News for 'free speech'

The Avaz of an autistic child

The Avaz of an autistic child

Rediff.com19 Apr 2016

On April 2, World Autism Day, Ajit Narayanan explains how Avaz has transformed the lives of many autistic children across the world.

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

Pakistan Poll Results Stun Army

Pakistan Poll Results Stun Army

Rediff.com10 Feb 2024

The result is a big blow to the military establishment, revealing the limits of 'political engineering'. It reflected the anger of the electorate, especially its younger voters, who have spoken decisively against the persistent harassment and victimisation of Imran Khan's political party, asserts Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

BJP releases manifesto for LS polls: No NRC in 'Modi ki guarantee'

BJP releases manifesto for LS polls: No NRC in 'Modi ki guarantee'

Rediff.com14 Apr 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for electing a strong and stable government in an uncertain world beset by geopolitical tensions as the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday released its manifesto, prioritising development and welfare while shunning populist measures and contentious issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Shah's doctored video: 12 more summoned; AAP, Cong men held in Gujarat

Shah's doctored video: 12 more summoned; AAP, Cong men held in Gujarat

Rediff.com30 Apr 2024

In total, 17 people, including Telangana Chief Minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy, have been issued notices to appear before the Delhi police's investigation officer (in connection with the case. Sources, however, said Reddy is "unlikely" to join the probe and may send his representative.

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".

How much tax did the govt mop up in the past 2 years?

How much tax did the govt mop up in the past 2 years?

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

The income tax department has garnered about Rs 4,600 crore in taxes from 56 lakh updated I-T returns filed by taxpayers in the past two years, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chief Nitin Gupta said. In a post budget interview to PTI TV, Gupta also said the I-T department has set up a demand management centre at Mysuru, Karnataka, which is focusing on disputed pending large tax demands of above Rs 1 crore. "We are continuously improving the services and creating litigation free environment. We have come out with a facility for updation of return.

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.

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.

'Studied In Thiruvananthapuram' Will Be A Global Brand

'Studied In Thiruvananthapuram' Will Be A Global Brand

Rediff.com30 Mar 2024

Rajeev Chandrasekhar outlined his ideas to turn Thiruvananthapuram not only into a hub for higher education, but also a knowledge city, points out Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

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.

Jaishankar raises Khalistan issue with British leaders

Jaishankar raises Khalistan issue with British leaders

Rediff.com16 Nov 2023

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the United Kingdom during his meetings with the country's leaders, stressing that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech.

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.

Govt for making bribery of lawmakers punishable, SC told, but...

Govt for making bribery of lawmakers punishable, SC told, but...

Rediff.com5 Oct 2023

Bribery can never be a subject matter of immunity and parliamentary privilege is not meant to place a lawmaker above the law, the Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court which reserved its verdict on reconsideration of its judgment of 1998 when it held that MPs and MLAs enjoy immunity from prosecution for taking bribe to make a speech or cast a vote in legislature.

Is Nirmalaji A Believer In Numerology?

Is Nirmalaji A Believer In Numerology?

Rediff.com3 Feb 2024

There hasn't been any dramatic moment in the first act (the Budget) but nobody would complain. It's par for the course as long as the figures don't change in the main Budget, which will be presented after general elections.

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.

August 15, 1947: How I Celebrated Freedom

August 15, 1947: How I Celebrated Freedom

Rediff.com15 Aug 2023

'We were children and could not distinguish freedom from bondage, but we could understand that a momentous and happy event was imminent.'

What experts say about interim Budget 2024

What experts say about interim Budget 2024

Rediff.com2 Feb 2024

Following are comments from economists at leading financial institutions, banks and rating agencies on the interim Budget:

'The State must be more tolerant of dissent than it is now'

'The State must be more tolerant of dissent than it is now'

Rediff.com2 Jun 2023

'Nearly 13,000 individuals have been charged for sedition since 2010.' 'If the Supreme Court stay ever gets vacated, arrests will follow immediately.'