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.
Rahul Gandhi slams ‘Institutionalised Manuwad’ in higher education; demands immediate filling of reserved posts
Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed what he called “solid evidence of the deprivation of Dalits, Bahujans and institutionalised Manuwad,” after government data revealed a significant backlog in filling reserved category posts in higher education, and demanded that all vacant positions be filled immediately. The data, revealed in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in response to a question raised by Professor Manoj Kumar Jha of the Rashtriya Janata Dal on vacancies over the past five years, highlighted a glaring gap for OBC, Dalit, and Tribal communities, as appointments from the general category far outweigh those from reserved categories, with the highest number of seats filled under the general category. For instance, only 84 professors from the OBC category have been appointed against a sanctioned strength of 423, reflecting a staggering 80% vacancy rate. Only 111 professors from the Dalit community have been appointed in the last five years, against a required 308, resulting in a 64% vacancy rate. Similarly, only 24 professors from the Tribal community were appointed out of the mandated 144, marking a stark vacancy rate of 83%. As of June 30, 2025, central universities across India had a total of 18,951 sanctioned teaching posts — professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. Of these, 14,062 were filled, leaving 25% of posts vacant. While the general category saw a relatively lower vacancy rate of 15%, the shortfall was significantly higher for reserved categories. Among OBCs, only 2,197 appointments were made against 3,688 sanctioned posts, reflecting a 40% vacancy rate. For the Dalit community, just 1,599 out of 2,310 posts were filled, resulting in nearly 30% of seats lying vacant. The gap was even more striking for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community — only 727 of 1,155 posts were filled, leaving 37% of positions unoccupied. Notably, the highest number of seats were filled under the general category. In central universities, professor positions for Scheduled Tribes remain largely unfilled, with 83% of posts vacant, while 80% of OBC and 64% of SC professor posts also remain vacant. A similar pattern is seen in associate professor positions, with 65% vacancies for STs, 69% for OBCs, and 51% for SCs. Rahul Gandhi alleged that “this is not mere negligence but a well-planned conspiracy, to keep Bahujans out of education, research, and policymaking.” The Opposition leader said the exclusion of Bahujans from academia was not accidental but deliberate. “Due to the lack of adequate participation of Bahujans in universities,” he highlighted, adding, “the issues of marginalized communities are deliberately excluded from research and discourse.” “In the name of NFS (Not Found Suitable), thousands of qualified SC, ST, OBC candidates are being declared unfit under a Manuwadi mindset, and the government is unwilling to take any accountability,” he said. Calling the situation “completely unacceptable,” Gandhi demanded that “all vacant positions must be filled immediately, Bahujans should get their rights, not Manuwadi (follower of Manu) exclusion.” In response to Professor Manoj Kumar Jha’s question regarding the number of vacancies and the proportion of candidates declared “Not Found Suitable” (NFS) in reserved categories over the last five years, the Ministry avoided giving specific figures. Instead, it offered a generic explanation that sidestepped the core concern of systemic bias. The Minister of State for Education admitted that, “The details of the number of candidates ‘Not Found Suitable’ by selection committees for teaching posts in Central Universities are not maintained centrally.” While the government claimed that UGC regulations ensure “a transparent and objective selection procedure,” it offered no data to back that claim or to rebut the allegations of caste-based discrimination in appointments. Critics argue this reflects a broader Manuwadi framework, where upper-caste dominance in academia limits opportunities for OBC, Dalit, and Tribal communities, reinforcing caste-based hierarchies. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called this a “systemic erasure, not meritocracy.” Tribal Army, a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights in India, also sharply criticized the government’s track record on social justice and representation. “While the BJP may be showcasing the presence of a Prime Minister from the OBC community and a President from the tribal community,” it stated, “the stark reality is that 80% of professor posts for the OBC category and 83% for the ST category in central universities remain vacant.” “These figures,” they said, “are not just a sign of neglect but testify to deliberate discrimination. Governments pat themselves on the back by providing representation in symbolic positions, but when it comes to real empowerment, such as appointments to professor, associate professor, or assistant professor positions, these communities are sidelined with the excuse of being ‘not found suitable.’” Calling the practice “a blatant disregard for the principles of social justice,” Tribal Army warned, “If this situation persists, this game of depriving millions of marginalized people of education and opportunities under the guise of symbolic leadership will continue unabated.” RJD Spokesperson Priyanka Bharti said, “The ruling class still does not appear sensitive or committed to the welfare of marginalized social groups!” 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.
Revanth Reddy government betrayed Dalits and Adivasis, failed to implement SC/ST Declaration, says KTR
BRS leader KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of betraying SC and ST communities by not implementing its poll promises. He said only K Chandrashekhar Rao could restore Telangana’s progress and urged voters to reject the Revanth Reddy regime. Kamareddy: Terming the Revanth Reddy government anti-Dalit and anti-tribal, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Friday said the government was betraying SC and ST communities by failing to implement the Chevella SC/ST Declaration, which was released by AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls. Addressing the Dalit “Atmagourava Garjana” meeting held at Kamareddy on Friday, Rama Rao dubbed the Congress manifesto the biggest lie of the century, which deceived all sections of Telangana. He asserted that only K Chandrashekhar Rao could restore the State’s progress. “KCR fought for 14 years to realise Telangana and honoured Ambedkar like no other Chief Minister, by naming the State Secretariat after him and installing a 125-foot statue in Hyderabad,” he said. The BRS working president said that while Chandrashekhar Rao implemented the Dalit Bandhu scheme to empower SCs, the Congress promised to enhance the benefit to Rs 12 lakh and came to power. He ridiculed the Congress leaders for delivering nothing after promising Rs 6 lakh for Dalit and tribal housing, 26 per cent quota in government contracts under the SC/ST Declaration. Charging the Revanth Reddy government with mismanagement, Rama Rao said farmers were denied timely Rythu Bandhu aid and loan waivers were slashed from Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore. He remarked that promises of Aasara pensions, one tola gold for brides, and two lakh jobs for youth had all proven to be empty slogans. “Gurukul schools became an abode for scores of talented students from weaker sections under the BRS regime. But today, they have become unsafe, with hundreds of students dying due to food poisoning, while Revanth Reddy spent Rs 1.35 lakh on a plate of food during a visit to Vemulawada,” he said. He rubbished Congress leaders for spreading lies about debt, and stated that only those who could generate revenue could govern effectively. While the people of Telangana benefited during the K Chandrashekhar Rao government, money was now flowing only into Rahul Gandhi’s account under the Revanth Reddy regime, he stated, urging the people to use their vote as a weapon to oust the oppressive Congress regime and ensure a BRS victory in the upcoming local body elections. Warning that only a strong mandate could bring Revanth Reddy and his officials to their senses, he promised that the BRS would continue its fight for Dalits and tribals to ensure justice. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https://telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP Of Targeting Poor, Dalits & Minorities By Shutting Schools
Yadav alleged that the BJP’s education policy is not only regressive but also discriminatory in nature. “Their aim is clear—they want to create an unequal society where the marginalized remain uneducated and voiceless,” he said. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticized the Uttar Pradesh BJP government, asserting that it is “ruining basic and primary education.” He accused the ruling party of deliberately targeting the poor and PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, and Minority) communities by closing government-run schools, thereby robbing their children of a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. Yadav alleged that the BJP’s education policy is not only regressive but also discriminatory in nature. “Their aim is clear—they want to create an unequal society where the marginalized remain uneducated and voiceless,” he said. By systematically shutting down schools in rural and underprivileged areas, the government is paving the way for private institutions that are financially inaccessible to common citizens, he added. He further stated that instead of improving infrastructure, filling vacant teaching posts, or modernizing classrooms, the government is dismantling the very foundation of public education. “The education of future generations cannot be compromised for political or economic motives,” he remarked. Akhilesh also expressed concern that such actions are in direct violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act and run counter to the vision of inclusive growth. “If local schools disappear, where will the children of laborers, farmers, and daily wage earners study? What future are we offering them?” he asked. He urged citizens, especially educators and civil society, to raise their voices against this “dangerous trend” and vowed that his party would restore dignity, access, and equality in education if voted back to power Rahul M 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.
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.