News for 'free speech'

Right to fight election not a fundamental right, rules SC; fines petitioner

Right to fight election not a fundamental right, rules SC; fines petitioner

Rediff.com13 Sep 2022

The apex court noted that the Representation of People Act, 1950, read with the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, has contemplated the name of a candidate has to be proposed while filling the nomination form.

'I Vote According To My Will. I Don't Listen To Anyone'

'I Vote According To My Will. I Don't Listen To Anyone'

Rediff.com27 May 2024

In a poor village of daily wage earners in Siwan, Bihar, people speak about their hard lives and why they vote.

HC seeks Twitter's reply to lawsuit over inaccessible account

HC seeks Twitter's reply to lawsuit over inaccessible account

Rediff.com1 Nov 2022

The Delhi high court on Tuesday sought Twitter's response on a lawsuit filed by Abhijit Iyer Mitra, seeking restoration of his account on the website that has been "unilaterally banned" and made inaccessible to his followers.

I-Day speech: Modi unveils roadmap for assertive India

I-Day speech: Modi unveils roadmap for assertive India

Rediff.com15 Aug 2021

"India has given a stern signal to its enemies by conducting surgical and air strikes. This tells us that India is changing and can take the most difficult decisions and isn't reluctant to implement them," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday in his Independence Day address to the nation.

White House condemns trolling of scribe who questioned Modi

White House condemns trolling of scribe who questioned Modi

Rediff.com27 Jun 2023

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reporter Sabrina Siddiqui asked Prime Minister Modi about the rights of minorities in India and what steps his government was willing to take to improve them and also uphold free speech.

Ulajh Review: Diplomatic Doldrums

Ulajh Review: Diplomatic Doldrums

Rediff.com2 Aug 2024

Ulajh strikes you as an attempt at statement-making gone horribly wrong, a punchline that doesn't land, a roar that never reaches the ear, observes Sreehari Nair.

General To Head Largest Muslim Democracy

General To Head Largest Muslim Democracy

Rediff.com15 Feb 2024

Prabowo was accused in the late 1980s of making a number pro-democracy activists mysteriously disappear and for human rights abuses in the provinces of East Timor and Papua and was denied a visa to the US.

Rahul deserves no sympathy, says Purnesh Modi; seeks dismissal of plea in SC

Rahul deserves no sympathy, says Purnesh Modi; seeks dismissal of plea in SC

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

Modi said Gandhi, during his cross-examination, not merely failed to make any dent in the prosecution's case, but practically admitted the defamation of all persons bearing the Modi surname.

JNU student Sharjeel Imam's bail plea rejected in 2019 Jamia rioting case

JNU student Sharjeel Imam's bail plea rejected in 2019 Jamia rioting case

Rediff.com22 Oct 2021

A Delhi court on Friday denied bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University student Sharjeel Imam in connection with allegedly giving an inflammatory speech and inciting violence in 2019, saying that the speech was on communal lines and its content 'tend to have a debilitating effect on the peace and harmony.'

K'taka poll is not about you: Rahul on PM's 'abused 91 times' charge

K'taka poll is not about you: Rahul on PM's 'abused 91 times' charge

Rediff.com1 May 2023

'You (Modi) come here and don't even take the name of your Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) and (B S) Yediyurappa (former CM). Your speeches are all about Narendra Modi'

'Post Office Bill Certain To Be Misused'

'Post Office Bill Certain To Be Misused'

Rediff.com19 Dec 2023

'It does two things that even our erstwhile colonial masters did not deem fit for their subjects: The Bill does away with any checks or balances on the exercise of interception and surveillance powers, including any penalty whatsoever for unauthorised interception, opening, scrutiny, or destruction of postal materials.'

Congress leader of tukde-tukde gang: Quotes from Modi's Lok Sabha speech

Congress leader of tukde-tukde gang: Quotes from Modi's Lok Sabha speech

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

Here are some top quotes from Prime Minister Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha.

Kapil Sibal's personal website hacked

Kapil Sibal's personal website hacked

Rediff.com30 Nov 2012

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's personal website has been hacked and defaced by groups alleging Internet censorship and curbs on free speech.

Delhi court grants bail to Zubair, extols Hindu tolerance

Delhi court grants bail to Zubair, extols Hindu tolerance

Rediff.com15 Jul 2022

A magisterial court had on July 2 dismissed his bail plea and sent him to 14-day judicial custody (JC) in the case, citing the nature and gravity of the offences against the accused and observing that the matter was at an initial stage of investigation.

Salman Rushdie stabbed at New York event, undergoes surgery

Salman Rushdie stabbed at New York event, undergoes surgery

Rediff.com13 Aug 2022

Salman Rushdie, the Mumbai-born author of the Booker Prize-winning novel Midnight's Children, was attacked by a man who stormed the stage during an event in New York on Friday while he was getting ready to deliver a lecture.

SC: Profane OTT content can't be regulated by criminalising it

SC: Profane OTT content can't be regulated by criminalising it

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

The top court set aside the Delhi high court verdict of March 6, 2023, by which it had upheld an order of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) asking the Delhi Police to register an FIR in connection with an episode in web series, 'College Romance', against TVF, the show's director Simarpreet Singh and actor Apoorva Arora under the Information Technology Act.

Twitter openly left-wing, censors right-wingers: Insider

Twitter openly left-wing, censors right-wingers: Insider

Rediff.com17 May 2022

People working at the company hate 'hated' Elon Musk's USD 44 billion bid to take control of the company.

Human rights body raps India for sexual violence

Human rights body raps India for sexual violence

Rediff.com2 Feb 2013

India has been accused of "failure" to curb incidents of sexual violence against women and for "restrictions" on right to free speech by global rights group Human Rights Watch, which said the country continues to have "significant human rights problems".

Sunita Kejriwal set to replace husband as Delhi CM?

Sunita Kejriwal set to replace husband as Delhi CM?

Rediff.com2 Apr 2024

With Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal having been sent to judicial custody till April 15 by a city court in connection with the excise policy case, buzz over his replacement intensified even as his party leaders asserted that he will continue to head the government no matter how long he stays in jail.

Voter's right trumps donor's privacy: SC on electoral bonds

Voter's right trumps donor's privacy: SC on electoral bonds

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

A voter's right to know is 'far too important' in democracy than the privacy of a donor, Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna said on Thursday as the apex court scrapped the 2018 electoral bond scheme for funding political parties.

Airing views no impediment to becoming judge: SC collegium

Airing views no impediment to becoming judge: SC collegium

Rediff.com19 Jan 2023

It said the issues on which opinions have been attributed to him are in the public domain and have been extensively deliberated upon in the media.

Modi's New Target: Digital Media

Modi's New Target: Digital Media

Rediff.com18 Apr 2023

Particularly the small and independent Web sites that have developed a following in the recent past because the mainstream is seen as totally aligned with the government, points out Aakar Patel.

An Era Of Secrecy Is Over For Modi

An Era Of Secrecy Is Over For Modi

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

'The word 'ally' in a coalition is misleading because it suggests someone who is always for you and with you. This is incorrect.' 'They are always for themselves and sometimes with you,' explains Aakar Patel.

How can you use 'jumla' for PM, where is Lakshman Rekha, HC asks Umar Khalid

How can you use 'jumla' for PM, where is Lakshman Rekha, HC asks Umar Khalid

Rediff.com27 Apr 2022

The Delhi high court Wednesday expressed its displeasure over the use of the term jumla by former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid in his criticism of the prime minister while delivering the speech.

Dharma vs religion PIL: Delhi HC issues notice to Centre, Delhi govt

Dharma vs religion PIL: Delhi HC issues notice to Centre, Delhi govt

Rediff.com8 Nov 2023

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Centre and city government on a public interest litigation seeking a direction to the authorities to use the "proper meaning" of the term "religion' and not use it as a synonym of "dharma" in official documents.

Who Will Vote For Vijay, And Why?

Who Will Vote For Vijay, And Why?

Rediff.com14 Aug 2024

Where do Vijay and his TVK expect to get their votes from? Vijay has a huge fan following among women, but will they automatically become his voters like they had done for MGR's AIADMK, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

Why government's web censorship is faulty

Why government's web censorship is faulty

Rediff.com27 Aug 2012

In the poorly planned blocking of several websites and accounts on the social networks Twitter and Facebook, it has demonstrated not just the wrong instincts, but a wholesale lack of effectiveness.

Cops question Twitter India head over 'toolkit row': Sources

Cops question Twitter India head over 'toolkit row': Sources

Rediff.com17 Jun 2021

The police had also visited the Twitter India offices in Lado Sarai, Delhi and Gurgaon on May 24 with the notice over the tagging some of the posts on an alleged Congress "toolkit" against the Central government, as "manipulated media".

Modi shares winning formula with BJP workers in Kerala

Modi shares winning formula with BJP workers in Kerala

Rediff.com17 Jan 2024

Addressing a gathering of around 6,000 in-charges of 'Shakti Kendras,' each comprising two to three booth-level areas, at Marine Drive, the prime minister said that Kerala has the potential to influence who will be in power in Delhi.

Interim Budget: No, Just A True Vote On Account!

Interim Budget: No, Just A True Vote On Account!

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

She has shown shrewdness, sensitivity, and courage. All of these will be needed in ample quantities for the real challenge that will emerge after the elections, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Why Aattam Is A Masterpiece

Why Aattam Is A Masterpiece

Rediff.com21 Mar 2024

What follows is essentially a long scene set in a single location, and you watch in amazement as the scene grows into one of Indian cinema's funniest and most spectacular pieces of sustained craftsmanship, accumulating emotional power and subtext, growing wings and claws, becoming its own beast, applauds Sreehari Nair.

Sitharaman's pre-election budget shuns populism, boosts infra spend

Sitharaman's pre-election budget shuns populism, boosts infra spend

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced a Rs 11.11 lakh crore spending on infrastructure and vowed to continue reforms as she resisted resorting to populist measures in Modi government's last Budget before general elections, instead choosing to stay on the path of cutting deficit while bolstering measures for focus groups.

'Why Not Bundelkhand In Modi's Third Term?'

'Why Not Bundelkhand In Modi's Third Term?'

Rediff.com19 May 2024

'The Congress in the past backed the demand, but will not support it now since the SP opposes any division of UP.'

Prankster ruins May's major speech in UK

Prankster ruins May's major speech in UK

Rediff.com4 Oct 2017

He was arrested by Swiss authorities for trespassing at the event in July 2015 but later released.

Social media post on farmers: Kangana fails to appear before Mumbai Police

Social media post on farmers: Kangana fails to appear before Mumbai Police

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

An FIR was registered against Ranaut at Khar police station last month following a complaint by a Sikh organisation.

What Can India Expect If Modi Returns?

What Can India Expect If Modi Returns?

Rediff.com3 Jun 2024

'The Opposition will continue to be attacked through misuse of agencies, civil society will be force-marched towards extinction and India's plummeting on global indices will continue.' 'Minorities and especially Muslims will continue to have open season declared on them. Institutions will continue their decline,' predicts Aakar Patel.

SC grants protection to 'The Wire' journos against FIRs in UP

SC grants protection to 'The Wire' journos against FIRs in UP

Rediff.com8 Sep 2021

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it does not want freedom of press to be muzzled but it cannot create a separate avenue for journalists to approach it directly for quashing of FIRs lodged against them.

SC strikes down electoral bonds as 'unconstitutional', orders disclosure of donors

SC strikes down electoral bonds as 'unconstitutional', orders disclosure of donors

Rediff.com16 Feb 2024

In a landmark judgment that delivered a big blow to the government, the Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the electoral bonds scheme, saying it violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression as well as the right to information.

Is Election Slipping Out Of Modi's Hands?

Is Election Slipping Out Of Modi's Hands?

Rediff.com1 May 2024

In nearly 100 seats, the BJP stands almost no chance of winning. In 200 seats, it is a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress where the BJP has an upper hand. In 243 seats, the BJP is pitted against regional parties and it is not going to be easy. That is why 400 seats may end up as a pipe dream, states Ramesh Menon, author of Modi Demystified: The Making of a Prime Minister.

Akhil Gogoi walks free as court clears him of all charges

Akhil Gogoi walks free as court clears him of all charges

Rediff.com2 Jul 2021

Akhil Gogoi, member of the legislative assembly from Sivasagar in Assam, is likely to be released from jail on Thursday as a special NIA court cleared him and his three associates of all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged role in the violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act stir in Assam in December 2019.