Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Indian Nationalism and Execution of Afzal Guru

    by Tapan Bose, 22 February 2016

    The Indian state sees the movement in Kashmir as Pakistan’s proxy war. It refuses to accept that there is popular support for the movement for self-determination in Kashmir. Yet it has tied down nearly half a million members of its armed forces in crushing the movement in the valley for more than two and a half decades.

  • India: The iconic ’Hall of Nations’ at New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan under threat of Demolition - reports & commentary

    22 February 2016

    When Hall of Nations, one of Delhi’s iconic structures, was inaugurated in 1972, it became a symbol of India’s rapid progress and modernity. Hall of Nation, India’s first pillar-less building, was constructed to commemorate 25 years of the country’s independence. Architect Raj Rewal and structural engineer Mahendra Raj who designed these buildings said they were prepared to fight till the end to save the structures.

  • Bangladesh: Charging Editors Is Dramatic Backslide - Statement by Human Rights Watch

    22 February 2016

    Bangladeshi authorities should immediately withdraw all criminal charges filed against the editors of the Daily Star and Prothom Alo, the country’s leading newspapers, Human Rights Watch said today. Bangladesh should repeal its criminal defamation and sedition laws, which violate international standards.

  • We’re Leftist, not anti-India

    21 February 2016

    The Times of India
    We’re Leftist, not anti-India: Wanted JNU girl’s motherAbsconding’ JNU girl is pride of Bihar’s dalit village Sayantanee Choudhury | TNN | Feb 20, 2016, 11.04 PM IST
    Ara: "Chintu’s parents are members of CPI-ML (Liberation) and Chintu is a functionary of its student wing, All India Students Association (AISA). We are Leftists to the core of our hearts, but not anti-nationals — not even in the wildest of our dreams," 40-year-old Sarojini Devi says, sounding far more (…)

  • India: Human Rights Defenders under Police Attack in Chhattisgarh - Statement by WSS

    21 February 2016

    Soni Sori, local adivasi leader and the Aam Aadmi Party coordinator for Bastar Division, was attacked by three goons on her way home on the 20th of February in Geedam. The attack on Soni Sori is part of a larger campaign of State violence in Bastar; Under the guise of anti-Naxal operations, the security forces are indulging in rape and plunder. Teams of women activists have documented three cases of mass sexual violence in the past three months, where security forces have entered villages in Sukma ad Bijapur - stripping women, indulging in gangrape, looting their food supplies, and destroying their homes and granaries.

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