"The Most Alien Looking Place on Planet Earth"

An island in the Arabian Sea which is a part of Yemen. 

Courtesy: Wikipedia

The island is very isolated and a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. It forms one of the most isolated land-forms of earth.

It has a tropical desert and a semi desert climate.

Halah Cave: It is located at the east of this island and has one of the highest Stalactites and Stalagmites in the world. It is several hundred metres deep with total darkness.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Considered the jewel of biodiversity in the Arabian Sea. The long geological isolation and fierce heat and drought has led to the formation of unique flora of the region. Has nearly 700 endemic species.

The Dragon's Blood Tree:The most striking flora of the region is this tree. Strange looking, umbrella shaped. Bleeds bright red sap when it's cut, was thought to be the dragon's blood of the ancients. Used today in paints, varnish and dye.

Fauna:

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site in July, 2008.

The name of the island is SOCOTRA in the Arabian Sea, part of Yemen !!

It is surely "The Most Alien Looking Place on Earth" !!

What is the sedition law in India?

What is the meaning of sedition (राजद्रोह)?

• An illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government.
• Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state.

What is IPC?

• IPC stands for Indian Penal Code, it is the main criminal code of India and covers all aspects of a criminal law.
• Drafted in 1860 based on recommendations of the first law commission of India whose chairman was Thomas Macaulay(shown in image below).

Which Section of IPC covers sedition?

• Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code covers all cases of sedition.

What does it mean for India?

• It is a mechanism to impose reasonable restriction on the right to free speech.

• Though it is a British Era Law, but it was included in the Indian Penal Code to prevent the misuse of freedom of speech and expression that would incite hatred and violence.

What does the section 124A of IPC state?

Sedition—Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with  [im­prisonment for life], to which fine may be added, or with impris­onment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. 

Explanation 1.—The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity. 

Explanation 2.—Comments expressing moral disapproval of the measures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section. 

Explanation 3.—Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.]

In simple terms OR layman language OR summary:

• If someone tries to incite violence, by misusing right to free speech then his or her actions amount to sedition.

•  If someone tries to create dissatisfaction against the government without inciting violence, then his or her actions will not amount to sedition.
• There should be a clear danger of violence or a threat to public order, in order to call an action an act of sedition.

Whether the law is anachronistic or whether it is a British era law that has no place in modern Indian society, is a matter of debate.

The Curious Case of Balochistan

              Ever since the Indian Prime Minister has mentioned the name of 'Balochistan' in his speech at the Red Fort. The issue of 'Balochistan' has come to the forefront, we have been reading about it in various forums. So what exactly is Balochistan issue? This post shall give an insight into the issue of Balochistan. 

Location:

1. Balochistan is one of the provinces of Pakistan (Shown in image below). The other three provinces are : Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunwa and Sindh.

• It is the largest province in Pakistan, but also the least developed province.
• Total population: over 13 million, indigenously called 'Balochis'.

History:

• Before the birth of Pakistan in 1947, a princely state was called as Khanate of Kalat(which was a part of today's Balochistan). 
• The rulers of Khanate of Kalat refused to join Pakistan and  Pakistan sent troops in March 1948 to annex the territory. Though Yar Khan, the then ruler of Kalat, later signed a treaty of accession, his brothers and followers continued to fight, triggering the first conflict between Balochis and the Pakistani Army. 
• There have been violent campaigns by the Baloch nationalists for independence from Pakistan. 
• Today, there are several separatist groups that are active in the region, the most prominent of the is Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), designated as a terrorist group by Pakistan.

Culture and Climate:

 Balochistan is noted for its unique culture and dry desert climate.

Tourist Attractions:

Problems of Balochistan:

• The Balochi nationalists accuse Islamabad of deliberately keeping the mineral-rich province poor, while Pakistan’s rulers say the pace of development is slow due to insurgency. 
• But a bigger allegation that the Pakistan is facing, and something which PM Modi tried to highlight in his Independence Day speech, is the large-scale human rights violations in the region, both by the Army and the militants. 
• Every time there’s unrest in the region, the Pakistani Army used brute force to retain order. 
• Even the Air Force was used against the civilian population many times.

Hope they get justice and humanity prevails !!