South Asia Citizens Web

Following the victory in 2014 elections will the Narendra Modi led govt. move to alter the nature of the relationship India has with Kashmir and modify the article 370 of the Indian constitution. A selection of articles from the Indian media are posted below to understand the issues involved.

All those people who are familiar with the stigmatisation and terrorisation of a people and a community in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 attack can recount many such stories of miscarriage of justice, innocents being lodged in jail for years together and the tragedies which befell their families. The case of Mahel Arar was unique in many ways in the sense that because of the tremendous uproar in the Canadian society over this issue, Stephen Harper, then Prime Minister of Canada sought public apology for the ordeal which Maher went through and for the role played by Canadian officials in the whole affair. All the six were arrested for their alleged support to the terrorists who died in the Akshardham terror attack. It was September 25, 2002 and the famous Akshardham temple in Ahmedabad came under attack. It is time that PM Narendra Modi, decides to do a Harper.

Given the emphatic victory of Narendra Modi and the BJP in the recent Indian elections, should secularists, human rights activists, liberals, feminists be worried? While the BJP win is based on about 31% of the popular vote, the democratic mandate by the Indian electorate is a powerful one and, for the first time in its history, the BJP can govern India without being unduly constrained by coalition partners. How can secularists and human rights activists oppose this kind of democratic mandate?

Gandhi and Nehru had differences. But they had strong mutual synergies on vital issues.

Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace & Democracy (PIPFPD) welcomes the decision of the Indian and Pakistani governments that Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Prime Minister, will attend the swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister designate, on May 26, 2014. Nawaz Sharif’s presence along with other SAARC countries leaders will send a positive and strong message that only consistent dialogue processes can bring peace and prosperity in South Asia. We hope that in the middle of hectic political activities the SAARC leaders will be able to interact with each other and address the challenges they are faced with.