Hate & Harmony

Twenty-two years ago, almost to the day, Bilkis Bano gave an oral statement recounting the horrors of what she had been through, to Communalism Combat magazine. Given the rather glaring trajectory of the case, where despite Bilkis’ Complaint, FIR with detailed facts, recounting the incident and naming accused, the Godhra police filed a ‘closure’ report (A Summary) which was even accepted by the local court, it is crucial that we re-visit, and read, in Bilkis’ words, her tale. Following the failures of the local administration, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) provided her the legal aid to ensure she finally does find justice, and peace.

Through a powerfully worded letter issued through her lawyer, Bilkis Bano thanked the Supreme Court, her family, friends and lawyer as well as the thousands of people who extended their solidarity to her.

From Madhya Pradesh to Karnataka, vigilante groups reportedly consisting of members from Hindutva organisations are reportedly accosting and beating Muslim youth across the country.

While delivering the verdict, J. Nagarathna slams the Gujarat government to “act in tandem” with the convicts, highlights that it was the very apprehension of complicity of the Gujarat government with convicts that resulted in transfer of case to another state

From Manipur to Delhi, Christians look back, with CJP, at the year that was 2023, reflecting with pain and regret, living amidst discrimination and violence

Located in Chhattisgarh, the Hasdeo Aranya forests are rich...

Shehzad Poonawala used a sexual innuendo against Lavanya on social media, posted a video, and encouraged his followers to share the same with a contentious hashtag

Two harrowing stories of brutality emerge from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as a 25-year-old Dalit woman is found dead in Agra, allegedly murdered by a police constable. Similarly, in Bihar's Sitamarhi, public outrage rises as a police inspector is under investigation for assaulting a Dalit woman at a marketplace.

A war of conscience and powerful words has broken out among the Indian Catholic clergy after Prime Minister Modi’s Christmas invite (December 25, 2023) to select church heads, who then circulated videos bowing in abject praise to the leader; a public campaign “Not in Our Name” was sought to be curtailed by some priests, leading to a powerful Open Letter from Father Anand in Varanasi

Speakers also criticised both the previous Congress and BJP governments for failing to protect forests and Adivasi rights.