Archive of South Asia Citizens Wire

  • Beyond Religious Boundaries

    by Vidyadhar Gadgil, 19 November 2008

    Herald, 17 Nov 2008
    The Sangh Parivar’s perverse notions of patriotism are exposed by its stance on terrorism by saffron forces
    The arrests of Lt Col Srikant Purohit, a serving army officer, and the self-styled godman Sudhakar Dwivedi alias Dayanand Pandey alias Swami Amritanand Dev Teerth Maharaj, for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon blasts have added to the increasingly frightening picture that is emerging regarding the involvement of various Hindutvavadi outfits in terrorism. (…)

  • Pakistan: Citizens petition against shocking appointments of Zehri and Bajarani as ministers

    by sacw.net, 19 November 2008

    Please sign this petition against the appointments of Bijarani (the man who ordered that 5 minor girls be given as compensation for a murder) and senator Zehri (who openly defended the practise of honour killings) as ministers. It should take less than a minute of your time.
    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/IHI?e

  • Hindu Terrorism: The Shock of Recognition

    by Badri Raina, 19 November 2008

    ZNet, November 17, 2008
    Epigraph:
    "underlying these religions were a common set of beliefs about how you treat other people and how you aspire to act, not just for yourself but also for the greater good"
    (Obama in his interview about Religion given to Cathleen Falsani, March,27,2004; cf. to his mother’s teaching about the validity of diverse faiths and the value of tolerance.)
    I
    So, now, India is home to "Hindu" terrorism.
    Departing from the more usual banner-appelation, "Saffron (…)

  • The President-Elect and India

    by Martha C. Nussbaum, 18 November 2008

    3 Quarks Daily, 18 November 2008
    President-elect Barack Obama will face many challenges in foreign policy, but forging a productive relationship with India will be high on that list. President Clinton took a keen interest in India, and, especially, in issues of rural development. He visited rural development projects with his usual zest and curiosity, taking a particularly keen interest in the situation of women. After his Presidency, Clinton has continued his work on issues of poverty and (…)

  • Fundamentalist clamp down on freedom of artistic expression in the NWFP

    by Shaheen Buneri, 18 November 2008

    Newsline, November 2008
    Sounds of Silence
    Infiltration of religious extremism has clamped down freedom of artistic expression in the NWFP.
    They say it’s a war against terrorism, but for Pashtuns inhabiting Pakistan’s tribal areas and the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), it extends beyond that. The conflict between the Taliban militants and Pakistan’s security forces has shaken the social and cultural foundations of Pashtun society.
    Varied Taliban groups are waging a (…)

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