cong in LS; Rahul says PM 'does not have guts'

Lalitgate: Govt slams Cong in LS; Rahul says PM 'does not have guts'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2015

The Congress party's campaign for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Parliament on Wednesday came to a naught as the minister made a spirited defence.

Is it remote control time again in Tamil Nadu?

Is it remote control time again in Tamil Nadu?

Rediff.com21 Oct 2014

While there is likely no bar on Jayalalithaa meeting with Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his cabinet colleagues, she may not see senior government officials or see official files.

Taxes, email scandal and more. What happened when Clinton and Trump sparred

Taxes, email scandal and more. What happened when Clinton and Trump sparred

Rediff.com27 Sep 2016

The highly anticipated matchup between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finally happened, and it didn't disappoint. Here are all the highlights from the first presidential debate.

'The wrath of the State has become a hallmark of our democracy'

'The wrath of the State has become a hallmark of our democracy'

Rediff.com27 Jul 2015

'If a Delhi University professor's rights can be violated so easily, then think about what the rest of the population, with even lesser means, has to suffer under the State.'

New Delhi fumes over Pakistan role in Afghan-Taliban talk

New Delhi fumes over Pakistan role in Afghan-Taliban talk

Rediff.com27 Aug 2013

With the Afghanistan government in Kabul approaching Islamabad for help in opening "reconciliation" talks with the Taliban, a Pakistani role in shaping the political landscape in Afghanistan is now an uncomfortable likelihood for New Delhi.

Pakistan's devotion to LeT's Saeed runs deep

Pakistan's devotion to LeT's Saeed runs deep

Rediff.com13 Jan 2021

The perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attack, who shot dead 166 people, had confessed to details that should have been enough to hang him, but Pakistan enjoyed his anti-India rhetoric and let him spread his tentacles. A revealing excerpt from Khaled Ahmed's Pakistan's Terror Conundrum.

'So you've come to arrest me for Gandhi's murder?'

'So you've come to arrest me for Gandhi's murder?'

Rediff.com18 Oct 2019

'There was the indisputable fact that Savarkar knew Godse, Apte and Karkare well, he had corresponded with them closely, and funded their extremely provocative newspaper, and they looked up to him as their icon.'

COVID-19: 'My job is to save and help people'

COVID-19: 'My job is to save and help people'

Rediff.com8 Apr 2020

'This is a long haul, god knows where it will end.' 'So it is best to conserve all the funds right now for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.'

'Kanak Mani Dixit being punished for his anti-establishment writing'

'Kanak Mani Dixit being punished for his anti-establishment writing'

Rediff.com25 Apr 2016

Aseem Chhabra on his friend, the firebrand Nepali journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, who was arrested last week. Aseem, who has known Dixit for 35 years, believes the charges are trumped up.

Why bloggers pay with their lives for speaking up

Why bloggers pay with their lives for speaking up

Rediff.com3 Mar 2015

Crackdowns on bloggers often signal the ominous rise of religious fundamentalism

India denies US cop's arrest linked to diplomat case

India denies US cop's arrest linked to diplomat case

Rediff.com5 Apr 2014

The US has said that it was time to get past the recent tensions with India and the two sides should move on, days after arrest of an American police officer at New Delhi airport for possessing bullets. "We've said we want to get past some of the tensions that have been there over the past several months and move on," state department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said.

99 yr old freedom fighter: 'Jail was like university for me'

99 yr old freedom fighter: 'Jail was like university for me'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2017

Meet Bengaluru's fondest freedom fighter, HS Doreswamy, who has been a sprightly witness to the country's ups and downs since 1947.

South Asians welcome US Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriages

South Asians welcome US Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriages

Rediff.com28 Jun 2015

Indian-American elected officials, civil rights organisations and queers welcome the United States Supreme Court historic decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide for all Americans on Friday.

Should Ansari, Singh have attended Aiyar's dinner?

Should Ansari, Singh have attended Aiyar's dinner?

Rediff.com18 Dec 2017

'While the meeting on December 6th was perfectly legal, was it ethical?' asks Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Rubaru Roshni: Starts tough, ends soft

Rubaru Roshni: Starts tough, ends soft

Rediff.com29 Jan 2019

Though it is a little too neat and a little too light, Rubaru Roshni is important because it is telling us stories of people who have experienced an 'Inner Migration' in their lives, notes Sreehari Nair.

Is Sasikala the next Amma?

Is Sasikala the next Amma?

Rediff.com8 Dec 2016

In the post Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadu, Sasikala is the person to be watched in the coming days, weeks and months, writes R Ramasubramanian.

Were the Mumbai terror attacks a warning to Islamabad?

Were the Mumbai terror attacks a warning to Islamabad?

Rediff.com27 Oct 2016

Experts trace the reasons for the 26/11 attacks to the Pakistan's military interest in three key areas: Kashmir, Afghanistan and nuclear armaments.

Jathedar appointed by Sikh hardliners arrested from Golden Temple

Jathedar appointed by Sikh hardliners arrested from Golden Temple

Rediff.com11 Nov 2015

Akal Takht head Gurbachan Singh's customary address on the occasion of Diwali drowned in the din on Wednesday amid slogan shouting by Sikh hardliners, even as parallely "appointed" jathedar of Akal Takht also managed to address the gathering but was arrested soon after.

US Congressman Ami Bera's dad admits to election fraud

US Congressman Ami Bera's dad admits to election fraud

Rediff.com11 May 2016

Babulal 'Bob' Bera, US Congressman Ami Bera's 83-year-old father, faces five years in prison.

China's Islamic militant group founder admits Pak terror links

China's Islamic militant group founder admits Pak terror links

Rediff.com27 Aug 2014

In a rare public admission of Pakistani links to militancy in China's Muslim-majority Xinjiang province, the official media in Beijing said the co-founder of the Al Qaeda linked East Turkestan Islamic Movement was indoctrinated in a madarasa in that country.

'The gun cannot solve the Kashmir issue'

'The gun cannot solve the Kashmir issue'

Rediff.com14 Mar 2016

'The so-called separatists are representatives of Pakistan. They get paid from Islamabad for propagating that country's policy and conniving in her ploy of accession of Kashmir to Pakistan.'

Why is Pakistan muzzling its terrorists?

Why is Pakistan muzzling its terrorists?

Rediff.com5 Mar 2019

'The Pakistani move to ban militant outfits and placate international opinion and Islamabad's openness to a UN security council resolution on Azhar -- instead of beseeching China to cast yet another veto -- enables Islamabad to occupy the high ground,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Review: Rajinikanth has an infectiously good time in Kabali

Review: Rajinikanth has an infectiously good time in Kabali

Rediff.com22 Jul 2016

Kabali has nothing new to say or offer, besides Rajinikanth playing his age, feels Raja Sen.

'Unprecedented, deeply troubling': Hillary on FBI move

'Unprecedented, deeply troubling': Hillary on FBI move

Rediff.com30 Oct 2016

Clinton and her campaign pressed America's top cop, FBI Director James Comey, to put out the "full and complete facts" about a renewed probe into a cache of recently discovered emails, as the development emboldened Republican rival Donald Trump to seize on to the reignited controversy.

Ladakh Stand-off: Be prepared to meet fire with fire

Ladakh Stand-off: Be prepared to meet fire with fire

Rediff.com14 Jul 2020

'India in 2020 is a lot better prepared than in 1962.' 'It is no longer a pushover; and anything other than a crushing Chinese military victory will be a major loss of face for China,' observes Rajeev Srinivasan in the first of a three part column.

Satnam Sena's divisive clout in Chhattisgarh

Satnam Sena's divisive clout in Chhattisgarh

Rediff.com16 Dec 2013

In Chhattisgarh, the Satnami sect voted for its own candidates in 21 constituencies, leaving the Congress trailing the Bharatiya Janata Party in its own strongholds. R Krishna Das evaluates the role the Satnami community played in the Congress loss and BJP victory in a tightly fought election.

JNU protestors need a debate, not the police

JNU protestors need a debate, not the police

Rediff.com15 Feb 2016

'If JNU students are anti-national, why do we send in the police? Why not send in intellectuals like M V Kamath to have a debate and discussion?'

Amnesty criticises India for 'intensified crackdown on freedoms'

Amnesty criticises India for 'intensified crackdown on freedoms'

Rediff.com24 Feb 2016

Indian authorities failed to "prevent many incidents of religious violence and contributed to tensions through polarising speeches", Amnesty International said.

The Top 11 English Films of 2014

The Top 11 English Films of 2014

Rediff.com30 Dec 2014

From Boyhood to The Grand Budapest Hotel, we've seen some brilliant cinema this year.

Hamid Karzai in Islamabad to mend fences

Hamid Karzai in Islamabad to mend fences

Rediff.com26 Aug 2013

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan on a day-long visit to mend frayed ties with Pakistan and to seek the release of high-profile Taliban prisoners, including Mullah Barader, to give a fresh impetus to the reconciliation process in his war-torn country.

'Discussion about death penalty is happening worldwide'

'Discussion about death penalty is happening worldwide'

Rediff.com26 May 2015

National award-winning director S P Jananathan talks about his new film Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai.

Why Sasikala's elevation is a challenge to the BJP

Why Sasikala's elevation is a challenge to the BJP

Rediff.com30 Dec 2016

Despite the BJP's displeasure over Sasikala's elevation as AIADMK general secretary, the Dravidian party has sent a message to the Modi government that it will not be cowed down, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

WikiLeaks founder Assange should be freed immediately: UN

WikiLeaks founder Assange should be freed immediately: UN

Rediff.com5 Feb 2016

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed, a UN panel ruled as it called on the UK and Sweden to compensate the whistleblower for his "arbitrary detention".

Football Extras: Mourinho to get his own TV show in Russia

Football Extras: Mourinho to get his own TV show in Russia

Rediff.com11 Feb 2019

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

'They are going to hang my husband as a lesson to others'

'They are going to hang my husband as a lesson to others'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2014

A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com meets the shattered families of the five Tamil fishermen sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court for alleged drug smuggling. Most feel the men are being made an example of to scare off other fishermen from straying into Sri Lankan waters.

Trump appoints son-in-law to White House as senior advisor

Trump appoints son-in-law to White House as senior advisor

Rediff.com10 Jan 2017

Jared Kushner, the 35-year-old, played a key role in the presidential campaign and his new White House job will cover both domestic and foreign policy.

When the Gods Smiled on India

When the Gods Smiled on India

Rediff.com3 Jul 2018

We mourn the passing of Admiral J G Nadkarni, who passed into the ages on Monday. The admiral -- one of the finest officers to head the Indian Navy and a most remarkable human being -- was one of Rediff.com's earliest columnists. His assessment of why India won the 1971 War is a classic and we republish the column today to celebrate his brilliant mind and salute an office and gentleman, the likes of who we will not see again.

'Why are they so afraid of someone who is 90% disabled?'

'Why are they so afraid of someone who is 90% disabled?'

Rediff.com10 Mar 2017

'He has not done any harm to anyone. Yet you give him life imprisonment.' 'We were told to respect the Constitution. That is what Sai is doing; he is not doing anything beyond the Constitution.'

'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.'