News for 'secular government'

SC rejects plea against Dasara invitation to Banu Mushtaq

SC rejects plea against Dasara invitation to Banu Mushtaq

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara this year.

HC upholds probe into Munambam land, slams waqf board's tactic

HC upholds probe into Munambam land, slams waqf board's tactic

Rediff.com11 Oct 2025

The Kerala High Court has criticized the Kerala Waqf Board's claim on land in Munambam as a 'land grabbing tactic' and upheld the government's decision to appoint an inquiry commission to investigate the ownership of the disputed area.

'How Will Govt Decide Who Is A 'Practising Muslim'?'

'How Will Govt Decide Who Is A 'Practising Muslim'?'

Rediff.com7 Oct 2025

'We are not all Abduls, you know. Our community has any number of retired civil and defence officers, doctors, engineers, lawyers.'

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

Rediff.com11 Nov 2025

'An asset must generate income. Equities yield dividends, bonds pay coupons, deposits give interest, and real estate earns rent.' 'Gold, silver, and even Bitcoin produce no income, they merely store value. So, they should not be compared to productive assets.'

Will remain CM for 5 yrs: Siddaramaiah amid 'takeover' buzz

Will remain CM for 5 yrs: Siddaramaiah amid 'takeover' buzz

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismisses rumors of a change in leadership, asserting he will complete his full five-year term. His statement follows comments from Congress leaders suggesting Deputy CM D K Shivakumar would succeed him.

'Uddhav Should Not Join Hands With Raj Thackeray'

'Uddhav Should Not Join Hands With Raj Thackeray'

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

'Raj Thackeray is working at the behest of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.'

'Fruits Of Vikas Have Not Reached Dalits Under Nitish Kumar'

'Fruits Of Vikas Have Not Reached Dalits Under Nitish Kumar'

Rediff.com13 Oct 2025

'We have 38 Dalits who are MLAs and ministers. But that does not mean the Dalits of Bihar are prospering.'

Karnataka's caste census marred by technical snags

Karnataka's caste census marred by technical snags

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

The Social and Educational Survey, known as 'caste census,' is underway in Karnataka, facing technical glitches and server issues. The survey, conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, aims to gather data on caste and social status across the state.

Can Bangladesh Become A Secular Nation?

Can Bangladesh Become A Secular Nation?

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

Pakistan wanted to be constitutionally communal, India wanted to be secular but is communalising itself. All three nations share a penal code, but they have amended their laws to enable the State to specifically target minorities, points out Aakar Patel.

India's Foreign Policy Panchnama

India's Foreign Policy Panchnama

Rediff.com4 Oct 2025

There has never been a moment in India's history when it has been so adrift in the world, so confused about what it stands for and against and so humiliated, asserts Aakar Patel.

'Israel Uses Starvation As A Weapon In Gaza'

'Israel Uses Starvation As A Weapon In Gaza'

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

'The ruling elite are supporting those attacking the people of Gaza.' 'As a nation we should not cooperate with the oppressor regime that is allowing mass starvation as a weapon of war.'

'Ball Is In BJP's Court'

'Ball Is In BJP's Court'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

'They have to prove the credibility of their talk; whether they want to focus on the secular face of India, whether they want to focus on democracy and above all freedom of an individual to practice his or her religion.'

Javed Akhtar event postponed after Muslims protest

Javed Akhtar event postponed after Muslims protest

Rediff.com2 Sep 2025

The West Bengal Urdu Academy has postponed a 'mushaira' featuring Javed Akhtar following protests by some Muslim groups who claim his comments hurt religious sentiments. Left student organizations condemn the postponement.

SC to pronounce interim orders on Waqf Act today

SC to pronounce interim orders on Waqf Act today

Rediff.com15 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce interim orders on key issues related to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the power to denotify waqf properties.

Mahatma Gandhi described RSS as communal, totalitarian: Cong

Mahatma Gandhi described RSS as communal, totalitarian: Cong

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the RSS on its 100th anniversary, citing excerpts from a book claiming Mahatma Gandhi described the Sangh as a "communal body with a totalitarian outlook." The party also referenced Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's criticism of the RSS.

Waqf Act: SC to pronounce interim order on Sept 15

Waqf Act: SC to pronounce interim order on Sept 15

Rediff.com13 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce interim orders on key issues related to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the power to denotify properties declared as waqf.

Cong slams oil ministry post featuring Savarkar with Gandhi on I-Day

Cong slams oil ministry post featuring Savarkar with Gandhi on I-Day

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

A post by the oil ministry featuring V.D. Savarkar alongside Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters has drawn criticism from the Congress party, accusing the BJP of distorting history.

Secularism means live and let live: SC on question of regulating madrasas

Secularism means live and let live: SC on question of regulating madrasas

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

Observing secularism means to 'live and let live', the Supreme Court on Tuesday said regulating madrasas was in the national interest as several hundred years of the nation's composite culture could not be wished away by creating silos for minorities.

'Gen Z Want Radical Change In Nepal'

'Gen Z Want Radical Change In Nepal'

Rediff.com11 Sep 2025

'They mean business, but business as usual is unacceptable to them'

'Tired today, soon to be retired': Cong's jibe at PM over RSS praise

'Tired today, soon to be retired': Cong's jibe at PM over RSS praise

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

The PM's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort today was " stale, hypocritical, insipid, and troubling", the Congress general secretary said.

HC rejects plea to remove graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat from Tihar

HC rejects plea to remove graves of Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat from Tihar

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea seeking the removal of the graves of terrorists Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhatt from Tihar Jail, citing the absence of any law prohibiting burial inside jail premises and the government's decision to maintain law and order.

Muslim woman moves SC to be governed by Indian succession law

Muslim woman moves SC to be governed by Indian succession law

Rediff.com28 Jan 2025

The Supreme Court of India has sought the Indian government's response to a petition filed by a Muslim woman seeking to be governed by the Indian succession law instead of Shariat. The woman, Safiya P.M., argues that she does not believe in Shariat and wants to be governed by secular law, including the Indian Succession Act of 1925. The court has asked the government to file a counter affidavit within four weeks.

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Wadiyars, Shivakumar in war of words over Chamundi Hill ownership

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

A controversy has erupted in Mysuru over the ownership of Chamundi Hill, home to the Chamundeshwari Temple, ahead of the Dasara festival. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family criticized Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement that the hill is not the property of Hindus alone, leading to a heated exchange and raising questions about the nature of the upcoming Dasara celebrations.

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

'BJP Not Obliged To Accept RSS Recommendations'

Rediff.com13 Aug 2025

'It is something like traditional Indian families.' 'The family might be run by younger people, but if the patriarch says that you should consider someone for some task, it is very difficult for the others to ignore it.'

'Sheikh Abdullah Was Genuinely Secular'

'Sheikh Abdullah Was Genuinely Secular'

Rediff.com9 May 2024

'Sheikh Abdullah ruled the state with secular values. Post 1953, when he was sacked, corruption took over governance.'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

'BJP Won't Be Able To Form Government In Bengal in 2026'

'BJP Won't Be Able To Form Government In Bengal in 2026'

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

'The BJP lacks a credible mass leader who matches Mamata Banerjee's popularity.' 'Given the division of votes among Opposition parties, the West Bengal government's dole-giving strategy, and the consolidation of the poor, significant sections of scheduled caste groups and Muslim minorities behind the ruling party, it will be difficult to dislodge the Trinamool from power.'

Ram temple movement reclaimed secularism: Advani

Ram temple movement reclaimed secularism: Advani

Rediff.com13 Jan 2024

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani has said the Ram Janmbhoomi movement, whose primary objective was construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, also became a symbol of 'reclaiming the true meaning of secularism from the onslaught of pseudo-secularism'.

Has Modi Sacrificed Palestine For Israel Bonhomie?

Has Modi Sacrificed Palestine For Israel Bonhomie?

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

It is high time India ends its silence on the human cost of the Gaza war and takes a principled stand without diluting its relations with Israel. A largely friendless Tel Aviv today needs New Delhi more than the other way around. India's failure now may cost it diplomatically in the long run, cautions M R Narayan Swamy.

Will GST 2.0 Fix Deeper Weaknesses?

Will GST 2.0 Fix Deeper Weaknesses?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

GST 2.0 may cushion consumers against US tariffs, but like the 2019 corporate tax cut, it risks being another tactical fix rather than a structural growth strategy, expects Debashis Basu.

Owaisi writes to Lalu, seeks alliance in Bihar polls

Owaisi writes to Lalu, seeks alliance in Bihar polls

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

AIMIM's Bihar state president Akhtarul Iman, the party's lone MLA in the state, has written to RJD president Lalu Prasad, formally requesting inclusion in the grand alliance.

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.'

The 25 Books Banned In Kashmir

The 25 Books Banned In Kashmir

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

Bookstore owners were cautioned against keeping or distributing the books. Police personnel briefed the bookstore owners about the legal consequences of violating the ban.

Pahalgam Attack: Diplomatic Win For India

Pahalgam Attack: Diplomatic Win For India

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

It is also the first time that TRF has been mentioned in any UN document. This marks the first mention of the LeT and any other Pakistan-based terror group in the report since 2019.

Why did Indira govt amend Constitution several times during Emergency?

Why did Indira govt amend Constitution several times during Emergency?

Rediff.com23 Jun 2025

The 21-month-long Emergency also saw the government amend the Constitution several times, including to keep the elections to the offices of President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Speaker beyond the scrutiny of courts and insert the words 'socialist', 'secular' and 'integrity' in the Preamble.

Stalin Goes To Bihar: What Gives?

Stalin Goes To Bihar: What Gives?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

Like his father Karunanidhi and AIADMK rivals MGR and Jayalalithaa, Stalin would like to confine his real political work to Tamil Nadu, and not want to take after the late Congress leader K Kamaraj and take up a national role, even if to create greater political space for son Udhayanidhi, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Now, Sidda says BJP manipulated LS polls in Karnataka

Now, Sidda says BJP manipulated LS polls in Karnataka

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that the Congress party's setback in the recent Lok Sabha polls in the state was the result of 'illegal manipulation' of the electoral process by the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of 'misusing' the Election Commission.

'China, Pakistan Will Try To Turn Bangladesh Against India'

'China, Pakistan Will Try To Turn Bangladesh Against India'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

'Pakistan will also try to turn Bangladesh into a base for terrorist attacks on India.'

Bharat Mata row sparks protests, war of words in Kerala

Bharat Mata row sparks protests, war of words in Kerala

Rediff.com21 Jun 2025

The editorial came amidst the ongoing tussle between Arlekar and the Marxist party-led Left Democratic Front government over the usage of 'Bharat Mata portrait' during official functions being held in Raj Bhavan.

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

BJP and RSS leaders are once again pushing to remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution's Preamble, showing a deeper effort to change India's identity from a diverse, multi-religious republic to a Hindu-first nation, even though they don't have the numbers in Parliament to officially change the Constitution, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.