civil society

New Delhi, April 1 Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani on Wednesday described the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha as a "watershed moment" in the state's journey.In a statement issued here, Pemmasani said that by conferring legal sanctity...

New Delhi, April 1 CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged on Wednesday that the government is treating even basic information related to the regulation of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) as "secret", raising concerns over transparency and parliamentary accountability.In a...

Islamabad, April 1 – Christian groups and human rights activists staged a protest in Karachi, Pakistan, expressing deep concern over what they described as a rising wave of forced marriages and religious conversions involving young girls from their community across the country. A leading...

New Delhi, March 31 The FCRA Amendment Bill is a "shocking government overreach," not a "regulation," but "control," TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose said on Tuesday.In a post on X, the TMC leader called the bill "draconian" and a "cruel takeover of faith.""The FCRA Amendment...

Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 – Even with just eight days left for the April 9 assembly polls in Kerala, the national Congress leadership has issued an urgent directive to its Members of Parliament to reach New Delhi and attend the ongoing session, signalling a coordinated push to oppose the...

Islamabad, March 31: A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has revealed that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Pakistan, particularly in the Punjab province, are facing significant constraints due to bureaucratic, legal, and financial pressures, which have...

New Delhi, March 31 The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has written to Home Minister Amit Shah, raising "serious concerns" about the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), urging wider consultation and safeguards against "excessive state control over civil...

Islamabad, March 30 – Human rights activists and civil society organizations have strongly condemned the planned demolition and forced eviction of residents in Allama Iqbal Colony, a 25-year-old predominantly Christian working-class settlement in Islamabad. The community now faces an imminent...

Islamabad, March 29 Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan said that a Pakistan-Afghanistan peace jirga will be held in Peshawar on March 31 to urge the leaders of the two nations to ease tensions and work towards peace, local media reported on Sunday.Addressing a press...

Kathmandu, March 28 – The arrest of Nepal's former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Saturday morning sparked protests across the Kathmandu Valley by members of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), led by Oli.Police arrested Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh...

Amaravati, March 24 – Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy welcomed the renewal of FCRA permissions for the Rural Development Trust (RDT) on Tuesday and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the decision.He stated that the renewal under the Foreign...

Hyderabad, March 23 Activists advocating for transgender rights have staged a protest here against the proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, demanding its withdrawal.They have demanded explicit recognition of trans men in all laws and protection of their dignity...

Shillong, March 21 Mukul Sangma, the leader of the opposition in Meghalaya, urged the state government on Saturday to establish an independent inquiry commission into the violence in the Garo Hills region, stating that accountability and due process were essential to restore public confidence...

Colombo, March 19 – Sri Lanka cannot afford to ignore the increasing threat of transnational terrorism, as terrorist organizations in South Asia remain ideologically aligned, share targets and enemies, a report highlights, while emphasizing that the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks indicated that...

New Delhi, March 19 A civil society group comprising prominent Muslim leaders wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday regarding "open threats" to the Muslim community in Uttam Nagar here, and urged him to issue specific instructions to the police to take strict action.The letter by...

Quetta, March 16 – The pattern of resource extraction from Pakistan's Balochistan without meaningful participation of local residents will continue to fuel resentment, militancy, and human rights crises, a report has highlighted. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area and holds a...

Aizawl, March 16 Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma told the Assembly on Monday that the state government has terminated negotiations with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to hand over Lengpui airport to the defence wing.Speaking during the question hour on the last day of the Budget session...

The Maharaja Hari Singh Dogra Award 2026 ceremony was held at Amantran Farms in Satwari, where individuals from various fields were honored for their significant contributions to society.Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, attended the event as the...

Dhaka, March 12. Bangladesh has the opportunity to establish a National Human Rights Commission fully aligned with the Paris Principles — an independent, pluralistic body with a broad mandate, transparent selection processes, and active engagement with civil society.The commission would meet...

Imphal, March 12 Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said on Thursday that the Union home ministry intervened to help rescue 21 Tangkhul Naga civilians who had been detained by armed men in the Ukhrul district.Speaking in the Assembly, Konthoujam said the hostages were freed early...