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Kashmir

Shops shuttered, streets deserted as Kashmir loses special status

Shops and offices were shut in Indian-administered Kashmir on Thursday and the streets largely deserted as federal authorities formally revoked the restive state's constitutional autonomy and split it into two federal territories.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision in August to change Kashmir's status and tighten its grip over the region also claimed by Pakistan has stoked anger and resentment while a three-decade armed revolt rages.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Srinagar.

India moves to divide Kashmir despite protests, attacks

Indian-administered Kashmir will be split into two centrally controlled territories from Thursday.
It has been nearly three months since India revoked the region's autonomy and sent in troops.

Al Jazeera visited the region to find out the situation on the ground. Anchal Vohra reports.

India's top court orders review of Kashmir internet shutdown

India's Supreme Court has ordered an urgent review of the lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The ruling is in response to a series of petitions challenging the legality of the government's shutdown which includes a ban on internet.
The court also said suspending the internet without a clear duration is a violation of telecom rules.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoked the region's autonomy in August and imposed additional security restrictions.
Kashmir's residents say these lockdowns have made everyday tasks next to impossible.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports live now from New Delhi.

India's Supreme Court orders review of Kashmir internet shutdown

India's Supreme Court on Friday ordered authorities to review the suspension of internet services in Indian-administered Kashmir within a week.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a crippling communication and security lockdown in the Muslim-majority region before stripping its autonomy on August 5.
The Himalayan region has been without internet since then - the longest such spell imposed in a democracy.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

Indians in Kashmir ‘live in fear’ after killings of non-Kashmiris

Indian workers in Kashmir are fearing for their lives after the region's autonomous status was scrapped by the government in New Delhi.
Eleven non-Kashmiri workers have been killed in the region in the past few weeks.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Budgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. 

India-China talks: Kashmir issue off the agenda

China's President Xi Jinping has arrived in Nepal after a two-day state visit to India.
Xi held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a range of issues, including trade.
But the issue of Kashmir and China's support of Pakistan was apparently off the agenda.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra has more from Mamallapuram.

Kashmir businesses facing uncertain period

It has been three months since New Delhi stripped Indian-administered Kashmir of its autonomy.
India said the decision would usher in development in the region.
But many Kashmiris say they have lost an entire summer of income from tourism, and they have no idea how the government plans to improve their economy.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India eases lockdown in Indian-administered Kashmir

The Indian government has eased some restrictions in Indian-Administered Kashmir, which has been in lockdown for more than two weeks.
It has given some respite to the people of the capital Srinagar, as well as to journalists trying to report on the decision to strip the region of its autonomy.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra has more from New Delhi.

Minorities

Babri Mosque case: Indian top court gives disputed site to Hindus

There is anger among India's indigenous communities as they struggle to fight an order of eviction from their local governments.
Politicians say the forests need to be protected, but critics say they are only protecting the business interests.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra visited the state of Madhya Pradesh, where the indigenous community is fighting to protect its way of life.

As Hindus rejoice, Muslim reaction mixed over Ayodhya verdict

Indians are reacting with restraint to a Supreme Court ruling that gave a long-disputed piece of land to the majority Hindus to build a temple.
A centuries-old mosque at the site in Ayodhya was demolished by Hindu activists in 1992. That led to riots which killed over 2000 people.
Muslims will be given another piece of land to build a mosque.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

Analysis

Analysis: Modi meets Trump on sidelines of G7 summit

US President Donald Trump says he spoke to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi about security in Indian-administered Kashmir.
PM Modi reiterated that all issues between India and Pakistan are bilateral and that they will not "trouble other countries over these issues".

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

Analysis:
Modi defends move to revoke Kashmir's special status

Modi has defended his decision to revoke Kashmir's special status, saying the move is to ensure the idea of "one nation, one constitution", which he said will foster growth in the troubled region.
Modi made the statement at the 73rd anniversary celebration of Indian independence in New Delhi.
"We don't believe in delaying solving problems, we also don't let problems fester," Modi said, saying two-thirds of both houses of Indian parliament approved the plan.
Al Jazeera speaks to journalist Anchal Vohra, who joins us from New Delhi.

Analysis: New Delhi's 'airpocalypse'

It is being called New Delhi's "airpocalypse". The air is so toxic in India's capital, a city of 18 million people, that a public health emergency has been declared. Schools are shut, all construction work has been ordered to stop, and flights have been diverted or delayed.
On Sunday, the air quality index hit its worst level for the year, at 494 - that is nearly 10 times the safe level of 50.
Delhi's Chief Minister says the pollution has reached critical levels.
Private cars with number plates ending in an odd number have been temporarily banned from the roads. That has taken away a chunk of the more than 10 million registered vehicles on New Delhi's roads. A government study says the transport sector is the biggest contributor to the city's pollution.
Also being blamed are farmers from neighbouring states, who burn stubble after October to clear their fields for the winter crop.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra has more from New Delhi.

Pollution, age threaten India's heritage site,
Taj Mahal

India's famed Taj Mahal draws tourists by the millions each year.
But the structure is under threat because its foundation of wooden blocks is cracking up, and pollution from traffic and surrounding factories is discolouring its white marble walls.
The government made hundreds of heavy-industry factories move to the outskirts of the city in the 1990s but preservationists say more urgent action is needed.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Agra. 

India's spacecraft Vikram fails moon landing

India's hopes for its Vikram lunar lander to make a soft landing on the moon were all but dashed when ground control lost the craft's signal.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told scientists he was "immensely proud" of their unsuccessful attempt to complete the country's first soft moon landing.
It's not known if the unmanned lunar lander crashed or suffered a technical fault.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi, India.

Indigenous

India's indigenous

There is anger among India's indigenous communities as they struggle to fight an order of eviction from their local governments.
Politicians say the forests need to be protected, but critics say they are only protecting the business interests.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra visited the state of Madhya Pradesh, where the indigenous community is fighting to protect its way of life.

India's forest dwellers protest threat of eviction from lands

Thousands of indigenous people who live in India's forests have taken their fight against eviction to India's capital.
The Supreme Court ruled to evict them from lands they have been living in for generations earlier this year.
Indigenous people have been accused of hurting the environment, rather than helping it.
But they say the ruling favours big companies who want to profit from the land.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

India's indigenous' right to live in forests under threat

More than a million indigenous people across India, are fighting for their right to live in the forests.
India's Supreme Court is expected to decide whether they will be allowed to stay.
Some conservationists and politicians argue that the forest dwellers cause damage to the local environment.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra has more from Burhanpur forest in Madhya Pradesh. 

Human Rights

India to table controversial citizenship bill in Parliament

The BJP government of India has proposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill that will grant citizenship to religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, but excludes Muslims from those countries.
Muslim families in India are worried the new law will grant citizenship to thousands of non-Muslims from neighbouring countries while Muslim families are being rendered stateless.
This is in light of “foreigners tribunals” that have declared hundreds of thousands of people to be non-Indian in spite of their deep roots in the country that extend back for generations.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra explains.

India's new citizenship amendment bill sparks uproar

n India, a controversial citizenship bill has passed through its first stage in Parliament.
The proposed law is geared towards granting citizenship to those fleeing religious persecution, but it excludes Muslims.
Some say it is the governing Hindu nationalist party's latest attempt at sidelining Muslims in India.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

India protester shot in head driving outrage at police

In India, the family of a young man shot in the head during a protest says he was intentionally killed by police.
He is one of at least 25 people killed since demonstrations began against the government's new citizenship law.
Police are blaming protesters who they say were carrying illegal firearms. But activists say their investigation shows otherwise.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where most of the deaths have taken place.

India citizenship law protesters angry over police brutality

Hundreds of Indians have protested against police brutality in the capital as unrest continues over a controversial citizenship law.
Demonstrators wore bandages to symbolise injuries inflicted by police on several student protesters.
At least 26 people have been killed in the unrest, and around a thousand arrested.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi. 

Indian Dalits fear citizenship law

Hundreds of thousands of people in India have been protesting against a new citizenship law, saying it discriminates against Muslims.
But many Dalits - those in the so-called lowest social group in the Hindu caste system - fear it will also make conditions worse for them.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Uttar Pradesh.

Women protest against citizenship law

India's opposition Congress party has called a new citizenship law an attack on the country's traditions, culture and history.
The new legislation eases citizenship for religious minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries.
Protesters say the law goes against India's secular constitution by not including Muslims.
And women are on the front line of those protests.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

India citizenship law:
Activists turn to art to express anger

Activists in India are using art to express their anger over a citizenship law that sparked weeks of protests.
And although some of Bollywood's top actors are taking part, others are staying silent.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

Citizenship Bill: Tensions rise as protests flare in Assam

At least two people have been killed in northeastern India in protests against contentious new legislation.
It will give non-Muslim immigrants from some neighbouring countries a path to citizenship.
Opponents in Assam state believe their ethnic and cultural identity is under threat.

Al Jazeera’s Anchal Vohra reports from Guwahati in Assam, India.

Rioting in India's Assam continues over 'anti-Muslim' law

Nearly 10,000 protesters have held a day-long hunger strike in northeast India.
The state of Assam has seen much protest violence since the passing of a controversial new citizenship law which offers a path to citizenship for six minority religious groups from neighbouring countries but excludes Muslims.
However, residents of Assam are split on the issue, with many against further migration.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Assam.

India citizenship law: Media accused of pro-government coverage

Media coverage of the protests against a controversial citizenship law in India has ranged from being neutral to avowedly pro-government, say press freedom advocates.
The law puts citizens from three neighbouring countries on a fast-track to obtaining citizenship, but discriminates against Muslims.
And that has done a disservice to India's viewers.

Al Jazeera’s Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

Indian students continue protests against citizenship law

A month ago, a top New Delhi university was the scene of unprecedented violence. Students say policemen beat them up and vandalised some of the classrooms. But students have continued their protests and now Jamia Millia Islamia University is at the centre of demonstrations against the controversial citizenship law recently passed by the Indian government.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

New Delhi: Students, teachers attacked inside JNU campus

A masked mob has attacked teachers and students at an elite university in New Delhi.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes across India.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.

Indian students allegedly linked to BJP assault activists

Students at one of India’s top universities say they have been beaten and abused for voicing concern against a new controversial citizenship law.
The group says rival students linked to the government’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are behind the attacks.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports. 

India demands damages for Uttar Pradesh citizenship protests

India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh is asking hundreds of its residents to pay for compensation for damages to public property during last month's protest against the country's new citizenship law.
The state suffered some of the worst violence in protests against the law which gives minorities from three countries a quick path to citizenship but excludes Muslims.
Many who have been given such notices say the state is singling Muslims out.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Uttar Pradesh.

India mob lynching: Vigilante victims seek justice

A doctor has been killed in the latest case of mob lynching in India.
Human Rights Watch says at least 44 Indians have died in vigilante attacks between 2015 and 2018.
Most were Muslims accused of slaughtering cows which are considered sacred by some Hindus.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports. 

India police shoot dead four suspects in rape and murder case

Indian police have shot dead four men suspected of raping and killing a vet in the southern city of Hyderabad last week, police said on Friday.
The men were arrested last week in connection with the gang rape and murder that caused nationwide outrage.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.

India vet rape and murder: Police shoot dead four suspects

Indian police have shot dead four men suspected of raping and killing a veterinarian in a town near Hyderabad, in a case that reignited nationwide protests over attacks on women.
They were taken to the crime scene as part of the investigation but police say they tried to escape and were shot. The family of the victim welcomed the killings.

To discuss the latest updates we speak to our New Delhi correspondent Anchal Vohra and the Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association Kavita Krishnan joins us from New Delhi.

India hangs four men over 2012 Delhi bus gang rape and murder

Four men convicted of raping and murdering a student in India have been executed.
They attacked the 23-year-old physiotherapy student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 then left her to die on a road.
The case set off mass protests in the country, which has one of the highest cases of sexual violence against women in the world.
Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports New Delhi. 

Poverty

India infant deaths: Rajasthan hospital draws national attention

An investigation has found a lack of medical infrastructure at a public hospital in India's Rajasthan state was partly to blame for the deaths of nearly a thousand infants last year.
The inquiry was carried out after 100 babies died there in the past month alone.
It also revealed extremely poor hygiene conditions, to the extent that pigs were living on hospital grounds.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from Kota, India.

India dams: Villages swamped by floodwaters

Dams are a growing source of controversy in India.
Many have been built to supply water and electricity to millions of people.
But they have also caused deaths and destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes, due to flooding after heavy rainfall.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. 

India economy: companies cut jobs as unions weakened

he Indian government has been bailing out some loss-making state-owned companies, who in return, have been shedding workers.
But the government's new labour reforms have limited the ability of the unions to negotiate on behalf of the staff.
And many workers are facing possible job cuts and poor conditions as they get entrenched.

Anchal Vohra reports from West Bengal's capital Kolkata.

Hundreds march in India to demand 'affordable education for all'

Students at a leading university in New Delhi have been protesting against a planned increase in their housing fees.
They say most students are poor and cannot afford higher prices.
They also allege that the Indian government wants to privatise higher education and make it difficult for many to attend university.

Al Jazeera's Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi.