South Asia Citizens Web

With the entry of Narendra Modi in the electoral fray as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, it is becoming clearer by the day that Muslims are going to be the biggest elephant in the room . . .

We respect your concern about the congestion in Kolkata streets and we are in opinion that a comprehensive committee set up by the State Government and constituting experts (health, environment, urban planning etc), stakeholders (cycle and NMT union representatives etc.), and traffic departments can address it, after the removal of the prohibitionary orders.

In the political history of India, a very potent weapon in the hands of the ruling party is the appointment of Judicial Commissions under the Commissions of Enquiry Act. It is the safest method to dilate the entire issue at hand or get a favourable report to claim a clean chit. The Godhra Commission headed by Justice Nanavati is a glaring illustration of this fact. Appointed in March 2002, for enquiring into the train burning incident at Godhra and the violence that followed, the Commission (…)

Segregation in housing, is a problem which will not immediately disappear even with legislation. Continuing with the status- quo, however is no longer an option for a modern India. It is time to legislatively outlaw, bye- laws that exclude on grounds of religion, caste or dietary preference. The National Commission of Minorities would also do well to look into the problem and contemplate both the legislative and the judicial options.

Articles by Amit Baruah and by Saba Naqvi and Illustration by unknown. "Why was taxpayers’ money being used to set the Gujarat police to tail a woman who obviously had no criminal intent? And now that the scandal has already played out for a week, let us ask the more profound question: how can a PM candidate in the world’s largest democracy feel he need not answer such questions, or instruct his Man Friday Amit Shah to do so?"