India

The Battle of Belonging: Why India’s Passport Controversy Matters

A passport is undeniably a travel document, but it is also the republic’s assurance of belonging and sovereign protection in moments of crisis. Reducing it to mere travel facilitation strips it of its civic meaning, since passports are issued not to transients but to members of a political community.

59 ‘illegal immigrants’ from Bengaluru to be deported

The crackdown on finding undocumented, illegal immigrants is running high in the country with reports from Bangalore being more frequent. While some alleged immigrants are taken to court, some, who are economically weaker are being sent for deportation directly

Conspiracy? Activist Medha Patkar to lose passport?

The passport office has issued her a ‘show cause’ notice, social workers cry foul play

Kashmir ‘normal’? Reality round-up 107 days after shutdown

Contrary to popular narrative, Kashmir’s wounds brought on by the government still run deep

Ahmedabad students sign huge banner in support of JNU anti-fee campaign

A left-wing students' union in Gujarat went in for...

POSCO to Jindal: A Fact Finding Report

A four-member fact-finding team of Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakhya Sangathan,...

Criminal Callousness of Modi Government in Hiding Data

This is the first time data thrown up by an official statistical survey has been entirely suppressed, with all the funds spent on the consumer expenditure survey going down the drain.

Tribal Affairs Ministry Sidesteps Questions on Forest Rights Act in Rajya Sabha

The Minister of State of Tribal Affairs J.S. Bhabhor dodged providing substantial answers on the extent to which the Forest Rights Act, 2006 has been implemented across various states in India.

Kashmir: On 107th day of communication blackout, Press Club demands restoration

The clampdown aimed at gagging the press has led to job losses and cuts in advertising revenue

What to do with ‘illegal immigrants’ after they serve their sentence?

In the absence of repatriation treaty with Bangladesh, officials are clueless about the status of illegal immigrants, who are declared so by courts, once they served their sentence.

Assam NRC to be scrapped? What does this mean?

Shortly after Amit Shah reiterates commitment to nationwide NRC before Lok Sabha, Himanta Biswa Sarma says Assam government wants to scrap NRC conducted in the state.

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The cost of a wrongful deportation

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The arbitrary detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya: A call for justice

The appeal by the Palestinian Embassy in New Delhi has called on all Indians to support and join the call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya; advocating for the protection of Palestinian healthcare workers, hospitals, ambulances, and medical facilities in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Though sewer deaths have crossed the 100 mark this year, government is silent: SKA

With three deaths on the same day in two different incidents in Madhya Pradesh, 101 people have died so far in sewers and septic tanks across the country in 188 days this year, according the data compiled by Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA). NCR Delhi alone accounts for 12 deaths.

The Battle of Belonging: Why India’s Passport Controversy Matters

A passport is undeniably a travel document, but it is also the republic’s assurance of belonging and sovereign protection in moments of crisis. Reducing it to mere travel facilitation strips it of its civic meaning, since passports are issued not to transients but to members of a political community.

Rajasthan: From Giral to Islampur, how locals are contesting development and historical identity

The author traces similarities of people’s mobilisations in Giral, Barmer and Islampur, Jhunjunu wherein both involve local communities asserting agency against decisions made elsewhere. In Giral, villagers have been robustly protesting the “benefits from mineral extraction in the name of development,” while in Islampur, residents have been questioning the communal (read majoriatrian moves to re-name and thereby, re-define a region’s identity