-Human Rights Watch Reform Laws Choking Freedom of Expression, Association New York: The Indian government failed to stop or credibly investigate vigilante attacks against Minority religious communities during 2017, Human Rights Watch said today, releasing its World Report 2018. Many senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly promoted Hindu supremacy and ultra-nationalism at the expense of fundamental rights for all Indians. Extremist Hindu groups, many claiming to be affiliated...

-Down to Earth Lack of profitability is one of the reasons cited for the proposal to do away with the scheme A proposal has been sent to the Odisha Chief Minister to do away with the minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP). Odisha’s SC & ST Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Department has communicated to the Chief Minister’s Office regarding rolling back of the MSP on MFP. ...

-The Times of India Bijnor: In order to "speed up" the vaccination drive, UP health department officials in a Minority-dominated block of Bijnor have told people that if they do not get their kids vaccinated, they will not get ration under the government scheme. According to a senior health official, the step was taken to "put pressure" on people opposing the vaccination programme. He also told TOI that the department has successfully...

-Hindustan Times Herein lies the crisis of farmer politicians. They have neither aspirations nor the power of coercion working for them. Rural distress dominated discussions around the political-economy in 2017, and will likely continue to do so in 2018, much to the consternation of political incumbents. Those in opposition will be looking forward to harvesting this anger for their own benefit. One question is worth asking though. Where is the farmer-politician in...

-Frontline.in The farce being played out in the name of Aadhaar has led to several deaths because it denies the poor their right to food and therefore life. THERE is no doubt that human life is cheap in India, perhaps more so now than ever before. The attacks, atrocities and killings of people from the Minority communities and marginalised groups, which have now become so common, are particularly appalling because they reflect...