Maharashtra govt issues guidelines to all departments to respond promptly on incorrect or misleading news https://www.newsonair.gov.in/maharashtra-govt-issues-guidelines-to-counter-misleading-news/  March 29, 2025

https://theprint.in/india/maharashtra-govt-issues-guidelines-for-responding-to-incorrect-or-misleading-news-reports/2570084/ As to any inaccurate news published by electronic/digital media, the feedback and response or sound byte of concerned minister or official should be provided to the DGIPR within two hours, the GR said...The DGIPR will publish the feedback/information on its blog and website on the same day, and also forward it to the concerned newspaper, news channel or digital media for issuing a clarification...After forwarding the feedback or factual information to a media house, the DGIPR should do necessary follow-up so that it is published, the GR said.. Comment: So now we can assume that if any news of Maharashtra government is not responded to in this manner, it is "factual" and not misleading...

What is this media monitoring unit doing? Kalpana Sharma on Context of monitoring the Media &  Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill..https://youtube.com/shorts/k_zpQ6dNOq0..

Text of notification: "J:\fortransfer\6582-notification on guidelines.html"

Shillong Press Club Condemns Arrest of Journalist Dilawar   https://assamtimes.org/node/23377 Mazumdar, the chief reporter of Crosscurrent Digital Media, was first arrested on the night of March 25. Although he was granted bail on March 26, he was rearrested on March 27 based on a complaint filed by the managing director of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank. . SPC President D L Syiemlieh stated that the rearrest of Mazumdar shortly after being granted bail is deeply concerning and represents a shocking misuse of legal processes. He emphasized that this action constitutes a direct assault on the freedom of the press and the fundamental right to free expression

PCI Slams Assam CM for Questioning Journalist Authenticity in Re-Arrest Case https://assamtimes.org/node/23378 By AT News | Friday, Mar 28, 2025 

पत्रकार जेल में है, कॉमेडियन बेल पर है, ये कैसा भारत है, प्रधानमंत्री मोदी कहाँ हैं?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Blv9jiS3OE असम के पत्रकार सड़क पर उतर गए हैं। साथी पत्रकार की गिरफ्तारी के विरोध में। मुख्यमंत्री कहते हैं कि दिलवर हुसैन मज़ूमदार पत्रकार नहीं है। लेकिन कोर्ट के एक मामले में ज़मानत देते हुए कहा कि गिरफ्तारी के लिए कानून का दुरुपयोग हुआ है। सरकार को कहां पीछे हटना चाहिए था तो चोरी डकैती के आरोप में जेल में डाल दिया। आप ही बताइये। एक बैंक के बाहर प्रदर्शन हो रहा है। उसे कवर करने पत्रकार गया है। पुलिस केस करती है कि किसी का  जातिगत अपमान किया है। इस केस में बेल मिलती है तो चोरी के आरोप में जेल में डाल जाता है।  पहले चोरी का केस दर्ज होगा या अपमान का? क्या ये पुलिस की दादागीरी नहीं है?

I-T Dept To Tighten Noose Around Tax Filers From April 1; To Have Legal Power To Access Your Social Media, Email, Bank, Trading A/c  https://zeenews.india.com/personal-finance/tax-dept-to-tighten-noose-around-tax-filers-from-april-1-to-have-legal-power-to-access-your-social-media-email-bank-trading-a/c-2878552.html

Tax authorities will be able to make a forced entry into your premises upon detecting suspicious activitiy under applicable law. Besides, they can also access computer systems, emails or social media accounts over suspected tax evasion.

Thirty years of resistance
https://vikalpsangam.org/article/thirty-years-of-resistance/  By Ashish KotharionMar. 25, 2025

.. much of the focus is still on trying to make the state accountable, bring in progressive laws, and so on—all very important, but no substitute for community mobilization towards determining their own futures. The Western liberal model of democracy is failing 8 everywhere, which to my mind is inherent to its very conception. We have to support and promote more radical, people-led forms such as the ‘Hamare gaon mein ham hi sarkar’—in our village, we are the government—the practice of Mendha-Lekha village in Maharashtra, or the radical autonomy movements of Zapatista indigenous people in Mexico and the Kurdish freedom movement in Rojava, Syria. Linked to these, to also envision and promote governance and management at the level of biocultural regions  rather than rigid political boundaries that currently divide nature and cultures within India, and between it and other nations of South Asia.

since sangharsh and nirman need each other—resistance against a coal-fired power station, for instance, would be more powerful if it also built in articulation and practice of alternatives like decentralized, community-owned renewable energy.

In turn, as another instance, farmers practicing localized, organic methods with their seeds and knowledge, or communities protecting ecosystems and wildlife in what is called ‘community-conserved areas,’ would be stronger if they joined hands with movements that resist state and corporate pressures or perverse policies.

Perhaps most importantly, VS has also promoted a more radical sense of democracy than (or in addition to) trying to make the Indian state more accountable and responsive—what Gandhi called swaraj (self-rule)—with communities claiming decision-making power and autonomy on the ground through traditional or new grassroots democratic practices. 

 Citizens Unite to Condemn Urban Terrorism Attack on Kunal Kamra in India  https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/citizens-unite-to-condemn-urban-terrorism-attack-on-kunal-kamra/  25/03/2025 by Concerned Citizens led by GG Parekh
 We, Law abiding Mumbaikars urge the CM, who has been broadcasting his resolve to use bulldozer to ‘punish’ people he accuses of rioting and who is pushing through a draconian law to ‘punish those he brands ‘Urban Naxals’ in Maharashtra, to act promptly and punish members of his ally’s party who are acting as urban terrorists, destroying private property and terrorising and intimidating honestly law abiding citizens.

We the Citizens of India also urge the Police Commissioner to promptly take action against these Urban Terrorists of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra who have taken the law in their own hands and are indulging in terrorising citizens and vandalising private property, we would like to remind the Police that they have taken an oath to serve the constitution and protect citizens, not to obey and serve the Government in power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5vVsTSTDEI  

भारत सरकार ने हाल ही में डिजिटल व्यक्तिगत डेटा संरक्षण अधिनियम (डीपीडीपी) के आधार पर सूचना के अधिकार कानून (आरटीआई) में कुछ संशोधन किए हैं.  जिसका सामाजिक संगठनों द्वारा व्यापक स्तर पर विरोध किया जा रहा है.

इसी सिलसिले में शुक्रवार (21 मार्च) को दिल्ली के प्रेस क्लब में राष्ट्रीय जन सूचना अधिकार अभियान  (एनसीपीआरआई), मज़दूर किसान शक्ति संगठन और दूसरे करीब 34 संगठनों ने इसे लेकर विरोध प्रदर्शन किया. 

बता दें कि डीपीडीपी कानून बन चुका है.  इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्रालय ने इसके कार्यान्वयन को सुविधाजनक बनाने के लिए डिजिटल व्यक्तिगत डेटा संरक्षण नियम, 2025 का मसौदा तैयार किया है. जिस पर 18 फरवरी तक लोगों की राय मांगी गई थी. 

एक तरफ केंद्र सरकार का कहना है कि डीपीडीपी को बनाने का मकसद लोगों की निजता की रक्षा करना है. वहीं, आरटीआई को लेकर काम करने वालों की मानें तो इसके लिए आरटीआई में संशोधन कर दिया गया है. जिसके बाद सूचना लेना मुश्किल हो जाएगा.

आखिर सरकार डीपीडीपी के जरिए आरटीआई को कैसे कमज़ोर कर रही है?  कैसे यह बदलाव पत्रकारों के लिए खतरनाक होगा. 

To Save Democracy: A Broader, Stronger, Secular Alliance Need of the Hour 
Ram Puniyani | 20 Mar 2025

“Noting that almost all components of democracy were getting worse in more countries than they were getting better, the report singled out freedom of expression, clean elections, and freedom of association/civil society as the three worst affected components in autocratising countries.”

https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/no-fascist-state-yet-a-rebuttal-to-the-dangerous-complacency-of-prabhat-patnaik/ while “neoliberal capitalism generates a “fascist presence” – manifesting in right-wing authoritarian movements, xenophobia, ultra nationalism, and eroded democratic norms – it does not necessarily recreate the conditions for full-fledged “fascist states” like in the 1930s.”

We, in India, are witnessing many traits of fascism, like the ‘golden past’, aspiration for Akhand Bharat, targeting minorities and presenting them as “enemies of the nation”, authoritarianism, promoting big business, stifling the freedom of expression and dominating the social thinking. 

“The RSS is poison & will destroy the soul of the nation”: Tushar Gandhi  https://countercurrents.org/2025/03/the-rss-is-poison-will-destroy-the-soul-of-the-nation-tushar-gandhi/ 

This is the Hate Tracker maintained by the Quint. 

https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/uncovering-hate-crime-tracker-communal-violence-india/ verified information on the incidents of hate crime and communal violence that have taken place since June 2024.

https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/CCS_Conduct_Rules_1964_Updated_27Feb15_0.pdf

The Civil Services (Conduct) Rules require an Indian government servant to “promote the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties” and “act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone”. Article 14 of the Indian Constitution says, “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.” 

Every Government servant shall at all times--
(i) maintain absolute integrity;
(ii) maintain devotion to duty; and
(iii) do nothing which is unbecoming of a Government servant.
commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic
values;(iv) commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic
values;
(v) defend and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
public order, decency and morality;
(vi) maintain high ethical standards and honesty;
(vii) maintain political neutrality;
(viii) promote the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties;
(ix) maintain accountability and transparency;
(x) maintain responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section;
(xi) maintain courtesy and good behaviour with the public;
(xii) take decisions solely in public interest and use or cause to use public resources
efficiently, effectively and economically

(xiii) declare any private interests relating to his public duties and take steps to resolve
any conflicts in a way that protects the public interest;
(xiv) not place himself under any financial or other obligations to any individual or
organisation which may influence him in the performance of his official duties;
(xv) not misuse his position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive
financial or material benefits for himself, his family or his friends;
(xvi) make choices, take decisions and make recommendations on merit alone;
(xvii) act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly
the poor and the under-privileged sections of society;
(xviii) refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules,
regulations and established practices;
(xix) maintain discipline in the discharge of his duties and be liable to implement the
lawful orders duly communicated to him;
(xx) maintain confidentiality in the performance of his official duties as required by any
laws for the time being in force, particularly with regard to information, disclosure
of which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security
of the State, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, friendly relation
with foreign countries or lead to incitement of an offence or illegal or unlawful gain
to any person;
(xxi) perform and discharge his duties with the highest degree of professionalism and
dedication to the best of his abilities.