News for 'religious harmony'

At Sivagiri mutt, Sonia makes veiled attack on BJP

At Sivagiri mutt, Sonia makes veiled attack on BJP

Rediff.com30 Dec 2015

She said there were attempts to communalise the guru's teachings and this amounts to 'betraying' him.

EXCLUSIVE: No country for the Rohingyas

EXCLUSIVE: No country for the Rohingyas

Rediff.com2 Mar 2017

Imagine being a part of a country, but being discriminated against by the majority community and atrocities being committed against you by the state. This is the deplorable conditions that the Rohingyas of Myanmar live in where they are cut off from their livelihoods and sources of income, unable to access markets, hospitals and schools, and have little or no access to relief aid. In order to understand the situation and the genesis of the tragedy unfolding, Rediff.com's Archana Masih speaks to Ambassador Vijay Nambiar, the United Nations' Chef de Cabinet (Chief of Staff), who had served a long stint with the UN in New York on the issue.

The real culprits behind India's Partition

The real culprits behind India's Partition

Rediff.com24 May 2018

AMU has once again been pulled into a crossfire of crass political opportunism. In these post-truth times, that the university also had political stirrings not subscribing to the Muslim League is chosen to be forgotten, says Mohammad Sajjad.

If you're upset, Mr Prime Minister, don't bottle it up

If you're upset, Mr Prime Minister, don't bottle it up

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

A strong leader, known for his strong speeches, uses his communication skills to guide and heal. He does not wait for 10 days to comment, provoking a worried President to speak instead-not once, but twice.

With 'Jai Bhim-Jai Mim' can Owaisi woo Uttar Pradesh?

With 'Jai Bhim-Jai Mim' can Owaisi woo Uttar Pradesh?

Rediff.com13 Jul 2015

Bhim denotes Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar, while Mim denotes the letter 'M' in the Urdu alphabet; the party used the slogan effectively in the 2014 Maharashtra assembly elections

'Communal riots never happen in a political vacuum'

'Communal riots never happen in a political vacuum'

Rediff.com22 Apr 2015

'Communalism and communal riots happened in India only during and due to colonialism. Pre-colonial India didn't have this problem of communal conflicts and religious strife.'

'ISI has encouraged, trained, funded terrorists'

'ISI has encouraged, trained, funded terrorists'

Rediff.com26 Feb 2019

'The Pakistani military has encouraged and supported terrorist organisations, especially in Kashmir, as a means of waging proxy war against the Indian military and the country's superior economic resources.' 'The evidence is irrefutable with the recent killing of 46 paramilitary troops being just the latest example.'

Will be powerful voice of Amritsar in Delhi: Jaitley

Will be powerful voice of Amritsar in Delhi: Jaitley

Rediff.com26 Mar 2014

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley faces a tough electoral battle in his maiden bid to enter Lok Sabha from Amritsar but is unfazed by his "reluctant" heavyweight opponent Capt Amarinder Singh as he claims the groundswell against Congress "adds to my confidence".

MUST READ: The Narendra Modi Interview

MUST READ: The Narendra Modi Interview

Rediff.com2 Jan 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on range of issues -- from Rafale deal to Ram temple and triple talaq.

CBI court to sentence Dera chief on Monday

CBI court to sentence Dera chief on Monday

Rediff.com27 Aug 2017

Ahead of the pronouncement of the sentence, police have left nothing to chance and have taken important functionaries of the sect, who could gather followers, into preventive custody.

Shashi Tharoor: The Sangh does not speak for Hindus like me

Shashi Tharoor: The Sangh does not speak for Hindus like me

Rediff.com13 Jul 2018

'Must every believing Hindu automatically be assumed to subscribe to the Hindutva project?' asks Shashi Tharoor.

'Why are Hindus controlling the Mahabodhi temple?'

'Why are Hindus controlling the Mahabodhi temple?'

Rediff.com25 Jul 2017

'The Mahabodhi temple is the only example in the world where a religion's most sacred place is controlled by people belonging to another religion.'

Will develop Bodh Gaya as spiritual capital, says Modi

Will develop Bodh Gaya as spiritual capital, says Modi

Rediff.com5 Sep 2015

Describing Bodh Gaya as the "land of enlightenment", Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said his government would develop the site as the spiritual capital for it to serve as a civilisational bond between India and the Buddhist world.

Why Hindus need a Narendra Dabholkar

Why Hindus need a Narendra Dabholkar

Rediff.com3 Sep 2013

The rationalist has proved to be a greater voice of reason in death than he was during his lifetime.

'The L-G is playing a dangerous game'

'The L-G is playing a dangerous game'

Rediff.com4 Oct 2017

In an interview with Rediff.com Puducherry CM spoke about his plans for the state, Rahul Gandhi and his daily friction with the lieutenant governor.

'What we leave behind of ourselves through work is most important'

'What we leave behind of ourselves through work is most important'

Rediff.com23 Jul 2016

In an interview to HarmonyIndia.org, the artist, who had famously said that he lived to paint and painted to live, spoke of what the 'bindu' meant to him, about his friend M F Husain and the legacy that he will leave behind.

Sri Sri's World Cultural Festival starts off on a high

Sri Sri's World Cultural Festival starts off on a high

Rediff.com11 Mar 2016

Seen as one-of-its-kind event, the festival offers a platform for spiritual and religious leaders, politicians, business leaders, peacemakers and artists to spread the message of global peace and harmony in diversity.

'BJP feels intimidated by the fringe elements'

'BJP feels intimidated by the fringe elements'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2016

'I do not call the BJP or RSS as extremist groups, but some small groups all over India have started behaving aggressively after the BJP came to power.' 'These groups think they have the authority to attack anyone and impose their ideas on people.'

Why the BJP must be cautious in talking to Pakistan

Why the BJP must be cautious in talking to Pakistan

Rediff.com24 Dec 2015

'The softening of India's attitude towards Pakistan -- whatever the compelling reasons -- opens up the BJP to harsh scrutiny.' 'This is a high stakes gamble with the potential for devastating losses,' warns Vivek Gumaste.

Yakub Memon hanged in Nagpur Jail

Yakub Memon hanged in Nagpur Jail

Rediff.com30 Jul 2015

Yakub Memon, who was convicted for helping finance the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993 in which 257 people were killed, was hanged at the Nagpur Central Jail on Thursday morning shortly before 7am.

Politicos spar over Dadri lynching, question PM's silence

Politicos spar over Dadri lynching, question PM's silence

Rediff.com2 Oct 2015

"This wasn't an attack over meat. He has been killed in the name of religion. This is a pre-planned, cold-blooded killing. It cannot be an accident," said Owaisi.

PM holds talks with UAE crown prince, denounce terrorism in all forms

PM holds talks with UAE crown prince, denounce terrorism in all forms

Rediff.com17 Aug 2015

Apart from key bilateral issues, the two leaders also discussed situation in the region, particularly in wake of the increasing threat of terrorism and extremism from various sources including the Islamic State militant group.

India, Indonesia ties elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India, Indonesia ties elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Rediff.com30 May 2018

The 2 countries signed 15 agreements including one on defence cooperation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 'productive discussions' with President Joko Widodo.

'Sanskrit must be janbhasha; it's not a language of Brahmins alone'

'Sanskrit must be janbhasha; it's not a language of Brahmins alone'

Rediff.com17 Oct 2013

New Delhi-based Samskrita Bharati has decided to take upon itself the task of cleaning up Indian languages and introducing Sanskrit as the mainstream language. Dinesh Kamath, the organisation's all-Bharat organising secretary, speaks to Vicky Nanjappa about the cause.

'Karnataka government has utterly failed'

'Karnataka government has utterly failed'

Rediff.com8 Sep 2017

'If, in the first 48 to 72 hours, they are just on a wild goose chase, then Gauri Lankesh's murder will not get solved.'

'A person who has understood Islam will never become a fundamentalist'

'A person who has understood Islam will never become a fundamentalist'

Rediff.com5 Jul 2016

'When you have the freedom to have mosques, the freedom to have madrasas and the freedom to pray, why should you turn to terrorism?' 'Both mother and father are equally important to every person. Similarly, both our country and religion are important for a citizen.' 'I would say that terrorism has no religion. A small segment of people from all religions are terrorists.'

Lessons from the Charlie Hebdo episode

Lessons from the Charlie Hebdo episode

Rediff.com21 Jan 2015

'Where does one draw the line? At what point does your right to free speech cross the limit of civilised discourse and provoke me to take offence?' 'And if you have the right to offend, what about someone else's right to be offended?' asks Hasan Suroor.

Why the RSS is not untouchable

Why the RSS is not untouchable

Rediff.com7 Oct 2014

The real danger in India is not majoritarianism but minorityism, a bane we have already experienced. Majoritarianism in the India context means plurality and tolerance. No one needs to fear, says Vivek Gumaste

Pakistan and its seven states of delusion

Pakistan and its seven states of delusion

Rediff.com27 Feb 2015

'Pakistan is full of 'religious entrepreneurs' like Hafeez Saeed who poison the minds of the young so that they can be motivated to become terrorists. They work in concert with the rulers of Pakistan. It is a private-public partnership.'

4 ways to tackle Islamic State's terror

4 ways to tackle Islamic State's terror

Rediff.com25 Jul 2016

'The use of nuclear/biological/chemical weapons by Islamic terrorists is just a matter of time.' 'It must be clearly understood what the world faces is a global level insurgency against the world order.' 'Terrorism is merely a tactic and Islamic State its most brutal face, says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

'Kejriwal has been exposed as a run-of-the-mill politician'

'Kejriwal has been exposed as a run-of-the-mill politician'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2015

Swaraj Samvad has moved on to be a nationwide agenda, says group convenor Professor Anand Kumar.

Exclusive! Cardinal tells PM: 'Walk the talk'

Exclusive! Cardinal tells PM: 'Walk the talk'

Rediff.com30 Mar 2015

'The BJP had ruled earlier too, but nothing of this sort happened then... I don't say the government is behind the attacks, but they don't do anything to stop the attacks.' 'The prime minister has to tell the perpetrators that it is not in the interest of the government that such incidents happen.' 'When somebody says all Indians are Hindus, responsible people should ask him to stop and assure the country that this is not the opinion of the government. But it is not happening and it is quite unfortunate,' Cardinal Baselios Cleemis tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview.

What Modi's UAE visit means: An Insider View

What Modi's UAE visit means: An Insider View

Rediff.com17 Aug 2015

'Here is a man who can steer the country out of the woods. That sense of hope towards Modi was already there. And now that he has actually visited this region, it will go to the next level.' Zafar Sareshwala, a close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, shares his impressions about the PM's historic visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Mamata Model: Paranoia and vote-bank politics

Mamata Model: Paranoia and vote-bank politics

Rediff.com29 Apr 2014

There is indeed a Bengal Model but it is one which negates generational aspiration, generates animus, thrives on bloodletting and political vendetta, reiterates outdated ideas of vote bank politics, is shorn of any vision or roadmap for reconstruction and is fast depleting the levels of a legitimate tolerance, says Dr Anirban Ganguly.

Dalit protests turn violent during Bharat bandh, 9 dead

Dalit protests turn violent during Bharat bandh, 9 dead

Rediff.com3 Apr 2018

Incidents of arson, firing and vandalism were reported from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab as protesters agitated against the dilution of the SC/ST Act.

India, Russia ink key pact for 2 nuclear power units

India, Russia ink key pact for 2 nuclear power units

Rediff.com1 Jun 2017

The two countries also asked all nations to stop cross-border movement of terrorists and asserted that a decisive collective response from the international community without 'double standards and selectivity' was required to combat the threat of terrorism.

'I am not secular, I am a Hindu'

'I am not secular, I am a Hindu'

Rediff.com25 Mar 2016

'As a governor, I have every right to speak my mind if I feel the security of my country is at stake.' 'Why is it that we would have to shed tears when Muslims are killed or tortured, but have to keep mum when the Hindus receive the same treatment?'

Of Hindu, Hindustan, Hindi

Of Hindu, Hindustan, Hindi

Rediff.com11 Sep 2014

Our problem is that we look at these words from a non-Indic perspective, says Sanjeev Nayyar.

China's message to India

China's message to India

Rediff.com7 Aug 2015

'China's latest defence White Paper has been issued against the backdrop of the upgraded Sino-Pakistan strategic relationship which has impinged on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Beijing's continuing intransigence on tackling the issue of the disputed border or intrusion by PLA troops,' says Jayadeva Ranade.

'We now have a prime minister who talks'

'We now have a prime minister who talks'

Rediff.com2 Jun 2015

'This is not a small change, it's a BIG change. People wanted to hear the voice of their PM. They can do so now. This is a big parivartan.'