Citizens for Justice and Peace
A 2020 Report on how Indians took to the streets in protest In defence of Article 19, CJP brings you the panorama of protests that shaped this year
30-Dec-2020
Article 19 (1) (a) and (b) give all Indians the right of free expression and peaceful protest. Clearly, however, these fundamental freedoms are irksome to governments increasingly impatient with the people’s sovereign voice. This has however not stopped Indians, even in the midst of a crippling lockdown following the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year we saw…
Is the Right to Protest in India a protected Fundamental Right? By using prohibitory tools on its people, the Government is limiting democratic practices and irrevocably diluting Article 19
26-Nov-2020
The seeds of protest were sown deep during our independence struggle, making protest an important and indelible chapter in India’s history. Today, our country is witnessing an extraordinary wave of protests- by farmers, minorities, students, activists against the current regime. It must be unequivocally emphasised that the Constitution of India gives its citizens the right…
The case against Sedition Most modern democracies around the world have either abolished or restricted the use of this colonial law
25-Feb-2020
The Indian government recently slapped almost 194 sedition charges on citizens opposing the NPR-NRC-CAA. The law has often been used to suppress criticism against government and stifle non-violent opposition. The sedition law has no place in a healthy democracy that values public opinion. Related: Bhima Koregaon case: Bail Applications of three social activists rejected by…
Shaheen Bagh: Regime stooges launch smear campaign against Teesta Setalvad even as SC mediators arrive Pro-gov't TV channels and social media trolls allege Shaheen Bagh women were ‘tutored’ by CJP secretary
19-Feb-2020
On Wednesday, Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandra, the interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court reached Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh to mediate with people protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). Hegde told media persons, “We have come here according to the order of Supreme Court. We…
Lipstick – and an Iron Will – under my burqa A tribute to the women of Shaheen Bagh - Aviral Anand
14-Jan-2020
As I get off the metro at the Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh station, I am uncertain how to get to the Shaheen Bagh camp. I think there might be some signs from the metro station itself since the encampment had suddenly shot in the news. But none seemed apparent. So I look hopefully for a…
Won’t let hatemongers go: Aaj Tak to be pulled up for stoking communal hatred CJP seeks punitive action from NBSA
31-Oct-2019
The complaint sent to Aaj Tak against the inflammatory content aired by them and their provocative Twitter post failed to elicit a response. Hence, in pursuance to our campaign against hateful content, we have filed a complaint before the NBSA seeking punitive action. On October 16, the NBSA (News Broadcasting Standards Authority) issued a special…
Hate Watch: How Hate trends on Twitter A look into communal echo chambers
22-Oct-2019
Once again, in wake of Kamlesh Tiwari’s murder in Lucknow, it was Twitter, the micro blogging site used by 350 million Indians that became the battleground, figuratively, of a deeply communal war. For three days, starting Saturday, October 19, venomous hashtags have been used against Islam and Muslims, threatening to break out into physical retribution,…
AAJ Tak airs inflammatory debate, posts hateful content on Twitter Acts despite NBSA advisory, CJP sends written complaint to the broadcaster
18-Oct-2019
While covering the Ayodhya dispute case, Aaj Tak resorted to certain practices which were violative of the guidelines issued by the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA). The channel not only aired a debate where participants were allowed to make hateful statements against the minority community, it also made a post on twitter about another show…
Hate Watch: Aaj Tak’s tweet on Ayodhya openly spreads communal hate NBSA issues advisory
17-Oct-2019
Hate politics appears to have found a fertile playground within the news media, especially television. Of late, when dealing with religious and sensitive content, a shrill rhetoric that pits one community against another, is insidiously put in motion. It is in this context that we discuss today programming by Aaj Tak on October 16, 2019,…
India among nations manipulating Social Media: Oxford Study Used to manufacture consensus, automate suppression, and undermine trust in liberal values
28-Sep-2019
A study by researchers at Oxford University has found that India is among the nations involved in organised social media manipulation, and such disinformation campaigns can be attributed to politicians and political parties. The researchers monitored social media platforms for three years to take note of organised manipulation by government agencies or political parties, and…
I hope I stand for peace and unity as my avva did: Esha Lankesh In the memory of Gauri Lankesh
06-Sep-2019
Esha lankesh, daughter of Kavita Lankesh speaks about her aunt, her avva, on the occasion of 2nd anniversary of her assassination. Related: Death of a Rationalist: Gauri Lankesh Our Gauri: A Tribute to Gauri Lankesh Gauri Lankesh laid to rest, but The Truth could not be buried Gauri Lankesh Murder Case: Chargesheet names…
“Grim and despairing, death-knell for the media” NWMI-FSC report exposes absence of press freedom in Kashmir
05-Sep-2019
It has been a month since Kashmir went dark in wake of a virtual communication and media blockade, and now a report has emerged that exposes what is going on in that darkness. Prepared by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) and the Free Speech Collective (FSC), the report titled News Behind the Barbed Wire:…
Foreign Journalists ask to “leave” Assam, post NRC State declared “protected area”
04-Sep-2019
Assam has suddenly been placed under the “protected area category” by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) following several questions being raised over the politicisation of the entire process of publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) reports the Assam Tribune. As a consequence, all foreign journalists working…
Pehlu Khan lynching: Justice Chandrachud says cases monitored by courts have shown ‘better outcome’ Scroll
18-Aug-2019
The Supreme Court judge in a lecture in Mumbai also spoke about how freedom has rendered people intolerant. A file photo of Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud. | Bombay Bar Association/YouTube Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday said cases in which investigations were monitored by courts have shown a better outcome, PTI reported. Chandrachud was speaking…
Attack on art is attack on freedom, says Justice Chandrachud The Hindu
18-Aug-2019
Justice Chandrachud says art shapes identity, exposes oppressions plaguing society The allure of art: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud delivers a lecture on Imagining Freedom Through Art, on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (59), often referred to as the “voice of the dissent” at the apex court, spoke on ‘Imagining Freedom Through…