South Asia Citizens Web

Amnesty International urges authorities in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh to immediately stop the torture and arbitrary arrest of peace activists and human rights defenders belonging to the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram (VCA) and drop all politically motivated charges against VCA member Kopa Kunjam, who was arrested on 10 December. The government must investigate reports of torture immediately, and bring those responsible to justice.

The Editors Guild of India is deeply shocked and seriously concerned at the increasing number of reports detailing the pernicious practice of publishing "paid news" by some newspapers and television channels, especially during recent elections. The Guild, at its Annual General Meeting held on December 22, 2009 has strongly condemned this practice which whittles the foundations of Indian journalism and calls upon all editors in the country to desist from publishing any form of advertisement which masquerade as news.

On the 18th December 2009, Justice Santosh Hegde released the summary report on Democracy and Governance in Karnataka (period June 2008-November 2009) at the Press Club.

A recent story from Kerala as reported by the Malayalam press and electronic media should perhaps remind us the need to uphold the Constitution of India Against Moralistic Terror
Just look at the horror stories in the media which tell us that Rajmohan Unnithan (a Congress leader) was caught for being in the company of a woman in a rented house. The local people led by DYFI and PDP activists surrounded the house and they summoned the police to stop the alleged ’anaashasyam...’. Police (…)