"Amid criticism of the government for allegedly trying to clamp down on activist groups who campaign against industrial projects, a senior member of Greenpeace in India was stopped on Sunday morning at the airport from traveling to London. Immigration officials stamped "offload" on Priya Pillai's passport. Ms Pillai, who says she had a valid visa for the UK, was to talk to law-makers there about why Greenpeace believes a proposed coal mining project, planned for Mahan in Madhya Pradesh, would hurt the area's forest community.
"Salman Mohammed, 25, from Thiruvananthapuram was arrested at midnight on August 19 under charges of sedition and the IT Act. His crimes: He refused to stand up when the national anthem was played in a movie theatre and allegedly abused Independence Day on his Facebook page. Now out on bail, Salman Mohammad spoke to Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com
'A 31-year-old employee of a digital media company was abused and assaulted on Friday because his girlfriend, a South African, did not rise to her feet when the national anthem was piped from speakers at PVR Phoenix in Lower Parel. The young man, Mahek Vyas, and his partner, Nicole Sobotker, were at the theatre to watch the 10.50 pm show of Michael Cuesta's Kill the Messenger when the incident occurred...
[Salmaan Mohammed, a twenty five year old philosophy student was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram on 19 August 2014 for sedition, and for allegedly dishonouring the national flag and national anthem. The complaint against him originated as a response to his refusing to stand while the national anthem was played in a cinema during a screening. Salman is currently out on bail, but still faces the prospect of a life term in prison if he is found guilty of sedition by the judicial process.
'On Tuesday (October 7) Bollywood actor Preity Zinta became talk of the Twitter after her self-appreciatory tweet on how she threw a young man out of the theatre because he didn't stand up for the National Anthem. The actor, who was last seen in Ishq in Paris, tweeted on Tuesday: "#bangbang be4 Bang Bang ! Had2 throw a guy out of the Theater as he refused 2stand up4 our National Anthem! Can u believe it?Now movie time.” Preity zinta (@realpreityzinta) October 7, 2014."
"A 25-year-old philosophy student in Kerala is facing life imprisonment after he refused to stand up during the national anthem at a theatre. The student, Salman M, 25, has been charged with sedition as well as under section 66A under the Information Technology Act for allegedly publishing abusive social media posts about Independence Day on August 15. Salman, who was arrested on August 20 in Thiruvananthapuram, was denied bail by a court for the second time on September 6. He has been accused of sedition for allegedly "sitting and hooting" when the anthem was played at the theatre.
"South Asia Solidarity Initiative joins hundreds of millions throughout India and millions in the diaspora that refuse to go along with Modi and his hateful agenda. Modi came to power with support of only 30% of the popular vote. We stand with the other 70% that voted against Modi and his fundamentalist, anti-people ideology.
"One hundred days of Modi Sarkar and the feedback from much of the thinking class has been gushing. Nothing extraordinary here because governments have traditionally been allowed a grace period when they are not judged. And there is bound to be more than the usual euphoria when the government in question comes in with a full majority, interpreted as a clear mandate to break free from the past.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to address the nation on the radio twice a month. This comes after his promoting himself to a captive audience of school children on Teachers' Day. An exercise is on to solicit the opinion of the Twitterati whether the radio address should be on every second and fourth Sunday of the month or on some other suitable days. One way of looking at this move will be that Modi needs to share his world view with the people of this country directly - without any mediation or distortion.
