Behind Alarmist Portrayals of Rising Islamism in Bangladesh
Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Behind Alarmist Portrayals of Rising Islamism in Bangladesh

If you tune into mainstream media, especially in India, you might find yourself asking, “What the heck is going on in Bangladesh?” With that same question in mind, we left Delhi for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. However, our six-day journey through Dhaka and Dinajpur left us feeling more hopeful than fearful about Bangladesh’s future.

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Why Bar Association is Complaining About Supreme Court’s ‘Unilateral’ Decisions
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Why Bar Association is Complaining About Supreme Court’s ‘Unilateral’ Decisions

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has raised objections to what it calls a “unilateral” decision by India's Chief Justice to alter the iconic “Lady Justice” statue without consulting the body of lawyers. According to the bar, the top court's decision to install a new version of the statue—in a saree, with scales in the right hand, a book symbolising the Constitution in the other, and without the blindfold—is just one of several decisions made without prior consultation.

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So What If Lady Justice Statue Has No Blindfold
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

So What If Lady Justice Statue Has No Blindfold

The unveiling of the new Lady Justice statue in India’s Supreme Court—a figure without a blindfold and holding the Constitution instead of a sword—is being celebrated by some as a step towards shedding colonial symbols and embracing a new era of justice. However, this superficial gesture fails to address the deep-rooted issues plaguing the country’s judicial system.

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India’s GDP Growing but Amid Serious Hunger: 2024 Global Hunger Index
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

India’s GDP Growing but Amid Serious Hunger: 2024 Global Hunger Index

India shows serious levels of hunger, reports the 2024 Global Hunger Index, despite its GDP continuing to grow. In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), India ranks 105th out of 127 countries, with a GHI score of 27.3, indicating a serious level of hunger, despite GDP growth averaging 6.33%.

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Ladakh Spokesperson Opens Up About Fears of Remaining a UT Without Legislature
Perspective Vishal Arora Perspective Vishal Arora

Ladakh Spokesperson Opens Up About Fears of Remaining a UT Without Legislature

Having traveled 1,000 kilometers on foot, a group is now on a 21-day hunger strike in Delhi, advocating for statehood for their homeland, Ladakh, in the Himalayas in India. On the sixth day of their fast, Oct. 11, I spoke with Mehdi Shah, a key member of the group, to understand why they are so passionate about statehood and fearful of remaining a Union Territory after four years of direct governance by a distant central authority.

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Ladakh’s Sonam Wangchuk Starts New Fast as Officials in Delhi Decline Meeting
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Ladakh’s Sonam Wangchuk Starts New Fast as Officials in Delhi Decline Meeting

Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist from Ladakh, and his associates have initiated a new 21-day hunger strike after officials from the central government declined to meet with them. Wangchuk and about 150 others undertook a journey on foot from Leh to the national capital, aiming to draw attention to their demands, including statehood. Further, they have reportedly been denied permission to hold a peaceful protest in Delhi.

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What’s the Farmer’s Share When Vegetables Reach Your Table?
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

What’s the Farmer’s Share When Vegetables Reach Your Table?

When you buy vegetables from the market, have you ever wondered how much of the money you spend actually ends up in the pockets of the farmers who grow them? A study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests that only about one-third of the money you spend on tomatoes, onions and potatoes, commonly referred to as TOP, ends up with the farmers.

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Does the U.S. Have the Right to Comment on India’s Religious Freedom?
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Does the U.S. Have the Right to Comment on India’s Religious Freedom?

A report on India by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) indicates a decline in religious freedom, particularly during and following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Indian government has rejected the report, labelling USCIRF as biased and politically motivated, though without addressing the specifics of its content.

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Raghuram Rajan Warns Against Excluding Food Prices from Inflation Calculations
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Raghuram Rajan Warns Against Excluding Food Prices from Inflation Calculations

Raghuram Rajan, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), says in a media interview that he is opposed to the idea of excluding food prices from the calculation of headline inflation—essentially the overall change in prices. His concern stems from the importance of maintaining the trust and credibility of the central bank in the eyes of the public, as well as its effects on the economy and society.

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‘Manipur Tapes’ Suggest Banned Armed Groups and Police ‘Commandos’ Played a Role in Violence
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

‘Manipur Tapes’ Suggest Banned Armed Groups and Police ‘Commandos’ Played a Role in Violence

The “Manipur Tapes,” currently under review by an official enquiry commission and allegedly featuring Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s voice, suggest that Mr. Singh may have facilitated cooperation between state security forces and outlawed Meitei groups like the People’s Liberation Army Manipur (PLA) to target the Kuki-Zo minority amid the ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023, according to The Wire.

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk, 120 Others Detained After Walking 1,000 KM from Ladakh
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, 120 Others Detained After Walking 1,000 KM from Ladakh

“I am being detained... along with 150 padyatris (marchers),” tweeted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sept. 30. Wangchuk also posted a video showing hundreds of police officers blocking their path at the Delhi’s border as they proceeded towards the capital. Police claim the detainees, who had peacefully walked 1,000 kilometres from Ladakh to advocate for Ladakh’s autonomy, violated “prohibitory orders” amid a sensitive climate.

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‘Punitive Demolitions Grave Violation Of Human Rights’ UN Special Rapporteur tells Supreme Court
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

‘Punitive Demolitions Grave Violation Of Human Rights’ UN Special Rapporteur tells Supreme Court

The UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, has formally told the Supreme Court that the use of bulldozers for demolishing homes without proper authorisation constitutes a severe infringement of international human rights. This comes months after the international human rights group Amnesty International referred to the destruction of 128 properties owned mostly by Muslims in just 15 days.

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Recognising and Resisting Political Manipulation During Elections
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Recognising and Resisting Political Manipulation During Elections

As legislative elections approach in the states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it’s that time of year when contesting political parties will put their best foot forward in an attempt to co-opt us into their political battles. We may be tempted to think we have stakes in these conflicts, but in reality, our true interests might not be at the core of these struggles.

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Did 900 ‘Kuki Militants’ Really Enter from Myanmar?
Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Did 900 ‘Kuki Militants’ Really Enter from Myanmar?

An “intelligence” report has emerged suggesting that over 900 “Kuki militants,” trained in advanced warfare techniques, have crossed from Myanmar into India and may target Meitei villages in Manipur around Sept. 28. It’s quite strange that this information was shared with the public at a press conference by a senior official, rather than being communicated discretely to the Indian Army, or at least the Assam Rifles stationed at the India-Myanmar border—who are better equipped than ordinary citizens to respond.

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Manipur Inquiry Panel Urged to Initiate FIR Against Chief Minister Biren Singh
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Manipur Inquiry Panel Urged to Initiate FIR Against Chief Minister Biren Singh

Advocate Prashant Bhushan has formally requested the inquiry commission, established by the Union Home Ministry to investigate ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the state’s Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh. The plea is based on the contents of the “Manipur Tapes,” which allegedly feature Singh’s voice. Representing the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights, Bhushan accuses Singh of “conspiring and orchestrating heinous crimes” against the Kuki-Zo people, asserting that his removal from office is “necessary.”

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Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 1,000-KM Walk for Ladakh’s Autonomy
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s 1,000-KM Walk for Ladakh’s Autonomy

More than 100 volunteers, led by climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk, are part of a month-long 1,000-kilometre walk from Ladakh to Delhi. The journey, called the “Delhi Chalo Padyatra” and which started on Sept. 1, aims to revive discussions on Ladakh’s four-point agenda after talks with the central government stalled in March.

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Is Uttar Pradesh Govt Acting as if It Is the Central Authority?
Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Is Uttar Pradesh Govt Acting as if It Is the Central Authority?

The Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly enacted a new digital media policy aimed at regulating content classified as “anti-national, indecent, or harmful” on social media platforms. The policy outlines severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment for violations, despite the fact that regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting is a central prerogative and a “policy” cannot introduce new penalties.

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Who are Manipur’s ‘Narco Terrorists’?
Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora Perspective, Vishal Arora Vishal Arora

Who are Manipur’s ‘Narco Terrorists’?

In the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, the label “narco-terrorists” has been employed in what seems to be a tacit attempt to justify brutal attacks on ordinary Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal people, who are solely blamed for the state’s drug problems. This label also seems designed to hinder empathy for the tribal victims, both within the state and potentially beyond. However, at least five facts about the drug trade in this northeastern state create a different narrative—a narrative that neither any of the ethnic communities nor the ruling political party leaders would be comfortable with.

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