South Asia Citizens Web

These are scanned copies of original press statements (in cyclostyled form) issued by the Communist Party of India between late october 1976 and mid January 1977; These pertain to the 1975 emergency in India

We recognize the framework agreed upon in resolutions 21/1 HRC (2012) and 22/1 HRC 2013 supporting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka and efforts made by member states calling on the Sri Lankan government to address grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed before, during and after the war which ended in May 2009. We recognize too the efforts of member states calling on the Sri Lankan government to address continuing violation of human rights and democratic norms in Sri Lanka.

“Half a step forward, two steps backwards” would be an appropriate phrase to describe the measures taken by the UPA I & II towards ensuring justice and equality for the marginalized sections, particularly the religious minorities in India. It takes half a step and then seems to lose courage, perhaps fearing the much hyped “backlash” of the “majority community” and takes two steps backwards in penance for having taken half a step in the first place. The UPA misleads the minorities with the ineffective and often counterproductive half a step taken, while the BJP and the RSS blow whistle and go to the town claiming it to be appeasement of minorities and huge “injustice” to the “majority community”. This leaves minorities more vulnerable, insecure demoralized and discriminated than ever before. The latest decision of the Union Cabinet taken on 20th February to constitute an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is yet another example of such an approach.

The Booker prize-winning author on her essay The Doctor and the Saint and more

It was a breath of fresh air reading your public statement on the issue of homosexuality in the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court judgement upholding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexual acts. Ironically, this Apex Court judgement of 11.12.2013 had overturned the 2009 Delhi High Court judgement on the issue. Naturally there have been popular protests—and not just by Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender (LGBT) groups—all over the country and abroad. A large section of civil society appears to be in favour of decriminalising homosexual acts.