Hostile Government raids BBC Delhi and Mumbai offices

Hostile Government raids BBC Delhi and Mumbai offices

 Indian tax authorities raided the BBC’s offices and seized its journalists’ phones in a stunning — and apparently retaliatory — move on Tuesday (February 14), says The Washington Post.  This Valentine Day move against the British broadcaster  came weeks after it aired a polarizing documentary examining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise and his handling […]

As NDTV transforms to ‘Adani TV’: more resignations

As NDTV transforms to ‘Adani TV’: more resignations

With the hostile takeover of NewDelhi Television, we have seen the last of the ‘independent’ mainstream television channels in India.  In the latest in a series of resignations at the company after it was taken over by the Adani group, Journalists and anchosr Nidhi Razdan and Sreenivasan Jain have  quit NDTV.  Razdan had worked at […]

“A Pilgrimage to India’s Soul”

“A Pilgrimage to India’s Soul”

The Bharat Jodo Yatra (March to unify India) is a “tapasya” (spiritual journey) to seek the soul of India at a time of grave crisis, says Rahul Gandhi, who leads the Kanniyakumari to Kashmir march, covering 3,570 kilometers. Gandhi is from  the Indian National Congress party. Gandhi said this while interacting with leaders of around […]

National Commission to study Dalit Converts to Islam, Christianity

National Commission to study Dalit Converts to Islam, Christianity

The Central Government is to constitute a ‘national commission’ to study the social, economic and educational status of  Scheduled Caste, or Dalit converts to ‘religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism’, it  is learnt. The proposal is being actively discussed at the Centre, and a decision is likely to be taken soon, according to some […]

Is ‘Make in India’ practical for India’s Defence Establishment?

Is ‘Make in India’ practical for India’s Defence Establishment?

The recent media reports about the state of the Indian defense system, ask whether the new policies of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” for the Defence Ministry are realistic. A media report by Bloomberg argues that the government’s ‘Make in India’ push might put the country’s defense system in trouble. It says that the thrust to boost Indian […]

For Queen Elizabeth II, India Declares State Mourning On Sunday

For Queen Elizabeth II, India Declares State Mourning On Sunday

A day of state mourning will be observed in India on September 11 “as a mark of respect” for the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced today. She died yesterday at the age of 96.“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland passed away on 8th […]

Zubair, fact-checker, a target for disinformation and hate spreaders, says Editors Guild of India

Zubair, fact-checker, a target for disinformation and hate spreaders, says Editors Guild of India

The citizens who depended on factual news and accurate reporting all over the country have expressed shock and surprise at the arrest of Muhammad Zubair, one of India’s trusted journalists, being arrested for ‘hurting religious belief’ and ‘provoking people to cause riot’. A Delhi court today [Tuesday, 28 June] granted the police four-day custody of […]

Syrian Bishop warns: ‘Losing India’s fundamental Character’

Syrian Bishop warns: ‘Losing India’s fundamental Character’

“The biggest issue we are facing is that we are quickly losing India’s fundamental character,” the Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Bishop Yuhanon Mar Meletius of the Thrissur diocese, has stated in an interview that has been picked up by several Indian newspapers. Bishop Yuhanon, also addressed as Metropolitan, has given the interview […]

MeitY takes back advisory: Even so, Mask your Aadhar!

MeitY takes back advisory:  Even so, Mask your Aadhar!

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Sunday (29 May) withdrew an advisory issued by the Aadhaar agency which cautioned people to not share a photocopy of the document with entities such as hotels and cinema halls owing to the possibility of “misuse”. On Friday, UDAI conceded that your unique Aadhar card can be […]

Sense and Sensibility should prevail over Pride and Prejudice : Madras High Court

Sense and Sensibility should prevail over Pride and Prejudice : Madras High Court

In an atmosphere of increasing animosity towards religious minorities by rightwing groups in India, the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu state recently delivered a judgement stressing the need for religious tolerance towards other religious practices.  The Court was dealing with a writ petition from a Hindu man challenging the permission granted by the Kanyakumari […]

Autonomous All India Radio local services being shut down under the guise of modernization?

Autonomous All India Radio local services being shut down under the guise of modernization?

What is happening to the world’s most diverse radio broadcasting service? Not many people know that the Central government is quietly shutting down the ‘autonomous’ regional services of All India Radio.  What is interesting is that the local AIR stations are most popular. Why is the Union government shrinking the space for vernacular languages and […]

23 journalists attacked in the Northeast, 108 India-wide: Report

23 journalists attacked in the Northeast, 108 India-wide: Report

At least 23 journalists and media houses came under attack by miscreants in the three Northeast states of Tripura, Assam and Manipur in 2021. Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) states this in its report titled – “India Press Freedom Report 2021”, which was released on Wednesday [February 2]. In its report, the RRAG has […]