News for 'religious conversion'

Lessons learnt from Goa's Gudi Padwa

Lessons learnt from Goa's Gudi Padwa

Rediff.com11 Apr 2019

'We must not forget who we are and what courage and bravery were shown by our ancestors to bring us closer to the freedom we enjoy today,' says Tarun Vijay after attending the Gudi Padwa in Goa.

Battleground Rajya Sabha!

Battleground Rajya Sabha!

Rediff.com19 Dec 2014

It is not in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP has a clear majority, but the Rajya Sabha that the Opposition has ganged up to checkmate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious plans.

The Gandhi march is an astonishing sight

The Gandhi march is an astonishing sight

Rediff.com2 Oct 2020

With a staff in one hand and the other on his granddaughter's shoulder, the old man briskly takes the lead as the sun breaks over the horizon.

Court allows NIA to seek details of Skype a/c of ISIS recruit

Court allows NIA to seek details of Skype a/c of ISIS recruit

Rediff.com9 Jan 2015

A local court on Friday allowed National Investigation Agency to seek details of the conversations and chats carried out by the alleged ISIS `recruit' Arif Majeed through the telecommunication apps Skype and Tango.

A married man wanted to know what intercourse was!

A married man wanted to know what intercourse was!

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

On December 28, 2020, Dr Mahinder Watsa, India's noted sexologist, author and columnist passed away. Mumbai, and India, lost a unique icon who will be sorely missed.

Sikh man in US for two decades detained, fears deportation

Sikh man in US for two decades detained, fears deportation

Rediff.com9 May 2017

Gurmukh Singh, a 46-year-old taxi driver from Punjab who sneaked into the US without a visa through the border with Mexico in 1998, was taken into custody on Monday after failing to get a stay in his deportation case, amid a clampdown by the Trump administration against undocumented immigrants.

'Hamid Ansari looking for political shelter': BJP over 'Muslims insecure' remark

'Hamid Ansari looking for political shelter': BJP over 'Muslims insecure' remark

Rediff.com10 Aug 2017

Nobody expects such "petty comments" from a person holding such a high post, said BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

In Bihar, Shah seeks support for CAA; keeps mum on NRC/NPR

In Bihar, Shah seeks support for CAA; keeps mum on NRC/NPR

Rediff.com16 Jan 2020

He urged the crowd attending a pro-CAA rally to give a missed call to the 8866288662, pledging their support to the legislation. Shah also sought to dispel 'rumours' of discord within the NDA in Bihar and said CM Nitish Kumar will be the alliance leader in the state.

Jharkhand polls first test of Ayodhya's impact on voters

Jharkhand polls first test of Ayodhya's impact on voters

Rediff.com19 Nov 2019

Although conventional political wisdom would decree that the construction of a 'magnificent' Ram temple at his 'birth-place' would bring the BJP a big yield of votes in the prospective elections, its leaders know by now that the mandir must not exist in isolation in its game plan, reports Radhika Ramaseshan.

15 BEAUTIFUL stories, told on screen

15 BEAUTIFUL stories, told on screen

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

Aseem Chhabra introduces us to the best of Berlinale.

Paris attacks: Hasna Ait Boulahcen's turn from party girl to suicide bomber

Paris attacks: Hasna Ait Boulahcen's turn from party girl to suicide bomber

Rediff.com20 Nov 2015

Her family and friends in describing her, say she was a party animal with a bad reputation, known for having a string of boyfriends and drinking and smoking. According to them, she had no interest in religion, never read the Koran and had only started wearing a Muslim veil a few months ago.

'My wife is spying on me'

'My wife is spying on me'

Rediff.com9 Oct 2015

Rediff.com's Love Guru has answers to all your relationship problems.

'How can any human being be alive and not be an activist?'

'How can any human being be alive and not be an activist?'

Rediff.com22 Nov 2018

To be alive is to be an artist, legendary Carnatic singer T M Krishna tells the Tata LitFest in Mumbai.

Will Modi sideline the VHP once again?

Will Modi sideline the VHP once again?

Rediff.com28 Nov 2017

There are indications that the Modi dispensation was disinclined to bring the VHP into the temple-mosque frame.

Review: Save yourself from Left Behind!

Review: Save yourself from Left Behind!

Rediff.com10 Oct 2014

Left Behind is a film you need to leave behind, warns Paloma Sharma.

'Nitish's compromises are for short-term gains'

'Nitish's compromises are for short-term gains'

Rediff.com3 Feb 2020

'The JD-U has become an ideology-less accessory to the BJP,' says Ambassador Pavan Varma, who has been expelled from the JD-U.

Govt mulls extending lockdown as COVID-19 cases near 5k

Govt mulls extending lockdown as COVID-19 cases near 5k

Rediff.com7 Apr 2020

India is currently under the 21-day lockdown since March 25, with only essential services exempted to contain the fast-spreading virus.

'Hindus have always been the most powerful vote bank'

'Hindus have always been the most powerful vote bank'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2019

'Had Muslims been a vote bank, they wouldn't be in the condition they are now,' Asaduddin Owaisi tells Jyoti Punwani.

Why Modi needs to take a correct call on the J&K verdict

Why Modi needs to take a correct call on the J&K verdict

Rediff.com23 Dec 2014

The BJP has already cobbled up 28 seats to counter-bargain with the PDP's 28 seats in future talks. It is up to the Kashmir-based parties like the National Conference and PDP to assess the damage of going with the BJP which is perceived as the 'Hindu' party in the state. Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com's takeways from a historic but fractured mandate in Jammu and Kashmir.

The man who presides over the world's richest shrine

The man who presides over the world's richest shrine

Rediff.com8 Jul 2019

The new TTD chairman's Venkateswara pendant seems like a simple yet effective tool to silence his critics and to unburden the baggage of his family's religion.

India sees new single-day spike as Unlock 1 to begin next week

India sees new single-day spike as Unlock 1 to begin next week

Rediff.com5 Jun 2020

In its morning update, the Union health ministry said the total number of positive cases has reached 2,16,919 with a record spike of 9,304 new cases since Wednesday 8 am across the country, while the death toll has increased to 6,075 with 260 more fatalities in this period. A PTI tally of figures announced by different states and union territories, as of 9.50 pm, showed a higher number of confirmed cases across the country at 2,17,389 and the death toll at 6,233.

The BEST and WORST Movies of 2019

The BEST and WORST Movies of 2019

Rediff.com26 Dec 2019

Sukanya Verma lists her five BEST and WORST Bollywood movies of 2019.

Remembering Ashok Mitra

Remembering Ashok Mitra

Rediff.com2 Jun 2018

Dr Mitra called the Pandara Road crowd a 'cheerful collective of young dreamers,' united in its 'love and pride for the newly Independent India,' despite 'sharp disparities in background, temperament and attitude.' Dr Shreekant Sambrani recalls his encounters with the legendary economist who passed into the ages.

Superheroes are like us and more

Superheroes are like us and more

Rediff.com3 Apr 2019

'When we walk around wearing Batman t-shirts, buy posters of Green Lantern and collect little vinyl figurines of Hulk, such actions remind us that these heroes deal with the realities running rampant in our own lives,' says Kumar Abhishek.

I kept thinking 'hope they don't do an encounter on us'

I kept thinking 'hope they don't do an encounter on us'

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

On December 15, Mohammed Mustafa, an MBA student and IAS aspirant from Jamia Milia Islamia University, was among the students who were dragged out of the library and lathi-charged by policemen. In a conversation with Rediff.com's Divya Nair, the 26 year old recounts the ordeal he faced for a protest he says he didn't participate in or volunteer for.

Why Indian cricket must thank Vasant Raiji

Why Indian cricket must thank Vasant Raiji

Rediff.com9 Jul 2020

'With his passing comes the end of Indian cricket history.'

Citizenship Bill: Morally valid, long overdue

Citizenship Bill: Morally valid, long overdue

Rediff.com13 Feb 2019

'To treat a Hindu fleeing persecution and certain death in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan on par with a Muslim voluntarily sneaking into India for economic reasons or otherwise is callously cruel, blatantly perverse and grossly unjust.' 'The concept of equality cannot be invoked to perpetuate a historical wrong that needs to be righted,' argues Vivek Gumaste.

'It is important to talk to a Muslim'

'It is important to talk to a Muslim'

Rediff.com12 Sep 2018

'For people who are fed on nothing else but the media, what were prejudices become facts of life.' 'What my neighbour may see as just news, for me is a source of fear, living as I do, surrounded by non-Muslims.' 'So I would say it is important to talk to a Muslim, be it your neighbour or your colleague.' 'Have that conversation about what's happening to Muslims.'

'Long fight': PM asks ministers to plan 'slow' exit from lockdown

'Long fight': PM asks ministers to plan 'slow' exit from lockdown

Rediff.com7 Apr 2020

Addressing his council of ministers in a video conference, Modi asked them to prepare business continuity plans to fight the economic impact of COVID-19 on a war footing, but also asserted that this crisis is an opportunity to boost the 'Make-in-India' initiative and reduce dependence on other countries.

Discussing 'Modinomics' and 'Abenomics' in Japan

Discussing 'Modinomics' and 'Abenomics' in Japan

Rediff.com30 Aug 2014

According to official sources at the Imperial Guest House in Kyoto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat down with his host and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a traditional dining table for over one-and-a-half hours, "for an exceptionally warm and friendly conversation" over a traditional Japanese meal on Saturday evening.

After Bengaluru attack, Nigerian student attacked in Hyderabad

After Bengaluru attack, Nigerian student attacked in Hyderabad

Rediff.com6 Feb 2016

The DCP said it was a road-side brawl between the Nigerian student Orolabe Ibidola and local youths on Thursday night after the Nigerian student "put" his face inside the window of a woman's car when she was in conversation with the locals for an address.

When ISIS found home in India

When ISIS found home in India

Rediff.com16 Jan 2020

The nine meetings offer an interesting window into Shafi Armar's efforts to try and group together what after all were excitable keyboard warriors into an actual terror group, capable of handling weapons, organising recruits, cooking homegrown explosives, selecting safe training areas, safe houses and finally, committing strikes against Indian targets.

How Gandhi 'spiritualised' Nehru

How Gandhi 'spiritualised' Nehru

Rediff.com1 Oct 2019

When Nehru came in active contact with Gandhi 100 years ago, he was a Westernised rationalist while Gandhi was deeply soaked in the Indian ethos and spirituality, notes Rasheed Kidwai.

Why is this man still a governor?

Why is this man still a governor?

Rediff.com22 Dec 2017

On Thursday, December 14, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy tweeted: 'Jihadis have killed, maimed, brutalised tens of thousands of innocent people all across the world. And you ask me about a man killed in Rajasthan and then tell me not to do whataboutery!' It was not the first time that Roy's statements have provoked controversy. Should Tathagata Roy even be a governor, asks Amulya Ganguli.

Fake news has been around from Mahabharat times

Fake news has been around from Mahabharat times

Rediff.com2 Sep 2018

The ultimate was surely Yudhishthira's immortal "Aswathama hatha...", followed by a whispered "iti narova kunjarova..."," says Sunanda K Datta-Ray.

Law panel seeks people's views on triple talaq, Uniform Civil Code

Law panel seeks people's views on triple talaq, Uniform Civil Code

Rediff.com7 Oct 2016

'Should the practice of triple talaq be abolished, retained or retained with suitable amendments; and whether a uniform civil code should be optional', are among 16 queries by the commission.

Imran Khan, you are wrong on Kashmir

Imran Khan, you are wrong on Kashmir

Rediff.com10 Sep 2019

'The world is silent because your rhetoric is dishonest and rings hollow,' says former RAW officer Tilak Devasher.

Pulwama: Why I can cry no more

Pulwama: Why I can cry no more

Rediff.com23 Feb 2019

Pulwama must become the defining moment in our fight against terror, effecting a sea change in our mindset. The erratic, blow hot blow cold approach, the hallmark of our anti-terror-Pak-Kashmir policy must end. In its place is required a pragmatic, comprehensive, robust hard line course that is relentlessly pursued even in times of relative calm until the final objective is met, namely the eradication of separatism and the total annihilation of terror, says Vivek Gumaste.

Will Trump free these 52 Indians?

Will Trump free these 52 Indians?

Rediff.com27 Jun 2018

'Through a translator, I was able to speak with several of the detainees from India who are seeking asylum.' 'I was saddened to hear the detainees tell us that they are being confined in their cells for up to 22 to 23 hours a day.' 52 Indian are among the 121 asylum-seekers held in an Oregon prison. Rediff.com Senior Contributor Pottayil Rajendran reports from New York on the case that is making headlines in America, India, indeed around the world.

KARGIL: In their homes, martyrs never die

KARGIL: In their homes, martyrs never die

Rediff.com26 Jul 2019

Captain Saurabh Kalia was captured, tortured and barbarically killed in the Kargil War. For 20 years, his father has waged a war of his own to get justice for his son. Captain Kalia is no more, but he lives on in the home he did not return to.