India

The state’s Sentence Review Board has rejected Dara Singh’s application for remission of his sentence after more than 26 years in prison. The decision follows directives from the Supreme Court and takes into account the potential risks to public order associated with the release of the man convicted of killing the Australian missionary and his two children in 1999.

In the last few days, horrific killings have occurred in Manipur, an Indian state torn by violence over the past three years. Yet, at the St Francis de Sales parish in Kangpokpi, Catholics from the two different ethnic groups continue to celebrate the Eucharist together.

Many of the victims of the Himalayan catastrophe are Hindu. Professor Chinmay Pandya spoke to AsiaNews about the relief efforts of Gayatri Pariwar, a social organisation that brings together 150 million Hindus. For him, “Relief work therefore becomes a bridge between inner awakening and social responsibility.”

The summit that yesterday in New Delhi brought together 11 countries that are in open conflict with one another on many issues. The final declaration is a 140-point document that makes no mention of Ukraine or Washington, nor does it propose a common currency. Beneath the surface, the divisions between India and China remain irreconcilable.

"4 Rivers 6 Ranges" hits theatres today. The work of a director born to Tibetan exiles in Darjeeling, the film relates the story of the Dalai Lama’s flight to India in the 1950s, seeking to link the theme of the diaspora to the evolution of India's policies. Chinese state television has accused the film of being separatist propaganda.

Beijing has confirmed that the Chinese president will attend the BRICS summit on 12-13 September. This is his first visit to India in seven years, marking a thaw facilitated by Trump's slights against India. However, following the 2020 conflict in Ladakh, a border agreement remains elusive, and competition persists.

Local authorities in Maharashtra razed the “Jesus Is Lord Church” to the ground shortly before a court was due to hear the case. Congregation members denounce a “vindictive policy” designed to appease right-wing voters, following the criminalisation of conversions. Bulldozers and 700 officers were deployed during the night.

Today, the Indian Catholic Church highlights the trampled rights of women and girls. The rescue of 34 girls in Arunachal Pradesh is a reminder of the structural nature of violence, while churches are working to ensure "inclusive, equitable, and safe" spaces. For Dr Carvalho, “Every child has an inherent dignity”.

The tragedy in Birsa, a remote area of Madhya Pradesh, has once again highlighted the vulnerability of villages left without reliable healthcare facilities. Adivasi organisations are on strike because of government indifference. The Church stands by isolated populations.

Just four months after taking office, the BJP-run state government announced a plan for a massive expansion of educational facilities linked to the Hindutva movement, in open competition with Christian and Islamic schools. Even the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" is becoming a source of controversy.

The local government has agreed to the demands of young people in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik who, following the deaths of three girls, had been calling for improvements to hostels and schools and the abolition of the age limit for accessing these services. This comes against a backdrop of discontent over scandals involving forged certificates used to gain access to reserved quotas.

The three Indian nuns who accused the current bishop emeritus of Jalandhar of sexual assault have launched an apparel line to support themselves after being ostracised due to their legal case. “Many people think the case is finished,” but for Sister Ranit, “the fight is not over”.