Rahul’s event for youth: Cong gets IDA nod for venue
Indore: Indore Development Authority (IDA) has granted permission to Congress party to organise Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme at its ground near Regional Park on Sept 19. Congress has deposited Rs 10,08,175 with IDA to secure the temporary lease of the venue, which party leaders have named “Bharat Jodo Maidan”. Addressing a news conference in Indore on Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Jitu Patwari said that the link between education and employment has significantly weakened. Patwari emphasised that the party was committed to raising students’ concerns regardless of venue costs, asserting that govt accountability on exam integrity and job creation remains the central issue. Preparations for the Indore event—the fifth edition of the campaign following sessions in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune—were finalised following planning meetings headed by Congress central coordinator KV Baiju, MP in charge Harish Chaudhary and local leadership. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Rahul now BJP’s papa’: Congress hits back at Mohan Yadav’s ‘Jhooth Ki Goonj’ dig
NEW DELHI: The BJP and the Congress, two arch political rivals, sparred over Rahul Gandhi’s student-outreach event, “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, with Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav dubbing it “Jhooth Ki Goonj” (echo of lies). Striking a combative note over the Madhya Pradesh CM’s remark, senior Congress leader PC Sharma said: “They kept calling him ‘Pappu’, but now he has become everyone’s ‘Papa’.” The verbal clash ensued after CM Mohan Yadav attacked the entire Gandhi-Nehru family, saying: “Why is it that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and others in later times never contested elections from Delhi? They do not contest from Delhi because the people there know them too well. That is why they moved to Raebareli and Amethi, and now, having abandoned even those seats, he has gone to Wayanad in Kerala. People joke that the only reason he didn’t go to Arab to contest elections is that the ocean stood in the way.” He further said: “They seek out other places because they only need to face the public once every five years; they have no intention of actually working for the people. That is why, every time, they come up with new lies…” PC Sharma hit back at Mohan Yadav’s remark, saying: “Ever since Rahul Gandhi visited Jantar Mantar to speak up for the youth, the BJP has been anxious across the country”. “The leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party are unaware of the history of the freedom struggle and why elections are contested from Raebareli… They even demanded a deposit of Rs 10 lakh for the Leader of the Opposition’s event, something unprecedented in the history of India… Ever since Rahul Gandhi visited Jantar Mantar to speak up for the youth, the BJP has been anxious across the country… They kept calling him ‘Pappu’, but now he has become everyone’s ‘Papa’. Just as people at home fear ‘Papa’ the most, the entire BJP has now started fearing him,” he told news agency ANI. The ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign, launched by Gandhi in 2026, seeks to provide a platform for student concerns, including examination irregularities, paper leaks, rising education costs, recruitment-related issues and unemployment. The campaign has previously been held in Pune, Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj and is aimed at bringing student grievances into the national political discourse. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress begins preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s Indore Youth Event
Indore: Congress on Saturday began preparations for the Sept 19 Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron ki Goonj” programme irrespective of a formal approval of the venue decided for the event, the land in front of Regional Park in Indore. The inspection and preparation of the ground have begun and it will be ready for the mega event, Congress city president Chintu Choukse told TOI. Congress has paid over Rs 10 lakh to IDA for use of the ground for three days. The party has claimed that around 1.5 lakh students have registered for the programme and that around 20,000-30,000 of them are expected to attend the youth conclave. “We have paid the sum demanded for the use of land for three days. But a formal approval is awaited,” Choukse said. The ground opposite Regional Park is spread over around 2.25 hectares. Based on an estimated requirement of five square feet per person, it could accommodate around 25,000 to 30,000 people. However, the actual capacity could be lower as separate space will be required for the stage, parking, security arrangements, ambulances and other facilities. Congress had sought around 1.25 hectares of land for the programme. According to the IDA’s fixed rate, the rent was set at Rs 8.40 per square foot, resulting in a payment of around Rs 10 lakh, which was deposited by the party. Congress had alleged that lower charges were being levied for other events while it was being asked to pay a higher amount. Officials, however, said the fee was determined on the basis of the area of land and its use. Choukse said elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure the interaction between Rahul Gandhi and the youth. “Separate arrangements are made for the girls and boys to attend the event,” he said. The Congress city president said it has received support from the tribal organisation Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) for Gandhi’s event. A recent meeting attended by Congress state in charge Harish Chaudhary, state Congress president Jitu Patwari, Manawar MLA Hiralal Alawa and JAYS office-bearers decided that the organisation would participate in the student-focused event. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘I stand with them’: Rahul Gandhi backs protest by Bundelkhand tribals against ‘Ken-Betwa project’
NEW DELHI: Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday backed tribal residents of Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region protesting against the Ken-Betwa River Link Project, saying the Congress stands with them and promising to visit the protest site to pressure the government over their demands for compensation and rehabilitation. Rahul shared a video on X featuring accounts from tribal residents affected by the project and said, “The problems, demands, struggles, and personal ordeals of the tribal brothers and sisters who are carrying out a satyagraha against the Ken-Betwa project–their own account. For years, these residents of Bundelkhand have been enduring injustice and oppression solely for their rights; they deserve respect and support,” he said. “In this fight of our tribal brothers and sisters, I and the Congress stand with them,” he said. In the video, a tribal representative claimed that the project would affect 21 tribal-dominated villages and lead to the loss of around 4.6 million trees, besides affecting the Panna Tiger Reserve. The representative also claimed that around 11,500 acres of land belonging to nearly 7,000 families would be affected. The residents urged Rahul to raise their concerns about alleged administrative harassment in Parliament and join their movement. Rahul assured them that he would visit the site and put pressure on the government. The tribal residents have been holding a Satyagraha against the project, demanding adequate compensation and dignified rehabilitation for people whose land is being acquired. Rahul had also supported the agitation earlier in July. Sharing a poem and visuals from the protest, he said the tribal residents were demanding fair compensation through non-violent means and described tribal people as the “original owners of the country”. “The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh had sat on a water satyagraha and hunger strike because their land was taken away for the Ken-Betwa project, but they received neither fair compensation nor dignified rehabilitation. The ‘truth’ is that tribals are the original owners of the country–the first right to water, forests, and land belongs to them alone. And their ‘satyagraha’ is because that very right is being snatched from them today.” “In their unique way, their demand is simply this: provide a proper means of livelihood–or else life is no different from a funeral pyre. But even this is unacceptable to the BJP government. Instead of listening to them, their peaceful protest is being crushed with police force. We stand with our tribal brothers and sisters. We will secure justice for them–compensation and rehabilitation will have to be provided,” he added. The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a major river-linking initiative aimed at transferring surplus water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa river through a 221-km-long link canal. The project is being implemented in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Rs 44,605-crore project is the first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. According to the government, it is expected to irrigate 1.062 million hectares, provide drinking water to around 6.2 million people and generate hydropower. The project involves construction of the 77-metre-high Daudhan Dam and two tunnels in the Ken river basin in Panna. The government says the project will enable irrigation across 8.11 lakh hectares in 2,000 villages across 10 districts and benefit around seven lakh farmer families. It is also expected to provide drinking water to 44 lakh people in Madhya Pradesh and 21 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh, while generating 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar energy. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Only Ken-Betwa project under implementation among 30 identified river-linking projects: Centre tells RS
According to the reply, the 30 projects under the Peninsular and Himalayan components are at various stages, including feasibility reports, detailed project reports (DPRs), pre-feasibility reports and implementation. The government on Monday said the Ken-Betwa Link Project is the only priority link project under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) that has entered the implementation stage, while 30 Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) projects have been identified under the plan. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the government had formulated the NPP for inter-basin water transfer and 30 ILR projects were identified under it, comprising 16 link projects under the Peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan component. “National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of ILR,” the minister said. The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the only priority link project under the NPP that has entered the implementation stage, has an estimated cost of Rs 44,605 crore. The project is envisaged to provide irrigation to about 11.88 lakh hectares, drinking water supply to about 62 lakh people, 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power, according to the reply. In addition, the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), which incorporates the Godavari (Polavaram)-Krishna (Vijayawada) link, stands classified as a national project and is executed by the Andhra Pradesh government and the Polavaram Project Authority. The project envisages irrigation to about 7.2 lakh acres and the stabilisation of 23.5 lakh acres in the Godavari and Krishna delta systems, diversion of 80 TMC of Godavari water to the Krishna basin, drinking and industrial water supply, including to Visakhapatnam, domestic water supply to about 28.5 lakh people in 611 villages and hydropower generation of 960 MW. The PIP has received a cumulative central assistance of Rs 20,658 crore, Choudhary said. According to the reply, the 30 projects under the Peninsular and Himalayan components are at various stages, including feasibility reports, detailed project reports (DPRs), pre-feasibility reports and implementation. Under the Peninsular component, the modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link has an MoA for implementation signed by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while the Ken-Betwa link has a completed DPR and work has commenced. The Damanganga-Pinjal link and the Par-Tapi-Narmada link have completed DPRs and have been dropped from the status of “priority links”. Under the Himalayan component, the Sarda-Yamuna link has a completed DPR, while the Kosi-Ghaghra, Gandak-Ganga and Ghaghra-Yamuna links have completed feasibility reports. The Kosi-Mechi inter-state link has a completed pre-feasibility report and the proposal has been dropped. The government said the Kosi-Mechi inter-state link was dropped due to international dimensions and, on the request of the Bihar government, the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link was studied by the NWDA and its DPR submitted to the state government. The government said environmental and socio-economic impacts are assessed as part of the preparation of feasibility reports and DPRs for ILR projects. “An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) forms part of the preparation of Feasibility Reports (FRs) and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for every Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) project, with assessment of environmental and socio-economic impacts,” Choudhary said. For the Ken-Betwa Link Project, a comprehensive EIA has been completed along with an Integrated Landscape Management Plan, which outlines measures relating to catchment-area treatment, landscape-level ecological management, biodiversity conservation, command-area development and long-term monitoring of environmental parameters. For all ILR projects, including the Ken-Betwa Link Project, Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) components stand included in the sanctioned project structure, the government said. “Project execution conforms to applicable environmental, forest-clearance and R&R provisions,” the reply said. 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
Case of Dalit boy beaten for drinking water from a bottle: Police issues notice to teacher, Human Rights Commission also seeks response
An FIR has been registered against a teacher under various sections of the SC/ST Act, including the SC/ST Act, for allegedly assaulting a Dalit student and making casteist remarks at a government school in Ukawal village, Shivpuri. The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance and sought a detailed report from the Madhya Pradesh government and police within two weeks. A case of alleged assault on a Dalit student at school has come to light in Kolaras, Shivpuri district. The teacher is accused of assaulting and using casteist slurs against the 8-year-old fourth-grade student at the government primary school in Ukawal village. Following the complaint, the police have registered an FIR against the accused teacher under sections of the BNS and the SC/ST Act and have initiated an investigation. The police have issued a notice to the accused teacher. The National Human Rights Commission has also taken cognizance of the matter and requested a report. The incident dates back to July 27th. An 8-year-old Dalit student, studying in the fourth grade at the Government Primary School in Ukawal village, Kolaras tehsil, has been allegedly assaulted. Family members allege that the child was thirsty and drank from the teacher’s water bottle. Angered by this, the teacher beat him with a stick. According to family members, the child returned home crying and informed the family about the entire incident at school. Following this, the family filed a police complaint. Based on the complaint, the Lukwasa police station has registered a case against the accused teacher, Lokesh Sharma. The FIR includes relevant sections of the BNS Act, as well as sections of the SC/ST Act. Following the registration of the case, the police have initiated an investigation. According to Kolaras Police Station Officer Puneet Vajpayee, a notice has been issued to the accused teacher. Police say the investigation is ongoing and further action will be taken based on the facts and evidence that emerge. Only after the police investigation will it be clear what actually happened at the school. Meanwhile, the alleged assault and casteist remarks against a minor student have raised questions about the safety of children in government schools and the conduct of teachers. NHRC seeks report from Madhya Pradesh government and police The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter. The Commission stated that if the claims made in media reports are true, this constitutes a serious human rights violation. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh and the Superintendent of Police of Shivpuri, seeking a detailed report within two weeks. The report should also include details of the legal relief provided to the victim and the action taken in the case. Published by: Dinesh Sharma Courtesy: Hindi News
A Dalit fourth-grade student was brutally beaten for touching a water bottle. The NHRC issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government.
The NHRC has taken a strong stance on the assault and caste-based abuse of a Dalit student in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, for drinking from a water bottle, and the death of a girl in Haryana due to contaminated water. It has issued notices to both state governments. New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a strong stance on the incident of assault and caste-based abuse against a Dalit fourth-grade student in a government school in Madhya Pradesh. The Commission has issued notices to the Madhya Pradesh government and police officials seeking responses in this serious matter. This inhumane incident occurred on July 28th in Ukawal village, Shivpuri district. It is reported that a primary school teacher saw the child drinking from his bottle. Enraged, he not only brutally beat the innocent student but also hurled casteist abuse at him. The Commission took suo motu cognizance of this incident through a news report published on August 1st. The human rights panel has clarified that if this report is true, it represents a very serious case of gross human rights violations. The victim child recounted his ordeal to his parents upon reaching home, following which the family filed a police complaint. Given the seriousness of the matter, the NHRC has requested a detailed report from the state Chief Secretary and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Shivpuri within two weeks. The Commission has also directed that this report should clearly state the statutory compensation and relief provided to the victim student. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission has also issued a notice to the Haryana government in another tragic incident. This case is from Shahzadpur in Ambala district, where a 12-year-old girl died tragically after allegedly drinking contaminated water due to jaundice. Local residents allege that the drinking water supplied from public taps in the area is completely contaminated. This toxic water has also caused several other children to contract jaundice and fall ill. In light of this alarming situation, the Commission has sought a response from the Chief Secretary of Haryana within two weeks. Based on the report, which was released on August 3rd, the Commission has asked the administration what concrete steps are being taken to address the contaminated water problem. The report also sought information on the current health status of other sick children undergoing treatment. The deceased girl was initially undergoing treatment for jaundice at a local hospital. When her condition worsened, doctors referred her to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where she succumbed to her injuries. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Teacher booked for allegedly beating up 8-year-old Dalit boy for drinking water from his bottle in Madhya Pradesh
According to officials,the teacher, Lokesh Sharma, beat up the class 4 student using a cane in front of his fellow students after which the boy narrated the incident to her parents An eight-year-old Dalit boy was thrashed and targeted with racial slurs by a teacher in a government school in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district for drinking water from his bottle, officials said on Friday (July 31, 2026). According to officials, the incident took place on July 28 in a government primary school in Ukawal village under the Kolaras police station area, where the teacher, Lokesh Sharma, beat up the class 4 student using a cane in front of his fellow students after which the boy narrated the incident to her parents. The need to address caste-based atrocities Speaking to The Hindu, Shivpuri Superintendent of Police (SP) Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia said that an FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint from the student’s family. The teacher has been questioned in the matter, she said. As per the complaint, Ms. Bhutia said the teacher hit him on the hands with a cane and used racial slurs against him. “The family and the boy have alleged that the incident took place as he drank water from the teacher’s bottle. The teacher, however, is denying the allegation and is saying that he scolded the boy over the homework,” she said. Ms. Bhutia also said that the police have also taken statements from the boy’s schoolmates. “They are confirming the beating up but are unclear on the reason. We have also looked into the teacher’s record but have not found any such incident or complaint,” she said, adding that the police are probing the case from all angles. Mehul Malpani Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MP: Teacher brutally beats 8-year-old Dalit student for touching water bottle, FIR filed
A case of alleged untouchability and caste discrimination has come to light at a government school in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh. The teacher allegedly beat an eight-year-old student with a stick and used casteist slurs for touching his water bottle. A shocking incident has come to light in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, raising serious questions about both the education system and society. It is alleged that an 8-year-old student studying in a government school drank water from a teacher’s water bottle. Angered by this, the teacher allegedly beat the child and used casteist slurs against him. Following the incident, the family filed a police complaint. According to an NDTV report, the incident occurred at the government primary school in Ukawal village, Kolaras tehsil, Shivpuri district. According to reports, the 8-year-old student, a Class 4 student, arrived at school as usual. While studying, he felt thirsty and drank water from the teacher’s water bottle in the classroom. It is reported that this sparked a dispute, and the teacher’s anger was directed at the innocent student. Family members and local residents allege that teacher Lokesh Sharma became angry when the student touched his water bottle. They say the teacher first scolded the student and allegedly used casteist slurs against him. It is alleged that the teacher then brutally beat the student with a stick, saying, “How dare you touch my bottle?” The child returned home crying. When the student returned home after the beating, he was terrified. He informed his family about the incident. The family was shocked to hear his story. The family says that treating a young child in this manner simply for drinking water is a very serious matter. Following this, the family decided to take legal action and filed a complaint at the police station. FIR Registered On the complaint of the victim’s family, the Lukwasa police station in the Kolaras police station area has registered a case against the accused teacher, Lokesh Sharma. The police have registered a case under sections 296(A) and 115(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They have also taken action against the accused under sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(d), and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police Engaged in Investigation According to police officials, an investigation has been initiated into the case. Further action will be taken based on the complaint, witness statements, and other available evidence. Officials say that necessary legal action will be taken as per the law after the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, there is an atmosphere of anger in the village and surrounding areas following the incident. Locals say that schools are places to impart the message of education, equality, and respect to children. In such a context, the emergence of such allegations is extremely serious and worrying. Such incidents have happened before. It should be noted that similar incidents have occurred before. In April of last year, a 15-year-old Dalit student in Agra suffered fractures to two fingers and serious injuries to his thigh, shoulder, and jaw. It was alleged that a teacher beat him for touching a water bottle. This incident occurred at a private higher secondary school in Haripur. The student told the English newspaper TOI, “I was thirsty, and when I saw a water bottle on the table, I picked it up. As soon as I touched the bottle, my teacher, Mangal Singh Shakya, became angry and said, ‘How dare you touch the bottle? It’s no longer fit to be touched. Who will drink from it?’” The boy said that Shakya locked him in a room after school and beat him severely. A similar incident also occurred in Rajasthan in July 2022. A nine-year-old Dalit student died after being allegedly beaten by a teacher for drinking water from a water pot at a private school in Jalore district, Rajasthan. The victim was a student at a private school in Surana village, Jalore district. He was beaten on July 20 and later died at a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Courtesy: Hindi News
Two Bhopal police constables arrested for allegedly abducting and rap!ng minor Dalit girl
Two Madhya Pradesh Police constables have been arrested for the alleged abduction and rape of a minor Dalit girl in Bhopal. The incident reportedly occurred on July 22, and the survivor filed a complaint at Jahangirabad Police Station the following day, leading to the registration of an FIR and the prompt arrests of both accused. Bhopal Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shailendra Singh Chauhan identified the accused as constables Santosh Sen and Jitendra Singh. According to police, the men, who are serving police personnel, called the minor girl and took her away in a car. An officer familiar with the case said the pair allegedly lured her by claiming they were taking her to a birthday celebration. They then drove her to a secluded location where Santosh Sen is accused of raping her. Afterward, the men left the girl at a city square. A medical examination of the survivor has been conducted. She is currently at home and her condition is stable. The case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 137(2). Further investigation is underway. Courtesy : MM Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights