How will Congress manage to win over Dalits in Bihar, how big a blow is Ashok Ram’s departure for Rahul’s campaign
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is trying to win over Dalit vote bank in Bihar. But in the meantime, Ashok Ram, a big Dalit face in the state, has shocked the party and joined JDU. Rahul will try to recover from this blow. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi is trying to win over Dalit voters for Congress’ victory in Bihar elections, while on the other hand, a prominent Dalit leader of the state has left the party. Rahul Gandhi has been trying to bring Dalit voters with him for a long time. During his nearly half a dozen visits to Bihar this year, his focus has been on Dalit voters, but the way former minister and 6-time MLA Dr Ashok Kumar Ram left the party and joined Janata Dal United is a big blow to Congress and Rahul’s preparations. Before leaving Congress, Ashok Ram alleged that Dalits are being ignored in the party, whereas his association with the party has been for nearly four decades. Ashok Ram, who has served as the working president of Congress, was said to be angry with his neglect in the party. It is also being said that he was not getting along well with Krishna Alavaru, the new in-charge of Congress in Bihar. Relation with a big political family of Bihar Doctor Ram belongs to a big political family. His father Baleshwar Ram was also a veteran Congress leader. He was an MLA and MP 7 times from 1952 to 1977. Not only this, he was made a state minister in Indira Gandhi’s government. Like his father, Dr. Ashok himself was an MLA 6 times and was made a minister in Rabri Devi’s government in the year 2000. He has been winning elections from the reserved Rosda assembly seat located in Samastipur district. His departure from the party just before the elections is being considered a big blow for the Congress because he was the Dalit face of the Congress for decades. He strengthened the concept of social justice for the party in the state. But in order to woo Dalit voters, Congress handed over the command of Bihar state to Rajesh Ram instead of Akhilesh Prasad Singh. He himself wanted to become the Congress President! It is being told that Dr. Ashok Ram was said to be angry with this decision. He himself wanted to come to this post, but his dream could not be fulfilled. Before Dr. Ram, Bihar minister Ashok Chaudhary was also in Congress, but a few years ago he went to JDU. Rahul Gandhi has been busy creating an environment for Congress among Dalit voters in Bihar for the last several months. In February, Congress celebrated the 130th birth anniversary of famous Pasi leader Jaglal Chaudhary with great pomp. Rahul Gandhi himself also participated in this program. He made Dalit leader Rajesh Ram the President of Bihar state and another Dalit leader Sushil Pasi the co-in-charge of the party in Bihar, trying to portray the party as a well-wisher of this community. Rahul engaged in the campaign of Dalit voters Apart from this, during his Bihar tour in June, Rahul Gandhi went to the village of Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi to meet his family members. There he also paid his tribute at the Dashrath Manjhi memorial, and also met his son Bhagirath. He also drank coconut water with him. Bhagirath then demanded a permanent house for himself from the Congress leader, and Rahul fulfilled this demand by building a 4 room permanent house for his family. Bhagirath was earlier in Janata Dal United, but now he has joined Congress and he has also demanded a ticket from Rahul to contest elections. About 19 percent of the population in Bihar is Dalit and once it used to be the traditional vote bank of Congress. But with the passage of time these voters started drifting away. Congress had to bear the brunt and the party could not capture power on its own for more than 3 decades. Now Rahul Gandhi is engaged in an exercise to remove the resentment of Dalit voters and keep them with him. How important are Dalit voters in Bihar Dalit voters are important in Bihar because out of the 243 seats in the assembly, 38 seats have been reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 seats for Scheduled Tribes. In 1990, the vote percentage of Congress here used to be 24.78 percent, which fell to single digit. Even after contesting the last two assembly elections together with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress could not touch the double digit figure. In 2015, the vote percentage of Congress was 6.7, while in 2020 it improved marginally and became 9.48 percent. The round of allegations and counter-allegations also continues After former working president of Bihar Congress Dr. Ashok Kumar Ram left the party and joined Janata Dal United, JDU is claiming that ‘there is a stampede in the Congress. Many leaders of the party are still in touch with us. At the same time, Congress is also attacking Ashok Ram’s allegations. Congress termed him as a ‘high opportunist’ for joining JDU. While Dr. Ram claims that many more leaders from Congress are going to leave the party. While Congress is accusing Dr Ram of being an opportunist, he is accusing the party of neglecting Dalits. Such allegations have been made during the election season, but while trying to gain a foothold among Dalits, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will have to ensure that there is not much division in the party. If he fails to stop the division, it will send a wrong message to Dalit voters and he will have to work hard to make his political ground in Bihar. Surendra Kumar Verma Courtesy: Hindi News
Shibu Soren Death: He was a grassroots leader… PM Modi expressed grief over the death of Shibu Soren, other leaders also reacted
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and tribal leader Shibu Soren passed away at Gangaram Hospital in Delhi. Many leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have condoled his death. Shibu Soren fought for decades for the rights of tribal society and their empowerment. PM Modi reacted to the death of Shibu Soren New Delhi: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and tribal leader Shibu Soren passed away today at Gangaram Hospital in Delhi. After his death, a wave of mourning spread across the country including Jharkhand. His son Hemant Soren, while informing about the death, said that respected Dishom Guruji has left all of us. Today I have become zero… Many other leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also condoled the death of Shibu Soren. At the same time, the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha have also been adjourned till 11 am on August 5. PM Modi called him a grassroots leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on his X handle saying that Shibu Soren was a grassroots leader who touched heights in public life with his unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly dedicated to the empowerment of tribal communities, the poor and the underprivileged. His demise was saddening. My condolences are with his family and fans. Spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti. Amit Shah expressed grief At the same time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief and wrote on his X handle that the news of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is extremely sad. He struggled for decades for the rights and empowerment of the tribal society in Jharkhand. He connected with the people with his spontaneous personality and simple nature. May God give place to the departed soul in his lotus feet and give strength to the bereaved Soren family and their fans and supporters to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences and said that he was deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and senior JMM leader Shibu Soren ji. A strong voice of the tribal society, Soren ji fought for their rights and entitlements throughout his life. His role in the creation of Jharkhand will always be remembered. I express my deepest condolences to Hemant Soren ji and the entire Soren family as well as all the supporters of Guruji. Rajnath Singh expressed condolences Defense Minister Rajnath Singh posted on his X handle and wrote that former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and one of the seniormost leaders of the country, Shibu Soren ji was counted among those stalwart leaders of Jharkhand who fought lifelong for the rights and empowerment of the weaker sections of the society, especially the tribal society. He always remained connected to the land and the people. I too had a long acquaintance with him. I am deeply saddened by his demise. My condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti! UP CM Yogi Adityanath expressed grief Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief and said that the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is very sad. Humble tribute to him! He dedicated his life to the upliftment of tribal society. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed soul and give strength to his bereaved family to bear this immense grief. Babu Lal Marandi expressed grief Former Jharkhand CM Babu Lal Marandi expressed grief and said that the news of the demise of JMM patron Shri Shibu Soren ji is very sad. His departure is an irreparable loss for Jharkhand. I pray to God for peace of his soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this grief. Om Shanti! Curated by: Sanjeev Kumar About the author Sanjeev Kumar is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than 6 years of experience working on national, politics, current affairs and Bihar-Jharkhand news. He is currently covering national news, politics and Delhi news in Navbharat Times Online. Sanjeev Ku Courtesy : Hindi News
In the Vice Presidential election, the ruling party and the opposition are preparing to face off. The decision will be taken in the INDIA Block meeting at Rahul’s house.
India Bloc Meet Rahul Gandhi Residence: An important meeting of opposition parties is going to be held at the house of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. It is believed that further strategy can be made on important issues including the Vice Presidential election in this meeting. The biggest question is about the SIR process of the Election Commission, on which the opposition is attacking. What is the agenda of the opposition meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s house? New Delhi: Political turmoil continues in the Parliament. Apart from the discussion on Operation Sindoor, the proceedings of both the houses have not been able to run properly so far in this monsoon session. On the other hand, the dates for the Vice Presidential election have also been announced. In this election, the ruling party and the opposition are preparing to face off. This is the reason why an important meeting of the INDIA Block, an alliance of opposition parties, is going to be held. This important meeting is going to be held on August 7 at the house of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Big meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s house on August 7 According to the information, in this meeting the opposition parties will also formulate a strategy for the Vice Presidential election. Rahul Gandhi will present evidence of alleged ‘vote theft’ in this meeting. The opposition parties will also consider joint agitation and legal options in Bihar. Many important issues will be discussed in this meeting to be held in Delhi. Opposition parties are concerned over the removal of a large number of names from the voter list after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. They are planning to raise this issue in other states as well. These will be the agenda in the INDIA Block meeting Congress and some other opposition parties have raised questions on the functioning of the Election Commission. They allege that ‘vote theft’ has taken place in many elections. The opposition parties will formulate a strategy together on all these issues. Some leaders said that in the meeting to be held at Rahul Gandhi’s house, Congress MPs will give a presentation about the alleged electoral irregularities in Bengaluru. After this, they will present evidence about ‘vote theft and the role of the Election Commission’ in the INDIA Block meeting. Discussion on further strategy on SIR The opposition’s next strategy regarding the ongoing deadlock in Parliament and the Vice Presidential election will also be discussed in the meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s house. In this, the possibility of starting a joint movement in Bihar and across the country regarding the SIR process will also be discussed. Tejashwi Yadav had earlier talked about boycotting the Bihar Assembly elections. However, some opposition leaders believe that the SIR case is still in the Supreme Court. Apart from this, there are also provisions for complaining and getting redressal in SIR. In such a situation, all options should be considered before taking big steps like boycotting the election. Along with this, people whose names have been removed from the voter list should also get a chance to register their complaint. Confusion also over candidature in the Vice Presidential election The last date for filing nominations for the Vice Presidential election is August 21. Opposition parties will also discuss whether to field a candidate in the election or not. This election is considered easy for the BJP-led NDA, as they have a clear majority. Opposition parties are carefully considering every aspect. They want to ensure that the rights of voters are protected and the election process is fair. What will be the opposition plan on SIR next Opposition parties believe that irregularities in the voter list is a serious issue. This can affect the fairness of the election. They will spread awareness among the public about this issue and put pressure on the government to take appropriate action in this matter. The unity of opposition parties is important in this fight. He says that the Election Commission should ensure that there is no error in the voter list and all eligible citizens get the opportunity to vote. Curated by: Ruchir Shukla About the author Ruchir Shukla has been associated with Navbharat Times Online since February 2020. Started his career with a news agency in 2011. During this time, he broke big news through reporting. Specializes in political, social, crime, positive news. Courtesy: Hindi News
Bihar Election 2025: Now Manjhi has made a statement on Rahul Gandhi that will make NDA ‘uncomfortable’, know what he said
Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi attended the closing ceremony of ‘Sampoorna Abhiyan’ in Gayaji. On Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar visit, he said that in a democracy, everyone has the freedom to travel, so no one should object. Gayaji: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday attended the closing ceremony of ‘Sampoorna Abhiyan’ in Gayaji. During this, he reacted to the upcoming Bihar visit of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. NDA may be uncomfortable with this statement of his. No one should object to Rahul Gandhi’s visit – Manjhi Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that no one has any objection to Rahul Gandhi’s padayatra. Talking to the media, he said, ‘There is democracy in the country. Everyone has the freedom to move, speak and travel. Rahul Gandhi is also moving around, there is nothing big in it. This is a good initiative, he should come and travel. No one should have any objection.’ Manjhi honoured panchayat representatives Employees of various departments and panchayat representatives were honoured in the closing ceremony of ‘Sampoornata Abhiyan’. Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi encouraged the employees, Mukhiya and Sarpanchs who did excellent work by giving them certificates and symbols. He appealed to the people being honoured to maintain continuity in their work. This will help in the future. Manjhi gave information about the ambulance On this occasion, representatives of many panchayats including DPO, DPM Nilesh Kumar of the Education Department were present. Head of Bhataura Panchayat Dilip Kumar Yadav was specially honoured. He told that since 2016, free ambulance service is being run for pregnant women in his panchayat area. He was honoured by the Union Minister for this work. The DPO of the department was also called on the stage and honoured for better work in the field of education. District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar also participated in the programme and congratulated those who did excellent work. On the closing occasion, all the honoured representatives took a pledge to improve their work further. Edited by : Rishikesh Narayan Singh About the author Rishikesh Narayan Singh is the Bihar-Jharkhand in-charge of Navbharat Times Digital. 20 years of journey in journalism from Janmat TV, IBN7, ETV Bihar-Jharkhand, News18 Bihar-Jharkhand to Times Internet. Courtesy : Hindi News
Siddaramaiah calls himself champion of Dalits, BCs
We have also commenced a survey of various Scheduled Castes to provide internal reservation proportional to their population. BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is going from strength to strength, and seems to be cementing his position to continue as CM for the full five years of the Congress government’s term. In a reflection of his rising stature, on Saturday, he shared the dais with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at the AICC Legal Department’s ‘Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways’ conclave held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. In his speech, he called himself a leader of both Dalits and backward classes, claiming to have protected their interests by ensuring social justice. He said the Scheduled Caste survey his government conducted by appointing the Justice HN Nagamohan Das commission is to provide internal reservation. He also claimed to have implemented 32% reservation to backward classes, going beyond the Mandal commission report. “My government has ordered a survey to identify communities that are still socially and educationally backward and provide them with reservation to achieve real equality. We have also commenced a survey of various Scheduled Castes to provide internal reservation proportional to their population. Through these affirmative actions as envisaged in our Constitution, I am sure we are on the right path to achieving social justice, real equality and fraternity,” he said. “Karnataka is the pioneer in apportioning funds exclusively to the SC/STs, proportionate to their population through the SCP/TSP Act,” he stressed. On the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar’s Constitution, he said, “Finest prime minister of this nation Jawaharlal Nehru put India on the path of social justice. Leaders like Indira Gandhi used affirmative action to uplift the backward classes and marginalised sections through reforms, such as the 20-point programme and nationalisation, while Rajiv Gandhi ensured reservation for backward classes at the panchayat level through the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments,” he recalled. “To those who believe in our Constitution, its objective will be achieved when we have real equality and fraternity as a matter of course, which is nothing but social justice. Equality requires proactive intervention by the state and not just passive nondiscrimination. The guarantee of social justice is a positive duty on all of us to ensure real equality. The commitment of my government and my party is to fulfil the objective of the Constitution and ensure social justice and we remain on that path,” he elaborated. With Rahul backing Siddaramaiah, the other leaders were found readily greeting him and they included AICC legal department head Abhishek Manu Singhvi, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rajya Sabha member P Chidambaram among others. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https://thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit techie murder: Sub-inspector father of accused arrested; family accepts body after 5 days of protest
In an alleged caste killing case of 23-year-old Dalit techie Kavin Selvaganesh, the Tamil Nadu police have arrested Saravanan, a serving sub-inspector and the father of the main accused Surjith. The arrest came after days of public outrage and continued protest by Kavin’s family, who had refused to receive his body until all suspected individuals were held accountable. Subashini, the sister of the accused and Kavin’s partner, denied her parents’ role in the murder. In a viral video, she clarified, “We were in true love. Since we wanted some time to settle down, we didn’t say much about our relationship to my parents. On May 30, Surjith, my brother, informed my father about my relationship with Kavin. But when my father asked, I didn’t disclose anything as Kavin asked me for time.” The family of the deceased techie finally took possession of his body on Friday, after five days of protest. The handover took place at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, where Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru and District Collector R Sukumar paid their respects. Earlier, the Tamil Nadu police had transferred the case to the Crime Branch–CID for an independent probe following widespread public anger. The accused, Surjith, was arrested on the same day as the crime and has been booked under charges of murder, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Goondas Act. Tamil Nadu DGP Shankar Jiwal stated, “Preliminary investigation reveals the murder was over the relationship between the accused man’s sister and the victim.” Kavin was killed near a Siddha centre in Tirunelveli, where his girlfriend worked and his grandfather was under treatment. CCTV footage reportedly shows Surjith taking Kavin away on his motorcycle shortly before the brutal attack. Kavin’s body was later found with severe injuries. The victim’s family had earlier demanded the arrest and remand of the accused’s parents. “Surjith has been booked as A1. Our only demand is his parents ought to be remanded. With that demand, we protested the other day and we’ve not collected the body. This is a clear case of honour killing. There’s provision to remand them based on the FIR,” said Selvam, a relative of Kavin. Political voices also weighed in on the incident. Rajya Sabha MP and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan condemned the killing and urged political unity against caste violence. “Stringent punishment must be ensured. Casteism must be eradicated through collective political will,” he posted on X. Maktoob Staff Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https://maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
More trans people should join politics for real change: Kalki Subramaniam
In an interview with The Federal, the activist points out certain lacunae in Tamil Nadu government’s policy while saying why Kerala shows the way In a major policy move, the Tamil Nadu government recently released a comprehensive policy for transgender persons, aiming to institutionalise inclusivity in education, employment, and healthcare. While it has been hailed as a progressive step by many, some have argued that it lacks key elements such as reservation and full inclusion of transgender men. In a candid conversation with transgender rights activist Kalki Subramaniam, The Federal explores where the policy does things right, where it falters, and why the fight for dignity and equality must continue. Which section of Tamil Nadu’s new transgender policy stood out most for you? The initiative that really stood out to me is the focus on sensitising teachers and educational institutions. Gender non-conforming children often face bullying, discrimination, and stigma in schools. This pushes many of them to drop out, which becomes a lifelong setback. Without education, you lose the opportunity to dream, to become a graduate, and to have a dignified life. So, creating an inclusive environment through trained and empathetic teachers is a crucial step forward.The policy touches upon several areas—health, property rights, banning forced conversion therapy. How effective do you think these measures will be? When I read the policy, I noticed that almost 70 per cent of its provisions are already covered in the transgender protection Act of 2019. The state is essentially amplifying what’s already there, which is not a bad thing since it reassures us of the Act’s relevance. The policy also borrows from the central government’s Equal Opportunity Policy, which focuses on eliminating workplace discrimination and creating safe and inclusive environments for transgender persons. That’s a good sign. However, is there anything genuinely new? Perhaps the school-level education initiative is a fresh addition. The policy also promises the formation of committees, but we’ll have to wait and see how effectively they function. A trans woman named Samantha was brutally attacked in Tenkasi just days after the policy was launched. Does the policy do enough to ensure safety for transgender persons? Absolutely not. Transgender women continue to be murdered across the country. Last year, Sangeeta—a successful entrepreneur who started a restaurant in Coimbatore—was murdered. While the accused was identified, we never heard of any punishment. None of the previous murder cases involving transgender persons have witnessed justice. The media only covers the murder as sensational news but doesn’t follow up. More importantly, there’s a clear lack of safety, security, and sensitisation among police officers. They remain unaware of the transgender protection Act, Section 377, and other legal provisions that safeguard us. You’ve written an open letter to the Tamil Nadu chief minister listing critical omissions in the policy. Why are these demands urgent? Education is a transformative tool for the transgender community, especially young people. It ensures dignity, equality, and economic independence. But even when corporate jobs are available, transgender applicants are often rejected outright because of binary reservations —only for men and women. Reservation in education and jobs is crucial. Sadly, this policy doesn’t even mention it. Despite years of advocacy and multiple meetings with the chief minister, deputy chief minister, and the social welfare minister, there’s no reference to reservation. That’s a major setback, especially for Tamil Nadu, the first state in India to officially recognise transgender people. Are there state models Tamil Nadu could learn from? Yes. Kerala has made remarkable progress. When I first spoke about trans-inclusion in Kerala media and universities over two decades ago, there was rampant transphobia. But today, many transgender students are pursuing education at the universities of Kerala and Calicut. Kerala may not have reservation yet, but it’s making sincere efforts. For instance, a transgender man received Rs 25 lakh from the government for pilot training in South Africa. Our neighbour Karnataka has already introduced one per cent reservation for transgender people. Tamil Nadu, once a pioneer, is now lagging behind. Why is the exclusion of trans men in this policy a concern? It’s shocking. Trans men are completely overlooked. Though some are represented on the state’s transgender welfare board, the policy is largely framed around trans women with minimal reference to trans men. This erases their life experiences, especially in areas such as healthcare, documentation, and employment. It also shows ignorance of the policymakers. I’m part of the national transgender council, and I was never consulted. No officer from the Tamil Nadu social welfare department ever called to ask for inputs. That speaks volumes. There are allegations that even committee members weren’t informed before the policy’s release. Do you think that’s true? I believe so. This is not just ignorance but also a lack of care and understanding. This happens when people who are completely disconnected from transgender realities sit down to draft such an important policy. It affects thousands of lives. The omission of trans men and reservation is inexcusable. Even courts—like the Madras High Court—have recommended reservation. The Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment in the NALSA vs Union of India case also affirms this. Tamil Nadu is ignoring all of that while Karnataka is moving ahead. That’s deeply disappointing. Do you plan to engage the government further on these gaps? Yes, absolutely. I will be writing to the social justice minister as well. Activists will come together and take powerful and collective action. We are very disappointed, especially about the lack of reservation and the invisibilisation of trans men. You spoke about representation. As elections approach, trans persons like Apsara Reddy and Ganga Nayak have entered politics. Why is political participation important for the community? It’s essential. I’ve had offers from various parties but remain in a dilemma because of how poorly women are treated in politics. Still, I support Apsara Reddy, Ria, and Ganga Nayak. But representation should translate into influence—especially in policy matters. We need more trans people across political parties—DMK, ADMK, TVK, BJP, Congress. I’m hopeful we’ll soon have a
Transgender Admissions Improve In Indian Schools, Universities; Details Here
Transgender student enrolment in schools and universities has risen, with UP and Bihar leading. From 155 in 2021–22 to 965 in 2023–24, inclusion shows promise despite remaining gaps. Transgender student enrollment in Indian schools and higher education institutions has risen dramatically in the last three academic years, with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar having the most in 2023–24, as per information tabled by the Ministry of Education in the Rajya Sabha. In Indian schools, the transgender student population grew from a mere 155 in 2021–22 to 965 in 2023–24—a six-fold increment. Uttar Pradesh had the highest number with 327 enrolled, followed by Bihar with 282 students during that year. However, states like Rajasthan and West Bengal recorded decreasing figures, with Rajasthan having 107 students earlier but decreasing to 77 and West Bengal’s count dropping from 211 to 62 transgender students enrolled in schools in that period. In higher education, there has been a noteworthy advancement. Provisional AISHE figures indicate that transgender student enrolment in universities and colleges increased from 302 in 2020–21 to 1,448 in 2022–23. The numbers among states vary, with Uttar Pradesh still holding the top position with 369 students, followed by Maharashtra (158), Madhya Pradesh (124), Telangana (104), Tamil Nadu (98), Rajasthan (101), and Karnataka (73). Experts attribute this upward trend to increasing awareness, policy reforms, and outreach efforts that aim to narrow the access gaps transgender youth experience in education. Many, however, contend that inclusion is more than numbers—it is safe campuses, support infrastructure such as transgender cells, and data-based monitoring of participation. In places such as Delhi University, the failure to enrol any transgender students when a “third gender” option was provided indicates entrenched stigma and meagre institutional support. In Maharashtra, on the other hand, special transgender cells in all colleges have been made mandatory to provide counselling, academic assistance, and anti-discrimination safeguards. Sakshi Gupta Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https://thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Dalit IT Engineer’s Murder: Filmmaker Pa. Ranjith Urges Tamil Nadu Govt to Declare Atrocity-Prone Areas
He highlighted that Scheduled Caste communities are forced to protest for minimal justice, as seen in Kavin’s parents’ ongoing struggle. Chennai- Filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, founder of the Neelam Cultural Centre, has strongly condemned the Tamil Nadu government and police for their inaction following the brutal honour killing of Kavin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer, in Tirunelveli on July 27. In a statement, Ranjith demanded transparent investigations, immediate arrests, and the designation of districts like Tirunelveli, Sivagangai, Pudukkottai, and Thoothukudi as “Atrocity-Prone Areas” under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Kavin, the son of Tamilselvi and Chandrasekar, a government school teacher couple from Arumugamangalam in Thoothukudi district’s Eral Taluk, was hacked to death in broad daylight near the home of his lover, Subashini, who worked at a private hospital in Tirunelveli. Subashini’s parents, Saravanan and Krishnaveni, both police personnel, opposed the couple’s relationship. Despite their objections, the relationship continued, leading to the fatal attack by Subashini’s brother, Surjit. Initially, only Surjit was named as the accused. Following protests and road blockades by Kavin’s family and relatives, who alleged the involvement of Subashini’s parents, the authorities included them as accused. However, Saravanan and Krishnaveni have not yet been arrested, raising concerns about the investigation’s impartiality given their police affiliations. Ranjith criticized the government for failing to follow the Prevention of Atrocities Act, which mandates that the District Collector meet victims immediately after such incidents. The Collector has not yet visited Kavin’s family. He highlighted that Scheduled Caste communities are forced to protest for minimal justice, as seen in Kavin’s parents’ ongoing struggle. The statement accused the current DMK government of continuing the previous administration’s indifference in handling Dalit-related cases. Ranjith expressed doubts about the case’s handling, given the accused’s police connections, and urged the government to conduct a transparent investigation and arrest Surjit’s parents immediately. Ranjith emphasized the rising caste-based crimes in Tamil Nadu, calling for districts with high caste-related issues to be placed under special surveillance and declared as “Atrocity-Prone Areas” with dedicated police stations. He noted that basic legal protocols, such as filing First Information Reports (FIRs) promptly and transferring investigations to a Deputy Superintendent of Police, are often ignored, as recently pointed out by the Madras High Court. The Neelam Cultural Centre condemned the police practice of circulating alternative narratives in the media to deflect attention from such crimes and demanded strict action against officers involved. Ranjith called for a committee led by a retired judge, Dalit activists, and intellectuals to investigate honour killings, analyze social factors, and prevent their recurrence. He also strongly criticized the DMK government and its allies for ignoring demands for a separate law against honour killings, urging immediate action to address this issue. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy : The Mooknayak Note: This news is originally published on https://themooknayak.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
In Raebareli, the old road of Dalit colony was dug up by JCB: In the interlocking dispute, the bullies took action as soon as the Tehsildar left, movement of Dalit families disrupted.
A centuries-old road in Baherwa Majra Mirganj of Unchahar police station area of Raebareli district has been dug up by the bullies with a JCB. Due to this, the movement of Dalit families living there has been disrupted. The matter is of interlocking construction. Shiv Sharan, Gayatri, Sheetal Din and Raj Kumar of the village said that this is a road that has been in use for hundreds of years. There was already a construction of pavement on it. The current Pradhan was getting the work of interlocking done on this road. Meanwhile, Ankit, a resident of the village, claimed that interlocking is being installed on his Bhumadhari land. On the complaint of the villagers, Naib Tehsildar Sambhu Sharan Pandey inspected the spot. After measuring the land, he refused to do interlocking on Ankit’s Bhumidhari land. Also said not to stop the movement of the villagers. But as soon as the Naib Tehsildar left from there, the construction of interlocking started. After this, the people of the opposition Ankit’s family called JCB and got the road dug up. The villagers made a video of the road being dug up by JCB and made it viral. The villagers have also informed the higher officials about this matter. But no official has reached the spot again yet. The villagers say that all Dalit families live in this Purva. If the road is not opened, the movement of all the people will be disrupted. In this case, the dominance of the bullies is more visible than the law. The villagers are demanding immediate action from the local administration. On this matter, SDM Rajesh Kumar said that the information about the case has been received from the villagers. He assured that legal action will be taken after inspecting the spot. Mehtab Ahmed | Dinshah Gaura, Courtesy: Hindi News