News for 'Secular India'

SC rejects plea against Dasara invitation to Banu Mushtaq

SC rejects plea against Dasara invitation to Banu Mushtaq

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara this year.

'Israel Uses Starvation As A Weapon In Gaza'

'Israel Uses Starvation As A Weapon In Gaza'

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

'The ruling elite are supporting those attacking the people of Gaza.' 'As a nation we should not cooperate with the oppressor regime that is allowing mass starvation as a weapon of war.'

Ranchi Durga Puja pandal drops Jesus Christ's image after VHP protest

Ranchi Durga Puja pandal drops Jesus Christ's image after VHP protest

Rediff.com27 Sep 2025

A Durga Puja committee in Ranchi modified its Vatican City-themed marquee after objections from a Hindu group. The image of Jesus Christ was replaced with Lord Krishna.

Can Bangladesh Become A Secular Nation?

Can Bangladesh Become A Secular Nation?

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

Pakistan wanted to be constitutionally communal, India wanted to be secular but is communalising itself. All three nations share a penal code, but they have amended their laws to enable the State to specifically target minorities, points out Aakar Patel.

'Shivaji, Sambhaji Were Secular, Visionary Kings'

'Shivaji, Sambhaji Were Secular, Visionary Kings'

Rediff.com27 Mar 2025

'Shivaji and Sambhaji followed the gospel of humanity. 'They did not discriminate based on religion, caste, or colour.' 'That is the beauty of Shivaji and Sambhaji's Hindvi Swaraj.'

HC upholds probe into Munambam land, slams waqf board's tactic

HC upholds probe into Munambam land, slams waqf board's tactic

Rediff.com11 Oct 2025

The Kerala High Court has criticized the Kerala Waqf Board's claim on land in Munambam as a 'land grabbing tactic' and upheld the government's decision to appoint an inquiry commission to investigate the ownership of the disputed area.

SC rejects plea to remove 'Socialist', 'Secular' from Preamble

SC rejects plea to remove 'Socialist', 'Secular' from Preamble

Rediff.com25 Nov 2024

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed petitions challenging the 1976 amendment to the Constitution that added the terms "socialist", "secular", and "integrity" to the Preamble. The court ruled that the inclusion of these terms, made through amendments, is valid and does not affect the original adoption of the Constitution in 1949.

Secularism part of Constitution's basic structure, says SC

Secularism part of Constitution's basic structure, says SC

Rediff.com21 Oct 2024

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar passed the remark while hearing a batch of petitions filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and others, who have challenged the inclusion of words "socialist" and "secular" in the Preamble of the Constitution.

Mahatma Gandhi described RSS as communal, totalitarian: Cong

Mahatma Gandhi described RSS as communal, totalitarian: Cong

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the RSS on its 100th anniversary, citing excerpts from a book claiming Mahatma Gandhi described the Sangh as a "communal body with a totalitarian outlook." The party also referenced Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's criticism of the RSS.

'Fruits Of Vikas Have Not Reached Dalits Under Nitish Kumar'

'Fruits Of Vikas Have Not Reached Dalits Under Nitish Kumar'

Rediff.com13 Oct 2025

'We have 38 Dalits who are MLAs and ministers. But that does not mean the Dalits of Bihar are prospering.'

'How Will Govt Decide Who Is A 'Practising Muslim'?'

'How Will Govt Decide Who Is A 'Practising Muslim'?'

Rediff.com7 Oct 2025

'We are not all Abduls, you know. Our community has any number of retired civil and defence officers, doctors, engineers, lawyers.'

Pahalgam Attack: Diplomatic Win For India

Pahalgam Attack: Diplomatic Win For India

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

It is also the first time that TRF has been mentioned in any UN document. This marks the first mention of the LeT and any other Pakistan-based terror group in the report since 2019.

Mamata will make a better PM for secular India: Bukhari

Mamata will make a better PM for secular India: Bukhari

Rediff.com24 Feb 2014

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday received a shot in the arm when Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari on Monday lauded her work for the minorities in West Bengal, and said she would make a better prime minister for secular India than others.

'Ball Is In BJP's Court'

'Ball Is In BJP's Court'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

'They have to prove the credibility of their talk; whether they want to focus on the secular face of India, whether they want to focus on democracy and above all freedom of an individual to practice his or her religion.'

HC rejects plea to remove graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat from Tihar

HC rejects plea to remove graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat from Tihar

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea seeking the removal of the graves of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt from Tihar Jail, citing the absence of any law prohibiting burial inside jail premises and the government's decision to maintain law and order.

'China, Pakistan Will Try To Turn Bangladesh Against India'

'China, Pakistan Will Try To Turn Bangladesh Against India'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

'Pakistan will also try to turn Bangladesh into a base for terrorist attacks on India.'

Secularism a European concept, let it be there: TN guv

Secularism a European concept, let it be there: TN guv

Rediff.com23 Sep 2024

A lot of frauds have been committed on the people of the country, and one of them was a wrong interpretation of secularism, he said addressing an event in Kanyakumari district on Sunday.

'Tired today, soon to be retired': Cong's jibe at PM over RSS praise

'Tired today, soon to be retired': Cong's jibe at PM over RSS praise

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

The PM's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort today was " stale, hypocritical, insipid, and troubling", the Congress general secretary said.

Has Modi Sacrificed Palestine For Israel Bonhomie?

Has Modi Sacrificed Palestine For Israel Bonhomie?

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

It is high time India ends its silence on the human cost of the Gaza war and takes a principled stand without diluting its relations with Israel. A largely friendless Tel Aviv today needs New Delhi more than the other way around. India's failure now may cost it diplomatically in the long run, cautions M R Narayan Swamy.

'Gen Z Want Radical Change In Nepal'

'Gen Z Want Radical Change In Nepal'

Rediff.com11 Sep 2025

'They mean business, but business as usual is unacceptable to them'

No scope for hate crimes on basis of religion in secular India: SC

No scope for hate crimes on basis of religion in secular India: SC

Rediff.com6 Feb 2023

The top court was hearing a plea of a Muslim man who has alleged that he was assaulted and abused in the name of religion on July 4, 2021, by a "screwdriver gang" of criminals as he had boarded a car to go to Aligarh from Noida, and that the police has not bothered to register any complaint of hate crime.

Will GST 2.0 Fix Deeper Weaknesses?

Will GST 2.0 Fix Deeper Weaknesses?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

GST 2.0 may cushion consumers against US tariffs, but like the 2019 corporate tax cut, it risks being another tactical fix rather than a structural growth strategy, expects Debashis Basu.

I-Day speech: Modi breaks Indira's record, next is Nehru

I-Day speech: Modi breaks Indira's record, next is Nehru

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

Nehru, India's longest-serving prime minister (1947-63), addressed the nation 17 times from the Red Fort. India's second prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered speeches from the Red Fort ramparts for two Independence Days in 1964 and 1965.

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

A controversy has erupted in Mysuru over the ownership of Chamundi Hill, home to the Chamundeshwari Temple, ahead of the Dasara festival. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family criticized Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement that the hill is not the property of Hindus alone, leading to a heated exchange and raising questions about the nature of the upcoming Dasara celebrations.

The 25 Books Banned In Kashmir

The 25 Books Banned In Kashmir

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

Bookstore owners were cautioned against keeping or distributing the books. Police personnel briefed the bookstore owners about the legal consequences of violating the ban.

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

Rediff.com13 Aug 2025

'It is something like traditional Indian families.' 'The family might be run by younger people, but if the patriarch says that you should consider someone for some task, it is very difficult for the others to ignore it.'

'Our goal is to make India 50% of overall biz'

'Our goal is to make India 50% of overall biz'

Rediff.com15 Jun 2025

'India is a very strategic geography. The business is growing over 37-38 per cent year-on-year.'

Stalin Goes To Bihar: What Gives?

Stalin Goes To Bihar: What Gives?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

Like his father Karunanidhi and AIADMK rivals MGR and Jayalalithaa, Stalin would like to confine his real political work to Tamil Nadu, and not want to take after the late Congress leader K Kamaraj and take up a national role, even if to create greater political space for son Udhayanidhi, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Secularism means live and let live: SC on question of regulating madrasas

Secularism means live and let live: SC on question of regulating madrasas

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

Observing secularism means to 'live and let live', the Supreme Court on Tuesday said regulating madrasas was in the national interest as several hundred years of the nation's composite culture could not be wished away by creating silos for minorities.

Owaisi writes to Lalu, seeks alliance in Bihar polls

Owaisi writes to Lalu, seeks alliance in Bihar polls

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

AIMIM's Bihar state president Akhtarul Iman, the party's lone MLA in the state, has written to RJD president Lalu Prasad, formally requesting inclusion in the grand alliance.

'It Was A Trial By Bajrang Dal Workers'

'It Was A Trial By Bajrang Dal Workers'

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

'The nuns were subjected to abusive language and all types of mental torture.'

'Dravidian South Was Cradle Of Early Urban Modernity'

'Dravidian South Was Cradle Of Early Urban Modernity'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

'At Keeladi, we have not come across any evidence for organised religion.'

'Writing History Is Like Solving A Jigsaw Puzzle With A Third Of The Pieces Missing'

'Writing History Is Like Solving A Jigsaw Puzzle With A Third Of The Pieces Missing'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

'When I undertook a study of temple desecration in precolonial India, it was not enough simply to document what temples were desecrated, by whom, when, and where.' 'It was also important to explore the total historical context of such incidents, with a view to discovering patterns, which in turn could reveal the reasons why they occurred.'

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.'

Now, Sidda says BJP manipulated LS polls in Karnataka

Now, Sidda says BJP manipulated LS polls in Karnataka

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that the Congress party's setback in the recent Lok Sabha polls in the state was the result of 'illegal manipulation' of the electoral process by the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of 'misusing' the Election Commission.

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

BJP and RSS leaders are once again pushing to remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution's Preamble, showing a deeper effort to change India's identity from a diverse, multi-religious republic to a Hindu-first nation, even though they don't have the numbers in Parliament to officially change the Constitution, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Has Rahul Gandhi Forgotten The Malegaon Blasts?

Has Rahul Gandhi Forgotten The Malegaon Blasts?

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

For Malegaon's Muslims, Rahul Gandhi's remarks were simply one more indication that the party they once supported no longer cares for them, notes Jyoti Punwani.

SC mulls guidelines to regulate social media posts

SC mulls guidelines to regulate social media posts

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

The Supreme Court on Monday said citizens must know the value of the right of freedom of speech and expression, and exercise self restraint as it mulled guidelines to regulate offensive social media posts.