Bihar Election Special: A safai karamchari became MLA 5 times, dalit daughters make their mark in politics
A silent revolution is going on in Bihar. The land which was once known for casteism and social discrimination is today writing a new story of dalit women leadership. This journey from soil to palace is not just a tale of individual achievements but a source of inspiration for the entire society. From Bhagirathi Devi who worked as a safai karamchari on a monthly salary of Rs. 800 to the country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the dalit daughters of Bihar have written a new chapter in politics. Bhagirathi Devi: From a safai karamchari to a five-time MLA Born in a Mahadalit family in Narkatiaganj of West Champaran, the story of Bhagirathi Devi is no less than a film story. Bhagirathi Devi who worked as a safai karamchari on a monthly salary of just Rs. 800 is today a five-time MLA. In 2019, she was also awarded the Padma Shri, which is proof that a person is identified by his work, not by caste or social status. Bhagirathi Devi, who raised her issues in Bhojpuri, has today become a strong voice of the poor-Dalit class. The country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Born on 31 March 1945 in Sasaram, Meira Kumar achieved a new milestone for the Dalit women of Bihar. Despite being the daughter of Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram, she created her own identity. First worked as an officer in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), then came into politics and became the country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker from 2009 to 2014. Meira Kumar’s political journey started in 1985 from Bijnor. After this, she never looked back and became an MP five times. Eight Dalit women became MLAs in 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 brought a historic turning point for Dalit women leadership. Out of the 40 reserved seats, eight Dalit women won, which is the highest record till date. The prominent names among them are… Bhagirathi Devi (Narkatiyaganj) Veena Bharti (Triveniganj) Kavita Devi (Kondha) Pratima Kumari (Rajpakad) Dr Nikki Hebram (Katoria) Rekha Devi (Masaurhi) Sangeeta Kumari (Mohania) Jyoti Devi (Barachatti) Deepa Manjhi (Imamganj, 2024 by-election) The journey from 1957 to 2020 In the 1957 Bihar assembly elections, only three Dalit women were elected, Shyama Kumari from Scindia, Shailwala from Deoghar and Saraswati Choudhary from Masaurhi. This number shows how weak the beginning was. This number increased in the subsequent elections, but after this the participation of Dalit women kept decreasing and the situation became even worse in 1972 and the 1980s, when no Dalit woman MLA was elected. This was the period when social and political challenges were at its peak. However, gradually the situation improved and a new chapter began in 2020 with the victory of a record eight Dalit women MLAs. Now what will happen in the 2025 assembly elections, only time will tell. Expectations of the new generation Shambhavi Chaudhary Shambhavi Chaudhary, who became the youngest MP from LJP (R) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, can become a new symbol of Dalit women leadership. Shambhavi has reached the Lok Sabha by winning the election from Samastipur constituency. She is the daughter of Aashiq Chaudhary, a minister close to CM Nitish Kumar, and daughter-in-law of social worker and former IPS officer late Kishore Kunal. Her success shows that Dalit women of the younger generation are more educated and politically aware. Dalit women face double discrimination Dalit women face double discrimination, that too on the basis of both caste and gender. In the traditional social structure, there have been attempts to suppress their voice. But with education and awareness, they are overcoming these obstacles. The irony is that till date in the political history of Bihar, no party has given its state president post to a woman. This shows that there is still a lot to be done. Success due to the increasing influence of education and awareness The education policies of the Bihar government, especially the bicycle distribution and incentive schemes for girls, have shown a positive impact. Educated Dalit women are coming to the political stage with more confidence. The number and participation of Dalit women candidates is expected to increase further in the upcoming assembly elections. Dalit women of the younger generation are more educated and politically aware. Anand Shekar ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anand Shekar has been working as a content writer in the field of digital journalism for 5 years. He has expertise in political news. He is currently working for Asianet News Hindi. He has experience of working in organizations like News4Nation, Prabhat Khabar and First Bihar Jharkhand. Anand has also been awarded the Best Content Editor Award in Prabhat Khabar. Courtesy : Hindi News
Tribal youth, who empowered 2000 tribal and Dalit youths with higher education, looks for support
TISS alumnus has been working for the last eight years to democratise higher education for the backward communities of India, has reached five lakh underprivileged youth till now A tribal youth from a nomadic tribe in Vidarbha, who not only made it to the foreign shores for education on the basis of his own merit, but also showed the path of quality higher education to over 2000 tribal and Dalit youths from across the backward regions of India, now seeks support for sustaining the social cause. Raju Kendre, an alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a Chevening scholar who completed his post-graduation from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, runs the Eklavya India Foundation for the last eight years. It has so far reached five lakh underprivileged Dalit and tribal youths from over 25 States. Almost all of them are first-generation learners in their families. “Eklavya India Foundation empowers first-generation university students from historically marginalized communities – Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Nomadic and De-notified Tribes, and Other Backward Communities, representing over 1 billion people in India, which is 12% the world’s population. We facilitate their successful career transitions by accessing world-class higher education, breaking the poverty cycle, and inspiring them to become community role models,” Raju Kendre said. Many of these students who have attended any of the 700 workshops or residential programmes run by the Foundation, have been able to gain admission to leading national and international universities, gaining prestigious fellowships. Today, not only are they empowered, but the 600-odd alumni have become the role models and community aspirations for the marginalised communities across the country. Take the examples of Nazar Mohideen from Kerala or Eknath Wagh from Maharashtra. Both the youth belong to marginalised communities, and are today pursuing postgraduate courses at the Harvard University. Nazar studies Public Health at the Harvard Medical School, while Eknath pursues his post-graduation in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Raju Kendre, an alumnus of the TISS runs the Eklavya India Foundation for the last eight years. Raju Kendre, an alumnus of the TISS runs the Eklavya India Foundation for the last eight years. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement “Over the past eight years, we’ve dedicated approximately one million hours to mentorship and career guidance. Our students have received scholarships totalling more than 7 million USD from government programs, private trusts, and globally renowned institutions. Our mission is empowering the under-represented Indian communities by dismantling education and career barriers, cultivating equitable leadership, fostering social mobility, and building a just society,” he said. Raju was recently awarded the British Council’s Global Alumni Award for social action. As a young man who had himself faced challenges while accessing education, he found his calling in empowering other youths. His parents, married before they even turned 10 years old, could not complete even primary education. “At 18, I dreamed of becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer – a prestigious bureaucratic role that I believed could bring change to people like my parents, who spent their entire lives working on farms but never experienced a better future. In 2011, I travelled 300 miles from my village to the metro city of Pune, hoping to access quality higher education – becoming the first in my entire generation to aspire for a university degree. My mother had given me a few thousand rupees – all she could save – but it was not enough to survive in the city. Despite my good academic record, I struggled. I had no financial support, no guidance, and no understanding of how to navigate life in a big city. Within a few months, I was forced to drop out from the Pune University,” Raju Kendre talked about his journey. “I felt like an outsider in the big city. My language, culture, and dialect were not accepted in that elite system. I felt isolated, overwhelmed, and alone – just like many first-generation students who experience university for the first time in India. We often hear about suicide cases and dropouts in this so-called “meritocratic” system, where many struggle to fit in and succeed. After dropping out of university, I returned to my village and continued my studies through distance learning. During this time, I joined a grassroots organization working with indigenous communities in central India. Over two years, I witnessed their struggles – children travelling over 100 miles just to get a basic degree, and entire communities lacking basic resources and opportunities. That’s when I realized that becoming a bureaucrat, working in an office far removed from the real issues, was not my true calling. I wanted to work directly with my community. I saw children fighting to get primary-secondary education, walking miles to attend school, and generations trapped in poverty because they had no access to opportunities. This first-hand experience, combined with my own journey, sparked my passion to create real change,” he said. This made him join the prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Today, eight years after laying the foundation stone of Eklavya India Foundation, Raju reaches out to the marginalised communities across India, but particularly those in the tribal belts of central India. “Our current annual expenditure is around Rs 1.5 Crore. We receive support from the Echoing Green Fellowship, the Nudge Foundation, and the Mariwala Health Initiative, along with small individual donations and partnerships with smaller CSR contributors. But we have been operating out of a rented campus. We also want sustained funding to expand out work further, to buy our own place for holding regular workshops and training programmes. We are located in barren lands. There is no support system here. For any networking or support, we need to travel to Delhi or Mumbai. All the top universities are located there. There are no good colleges around us. We want to start a central institution in central India, which has dense tribal population. For that, we need good institutional support and mechanism,” he said. He now hopes
Why casteist attack on Dalit priest in Bhilwara, Rajasthan? Fact finding team reveals – Conspiracy to capture 400 year old temple
Till July 2025, 3651 cases of atrocities against Dalits were registered in the monthly report of Rajasthan Police, which includes 44 murders and 325 rapes. Bhilwara – Last month, a Dalit priest and his family were attacked by casteist people at Khakhuldev temple in Barana village of Asind police station area of Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. This attack is not just an incident of normal assault, but a well-planned conspiracy to snatch the rights and management of the 400-year-old temple of a Dalit family running for four generations. This conclusion has been presented in its detailed report by a fact-finding team, which visited the spot and talked to the victim’s family, local residents and officials. This report by Dalit Adivasi and Nomadic Rights Campaign Rajasthan, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Ambedkar Welfare Society, and other human rights organizations is based on the investigation of a fact-finding team constituted on 22 August 2025, aimed at uncovering the truth of the well-planned attack on Dalit priest Vishnu Meghvanshi and his family on 14 August, providing speedy justice to the victims and strengthening their voice for the protection of the rights of the Dalit community in Rajasthan. According to the fact-finding team, at around 10 pm on 14 August, a group of about 50-60 people, led by some influential people from casteist Hindu groups, forcibly entered the ‘Khakuldev Temple’ and attacked priest Vishnu Meghvanshi and his family, using caste-related abusive language. The attackers beat up eight people, including women of the family, and tried to drive them out of the temple. The next day, on August 15, the attackers again broke into the temple and looted the donation boxes kept there by cutting them with sharp-edged weapons. Following the attack, Vishnu Meghvanshi filed FIR No. 218/2025 at the Asind police station under sections 189(2), 115(2), 126(2), 303(2), 74, 342(2) of the IPC and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST (PoA) Act. However, the police have not yet arrested any of the accused and the aggrieved party has accused the administration of bias and inaction. The attackers united non-Scheduled Caste groups under the banner of “Sakala Hindu Samaj” and falsely alleged disorder and violation of traditions in temple management. A protest was organized on August 18, 2025 and a Mahapanchayat on August 21 demanding the removal of the Dalit priest from the temple. This well-planned conspiracy is an attempt to exclude the Dalit community from social and religious activities and spoil social harmony. The background of this incident is very deep and historical. According to the fact finding team, the Khakhole Ji Maharaj temple was established about 400 years ago by the ancestors of Lakshmi Devi, grandmother of priest Vishnu Meghvanshi, on their private land. Since then, the responsibility of worshiping, looking after and managing this temple has been with this Dalit family. It is believed that the deity appeared in the dream of Ghela Meghvanshi, an ancestor of this family, and he ordered the construction of the temple. Over time, the fame of the temple spread and it became a major center of faith in the surrounding area. The report said that some people from the local Shakti community, who had an eye on the growing popularity and resources of the temple, hatched a well-planned conspiracy to oust this Dalit family from the management of the temple. They spread false propaganda in the village that the temple is a ‘trust’ and the Dalit priest is not following the traditions, whereas according to the report there is no legal document like a trust. After the attack, the attackers fueled their false narrative by holding a press conference and dharna in the name of ‘Sarv Hindu Samaj’. The fact-finding team has also raised questions on the role of the administration and the police. The report said that despite the FIR being registered, no accused has been arrested so far, due to which the accused are roaming freely and threatening the victim’s family. This negligence has boosted the morale of the accused and created an atmosphere of fear in the village. The team said in its report that the Dalit community in Rajasthan has been a victim of social boycott, ban on temple entry and violent attacks for a long time. As of July 2025, the monthly report of Rajasthan Police recorded 3651 cases of atrocities against Dalits, including 44 murders and 325 rapes. The Meghvanshi community in Asind area is particularly vulnerable to persecution and the lack of effective action by the administration is further fuelling it. The fact-finding team, based on conversations with the victim’s family, the local Meghvanshi community and other witnesses, found that the attack was entirely motivated by caste discrimination. The Meghvanshi community says that the temple is the heritage of their ancestors and the attempt to forcibly occupy it is not only a violation of their religious rights but also a violation of the principles of constitutional equality. Dalit organisations termed the administration’s inaction a matter of serious concern and demanded immediate action against the culprits. The Asind police and the local administration claimed that they were investigating the case impartially, but the victim’s side alleged that the police delayed filing the FIR and protected the accused. On 20 August 2025, Dalit organizations and the Meghvanshi community submitted a memorandum in Asind demanding a speedy investigation and arrest of the accused. Despite this, no concrete action was taken, due to which the morale of the accused is high. These demands of Nomadic Rights Campaign/ Dalit Rights Organizations: Dalit Adivasi and Nomadic Rights Campaign, PUCL and other organizations demand the following- Immediate arrest and punishment- Immediate arrest of the accused named in FIR number 218/2025 – Sampat Lal son of Shravan Lal Jat, Mishrilal son of Uda Jat, Banna Ram son of Hardev Jat, Daluram son of Kalyan Jat, Shankar Lal son of Banna Jat, Gaju son of Gopi Jat, Pokhar son of Jamna Jat, Sanwar son of Hardev Jat etc. and other co-accused and strict action under
Former minister’s temper flared up in traffic jam! Slapped Dalit constable calling him ‘Harijan’? After FIR, CCTV will now reveal the whole secret
Former minister Krishna Nand Tripathi called the allegations ‘revenge’, said- CCTV footage will reveal the truth. Ranchi: Jharkhand politics has heated up once again. A Dalit police constable has accused former minister of the state and senior Congress leader Krishna Nand Tripathi of assault and using casteist abuses. This incident happened when the convoy of the former minister was stuck in a traffic jam. On the complaint of the victim constable, the police have registered a case and started investigation. What is the whole matter? According to the information received by the police, this incident happened in Latehar at around 1:30 pm. Dalit constable Ravindra Rikhyasan, posted in the personal security squad of former minister Krishna Nand Tripathi, said in his complaint that there was a huge traffic jam on the road due to Karam festival. The former minister’s car also got stuck in this jam. It is alleged that Tripathi, annoyed with the jam, ordered constable Ravindra to get out of the vehicle and clear the way. “As we tried to handle the situation, Netaji (Krishan Nand Tripathi) got out of the vehicle and started abusing us,” Ravindra said in his complaint. The constable also alleged that the former minister insulted him with casteist words like “Adivasi” and “Harijan” and said that he was not fit for the job. Following this, Tripathi also slapped him. Police action A zero FIR has been registered in the Daltonganj town police station in this case. Daltonganj Town police station in-charge Jyoti Lal Rajwar said that a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He also clarified that the case will be transferred to Latehar police for investigation as the incident took place there. Former minister denied the allegations Meanwhile, Krishna Nand Tripathi, former minister of important departments like Rural Development, Labor, Employment and Training and Panchayati Raj, has completely rejected all the allegations against him. He has described this FIR as done out of “revenge”. Tripathi said in his defence, “I just asked my bodyguards to be more vigilant, got the road cleared and then left for the Circuit House. I did not beat or abuse anyone. Everything is clearly visible in the CCTV.” He further said, “When my bodyguards could not get the car out of the jam and I got the road cleared myself within a minute, they felt insulted. That is why they have lodged this FIR.” Police Men’s Association condemned After this incident came to light, the Latehar Police Men’s Association has strongly condemned it. The association has written a letter to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) and called it an attack on the honor of the uniform. Association president Karan Singh wrote in his letter, “If a leader feels that a bodyguard is unfit for his duty, he should complain about it to senior officials, not attack him. There is clear evidence of the incident in the CCTV footage.” At present, the police have started investigation after hearing the arguments of both the parties. Now everyone’s eyes are on the police investigation and CCTV footage, which will make it clear what the truth is. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Meerut Court: Father murdered after attempting to rape Dalit minor, convict sentenced to life imprisonment
A special court in Meerut has sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and fine in the case of attempting to rape a minor and murder of a Dalit father. Uttar Pradesh: A special (POCSO Act) court in Meerut district has sentenced a 45-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment for poisoning and killing a Dalit youth. The court gave this verdict in the context of the incident when the accused tried to rape the minor daughter of the deceased in 2011 and the father was killed when he lodged a case against him. According to the prosecution, the deceased was 35 years old and his body was found in a drain in Meerut city on 20 April 2011. This incident took place when a day before, on 19 April 2011, he had lodged a rape case against the accused. ADGC Amit Dhama said that the accused had tried to rape the minor daughter of the deceased that day by taking advantage of her being alone at home. The girl’s parents, who were labourers, were not present at home at that time. After the complaint was lodged, the accused had threatened the victim’s family to withdraw the case. But the very next day, the girl’s father left home for work and a few hours later his body was found in the drain. During the investigation, it became clear that the deceased was addicted to alcohol. The accused called him on the pretext of talking and made him drink alcohol mixed with poison. He died due to consumption of this poisonous liquor. There was no mention of any injury in the post-mortem report, due to which the cause of death could not be ascertained. The body parts were preserved and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that poison was present in the body. Earlier, the accused had been convicted in the rape case and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Now, on Wednesday, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Aslam Siddiqui convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 70,000. The court rejected the mercy plea and remarked that the crime was extremely heinous. The court said, “In such cases, it is the duty of the court to give a harsh punishment considering the gravity of the crime, so that the purpose of the law is fulfilled and the society gets a message that such crimes will not be tolerated.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Dues of flour mill demanded from Dalit youth in Shivrajpur: Two goons attacked with a rod, he has been visiting the police station for two days
Two goons attacked a Dalit youth in Shivrajpur town of Kanpur countryside. The victim Sudhir Kumar runs a flour mill. He had asked for the outstanding amount from his customers. The incident happened at 7 pm. Sudhir was going home from his mill. On the way, he met Manoj Singh and Mohit Singh Chandel. Sudhir asked them for Rs 6000 for grinding flour. Both the brothers got angry at this. They used caste-specific abusive language. Then attacked with an iron rod. Sudhir got injured in the attack. The victim has accused the sub-inspector of Shivrajpur police station, Shubham Pandey. He says that no action is being taken for two days. Sudhir is continuously visiting the police station. Even after giving the application, the police have not registered a case against the accused. SHO Varun Sharma says that the application has been received and legal action is being taken. Sunil Kumar Courtesy : Hindi News
Who will be the next CM of Bihar, who will become the leader of the opposition? Modi’s minister made the announcement, said a wonderful Shayari on Rahul Gandhi
Ramdas Athawale: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale reached Raipur on Wednesday to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. During this, he said that our government will be formed again in Bihar and Nitish Kumar will be the CM. Raipur: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale reached the capital Raipur on Wednesday. He came here to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. While talking to the media, Ramdas Athawale fiercely targeted Rahul Gandhi and the opposition. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s hydrogen bomb statement, he said that if Rahul Gandhi has a hydrogen bomb, he will have to send it to Pakistan. There is no need for hydrogen bomb here. Made a big claim regarding Bihar elections ‘राहुल गांधी हमेशा करते हैं शोर इसलिए हैं चोर’, मंत्री रामदास अठावले का बयान Ramdas Athawale said that Rahul Gandhi is saying wrong on vote theft. There is no fact in Rahul Gandhi’s statement. Leaving the issue of the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi is taking out a rally on the issue of vote theft. He claimed that our government will come in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will become the Chief Minister again and Tejashwi Yadav will become the leader of the opposition. Called Rahul Gandhi a thief Ramdas Athawale called Rahul Gandhi a thief in a poetic style. He said that Rahul Gandhi always makes noise, that’s why he is a thief. I think Rahul Gandhi has been saying such things. The Election Commission believes that you should show your presentation of how votes are stolen. If the votes of the opposition have increased, then you should also increase your votes. The opposition is provoking people Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Narendra Modi is the strong Prime Minister of the country, an attempt was made to defeat him in the year 2024. Our party’s seats decreased, an attempt was made to create controversy. Work was done to provoke Dalit Muslims. That’s why our party’s seats were reduced. Our NDA government was formed, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for the third time. At the same time, Ramdas Athawale defended the Maharashtra government on Maratha reservation. He said that the demand of the Maratha community was that OBC SC ST get reservation, so Maratha community should also get reservation. Meeting with officials Ramdas Athawale held a meeting with senior officials of the Chhattisgarh government and reviewed in detail the progress of various schemes run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is making serious efforts towards social justice and equal opportunity. Edited by: Pawan Tiwari About the author Pawan Kumar Tiwari is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. I have 10 years of experience in journalism. I have a special interest in politics, crime, current affairs and off-beat news of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. I have done ground reporting in many important events along with elections. I have been associated with Navbharat Times Online since 2022. Courtesy: Hindi News
Did Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar visit strengthen the India Alliance?
Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav were always seen together during the Mahagathbandhan’s Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar. Congress gave the message of taking along the rest of the alliance parties as well. Political analysts believe that Congress seems to be gaining an edge in Bihar at the moment. New Delhi: India Alliance’s 16-day Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar ended in Patna on September 1. The Yatra, led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, passed through 25 districts of Bihar. During this, the Yatra covered a distance of 1300 km with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni. At the end of the Yatra, Rahul Gandhi addressed the public meeting from the stage in Patna, saying ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’. When the crowd repeated this slogan loudly, Rahul Gandhi said – ‘This slogan worked.’ The yatra passed through more than 100 assembly constituencies The yatra, which passed through more than 100 of the 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar, has strengthened the position of the RJD-led opposition alliance ahead of the Bihar elections in November this year. The question is whether the unity of the Mahagathbandhan seen during this yatra will be able to maintain its momentum? On this question, Tejashwi Yadav says that there is no need to worry about it, we are working on it. But one question is still being asked that what was the achievement of this yatra? 1990…when Congress became politically extinct Before knowing the answer to this question, let us go back. Congress became politically extinct in Bihar in 1990, and Lalu Prasad Yadav came to power. In the 2000 assembly elections, Congress got only 23 seats. Later, the party joined the alliance with Lalu-led RJD. The country’s oldest party performed better in the 2015 elections when JDU supremo and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined the grand alliance. At that time, Congress won 27 seats. Congress’s weak performance responsible for the defeat of the grand alliance? However, in the 2020 elections, when Nitish returned to the NDA, the Congress contested 70 seats and won only 19 seats, while its ally RJD emerged as the largest party with 75 seats. The NDA returned to power by winning 125 seats, while the grand alliance got 110 seats. The weak performance of the Congress was blamed for this minor defeat of the grand alliance. Congress gained lead in Muslim areas Senior journalist of Indian Express Santosh Singh says on this visit of Rahul Gandhi, Congress also gained lead in many Muslim-dominated constituencies including RJD strongholds like Darbhanga, Madhubani and Araria. The decline of the Congress in the state began after its alleged failures in handling the 1989 Bhagalpur riots, which led to a large section of Muslim voters moving to the Janata Dal and later to the RJD. After becoming the chief minister for his first term in 1990, Lalu became a prominent leader of the minority community in the state. Santosh Singh says that before Rahul Gandhi started his Voter Rights Yatra, the Congress was called the ‘weak link’ of the Mahagathbandhan. But, with the huge crowds gathering in this yatra across the state, the Congress got an edge as it was mainly a demonstration of the party under Rahul’s leadership. How much does RJD need the support of the Congress? With outgoing chief minister Nitish Kumar battling health issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the NDA’s election campaign in the Bihar elections. In such a situation, the RJD will be more dependent on Rahul to counter PM Modi’s campaign at the national level. Rahul gave a message of taking everyone along Throughout his yatra, Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by Tejashwi, the leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly, which brought him into the national spotlight, while also cementing his position as the chief ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan for the elections, albeit unofficially. Though Rahul evaded a reporter’s question about Tejashwi’s chief ministerial candidature in Araria during the yatra, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who joined the yatra in Ara on August 30, called for ‘supporting Tejashwi’ to build a new Bihar. Subsequently, Tejashwi also projected himself as the opposition alliance’s chief ministerial candidate in the Ara and Patna legs of the yatra and asked the crowd whether they wanted a real or fake chief minister. He targeted Nitish, saying he was allegedly ‘copying’ his various proposed welfare schemes like enhanced social security pension, free electricity and youth commission. Mahagathbandhan unity visible? Rahul made the trip to raise his allegations of “vote theft” in various elections against the ruling BJP and the Election Commission (EC) and to protest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list in Bihar. The SIR slogan united the entire opposition party India, which was seen throughout the trip as several faces from the alliance joined in from time to time, from DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to Akhilesh and JMM chief and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, TMC’s Yusuf Pathan and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut. Pappu Yadav also joined, impact on 15 seats In view of the yatra, the Mahagathbandhan has now been joined by Independent MP from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who had bad relations with RJD despite being associated with Congress. Pappu Yadav has influence on about 15 seats including Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Purnia in Kosi-Seemanchal region. Pappu had merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but had to contest as a rebel from Purnia after the party refused to give him a ticket under pressure from RJD. Despite this, he managed to win the seat by defeating JDU MP Santosh Kushwaha along with RJD candidate Bikram Singh. Edited by: Varun Shailesh About the author Varun Shailesh is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than 15 years of experience in current affairs, politics, social issues and features. Started career with news agency IANS
‘Dalit devadasis lowest on social ladder’— Karnataka tackles twin stigma of caste, sex work
Despite being banned, the devadasi system still traps tens of thousands of Dalit women in Karnataka. A new survey and state law target both caste oppression and sex work stigma. Ballari/Koppal/Bagalkot: When Huligemma went to school for the first time, the teacher asked her father’s name. She did not have any idea. Whispers followed her down the corridor — “sule maklu”, prostitute’s child. “I never looked for a father. Although I always knew a father figure in life would have security, which my mother did. I heard people saying my mother is a devadasi. It took me time to understand,” said the 21-year-old, who lives with her mother Kenchamma and three siblings in Sandur village, Ballari district. Now a new state law in Karnataka is going beyond a 1982 ban on the devadasi system. It promises housing, healthcare, inheritance rights, and protection from stigma for both devadasis and their children. The practice, which consecrates mostly Dalit women to temples but brands them as prostitutes, continues to haunt tens of thousands of lives across the state. But who benefits also depends on who gets counted. The State Human Rights Commission has asked the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government to finish a survey of Devadasis and submit recommendations by 23 October. The last survey in 2007-08 counted 46,660 women across Karnataka. The reach of the new law’s benefits will depend on how this survey is done. If, as before, it includes only women dedicated before the 1982 ban, younger Devadasis like Kenchamma — and by extension her daughter — will be left out again. Earlier this month, Siddaramaiah announced that the Devadasi survey will be carried out starting from the first week of September. “If the Devadasi system is still alive today, it is a matter of shame for all of us,” he said. Devadasis are poised at the thorny intersection of caste, religion, and sex work. Huligemma first heard about the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Act, 2025, passed in the state assembly on 18 August, through a community newsletter. She narrated it to her mother, who struggles to read. “My mother is hopeful we four children will now be able to live a life free of poverty and discrimination,” said Huligemma. In their single-room home, she prepares sugary milk tea for Kenchamma. “I know the horrors. I will never let my daughter go through this,” said Kenchamma, a frail 45-year-old who was only ten when her parents dedicated her as a devadasi because she was “beautiful” and they needed the money. She pulls out two necklaces hidden under her blouse: a white-red beaded muthu and a mangalsutra tied at the temple. They were meant to mark her as a handmaiden of the goddess; in practice, they marked her out to men as a sex worker. When I was applying for a passport, it was so difficult to get away with the column for my father’s name. It was the worst experience. With this law, devadasi children will no longer be subjected to such atrocity -Nari Kamakshi, daughter of a devadasi “It is the worst practice, people only see you as a sex worker,” said Kenchamma, who now works as a farm labourer. More than her three sons, she dotes on Huligemma, who is doing her BA (general course) at a local college. But it’s a struggle. She has not been able to pay fees for this term. “I do not want to leave studying, it is the only way my family and I can move out of this hell,” Huligemma said. Centuries ago, no one knows exactly when, girls from poor families were dedicated to goddesses to serve in temples. What began as ritual worship turned into systematic sexual exploitation of Dalit women, particularly from Madiga, Madar, and Holeya communities. In Karnataka, about 95 percent of devadasis are Dalit. In 1982, the state banned the practice through the Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedication) Act. Yet the system stayed entrenched across northern districts like Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Koppal, Ballari, Raichur and Kalaburagi. To wrest themselves free, women have relied on educating children and asserting dignity through caste pride. The state’s role has been minimal, though those counted in the last survey received devadasi certificates through which they accessed some benefits. Some received land, pensions of around Rs 2,500, and financial incentives for marriage—Rs 3 lakh for men marrying a devadasi, Rs 5 lakh for women. This time, devadasis had a bigger say in shaping the law. It was drafted after seven months of research by a National Law School of India University (NLSIU) team working with NGOs, activists, and more than 15,000 devadasis. Children of 15 devadasis documented problems and suggestions across districts in northern Karnataka. Consultations followed, with the community itself proposing changes to improve their lives. RV Chandrashekar, coordinator of the drafting committee, said the survey would spell out caste details and show how the practice is bound up with casteist oppression. “Among Dalit women, devadasis are lowest on the social ladder, and the caste census in the survey will prove that,” he said. “It will give them and their children a better life.” In the Harijan colony of Bagalkot’s Rabkavi town, 33-year-old Lakshmi drapes a red-and-white chiffon saree, puts on lipstick and kajal, and sends her two children to the back room. It is sundown, the time when she starts getting customers at her doorstep, though she’s worried the incessant rain might keep them away. Lakshmi is a second-generation devadasi. She was 12 when her mother encouraged her into the profession. Unlike her four sisters, who were good at studies, her only skill was singing and dancing. For her desperately poor Dalit household, dedicating her was a way out. “Ma told me not to make noise, cooperate with the man, just do the deed,” said Lakshmi. “I did not cry, I was numb. It was just for 20 minutes.” She laughed as she spoke, as if the memory belonged to someone else. Fifteen years later, Lakshmi sits in
Dalit teenager rape case: Meerut accused sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and Rs 2 lakh fine
The court has sentenced the accused to severe punishment in the case of rape of a Dalit teenager in Rampur. Abdul Qadir, a resident of Lisadi Gate, Meerut, has been sentenced by the court to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2 lakh. The case is of 2 September 2023. The father of the minor living in the Civil Lines police station area had lodged a complaint with the police. He told that his daughter was kidnapped and raped. The police took immediate action and investigated the matter and presented the charge sheet in the court. Special Public Prosecutor Sumit Sharma presented solid evidence against the accused in the court. The defense claimed that the accused has been framed due to enmity. The ADJ POCSO Court pronounced its decision after hearing the arguments of both the parties. Police Captain Vidyasagar Mishra said that the court has settled this serious case in just two years. This decision will send a positive message in the society. Shannu Khan Courtesy : Hindi News