Category: India

  • The current Kashmir crisis involves at least two nuclear powers – India and Pakistan. And it threatens to escalate quickly. But just as Israel’s oppression of people in occupied Palestine started long before 7 October 2023, India’s oppression of people in occupied Kashmir started long before 22 April this year. It’s a “forever war” with deep roots in noxious colonial rule, resource conflict, and the power games of global superpowers. And we need to understand these three points of context a lot better in order to avert nuclear disaster.

    1) British colonialism set the divisive ball rolling

    Much as the shameful and messy final days of British colonialism helped to bring death and destruction to Palestine, they also paved the way for a similar situation in Kashmir. Because Britain didn’t just hand Muslim-majority Kashmir to repressive Hindu rulers (without consulting the Kashmiri people) in the mid-1800s, as part of its ‘divide and rule’ policy to foster religious friction. It also allowed Kashmir’s regime, during the disastrous partition of ‘British India’, to pull the region into Indian control when it should have joined Pakistan (according to the logic of religious division). Anti-Muslim massacres and large-scale ethnic cleansing and displacement followed.

    Britain was quick to leave the newly independent nations to deal with the consequences of its colonial meddling. Its implementation of partition was catastrophic (much as it was in Palestine), either by design, incompetence, disinterest, or a toxic mixture of it all. This caused immense suffering for millions of people. And it left behind a strong legacy of conflict, division, and instability. The subsequent wars between India and Pakistan, often over Kashmir, were very much the spawn of this colonial shambles.

    The UN has consistently called for a plebiscite to allow Kashmiris to decide their own fate. India has rejected these calls. When resistance against Indian occupation in Kashmir increased from 1989, the occupiers responded by disappearing thousands of people and killing tens of thousands. There were also “mass permanent settlements of outsiders” in the region, and some have called the situation an “ongoing genocide“.

    2) A battle for Kashmir’s water amid climate breakdown

    Pakistan has an important border with China thanks to the part of Kashmir under its control. But India has something potentially even more precious within the part of Kashmir it occupies: the water that flows from the Himalayas down into (mostly) Pakistan, which is becoming less stable as a result of global warming. Back in 2016, the BBC was already talking about potential “water wars” between India and Pakistan as a result.

    Natural resource wealth in Kashmir, of wood and minerals in addition to water, makes it an important asset for any government. But India in particular, home to a growing population currently standing at 1.4 billion people, has a huge water crisis. And that threatens its economic future. As the International Centre for Sustainability has said, “water is the ultimate resource war of the 21st century“.

    Highly controversial Hindu-nationalist leader Narendra Modi made a big power play in this arena in 2019 when he stripped away the limited autonomy of Indian-occupied Kashmir. This was a provocative and pivotal change in the “world’s most militarized zone“, whose importance was underplayed in Western media. According to Kashmir scholars, it marked an intensification of an annexation plan that had been decades in the making.

    Serious abuses followed as Modi sought to consolidate the land grab. These included “unlawful killings“, gender-based violence, attempts at cultural erasure, the arming of Hindu militias, “Indian soldiers prominent on the streets 24/7“, and “house raids and arbitrary arrest” of dissenting voices. Despite being a warzone and site of intense repression, though, the Indian regime pushed tourism in the area too.

    3) The global neoliberal-nationalist alliance

    India initially remained independent (but left-leaning) during the Cold War and stood alongside anti-colonial movements around the world. Pakistan, on the other hand, fell quickly into the US anti-communist camp, with its autocratic regimes receiving significant military aid as a result. This lucrative alliance severely undermined secular progressives and empowered ultra-conservative elements in the country, helping Pakistan to build nuclear weapons. The reality the US had fostered eventually led to increasing tensions between Pakistan and Washington in the early 21st-century, pushing Pakistan closer to China as a result.

    India, meanwhile, became more attractive to the US as it moved towards neoliberalism in the 1990s. And under Narendra Modi, this has only intensified, alongside increasing inequality, “nutritional deprivation”, and authoritarianism to hold dissent at bay.

    With Donald Trump in particular intensifying a new cold war with China and India having its own issues with China, an increasing US-Indian strategic alliance is in the making (helped by a toxic neoliberal-nationalist affinity). And ignoring the crimes of India’s occupation forces in Kashmir is part and parcel of such an alliance, much as US support for Israeli occupation forces is in Palestine.

    In Britain, meanwhile, establishment tool Keir Starmer overturned his predecessor’s solidarity with Kashmir when he became leader of the Labour Party, quickly cosying up to Modi’s regime.

    Without justice, there will be no peace in Kashmir

    As tensions rise between the nuclear powers in South Asia, it’s clear that, even if India and Pakistan avoid war, a lasting peace will not come without: meaningfully addressing the decades of injustice in Kashmir; fostering respectful diplomacy that can help to deal with the challenges increasingly presented by climate destruction; and working to overcome the deeply engrained ethno-religious division nurtured by British colonialism. Western powers taking the side of another ultra-nationalist occupying power, out of cynical self-interest, will only make matters worse.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By Ed Sykes

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • A week after the attacks on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in which 26 people were killed, the media frenzy and war mongering in the region continues in full force. The governments of India and Pakistan continue to announce new measures against each other, while internally seeking to repress anti-war and critical voices.

    In a latest move, Pakistan claimed on Tuesday, April 29 that its armed forces shot down an Indian surveillance drone (quadcopter) which was allegedly trying to violate the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistani officials claim that an attack from India is imminent.

    The post As Threat Of War Grows, Progressive Movements Urge Peace And Sanity appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed an agreement with the French government to acquire 26 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft worth US$7.4 billion for the Indian Navy. The Intergovernmental agreement (IGA) signed on 28 April provisions for 22 Rafale M single-seat and four twin-seat Rafale trainer aircraft, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. […]

    The post India signs for naval Dassault Rafale aircraft appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • India’s Hindutva president, Narendra Modi, has used the Kashmir terrorism incident to abrogate the 1960s Indus Waters Treaty — a longstanding goal of Modi. The Indian version of the “terrorist attack,” most of whose victims were Muslim, has largely been accepted by Western governments without evidence.

    False flags abound nowadays. You may recall that we were told that the most deadly rocket ever fired by Hamas killed only Palestinians in a hospital compound, while the most deadly rocket ever fired by Hezbollah killed only Druze children. I have at present an open mind about what occurred in Kashmir.

    The post Kashmir And The Indus River appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • In a region already on the brink, the latest violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir has intensified a decades-old conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. The attack, which targeted Indian tourists in the Pahalgam valley, killing 26, has quickly escalated into a diplomatic and military standoff. 

    With India and Pakistan trading accusations and retaliatory measures, the potential for full-scale conflict is growing – especially as external players like the US and Israel loom over the situation, each with their own interests in fueling or containing the crisis.

    A web of conspiracy and suspicion has surrounded the incident in Kashmir, with missing links complicating the narrative.

    The post India–Pakistan Standoff: Who Is Fanning Nuclear Flames? appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • Authorities have barred a Vietnamese Buddhist monk from continuing a barefoot pilgrimage through Sri Lanka so he’s departing instead for his final destination, India, a source told Radio Free Asia.

    Thich Minh Tue, who departed on a multi-nation journey from Vietnam four months ago, was stopped in his tracks by Sri Lankan police last week who cited a letter from Vietnam’s state-sanctioned Buddhist sangha – or Buddhist religious association – describing him as posing a threat to public order.

    His group, which also includes 10 volunteers, has since been provided temporary accommodation at a temple. They were given permission only to meet and receive food from visitors and well-wishers outside the temple, northeast of the capital Colombo, but were barred from continuing their hike, the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, told RFA.

    When it became clear that the group would not be allowed to continue their walk in Sri Lanka, the group decided to immediately leave for India instead, he said.

    “They don’t give us a green light to resume walking … on the road,” said Phuoc Nghiem, a close associate of Thich Minh Tue, during a YouTube livestream on Wednesday.

    The source said Thich Minh Tue is expected to arrive in India’s capital New Delhi by flight from Sri Lanka at around 5:00 a.m. on Friday. From there, he is expected to fly to Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, and will continue his walk there.

    Vietnamese monk Thich Min Tue continues his journey after being turned back at the Mae Sot border gate between Thailand and Myanmar, March 4, 2025.
    Vietnamese monk Thich Min Tue continues his journey after being turned back at the Mae Sot border gate between Thailand and Myanmar, March 4, 2025.
    (RFA)

    Thich Minh Tue became an unlikely internet sensation last year in Vietnam where his simple lifestyle has struck a chord. He undertook barefoot walks that went viral and well-wishers came out in droves. But authorities treat him with some suspicion as he is not officially recognized as a monk.

    Last December, he set out from his homeland on what was meant to be a 2,700-kilometer (1,600 mile) journey by foot through several Asian nations.

    Since leaving Vietnam, he and his companions have traveled through Laos and Thailand, and then took a detour to Malaysia after he ran into problems trying to enter Myanmar. He had intended to cross that war-torn country to get to India. After Malaysia he went to Sri Lanka and had intended to walk to the north of the South Asian nation and take a ferry to India.

    A copy of the letter from a representative of the Vietnamese sangha that was cited by Sri Lankan police has been viewed by RFA. It accuses Thich Minh Tue of impersonating a Buddhist monk, attempting to establish a dissident sect, and posing threat to public order and national reputation.

    Edited by Tenzin Pema and Mat Pennington.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by RFA Vietnamese.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Authorities have barred a Vietnamese Buddhist monk from continuing a barefoot pilgrimage through Sri Lanka so he’s departing instead for his final destination, India, a source told Radio Free Asia.

    Thich Minh Tue, who departed on a multi-nation journey from Vietnam four months ago, was stopped in his tracks by Sri Lankan police last week who cited a letter from Vietnam’s state-sanctioned Buddhist sangha – or Buddhist religious association – describing him as posing a threat to public order.

    His group, which also includes 10 volunteers, has since been provided temporary accommodation at a temple. They were given permission only to meet and receive food from visitors and well-wishers outside the temple, northeast of the capital Colombo, but were barred from continuing their hike, the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, told RFA.

    When it became clear that the group would not be allowed to continue their walk in Sri Lanka, the group decided to immediately leave for India instead, he said.

    “They don’t give us a green light to resume walking … on the road,” said Phuoc Nghiem, a close associate of Thich Minh Tue, during a YouTube livestream on Wednesday.

    The source said Thich Minh Tue is expected to arrive in India’s capital New Delhi by flight from Sri Lanka at around 5:00 a.m. on Friday. From there, he is expected to fly to Bodh Gaya, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, and will continue his walk there.

    Vietnamese monk Thich Min Tue continues his journey after being turned back at the Mae Sot border gate between Thailand and Myanmar, March 4, 2025.
    Vietnamese monk Thich Min Tue continues his journey after being turned back at the Mae Sot border gate between Thailand and Myanmar, March 4, 2025.
    (RFA)

    Thich Minh Tue became an unlikely internet sensation last year in Vietnam where his simple lifestyle has struck a chord. He undertook barefoot walks that went viral and well-wishers came out in droves. But authorities treat him with some suspicion as he is not officially recognized as a monk.

    Last December, he set out from his homeland on what was meant to be a 2,700-kilometer (1,600 mile) journey by foot through several Asian nations.

    Since leaving Vietnam, he and his companions have traveled through Laos and Thailand, and then took a detour to Malaysia after he ran into problems trying to enter Myanmar. He had intended to cross that war-torn country to get to India. After Malaysia he went to Sri Lanka and had intended to walk to the north of the South Asian nation and take a ferry to India.

    A copy of the letter from a representative of the Vietnamese sangha that was cited by Sri Lankan police has been viewed by RFA. It accuses Thich Minh Tue of impersonating a Buddhist monk, attempting to establish a dissident sect, and posing threat to public order and national reputation.

    Edited by Tenzin Pema and Mat Pennington.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by RFA Vietnamese.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • On March 28, 2025, pro-republic and pro-monarchy forces organised rival protests in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to showcase public support for and against the Republic. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, about 4,000 people attended the pro-monarchy rally, while around 35,000 joined the pro-republican protest. This was the second major monarchist demonstration following a bigger rally welcoming the king back from Pokhara on March 9. Pro-monarchy forces have been increasingly active, particularly after the former king Gyanendra Shah’s provocative statement on the eve of Democracy Day (February 19).

    Sensing the offense of counterrevolutionary forces, the pro-republican protest, organized under the Socialist Front, an alliance of the four opposition left parties, aimed to counter what they call reactionary and regressive forces. While the republican demonstration remained peaceful, the monarchists turned violent, vandalizing public and private property and attacking security personnel. In the aftermath, two people lost their lives, and several were injured.

    The violent pro-monarchy demonstration sparked intense debate. Republicans claim the monarchists attempted to create chaos and exploit the crisis while the government also accused them of inciting violence. The monarchists, however, argue they faced suppression from the police.

    Pro-monarchy protestors turn violent in Tinkune and Kathmandu. Source: Online People’s News

    Recognising the impact of March 28 protests, inside and outside Nepal, the monarchists are planning nationwide protests and have already formed a joint coordination committee. Meanwhile, after the monarchists vandalised the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) [CPN (US)] headquarters and damaged properties, the Socialist Front has committed to defend the achievements of the peaceful People’s Movement of 2006, which abolished monarchy and paved the way for a socialism-oriented constitution. Uncertainty remains, but two things are evident: Monarchists are uniting and mobilising aggressively, while republican forces remain firm. This could strengthen left unity, though questions persist about division within the largest parties, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) [CPN (UML)]) and Nepali Congress (NC) on republicanism.

    NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba may support the Republic, but it is an open secret that many others within his party favour Hindu nationalism and monarchy, and oppose the federal structure of Nepal. There many who question the ruling CPN (UML) asking if its top leadership is pro-monarchy, even while acknowledging that majority oppose the monarchy within the party. The fourth-largest party, the independent Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu’s mayor, rapper Balen Shah, are exploiting the situation to challenge traditional parties and the current political system. There are reports that the monarchists are backed by Indian forces – the ruling regime, the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) active role in Nepal, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – who are supporting financially, politically, and even militarily. The republicans struggle in Nepal for defending constitutional democracy will not be that easy.


    Mekha Limbu(Nepal), We are on the way to death, 2012.

    Historical Context and Dialectics

    Nepal’s unpredictable politics cannot be understood without historical, dialectical, and global perspectives. Its geopolitical location, India-China rivalry, Hindu fundamentalism, US influence, and EU interests, the recent populist tendencies, etc. have turned Nepal into a battleground for power struggles. When leftist coalitions emerge to govern the country India in alliance with the US and right-wing forces, works to weaken them. Internal party rifts further destabilize the government. Therefore, it may be seen that all the forces within the nation and outside, will unite to weaken Nepali state and create further crisis.

    Political instability has been a great challenge of Nepalese democracy. Nepal’s political instability is evident in its frequent government changes – 32 since multiparty democracy was restored in 1990, and 13 since Nepal became a republic in 2008. The current government that ruling Nepal is the 14th.

    On top political instability, the republicans in Nepal underestimated the monarchy’s revival. Even leftist forces overlooked the resurgence of counterrevolutionary elements. Some self-proclaimed theoreticians focused solely on comprador bourgeoisie as the enemy of Nepal’s working class while ignoring conservatives, reactionaries, and fundamentalists. As previously noted, after overthrowing the monarchy, there was no significant effort to transform production relations in Nepal and create alternative cultural structures, leaving ample space for people to aspire for the monarchy’s return.

    Mass media and social media blame top leaders Deuba, K. P. Sharma Oli, and Prachanda, who have collectively ruled for decades, for the crises. Deuba has been prime minister six times, Oli four, and Prachanda three. Other former PMs still lead parties and remain active. These aging leaders have dominated Nepal’s politics for 30 years. However, deeper systemic issues are more influential than people or parties.

    Socialist Front rallies at Bhrikuti Mandap. Source: Online People’s News

    Why Is This Happening in Nepal?

    A.) Political Instability and Systemic Crisis

    Nepal faces severe political instability, deep inequality, unemployment, slow economic growth, weak industrialisation, mass migration, poverty, food insecurity, and rising debt. Climate crises and disasters add to these challenges. Various forces exploit these crises for their interests. Government changes bring only new rulers, not solutions. People are increasingly frustrated with political parties and the system itself. The 2015 Constitution of Nepal, which established a federal democratic republic, is under threat. Federalism is criticised, republicanism is questioned, and neo-fascism and populism are on the rise. Pro-monarchist forces are capitalising on this turmoil. While most acknowledge Nepal’s problems, reactionary forces blame political parties and the republican system itself. They falsely claim that restoring monarchy, re-establishing a Hindu state, and ending federalism as the solutions. It is prudent to note that many of these groups receive political and financial support from Hindutva-aligned conservatives.

    B.) Failure of the Government to Deliver
    The current government holds a two-thirds majority, with two parties who have been historically rivals uniting. Its failure to govern effectively is seen as proof that Nepal’s political system itself is failing. This perception fuels calls for alternative governance models, including a return to monarchy.

    C.) Corruption, Bad Governance, and Impunity

    Recent scandals—such as the Gold Scam, Bhutanese Refugee Scam, and Giri Bandhu Tea Estate Scam—have exposed massive corruption within the state. People now believe that no political leader is clean, as all have been in power at some point. Lack of rule of law, poor governance, and impunity for corrupt leaders have enraged the public. The perception that all top leaders are involved in scandals has made accountability almost impossible.

    D.) Public Frustration and Growing Anti-Establishment Sentiment

    Government failure, rising unemployment, and foreign labour migration have fuelled widespread frustration. Reactionary and populist forces frame their movements as a revolt against the political establishment. This anti-establishment sentiment explains the rise of figures like Durga Prasai and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah. Shah’s election was largely due to public anger toward traditional parties. People are increasingly rejecting established political structures, creating space for monarchists and other challengers.

    Shashi Bikram Shah(Nepal), Royal Massacre Series, 2001.

    E.) Lack of Development Agendas and Weak Leadership

    Nepali leaders lack a vision for national development. They show little concern for public suffering, employment opportunities, or economic growth. Instead, they are focused on power, corruption, and alliances with corporate and comprador elites. Leadership incompetence is another major issue. Most leaders have failed to demonstrate effective governance. Though they may be politically experienced, they lack the ability to transform Nepal’s economy and society.

    F.) Weakening of the State and Attacks on the Left

    There is lot of ideological degeneration in Nepal’s Left movements as they are heavily infiltrated by conservatives. Also, political revisionism has made the Left on the whole indistinguishable from the bourgeois parties. Many leftists have abandoned class struggle, allowing right-wing forces to gain ground. Anti-communist elements are actively working to defame Nepal’s left, weakening national sovereignty and progress. A corrupt judiciary and penetrated bureaucracy further ensure that genuine reformers are isolated or sidelined. Crime networks and muscle power dominate the political scene, making systemic change difficult.

    Amid this crisis, pro-monarchy conservatives and reactionaries are exploiting public frustration. While systemic failures are widely acknowledged, these groups falsely present monarchy, Hindu nationalism, and the abolition of federalism as solutions. Many suspect these efforts are backed by right-wing Hindutva groups.

    Major political parties’ failure to offer a development agenda has left a vacuum that reactionary forces are filling. The 2015 Constitution, which established Nepal as a federal democratic republic, now faces threats from both political actors and street movements. Federalism is under scrutiny, republicanism is questioned, and neo-fascist and populist movements are growing.

    Urgent responses from the government and political parties are necessary. Nepal’s crisis is deeply systemic, with instability and foreign interference fuelling continued failure. Without addressing corruption, delivering reforms, and safeguarding democratic institutions, Nepal risks further regression. The world watches as one of the youngest republics struggles to navigate this precarious moment.

  • First published at Tricontinental Asia.
  • The post Challenges to Nepal’s Republican Structure from Monarchists and Why? first appeared on Dissident Voice.

  • On March 28, 2025, pro-republic and pro-monarchy forces organised rival protests in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to showcase public support for and against the Republic. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, about 4,000 people attended the pro-monarchy rally, while around 35,000 joined the pro-republican protest. This was the second major monarchist demonstration following a bigger rally welcoming the king back from Pokhara on March 9. Pro-monarchy forces have been increasingly active, particularly after the former king Gyanendra Shah’s provocative statement on the eve of Democracy Day (February 19).

    Sensing the offense of counterrevolutionary forces, the pro-republican protest, organized under the Socialist Front, an alliance of the four opposition left parties, aimed to counter what they call reactionary and regressive forces. While the republican demonstration remained peaceful, the monarchists turned violent, vandalizing public and private property and attacking security personnel. In the aftermath, two people lost their lives, and several were injured.

    The violent pro-monarchy demonstration sparked intense debate. Republicans claim the monarchists attempted to create chaos and exploit the crisis while the government also accused them of inciting violence. The monarchists, however, argue they faced suppression from the police.

    Pro-monarchy protestors turn violent in Tinkune and Kathmandu. Source: Online People’s News

    Recognising the impact of March 28 protests, inside and outside Nepal, the monarchists are planning nationwide protests and have already formed a joint coordination committee. Meanwhile, after the monarchists vandalised the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) [CPN (US)] headquarters and damaged properties, the Socialist Front has committed to defend the achievements of the peaceful People’s Movement of 2006, which abolished monarchy and paved the way for a socialism-oriented constitution. Uncertainty remains, but two things are evident: Monarchists are uniting and mobilising aggressively, while republican forces remain firm. This could strengthen left unity, though questions persist about division within the largest parties, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) [CPN (UML)]) and Nepali Congress (NC) on republicanism.

    NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba may support the Republic, but it is an open secret that many others within his party favour Hindu nationalism and monarchy, and oppose the federal structure of Nepal. There many who question the ruling CPN (UML) asking if its top leadership is pro-monarchy, even while acknowledging that majority oppose the monarchy within the party. The fourth-largest party, the independent Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu’s mayor, rapper Balen Shah, are exploiting the situation to challenge traditional parties and the current political system. There are reports that the monarchists are backed by Indian forces – the ruling regime, the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) active role in Nepal, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – who are supporting financially, politically, and even militarily. The republicans struggle in Nepal for defending constitutional democracy will not be that easy.


    Mekha Limbu(Nepal), We are on the way to death, 2012.

    Historical Context and Dialectics

    Nepal’s unpredictable politics cannot be understood without historical, dialectical, and global perspectives. Its geopolitical location, India-China rivalry, Hindu fundamentalism, US influence, and EU interests, the recent populist tendencies, etc. have turned Nepal into a battleground for power struggles. When leftist coalitions emerge to govern the country India in alliance with the US and right-wing forces, works to weaken them. Internal party rifts further destabilize the government. Therefore, it may be seen that all the forces within the nation and outside, will unite to weaken Nepali state and create further crisis.

    Political instability has been a great challenge of Nepalese democracy. Nepal’s political instability is evident in its frequent government changes – 32 since multiparty democracy was restored in 1990, and 13 since Nepal became a republic in 2008. The current government that ruling Nepal is the 14th.

    On top political instability, the republicans in Nepal underestimated the monarchy’s revival. Even leftist forces overlooked the resurgence of counterrevolutionary elements. Some self-proclaimed theoreticians focused solely on comprador bourgeoisie as the enemy of Nepal’s working class while ignoring conservatives, reactionaries, and fundamentalists. As previously noted, after overthrowing the monarchy, there was no significant effort to transform production relations in Nepal and create alternative cultural structures, leaving ample space for people to aspire for the monarchy’s return.

    Mass media and social media blame top leaders Deuba, K. P. Sharma Oli, and Prachanda, who have collectively ruled for decades, for the crises. Deuba has been prime minister six times, Oli four, and Prachanda three. Other former PMs still lead parties and remain active. These aging leaders have dominated Nepal’s politics for 30 years. However, deeper systemic issues are more influential than people or parties.

    Socialist Front rallies at Bhrikuti Mandap. Source: Online People’s News

    Why Is This Happening in Nepal?

    A.) Political Instability and Systemic Crisis

    Nepal faces severe political instability, deep inequality, unemployment, slow economic growth, weak industrialisation, mass migration, poverty, food insecurity, and rising debt. Climate crises and disasters add to these challenges. Various forces exploit these crises for their interests. Government changes bring only new rulers, not solutions. People are increasingly frustrated with political parties and the system itself. The 2015 Constitution of Nepal, which established a federal democratic republic, is under threat. Federalism is criticised, republicanism is questioned, and neo-fascism and populism are on the rise. Pro-monarchist forces are capitalising on this turmoil. While most acknowledge Nepal’s problems, reactionary forces blame political parties and the republican system itself. They falsely claim that restoring monarchy, re-establishing a Hindu state, and ending federalism as the solutions. It is prudent to note that many of these groups receive political and financial support from Hindutva-aligned conservatives.

    B.) Failure of the Government to Deliver
    The current government holds a two-thirds majority, with two parties who have been historically rivals uniting. Its failure to govern effectively is seen as proof that Nepal’s political system itself is failing. This perception fuels calls for alternative governance models, including a return to monarchy.

    C.) Corruption, Bad Governance, and Impunity

    Recent scandals—such as the Gold Scam, Bhutanese Refugee Scam, and Giri Bandhu Tea Estate Scam—have exposed massive corruption within the state. People now believe that no political leader is clean, as all have been in power at some point. Lack of rule of law, poor governance, and impunity for corrupt leaders have enraged the public. The perception that all top leaders are involved in scandals has made accountability almost impossible.

    D.) Public Frustration and Growing Anti-Establishment Sentiment

    Government failure, rising unemployment, and foreign labour migration have fuelled widespread frustration. Reactionary and populist forces frame their movements as a revolt against the political establishment. This anti-establishment sentiment explains the rise of figures like Durga Prasai and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah. Shah’s election was largely due to public anger toward traditional parties. People are increasingly rejecting established political structures, creating space for monarchists and other challengers.

    Shashi Bikram Shah(Nepal), Royal Massacre Series, 2001.

    E.) Lack of Development Agendas and Weak Leadership

    Nepali leaders lack a vision for national development. They show little concern for public suffering, employment opportunities, or economic growth. Instead, they are focused on power, corruption, and alliances with corporate and comprador elites. Leadership incompetence is another major issue. Most leaders have failed to demonstrate effective governance. Though they may be politically experienced, they lack the ability to transform Nepal’s economy and society.

    F.) Weakening of the State and Attacks on the Left

    There is lot of ideological degeneration in Nepal’s Left movements as they are heavily infiltrated by conservatives. Also, political revisionism has made the Left on the whole indistinguishable from the bourgeois parties. Many leftists have abandoned class struggle, allowing right-wing forces to gain ground. Anti-communist elements are actively working to defame Nepal’s left, weakening national sovereignty and progress. A corrupt judiciary and penetrated bureaucracy further ensure that genuine reformers are isolated or sidelined. Crime networks and muscle power dominate the political scene, making systemic change difficult.

    Amid this crisis, pro-monarchy conservatives and reactionaries are exploiting public frustration. While systemic failures are widely acknowledged, these groups falsely present monarchy, Hindu nationalism, and the abolition of federalism as solutions. Many suspect these efforts are backed by right-wing Hindutva groups.

    Major political parties’ failure to offer a development agenda has left a vacuum that reactionary forces are filling. The 2015 Constitution, which established Nepal as a federal democratic republic, now faces threats from both political actors and street movements. Federalism is under scrutiny, republicanism is questioned, and neo-fascist and populist movements are growing.

    Urgent responses from the government and political parties are necessary. Nepal’s crisis is deeply systemic, with instability and foreign interference fuelling continued failure. Without addressing corruption, delivering reforms, and safeguarding democratic institutions, Nepal risks further regression. The world watches as one of the youngest republics struggles to navigate this precarious moment.

  • First published at Tricontinental Asia.
  • The post Challenges to Nepal’s Republican Structure from Monarchists and Why? first appeared on Dissident Voice.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • A claim emerged in Chinese-language social media posts that a U.S. congressman named “Jack Kimble” suggested selling all American beef to India if China stops importing it.

    But the claim is false. There is no U.S. congressman by that name. The claim originated from a satirical social media post.

    A Taiwanese political talk show, TVBS News Talk, cited Chinese outlet NetEase to claim that a U.S. congressman named “Jack Kimble” suggested selling all American beef to India if China stops importing it.

    The guest of the show, retired Taiwanese Lt. Gen. Shuai Hua-min, used the claim to criticize the U.S. as ignorant, noting that Indians don’t eat beef.

    TVBS guest and retired Taiwanese Lt. Gen. Shuai Hua-min criticized Washington, citing a claim that a U.S. congressman suggested selling all U.S. beef to India if China refuses to buy it.
    TVBS guest and retired Taiwanese Lt. Gen. Shuai Hua-min criticized Washington, citing a claim that a U.S. congressman suggested selling all U.S. beef to India if China refuses to buy it.
    (TVBS/YouTube)

    The U.S. and China are waging a tit-for-tat trade battle, which threatens to stunt the global economy, after Trump announced new tariffs on most countries.

    Specifically, the Trump administration has ramped up its trade war with Beijing by hiking import taxes on Chinese goods to as high as 145%

    China, which has pledged to “fight to the end” if Washington continues to escalate the trade spat, has hit back by imposing duties of 125% on U.S. exports, prompting U.S. companies to seek alternative markets and manufacturing bases.

    India has emerged as a key partner in this realignment. U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently visited India to advance negotiations on a bilateral trade deal aimed at boosting trade from the current US$190 billion to US$500 billion by 2030. Discussions include tariff relief and increased imports of U.S. goods by India .​

    But the claim about the purported remarks made by a U.S. congressman named “Jack Kimble” is false.

    Keyword searches found that the claim originated from a satirical post from a parody X account named “Rep. Jack Kimble.”

    The account is known for political satire and explicitly describes itself as representing California’s fictional 54th congressional district – California only has 52 districts.

    According to the official website of the U.S. House of Representatives, there is no member named “Jack Kimble.”

    On April 16, the parody account posted a satirical message suggesting selling beef to India if China stops buying it. This post was mistakenly translated and widely shared across Chinese social media platforms, including Weibo, Douyin, and even Chinese state-affiliated outlets like Hua Shang Daily.

    The “US congressman suggests the U.S. sell beef to India” claim circulated across various Chinese news and social media platforms.
    The “US congressman suggests the U.S. sell beef to India” claim circulated across various Chinese news and social media platforms.
    (Weibo, Douyin and Hua Shang Daily)

    Other claims made by the satirical X account have been debunked by Reuters, USA Today, and PolitiFact.

    Edited by Taejun Kang.

    Asia Fact Check Lab (AFCL) was established to counter disinformation in today’s complex media environment. We publish fact-checks, media-watches and in-depth reports that aim to sharpen and deepen our readers’ understanding of current affairs and public issues. If you like our content, you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by Alicia Dong for Asia Fact Check Lab.

  • Shompen people in their forest home
    A group of Shompen men in the Great Nicobar Island rainforest. ©Survival

    One of the world’s most isolated tribes will be wiped out if the Indian government presses ahead with a mega-development project on their island, according to a new report published today.

    The report “Crushed: How India plans to sacrifice one of the world’s most isolated tribes to create ‘the new Hong Kong’” is published by Survival International.

    It warns that the uncontacted Shompen people, who live only on Great Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean, will not survive if the Great Nicobar Development Project goes ahead.

    The project includes plans to build a mega-port, defense base, power station and new city of 650,000 people, and bring in around a million tourists and other visitors to the small island each year.

    Indian Government illustration of Great Nicobar port plans Indian government visualisation of the Great Nicobar mega-port, just one part of the huge project planned for the island.

    Survival International said today that it is sending the report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, UN Special Rapporteurs, and other UN officials, and urging them to call for the project to be scrapped.

    Thirty-nine genocide scholars wrote to the Indian government in February 2024 warning that the project would wipe out the Shompen if it went ahead.

    Around 300 Shompen people live in the lush rainforests of the island’s interior, the majority of whom are uncontacted. Great Nicobar is part of the same island chain that is home to the uncontacted Sentinelese people, where an American influencer was arrested this month for trying to contact the tribe.

    Survival International Director Caroline Pearce said today: “It’s appalling that the authorities in India are pressing ahead with this project that will wipe out the Shompen, one of the world’s most isolated tribes. While they’re prosecuting someone for going to the island of the Sentinelese, they cannot justify building a city of 650,000 people on the island of their uncontacted neighbors the Shompen.

    “This project would seem absurd if it weren’t so deadly. The Shompen have the right to survive, and just want to be left in peace. The government must allow them to do so by scrapping this project, rather than pressing ahead and condemning the Shompen to annihilation.”

    The post Indian Government Plans Spell Disaster for Uncontacted Island Tribe first appeared on Dissident Voice.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • Writing in his cell as a political prisoner in fascist Italy after World War I, the philosopher Antonio Gramsci famously declared: “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.”

    A century later, we are in another interregnum, and the morbid symptoms are everywhere. The U.S.-led order has ended, but the multipolar world is not yet born. The urgent priority is to give birth to a new multilateral order that can keep the peace and the path to sustainable development.

    We are at the end of a long wave of human history that commenced with the voyages of Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama more than 500 years ago.

    The post Birthing A New International Order appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • biokraft india
    4 Mins Read

    Mumbai-based food tech startup Biokraft Foods has debuted cultured seafood prototypes in collaboration with the government, and will apply for regulatory approval for cultivated chicken this summer.

    Cultivated meat is inching closer to Indian plates.

    Biokraft Foods, a Mumbai-based startup, will soon make the first application to sell cultivated meat in the world’s most populous country.

    “We will file for the approval of the chicken meat product, which is expected to happen in the next two months,” founder and CEO Kamalnayan Tibrewal tells Green Queen.

    The development comes just as the startup has raised an undisclosed sum in a pre-seed funding round, with the deal currently under process.

    Meanwhile, it has also unveiled structured fish products made by cultivating the cells of native trout species, as part of a project with a government-backed research institute.

    Working with the ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-CICFR), which falls under India’s agricultural ministry, Biokraft Foods has developed fish cell lines and applied its 3D printing technology and bioink to transform these cells into whole-cut cultivated fish.

    “We are working on snow and rainbow trout, a Himalayan delicacy with a huge value proposition in terms of pricing,” says Tibrewal. “Given our collaboration with ICAR-CICFR, whose primary work is around trout fishes, it made sense to proceed with that.”

    Mixing cultivated fish cells with plants and algae

    lab grown fish india
    Courtesy: Biokraft Foods

    Trout is a high-value fish with limited availability in India, making it an expensive source of seafood. Several populations of trout are considered either endangered or threatened, and farming this fish is a resource-intensive, planet-harming process.

    Biokraft aims to address these challenges through cell cultivation. Its tech platform for cultivated chicken uses 3D bioprinting to replicate the texture, taste, and structure of conventional meat, and it’s using the same tech to produce seafood.

    The resulting product is said to be “structurally and nutritionally on par with conventional trout”, with year-round production without any dependence on animal farming, wild catch, or fragile ecosystems. It would further eliminate any antibiotic contamination and microplastic pollution.

    According to the startup, cell cultivation also has the potential to bring down prices over time through scale and process optimisation. But for now, it’s still using the controversial and expensive fetal bovine serum in “certain concentrations in the medium”.

    “The long-term goal is to keep it serum-free. It is too early to discuss the unit economics, but it will be priced lower than conventional trout meat,” says Tibrewal.

    As for the composition of the new seafood products, he reveals: “The current cell biomass stands at 3% due to the slow doubling rate of cells, but we want to boost it up to 10% if unit economics allows. Apart from that, we are using algal and plant-based ingredients.”

    Biokraft Foods to host a series of public tastings

    lab grown meat india
    Courtesy: Biokraft Foods

    “At ICAR-CICFR, our mandate has been to promote sustainable coldwater fisheries through advanced research and innovation,” said Amit Pande, principal scientist at the research institute.

    “The collaborative development of India’s first cultivated trout product with Biokraft Foods exemplifies how academic institutions and emerging industry players can jointly contribute to the evolution of alternative protein sources. This initiative not only aligns with our vision of conserving aquatic biodiversity but also opens up new avenues for cell-based aquaculture research in India.”

    The development comes months after Biokraft Foods hosted India’s first public tasting of cultivated meat, serving over 30 attendees a hybrid chicken breast with cultivated chicken cells mixed with plant-based and algal ingredients.

    “A series of tasting events are lined up starting next month and will primarily focus on chicken,” Tibrewal says now. “The trout product is still under development and will need to undergo validation trials before making it public.”

    The company is also opening a dedicated R&D and pilot facility by the end of this year, which will act as a hub for innovation. “The plan is under development but will be implemented in a step-by-step manner,” he says.

    Biokraft Foods has already been consulting with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as the regulator established a framework for novel foods, and aims to achieve a commercial rollout of both its meat and seafood products by 2026.

    A 2024 survey found that over 60% of Indians are willing to buy cultivated meat, with 59% identifying it as an alternative to conventional meat that promotes nutritional security. And it’s not just citizens – the government has also been keen on these proteins, as evidenced by the ICAR-CICFR’s involvement.

    The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and New Delhi-based startup Neat Meatt are co-developing cultivated seafood in a similar project, and Singaporean pioneer Umami Bioworks has established R&D and commercialisation partnerships with two research hubs in India.

    The post India Inches Closer to Cultivated Meat as Biokraft Foods Prepares Regulatory Filing appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • Former UNSCOM weapons inspector Scott Ritter usually provides excellent analysis of geopolitical events and places them in a morally centered framework. However, in a recent X post, Ritter defends a controversial stance blaming Iran for US and Israeli machinations against Iran.

    Ritter opened, “I have assiduously detailed the nature of the threat perceived by the US that, if unresolved, would necessitate military action, as exclusively revolving around Iran’s nuclear program and, more specifically, that capacity that is excess to its declared peaceful program and, as such, conducive to a nuclear weapons program Iran has admitted is on the threshold of being actualized.”

    Threats perceived by the US. These threats range from North Korea, Viet Nam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iran, China, and Russia. Question: Which of the aforementioned countries is about to — or ever was about to — attack the US? None. (Al Qaeda is not a country) So why does Ritter imply that military action would be necessitated? Is it a vestige of military indoctrination left over from his time as a marine? In this case, why is Ritter not focused on his own backyard and telling the US to butt out of the Middle East? The US, since it is situated on a continent far removed from Iran, should no more dictate to Iran what its defense posture should be in the region than Iran should dictate what the US’s defense posture should be in the northwestern hemisphere.

    Ritter: “In short, I have argued, the most realistic path forward regarding conflict avoidance would be for Iran to negotiate in good faith regarding the verifiable disposition of its excess nuclear enrichment capability.”

    Ritter places the onus for conflict avoidance on Iran. Why? Is Iran seeking conflict with the US? Is Iran making demands of the US? Is Iran sanctioning the US? Moreover, who gets to decide what is realistic or not? Is what is realistic for the US also realistic for Iran? When determining the path forward, one should be aware of who and what is stirring up conflict. Ritter addresses this when he writes, “Even when Trump alienated Iran with his ‘maximum pressure’ tactics, including an insulting letter to the Supreme Leader that all but eliminated the possibility of direct negotiations between the US and Iran…” But this did not alter Ritter’s stance. Iran must negotiate — again. According to Ritter negotiations are how to solve the crisis, a crisis of the US’s (and Israel’s) making.

    Iran had agreed to a deal — the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Germany — collectively known as the P5+1 — with the participation of the European Union. The JCPOA came into effect in 2016. During the course of the JCPOA, Iran was in compliance with the deal. Nonetheless, Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018.

    Backing out of agreements/deals is nothing new for Trump (or for that matter, the US). For example, Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement on climate, the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade, the United Nations cultural organization UNESCO, and the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was subsequently renegotiated under Trump to morph into the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, which is now imperilled by the Trump administration’s tariff threats, as is the World Trade Organization that regulates international trade.

    Should Iran, therefore, expect adherence to any future agreement signed with the US?

    Ritter insists that he is promoting a reality-based process providing the only viable path toward peace. Many of those who disagree with Ritter’s assertion are lampooned by him as “the digital mob, comprised of new age philosophers, self-styled ‘peace activists’, and a troll class that opposes anything and everything it doesn’t understand (which is most factually-grounded argument), as well as people I had viewed as fellow travelers on a larger journey of conflict avoidance—podcasters, experts and pundits who did more than simply disagree with me (which is, of course, their right and duty as independent thinkers), traversing into the realm of insults and attacks against my intelligence, integrity and character.”

    Ritter continued, “The US-Iran crisis is grounded in the complexities, niceties and formalities of international law as set forth in the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT), which Iran signed in 1970 as a non-nuclear weapons state. The NPT will be at the center of any negotiated settlement.”

    Is it accurate to characterize the crisis as a “US-Iran crisis”? It elides the fact that it is the US imposing a crisis on Iran. More accurately it should be stated as a “US crisis foisted on Iran.”

    Ritter argues, “… the fact remains that this crisis has been triggered by the very capabilities Iran admits to having—stocks of 60% enriched uranium with no link to Iran’s declared peaceful program, and excessive advanced centrifuge-based enrichment capability which leaves Iran days away from possessing sufficient weapons grade high enriched uranium to produce 3-5 nuclear weapons.”

    So, Ritter blames Iran for the crisis. This plays off Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has long accused Iran of seeking nukes. But it ignores the situation in India and Pakistan. Although the relations between the two countries are tense, logic dictates that open warring must be avoided lest it lead to mutual nuclear conflagration. And if Iran dismantles its nuclear program? What happened when Libya dismantled its nuclear program? Destruction by the US-led NATO. As A.B. Abrams wrote, Libya paid the price for

    … having ignored direct warnings from both Tehran and Pyongyang not to pursue such a course [of unilaterally disarming], Libya’s leadership would later admit that disarmament, neglected military modernisation, and trust in Western good will proved to be their greatest mistake–leaving their country near defenceless when Western powers launched their offensive in 2011. (Immovable Object: North Korea’s 70 Years at War with American Power, Clarity Press, 2020: p 296)

    And North Korea has existed with a credible deterrence against any attack on it since it acquired nuclear weapons.

    Relevant background to the current crisis imposed on Iran

    1. The year 1953 is a suitable starting point. It was in this year that the US-UK (CIA and MI6) combined to engineer a coup against the democratically elected Iranian government under prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh had committed the unpardonable sin of nationalizing the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
    1. What to replace the Iranian democracy with? A monarchy. In other words, a dictatorship because monarchs are not elected, they are usually born into power. Thus, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi would rule as the shah of Iran for 26 years protected by his secret police, the SAVAK. Eventually, the shah would be overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
    1. In an attempt to force Iran to bend knee to US dictate, the US has imposed sanctions, issued threats, and fomented violence.
    1. Starting sometime after 2010, it is generally agreed among cybersecurity experts and intelligence leaks that the Iranian nuclear program was a target of cyberwarfare by the US and Israel — this in contravention of the United Nations Charter Article 2 (1-4):

    1. The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.

    2. All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.

    3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.

    4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

    1. The Stuxnet virus caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program, particularly at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
    1. Israel and the United States are also accused of being behind the assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists over the past decade.
    1. On 3 January 2020, Trump ordered a US drone strike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq that assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani as well as Soleimani ally Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a top Iraqi militia leader.
    1. On 7 October 7 2023, Hamas launched a resistance attack against Israel’s occupation. Since then, Israel has reportedly conducted several covert and overt strikes targeting Iran and its proxies across the region.
    1. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of seeking nukes for nearly 30 years, long before Iran reached 60% enrichment in 2021. In Netanyahu’s book Fighting Terrorism (1995) he described Iran as a “rogue state” pursuing nukes to destroy Israel. Given that a fanatical, expansionist Zionist map for Israel, the Oded-Yinon plan, draws a Jewish territory that touches on the Iranian frontier, a debilitated Iran is sought by Israel.

     

    Oded Yinon Plan

    Says Ritter, “This crisis isn’t about Israel or Israel’s own undeclared nuclear weapons capability. It is about Iran’s self-declared status as a threshold nuclear weapons state, something prohibited by the NPT. This is what the negotiations will focus on. And hopefully these negotiations will permit the verifiable dismantling of those aspects of its nuclear program the US (and Israel) find to present an existential threat.”

    Why isn’t it about Israel’s nuclear weapons capability? Why does the US and Ritter get to decide which crisis is preeminent?

    It is important to note that US intelligence has long said that no active Iranian nuclear weapon project exists.

    It is also important to note that Arab states have long supported a Middle East Zone Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDFZ), particularly nuclear weapons, but Israel and the US oppose it.

    It is also important to note that, in 2021, the U.S. opposed a resolution demanding Israel join the NPT and that the US, in 2018, blocked an Arab-backed IAEA resolution on Israeli nukes. (UN Digital Library. Search: “Middle East WMDFZ”)

    As far as the NPT goes, it must be applied equally to all signatory states. The US as a nuclear-armed nation is bound by Article VI which demands:

    Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

    Thus, hopefully negotiations will permit the verifiable dismantling of those aspects of the Iranian, US, and Israeli nuclear programs (as well as the nuclear programs of other nuclear-armed nations) that are found to present an existential threat.

    Ritter warns, “Peace is not guaranteed. But war is unless common sense and fact-based logic wins out over the self-important ignorance of the digital mob and their facilitators.”

    A peaceful solution is not achieved by assertions (i.e., not fact-based logic) or by ad hominem. That critics of Ritter’s stance resort to name-calling demeans them, but to respond likewise to one’s critics also taints the respondent.

    Logic dictates that peace is more-or-less guaranteed if UN member states adhere to the United Nations Charter. The US, Iran, and Israel are UN member states. A balanced and peaceful solution is found in the Purposes and Principles as stipulated in Article 1 (1-4) of the UN Charter:

    The Purposes of the United Nations are:

    1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

    2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;

    3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and

    4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

    It seems that only by refusing to abide by one’s obligations laid out the UN Charter and NPT that war looms larger.

    In Ritter’s reality, the US rules the roost against smaller countries. Is such a reality acceptable?

    It stirs up patriotism, but acquiescence is an affront to national dignity. Ritter will likely respond by asking what god is dignity when you are dead. Fair enough. But in the present crisis, if the US were to attack Iran, then whatever last shred of dignity (is there any last shred of dignity left when a country is supporting the genocide of human beings in Palestine?) that American patriots can cling to will have vanished.

    By placing the blame on Iran for a crisis triggered by destabilizing actions of the US and Israel, Ritter asks for Iran to pay for the violent events set in motion by US Israel. If Iran were to cave to Trump’s threats, they would be sacrificing sovereignty, dignity, and self-defense.

    North Korea continues on. Libya is still reeling from the NATO offensive against it. Iran is faced with a choice.

    The Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata knew his choice well: “I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.”

    The post Should Iran Bend Knee to Donald Trump? first appeared on Dissident Voice.


    This content originally appeared on Dissident Voice and was authored by Kim Petersen.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed after an intense debate for nearly 12 hours on April 4, at 2 a.m. This bill, which had been given the approval of the Lok Sabha, the lower house, just a day before, at 1 a.m. on April 3, brings about a sweeping change in the Waqf property laws-charitable trusts under Islamic law. Titled the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act or “UMEED” meaning hope in Hindi, this bill has set off fierce contentions, with its proponents calling it a great transformative reform and critics arguing that it violates the rights of people under a veil of political activism.

    The passage of this historic legislation was celebrated by Prime Minister Modi on X, stating that it would mark a significant milestone for his government together with the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the Ram Temple construction. Very grandly put, but the legislation is highly contentious and complicated in its purpose, consequences, and outlook on Waqf properties spread across 9.4 lakh acres across India, making them the third-largest landholder in the country after Railways and Defence Forces.

    What Is Waqf, and Why Does It Matter?

    In the Islamic system of law, a Waqf is regarded as a charitable trust whereby an individual sets aside property-whether land, buildings, or other assets-for religious or social purposes. In its designation, the property is said to have been transferred to Allah so that it may be administered by a custodian (mutawalli) in fulfilment of specific purposes like the endowment of mosques, graveyards, or welfare activities. In India, this centuries-old practice has, however, been codified and regulated through various enactments starting from the Muslim Wakf Validating Act of 1913 to the Waqf Act of 1995, as amended in 2013. Presently 32 state Waqf Boards and a Central Waqf Council are in charge of these assets.

    The scale of Waqf assets is indeed staggering: millions of properties, mosques, cemeteries, shops, and agricultural land. In theory, their income should be utilised for the education, healthcare, and welfare of the Muslim community. Mismanagement, corruption, and a poor revenue-generating capacity remained the catchwords for the schemes in practice-the last being about ₹163 crore a year as per the Sachar Committee Report in 2006. The report mentioned that if properly managed, Waqf could have made 12,000 crore ($1.4 billion) today, establishing a chasm between what could be and what is the functioning by the government, which now claims to correct.

    The Bill: Key Changes and Controversies

    The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is intended to introduce radical reforms intended to modernise and centralise Waqf administration. Among its most controversial provisions:

    1. Abolition of ‘Waqf by User’ and Section 40: It was often said that “Waqf by user” applies to properties that had been put to religious uses for very long periods, such as ancient mosques or graveyards, making them Waqf even in the absence of formal documentation. According to Section 40 of the 1995 Act, it was also possible for Waqf Boards to determine unilaterally whether a property was under their purview. The new bill does away with both provisions and makes it mandatory for district collectors to undertake surveys and verify claims, a move the government says will stem the tide of arbitrary land grabbing. Critics fear, though, that it could endanger myriad undocumented historical sites to litigation and reclamation.

    2. Centralised Registration and Transparency: The bill obliges all Waqf properties to be listed on the government portal within six months of its enactment, thereby promoting transparency. Disputes, which were previously adjudicated solely by Waqf Tribunals, can now be appealed in high courts, thus subject to the erstwhile arguments of ensuring justice, but critics say centralising control under the state.

    3. Inclusion of Non-Muslims and Women: The bill proposes that in the Central Waqf Council (22 members) and state boards, aside from two Muslim women and representatives of Muslim communities (Pasmanda1), four and three non-Muslim members, respectively, should be included. The government suggests this is a progressive step since Waqf decisions affect non-Muslims as well. On the other hand, opposition leaders, such as AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, argue that the diversity is not required for Hindu temple boards, thereby accusing the BJP of selective interference.

    4. Inheritance Rights: A prohibition against Waqf dedications that disinherit daughters contributes towards gender equity. However, critics have noted the anomaly-the Hindu law on inheritance continues to allow fathers to discriminate in favour of their sons, and no reforms have been made to address this.

    5. Limitation Law: Property disputes will be subject to a limitation period, thereby precluding claims more than “x” years after the event. While this purportedly hastens the wheels of justice, it has evoked opposition, such as by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who warns that lingering unresolved cases might legitimise illegal encroachments under the evil doctrine of “adverse possession.”

    The Debate: Polarization and Power Plays

    Confusion and Vast Misdirection: The next step is to satisfy the Parliament’s vagaries. In the Lok Sabha, 288 MPs voted for it and 232 against. The Rajya Sabha saw 128 votes for and 95 against. TDP and JD(U) are allies, while BJP got help from the YSRCP and BJD, which allowed free votes among their MPs to ensure the simple majority was achieved.

    Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, introduced the bill on April 2, citing “97 lakh petitions” from stakeholders as proof of public demand for one that would uplift poor Muslims and modernise the broken system. He charged Waqf Boards with misusing their powers to lay claims to properties such as that of Delhi’s CGO Complex or land of a 1,500-year-old Tiruchendur temple in Tamil Nadu, aided on many occasions by past Congress governments.

    The substantive opposition came from Congress, DMK, and RJD. A. Raja of DMK stated the existing process involving independent survey commissioners and civil procedure codes prevented arbitrary acquisitions and charged that the BJP was exaggerating the ills so that control could be gained via district collectors who lack the independence of earlier officials. Congress member Imran Pratapgarhi disproved all claims that Waqf Tribunals were unaccountable “religious panchayats,” emphasising judicial scrutiny of their operations since the 1995 Act. Manoj Jha from RJD posed the question of how sites centuries old could have modern documentation and predicted a “mountain of litigation.”

    Owaisi and others posed a much graver question: the stripping of “Waqf by user” status and demands for paperwork could put historic properties on shaky ground, making them susceptible to takeovers by the government or corporations. They reminded them that of the 14,500 hectares of Waqf land in Uttar Pradesh, 14,000 hectares were recently declared state land, including old mosques and graveyards, a precedent they fear would become widespread.

    A Watershed Moment—or a Polarising Ploy?

    Crossing the divide, Modi’s term resonates differently. For BJP, the bill is a stroke of genius, falling well into its agenda of uniformity and reform. His supporters contend that it follows in the lines of Waqf modernisation of Muslim countries-transferring lands for public welfare. Rijiju assured that registered Waqf properties would not be touched, letting slide much-elaborated fears of retrospective actions.

    But “Jai Shri Ram” chants resounded through parliament once the passage was done, with critics like Uddhav Thackeray branding it a conspiracy to adopt Waqf lands for crony capitalists. The opposition plans to challenge the bill in the Supreme Court, which cites the guarantee of Article 26 on religious autonomy and warns of increased communal tensions as the result of this bill.

    The best test for the bill lies ahead yet. Will it streamline Waqf management and improve income back to Muslims, as the government claims? Or will it create polarisation, case-laden challenges, and space grabs as its detractors predict? As 99% of Waqf properties have already been digitised (per an affidavit by the government in 2020), whether such upheaval needs elimination is being debated. As India watches on, this UMEED Act, born of hope, may yet find whether it delivers progress or oozes deeper divides.

    The post India’s Parliament Passes Landmark Waqf Amendment Bill After Heated Debate first appeared on Dissident Voice.
    1    The term Pasmanda originates from Urdu, where “Pasmanda” literally refers to “those left behind.” In the South Asian context, especially in India, it is commonly used to describe marginalised Muslim communities who live below the poverty line and face significant social and economic disadvantages.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed after an intense debate for nearly 12 hours on April 4, at 2 a.m. This bill, which had been given the approval of the Lok Sabha, the lower house, just a day before, at 1 a.m. on April 3, brings about a sweeping change in the Waqf property laws-charitable trusts under Islamic law. Titled the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act or “UMEED” meaning hope in Hindi, this bill has set off fierce contentions, with its proponents calling it a great transformative reform and critics arguing that it violates the rights of people under a veil of political activism.

    The passage of this historic legislation was celebrated by Prime Minister Modi on X, stating that it would mark a significant milestone for his government together with the abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the Ram Temple construction. Very grandly put, but the legislation is highly contentious and complicated in its purpose, consequences, and outlook on Waqf properties spread across 9.4 lakh acres across India, making them the third-largest landholder in the country after Railways and Defence Forces.

    What Is Waqf, and Why Does It Matter?

    In the Islamic system of law, a Waqf is regarded as a charitable trust whereby an individual sets aside property-whether land, buildings, or other assets-for religious or social purposes. In its designation, the property is said to have been transferred to Allah so that it may be administered by a custodian (mutawalli) in fulfilment of specific purposes like the endowment of mosques, graveyards, or welfare activities. In India, this centuries-old practice has, however, been codified and regulated through various enactments starting from the Muslim Wakf Validating Act of 1913 to the Waqf Act of 1995, as amended in 2013. Presently 32 state Waqf Boards and a Central Waqf Council are in charge of these assets.

    The scale of Waqf assets is indeed staggering: millions of properties, mosques, cemeteries, shops, and agricultural land. In theory, their income should be utilised for the education, healthcare, and welfare of the Muslim community. Mismanagement, corruption, and a poor revenue-generating capacity remained the catchwords for the schemes in practice-the last being about ₹163 crore a year as per the Sachar Committee Report in 2006. The report mentioned that if properly managed, Waqf could have made 12,000 crore ($1.4 billion) today, establishing a chasm between what could be and what is the functioning by the government, which now claims to correct.

    The Bill: Key Changes and Controversies

    The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is intended to introduce radical reforms intended to modernise and centralise Waqf administration. Among its most controversial provisions:

    1. Abolition of ‘Waqf by User’ and Section 40: It was often said that “Waqf by user” applies to properties that had been put to religious uses for very long periods, such as ancient mosques or graveyards, making them Waqf even in the absence of formal documentation. According to Section 40 of the 1995 Act, it was also possible for Waqf Boards to determine unilaterally whether a property was under their purview. The new bill does away with both provisions and makes it mandatory for district collectors to undertake surveys and verify claims, a move the government says will stem the tide of arbitrary land grabbing. Critics fear, though, that it could endanger myriad undocumented historical sites to litigation and reclamation.

    2. Centralised Registration and Transparency: The bill obliges all Waqf properties to be listed on the government portal within six months of its enactment, thereby promoting transparency. Disputes, which were previously adjudicated solely by Waqf Tribunals, can now be appealed in high courts, thus subject to the erstwhile arguments of ensuring justice, but critics say centralising control under the state.

    3. Inclusion of Non-Muslims and Women: The bill proposes that in the Central Waqf Council (22 members) and state boards, aside from two Muslim women and representatives of Muslim communities (Pasmanda1), four and three non-Muslim members, respectively, should be included. The government suggests this is a progressive step since Waqf decisions affect non-Muslims as well. On the other hand, opposition leaders, such as AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, argue that the diversity is not required for Hindu temple boards, thereby accusing the BJP of selective interference.

    4. Inheritance Rights: A prohibition against Waqf dedications that disinherit daughters contributes towards gender equity. However, critics have noted the anomaly-the Hindu law on inheritance continues to allow fathers to discriminate in favour of their sons, and no reforms have been made to address this.

    5. Limitation Law: Property disputes will be subject to a limitation period, thereby precluding claims more than “x” years after the event. While this purportedly hastens the wheels of justice, it has evoked opposition, such as by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who warns that lingering unresolved cases might legitimise illegal encroachments under the evil doctrine of “adverse possession.”

    The Debate: Polarization and Power Plays

    Confusion and Vast Misdirection: The next step is to satisfy the Parliament’s vagaries. In the Lok Sabha, 288 MPs voted for it and 232 against. The Rajya Sabha saw 128 votes for and 95 against. TDP and JD(U) are allies, while BJP got help from the YSRCP and BJD, which allowed free votes among their MPs to ensure the simple majority was achieved.

    Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, introduced the bill on April 2, citing “97 lakh petitions” from stakeholders as proof of public demand for one that would uplift poor Muslims and modernise the broken system. He charged Waqf Boards with misusing their powers to lay claims to properties such as that of Delhi’s CGO Complex or land of a 1,500-year-old Tiruchendur temple in Tamil Nadu, aided on many occasions by past Congress governments.

    The substantive opposition came from Congress, DMK, and RJD. A. Raja of DMK stated the existing process involving independent survey commissioners and civil procedure codes prevented arbitrary acquisitions and charged that the BJP was exaggerating the ills so that control could be gained via district collectors who lack the independence of earlier officials. Congress member Imran Pratapgarhi disproved all claims that Waqf Tribunals were unaccountable “religious panchayats,” emphasising judicial scrutiny of their operations since the 1995 Act. Manoj Jha from RJD posed the question of how sites centuries old could have modern documentation and predicted a “mountain of litigation.”

    Owaisi and others posed a much graver question: the stripping of “Waqf by user” status and demands for paperwork could put historic properties on shaky ground, making them susceptible to takeovers by the government or corporations. They reminded them that of the 14,500 hectares of Waqf land in Uttar Pradesh, 14,000 hectares were recently declared state land, including old mosques and graveyards, a precedent they fear would become widespread.

    A Watershed Moment—or a Polarising Ploy?

    Crossing the divide, Modi’s term resonates differently. For BJP, the bill is a stroke of genius, falling well into its agenda of uniformity and reform. His supporters contend that it follows in the lines of Waqf modernisation of Muslim countries-transferring lands for public welfare. Rijiju assured that registered Waqf properties would not be touched, letting slide much-elaborated fears of retrospective actions.

    But “Jai Shri Ram” chants resounded through parliament once the passage was done, with critics like Uddhav Thackeray branding it a conspiracy to adopt Waqf lands for crony capitalists. The opposition plans to challenge the bill in the Supreme Court, which cites the guarantee of Article 26 on religious autonomy and warns of increased communal tensions as the result of this bill.

    The best test for the bill lies ahead yet. Will it streamline Waqf management and improve income back to Muslims, as the government claims? Or will it create polarisation, case-laden challenges, and space grabs as its detractors predict? As 99% of Waqf properties have already been digitised (per an affidavit by the government in 2020), whether such upheaval needs elimination is being debated. As India watches on, this UMEED Act, born of hope, may yet find whether it delivers progress or oozes deeper divides.

    The post India’s Parliament Passes Landmark Waqf Amendment Bill After Heated Debate first appeared on Dissident Voice.
    1    The term Pasmanda originates from Urdu, where “Pasmanda” literally refers to “those left behind.” In the South Asian context, especially in India, it is commonly used to describe marginalised Muslim communities who live below the poverty line and face significant social and economic disadvantages.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • The Sentinelese, Andaman Islands.The Sentinelese, Andaman Islands. © Christian Caron – Creative Commons A-NC-SA

    Reports that a US national has been arrested after landing on North Sentinel Island in the Indian Ocean to make contact with the uncontacted Sentinelese people are “deeply disturbing”, Survival International’s Director Caroline Pearce said today.

    “It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic. This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, they put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk. It’s very well known by now that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out.

    “The Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders incredibly clear over the years – I’m sure many remember the 2018 incident in which an American missionary, John Allen Chau, was killed by them after landing on their island to try to convert them to Christianity.

    “It’s good news that the man in this latest incident has been arrested, but deeply disturbing that he was reportedly able to get onto the island in the first place. The Indian authorities have a legal responsibility to ensure that the Sentinelese are safe from missionaries, social media influencers, people fishing illegally in their waters and anyone else who may try to make contact with them.

    Map showing the remote location of the Andaman Islands. Map from traveltwins.dk

    Uncontacted Indigenous peoples around the world are experiencing the invasion of their lands on a shocking scale. Countless uncontacted peoples in the Amazon are being invaded by loggers and gold-miners. The uncontacted Shompen of Great Nicobar Island, not far from North Sentinel, will be wiped out if India goes ahead with its plan to transform their island into “the Hong Kong of India.” The common factor in all these cases is governments’ refusal to abide by international law and recognize and protect uncontacted peoples’ territories.”

    The post Attempted Contact with the Sentinelese Tribe first appeared on Dissident Voice.

    This post was originally published on Dissident Voice.

  • As India prepares for another summer marked by severe heatwaves, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings about the likelihood of above-normal temperatures and an increased number of extreme heat days across the country from April to June.

    India: another deadly summer of heatwaves is on the horizon

    States such as Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha could experience heatwaves for up to 11 days, significantly more than usual. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the chief of IMD, indicated that many regions in central, northern, and eastern India might see two to four additional heatwave days than the historical average.

    The warnings follow an unusually warm beginning to the year, with February recorded as one of the hottest months globally and in India, raising concerns for crucial wheat crops. Many states have reported minimum temperatures ranging from 1 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal, leading to harvest concerns. Early heatwaves have already been declared in western and southern regions including Mumbai, Goa, and Karnataka.

    While heatwaves typically occur from April to June, the pattern is shifting due to rising global temperatures. The heat now arrives earlier and stays longer. In 2024, India recorded its hottest day ever at 50.5 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan, resulting in over 40,000 suspected cases of heatstroke and 143 officially attributed deaths, although independent researchers suggest the actual figure may be much higher.

    Experts also express concern over the implications for the energy sector, as heightened demand for air conditioning during the extreme heat is expected to surge by up to 10% this summer, which risks potential blackouts.

    A study from the University of California, Berkeley, highlighted that India might face severe power shortages as early as next year without improvements in energy efficiency for cooling appliances. The study indicates that enhancing the efficiency of air conditioners could save consumers $26 billion and reduce additional energy demand.

    Climate crisis driving the chaos, once again

    Nikit Abhyankar, the lead author of the study, pointed out that air conditioners are increasingly responsible for peak electricity demand, emphasizing the need for urgent intervention to prevent blackouts or costly emergency repairs.

    The rising temperatures have been linked to the climate crisis, with a recent analysis by Climate Central revealing that record-breaking February temperatures in cities like Mumbai and Goa were three to five times more likely due to human-induced climate shifts. Mohapatra has previously warned that unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed, heatwaves will become more frequent and severe, stating:

    We are endangering not only ourselves, but also our future generations.

    In response to the escalating risks, some Indian states have begun implementing heat action plans and emergency protocols to establish early warning systems, hydration centres, and adjust school hours.

    However, experts believe that the response remains fragmented and ill-prepared for the intensifying climate crisis extremes. Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, noted, “Summers are expanding. Winters are shrinking. The cycles have shifted,” underscoring the immediate impact of climate chaos being felt across the region.

    Featured image via the Canary

    By The Canary

    This post was originally published on Canary.


  • This content originally appeared on Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes and was authored by Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.


  • This content originally appeared on Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes and was authored by Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • In March 2023, Meeta, who worked as a community mobilizer and network coordinator with a prominent Delhi-based Indian NGO, lost her job of 15 years. Meeta was fired less than a month after her organization lost its status under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which governs the receipt and use of foreign funds by nonprofits in India. Organizations without a valid FCRA…

    Source

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.


  • This content originally appeared on Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes and was authored by Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • Getting around the area of operations – either above the land – or on/under the waves is a current focus for regional SOF operators. Following the withdrawal of the United States and its NATO partners from Afghanistan in 2021, the Indo-Pacific has quickly become a critical focus area for state actors around the globe seeking […]

    The post SOF Invests in Delivery and Teamwork appeared first on Asian Military Review.

    This post was originally published on Asian Military Review.

  • Protesters gathered for a unique day of action against British bulldozer manufacturer JCB. It was over the company’s complicity in the projects of ethnic cleansing across Palestine, India, and Kashmir.

    Parents 4 Palestine and the Stop JCB Demolitions Campaign mobilised for the series of creative protests at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in London. This was to call out the its sponsorship agreement with JCB.

    JCB: complicit in human rights violations across Palestine, India, and Kashmir

    On Saturday 22 March, the two groups came together in a series of powerful acts of creative resistance.

    Using art, crafts, and poetry, families and children learnt about resistance to occupation, dispossession, and home demolitions:

    Parents and children sit amid boxes and craft supplies in a room with a bold banner reading: "JCB - stop house demolition in Palestine, Kashmir & Muslim homes in India. Poetry not JCB genocide." Illustration of a JCB digger with a red stop sign crossed over it.

    JCB is responsible for the demolition of homes, water sources, schools and places of worship in Palestine, India and Kashmir. They made connections between the struggles in each, and JCB’s murderous role. And to illustrate how rebuilding is a form of resistance, they built a model Palestinian village.

    Alongside this, they focused on the JCB branded Lift at the site. They highlighted it as a disturbing reminder of the blood money sponsoring the South Bank Centre and the Royal Festival Hall:

    Sticker on a glass panel in a building where a the JCB sponsored lift is which reads: "Stop JCB bulldozer genocide in Palestine, India & Kashmir. #STOPJCB

    The Lift which connects to the World Poetry Library on the 5th floor tries to portray JCB as a poetry – and fun-loving benefactor and educator of children. Meanwhile countless children are being traumatised, made homeless and destitute, and some are dying, as a direct result of its activities in Palestine, India and Kashmir.

    JCB’s owner, billionaire Lord Anthony Bamford, a major donor to the Conservative Party, is reaping huge profits from this displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and death.

    Poems of resistance

    Outside the National Poetry Library, protesters read out poems of resistance from Palestine, India, and Kashmir. They did so in solidarity with the ongoing struggle against JCB’s role in landgrab and ethnic cleansing.

    These included poems by:

    • Rashad Abu Sakhilah, who, at 23, was the youngest poet in Palestine to publish a book of poetry. Rashad was killed in cold blood by Israeli forces. His compilation titled Letters of the Earth has been described as “the heartbeat of Palestine”.
    • GN Saibaba, a 90% disabled professor of English, human rights activist and poet who wrote about the struggles of India’s oppressed and marginalised. Saibaba died soon after he was finally released following nearly a decade of incarceration in the Modi regime’s monstrous solitary Anda cell in the notorious Nagpur prison.
    • Asiya Zahoor, a Kashmiri poet and filmmaker whose collection Serpents Under My Veil was written in the period after August 2019 when the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s limited autonomy and intensified repression and violent military occupation.

    The South Bank Centre’s so-called ‘Singing Lift’

    Protesters set out the clear demand that the Southbank Centre must immediately end JCB sponsorship.

    On top of this, it demanded all traces of JCB branding to be removed from the so-called ‘Singing Lift’. Instead, they called for the lift to be named after Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer, who Israeli forces murdered.

    A copy of the book Letters of the Earth by Rashad Abu Sakhilah, the youngest published poet in Palestine, will be presented to the National Poetry Library and must be accepted and given due importance.

    JCB’s murderous activities

    While Israel violates the ceasefire agreement and resumes its genocide in Gaza, Israeli military and Zionist settlers are using JCB bulldozers daily for the ongoing demolition of Palestinian communities in the West Bank. JCB has long been a key supplier of machinery used in the Israeli state’s systemic violations of human rights. It operates through its sole dealer, the Israeli company Comasco, which holds contracts with Israel’s Ministry of Defence.

    Meanwhile, in India, JCB’s bulldozers have become symbols of the Hindu supremacist Narendra Modi government’s ethnic cleansing of Muslims. The government sanctions the demolition of homes and places of worship, often without notice, both randomly or to punish people who disagree with the government. Hasina Bi, a 56 year old widow from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh testified:

    Everyone at home was asleep that noon, from the fatigue of fasting for Ramzan. Suddenly we heard a lot of commotion outside. We came out and saw four or five JCB machines coming towards our house. The machines directly attacked our house.

    The situation in Kashmir bears striking similarities as well. In one of the most militarised zones on earth, where the Indian army acts with total impunity, the army uses JCB bulldozers for demolition drives in the name of development. They ignore ownership documents and destroy homes. Houses of non-BJP leaders are singled out for demolition.

    JCB: an ‘obscene symbol of destruction’ and ‘blood money’

    The Stop JCB Demolitions Campaign is also filing a complaint with the UK National Contact Point, under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct, alleging JCB UK’s failure to take necessary actions to address the adverse human rights impacts resulting from the use of its heavy machinery products in “punitive demolitions” in India.

    Stop JCB Demolitions Campaign said:

    Visitors to the South Bank trying to reach the poetry library are confronted with an obscene symbol of the destruction of homes and lives in Palestine, India and Kashmir – a JCB sponsored and branded Lift. This has no place in an institution dedicated to enjoying and celebrating the arts. Shamefully the Southbank Centre is taking JCB’s blood money as sponsorship. This must end.

    Parents 4 Palestine commented:

    As parents who regularly visit the Southbank Centre with our children and enjoy its rich programme of activities we strongly believe that it should be a space free of discrimination. We recognise the traumatising effect of the JCB branding on families from Palestine and those who have been made aware of JCB’s role in Israel’s ongoing violent ethnic cleansing of Palestine. As we watch helplessly as Israel resumes its genocide in Gaza, we hope that Southbank will heed our call by disassociating itself from JCB and honouring communities which are facing erasure and genocide, from Palestine to India and Kashmir. By taking a stand the Southbank can help build real solidarity and a better world for all.

    Feature image via Stop JCB Demolitions Campaign/Parents 4 Palestine

    By The Canary

    This post was originally published on Canary.

  • Progressive groups in India held a national day of protest against Israel’s grave violations of the ceasefire in Gaza. The protestors also demanded the Indian government take a more assertive stand on the issue and stop indirectly aiding Israel’s criminal activities. The day of action was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Organization, a platform with participation from most of the left parties as well as student, women, and trade union organizations.

    The central protest was organized in New Delhi where participants carried posters and banners denouncing Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza.

    The post Nationwide Protests In India Condemn Israel’s Crimes appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • Progressive groups in India held a national day of protest against Israel’s grave violations of the ceasefire in Gaza. The protestors also demanded the Indian government take a more assertive stand on the issue and stop indirectly aiding Israel’s criminal activities. The day of action was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Organization, a platform with participation from most of the left parties as well as student, women, and trade union organizations.

    The central protest was organized in New Delhi where participants carried posters and banners denouncing Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza.

    The post Nationwide Protests In India Condemn Israel’s Crimes appeared first on PopularResistance.Org.

    This post was originally published on PopularResistance.Org.

  • In December 1984, Bhopal witnessed a harrowing industrial disaster with the leak of methyl isocyanate gas from Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) which has left a legacy of hazardous waste. Rishabh Mehta discusses the complicated policy solutions enacted following this tragedy and delineates a way forward.


    In December 1984, Bhopal witnessed one of the most harrowing industrial disasters in history. The leak of methyl isocyanate gas from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) plant claimed thousands of lives overnight and left a horror of health and environmental crises. Four decades later, the disaster’s toxic legacy lingers as hazardous waste contaminates the soil and groundwater.

    As Pandora’s box unleashed its evils upon the world, so too does Bhopal’s toxic legacy, which remains an enduring reminder of human hubris and the cost of negligence. But unlike Pandora’s tale, hope cannot be our sole salvation, rather accountability and action must guide us forward.

    On January 1 2025, the Indian government transported 337 metric tonnes of toxic waste from the UCIL site in Bhopal to Pithampur, Indore, for incineration. While touted as a major step in addressing the environmental aftermath, this decision has re-ignited debates over its effectiveness, safety, and timing. Questions about the adequacy of policy responses and long-term solutions remain unresolved. This article critically examines the policy decisions shaping this waste transfer and its implications for environmental justice and public health. 

    A legacy of neglect

    The Bhopal disaster’s immediate aftermath saw the enactment of the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act” and a $470 million settlement with Union Carbide in 1989. However, these measures proved insufficient in addressing the magnitude of the crisis. Successive governments formed task forces and commissioned studies to assess contamination, yet substantive remediation efforts remained elusive. As confirmed by multiple studies, groundwater contamination in 42 nearby areas contains carcinogenic chemicals exceeding safe limits by 50 times. The lack of effective policies to mitigate such contamination has left affected communities vulnerable, perpetuating environmental and public health risks.

    Unfortunately, the bureaucratic response to the disaster has been marred by delays and avoidance of corporate accountability. Union Carbide’s now parent company, Dow Chemicals, has consistently distanced itself from responsibility, leaving the burden of remediation on the Indian government. This has resulted in taxpayers shouldering the costs of waste disposal, which many argue should have been funded by the corporation responsible for the tragedy.

    The toxic waste transfer: a policy necessity or greenwashing?

    The recent transfer of 337 metric tonnes of pre-stored toxic waste to Pithampur has been carried out to comply with judicial mandates under the directives of the Supreme Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Alok Pratap Singh (Deceased) In Rem vs the Union Of India. However, critics argue that the operation carried out covertly at midnight, focuses on less harmful waste stored since 2005, while larger issues like groundwater contamination and toxic residues at the factory site remain unaddressed.

    Over the years, various locations, including Ankleshwar in Gujarat and Taloja in Maharashtra, were considered for incinerating the waste. However, public protests and concerns about technical inadequacies derailed these plans. Even Pithampur, designated as the current disposal site, has faced scrutiny. Trial runs in 2015 reportedly resulted in toxic emissions, raising fears about long-term exposure to harmful by-products such as dioxins and furans. These chemicals, known for their long-term health impacts, have raised concerns among environmental experts and local communities. Activists have called the move a “slow-motion Bhopal” in the making and warned of the potential for secondary environmental disasters in Pithampur.

    The timing of the transfer, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the tragedy, has led many to view it as a public relations exercise. A 2010 government-commissioned study highlighted that over 11 lakh tonnes of contaminated soil and other toxic substances remain untreated at the UCIL premises. Activists have questioned the rationale behind incinerating 337 tonnes that had already been securely stored when the broader environmental crisis remains unsolved. According to a technical presentation by the Ministry of Environment & Forests on the incineration of Union Carbide’s hazardous waste, the process is expected to generate 900 tonnes of residue. The recent decision to incinerate the waste at Indore is a 180-degree pivot from the state government’s previous stance, as officials from the state had opposed incineration in multiple official meetings.

    The communication surrounding the risks of incineration at Pithampur has raised concerns about transparency. Limited engagement with local communities has led to apprehension, as residents worry about potential health impacts such as respiratory issues. Several petitions have highlighted these concerns, reflecting the need for a more inclusive approach to policymaking, incorporating community voices and comprehensively addressing their apprehensions.

    Alternatives and the way forward

    The current approach to disposing of Bhopal’s toxic waste has faced significant criticism, highlighting the need for more robust, globally aligned solutions. One viable alternative is secure containment. Hazardous materials can be stored in stainless steel drums with advanced sealing technology to prevent leakage. This method is widely used in nuclear waste management, where containment over decades ensures minimal environmental impact. For instance, the US Department of Energy uses this technique to manage nuclear waste at the Hanford Site, reducing risks to surrounding communities.

    Another critical alternative is deploying closed-loop incineration technology, significantly reducing emissions and toxic residues. Germany, known for its stringent environmental standards, employs such technologies in facilities like Remondis, ensuring waste is incinerated with minimal harm to air quality. India could collaborate with countries like Germany to adopt or import such advanced systems.

    A more sustainable approach involves enforcing corporate accountability. Companies responsible for hazardous waste should fund its disposal or repatriate it to countries with the infrastructure to handle such materials safely. A notable precedent is Unilever’s mercury waste, which was repatriated to the USA for safe disposal after contamination at a thermometer factory in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. This aligns with the “polluter pays” principle, a cornerstone of environmental jurisprudence globally.

    By adopting these alternatives, India can move beyond temporary fixes and implement sustainable solutions prioritising public health, environmental integrity, and global best practices.

    The midnight waste transfer from Bhopal to Pithampur epitomises the dangers of greenwashing in environmental policy. While the recent waste transfer is presented as progress, it fails to address contamination and corporate accountability. India must adopt a comprehensive approach grounded in global best practices and prioritise community engagement to resolve this toxic legacy. Only then can the lessons of Bhopal truly inform a sustainable and just environmental policy framework.


    All articles posted on this blog give the views of the author(s), and not the position of the Department of Sociology, LSE Human Rights, nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

    Image credit: Rishabh Mehta

    Image credit: Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA

    The post Bhopal toxic waste transfer to Indore: four decades of policy and environmental dilemmas first appeared on LSE Human Rights.

    This post was originally published on LSE Human Rights.

  • is virat kohli vegan
    6 Mins Read

    A nation known for its meat-free culture, India’s plant-based food market is on the “brink of transformation” as healthy eating and protein intake take centre stage.

    While many have spelt doom on the vegan food industry, its most populous nation is getting hungrier for plants.

    India’s plant-based sector grew by 18% in the last three years, reaching ₹300 crores ($36M) in 2024. While this is still in its infancy compared to the more developed markets in other countries, and makes up less than 0.1% of the domestic animal protein sector, it’s catching up fast.

    Over the next decade, vegan proteins in India are “set to be woven into everyday meals and snacks, attracting a wider audience beyond vegans”, according to a new report by market research firm Ipsos. By 2034, the market could be valued at ₹5,500 crores ($690M), an 18-fold increase.

    This is thanks to rampant urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, e-commerce growth, and greater health consciousness, built upon a culture rooted in meat-free eating and where awareness of lactose intolerance and dairy industry harms is more prominent.

    Still, several challenges persist, from the taste and price gap for plant proteins to cold supply chain issues and a lack of VC interest.

    “Most startups are bootstrapped,” noted Abhishek Sinha, co-founder of meat alternative startup GoodDot, which has raised $7M, mostly for its production infrastructure. “A lot more capital is required to drive the necessary education and awareness in this industry. Thus, we are utilising innovative and capital-efficient methods to drive awareness.”

    The industry, however, is rapidly evolving, driven by “innovation and strong interest from businesses, investors, and policymakers”, according to Praveer Srivastava, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA), which co-published the report. “India, with its deep-rooted traditions in plant-based diets, is uniquely positioned to lead this shift,” he said.

    Dairy the leading plant-based growth driver in India

    plant based milk india
    Courtesy: Ipsos

    Ipsos’s analysis found that leading plant-based dairy players posted over 20% growth in 2024, spearheading the sector’s growth. Plant-based protein and meat leaders experienced either single-digit hikes, or declines.

    Soy milk seems to be Indians’ favourite non-dairy alternative (with a 45% share), followed by almond milk (31%) and oat milk (12%) – the latter, however, is gaining traction quickly. However, 64% of almond milk drinkers find it ‘very good’, compared to 49% who say the same for soy milk, and 40% for oat milk.

    india plant based market
    Courtesy: Ipsos

    Plant-based milk has also been embraced by the hospitality industry, with most major coffee chains and scores of independent shops offering these products (usually at a charge). But they’re most popular for at-home, with retail making up 80% of the market. In fact, unlike Western countries, half of all plant-based milk is bought online in India.

    Further accentuating the dairy dominance, nearly half (49%) of Indian households are familiar with plant-based milk, and almost a quarter (23%) have tried it. In contrast, only 28% know about meat alternatives, and one in 10 have actually tried these proteins.

    “Of the households who have tried plant-based dairy, 10% of them have also purchased plant-based meat. This indicates that plant-based dairy is the strongest entry point into the consumer’s household,” the report states.

    Consumers show appetite for plants over animals

    oat milk india
    Courtesy: Kingdom & Sparrow/Alt Co

    Despite the above, only 7-8% of Indians drink plant-based milk every day, according to polling by Ipsos. Interest in these products is driven by health, with a third of consumer valuing their nutritional credentials, and 11% choosing them due to lactose intolerance. Only 9% pick them for their taste, highlighting the flavour gap companies need to fill.

    Additionally, 37% of consumers say milk alternatives are too expensive, and 35% can’t find it easily. This isn’t restricted to just dairy, though – about a third of Indians have the same problems with meat analogues. There’s also a feeling that these products aren’t needed, unless they tend to a health problem.

    But in an encouraging finding for the industry, more people want to increase their consumption of plant-based over animal proteins. In the next six to 12 months, 51% of Indians say they’re likely to drink more non-dairy milk, versus 41% who will increase their cow’s milk intake.

    Similarly, 43% want to eat more plant-based meat, a share that only reaches 36% for conventional meat. Moreover, two in five Indians (21%) are looking to cut back on animal meat, and 11% want to do the same for dairy, versus the 11% and 9% who want to reduce vegan meat and milk consumption, respectively.

    india vegan market
    Courtesy: Ipsos

    This has left India’s alternative protein ecosystem “on the brink of transformation”, complemented by more awareness around lactose intolerance (which 60% of Indians suffer from) and a concerted effort to eat more protein. Research suggests that 80% of the adult population in India is protein-deficient, although some argue there’s more than meets the eye.

    To capitalise on this shift, companies are prioritising protein-rich plant-based foods over meat analogues, expanding into the ambient category to drive growth in tier 1 and 2 cities and the export market, doubling down on product innovation for barista milk and localised ingredients, and offering clean-label products.

    Government support critical for vegan sector

    plant based meat india
    Courtesy: Greenest Foods

    Ipsos says India could become a leading export hub for plant protein concentrates, isolates, and alternatives. But government support is crucial here.

    The report recommends launching a National Plant Protein Mission to scale the sector through infrastructure development and investment incentives, and building a plant protein cluster to facilitate collaboration and speed up commercialisation.

    Policymakers must also level the playing field for plant proteins, which face “regulatory and tax-related disadvantages” – for example, plant-based foods have a much higher VAT (18%) than animal proteins (5%), while terms like ‘milk’ and even ‘mylk’ are barred from vegan product labels.

    Plus, the industry would benefit from a dedicated policy framework for plant-based foods, under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. These products should further be integrated into the Priority Sector Lending guidelines to enable easier credit access for startups and manufacturers.

    Speaking of whom, industry players need to ramp up collaborations with restaurants, caterers, and airlines; improve their pricing and explore smaller pack sizes; double down on health messaging; and offer promotions on vegetarian-focused festivals like Navratri and Shravan.

    “The burgeoning interest in health and wellness, coupled with increasing awareness of lactose intolerance and protein deficiency, further fuels the demand for plant-based alternatives,” said Deepak H, India head at Ipsos Strategy3. “By fostering innovation, ensuring affordability, and promoting greater awareness, India can unlock the full potential of its plant-based foods sector.”

    The post In the World’s Most Populous Country, Health is Putting Plants on the Plate appeared first on Green Queen.

    This post was originally published on Green Queen.

  • RNZ News

    New Zealand opposition Labour leader Chris Hipkins is accusing the prime minister of reversing a long-held foreign policy during his current trip to India to help secure a free trade agreement between the two countries.

    “It seems our foreign policy is up for grabs at the moment,” he said, citing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s seeming endorsement of India’s bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group despite New Zealand’s previous long-standing objection.

    “I think these are bad moves for New Zealand. We should continue to be independent and principled in our foreign policy.”

    Hipkins was commenting to RNZ Morning Report on a section of the joint statement issued after Luxon met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

    It included a reference to India’s hopes of joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

    Christopher Luxon and Indian PM Narendra Modi at Sikh temple Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib
    NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian PM Narendra Modi at the Sikh temple Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib . . . “both acknowledged the value of India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).” Image: RNZ

    “Both leaders acknowledged the importance of upholding the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and acknowledged the value of India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in context of predictability for India’s clean energy goals and its non-proliferation credentials,” the statement said, as reported by StratNews Global.

    The NSG was set up in 1974 as the US response to India’s “peaceful nuclear test” that year. Comprising 48 countries, the aim was to ensure that nuclear trade for peaceful purposes does not contribute to the proliferation of atomic weapons, the report said.

    India is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which is one of the pre-requisites of joining the NSG.

    NZ objected to India
    In the past New Zealand has objected to India joining the NSG because of concern access to those nuclear materials could be used for nuclear weapons.

    “So it’s a principled stance New Zealand has taken. Christopher Luxon signed that away yesterday,” Hipkins said.

    “He basically signed a memo that basically said that we supported India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group despite the fact that India has consistently refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

    It was “a reversal” of previous policy, Hipkins said, and undermined New Zealand’s nuclear-free stance.

    But a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters denied there had been a change.

    “New Zealand’s position on the Nuclear Suppliers Group has not changed, contrary to what Mr Hipkins claims. The joint statements released by the New Zealand and Indian Prime Ministers in 2016 and 2025 make that abundantly clear,” he said.

    “If Mr Hipkins or his predecessor Jacinda Ardern had travelled to India during their six years as Prime Minister, the Labour Party might understand this issue and the New Zealand-India relationship a bit better.”

    Opposed to ‘selling out’
    Peters was also Foreign Minister during the first three years of the Ardern government.

    On a possible free trade deal with India, Hipkins said he did not want to see it achieved at the expense of “selling out large parts of New Zealand’s economy and potentially New Zealand’s principled foreign policy stance” which would not be good for this country.

    “The endorsement of India joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group is a real departure.”

    Comment has been requested from the Prime Minister’s office.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    This post was originally published on Asia Pacific Report.

  • Tibetans around the world on Monday marked the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule with protests in cities across Europe, North America and India as thousands marched for an end to Chinese oppression.

    With faces painted in the blue and red of the Tibetan national flag –- and shouting slogans in a slew of different languages -– Tibetans and their supporters rallied in Sydney, Taipei, London, New York, Washington and Toronto, among others.

    Some of the protests took place outside Chinese embassies. In New Delhi, police clashed with dozens of Tibetan protesters as some demonstrators tried to enter the Chinese Embassy.

    On March 10th, thousands of Tibetans commemorated the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising, with hundreds joining peaceful demonstrations worldwide

    Supporters carried banners that read “World Leaders, Stand up for Tibet,” “CCP, Stop Torturing Tibetans” and “Missing Home Since 1959.”

    The Tibetan national flag –- which is banned inside Tibet -– was widely seen.

    Demonstrations for the 66th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising were also held in Ladakh in north India, Guwahati in northeast India and Mysore in south India.

    Tibetans protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, March 10, 2025.
    Tibetans protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, March 10, 2025.
    (RFA Tibetan)

    China invaded and forcibly annexed Tibet in 1950. The revolt nine years later was sparked in part by fears that the Chinese would arrest Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled from Lhasa to India several weeks later.

    Thousands of Tibetans died in the 1959 uprising amid a subsequent crackdown by China. Since then, Tibetans have used March 10 to honor their courage, press China to stop its repression of Tibetans and voice their hope for a homeland where they can live freely.

    The date remains a politically sensitive one for Chinese authorities in Tibet, who routinely tighten surveillance and security measures in Tibetan areas of China to block protests ahead of the anniversary.

    ‘Freedom from Chinese forces’

    The Central Tibetan Administration, or CTA, led an official event in Dharamsala, India, where the Tibetan government-in-exile is located.

    “As we commemorate the Tibetan National Uprising Day, we honor our brave martyrs, and express solidarity with our brothers and sisters inside Tibet who continue to languish under the oppressive Chinese government,” CTA President Sikyong Penpa Tsering said at the event, which was attended by former Slovakian President Andrej Kiska and Estonian parliamentarian Juku-Kalle Raid.

    Tibetans protested in 1959 out of a “sense of real desperation,” the Dalai Lama said from his residence in Dharamsala.

    “There was no other way but to escape,” he said. “My heart was a little heavy. After I crossed a river, a local villager guiding my horse told me to take one last look at Lhasa as I won’t be able to see Lhasa beyond this point.

    At his residence in Dharamsala, North India, March 10, 2025, the Dalai Lama marks the March 10 Uprising of 1959.
    At his residence in Dharamsala, North India, March 10, 2025, the Dalai Lama marks the March 10 Uprising of 1959.
    (OHHDL)

    “So I turned and made my horse face Lhasa and said my prayers,” he said. “As I made my way southward, crossing the river and up through the passes, I felt a sense of happiness and freedom from Chinese forces.”

    Since then, despite Chinese efforts to “wipe Tibet from the face of the earth,” Tibet has endured, he said.

    Tight security in Lhasa

    In Europe, over 3,000 Tibetans and supporters from across various European countries gathered at The Hague in the Netherlands to participate in a rally that is organized every two years in a major city in Europe under the campaign, “Europe, Stand with Tibet.”

    Speaking at the rally were Dutch members of parliament, actor Richard Gere and former NBA player, Enes Kanter Freedom.

    “Tibetans inside Tibet are still experiencing a lot of problems under Chinese rule,” Kanter told Radio Free Asia. “So being a supporter of human rights and peace in the world, I fully support the Tibetan people and movement.”

    In Taipei, more than 500 people –- mostly Taiwanese and about 40 Tibetans –- gathered on Sunday. Representatives from Taiwan’s Human Rights Commission urged the Taiwanese people to stand with Tibetans to hold China accountable for human rights violations in Tibet.

    The Tibetan national flag was hoisted in various parts of the United States, including Berkeley and Richmond in California, Burlington in Vermont and East Rutherford in New Jersey. In Germany, more than 400 cities, districts and municipalities raised the Tibetan flag to recognize the ongoing oppression in Tibet.

    Inside Tibet, Chinese authorities have deployed police and military throughout Lhasa’s streets and religious sites, including the Jokhang Temple and Sera Monastery, since the beginning of March, two sources in the region told RFA.

    The sources added that police are conducting patrols even at 3 a.m. in predominantly Tibetan neighborhoods, while travelers from other Tibetan regions attempting to enter Lhasa are being turned away for even minor documentation issues.

    Edited by Tenzin Pema and Matt Reed.


    This content originally appeared on Radio Free Asia and was authored by RFA Tibetan.

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.