Villagers gathered in large numbers under the banner of the Anti-Hydropower Project Struggle Committee, organised by the Gram Sabha on June 8 in Majjivalasa village under Burja Panchayat, Alluri district of Andhra Pradesh, demanding the cancellation of the proposed hydropower project.

British statesman, Sir Anthony Eden acknowledged India’s constitution making process as a “stupendous exercise” of democratic practice on an unprecedented scale. He viewed it not as a mere imitation of western models, but as a bold democratic venture with incalculable global influence.

The rupee has further depreciated vis-à-vis the dollar reaching 95.87 against the US dollar on June 15. It appears like a free fall and the weakening of the rupee by itself is nothing, but an indicator of how India’s economic health is perceived by foreign investors. The balance of payments, that is India’s transactions with the world, are composed of two accounts namely the current account and the capital account.

The present city of Guwahati is surrounded by a number of tribal belts and blocks inhabited by different tribal communities such as Rabha, Karbi, Tiwa, etc. The valuable land adjacent to the city, but under the possession of the tribal people for centuries, is now naturally an attractive proposition for different corporate houses. The BJP government in the state, committed to serve the corporate interests, has been instrumentilised by the corporate houses to grab the tribal land under different pretext, jettisoning all statutory provisions as well as issues pertinent to human rights.

In a significant judgement that has implications for freedom of the press, the Delhi High Court has vindicated Prabir Purkayastha and Newsclick. 

In a damning judgement, the High Court called the Delhi Police and Enforcement Directorate cases against Newsclick ‘mala fide’, an ‘arbitrary attack’ without ‘a whisper of any incriminating allegation’, which amounts to ‘a gross abuse of the process of law’.