News for 'religious freedom'

Kangana's SM post: Won't arrest her till Jan 25, Mumbai cops tell HC

Kangana's SM post: Won't arrest her till Jan 25, Mumbai cops tell HC

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

The police made the statement after a bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Sarang Kotwal said the issue involved the larger question of Ranaut's fundamental right to free speech and that the court will have to grant her some ad-interim relief.

No change in US visa policy towards Modi -- at least for now

No change in US visa policy towards Modi -- at least for now

Rediff.com4 Dec 2013

Longtime diplomatic observers feel that if Narendra Modi were to become prime minister or even a Cabinet official if the BJP captures power in the next election, there is no way the State Department would refuse him entry into the US, unless Washington wanted to risk the unravelling of the carefully nurtured US-India strategic partnership. Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC.

Why Kamala Scolded Modi

Why Kamala Scolded Modi

Rediff.com8 Oct 2021

India's most powerful prime minister in five decades gets publicly admonished -- if gently -- by the US vice-president. The question is, would this make him reflect on how and why, or which ones of his government and party's missteps exposed his flank like this? asks Shekhar Gupta.

Arnab Goswami accuses 'Sonia's goons' of attacking him

Arnab Goswami accuses 'Sonia's goons' of attacking him

Rediff.com23 Apr 2020

In a video posted after the alleged attack, Goswami said he was told by his security guards that the attackers were allegedly Youth Congress workers. However, there was no confirmation of the same by either police or the youth outfit.

Sikh couple with kirpans turned away from US theatre

Sikh couple with kirpans turned away from US theatre

Rediff.com3 Jul 2013

The AMC Theatres has justified its decision stating that it has banned weapons of any sorts in its 347 theatres across the United States and Canada.

New Ways To Fight Terrorism in Kashmir

New Ways To Fight Terrorism in Kashmir

Rediff.com7 Jun 2022

In the Kashmir Valley, we need to begin to make a distinction between an insurgent who fights the security forces and a terrorist who murders unarmed civilians, suggests Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Haridwar hate speech accused Tyagi says his life is in danger

Haridwar hate speech accused Tyagi says his life is in danger

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

Haridwar hate speech accused Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, who has been asked by the Supreme Court to surrender by September 2, said his life is in danger and he may be killed in a suicide attack.

US envoy: DC has spoken to Delhi about intolerance, NGOs

US envoy: DC has spoken to Delhi about intolerance, NGOs

Rediff.com16 Dec 2015

'Yes, we engage when those issues come up and try to strike that balance between what is an internal domestic matter for the government to resolve, and what's an issue that actually should be raised on the bilateral level.'

Trump's new travel ban list includes N Korea, Venezuela

Trump's new travel ban list includes N Korea, Venezuela

Rediff.com25 Sep 2017

Officials said the addition shows the measure was set on the basis of security and was not a 'Muslim ban'.

I respect religion but it has no place on sporting field, says Soumya

I respect religion but it has no place on sporting field, says Soumya

Rediff.com13 Jun 2018

Chess player Soumya Swaminathan has been left a bit shaken by the storm triggered by her pullout from a tournament in Iran over the issue of compulsory headscarf but remains firm in her belief that religious diktats should not extend beyond places of worship.

'UP's love jihad law legalises criminal intimidation, regressive attitudes'

'UP's love jihad law legalises criminal intimidation, regressive attitudes'

Rediff.com14 Jan 2021

'Whom do I want to marry and what decisions I make for marrying the person I love are totally personal decisions, in which neither the State nor the courts have any right to interfere.'

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Rediff.com25 Nov 2020

"I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uyghurs, the Yazidi -- what ISIS did to them was truly cruel -- or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in the church," Francis says in a new book, Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future, published on Monday.

Shraddha's father blames cops, seeks death for Aaftab

Shraddha's father blames cops, seeks death for Aaftab

Rediff.com9 Dec 2022

'An inquiry should also be conducted against the police officials of Vasai and Nalasopara and Tulinj police (in Palghar district) for delayed the investigation on Shraddha's complaint'

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.

Every party has corruption in its DNA

Every party has corruption in its DNA

Rediff.com20 Jun 2019

'You cannot win an election without putting together a massive war chest.' 'It is impossible to put a war chest together, without giving and taking favours from India Inc, with a large dose of extortion thrown in,' says Devangshu Datta.

SC seeks govt's reply on plea seeking to regulate media

SC seeks govt's reply on plea seeking to regulate media

Rediff.com7 Aug 2020

Besides the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian also issued notices to the News Broadcasters Association, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority of India and the Press Council of India on the PIL filed by Delhi-based lawyer Reepak Kansal.

Zee News anchor gets SC protection in Rahul video case

Zee News anchor gets SC protection in Rahul video case

Rediff.com8 Jul 2022

The apex court also issued notice, including to the Centre through the office of the attorney general, on Ranjan's plea seeking clubbing of FIRs and protection from coercive action.

Karnataka's proposed law has 10-yr jail for mass conversions

Karnataka's proposed law has 10-yr jail for mass conversions

Rediff.com17 Dec 2021

The consequences will be stern in case SC/ST and minors are converted.

Haridwar hate speeches: SC plea seeks court-monitored probe

Haridwar hate speeches: SC plea seeks court-monitored probe

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation and prosecution in hate crimes related to the "continuous attack" on the personality of Prophet Mohammad and disparaging remarks by various people in different parts of the country attacking the very belief system of Muslims at large.

Indian-American comedians extend support to Munawar Faruqui

Indian-American comedians extend support to Munawar Faruqui

Rediff.com9 Feb 2021

In their comments, the Indian-American stand-up comedians said the arrest of Faruqui was incredibly unjust and against the freedom of expression.

US visa ban on Modi to be lifted if he becomes PM: Report

US visa ban on Modi to be lifted if he becomes PM: Report

Rediff.com1 Apr 2014

The nine-year American visa ban on Narendra Modi will automatically be lifted and he would enjoy diplomatic immunity if the Bharatiya Janata Party leader becomes the prime minister of India, according to a Congressional report.

Jama Masjid Shahi Imam urges Modi, Shah to quell winds of hatred

Jama Masjid Shahi Imam urges Modi, Shah to quell winds of hatred

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

The Shahi Imam also said he will soon seek an appointment to meet Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, saying the meeting was necessary in order to safeguard Hindus, Muslims, democracy and secularism in the country.

Hyundai regrets offence caused to people of India after Kashmir tweet

Hyundai regrets offence caused to people of India after Kashmir tweet

Rediff.com8 Feb 2022

The company further said once the situation was brought to its attention, it made the distributor acutely aware of the "inappropriateness of the action".

Statements made in Dharam Sansad not Hindutva: RSS chief

Statements made in Dharam Sansad not Hindutva: RSS chief

Rediff.com7 Feb 2022

The Sangh chief said, "Even Veer Savarkar had said if the Hindu community gets united and organised, it will speak about the Bhagwad Gita and not about finishing or harming anyone."

SC quashes FIR against winking sensation Priya Varrier

SC quashes FIR against winking sensation Priya Varrier

Rediff.com31 Aug 2018

The court said that the Malayalam folk song has been in the public domain since 1978 and the song video cannot be termed as blasphemous.

Muslim Women And The Hijab Debate

Muslim Women And The Hijab Debate

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

When turbans are allowed on school and college campuses, or sacred ash on the forehead, can one ban the hijab? asks T N Ninan.

3,500 jurists, artists slam FIR against Varadarajan

3,500 jurists, artists slam FIR against Varadarajan

Rediff.com15 Apr 2020

About 3,500 jurists, academics, actors, artistes, writers and people from other walks of life called the registration of the FIR against The Wire's founding editor an attack on press freedom.

New IT rules to put legal obligations on social media platforms: Govt

New IT rules to put legal obligations on social media platforms: Govt

Rediff.com29 Oct 2022

India's tweaking of IT rules allow formation of Centre-appointed panels, that will settle often-ignored user grievances against content decision of social media companies, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, adding that this was necessitated due to the "casual" and "tokenism" approach of digital platforms towards user complaints so far.

India, The Electoral Autocracy

India, The Electoral Autocracy

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

'The most important priority for the next 25 years should be to strengthen our democracy so that it is supportive of social harmony, and to not just respect but to take pride in the diversity of Indian society in terms of the variety of languages, religion and religious practices and social norms,' explains Nitin Desai.

Implement Places of Worship Act strictly: Waqf board

Implement Places of Worship Act strictly: Waqf board

Rediff.com28 Oct 2020

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 provides for maintaining the 'religious character' of holy structures as it existed on August 15, 1947.

'Osama' teens attack Sikh man, mother in New York

'Osama' teens attack Sikh man, mother in New York

Rediff.com9 Aug 2014

Just days after a Sikh man was hit and dragged by a truck, another Sikh man and his mother were attacked in New York by a group of teenagers who called them 'Osama Bin Laden' in an apparent hate crime, sparking fresh outrage among the community members.

Country saddened by insult to Tricolour on R-Day: PM

Country saddened by insult to Tricolour on R-Day: PM

Rediff.com31 Jan 2021

In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' broadcast, Modi maintained that his government is committed to "modernising" farming and has been taking many steps.

Editors Guild slams FIRs against journalists as 'attempt to intimidate'

Editors Guild slams FIRs against journalists as 'attempt to intimidate'

Rediff.com29 Jan 2021

In a statement, the Guild demanded that such FIRs be withdrawn immediately and the media be allowed to report without fear and with freedom.

Amid chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', MP passes law against 'love jihad'

Amid chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', MP passes law against 'love jihad'

Rediff.com8 Mar 2021

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed a bill that penalises religious conversion through marriage or any other fraudulent means and provides for a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Mob attacks temple in Pakistan's Punjab, damages idols

Mob attacks temple in Pakistan's Punjab, damages idols

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

India summoned the Pakistani charge d'affaires in New Delhi and lodged a firm protest, expressing grave concerns at this reprehensible incident and the continued attacks on the freedom of religion of the minority communities and their places of religious worship in Pakistan.

Comedian Kiku Sharda released on bail

Comedian Kiku Sharda released on bail

Rediff.com13 Jan 2016

The actor's arrest had sparked social media outrage with people calling it an attack on the freedom of speech.

Plea in SC to remove 'socialist', 'secular' from Constitution's preamble

Plea in SC to remove 'socialist', 'secular' from Constitution's preamble

Rediff.com28 Jul 2020

The move was "per se illegal for violating the concept of freedom of speech and expression enumerated in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and the right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution", it said.

HC seeks govt's reply to FB, WhatsApp pleas against IT Rules

HC seeks govt's reply to FB, WhatsApp pleas against IT Rules

Rediff.com27 Aug 2021

The Delhi high court on Friday asked the Centre to reply to pleas by Facebook and WhatsApp challenging the new IT rules for social media intermediaries requiring the messaging app to "trace" chats and make provisions to identify the first originator of information.

Kerala becomes 1st state to challenge CAA in SC

Kerala becomes 1st state to challenge CAA in SC

Rediff.com14 Jan 2020

In the petition, the government stated that the act violates "Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution of India" and is violative of the basic structure principle of secularism as well.

'We have become passive consumers of hatred'

'We have become passive consumers of hatred'

Rediff.com27 Sep 2022

'The right wing has worked for 70-80 years at the grass roots before it burst onto social media.' 'Social media is an extension of its formidable work in society.' 'If you think you can fight them on social media, forget it. You can't.'