BJP to invoke legacy of Dalit icons, including Kanshi Ram, before UP polls
Lucknow: The BJP has identified more than a dozen prominent Dalit icons, including BSP founder Kanshi Ram, whose legacy it plans to invoke as part of a larger plan to consolidate the SC community in the run-up to the high-stakes 2027 state assembly elections. UP BJP sources said the party has prepared a calendar marking the birth and death anniversaries of at least 15 Dalit ideologues who played a key role as social reformers by awakening the consciousness of socially deprived sections of society. Besides Kanshiram, the Dalit figures who will feature in the BJP’s future Dalit-centric campaigns include Sant Ravi Das, Sant Gadge, BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Gangu Baba, Uda Devi, Jhalkari Bai, Veera Pasi, Lakhan Pasi, Savitri Bai Phule, Tilka Manjhi, Rama Bai Ambedkar, Swami Acchutanand and Narayan Guru. Confirming the development, UP BJP SC Morcha chief Ram Chandra Kannaujia said the idea was to give due respect to every Dalit icon and to spread their ideas and teachings far and wide. He said that the BJP acknowledges Kanshiram as a powerful voice of Dalits, the underprivileged, and the exploited. “We also greeted BSP chief Mayawati on her birthday on January 15,” he said, while speaking to TOI. The development, experts said, aligns with the BJP’s concerted attempts to make deeper inroads into the Dalit vote base amid a steep decline in the political graph of the BSP.The move is also seen as the BJP’s bid to maintain continuous engagement with different Dalit sub-castes throughout the year, while preventing opposition parties from monopolising the social justice narrative. Analysts said that the measure marks the saffron outfit’s attempt to counter the opposition’s Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) poll narrative, which is said to have dented the saffron outfit in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, pulling its tally down from 62 to 33. On Feb 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders celebrated the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, emphasising his teachings of equality and social harmony. PM Modi also visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab and renamed Adampur Airport after Sant Ravidas. At the same time, the BJP SC Morcha launched various programmes aimed at honouring the spiritual leader and reaching out to the Ravidasia community. The BJP, however, faced criticism from BSP supremo Mayawati, who charged the saffron outfit with not reverting the name of Bhadohi to Sant Ravidas Nagar. Ravidas is said to have been born in the Gobardhanpur village on the outskirts of Varanasi. The party next plans to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sant Gadge on Feb 23 on a grand scale. Gadge, born as Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar in Amravati in 1876, belonged to the Parit/Dhobi community. He conducted his discourses in the form of kirtans, in which he emphasised values such as service to humanity and compassion. By publicly acknowledging figures such as Kanshi Ram and even extending greetings to Mayawati, the BJP, sources said, attempts to soften its image among the BSP’s core Dalit voters. The BJP would subsequently celebrate the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule on April 11, BR Ambedkar on April 14, and Ahilyabai Holkar on May 31. Ambedkar was always part of the BJP’s social narrative, even as the BJP moved closer to the Dalit community since its astronomical rise under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi after 2014. The BJP also plans to invoke the legacy of Dalit leader Gangu Baba. Born in Bithoor, Baba was a participant in the India rebellion of 1857. He was hanged by the British in 1859. While his birth anniversary is now widely known, local Dalit groups and activists hold a tribute and honour ceremony for Gangu Baba in Chunniganj (Kanpur) on June 5 every year, which functions as his birth anniversary observance in community memory. 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
Shashi Tharoor trips and falls at Parliament stairs; Akhilesh Yadav helps – video
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tripped and fell while descending the stairs at Parliament complex on Wednesday. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other MPs along with the staff members immediately assisted him to get back on his feet. — ians_india (@ians_india) The Lok Sabha was adjourned amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members over the suspension of eight MPs during the ongoing Budget Session, disrupting proceedings shortly after they began. The suspended MPs staged a protest outside Parliament, holding placards reading “PM is compromised,” echoing allegations made by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media on the India–US trade agreement. Those suspended include Congress MPs Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan. 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
‘PM didn’t fulfill his responsibility’: Rahul displays unpublished memoir of ex-Army chief Naravane outside Parliament
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday displayed excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane and accused PM Modi of “not fulfulling responsibility” during the 2020 India-China military clashes in Ladakh. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament the Congress leader said, “The speaker is saying that this book does not exist, Rajnath ji has said this book does not exist. This is Naravane ji’s book wherein he has written the account of Ladakh…Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility.” “He told the Army Chief to do whatever he wants to do. Army Chief General Naravane has clearly written in this book that he felt really alone. This is what they are scared of me saying,” he added. “The main line is what the Prime Minister said – ‘jo uchit samjho wo karo’. When the former Chief of Army Staff General Naravane called up Rajnath Singh ji and said that Chinese tanks have reached the Kailash Ridge, so what should we do? First, Rajnath Singh did not respond to him,” he added. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today because if he comes, I am going to give him this book. If the PM comes, I will go physically and hand him this book so he can read it and the country can get to know the truth,” added Gandhi. Gandhi said the memoir of Naravane is published abroad, but the government is not allowing it to be published in India. “It’s available abroad, I think. It’s published abroad. Govt is not allowing it to be published here. That’s what I believe…The book is available…You can imagine where the book (that he is carrying today) has come from. You think about where it came from…” His remarks came after he tried to quote excerpts from the unpublished book during the Parliament session on Monday. Gandhi insisted on raising the issue of India-China confrontation of August 2020 and was interrupted repeatedly by defence minister Rajnath Singh and later home minister Amit Shah, who asked him not to quote from any unverified source. Naravane was the Army Chief at the time of the Ladakh confrontation. The excerpts cited by Rahul Gandhi were recently published by an online portal. Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, registering his “strongest protest” over being denied the opportunity to speak on the President’s address during the ongoing Budget session. He described the restriction as a “blot on our democracy” and alleged that the government is “scared” of what is written in the book. 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
BC and Dalit voices demand fair representation in polls
Renewed political heat was witnessed here on Monday on the issue of social justice as Backward Class (BC) organisations demanded proportionate representation for all BC communities in the forthcoming corporation elections. Addressing the media at the Roads and Buildings Department premises, BC JAC Rights State Convener Sarangi Lakshmikanth said that sustained struggles by BC caste associations had paved the way for a BC leader to become the Mayor of Mahabubnagar. He asserted that the same spirit of justice must now be reflected in the upcoming elections by ensuring representation to all communities in proportion to their population. He further demanded that the post of First Deputy Mayor be allotted to Dalits, stressing the need for inclusive leadership. Adding political sharpness to the demand, BC Samaj United Mahabubnagar District President Modal Srinivas Sagar questioned the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. He asked why BCs were denied due importance in corporation elections even as the party undertakes a nationwide tour advocating social justice. Raising a community-specific concern, Kummari (Potters) Association District President Bugganna said the Kummari community had consistently been denied representation in corporation elections. He urged authorities to at least ensure due priority for the community in corporation-level posts. The meeting saw the participation of several leaders and representatives, including retired DEO Vijay Kumar, Nai Brahmin Seva Samiti Town President Ashwini Satyam, Medari Association Secretary Anjaneyulu, MRPS leader Singireddy Parameshwar, Nai Brahmin Association leader Chandramouli, and others, highlighting the broad-based support for the demand. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Just like ceasefire…’: Congress demands full details of India-US trade deal; fires four questions to Centre
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday urged the Centre to “take the Parliament and the entire country into confidence” over details of the India-US trade agreement after US President Donald Trump publicly announced and outlined its key components. Adding Indians have the right to know the full terms of the pact. In a post on X, Congress laid out several concerns, including claims that the deal was announced by Trump “on Modi’s request” and raised questions about its impact on Indian industry, traders and farmers. — INCIndia (@INCIndia) The grand old party flagging some issues fired four questions at the government demanding a complete clarity and details over the deal: Tariffs and market access: Trump said India would move to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers against US goods to “zero,” and India will benefit from a US reduction in reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. It “seems India has agreed to completely open our market for America,” the Congress post said, asking what the deal specifically entails and how farmers’ interests are protected. Agriculture sector access: The party sought clarity on talk of opening India’s agriculture sector to American products, asking how the security and interests of Indian farmers have been ensured. Oil supply conditions: Trump’s announcement said PM Modi agreed to “stop buying Russian oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.” Congress asked whether the government has formally accepted this condition. Buy American commitments: It also said according to the announcement, India would purchase over USD 500 billion of American goods, including energy, technology and agricultural products – raising questions in New Delhi about how this squares with the “Make in India” initiative. In his post announcing the deal, Trump wrote: “It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi… He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela… effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India… whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%… They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO.” — RapidResponse47 (@RapidResponse47) Responding to Trump’s announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the US President, saying he was “delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%” and that stronger cooperation between the two democracies would benefit their people. — narendramodi (@narendramodi) Congress leaders have also questioned why key aspects of the trade deal were publicly disclosed from Washington, rather than jointly announced by both governments, and called for full disclosure of the agreement’s terms to lawmakers and the public. The government has not yet issued a comprehensive official statement detailing the full terms of the agreement beyond what was shared by Trump and acknowledged by PM Modi. 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
Parliament witnesses showdown as Rahul quotes Naravane memoir; Sanjay Raut calls Ajit Pawar’s death ‘suspicious’;
Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha speech sparked chaos after he quoted an unpublished Army chief memoir, leading to protests and an adjournment. The BJP hit back at the Opposition after Lok Sabha proceedings were repeatedly disrupted, defending the adjournment and citing rule violations. Sanjay Raut alleged Ajit Pawar’s plane crash death was “suspicious,” demanding a probe, while Sharad Pawar urged restraint. A Bangladesh court sentenced ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in corruption cases linked to the Purbachal project. China slammed the Dalai Lama’s Grammy win, opposing what it called the use of the award for “anti-China activities.” Here are the top 5 news of the day: Lok Sabha uproar as Rahul Gandhi quotes unpublished Army chief memoir The Lok Sabha witnessed heated exchanges after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi quoted from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s memoir during the Motion of Thanks debate. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah objected, saying the book was unpublished and could not be cited. Read full story Lok Sabha adjourned after uproar, BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following sustained disruptions and heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition. The BJP accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling and violating parliamentary rules, saying his conduct led to a waste of the House’s time. Read full story Sanjay Raut calls Ajit Pawar’s death ‘suspicious’, seeks probe Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raised doubts over the death of NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati, calling it “suspicious” and demanding a thorough investigation. Drawing parallels with the Justice Loya case, Raut alleged Pawar was planning an NCP reunion and faced pressure over past cases. Read full story 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
‘Not trying to defame the Army’: Priyanka Gandhi defends Rahul Gandhi amid Lok Sabha standoff over Naravane memoir
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday defended her brother, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying he was not attempting to defame the Army but was merely quoting from a magazine article referring to excerpts from the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, “He was not trying to defame the Army. He was reading an excerpt from the book of the Army Chief. They [BJP] always say this whenever something comes out that they want to hide.” The Lok Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions and was adjourned for the day amid a prolonged standoff over Gandhi’s insistence on speaking about the 2020 India-China border tensions while referring to the report citing Naravane’s memoir. BJP members objected strongly, arguing Gandhi was speaking outside the rules of the House. The House, which was discussing the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, was adjourned first till 3 pm, then till 4 pm, and finally for the day. Speaker Om Birla ruled that Gandhi should not make references to the unpublished book or article, urging him to proceed without citing the material. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of trying to demoralise the armed forces. “Rahul Gandhi flouted rules and started quoting from a book whose publication and authenticity is not clearly mentioned…He started speaking on the China border…Can the Congress party bring back the landmass that was captured by China in 1959 and 1962? Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation,” Rijiju said. He added, “If someone is born in a known family, are they above the Parliament? Are they above the rules? India is a democratic nation and functions as per rules…Rahul Gandhi doesn’t follow any rules.” Defence minister Rajnath Singh also urged the Chair to prevent Gandhi from making such references. Government sources cited by news agency PTI claimed that Gandhi was reading “concocted things” on China and noted there was ample information in the public domain on the India-China standoff during Nehru’s tenure. Despite repeated warnings from Speaker Birla, Gandhi insisted on raising the matter of national security. “It is uncomfortable for the defence minister and the prime minister, I understand. I consider national security the most important issue. If it was not uncomfortable, they would have let me speak, but the fact they are not allowing me to speak shows that they are uncomfortable,” he said. Several opposition leaders, including TMC’s Mahua Moitra, RJD’s Manoj Jha, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Kalyan Banerjee, supported Gandhi in pressing the issue. 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
Will restore glory of Parkal: Revuri
Hanumakonda: Parkal MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy stated that he would bring back the past glory of the historic town of Parkal and that Dalit settlements would be developed as model colonies. Reddy attended the Padmashali community cordial meeting in Parkal centre on Sunday, and the Madiga community cordial meeting. Prior to the programmes, he paid floral tributes to the portraits of Sri Bhakta Markandeya and Konda Laxman Bapuji. Addressing the gatherings separately, he said Dalits have always stood with the Congress and that the government gives top priority to their welfare. They played a significant role in the party’s victories in the Assembly and Parliament elections. He assured that Dalit settlements would be developed as model colonies with all basic facilities. Reddy alleged that the BRS cheated Dalits, stating that KCR had promised to make a Dalit the CM and claimed he would be a “protector of Telangana.” He emphasised that Sonia Gandhi’s contribution to State formation is unforgettable and that uplift and welfare of Dalits is the primary objective of the party. He said the Madiga and Padmashali communities played an active role in ensuring his victory. He appealed to the Madiga and Padmashali brothers who supported the party in the last elections to extend the same cooperation in the upcoming municipal polls and work for victory of Congress candidates. He called upon party workers to ensure the party wins all 22 wards in the municipal elections and to hoist the Congress flag on Parkal soil. He stated that drinking water supply, CC roads and drainage are being established under a special DPR system. Parkal would be developed as an educational centre; as part of this initiative, Young India International School, skill development centres, and TASK Centres are being set up. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Swami Prasad Maurya launches a major attack on Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA, says D sometimes means Dalit and sometimes Dimple
Swami Prasad Maurya on PDA: Swami Prasad Maurya has launched a major attack on Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA. In this context, he has also targeted Dimple Yadav. Lakhimpur Kheri: Swami Prasad Maurya, the chief of Apna Janata Party, who arrived in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, has targeted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh Yadav has once again started sharpening his Backward, Dalit, Minority (PDA) politics ahead of the 2027 UP assembly elections. Meanwhile, Swami Prasad Maurya has targeted Akhilesh’s PDA politics. He also seems to be hinting at entering the electoral fray with his own separate political ideology. In the 2022 UP elections, Swami Prasad Maurya had left the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party. However, at that time, Swami Prasad Maurya was not even able to save his own assembly seat. Swami Prasad Maurya targets Dimple Apna Janata Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya seems to be directly targeting Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA as well as his wife and Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav. Swami Prasad Maurya is saying that for Akhilesh, the ‘D’ in PDA sometimes means Dalit and sometimes Dimple. Now, this issue is expected to heat up the political scene. What is the full statement? While talking to the media, Swami Prasad Maurya said that Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA is a hodgepodge. How can someone who doesn’t understand the meaning of PDA talk about PDA? Akhilesh Yadav explains the meaning of PDA according to his convenience. Sometimes he says the ‘P’ in PDA means Backward, and sometimes he calls it Pandit. The ‘D’ sometimes means Dalit and sometimes refers to Dimple Yadav. Swami Prasad Maurya further said that Akhilesh also gives different meanings to the ‘A’ in PDA. Currently, he says ‘A’ means Forward. He keeps changing the meaning of PDA according to the time and his convenience. Swami Prasad Maurya had recently attacked the upper caste community regarding the UCC law. Now he is seen targeting Akhilesh. Curated by: Rahul Parashar About the Author Rahul Parashar is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times Online. He has 20 years of experience covering politics, current affairs, development, bureaucracy, education, health, and ground reporting. In the early days of his career, he covered administration and civic issues. He also honed his skills in political journalism in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Blind to India’s real crises’: Rahul Gandhi hits out at Centre after Union Budget
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabh Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it “blind to India’s real crises” and accusing the government of ignoring deep economic distress faced by ordinary citizens. In a post on X, the Leader of the Opposition laid out what he described as the country’s pressing problems: “Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors pulling out capital. Household savings plummeting. Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks – all ignored.” He added that it was “a Budget that refuses course correction, blind to India’s real crises.” Gandhi’s remarks came soon after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget, in which she raised the capital expenditure target to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27, up from Rs 11.2 lakh crore in the current fiscal. The Budget also outlined infrastructure measures, including projects in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, against a backdrop of global uncertainty, trade frictions and slowing exports. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the budget, arguing that the government lacked both ideas and direction. “The Modi Government has run out of ideas. Budget2026 does not provide a single solution to India’s many economic, social, and political challenges,” he wrote. In another post, Kharge said, “‘Mission Mode’ is now ‘Challenge Route’. Reform Express rarely stops at any ‘Reform’ Junction. Net result: NO policy vision, NO political will.” He also pointed to rural distress and inequality. “Our Annadata Farmers still await meaningful welfare support or an income security plan. Inequality has surpassed the levels seen under the British Raj, but the Budget does not even mention it,” Kharge said, adding that states under financial stress had not been offered relief and that “Federalism has become a casualty”. 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