Tharoor unlikely to speak on debate on Pahalgam attack, Op Sindoor issues in LS
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is unlikely to speak on the debate on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor that gets underway in LS on Monday. “He has not asked the party to be fielded in the debate. The party too has not approached him either till now,” sources said. It is to be seen who opens the debate for opposition or initiates the debate in case the chair asks anti-BJP benches to take the lead. The discussion is not being done under any specific rule of LS procedures and is also not based on any notice, sources said, quoting consultations between opposition, government and Speaker. While the belief is that Rahul Gandhi may start, there have been times like during opposition’s no-confidence motion against Modi government on Manipur ethnic conflict in Aug 2023 when he let his now deputy Gaurav Gogoi to initiate, and himself spoke later. But Tharoor skipping the debate would set the tongues wagging, as the Thiruvananthapuram MP has had run-ins with the party since he defied Congress to lead a delegation constituted by Modi government for the global outreach on the India-Pakistan conflict. As Tharoor threw his weight behind the government on the issue of conflict and also on the pause of hostilities, there was a frequent to and fro between him and Congress members who were critical of the government. 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 leader calls Rahul Gandhi 2nd Ambedkar, BJP decries insult of Dalits
Congress leader Udit Raj compared Rahul Gandhi to Ambedkar, triggering strong backlash from BJP leaders who called it an insult to the Dalit icon. BJP demanded an apology from Congress for allegedly undermining Ambedkar’s legacy. Congress leader Udit Raj stirred a political controversy on Saturday after drawing parallels between Rahul Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar. His remarks sparked a sharp backlash from several BJP leaders, who called the comparison a “big insult” to the architect of the Constitution. Taking to X, Udit Raj wrote, “Other Backward Classes people will have to think that history does not give opportunities for progress again and again. They should follow and support what Rahul Gandhi said in the Talkatora Stadium conference. If they do so, then Rahul Gandhi will prove to be the second Ambedkar for them.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday admitted that not conducting a caste census earlier was his mistake and pledged to correct it now. He told the gathering that it was not the Congress party but he himself who had erred in not pushing for a caste census earlier. “I regret that if I had known more about your history and issues, I would have got the caste census conducted. That is my mistake and not that of the Congress. I am going to correct that mistake now,” Gandhi said. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly objected to the comment, saying, “I take serious objection to the Congress comparing Babasaheb Ambedkar with Rahul Gandhi.” BJP Spokesperson Pardeep Bhandari also reacted sharply. In a post on X, he said, “This is a big insult of Baba Saheb Ambedkar! There is a competition of ‘bootlicking’ in Congress. Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar also hit out at Udit Raj and Rahul Gandhi. “First, Rahul Gandhi should do something for the country. He has not done any work even for a day in his life so far. He is living on taxpayers’ money, lives in a big house. He should first do something for the country, people and say something good about the country, then people will decide what is he,” he wrote on X. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https://indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Laxman accuses Cong of neglecting backward classes
Mysuru: MP and national president of the BJP Backward Classes Morcha, K Laxman, alleged that the Congress, which ruled the country for over 50 years, did nothing for the development of backward classes. He also opposed the Telangana model caste census. Speaking at a seminar on caste census organised by the Social Justice Awareness Forum, Mysuru division, he accused the Congress of discarding reports submitted by various commissions aimed at uplifting backward classes economically, socially, and educationally. Laxman claimed that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who governed for 17 years, ignored the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report, which recommended reservations in employment and education for backward classes. He further alleged that subsequent Congress leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, followed suit by neglecting these reports, effectively throwing them into the dustbin. He also accused the Congress of rejecting the Mandal Commission report. Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Laxman claimed they portray themselves as champions of backward classes while betraying them. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s DNA reflects opposition to backward classes, pointing to the Congress govt’s rejection of the Kantharaju Commission report in Karnataka, which led to a loss of Rs 165 crore in taxpayers’ money. Laxman criticised Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion to conduct a caste census in Karnataka on the lines of Telangana. In Telangana, Muslims were included in the backward classes list, increasing the reservation to 52%, which he described as an injustice to genuine backward classes. He urged that the Telangana model should not be followed in Karnataka under any circumstances. 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.
Maya: Rahul doing ‘selfish politics’
Lucknow: A day after the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said at a programme in Delhi that the Congress fell short of understanding issues faced by OBCs, which made space for BJP, BSP national president Mayawati likened it to shedding “crocodile tears”. In a long post on X, she said, “The admission by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha that the Congress Party was not true and trustworthy in matters of political and economic hopes, aspirations, and getting reservation and constitutional rights for the people of the country’s huge population of Other Backward Classes (OBC) is not a new thing, rather it seems more like selfish politics of saying what it does not mean.” She said that Rahul Gandhi’s statement was as well-known as the Congress party’s sad and unfortunate attitude towards crores of exploited, deprived, and neglected SC/ST community of the country, due to which the people of these classes formed their own party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), so that they could uphold their self-respect and self-esteem. She also said that due to its attitude towards OBCs, Congress remained out of power in major states of the country, including UP. “After losing power, they have started remembering these classes and are shedding crocodile tears,” she added. “In the current situation, BJP’s NDA also seems to be adopting the same double-faced attitude towards these classes,” she said. 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.
Bawankule Calls Rahul Gandhi’s Caste Census Push ‘Too Late To Matter’
Nagpur: State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent support for a caste-based census as ‘delayed wisdom’ and politically opportunistic, stating that the Congress “never delivered justice to OBCs during its decades in power.” “Rahul Gandhi and his party remembered OBCs only during election time,” Bawankule told the media here on Saturday. “For 50 years, they used our votes and ignored our demands. Their last-minute support for a caste census means little now.” Bawankule said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave the OBC Commission constitutional status and acted on the long-standing demand for caste enumeration. “The Congress has no moral right to seek OBC votes anymore,” he said. Addressing allegations of phone-tapping by NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, Bawankule called the claims a ‘media stunt’. “There are legal formalities for phone surveillance. You can’t just tap anyone’s phone on a whim,” he said. He also countered Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s sweeping corruption remarks. “If 75% of ministers are corrupt, name them. Empty accusations don’t help anyone,” Bawankule said, adding, “Sensationalism won’t save a sinking newspaper.” On governance matters, the minister confirmed that all bogus birth certificates across districts must be withdrawn by August 15. “District collectors have acknowledged the directive. This will ensure integrity in public documentation,” he noted. Bawankule defended deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s stern words to bureaucrats, calling them “constructive feedback for public good.” He said, “Ajitdada tours from 7 am. If he finds lapses during field visits, he’s right to call them out.” Regarding ongoing deliberations over cabinet reshuffles, Bawankule clarified that such decisions rest solely with the chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis. “Every minister must act in a way that preserves public trust,” he added. On administrative reforms, Bawankule said 12 state civil service officers were recently promoted to IAS. He also emphasised the need to recognise long-serving officials by giving them additional merit marks during evaluation. Addressing misuse of the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, the minister warned: “If men have wrongly claimed benefits meant for women, they should face criminal charges and repay the funds.” Bawankule said the govt will implement the Supreme Court’s verdict on scrub forest lands, covering 86,000 acres, and address questions around pre-1996 and commercial land allotments accordingly. Speaking about a likely meeting between Fadnavis and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Bawankule welcomed it, saying, “Sharad Pawar’s vast experience can help address the concerns of sugarcane and dairy farmers.” 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.
Cong accuses BJP of misleading Dalits over internal quota
Mysuru: Congress MLC D Thimmaiah on Friday accused BJP functionaries like former Union minister A Narayanaswamy and former DCM Govind Karjol of misleading the Dalit community over the internal reservation issue. Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with community leaders at Jaladarshini guest house, he said that the Congress govt has constituted Justice HN Nagamohan Das Commission to provide internal reservation to Scheduled Castes. The commission also completed the census of the population of all the Scheduled Castes to collect accurate data and information about its population. Even though the state govt is waiting for this report, a few BJP-supported Madiga community leaders and BJP functionaries have called for a statewide protest on Aug 1 against the state govt, accusing it of delay in providing internal reservation. He said that the state govt will implement the findings and recommendations of the Nagamohan Das Commission after it submits the report. Instead of waiting for the report, the BJP functionaries and their supporters are misleading the community by organising the protest, he said. During their tenure, BJP functionaries of the Madiga community, including Govind Karjol and Narayanaswamy, did not make any sincere attempts to ensure internal reservation, he charged. Govt denying quota for Madigas: Arun Kumar BJP functionary R Arun Kumar, who is head of Madiga Meesalathi Horata Samithi, on Friday described the state govt as an enemy of the Madigas community and accused it of denying internal reservation. Speaking to reporters, he accused the social welfare minister HC Mahadevappa of opposing internal reservation. Though the Supreme Court asked to provide internal reservation, the state govt delayed it, he charged. 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 Gandhi deliberately spread hatred in Savarkar case, UP government responded in Supreme Court
Rahul Gandhi Savarkar Case: The UP government has accused Rahul Gandhi of deliberately spreading hatred in the Savarkar case. The government has clearly opposed any kind of relief against the Congress MP. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has opposed any kind of relief against Rahul Gandhi on the Savarkar issue. In fact, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Rahul Gandhi regarding the cancellation of the summons issued by the Lucknow court on the comments made against Veer Savarkar. The court had issued a notice to the UP government on the petition. In response to the notice, in an affidavit filed on July 23, the state government argued against any relief to Rahul Gandhi. The UP government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. In this, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been accused of deliberately spreading hatred by making comments against Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during the 2022 Bharat Jodo Yatra. The affidavit was filed in response to the notice on Rahul Gandhi’s petition to quash the summons issued by the Lucknow court on the comments. The case was to be heard on Friday i.e. today. Earlier, the state government has argued against any relief. Demand made in the petition The petition filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Rahul Gandhi has pleaded to dismiss the summons issued by the Lucknow court and the case. The government’s affidavit states that the charges of promoting enmity and public nuisance under sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code apply to Rahul Gandhi. The court cited the investigation of the case. It said that this indicates deliberate spreading of hatred through pre-planned actions. The decision came in April In April, the court had strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi for calling Savarkar a ‘slave’ of the British. Also, the proceedings against him were stayed. The court said that this statement was given in Maharashtra, where Savarkar is worshiped like a god. The court said that he should not make any statement on freedom fighters without knowing history or geography. The court reminded Rahul Gandhi that his grandmother Indira Gandhi had written a letter praising Veer Savarkar while being the Prime Minister. It mentioned Mahatma Gandhi, who had described himself as a loyal ‘slave’ while communicating with the British Viceroy. Rahul Gandhi had argued Rahul Gandhi had called Savarkar a slave of the British, referring to the pension he received from the British. The court said in this case that no one becomes a slave just like that. The court said that one day you will say that Gandhiji was also a slave of the British. Freedom fighters are not treated like this. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, assured the court that no further statement would be made. The court warned that if any further statement is made, it will take suo motu cognizance and consider it. We will not allow anyone to make any statement against freedom fighters. Challenge to High Court’s decision Rahul Gandhi moved the apex court against the April 4 order of the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court had rejected the petition to quash the complaint against him. Lawyer Nripendra Pandey filed a complaint against Rahul Gandhi, saying that his remarks against Veer Savarkar hurt Hindu sentiments. He argued that Rahul Gandhi insulted a leader who fought for India’s independence. The lower court said in its summons that Rahul Gandhi spread hatred and ill will in the society through his speech against Savarkar. The complaint against him was dismissed in June 2023. After this the revision petition was filed. Rahul Gandhi argued in the High Court that the allegations against him are not equal to the crimes he has been accused of. Curated by: Rahul Parashar About the author Senior Digital Content Creator at Navbharat Times Digital. Started in journalism with Prabhat Khabar. Journey from Rashtriya Sahara, Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar to Times Internet. Courtesy : Hindi News
‘My mistake that caste census was not done in UPA tenure’: Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said it was his mistake that the UPA govt did not conduct the caste census, adding the blame lies with him and not the party. He said he is correcting the mistake now by getting the census done, pointing to the exercise by the Congress-ruled Telangana which he dubbed as a model in social data collection which has created a “political earthquake” that is not visible. At the AICC’s OBC convention “Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan”, which was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, Siddaramaiah, Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Bhupesh Baghel, Gaurav Gogoi among others, Rahul said when he looks back at his 21 years in politics, he has scored well on the issues of poor, SCs, STs, minorities and women, but faltered on those of the backward classes.”I can see clearly that I faltered on one issue – the way I should have protected the OBC sections, I didn’t do it. The reason was at that time, I did not understand your issues deeply,” he said. Rahul said it is easier to comprehend the challenges faced by dalits and tribals because of their history, but those of OBCs are “hidden”. “I regret if I knew your issues and history better, I would have got the caste census done. And I am going to correct it (the mistake) now.” Modi is no big problem, Rahul tells party meet However, he argued it was a good mistake because a caste count then would not have yielded “the X-ray of society” as done by the Telangana census where now the participation of SC/ST/OBC at various levels of corporates in the state can be easily discerned. At the same time, the Gandhi scion exhorted the backwards to take the reins of the Congress. Pointing to the dais with CM Siddaramaiah, Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Bhupesh Baghel, V Narayanasamy, he said they are the ‘icons’ of the OBCs, but there is a need for more of them. At one point, Rahul said PM Narendra Modi is “all show and no substance”, and does not pose a big challenge. He said after meeting, and being in the room, with Modi a few times, he has realised that the PM is a balloon inflated by the media. The remark came when Rahul’s rhetorical question – what is the biggest problem of the backward communities — elicited a stray shout of Modi. “I tell you, you have hyped it in your mind. Modi is no big problem,” he said. Rahul said the problem of OBCs is that their history was killed by the RSS-BJP. “When you realise this, you would know that RSS is your biggest enemy,” he added. He said BJP leaders claim they will remove English from India, but their own children study in the English medium. Kharge took a swipe at Modi by asking if he would retire at 75 years of age, as suggested by the RSS. He said Modi became OBC only after he became the CM of Gujarat and added his community to the OBC list. 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 pushes for OBC quota in English medium schools
Hyderabad: Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday said the caste survey conducted by the Telangana govt—and the subsequent analysis by an independent expert group—made it clear that education, especially in English medium, is the most critical driver of socio-economic mobility for OBCs. Building on these findings, he announced that the Indian National Congress will push for reservations for OBCs and other marginalised groups in English medium private educational institutions—marking what he called the party’s third major step towards OBC empowerment. Speaking at the Bhagidari Nyay Sammelan at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi, Rahul said: “The Telangana caste survey revealed that those with an English medium education advanced further than even uneducated landlords and wealthy individuals. This does not mean Hindi or regional languages like Bengali, Tamil, or Kannada aren’t important—they are—but English is crucial for progress.” He criticised the BJP’s stance on phasing out English, questioning the hypocrisy of its leaders, whose own children are enrolled in English medium schools. Rahul Gandhi outlined the Congress party’s three-pronged agenda for OBC upliftment: Conducting caste surveys in all states where the party is in power, breaking the 50% cap on total reservations, and holding a national caste census if voted to power at Centre. He pointed out that OBCs, despite making up nearly 50% of India’s population, own no major corporate or media houses and have little to no representation in the judiciary and top institutions. Admitting past shortcomings, he said: “I did not fully understand the extent of injustice faced by OBCs earlier. And the OBCs themselves were not aware of their strength. This is because the RSS and BJP have systematically erased OBC history from textbooks. Unlike SC and ST history, OBC struggles are invisible in the school curriculum. That is deliberate.” Calling the RSS the ‘biggest enemy’ of OBCs, Rahul blamed ‘Manuvaadi ideology’ for institutional discrimination and vowed to correct past neglect. He praised chief minister Revanth Reddy, saying the state’s caste survey was a bold step. “Revanth Reddy told me he had no choice. He saw firsthand the injustice being done to OBCs and felt compelled to act,” Rahul Gandhi said.Courtesy : 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.
In Gurugram’s ‘Holding Centres’, Men Say They Are Detained Just for Speaking Bengali
Amidst the ongoing crackdown on suspected foreign nationals from Bangladesh, hundreds of Bengali and Assamese migrants have been detained and kept in what the Gurugram police call “holding centres”. Gurugram: On July 19, Hafizur Sheikh (41) had finished his shift as a cleaner outside a liquor store in Gurugram when he was stopped by policemen and interrogated. Sheikh answered all their questions, but then he was asked to produce his identity cards to “verify his citizenship”. Despite having an Aadhaar card, a voter ID card and other identity documents on his phone, he was told that this was not enough. “The police wanted a physical copy,” his brother Amanur told The Wire. “My brother told them that he could bring the physical copy or they could accompany him to check the documents personally, but they did not listen and he was detained.” Sheikh, from West Bengal’s Nadia district, is among hundreds of mostly Muslim migrants detained by the police in Haryana’s Gurugram. These men usually work as cleaners in Gurugram’s MNCs, ragpickers and public sanitation workers, or in some instances as domestic workers, and delivery agents. On July 19, police detained at least 74 migrant workers – 11 from West Bengal and 63 from Assam – who they suspect are undocumented foreign nationals from neighbouring Bangladesh. They were taken to what the police are calling “holding centres” – that rights activists say are akin to detention camps. “This camp [in Sector 10, Gurugram],” said advocate and Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) member Supanta Sinha, “has over 200 detainees.” On July 21, a two-member CPI-ML team visited one of the makeshift detention camps in Gurugram’s Sector 10 after they received “news of detention of scores of migrant workers purportedly for ascertaining their citizenship.” Sinha was a part of that team. He alleged that the workers were being forced to live under inhumane conditions. A CPI-ML statement alleged that “similar exercises have been conducted in other parts of Gurgaon as well, with some zones housing over 200 detainees currently”. These detentions appear to follow a Ministry of Home Affairs directive, said Sinha. They come in the backdrop of a nationwide drive against alleged undocumented foreign nationals. However, multiple reports show that Bengali-speaking Muslim migrants from West Bengal and Assam are facing the brunt of these drives. At a recent protest in Kolkata led by Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress protested various attacks against migrants in Delhi (Jai Hind colony), NCR and Odisha. Banerjee dared the BJP to put her in a detention facility. She has also condemned these attacks on social media. “The second most spoken language in the country, Bangla, is also the second most spoken language of Assam,” she wrote. “To threaten citizens, who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional…” TMC Rajya Sabha MP and head of the Bengali Migrant Board, Samirul Islam, accused the BJP of inciting anti-Bengali sentiments. TMC MP Mahua Moitra termed these detentions as illegal abductions. ‘Not detained, just withheld’ When asked about the charges under which the migrants are being detained, Gurugram Police PRO Sandeep Kumar said, “They are not detained. As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), certain holding centres have been created, and suspected Bangladeshis are being kept there. All basic necessities, including medical facilities, are being provided to them at the centres.” In May, the Union government had directed states and union territories to identify, detain and deport undocumented immigrants across the country. Wion reported that the Centre gave states a 30-day deadline to verify documents of suspected undocumented immigrants and to initiate deportation proceedings against those who are unable to prove their citizenship. The MHA has also instructed states to establish district-level detention centres to hold such individuals. The ongoing crackdown appears to be in sync with this directive from the Union government. Kumar said that the ‘suspected immigrants’ are being held as per government guidelines, although he did not specify what these guidelines are. When asked about the number of such centres, he said that there are currently four such “holding centres” across Gurugram, but he declined to comment on the number of people currently being held at these centres. While other senior officials either declined to comment or remained unavailable, Kumar did not share any specifics. When asked about the process of verification, he said, “Among those kept in the centres, if anyone claims to be an Indian citizen, we contact the respective district magistrates (DMs). If the DM confirms their Indian citizenship, we release them. For those whose Indian citizenship is not confirmed, the deportation process will be initiated.” Only five to six people, he confirmed, have been released from these holding centres so far after their citizenship was verified. Hundreds flee Gurugram The Wire visited a neighbourhood in Gurugram’s Khatola village, known for its large Assamese Muslim population. On one side of the road stand tall, eye-catching multi-storey buildings housing corporate offices like that of American Express, while on the other side lies a slum cluster housing Assamese migrants who work as cleaners in these offices. Residents claimed that nearly 2,000 people used to live in the area. However, when The Wire visited, the colony was almost entirely deserted. Only around 10-12 women were present, who were about to visit their husbands and other male relatives currently held in detention centres. Barring a few, the entire neighbourhood has fled to Assam’s Dhubri following the recent crackdown. “How can we leave while our husbands and other relatives are rotting in detention centres? Who knows what the police will do to them?” said Rohima, when asked why she had stayed behind when most others had fled. The women claimed that on July 19, police detained over 40 men from the area. Among those detained was Rohima’s husband, Nazrul Islam Mondal. Rohima says Mondal was detained by the police despite having almost every document, even his name is in the