Counterview

By Ram Puniyani*  Even as the massive scam in the form of electoral bonds was unfolding,  Union home minister Amit Shah decided to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed nearly four years ago, by coming up with its rules and procedures. There is a direct correlation of its implementation today: the electoral bonds scam had already emerged on the surface ahead of the general elections. Strictly following its pattern of divisive politics, BJP decided to implement CAA.

By Rosamma Thomas*  On March 19, 2024, members of five families from different states in southern India got together at the Kochi Press Club to appraise the press about the loss of loved ones after Covid vaccination. Venugopalan Govindan and his wife Sujini were there from Coimbatore, to explain that they lost their young daughter Karunya after a spell of inflammation following Covid vaccination in 2021. 

By Suranya Aiyar*  A question for all Gujarati friends... For the last three years I have been working closely with the Jain Gujarati community and BJP supporters regarding the racist and cruel snatching of the child of a tech family from Gujarat in Germany. For years I have been helping them write their appeals to Indian and German officials pleading for the religious and cultural rights of the baby to be respected.

  Counterview Desk  India's top human rights group, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), in a representation to the Police Commissioner, Ahmedabad City, stating that the attack on the foreign Muslim students in the Gujarat University hostel during night time on the 16th of March, 2024 is a "matter of extreme concern and shame for Gujarat", has said, "It is unfortunate that the State government has not been able to prevent such hate driven criminals from unleashing."

By Ram Puniyani*  The leaders of BJP,  the ruling dispensation, have been claiming to be winning more that 400 (370 BJP + 30 allies) seats in the forthcoming parliamentary elections (Char sau paar) of 2024. This is not based on any psephological analysis but purely propagated for political reasons.

By NS Venkataraman*  With the announcement of poll schedule for the 2024 parliamentary election, there is palpable excitement and expectation amongst the countrymen  about the shape of things to happen in India after the  results of the election would be announced. There is also speculation abroad about the future course of developments in India.

By Harsh Thakor* The State of Israel continues to perpetrate its genocide against the Palestinian people, with the latest death toll in Gaza escalating to about 32,000 people, in addition to more than 72,043 injured and more that 8,000 missing. In the West Bank at least 421 people have been killed, and more than 4,600 have been injured. 360,000 residential units, more than half of the homes in Gaza, have been razed to the floor. 132 water wells are damaged or destroyed and only 11 out of 35 hospitals are only partially functioning. The State of Israel and imperialism continue to exaggerate claims of sexual violence being committed by fighters of the National Resistance. Israel denies investigations of the many accusations of sexual violence committed by themselves. The State of Israel continues its spree of exchanging fire with Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah toppled a mechanized Israeli military force at the Birkat Risha outpost in northern Israel with a missi...

  Counterview Desk  In a representation to the chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, human rights defender Kirity Roy, who is secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has said that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are creating "illegal obstacles" for farmers seeking to harvest their ripened yields and transport them to the market in village Jhaukuthi of Cooch Behar district.

By John P Ruehl*  On February 1, 2024, Ukraine secured a €50 billion aid package from the European Union (EU), aimed at bolstering its defense capabilities and facilitating the country’s reconstruction. Dozens of other countries , along with Western-dominated multilateral lenders like the International Monetary Foundation ( IMF ) and the World Bank , as well as private investors , have contributed billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Billions more are pledged.

By Prantik Deka  In a heartwarming news, 'Dhulia Culture of Old Kamrup (Assam)', a 26-minute long documentary, based on the traditional folk-art form of Assam, researched, produced and directed by Dr Aparna Buzarbarua under the banner of Rohini Production, has won the Best Documentary Award at the International Short Film Festival Award, which took place at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium in Kolkata, recently. The award comprises a trophy, a memento, a medal and a certificate.  It's our ultimate priority and an obligation to strengthen and elevate our age-old rich cultural heritage, speakers at the event said. The onus is on the responsible members of the society to protect and keep our culture alive by means of preservation.  People cannot afford to neglect and alienate the arts, which are such invaluable resources, with apathy and indifference, but this is exactly what is happening with the dhulia culture of Assam, an age-old folk art which is diminishing...