Challenging the High Court order, the advocate of the petitioner urged the apex court to hear the case today itself as exams start today…reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear an appeal on August 9 against the Bombay High Court order upholding the ban by a Chembur college on students wearing burqa, hijab, niqab, stole or cap on the campus.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that the hearing will be conducted on Friday after the matter was mentioned by the petitioner’s lawyer for early hearing.
Challenging the High Court order, the advocate of the petitioner urged the apex court to hear the case today itself as exams start today.
“Are you being stopped from appearing in the exam?” asked the bench. To this, the counsel said, “If students do not adhere to the uniform… please hear it today.”
“It is coming up tomorrow,” said the bench.
In June, the Bombay High Court dismissed the plea filed by a group of female students challenging the ban imposed by a college in Mumbai on wearing hijab, niqab, burkha, stole, caps or any kind of badge in the classroom.
It had said that it was not inclined to interfere in the decision of the college administration.
The students were from Chembur Trombay Education Society’s NG Acharya and DK Marathe College.
The second and third years of B.Sc and B.Sc (Computer Science) programmes claimed that the new dress code violates their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and religious freedom. The college had told the High Court that the ban applies to all religious symbols and is not targeted at Muslims.
The High Court in its order had stated, “We are satisfied that the instructions issued by the College under which a dress code has been prescribed for its students do not suffer from any infirmity to violate provisions of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
The objective behind issuing the same is that the dress of a student should not reveal his/her religion which is a step towards ensuring that the students focus on gaining knowledge and education which is in their larger interest. (ANI)
Professor Kishan Devani BEM, FRSA will join Westminster Group as Senior International Advisor on International Advisory Board
Westminster Group PLC is recognised globally for its specialist security and services expertise, operating worldwide via an extensive international network of agents and offices in over 50 countries. Over three years, Westminster’s overseas sales have grown year on year by 96.4%, with overseas sales accounting for over 80% of total sales. Westminster supplied products and services to 66 countries in 2019 and 72 countries in 2020.
Westminster Group PLC was recognised for its excellence in International Trade for its outstanding growth in overseas sales and is one of just 205 organisations nationally for which Her Majesty The Queen approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation in 2021 that Westminster be awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious awards for UK business. The Award was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965 with the first Awards made in 1966, and they were designed to recognise outstanding achievements in business.
Professor Kishan Devani BEM, FRSA, LLB (Hons), PgCe, PgDip is a World-Renowned Educationalist and Global Education Expert/Academic/Strategist/Trainer, Political Strategist, Speaker, and International PR, Communications, Media, Campaigns & Fundraising Consultant/Advisor.
Kishan will join Westminster Group as Senior International Advisor on International Advisory Board.
He has a distinguished career highlighted by numerous prestigious recognitions and roles that underscore his significant contributions to various sectors. He was honoured with the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2020 New Year’s Honour’s List, and he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2015. Additionally, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London, making him one of the youngest BaME Freemen of London.
In academia, Kishan serves as an Associate Lecturer at London Metropolitan University, where he lectures on Geopolitics, International Relations, Politics, Diplomacy, Advocacy, and Resolution for both BA and MA students. He also delivers lectures on Advocacy, Diplomacy, and Resolution.
Kishan holds several advisory roles, including Senior Advisor to International NGO ActionAid UK and Senior Advisor to the Danny Faure Foundation, appointed by the former President of the Seychelles. His expertise in cross-border trade relations spans the UK, Africa, India, and the Middle East. As President – International Relations of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, Kishan brings his extensive experience in international business advisory roles across sectors such as Education, Health, Legal, and Finance. He has also been a Governor/Director of The Woodfield School, a Specialist SEN School in London, and has trained teachers globally, including in the prestigious Podar Schools in India.
Kishan’s political career includes serving as the youngest Deputy Chairman (Membership and Finance) of the London Conservative Party and later joining the Liberal Democrat Party, where he held roles such as Treasurers Envoy and Vice-President of the Liberal Democrats Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE). He was the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate for Montgomeryshire in the 2019 General Election. In 2015, he was the parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in Leicester East, and in 2016, he was the Conservative candidate for the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Kishan Devani BEM continues to inspire through his voluntary work, consultancy roles, and dedication to promoting diversity, equality, and social justice across various communities.In 2023 during the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election Professor Kishan Devani BEM joined the Labour Party. Since joining them he has advised & assisted many of their MPs, Parliamentary Candidates & Peers on the British Asian/African diaspora matters as well as Business engagement.
His consultancy work spans various sectors, including governance, finance, and education. Kishan has been a vocal advocate for community cohesion and diversity within the British Asian community, volunteering extensively to motivate young Asians to engage in British civic life. His contributions to education and social integration have earned him numerous accolades, including the Asian Achievers Gold Award in Community Service in 2012.
Kishan has also played a pivotal role in promoting the Unity of Faiths Foundation (TUFF) and its Education/Football project, which aims to support youth integration and tackle issues such as poverty, gang-related violence, radicalisation, and social disharmony. His efforts have significantly raised the profile of the organisation and fostered youth empowerment.
Commenting on the appointment, Westminster CEO Peter Fowler said: “ I am delighted Kishan has agreed to join our International Advisory Board and I have no doubt his seemingly boundless energy, his extensive network of contacts and his business acumen will be a tremendous asset to Westminster and I look forward to working closely with him, in creating new and exciting opportunities expanding our business around the world.”
ALI:“Studying at the Open University helped me gain a valuable qualification that is respected by my employers and I achieved my dream job”
Ali, born and raised in Scotland, one of five siblings moved to Pakistan with his family at the age of 6 due to his father’s new job with a fertiliser company. After Ali’s father retired, the family returned to the UK and Ali joined high school to complete his Scottish Highers – equivalent to A-levels. Despite having obtained the prerequisite grades, he, unfortunately, had no option but to decline local university offers.
“The funding body in Scotland couldn’t cover my university fees since I hadn’t been living in Scotland for over three consecutive years,” explains Ali.
“My desire to go to university and obtain a degree had always been a dream growing up. So having to decline the offer for higher education, was a really low point in my life.”
Having explored a myriad of avenues for acquiring education, Ali found a glimmer of hope when he was able to enrol himself in a modern apprenticeship at a local university. He worked diligently, studying for an HNC (Higher National Certificate) in Applied Sciences, whilst also working as a lab technician.
Driven by a desire to further his education, Ali began to explore options at The Open University (OU) through the recommendation of his father – an OU graduate who spoke highly of his experience and the career prospects for OU graduates.
With the flexibility to continue working full-time and study from home in the evenings and weekends, the OU provided an ideal platform to pursue a degree. Transferring credits from his earlier studies, Ali completed an Open Degree, tailored to his career aspirations.
The BA/BSc (Honours) Open, or Open degree, brings together different areas of study in a completely flexible way. Students can choose from over 250 modules across 16 subject areas to create a bespoke qualification that matches their interests and helps them stand out in the job market.
“The Open University gave me so much flexibility. Lectures and content are uploaded online. I could study on my phone or with my books, and this fitted in very nicely with my full-time work routine!
I studied in the evenings and on weekends, and also at work, during lunchtime, and at other times when it wasn’t busy. The OU tutors provided fantastic support through all of this,” adds Ali.
“Living with family has challenges, with lots going on at any one time. There’s Ramadan, Eid, relatives popping over – you’re not the only one in the house, sometimes you’re ill – nothing stops because of your education. With unwavering support from my family and the OU’s flexible learning platform, I earned a first-class honours degree.”
It was during Ali’s OU academic journey, that he received not one but two promotions. Currently, he is working on cutting edge research related to climate change and is part of a global research project. Reflecting on his journey, Ali emphasises the importance of pursuing education, regardless of background or circumstances, and encourages others.
Ali says: “Regardless of your background, or where you come from, education always has value – it opens your mind. We should prioritise education as a pathway to personal growth and empowerment.”
Education makes you a better person and gives you opportunities you wouldn’t have had before; even if you’ve had to leave education, it doesn’t mean the doors are closed forever. The OU gives you a chance to achieve the degree you have always dreamed of.
Study Experience at the Open University
The Open University has over 200 full-time and part-time qualifications providing a pathway to education for students regardless of background.
Flexible degrees include business, computer science, education, engineering, and accounting and finance, among others.
The benefits of studying at the OU are an inclusive student community, the flexibility to earn while you learn and expert tutor support every step of the way. Students also have access to the student support team who are on hand to provide advice and guidance related to their studies as well as other concerns or queries.
ADVANTAGE
Flexible payment options are available so students can pay for one module at a time with adaptable payment plans and access to bursaries and scholarships.
The OU’s flexible distance learning approach means that students can study anytime and anywhere, and fit it around their professional and personal lives.
Students can speed up or slow down the intensity of their studies and even pause and restart if they need to.
OU students benefit from expert personal tutors who deliver one-to-one study support alongside dedicated student support teams, a careers and employability service and access to The Open University Students Association.
CTA: Whatever future you are looking for, your possibilities are open.To find out more, visit www.open.ac.uk
The event was inaugurated with Lighting of the lamp by Ms.Jayashree Varadarajan and had a medley of songs/dances on Vasudevachar’s compositions, interspersed with informative pieces about his life’s journey narrated by the anchor Mahathi Srinath
An event of Classical music was organised by KBC Arts at the Auditorium of Mahalakshmi temple, London, to celebrate the life and works of Padma Bhushan Mysore Vasudevachar (1865-1961), the 20th century musician/composer who wrote about 200 compositions mostly in Telugu and Sanskrit. Most of his compositions were in praise of Lord Rama.
This is the 15th event by KBC Arts which holds musical events with a focus on a specific poet/Composer (The previous being Homages to Annamacharya, Ramdasa, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Balamuralikrishna, Narayana Theertha, Purandaradasa, Papanasam Sivan, Swati Tirunal, Oothukadu Kavi, Subramania Bharati, Meerabai, Balajim Bhaje Hum, Tulsidas/Ramdas/Surdas and Muthiah Bhagavatar).
The event was inaugurated with Lighting of the lamp by Ms.Jayashree Varadarajan and had a medley of songs/dances on Vasudevachar’s compositions, interspersed with informative pieces about his life’s journey narrated by the anchor Mahathi Srinath.
In all 15 items were presented by 50 artistes. Captivating dances were performed by Devananda Bibiraj, Ananya Sriram and Students of Liya Earath, Jeyaverni Jaganathan (PonSita School of Dance), Shruti Sriram (SanskritiUK).
The mellifluous performances of Dhriti, Mahathi Srinath, Asritha Devarakonda, Shruti Sriram, Divya Kasturi were mesmerising. The performances of Ainkaran Sivaaji on the Violin and Pramod Rudrapatna Prasanna Kumar on the Veena had the audience spell-bound.
The performers were accompanied on the Mridangam by a well-known professional Vijeyerajah Mylvaganam.
The successful program was enjoyed by a packed house of audience appreciative of the focussed efforts by the artistes and organisers.
Mrs Geetha Kaza, who conceptualised the event, thanked the performers, the team members and the audience. Photographs and videos were by Councillor Aaditya Kaza (Kaza Clicks).
EVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in LondonEVENT: Homage to Mysore Vasudevachar in London
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan delivered an inspiring speech on India’s rich cultural tapestry and the global appreciation of its diverse culinary traditions. He emphasised the significance of each state’s unique delicacies and their acceptance worldwide
The Saffron Group organised the Taste of India event at the Holiday Inn Bolton to promote India-UK business and cultural relations. The event was supported by the Consulate General of India in Birmingham, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Preston Hindu Community, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, and several other business organizations.
This vibrant event showcased India’s rich cultural heritage and culinary diversity, attracting numerous dignitaries and prominent figures from the North of England. The event was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including the Deputy Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Mohammed, the Leader of Bolton Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio lead for Digital City-Region, Councillor Nick Peel, and Director of Place, Bolton Council, Mr. Jon Dyson, among others.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and Mrs Murugan with Bipin Patel
Mr. Bipin Patel, CEO of The Saffron Group, extended a warm and grand welcome to all dignitaries.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan delivered an inspiring speech on India’s rich cultural tapestry and the global appreciation of its diverse culinary traditions. He emphasised the significance of each state’s unique delicacies and their acceptance worldwide. The event highlighted the challenging journeys, successes, and opportunities of businesses and key guests closely associated with India.
Attendees enjoyed a showcase of Gujarati food and delicacies, experiencing the delectable Taste of India. The rich food and culture of the Gujarati community in the North captivated and delighted all present. The event, ‘A TASTE of INDIA,’ not only celebrated the flavours and traditions of India but also reinforced the strong cultural and economic ties between India and the UK. The event was a resounding success, leaving attendees with a deeper appreciation of India’s culinary and cultural richness.
Consul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and Mrs Murugan with Bipin PatelConsul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and other dignitories on stageConsul General Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan and other dignitories on stageTaste of India at BoltonTaste of India at Bolton
London’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre hosted the 2024 GBS Graduation Ceremony. Almost 1,500 graduates have received their certificates. Key speakers include Lord Bilimoria, Mr Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute and Research (UNITAR) and Seema Malhotra MP, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office
The GBS Graduation ceremonies are a special occasion for students, marking the culmination of their educational journey with us. The presence of VIP guests would not only be an honour but also an invaluable inspiration for graduating students as they embark on their professional endeavours.
London’s prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Centre hosted the 2024 GBS Graduation Ceremony. The graduation day has been divided into three significant segments: a morning ceremony 10:30 to 12pm, a VIP lunch from 12:00 to 13:30, and an afternoon ceremony from 2pm to 4pm. Almost 1,500 graduates have received their certificates and guest speakers at this grand ceremony are the key speakers were Lord Bilimoria, Mr Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute and Research (UNITAR) and Seema Malhotra MP, the newly appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office.
Lord Karan Bilimoria addressing the GBS Graduation Ceremony in London
Some of the VIP guests were Baroness Pola Uddin, Mr James Murray, Labour MP, Mr Anwar Choudhury, Former Governor Cayman Islands at Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Former British High Commissioner, Mr Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London, Virender Sharma, former Labour MP, Mr Rajesh Agrawal, former Deputy Mayor of London, Sir Graham Brady, former MP, Mr Stanley Johnson, Sir Tim Lankester, member of GBS advisory Board, representatives from the British Army, Royal Navy and many more.
The founder of GBS and Our GEDU Group CEO Dr Vishwajeet Rana, GBS CEO Prof Ray Lloyd and GBS Deputy CEO James Kennedy have attended the ceremony to support and celebrate the achievements of our students.
Our student community, with an average age of 37, live in some of the UK’s most underrepresented areas for higher education. They have demonstrated remarkable dedication to self-improvement, committing to a better future for themselves and their families while contributing to the progress of their local communities.
GBS has diligently crafted a learning environment that supports our students in balancing education with work and family commitments, enabling them to realise their full potential. Many of our graduates exhibit a strong entrepreneurial spirit and through GBS are now equipped with the tools to advance their own ventures.
These incredible individuals are from humble beginnings, and their stories exemplify the power of education in a supportive environment. We are steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality teaching, guidance, and support, ensuring that our students receive the education they truly deserve.
GBS has experienced significant growth in the past three years, with over 35,000 students across ten campuses in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds and the creation of more than 1,500 jobs. However, our success is grounded in our mission of changing lives through education and widening access to opportunities in communities that need it the most.
A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih ruled that Section 125 CrPC applies to all women, and divorced Muslim females can claim maintenance from their husbands under it…reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that Section 125 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) applied to all married women including Muslims and they can claim maintenance from their husbands under these provisions.
The top court also echoed that the time has come for Indian men to recognise the role and sacrifice of ‘homemakers’ who are the strength and backbone of an Indian family and they must provide financial support to her by having joint accounts and ATMs.
A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih ruled that Section 125 CrPC, which deals with a wife’s legal right to maintenance, applies to all women, and divorced Muslim females can claim maintenance from their husbands under it.
“Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all married women including Muslim married women. Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all non-Muslim divorced women,” the top court said.
“Insofar as divorced Muslim women are concerned, – i) Section 125 of the CrPC applies to all such Muslim women, married and divorced under the Special Marriage Act in addition to remedies available. If Muslim women are married and divorced under Muslim law then Section 125 of the CrPC as well as the provisions of the 1986 Act are applicable. The option lies with the Muslim divorced women to seek remedy under either of the two laws or both laws. This is because the 1986 Act is not in derogation of Section 125 of the CrPC but in addition to the said provision,” the top court said.
If Section 125 of the CrPC is also resorted to by a divorced Muslim woman, as per the definition under the 1986 Act, then any order passed under the provisions of 1986 Act shall be taken into consideration under Section 127(3)(b) of the CrPC, the court said.
The 1986 Act could be resorted to by a divorced Muslim woman, as defined under the said act, by applying thereunder which could be disposed off in accordance with the said enactment, the court said.
In case of an illegal divorce as per the provisions of the 2019 Act then, relief under Section 5 of the said Act could be availed for seeking subsistence allowance or, at the option of such a Muslim woman, remedy under Section 125 of the CrPC could also be availed, the court said.
Adding further to it, the top court directed if, during the pendency of a petition filed under Section 125 of the CrPC, a Muslim woman is ‘divorced’ then she can take recourse under Section 125 of the CrPC or file a petition under the 2019 Act.
“The provisions of the 2019 Act provide remedy in addition to and not in derogation of Section 125 of the CrPC,” the top court said.
The top court’s ruling came on an appeal challenging the High Court of Telangana order dated December 13, 2023 which modified the family court decision. HC decreased the quantum of interim maintenance payable by the Appellant herein from Rs 20,000 per month to 10,000 per month.
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Meanwhile, Triple Talaq activist and Vice Chairperson of Uttarakhand Women Commission Shayara Bano said that the ruling is in the favour of all Muslim women. “This will improve their financial condition and will also reduce triple talaq cases. Besides, the social status of Muslim women will also improve,” said Bano, who herself is a victim of triple talaq.
Zakia Soman, women’s right activist and co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan , said that such progressive judgments will pave the way forward for equal legal rights of Muslim women within marriage and family. “With such judgments, we should celebrate because it is like a march forward,” Soman said.
“In the ruling, Justice Nagarathna has unequivocally said that all married women are entitled to maintenance and that includes Muslim women. The clear messaging is that no woman can be barred on account of religion,” she said.
Hasina Khan, founder of Bebaak Collective, said that the verdict ensured that all divorced Muslim women are entitled to a decent maintenance. “It is a historic ruling because the court said that maintenance is not a matter of charity but a fundamental right of married women. This will be a setback to the conservative section which doesn’t want women to get alimony under a secular law,” she said.
Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan: rights body(IN)
The everyday experiences of religious minorities in Pakistan, is an unending saga of violence, discrimination and exclusion. They suffer from a lack of access to education, sanitation, transportation and health care, to occupational discrimination and more direct experiences of violence such as abductions and forced conversions, accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, and frequent attacks on their places of worship …. Writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
The Pakistani ambassador’s elicitation of the inauguration of the much-awaited Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the United Nations received what it deserved, a caustic response. India’s permanent envoy to the world body, Ruchira Kamboj, said that Pakistan, like a ‘broken record’, remains stagnant while the world progresses. In her blistering counter, Ambassador Kamboj declared that Pakistan had a ‘limited and misguided’ perspective on matters related to India. She said, “It is unfortunate indeed to witness this delegation’s limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership, perhaps not the forte of this delegation.”
In a highly hypocritical move by Pakistan, its ambassador spoke deprecatingly about the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram temple, while speaking about combating Islamophobia. In her response to the Pakistani delegation’s duplicitous stance on religion, India’s ambassador stressed that India strongly condemns all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as much as it stands against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments.
Pakistan’s perfidious policy of attacking India, is an attempt to distract from its own systematic violation of human, political, and economic rights of the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan. The Baloch ethnic group, comprising a third of the population, has faced long-standing marginalisation due to discriminatory policies by the Pakistani government. Balochistan witnesses arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of political and human rights activists. These actions by state agencies have escalated tensions and violated fundamental human rights.
Furthermore, reports highlight the daily dumping of mutilated bodies of missing persons, enforced disappearances, and inhumane torture of Baloch political activists since 2005. Baloch activists have also criticised Pakistan for exploiting Balochistan’s resources without regard for its citizens’ lives. Amnesty International has expressed concern about human rights violations in Balochistan province, which have escalated in recent months.The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reports have found numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, detention, torture, extrajudicial executions, and ‘disappearances of Baloch people. Victims include women, children, and political activists.
Most recently Pakistani intelligence agencies are behind the enforced disappearance of Sargodha Medical College student Khudadad Siraj. Even as the Pakistani Ambassador was preaching on human rights at the UN, Baloch Students at the University of Sargodha have been protesting against Siraj’s enforced disappearance, demanding that the Pak state release their fellow student.
A similar situation of discrimination and human rights violations exists in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Residents are deprived of their fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development. Peaceful activists, members of civil society, and even religious minorities face targeting by state and law enforcement agencies, often with impunity. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has earlier raised serious concerns about human rights violations in PoK. There are fears that those subjected to enforced disappearances from PoK may have been detained in military-run internment centres within Pakistan.
There is credible information about enforced disappearances of people from PoK. These include individuals who were held in secret detention, as well as those whose fate and whereabouts remain unknown. Some of the disappeared individuals were associated with Pakistani security forces, and in many cases, victim groups attribute these disappearances to Pakistani intelligence agencies.
A peaceful march led by women human rights defenders in Islamabad, known as “the Baloch Long March,” has aimed to raise awareness about ongoing repression and human rights violations in Balochistan. However, Pakistani authorities have always responded with excessive force, including tear gas and water cannons.
Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), has a region with a complex history of grappling with issues related to legal rights, democratic representation, and the well-being of its population. Local body elections have not been held in GB for the past 14 years, affecting democratic representation and governance. Throughout 2022-23 protests erupted across GB against land grabbing, cuts in subsidised wheat, and long load-shedding hours. The Pakistani state has responded by arresting protestors on false terrorism charges. Journalists like Muhammad Ali Alam and Ali Mujeeb faced intimidation, threats, and even kidnapping attempts by the Pakistani state for highlighting human rights violations.
Recently while speaking at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Chairman of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, highlighted the issue of the worsening human rights situation in POK and GB. He lamented that in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, “residents are deprived of their fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development. Peaceful activists and members of civil society are targeted by state and law enforcement agencies, and extremist outfits with impunity.”
Jamil Maqsood, the secretary of foreign affairs for the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) highlighted the challenges faced by the people of PoK and GB stating that, instances of restricted political freedoms and limited representation are a symptomatic of Pakistan’s policy in the region and that “despite the region’s strategic significance, there is a pressing need for inclusive development policies that prioritise the well-being of the local population. Socially, the people of these regions deserve equitable access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.”
The percentage of Hindus in Pakistan has witnessed a persistent decline due to ongoing discrimination and forced conversion. Instances of forced conversions and marriages are rampant in rural and backward areas. Disturbing cases have emerged where Hindu women are kidnapped, raped, or forcibly converted to Islam. Overt, state-sponsored discrimination persists, depriving Hindus of their fundamental human rights. Authorities often fall short in providing adequate protection and holding perpetrators accountable. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have an oppressive impact on religious minorities. These laws are often misused and lead to severe consequences for those accused.
The gruesome lynching of a Sri Lankan factory manager in Sialkot, Punjab province, underscores the danger of state-sanctioned religious hate. Priyantha Kumara, a Christian, was brutally killed by a mob for removing stickers featuring Quranic verses from factory machinery. The incident reveals how far the nation has descended into an abyss.
A flood-affected woman prepares food in Jamshoro district in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Sept. 8, 2022. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)
Pakistan was the first, and so far only country to officially declare Ahmadis as non-Muslim. Subsequent policies have served to reinforce their outsider status. For example, in order to receive a passport, all Pakistani citizens are required to sign a formal declaration of heresy toward Ahmadis, proclaiming the leader of the Ahmadi movement to be an “imposter prophet” and his followers non-Muslim.
Even as spiritual month of Ramzan is being observed around the world, in Pakistan a video now gone viral on the internet shows a mob beating up a#Christian sanitary worker in the city of Gujranwala.
While Islamabad claims its Hindu community is safe, reports of their leaving persist, and many Pakistani Hindus seek refuge in India due to safety concerns. For instance, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 18 Hindu refugees from Pakistan were granted Indian citizenship during a camp organised by the district collector’s office. Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, conferred citizenship upon these individuals and encouraged them to contribute to India’s development journey. So far, 1,167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have been granted Indian citizenship. The Indian government has relaxed norms for Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities who seek refuge in India.
Enforced disappearance represents a continuing violation of various rights, including the right to life and the prohibition of torture or cruel treatment. The situation in Balochistan, PoK and GB remains deeply concerning, and efforts to address human rights violations must continue to ensure justice and accountability.
The everyday experiences of religious minorities in Pakistan, is an unending saga of violence, discrimination and exclusion. They suffer from a lack of access to education, sanitation, transportation and health care, to occupational discrimination and more direct experiences of violence such as abductions and forced conversions, accusations of blasphemy, targeted killings, and frequent attacks on their places of worship.
In fact duplicity manifests itself in many forms, which are palpable in Pakistan’s internal and external relationships. While talking about Islamophobia in the UN, the Pakistani government is in reality practising an unannounced ban on international Christian missionaries visiting Pakistan. Furthermore Pakistan never criticises or highlights the brutal way in which Beijing is repressing Uyghur Muslims.
Islamabad’s charade of trying to project itself as the global leader of the anti-Islamophobia crusade begs exposure.
Students' Federation of India (SFI) members stage a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, at Ambedkar University in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta)
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination… writes Kamalesh Kumar
On March 11 the ministry of Home Affairs implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across India. The CAA was passed by the Parliament on December 11, 2019, and was notified on December 12 of the same year, however the rules under this law are only now being implemented. After over four years of amending the act, the union government has recently notified the rules for the CAA, indicating its commitment to implementing the law.
It is unfortunate to see how the matter of protecting minorities from neighbouring countries has has become politicised. Before understanding the modalities and inherent justice of the CAA, it is important to understand what the act is trying to achieve and why it the ongoing national discourse surrounding it.
Refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan stage a protest against Congress over their alleged anti-CAA remarks, near AICC headquarters in New Delhi. (ANI Photo/Amit Sharma)
The Citizenship Amendment Act aims to protect individuals who have sought refuge in India due to religious persecution. It offers them a shield against illegal migration proceedings. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014. CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014. It specifically targets individuals who were forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion. The 39-page Rules notified in the e-gazette recently has prescribed the modalities and procedure for eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship. The Rules specify what documents and paperwork are required for putting forward and considering a claim of citizenship.
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination.
The United Nations, US government and several other countries have expressed concerns about the alleged discriminatory nature of the CAA. Defending the CAA against its international criticism by certain countries, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has stated that it is unfair for Western nations to criticize it when they had implemented similar immigration policies in the past. Refering to riteria followed by USA and various European countries he asked, “Show me a country in the world which says everyone in the world is welcome.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has strongly backed the CAA pitching that it protects the rights of migrants, reduces the number of stateless people and does not discriminate against minorities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land, that the government’s commitment to implement the CAA. Some state government like the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the CAA. Mr. Shah launched a scathing attack on Ms. Banerjee for misleading people on the issue of CAA, “At times, she tries to mislead the people, the refugees, whether CAA will be at all implemented in the country or not. I want to say this clearly that CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop its implementation. This is the commitment of our party.”
It is crucial to illuminate the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 through the constitution and human rights jurisprudence perspective. There are important humanitarian reasons why immigrants of certain religious communities from neighbouring countries should not be treated as illegal and should be given speedier access to citizenship. They have suffered persecution and require these protections. The CAA provides a legal pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities from specific countries, aiming to address their plight and protect their rights in India.The 2019 amendment to the CAA further relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation, reducing it from twelve years to just six years.
In the Indian Constitution, the jurisprudence on “equal protection” in Article 14 characterises this as being at best a case of “under inclusion”. To draw an analogy, if the government wants to solve a problem like malnutrition, it can take some steps without eliminating hunger entirely. Similarly, if it wants to protect migrants from religious persecution, it can do so by protecting some migrants and not all of them.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) supporters protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Patna. (ANI Photo)
Before criticsing CAA on the constitutional merits, it must be noted that Article 15 does not apply to non-citizens. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. While, under Article 14, laws can rationally differentiate between people on the basis of whether they pay taxes or breach contracts, they can’t differentiate between them merely on the basis of Article 15 characteristics.
If a law is providing for affirmative action why cannot it take into account historic discrimination? The additional protection provided by provisions like Article 15 forms a key part of equality law around the world, be it through the “protected characteristics” under UK’s Equality Act, 2010 or through the USA’s constitutional safeguards for “suspect classifications”. These structures operate in areas of historic discrimination and ensure that people don’t have to suffer for inherent traits that they did not choose. Thus it is valid to ask if there can be concern about historic discrimination within the country, why can’t the concern extend to a history of persecution in another country?
To draw a reference, in the case of caste, Indian constitutional law shows that valid identification of backward castes has always been backed by evidence. This is similar to the US jurisprudence on suspect classifications – these aren’t entirely prohibited, but the government is placed under “strict scrutiny” by courts and has to show that no less discriminatory alternative is available, or that the job cannot be done in a more equal way. If evidentiary burdens tend to determine legal outcomes, then the petitions challenging the CAA’s constitutionality are no exception!
Referring to the unnecessary discourse surrounding CAA External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar believes that it is a battle of narratives and Anglosphere papers played a prominent part in it, “Take this whole scaremongering that millions of people are going to lose citizenship — you tell people, saying look this was said — one year has passed, two years have passed, where are these people? After all, we are supposed to have a cataclysm in 2020. Even citizenship, when you start reasoning people, ask them–tell me do you not have criteria of citizenship; do you not use language– some people use religion, language, education; some even use income, ethnicity.”
Sikh refugees from Pakistan stage a protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his remarks on CAA, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)
According to sources, there will be over 30,000 immediate beneficiaries from the CAA once the rules are fully implemented. Critics fail to see that the CAA benefits members of some religions without actually harming anyone else. Every country including USA and in Europe have different citizenship criteria based on context and social criteria. Infact the word ‘minorities’ is not used in the CAA because if other countries change the definition of their minorities in future, India would not be able to give them citizenship based on religious persecution. The CAA does nothing to anyone’s detriment and is thus not against anyone at all.
She stressed that ‘gaana’ songs, ballroom beats and ‘mujra’ numbers in her debut album ‘Kattar Kinnar’ are her musical inspirations. Also Khushi Shaikh, who is someone she deeply respects…writes Sukant Deepak
She says everyone always wants her to talk about struggles, about how she might be suffering, and she feels that is what the audience wants to know.
“But for me, it is paramount that my music makes people dance, and celebrate, while also being honest and real,” said Kinari, recipient of the Toto Music Awards 2024, who has emerged as one of the foremost voices for the LGBTQ+ community in Delhi’s rap scene.
She stressed that ‘gaana’ songs, ballroom beats and ‘mujra’ numbers in her debut album ‘Kattar Kinnar’ are her musical inspirations. Also Khushi Shaikh, who is someone she deeply respects.
Kinari said, “Samples from her iconic vlogs and videos feature heavily as part of the sonic landscape of my album. This is why it was so incredible that she danced for my album’s party,” said Kinari.
The opening ‘mujra’ performance by Khushi Shaikh, a trans model and dancer who is quite popular on social media, and samples from Shaikh’s vlogs — a collaboration between ‘mujra’ and rap, both by trans artistes — was the first such commercial gig of its kind in Delhi that happened on March 3.
The album will be officially released in mid-March.
For someone who learnt casio at school, and is self-trained, Kinari said she has always been alive to the local music scene around her, including wedding bands outside her window in Khirki, or ‘gaana’ music playing in her hometown Chennai while growing up.
Listening to hip-hop from a young age, she feels it is the best medium to express herself.
“I cannot even think of choosing any other musical styles. There is much more to hip-hop than song and dance. Let us not forget that across the world, artists of this genre speak about social issues and bring contemporary realities alive with their music. Like MC Altaf says, ‘If you listen to hip-hop, become a good person/become a helping hand to wanderer struggling/do good work before you die’,” asserted this 25-year-old, who is Delhi’s first transgender rapper.
Talking about her debut album, a sonic expression of life in Delhi’s Khirkee Extension that switches fluidly from Hindi to English, she highlighted her heritage by intertwining the beat of wedding bands outside her window with the coruscating pulse of ‘gaana’ songs and cuts of Mari Selvaraj films. The album is an expression of not just the sweet side of being a transgender.
“It is also about some bitter truths. It was written and produced in Delhi. I want to share with people the pleasure and power of Tamil ‘gaana’ and Delhi ‘mujra’ dance throughout the album, which has helped me keep going through the daily harshness of life in the city. My song ‘Baahar’ talks more about this, the dichotomy between my day-to-day life in Khirki Extension as a language teacher, and the nights as the Indian hip-hop scene’s exciting new rapper,” she said.
And did she face any roadblocks owing to her gender identity?
“The main difficulty is not being transgender in the music industry, but being one in Delhi. I make music that I love to make and listen to. I will keep doing this even if the industry does not accept it. I believe in staying close to music and not losing faith,” she said.
Raving about Miss Boogie’s latest album ‘The Breakdown’, she asserted that her inspirations keep changing over time.
“There are so many transgender and marginalised artistes who are making great music today,” concludes Kinari, who after the album’s release will be going on her first multi-city tour this summer.
