South Asia Citizens Web

The right to dissent is one of the prized rights of a democracy. But India has for a time been sliding ludicrously from its chosen path, that of a democratic republic, and confusing dissent with incitement to violence and divisiveness. The charge of sedition against the writer and activist, Arundhati Roy, under Section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for voicing "anti-India" sentiments indicates the blind alley into which the democracy is turning.

The Lahore high court has overstepped its constitutional authority by preventing President Zardari from pardoning Aasia Bibi, who was unjustly convicted under a discriminatory law.

The undersigned demand that the plan to link MGNREGA to aadhaar (or UID) be revoked immediately. This is an extremely dangerous move that threatens to cause havoc in MGNREGA’s fragile structure.

Full programme details of an upcoming symposium being organised by Communalism Combat, Sahmat, Social Scientist in New Delhi from the 6th to the 8th of December 2010

Violence has become a permanent feature of everyday life in Pakistan. The country is flush with arms. From small pistols to Kalashnikovs to hand grenades to rocket launchers – anything and everything is available in this country’s arms bazaar. It was the military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq who introduced this country to gun culture, when he aligned with the Americans to battle the Russians in Afghanistan. Weapons intended for the jihadis found their way into the market and there was no way of checking this proliferation.