Hong Kong, China — When the U.N. Human Rights Council meets in Geneva from March 1 to 26 member states, including India, will use this international platform for intense lobbying, often to claim false achievements in protecting, promoting and fulfilling human rights. Civil society must stand up to counter such falsehoods.

Hong Kong, China — A group of religious leaders in India submitted a memorandum to the president on Sunday, signed by some 8 million people, demanding a statutory prohibition on slaughtering cows. But the media, politicians and people have failed to respond to the extrajudicial executions going on in the state of Manipur.

Hong Kong, China — The Indian government's investment-friendly policies are run by people whose policies are guided by nepotism, corruption, religion, caste and party politics. If India is to attract business investment, the government's primary requirement is to fix the country's ailing judicial institutions.

Hong Kong, China — Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized the Copenhagen accord for being non-binding and blamed U.S. lobbying, while India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh praised the accord for its lack of binding measures. Neither politician is sincere about global warming.

Hong Kong, China — India’s Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan has warned that riots could result if the country’s courts do not redress the judiciary’s inability to deliver decisions in a timely manner. When court cases can take a decade to be resolved, especially for the poor, frustrations mount and violence can ensue.

Hong Kong, China — India’s opposition parliamentarians have demanded that the Indian government send a delegation to Sri Lanka to verify the situation of the Tamil minority in the island. But they have ignored the plight of low-caste and tribal peoples in their own country and the violence that rages in many Indian states.

Hong Kong, China — Early this month a team of civil society activists visited Manipur, one of India's most militarized states. The director-general of police informed them that in the past 10 months the police had killed over 260 persons in the state and that each of them was a terrorist.

Hong Kong, China — The government of India’s Uttar Pradesh state has been spending millions of dollars in tax money to erect statues of Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati and other Dalit, or low-caste, leaders of India, in a state where people lack food, clean water and decent employment. This is a petty and selfish abuse of power.

Hong Kong, China — The home minister of India’s Kerala state, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said at a public event last week that criminals in the state are well organized and have better knowledge and equipment than the state police. Ironically, he is in charge of the police force he was disparaging.

Hong Kong, China — "Naxals are nothing but cold-blooded murderers" said an advertisement published in the Indian media on Sunday. The ad is part of a government campaign against the “Naxal menace,” but this approach will not solve the deep-rooted problems in remote areas of the country where the Naxal movement is strongest.

Geneva, Switzerland — Seven-year-old Juni Kumari was missing from her home in India’s Bihar state last week. Three days later her body, with head shaven and sandalwood paste on her forehead, was found abandoned in a sugarcane field near her village. She had been killed as a human sacrifice by Hindu priests.

Hong Kong, China — Unfair and negligent law enforcement, discriminatory application of laws, and limited access to the justice system all undermine the rule of law in India, said Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari in a speech to the New Delhi Bar Association on Saturday. He should have mentioned the practice of torture too.

Hong Kong, China — India’s former Home Minister Buta Singh was once again in the news last week, but for the wrong reason. Singh, who is chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was in the news after his son, Sarbhoj Singh, was arrested and charged with corruption.

Hong Kong, China — The government of India banned the Communist Party of India (Maoist) on June 22, following a series of violent incidents orchestrated by the party. However, it is not the only organization that relies on violence – most political parties in India use violence with impunity to meet their ends.

Hong Kong, China — India's Left parties fared poorly in the recent general elections, as people found them hypocritical and its leaders devoid of merits. Yet, leftists appreciate them by making generic references like, “the left to regain its credibility as a moral-political force is committed to the poor.” This is false.

Hong Kong, China — The Police Officers Association in the Indian state of Kerala has requested the state government to “allow the police” to do its job in light of the unwarranted control that politicians weld over the police. Public discontentment should generate louder opinions to check bad governance of state institutions.

Hong Kong, China — Last week a police station in the Indian state of Kerala was attacked by members of the ruling party, and several policemen were injured. The police requested the government to take action. Both police and politicians routinely disregard the law and court rulings to take such matters into their own hands.

Hong Kong, China — The U.N. Convention against Torture came into existence on June 26, 1987. The government of India supported it. Unfortunately, 22 years later torture is still widely practiced in India by the police, paramilitary units and other law enforcement agencies.

Hong Kong, China — Skeptics may argue that it is an irresponsible generalization to say that Indian police rely on torture to conduct investigations. They may think such incidents are rare. But let us examine the story of a 15-year-old Dalit, or low-caste, boy named Nitish.

Hong Kong, China — India’s police force is often criticized and treated with contempt. Corruption, ineptitude and the use of arbitrary force are some of its features. Like many other government institutions the police are a product of colonial times, subjugated to the authority of the ruling elite or political party.

Hong Kong, China — A man was chopped to death in broad daylight last week in the capital of India’s Kerala state. Days later, the state governor received death threats for approving the prosecution for corruption of a former minister. Violence is part of India's political culture as well as its social fabric.

Hong Kong, China — U.S. media has been full of news and opinions about the president’s nomination of Judge Sonia Maria Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. There is a healthy debate about the appointment. But in India, information about newly appointed Cabinet ministers has focused on their favorite foods and clothing styles.

Hong Kong, China — India’s Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan has expressed concern over the decreasing number of civil dispute cases filed in the country’s courts, saying that people seem to be resorting to processes outside the law to settle disputes. Hiring thugs to bully and threaten their opponents is a common tactic.

Hong Kong, China — It is reckoning time for political parties in India as politicians throughout the country try to offer explanations for their party's poor performance in the election. Most political parties fail to admit that at the end of the day, the people and their wishes decide their fate.

Hong Kong, China — Chief Minister Kumari Mayawati Das of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, paid around US$5.2 million in income tax in 2007-08, making her the highest taxpayer among India’s politicians. As a Dalit, she claims to be improving conditions for the low-caste community, but the facts show otherwise.

Hong Kong, China — The chief minister of India’s Gujarat state, in response to a recent Supreme Court investigation probing his role in the infamous 2002 communal riots, said he was willing to go to jail for the people of Gujarat. If prosecuted, he cannot claim “willingness to go to jail" as he would be deemed a criminal.

Hong Kong, China — The leader of India’s Pattali Makkal Katchi political party, S. Ramadoss, has said that the LTTE, who are fighting for a separatist state in Sri Lanka, are not a terrorist organization and are engaged in a just war. Would he have the same opinion concerning those who are fighting in Kashmir?

Hong Kong, China — A mob led by Maoist cadres roughed up a lawyer for defending an accused murderer at a court in the Surkhet district of Nepal early this month. The cadres locked the lawyer in a room and refused to let him defend his client. This is not proper behavior for ruling party cadres.

Hong Kong, China — The increasing number of violent incidents involving Naxalite and Maoist cadres operating in India paints a worrying picture of the internal security of the country. In the past three months, violence involving these two extremist groups has claimed more than 400 lives.

Hong Kong, China — “Is Kerala headed for a single party dictatorship?” This is the title of a publication produced by a Catholic diocese in the Indian state of Kerala. Though most of the allegations against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are true, most of them are equally applicable to the church itself.

Hong Kong, China — Justifying the need for a political alternative in the country, CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury has said that neither of the rival parties can resolve the security and economic issues India is facing. But the party’s record in Kerala and West Bengal suggests that is has no solutions either.

Hong Kong, China — In India’s general election next month, the candidates include a man known for his hate speeches against Muslims, a former minister charged with sexual assault, and a communist endorsed by Catholic bishops. No party can say it has not played the religion card or fielded criminals as candidates.

Hong Kong, China — Indian police stormed into the compound of the Madras High Court on Feb. 19, destroying vehicles and assaulting lawyers, their clients, onlookers, court staff and even a judge. They also marched into courtrooms and offices and attacked people. Will the usually invulnerable police be held accountable?

Hong Kong, China — An angry mob beat up a police constable in Kanpur town in Uttar Pradesh state of India on Sunday, accusing the police of killing a poultry farmer for refusing to provide free chickens. The incident is not rare in a state where the public see the police as criminals in uniform.

Hong Kong, China — Other than the fact that the government of India supports the Palestinian cause, there is no apparent connection between an ordinary Indian and a person living in the Gaza Strip. Yet some Indian politicians are focusing on this issue, to distract Indians from their own sorry situation.

Hong Kong, China — A six-year-old girl was beaten up by a police officer in an incident that was broadcast over Indian television last week. The officer was shown grabbing the girl by her hair and ear, threatening her and demanding that she confess to a crime she was alleged to have committed.

Hong Kong, China — India celebrated its 60th Republic Day on Monday, an occasion to recall the country’s progress. Yet the billion-dollar scandal involving software company Satyam and recent findings of environmental degradation reveal how corruption prevails in India, despite all it has achieved in the past six decades.

Hong Kong, China — The chief justice of India announced on Sunday that judges facing corruption charges would be transferred to other courts. This may not stop corruption as there are no remedies available to deal with judges belonging to the constitutional courts except by impeachment in parliament.

Hong Kong, China — The High Court in the Indian state of Kerala has granted a bail request from two priests and a nun who were arrested last November for the murder of a nun more than 16 years ago. The court’s strangely worded statement is the latest twist in the case, which has still not been judged either murder or suicide.

Hong Kong, China — India’s Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan called upon the government Sunday to provide more courts to clear the backlog of cases that plagues the system. But this is not enough. Also required is a drastic improvement in the professional standards of judges, prosecutors and lawyers.

Hong Kong, China — The Catholic clergy of Kerala province in India organized a mass rally on Sunday to protest the arrest of two priests and a nun on suspicion of murder, after a new investigation into the death of a young nun 16 years ago. Why is the Christian community so worried about the investigation of a murder?

Hong Kong, China — India Tuesday released the pictures of eight suspects killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, in which 171 innocent persons were also killed. In a country where a child can be abducted for a ransom as small as US$2, the inability to prevent a well-planned and executed terrorist strike is no surprise.

Hong Kong, China — In response to last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai, some Indian politicians are calling for calm, peace and national unity, while others are fanning anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim sentiments. The government, meanwhile, has decided to set up a Federal Investigation Agency to play the role of super cop.

Hong Kong, China — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the country’s top police officers at a conference on terrorism in New Delhi on Sunday, asking them to create an image of the police as a fair and impartial agency. This is not easy for a force infamous for corruption, ineptitude, use of torture and nepotism.

Hong Kong, China — The state of Kerala and its people are quite different from the rest of India. Kerala has a literacy rate of 90 percent compared to the national average of 60 percent. People do not die from starvation. But Kerala is not immune to terrorism, and a corrupt police force makes the situation worse.

Hong Kong, China — India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement Sunday to protect fishermen that cross their maritime border to fish in each others’ waters. For India it is a political move to appease Tamils in India who are demanding that it intervene in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict where Tamils are facing extermination.

Hong Kong, China — Police uncovered some 20 homemade bombs at the residence of a politician in India’s Kerala state Sunday. The bombs were found wrapped in plastic bags, placed in a bucket and buried in a hole on the property of Vipin Das, a leader of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organization.

Hong Kong, China — Corruption scandals surrounding some senior judges in India have seriously clouded the impartial image of the judiciary. But little has been said about the web of corruption that is deeply rooted within the system, where a client must pay bribes even to get his case heard in court.

Hong Kong, China — Two Indian legislators visited the eastern state of Orissa last week to investigate anti-Christian violence that has killed more than 35 people since August. They found that state police had failed to act promptly and intelligently, even failing to accept complaints. This is nothing unusual.

Hong Kong, China — Haider Hussain, editor of a leading daily in India, could not accompany the Indian prime minister on his visit to the United States, as his visa application was not processed in time. The reason given was that U.S. authorities take more time to process the visa applications of Muslims.

Hong Kong, China — Hindu fundamentalist political parties in India are using the frustration of upper caste Hindus for political gains. A divided society is the best possible environment a fundamentalist political force can expect to exploit. The Nazis did the same under the pretext of unifying Germany, which Hindu fundamentalists in India are merely repeating.

Hong Kong, China — The Indian judiciary is an untouchable "sacred cow,” where there is no open process for the selection, promotion and dismissal of High Court or Supreme Court judges in the country. The entire process is carried out according to the whims of the Supreme Court. All attempts so far to enforce accountability in the judiciary have been vetoed by the judiciary itself.

Hong Kong, China — In the Indian state of Bihar devastated by recent floods, a girl who had sought asylum in a flood relief camp was molested by a police officer. While indecent behavior and sexual harassment by the police is common in India, an equally serious issue is that they enjoy complete impunity in the absence of an independent monitoring agency for law enforcement officers.

Hong Kong, China — In colloquial slang a school in the Indian state of Kerala is referred to as a “pallikoodam,” meaning “prayer house.” While Christian missionaries originally set up schools as places of learning and prayer, they have now become big business – and opposition to this trend is not tolerated.

Hong Kong, China — Laxmanananda Saraswati, a self-declared Hindu holy man, was murdered Saturday in Orissa, India. Saraswati was an ally of the BJP and a leader of its militant wing, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He had been associated with religious clashes in which hundreds of people have lost their lives and property.

Hong Kong, China — Against the backdrop of recent bomb blasts in India, a New Delhi judge has found a solution to escalating concerns over internal security. High Court Justice S. L. Bhayana has suggested that the solution is to identify and deport all Bangladeshis staying illegally in India.

Hong Kong, China — The Law Commission of India has recommended to the government that stronger penalties be imposed for acid attacks upon women. In India, as in Bangladesh and Pakistan, throwing corrosive chemicals at women to wreak vengeance is common. But stronger penalties alone will not stop this crime.

Hong Kong, China — The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has everything except what the name suggests. Cooperation for the sake of the people is minimal. The group’s summit in Sri Lanka was only to legitimize draconian legislation and restrict human rights in the name of national security.

Hong Kong, China — The special session of the Indian Parliament, at which the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh won a confidence vote, illuminates some important aspects of Indian democracy. On the face of it, the Indian Parliament’s decision making was open, participatory and free. But the full story is different.

Kochi, India — James Augustine, a school principal in Kerala, India, was killed on July 19 by political party cadres who stormed into a teachers’ training camp to protest the government’s education policies. Sadly, murder, assault and abduction are common in Indian politics.

Hong Kong , China — The state of Kerala in India witnessed three state-wide general strikes in June alone, and 22 regional strikes, called by political parties. To enforce such strikes the political parties in India hire criminals who destroy the lives and property of those who do not follow them.

Hong Kong, China — Thankappan's son Gopi died in police custody in 1988. Gopi's body was found inside a police cell at the Cherthala Police Station in Kerala state of India. It took 10 years for his father to have the case investigated, and another 10 before the guilty officers were punished for the crime.

Hong Kong, China — June 26 is observed as the international day against the practice of torture, a practice that is condemned worldwide. Countries like India and China – which are allegedly gearing up to become the economic powerhouses of the new world order – cannot ignore this fact.

Hong Kong, China — “India has a long tradition of promoting and protecting human rights. It was privileged to be in the forefront of the struggle against apartheid since even before India's independence.” So reads India’s statement upon joining the U.N. Human Rights Council. But the reality today is different.

Hong Kong, China — The Supreme Court of India is known for using its constitutional mandate and authority to initiate actions of public interest. The court in the past has even taken note of newspaper reports to initiate suo motu actions against suspected breach of law and misuse of office by public servants. This earnestness and enthusiasm has not been thus far reflected in the Indian courts' approach against scrutinising the activities of the courts and its judges. On the contrary, the Indian courts have been very parochial in its approach in facing criticism.

Hong Kong, China — The government of Uttar Pradesh state in India has a clear mandate and vision to protect its children. With more than 100 projects commissioned by the state’s child development agency and a few million dollars spent each year, one would not expect children to die from malnutrition.

Hong Kong, China — The success of the BJP in the state Legislative Assembly election in the south Indian state of Karnataka is a lesson to other parties. The progressive, secular, communist and socialist parties all lost their seats to the Hindu fundamentalists. Why? It was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Hong Kong, China — The Indian state of Kerala is referred to as “God’s own country;” but the name is a misfit. The latest problems involve state doctors threatening to abandon patients if not given a raise, and police protecting fake “holy men” with links to high officials. Corruption in public life is considered normal.

Hong Kong, China — The Supreme Court of India has been locked in battles with the Indian legislature off and on throughout its history. Now the two have locked horns over the transparency of the court itself and that of its judges. It seems that the court as an institution prefers a certain degree of secrecy.

Hong Kong, China — The government of the Indian state of Manipur has declared that it will provide arms, training and cash incentives for individuals to fight "terrorism." While the Supreme Court of India has yet to make a decision on a petition challenging this rationale, more states are resorting to this "dirty" tactic.

Hong Kong, China — In a recent interview Prachanda, the head of the Nepali Maoists, expressed his willingness to cooperate with the government of India to bring prosperity and longstanding peace to Nepal. He has made it clear that Nepal seeks to restructure itself as a secular, socialist and democratic state.

Hong Kong, China — A school is where a student learns various subjects as well as discipline. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea to locate a police station in a school. In India many schools are forced to house police stations, sometimes forcing the children to study outdoors or stay home.

Hong Kong, China — Yang Chunlin is a factory worker in China, sentenced to five years in prison for petitioning the government on behalf of poor farmers who lost their land. E. G. Raveendran is an Indian laborer assaulted by the Communist Party of India for applauding a rival party's speaker. Neither incident is rare.

Hong Kong, China — April 7 is celebrated as World Health Day. This year's theme adopted by the WHO is the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. However, this theme is of less importance to people in many developing countries than the basic rights to healthcare, adequate food and clean water.

Hong Kong, China — "Encounter killing specialist" is an often-heard term in India these days. It is used in conjunction with police officers to describe their acts of "eliminating" suspects, often in staged encounters. These murders are reported by the media as encounter killings.

Hong Kong, China — The head of a Hindu fundamentalist organization in India has come out with a statement in support of the Tibetans who have clashed with Chinese police in recent weeks, calling for international pressure on China. Yet the group itself has been instrumental in inciting violence against Muslims in India.

Geneva, Switzerland — "The right to freedom of expression and opinion is one of the essential foundations of a democratic society." It's a wonderful statement, but when uttered by India's delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva, it is full of self-deceit. Many Indians are, in fact, denied this right.

Hong Kong, China — The Indian Parliament is a joke. If you think this is merely the twaddle of a columnist who writes unpleasant facts about his country, you are wrong. The statement was made Monday by none other than Somnath Chatterjee, speaker of the lower house of the Indian Parliament.

Hong Kong, China — On Monday, lawyers in Thiruvanandapuram staged a protest demanding a High Court bench in the city, as the nearest High Court is more than 300 kilometers away. This demand is exclusively for the benefit of the lawyers, not the litigants. It's a far cry from the days when India's lawyers led the fight for the people's rights.

Hong Kong, China — The motor vehicles department in Hong Kong is planning to introduce black boxes in public local buses plying in the city. Yes, the similar kind of machine that one often hears about after an airplane accident. Any visitor from the South Asian countries visiting Hong Kong will be amazed by the relative discipline, drivers in Hong Kong keep, compared to their counterparts in South Asia. Those visitors from India to Hong Kong will be in for a definite shock.

Hong Kong, China — On Feb. 11 the Mumbai police registered a case against Raj Thackeray, head of the political party Navnirman Sena, for inciting violence through his speech and public statements. The speech resulted in damage to property and injury to individuals, but the case will never be prosecuted.

Hong Kong, China — In a surprise raid on the residences of 10 senior civil servants in India's Karnataka state, millions of dollars worth of undeclared assets were discovered. The 10 now face criminal charges under special prosecutors -- who will most likely ensure they do not go to jail.

Hong Kong, China — Can legality be attributed to an armed private militia known for its systematic violence against ordinary people? This is what the Supreme Court of India has been asked to decide in a case against a state government-supported militia called Salwa Judum.

Hong Kong, China — About 12 people were hospitalized with symptoms of poisoning on Dec. 26 in India's Kerala state. One person died, and the rest were treated in utmost secrecy. As it turned out, the deceased and his friends were police officers who became ill after consuming illicit alcohol.

Hong Kong, China — India has made international business headlines by introducing the world's cheapest car. The car named Nano is the realization of a promise to the average middle-class Indian. But when it comes to governance, all this success is washed down the drain.

Hong Kong, China — Yet another person fell victim to mob fury in India on Monday. The victim, a suspected petty thief, was beaten up, tied to the rear of a vehicle and dragged for two kilometers, then had acid poured into his eyes. This is what happens when people have no faith in the justice system.

Varanasi, India — Varanasi, also known as Banaras, a city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is known for its Hindu as well as Buddhist pilgrim attractions. The least known side of Varanasi is its role in the global narcotics trade.

Varanasi, India — Nothing appeared wrong at first when Pawan Singh and his wedding party gathered at a hall in Varanasi, India, for his marriage ceremony on Nov. 26. But things went terribly wrong when his previous wife showed up and stirred up a brawl that involved journalists and armed guards.

Hong Kong, China — From Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh, Indians have been served by 17 prime ministers. All of them voiced concern for the nation's children; every year the country observes Nov.

Hong Kong, China — Last week, the All India Youth Federation -- the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) -- organized a protest against a big retail outlet in Trivandrum, in India's Kerala state. As is usual at such events, the protesters pelted buildings wi

Majuwara, India — Majuwara village, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is known for its forest-dwelling community, the Vanvasi. It is also infamous as a base for Naxalite insurgent activities within Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring state of Bihar.The Naxalites, broad

Hong Kong, China — Apate is the Greek goddess that personifies deceit and fraud. Her Roman equivalent was Fraus.

Hong Kong, China — What would happen, if a person publicly claimed knowledge of manufacturing crude bombs, even if that person were to be in police custody? That the police would question the person and investigate his claim would be the expected response from law enforceme

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — For those who are enthusiastic about firing a few rounds from an M16 or an AK47 or even throwing a few grenades for fun, the Kingdom of Cambodia has rolled out its carpet. Advertisements in hotel lobbies in the kingdom, particularly in Phnom Penh, lure vi

Hong Kong, China — India is hardly different from any of its neighbors. To the outside world, India is a democracy marching ahead with sustainable development.

Hong Kong, China — The anniversary of Mohandas K. Gandhi's birth, Oct.

Hong Kong, China — At least one state in India does not have a prison -- Arunachal Pradesh, the land of the rising sun. A land without prisons is a good concept.

Hong Kong, China — The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a landmark declaration last week outlining the rights of the world's estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlawing discrimination against them. The U.N.

Hong Kong, China — One could inherit several things in life, ranging from bloodlines to property and poverty. Inheriting litigation might however be unique to Indians.

Hong Kong, China — A few days ago a person was publicly assaulted by a mob in Bhagalpur in the Indian state of Bihar. The suspect, alleged to have been trying to snatch a chain from a woman, was caught and beaten by people nearby.

Hong Kong, China — India's huge population and British colonialism are often given as excuses to justify widespread poverty in India. But is India really so poor?

Hong Kong, China — What do Medecins Sans Frontiers, the international medical care organization, and Dr. Binayak Sen have in common?

Hong Kong, China — On Aug. 15, 1947, India embarked on a journey toward its independent destiny.

Hong Kong, China — Banaras, also known today as Varanasi, is described on the world map as a holy city for both Hindus and Buddhists. What is less known about Banaras is that the city is also a wholesale market for women.

Hong Kong, China — Want to buy a river? Welcome to the state of Chhattisgarh in India!

Varanasi, India — Reshma never knew what she was carrying. She was asked by a "friend" to go to Ajmer and hand over a small parcel, which was supposed to contain letters to the person waiting for her at the railway station.

Varanasi, India — Mulayam and Maya, both 5 years old, and Rema, 2, live in the Raitara Musahar ghetto in the village of Pindra in Varanasi District. Mulayam suffers from Grade III malnutrition and has already lost his vision in his left eye.

Hong Kong, China — The political parties that have formed governments in the Indian state of Kerala are known to play tricks on people. Whenever public opinion has increased pressure upon the administration regarding a particular issue, the government has pacified the peopl

Hong Kong, China — There is sometimes a fine difference between sense and nonsense, particularly when it comes to implementing legislation. But this fine distinction could make the difference between life and death.

Hong Kong, China — Approximately one year ago, an appointment was made to the office of the district government pleader and public prosecutor in one of Kerala's districts in India. It had taken around a year for the government to decide who would be appointed to the post.

Hong Kong, China — Indians take pride in their country for many reasons, ranging from democracy to unity in diversity. This "pride speech" is often heard from the middle class and neo-rich, who are sometimes completely disconnected from reality.

Hong Kong, China — According to Maximilian Weber, a state is an organization that has a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory. Organization includes the armed forces, bureaucracy, civil service, courts and police.

Hong Kong, China — India is estimated to have one million to two million non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, working on various types of human rights issues. For a population of 1.2 billion, this should be a fair division of work of about one human rights organization

Hong Kong, China — Several states in India are facing the threat of "armed rebellion." The cadres of this rebellion are better known as Naxalites.

Hong Kong, China — Hasna Mondal, a disabled woman, was taken to the Dhupguri police station in Jalpaiguri District on Feb. 27, 1997, where she was tortured by police officers.

Hong Kong, China — Two men were arrested in separate incidents in India on charges of involvement in human trafficking last month. Of the two, one is an elected representative, while the other is a notorious pimp.

Hong Kong, China — At a public function in India, an Indian actress was kissed by her Western colleague. Hundreds protested against the "open challenge" to India's culture.

Hong Kong, China — Principles of the rule of law are universal. The rule of law is a vision of equality.