News for 'United Nations Human Rights Commission'

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.

Oppn parties meet Prez, seek revocation of CAA

Oppn parties meet Prez, seek revocation of CAA

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

Congress president Sonia Gandhi led the delegation. She said Modi government was 'shutting down' people's voices and bringing legislations which are not acceptable to them.

Bumpy diplomatic ride ahead for Biden

Bumpy diplomatic ride ahead for Biden

Rediff.com27 Jan 2021

The US is not going to be able to mount a concerted 'Western strategy' against China or Russia in the present international milieu, predicts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Justice Katju stings judiciary again, targets ex-CJI Balakrishnan

Justice Katju stings judiciary again, targets ex-CJI Balakrishnan

Rediff.com11 Aug 2014

Stoking a fresh controversy, Press Council of India chairperson Justice Markandey Katju on Monday alleged that the then Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan had pushed for the elevation of a Madras high court judge with "bad reputation" to the Supreme Court.

India Sitting on COVID Time Bomb

India Sitting on COVID Time Bomb

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

Whether the third wave will ravage us depends on the pace of vaccinations, careful and calibrated opening up of establishments, and a strategy to contain the spread in specific states or pockets.

Be very afraid of the biometric regime

Be very afraid of the biometric regime

Rediff.com4 May 2016

There are unprecedented political implications of identification based on 'biological attributes of an individual', such as employed by Aadhaar, warns Gopal Krishna.

Congress, BJP lock horns in and outside Parliament

Congress, BJP lock horns in and outside Parliament

Rediff.com7 Jul 2014

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance were ranged against each other both inside and outside the Parliament on the opening day of the budget session on Monday.

Confident about fairness, integrity of Indian elections: US

Confident about fairness, integrity of Indian elections: US

Rediff.com23 May 2019

Unlike other countries, the US does not send its election observers to India because of the strong independent credentials of the Election Commission of India.

Welcome any Indian peace initiative, says Iran envoy

Welcome any Indian peace initiative, says Iran envoy

Rediff.com8 Jan 2020

Iranian Ambassador to India Ali Chegeni said his country is 'not for war'. "We are looking for peace and prosperity for everybody in this region," he said.

Is Indian army's secularism under stress?

Is Indian army's secularism under stress?

Rediff.com16 Mar 2016

The foundations of the army's own peculiar secularism are potentially being destabilised

'I'm caught between Maulana Modi and Maulana Mulayam'

'I'm caught between Maulana Modi and Maulana Mulayam'

Rediff.com16 Jun 2016

Asaduddin Owaisi opens up to T S Sudhir on his party's plans for the elections in Uttar Pradesh next year and why he thinks both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party have vitiated the secular atmosphere in the state.

How the 'third gender' can play an important role in politics

How the 'third gender' can play an important role in politics

Rediff.com6 May 2014

Elect the eunuchs and they will prove their honesty in contrast to a practicing politician. Without any kith and kin, they can at least be a catalyst sorely needed for minimising, if not uprooting nepotism and favouritism that breeds corruption, says Ram Ugrah.

Governance is executive's domain, law minister says in presence of CJI

Governance is executive's domain, law minister says in presence of CJI

Rediff.com27 Nov 2018

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Monday said it was in "our best interest" to heed the advice of the Constitution as not doing so would result in a "sharp descent into chaos".

Is BRICS a folly for India to embrace?

Is BRICS a folly for India to embrace?

Rediff.com1 Aug 2014

'To consider BRICS anything more than a temporary club with some common interests would be folly. The goal should be to induce others (Japan, ASEAN, South Africa) to align with us -- a non-threatening, democratic nation, rather than with malevolent China or waning America. For us to consider aligning with either China or the US would be absurd. India is just too big to be a sidekick,' says Rajeev Srinivasan.

'Cong wants hunger to go away, BJP wants to remove the hungry'

'Cong wants hunger to go away, BJP wants to remove the hungry'

Rediff.com25 Jul 2013

The Congress on Thursday dared Narendra Modi to an open debate on his governance model in Gujarat, while rubbishing his attack on the United Progressive Alliance over the economic slowdown.

India may drag Pak to International Court over Kargil martyr Kalia

India may drag Pak to International Court over Kargil martyr Kalia

Rediff.com1 Jun 2015

India on Monday said it could approach the International Court of Justice against the brutal torture of Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia by Pakistan.

India urges ICJ to annul Jadhav's death sentence

India urges ICJ to annul Jadhav's death sentence

Rediff.com20 Feb 2019

India questioned the functioning of Pakistan's notorious military courts.

'BJP's dream of Ram Rajya will fail in Bengal'

'BJP's dream of Ram Rajya will fail in Bengal'

Rediff.com22 Feb 2021

'If the BJP thinks it is going to overnight transform Bengal into Madhya Pradesh, sorry, that's not going to happen because I have faith in our ethos and culture.'

It's 'Divided India' not 'Digital India': Opposition on intolerance

It's 'Divided India' not 'Digital India': Opposition on intolerance

Rediff.com1 Dec 2015

Opposition parties ask the government to listen to the concern of the intellectuals returning awards.

How Prof Nandini Sundar got pulled into a murder mystery

How Prof Nandini Sundar got pulled into a murder mystery

Rediff.com21 Nov 2016

While the Chhattisgarh police charged the well-known academic with a tribal man's murder, those who know her say it is vendetta at play.

Full Text: President's joint address to both houses of Parliament

Full Text: President's joint address to both houses of Parliament

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

Here's the full text of President's Ram Nath Kovind's address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on the first of Budget Session 2022.

The Lok Sabha speech that everyone must see!

The Lok Sabha speech that everyone must see!

Rediff.com27 Jun 2019

A spirited turn at the mic by Mahua Moitra, first-time MP from Trinamool Congress, in which she listed the "signs of early fascism", has been hailed as the "speech of the year" on social media.

India's Modi promises US CEOs a return to market reforms

India's Modi promises US CEOs a return to market reforms

Rediff.com30 Sep 2014

US congressional leaders on trade and finance wrote to the US International Trade Commission calling for a second investigation into India's 'unfair' trade practices, detailing any changes under Modi.

It pleases me when people say we want to saffronise education'

It pleases me when people say we want to saffronise education'

Rediff.com28 Jul 2014

G Sreedathan interviews Dinanath Batra, president of Siksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas and national convener of Siksha Bacho Andolan, who shot to fame after he was instrumental in getting American scholar Wendy Doniger's book on Hinduism pulped.

Danger grows as Xi made 'Chairman of Everything'

Danger grows as Xi made 'Chairman of Everything'

Rediff.com15 Nov 2021

Support from the committee gives Xi an indefinite extension on the reins of power, which will surely result in hawkish and insular policies. It does not bode well for relations with the USA, or with anyone else who does not bow the knee to Beijing, for that matter.

Kerala will always salute these IAF pilots for their courage

Kerala will always salute these IAF pilots for their courage

Rediff.com24 Aug 2018

Men and women of the Indian Air Force who conducted rescue missions in Kerala's worst deluge speak to Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

'Attempt to change status quo at LAC is unacceptable'

'Attempt to change status quo at LAC is unacceptable'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2020

As the pandemic unfolded, the India-China relationship has come under severe stress. To restore normalcy, agreements between the two countries must be respected scrupulously in their entirety. Where the Line of Actual Control is concerned, any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo is unacceptable, declares External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Why did Xi meet PLA generals?

Why did Xi meet PLA generals?

Rediff.com26 Jul 2021

Important for India was Xi's meeting with representatives of PLA officers and soldiers stationed in Tibet. The video of the encounter was interesting to watch, especially the large number of lieutenant generals and major generals, observes Claude Arpi.

Why the BJP 'worships' Congressman Patel

Why the BJP 'worships' Congressman Patel

Rediff.com5 Nov 2018

'This is basically aimed at vilifying Nehruvian ideals.' 'Why?' 'Because, Nehruvian leadership is seen by Hindutva forces as the one which did not let them have their Hindu Raj.' 'The Hindutva proponents have always assumed that had Sardar become the first prime minister, India could never have become a secular State,' says Mohammad Sajjad.

Vajpayee revelled in being everything to everybody

Vajpayee revelled in being everything to everybody

Rediff.com24 Dec 2014

Atal Bihari Vajpayee would seek to placate the hawks in the RSS by stating that the writing of history should not be one-sided. At the same time, he would project a moderate 'Nehruvian' image of himself as the archetypal liberal politician who would strive to attain a balance between conflicting viewpoints. A fascinating profile of the former prime minister and Bharat Ratna by Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Shankar Raghuraman.

Why did 24 Indians die off the Panama coast?

Why did 24 Indians die off the Panama coast?

Rediff.com3 Feb 2016

Lack of opportunities coupled with a desire to get rich quick in the West is fueling Punjab's human trafficking problem.

The good samaritans of Hashimpura

The good samaritans of Hashimpura

Rediff.com14 Apr 2015

The families of the Muslim youth from Hashimpura who were shot dead 28 years ago had some committed supporters in their long struggle for justice.

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

How IAF choppers helped General Sagat liberate Bangladesh

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

The retreating Pakistani troops were heading towards Dacca and they had to be stopped at all costs. The Eastern Army Commander, in his orders to General Sagat Singh, had reiterated that he did not want the troops of 4 Corps to cross the Meghna river. But General Sagat had other plans to threaten Dacca and ensure that the pressure would make the Pakistani commanders capitulate. This is where the IAF helicopters came in.

'GOM's recommendations on CBI functioning is a farce'

'GOM's recommendations on CBI functioning is a farce'

Rediff.com30 Jun 2013

The decision of the Union Cabinet based on the Group of Ministers recommendations only creates an illusion by removing the political executive and creating a proxy institution instead, says Arun Jaitley

GOM's recommendations on CBI functioning is a farce

GOM's recommendations on CBI functioning is a farce

Rediff.com30 Jun 2013

The decision of the Union Cabinet based on the Group of Ministers recommendations only creates an illusion by removing the political executive and creating a proxy institution instead, says Arun Jaitley

FULL TEXT: Pranab's address at RSS headquarters

FULL TEXT: Pranab's address at RSS headquarters

Rediff.com7 Jun 2018

The soul of India resides in pluralism and tolerance. This plurality of our society has come through assimilation of ideas over centuries. Secularism and inclusion are a matter of faith for us. It is our composite culture which makes us into one nation.

FULL TEXT: President's address to Parliament

FULL TEXT: President's address to Parliament

Rediff.com29 Jan 2021

Here's the full text of President Ram Nath Kovind's customary address to the joining sitting of Parliament on the first day of the budget session.

When a seat at the White House table becomes meaningless

When a seat at the White House table becomes meaningless

Rediff.com18 Feb 2017

'Having a voice at the table means the other side has to show up to listen. It became clear that wouldn't happen,' says actor Maulik Pancholy, one of the 10 members who resigned from the US president's advisory commission on Asian Americans.

Nets in the sky and traps on the ground

Nets in the sky and traps on the ground

Rediff.com25 Jun 2013

China has been keeping tabs on the restive Tibet province through a 'grid' system and some 600 'convenience police posts' armed with high-tech equipment that monitor the daily life of the citizens of Lhasa and other Tibetan towns. Worse, 'volunteer security groups' known as 'Red Armband Patrols' are roaming around in order to get more information and 'classify' each and every citizen, says Claude Arpi

Yashwant Sinha leads team to meet Hurriyat; BJP, Centre deny sending him

Yashwant Sinha leads team to meet Hurriyat; BJP, Centre deny sending him

Rediff.com25 Oct 2016

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday created ripples as he led a five-member delegation of civil society members to meet separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a bid to break the three-month impasse in Kashmir triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.