South Asia

India Driving Toward 'Authoritarianism' — Media Being Gagged

The following is a revised version of the previous report titled "India Falls from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free’ in Freedom Index"

By Ditsa Bhattacharya, NewsClick and ICF Team

NEW DELHI (IDN) — India's status fell from "free" to "partly free" in the Freedom in the World 2021 report released on March 3. India's score in the index decreased by four points, from 71 in 2020, to 67 in 2021. The report, published by Freedom House, a US-based non-governmental organisation, measures the strength of democratic processes in countries. The report attributed the decline in India's score to the policies of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

: Asia Editor; THE WORLD; South Asia; 04 March 2021

Photo: A visual from a section of the Indian farmers' protests on 3 January 2021. CC BY-SA 4.0

India’s Farmers’ Protests Threaten to Overturn the Political Landscape

Viewpoint by Vijay Prashad*

NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts (IDN) — For the past three months, Indian farmers and agricultural workers have been in the middle of a difficult struggle against the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tens of thousands of them have gathered around the capital city of New Delhi; they say that they will not disband unless the government repeals three laws that negatively impact their ability to remain economically viable.

The government has shown no sign that it will withdraw these laws, which provide immense advantages to the large corporate houses that are close to Prime Minister Modi. The government’s attempt to crack down on the farmers and agricultural workers has altered the mood in the country: those who grow the food for the country are hard to depict as “terrorists” and as “anti-national.”

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 03 March 2021

Photo: Dr S. Jaishankar. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Looking Forward to A Pluralistic and Rebalanced World

Viewpoint by S. Jaishankar

A return to normalcy in 2021 will mean safer travel, better health, economic revival and digitally-driven services. They will be expressed in new conversations and fresh understandings, writes Dr S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs of India and author of "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World." The views expressed in this article are the writer's own. This opinion piece first appeared in the Newsweek Magazine with the headline "Reimagining Diplomacy in the Post-COVID World: An Indian Perspective".

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 20 February 2021

Photo: A community kitchen at one of the protest sites. Credit: WNV/Manu Moudgil.

Farm Crisis Fuelling India’s Farmers’ Protests

By Manu Moudgil*

NEW DELHI (IDN) – On February 6, protesters blocked roads at an estimated 10,000 spots across India as part of the ongoing movement against the new farm laws enacted by the national government last year. For over two months, the most populous democracy in the world has witnessed what is being called one of the biggest protests in human history.

: Phil Harris; THE WORLD; South Asia; 19 February 2021

Photo: Tourists in Myanmar (Created: 4 January 2013) CC BY-SA 2.0

Myanmar Military Regime Can Rely on China, Russia and India

By Thalif Deen*

NEW YORK (IDN) – When million-dollar arms sales knock on the door, human rights violations and war crimes fly out of the window.

As the United Nations grapples for a reaction to the military coup in Myanmar, both China and Russia, two veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), refused to support a statement condemning the army takeover—a collective statement that warrants consensus from all 15 members.

: Thalif Deen; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 05 February 2021

Photo: The United Nations Security Council Chamber in New York, also known as the Norwegian Room. CC BY-SA 2.0

India Has an Ambitious Agenda as UN Security Council Member

By Devinder Kumar

NEW DELHI (IDN) – With the start of the New Year, India joins the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member for the eighth time. Along with Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico, India will have a two-year term: 2021-2022.

Of the 15 UNSC members, five occupy a permanent seat. They have the right to veto resolutions: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

: Devinder Kumar; THE WORLD; South Asia; 02 January 2021

Photo: Collage of Indian Ambassador Brajendra Navnit with WTO Director Roberto Azevedo and front of the WTO.

Science Has Delivered the Vaccines, The WTO Should Make Them Accessible and Affordable

TRIPS waiver proposal from India, South Africa and other members

Viewpoint by Brajendra Navnit

The author is Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The views expressed are personal.

GENEVA (IDN) – A proposal by India, South Africa and eight other countries calls on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to exempt member countries from enforcing some patents, and other Intellectual Property (IP) rights under the organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, known as TRIPS, for a limited period of time.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 30 December 2020

Photo: File photo | Karnataka State Farmers Association members take part in a protest rally | PTI

India's Farmers Fight for Their Rights and Existence

Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.

LOS ANGELES (IDN) – India’s farmers are revolting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in a mass movement that has drawn international attention. The world’s largest democracy is witnessing a collective groundswell of protest as hundreds of thousands of farmers, largely from the states of Punjab and Haryana, have laid siege to the outskirts of the capital of New Delhi, determined to occupy the edges of the city until Modi reverses unpopular new laws that they say are anti-farmer.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 18 December 2020

India Succeeds Russia as BRICS Chair Amid Rising Challenges

By Kester Kenn Klomegah*

MOSCOW (IDN) – India assumes the rotating Chairmanship of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) regional association on January 1, 2021. The South Asian nation takes over from Russia under whose leadership the organization managed to achieve progress in the political, economic and humanitarian fields.

During the five-nation bloc's last meeting held under the theme “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security and Innovative Growth” – on November 17, the organization noted that much advance has been attained in streamlining the full-scale operational activity of BRICS.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 29 November 2020

Photo: The Dalai Lama, spiritual head of the Tibetan people, interacts with the media during his visit to the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, December 2019. Credit: PTI.

Xi Ready to Turn Free Tibetans Into Hapless Uighurs

By Nadir Ali Wani*

SRINAGAR, India (IDN) – Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet. Which of them would be the first to completely lose its separate and independent identity under the watch of the expansionist Chinese president, Xi Jinping? Critics say while the world pays more attention to Taiwan and Hong Kong and the Ladakh stand-off against India, Tibet is his chosen prey.

President Xi has used the COVID-prompted isolation since January to create the atmosphere – in terms of an ideological justification coupled with amendments to laws and governance of autonomous regions – for the felling of Tibet.