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Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC rejects bail of man for postagainst PM, Army
Prayagraj: While rejecting the bail application of a man, who is accused of posting objectionable content on social media against the Prime Minister of India and Indian Armed forces, the Allahabad high court observed that the freedom of speech guaranteed under the Constitution does not extend to such acts which disrespect high dignitaries and create disharmony among citizens. Rejecting the bail application of Asharaf Khan alias Nusrat, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal on Wednesday said that it has become a "fashion among certain groups of people" to misuse social media in the garb of freedom of speech and expression by making unfounded allegations against high dignitaries, posting such material which creates disharmony and hatred among the people. Accused Ashraf Khan, booked under sections 152 (acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) and 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration) of BNS at Sasni police station of Hathras. It is alleged that the accused allegedly uploaded edited videos on his Facebook during the recent India-Pakistan military face-off. According to the prosecution, the accused allegedly posted objectionable content targeting PM Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, Army chief and other Army officials, in a bid to defame them. The counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and that the objectionable post had not been forwarded by the applicant, even though it was found on his mobile. On the other hand, the state's counsel argued that the alleged posts on social media created disharmony among people of India and also showed disrespect to Indian Military and Indian Air Force. The court observed, "Though our Constitution gives right to freedom of speech and expression to every citizen, but that freedom does not stretch to permit a person posting videos and other posts disrespecting to the Prime Minister of India, Indian Military and its officers, which on the one hand, causes disharmony among the people of India, and on the other hand, comes within the purview of encouraging the separatism and endangers the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. "
News18
03-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Freedom Of Speech Doesn't Extend To Insulting The Prime Minister: Allahabad High Court
Last Updated: Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, while dismissing the bail plea of Asharaf Khan alias Nisrat, observed that such posts go beyond criticism. The Allahabad High Court recently denied bail to a man accused of sharing edited social media posts that mocked and disrespected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the constitutional right to free speech does not include the liberty to insult the nation's Prime Minister. Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, while dismissing the bail plea of Asharaf Khan alias Nisrat, observed that such posts go beyond criticism and amount to a threat to national harmony and dignity. 'Freedom of speech and expression does not stretch to permit a person posting videos and other posts disrespecting the Prime Minister of India," the court ruled. According to the prosecution, Asharaf Khan had posted heavily edited and objectionable videos on Facebook during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. One of the videos allegedly portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking beside a donkey pulling an aircraft cart. Another showed the Prime Minister seeking forgiveness from Pakistan. The posts were accompanied by captions mocking India's military position and praising Pakistan's armed forces. It was further shown that the Wing Commander of Indian Air Force, Ms. Vyomika Singh was sitting with Pakistan's Army Chief. The material, authorities claimed, also included disparaging references to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The state opposed the bail plea on the grounds that such content not only dishonored the country's leadership and armed forces but also had the potential to sow discord among communities. 'Such kind of post on social media creates disharmony among people of India and shows disrespect to the Indian Military," the state argued. In defense, Asharaf's lawyers contended that the posts were not authored or circulated by him. They argued that the material was found on his mobile phone but had originally been sent by someone named Shahrukh, who had asked others to share it further. The defense maintained that Asharaf was not involved in creating or forwarding the content and had been wrongly implicated. He has been in custody since May 13, 2025. The court, however, was not convinced. It warned of the increasing trend of misusing social media under the pretext of free speech to attack high constitutional functionaries. 'It has become a fashion among certain groups of people to misuse social media in the garb of freedom of speech and expression by making unfounded allegations against high dignitaries," the court observed. Stressing the seriousness of targeting the Prime Minister in such a derogatory manner, the judge held that posts of this nature not only undermine the respect for constitutional offices but also encourage the separatism and endangers the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. Thus, rejecting the bail plea, the court concluded that the objectionable content posted by the applicant did not warrant any leniency. 'This Court does not find a fit case to enlarge the applicant on bail, at this stage," the order stated.
Washington Post
21-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Indians stretch, breathe and balance to mark International Day of Yoga
NEW DELHI — Tens of thousands of people across India stretched in public parks and on sandy beaches Saturday to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga. The mass yoga sessions were held in many Indian states, where crowds attempted various poses and practiced breathing exercises. Indian military personnel also performed yoga in the icy heights of Siachen Glacier in the Himalayas and on naval ships anchored in the Bay of Bengal.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Girls from rural India discover science and engineering at IIT Bombay through WiSE program
MUMBAI: In the hushed dawn of late May, buses rumbled into the gates of IIT Bombay. Inside them were not scholars or scientists, but girls—about two hundred of them, aged barely fifteen, their eyes adjusting to a future they had only seen in textbooks. They came from the hills of Karnataka, from the farms of Maharashtra, from homes where ambition often takes a backseat to expectation. For one extraordinary week, the campus would be theirs. The initiative was part of a quiet revolution unfolding at IIT Bombay—a programme called WiSE, or Women in Science and Engineering from Rural Parts of India. Conceived in 2023 and led by Prof. Rajesh Zele, WiSE began with a simple question: what if girls from rural India were given a glimpse—just a glimpse—of what a life in science could look like? While girls in India sit shoulder-to-shoulder with boys in classrooms through primary school, the road thins out after that. Social pressure, early marriage, and the burden of domestic expectations often force them off the path. They turn away from science—not for lack of interest, but lack of encouragement. Many settle for fields that promise flexibility, not fulfilment. WiSE aims to change that. From May 25 to 31, 2025, 200 girls from 68 rural schools arrived on campus, each carrying little more than a schoolbag and a flicker of possibility. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo They stayed in Hostel 10, wandered the shaded corridors of an institution they'd only heard about in whispers, and lived a version of the future that might be theirs. What followed was not just a science camp—it was an emotional unlearning of the limits they'd been told to accept. Each day began not with equations, but with stories. Winspirers—a luminous panel of women from fields as wide-ranging as combat, cinema, law, literature, and medicine—shared what it meant to persist. Bollywood stuntwoman Geeta Tandon, with her sinewy grit, spoke of surviving violence and becoming fearless. Major Mohini Kulkarni, battle-hardened and resolute, recounted her tours through the Kashmir Valley. Judge Laxmi Rao brought alive the gravity of courtroom decisions, while Olympian Aparna Popat decoded the loneliness of elite sport. Dr. Dhanshree Lele, with the soul of a poet, reminded them that science and art aren't at odds. Dr. Ratna Raje, nutritionist, offered simple truths about eating well in complex times. Each voice added a new colour to the kaleidoscope of what was possible. Social worker Varsha Parchure spoke of upliftment, while photographer Aabha Chaubal gave courage to wander. Kalyani Deopujari, now a drone researcher with the Indian Military, talked of the many failures that came before success. In moments of tender honesty, psychiatrists Dr. Jahanvi and Rutaja Kedare spoke of adolescent pain—of anxiety, sadness, and the courage to seek help. Their words did not fall flat. They took root. But WiSE was not just about watching and listening. Each afternoon, the girls got to build—and break, and build again. Through the Break-Make-Programme (BMP), they turned screwdrivers with shaking fingers, then surer hands. On Day One, it was a light bulb circuit. Day Two, an FM radio. Then came sensors, actuators, and programming a microprocessor. By Day Five, they were assembling a Crab Rover Robot, a scuttling mechanical marvel they built from scratch, hardware and software alike. For many, it was the first time they'd touched wires, or typed code, or seen their fingers make something come alive. For some, it was the first time anyone told them they could. In between, IIT Bombay students showcased their own work during Demo Hours. The girls gaped at robotic arms mimicking human hands, studied colourful bacteria growing in intricate patterns, and watched underwater vehicles glide like fish with purpose. In these machines, the girls didn't just see engineering—they saw imagination turned real. Then came the evening of 30 May, when the guests became the hosts. The girls threw a felicitation ceremony-cum-talent show—aptly titled Thanksgiving—in honour of those who'd guided them. They danced in bright regional clothes, sang with unapologetic pride, and performed skits that sparkled with humour and wit. It wasn't polish that won the audience over—it was presence. They found their voice, and they were no longer shy about using it. Rajiv Joshi of the IEEE Board of Governors urged them to keep dreaming—boldly, stubbornly. Prof. Zele, whose quiet leadership held it all together, left them with a plea: Stay curious. Stand tall. Don't stop learning. But WiSE does not end when the week ends. IIT Bombay has committed to long-term mentorship. Each girl will continue to be guided through virtual check-ins every quarter—online meetings with students, teachers, and parents to keep the spark lit. The kits they used have been donated to their schools, turning these girls into science ambassadors for their communities. Much of this would not have been possible without the 70+ student volunteers, or the women teachers from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Eklavya Model Residential Schools, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Nor without the institutional support of IEEE Circuits and Systems Society, and the visionary coordination of Commissioner T. Gopalakrishna (JNV) and Ravi Lad (EMRS). WiSE is not a campaign. It is not a box checked. It is a beginning. One week may not change the world, but it can change the way a girl sees herself in it. Especially when she learns that her hands can build, her voice can speak, and her future need not be decided for her. Especially when science finally begins to feel like home.
Russia Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘We will go deep into Pakistan' if provoked
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has said the root causes of New Delhi's conflict with Islamabad remain unchanged and that India is ready to strike anywhere in Pakistan if provoked by terrorist attacks. In an interview with Politico in Brussels on Monday, Jaishankar claimed that Pakistan is openly training a large number of terrorists, estimated to be in the thousands, and deploying them to carry out attacks against India. 'We are not going to live with it. So our message to them is that if you continue to do the kind of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there is going to be retribution, and that retribution will be against the terrorist organizations and the terrorist leadership,' he said. 'And we don't care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan.' He was referring to the recent military showdown with Pakistan, in which India launched strikes on suspected terrorist facilities in Pakistan-controlled territory on May 7 in response to a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. The hostilities ended on May 10 when a ceasefire was announced. In the Politico interview, Jaishankar said the Indian military's air capabilities, including fighter jets and missiles, caused significantly more damage to the Pakistani Air Force than Pakistan had inflicted on India. The Indian foreign minister also spoke of New Delhi's efforts to boost its domestic manufacturing of arms and ammunition. Referring to Indian-made weapons, he said, 'some of them have been tested in the recent conflict with Pakistan' and have been 'very successful.' Jaishankar went on to say that some Indian defense companies want to work more with Europe with regard to design, though he does not see this as 'just buying more weapons from Europe.' The foreign minister also touched upon the Ukraine conflict, stating that India has never sought a role in it. 'If we can be of any help … we are open, but we are not pushing ourselves,' he said. Jaishankar added that India has been acting as a conduit between the two sides, keeping lines of communication open and occasionally relaying messages.
