Cong picks Bora for Nagaon bypoll, 3-way contest takes shape
Guwahati: The Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll is turning into a high-stakes contest where the minority vote is expected to play a decisive role as BJP’s Debasish Sharma, Congress’s Sibamoni Bora and a possible AIUDF candidate, party chief Badruddin Ajmal, gear up for a triangular battle. The AICC on Monday named Bora as its candidate, choosing her from a list of five probables. The entry of Trinamool Congress candidate Abdul Salam has added another dimension to the opposition contest. Over 11.38 lakh voters across five Assembly constituencies are eligible to vote in the bypoll, with about 55-60% minority electorate likely to play a decisive role, a political analyst said. AICC general secretary and the party’s Assam in-charge Bhupesh Baghel met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday before finalisation of the candidature of Bora for Nagaon seat. “Congress president, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, has approved the candidature of Smt. Sibamoni Bora, ex-MLA, as party candidate to contest the ensuing by-election to the Lok Sabha from 9 – Nagaon parliamentary constituency of Assam,” AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said in a media release. Bora, a former Batadraba MLA, had sought the Dhing seat in the last assembly election after delimitation shifted a significant portion of her constituency, including Muslim-majority areas, to Dhing. However, the seat was allotted to Akhil Gogoi’s Raijor Dal under the Congress-Raijor Dal seat-sharing pact, which Congress recently ended. BJP candidate Sharma has been campaigning in both minority-dominated and Hindu-majority areas. “I have been visiting different places — namghars, temples, mosques and gurdwaras — leaving none out. I have visited all these places, and I love and respect all of them…,” said Sharma, a former IAS officer and former Nagaon deputy commissioner. He visited Borbori, a Muslim-majority area affected by erosion, on Monday. The bypoll was necessitated after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party and subsequently switched to BJP ahead of the last assembly election. 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
Police Unwilling To Register FIR Against BJP MLA Who Beat Dalit Mandal President: Kuldeep Kumar
NEW DELHI | The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly criticised the Delhi Police for failing to register an FIR against BJP MLA Gajender Drall over the assault of his party’s Dalit Mandal President, Sunil Kumar. AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar said the Dalit family had been visiting the police station for three days seeking to register a complaint, but the police had refused to act. He questioned how ordinary Dalit workers could feel safe when even a Dalit office-bearer within the BJP was unsafe, and demanded that the Delhi Police register an FIR under the SC/ST Act and that the BJP suspend its MLA. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar said, “In the national capital Delhi, the BJP’s anti-Dalit government has created a very hostile environment for Dalits. BJP MLA Gajender Drall from Mundka Assembly constituency abducted Sunil Kumar, who belongs to the Dalit and Valmiki community, at night, took him to his house, held him hostage throughout the night and brutally beat him. Sunil Kumar is currently the Mandal President of the BJP itself, but he was beaten simply because he belongs to the Valmiki community.” Kuldeep Kumar further stated, “Even in remote villages across the country, no one treats another person with such brutality, yet this incident has taken place in the national capital under the BJP government. For the past two to three days, this family has been going from place to place seeking justice and trying to get an FIR registered, but despite the matter being highlighted, the Kanjhawala police station and the police administration are unwilling to register an FIR.” He said that he had called the DCP and posted hundreds of tweets, but the DCP did not even answer his call. He said the BJP MLA had become so arrogant because of his power that he beat a person from the Valmiki community in this manner. Kuldeep Kumar added, “We want to ask the BJP government what action it has taken against its MLA. The Delhi Police should immediately register an FIR against Mundka MLA Gajender Drall, and the BJP should immediately expel this goon MLA from the party. If this does not happen, it will be understood that this MLA carried out such an act in the national capital under the protection of the BJP itself.” The AAP MLA said that since the BJP government came to power in Delhi, Dalits and the Valmiki community had been continuously subjected to exploitation. He highlighted that very recently, a sanitation worker had been murdered, a Valmiki youth had been beaten to death, and in Trilokpuri too, a former BJP Mandal President had taken a person from the Valmiki community from his home and assaulted him. “We got a case registered under the SC/ST Act in that matter and had him arrested. The Delhi Police should immediately arrest Gajender Drall and send him to jail, and the BJP should make it clear whether it stands with Dalits or not. If it does, it should immediately have its MLA arrested and suspend him from the party,” he added. Kuldeep Kumar questioned, “When BJP’s own Dalit office-bearers are not safe within the party, how can ordinary people be safe?” The entire dispute behind this assault, he noted, is simply about how a person from the Valmiki community became a Mandal President. “The BJP gives people positions merely for the sake of appearances and appoints them, but does not remove casteism from the minds of its MLAs,” he asserted. He continued, “They have been taught this from the beginning in RSS shakhas, how to discriminate against Dalits and backward communities, and the casteism instilled in their minds will not disappear so quickly.” Victim admitted at hospital is not even receiving proper treatment: Kuldeep Kumar Kuldeep Kumar stated that he had gone to RML Hospital to meet Sunil Kumar, the victim from the Valmiki community, but the entire police and security machinery was deployed to prevent him from meeting the victim. “Has meeting a victim now also become a crime? Sunil Kumar was reportedly brutally beaten by BJP MLA Gajender Drall, abused with casteist slurs and kept locked up throughout the night,” he said. Kuldeep Kumar added, “Even after three days, the police have not registered an FIR. This is happening in the national capital, and the entire BJP government is busy protecting its MLA. The most painful part is that Sunil Kumar’s treatment has also not been properly started, and he has been kept separately in a hospital gallery.” He concluded by asserting that instead of protecting its MLA, the BJP government should give the victim justice, immediately register an FIR and take action against those responsible. Courtesy : Aam Aadmi Party ORG Note: This news is originally published on https:/aamaadmipartyorg.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP: A new Dalit face enters state politics, Rohini Ghavri eyes Chandrashekhar’s vote bank
Rohini Ghavri: A new Dalit face is entering UP politics. After returning from Switzerland, Rohini Ghavri is preparing to become active in state politics. A new political front appears to be emerging in UP’s Dalit politics ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. After returning from Switzerland, Rohini Ghavri is preparing to become active in state politics. Her main focus is on uniting the Valmiki community and the 21 assembly seats in western Uttar Pradesh where Valmiki voters are considered crucial. Azad Samaj Party President and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar is also considered influential in these areas. Rohini is preparing to campaign in these areas, raising the issue of political representation for the Valmiki community. She says that for a long time, the Valmiki community has been viewed primarily as sanitation workers, while its share in political representation has been relatively low. She also aims to have a Chief Minister from the Valmiki community in a state within the next five years. She is eyeing 21 constituencies, including Agra Cantt, Etmadpur, Jasrana, Firozabad, Meerut Cantt, Meerut City, Ghaziabad, Loni, Lucknow’s Central, North, and West Assembly constituencies, as well as Sisamau, Aryanagar, Kidwai Nagar, Aligarh, and Khair. She is preparing to raise the issue of political representation of the Jatav and Valmiki communities in these constituencies. Rohini will visit several districts. Rohini will arrive in Meerut on September 13th. She will then meet with members of the Valmiki community in Lucknow on September 14th and 15th. She is also expected to meet with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav during this period. Rohini claims that Akhilesh has assured her support in her fight against Chandrashekhar. If her closeness with the SP grows and the party fields her in the election, new Dalit vote dynamics could emerge in Western Uttar Pradesh. Rohini has accused Chandrashekhar of exploiting her by promising marriage. She claims that despite providing financial support, Chandrashekhar severed ties with her after becoming an MP. She also alleged that an FIR was not filed on her complaint because she belonged to the Valmiki community. However, the parties’ views on these allegations are not included in this report. Jatav voters have consistently held significant influence in Dalit politics. Therefore, efforts to mobilize the Valmiki community as a distinct political force could create new dynamics in several seats in Western Uttar Pradesh in the 2027 elections. Rohini also speaks of moving forward with the entire community on board. Published by: Rohit Mishra Courtesy: Hindi News
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
Congress eyes 2028 polls with 10,000 Bharat Jodo youth groups
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday highlighted the initiative’s political significance, recalling the Congress’s performance in the 2023 Assembly elections. BENGALURU: With an eye on the 2028 Assembly elections, the Congress is seeking to turn its Bharat Jodo youth network into a grassroots political and organisational force, with around 7.5 lakh youngsters already enrolled across Karnataka. Under the Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, the government will form 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas across the state and plans to expand the network by enrolling around 10 lakh youths in the coming months. The initiative covers youngsters aged 16 to 35 and the party views it as a potential platform to connect with young and first-time voters. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday highlighted the initiative’s political significance, recalling the Congress’s performance in the 2023 Assembly elections. He said the party had won seats in several areas through which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra passed during its Karnataka leg, from Chamarajanagar to Ballari. “The Bharat Jodo Yatra was undertaken to protect the unity and integrity of the country. The Congress won in the places through which the yatra passed. The same wave will continue in 2028, and we are confident that the Congress will return to power,” he said. Each approved Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangha will have 100-250 members and focus on sports, leadership development, cultural activities and community service. The government has announced an annual grant of Rs 10 lakh for each approved Sangha, with a total outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. The Karnataka Cabinet recently approved Rs 781 crore as an allocation under the supplementary budget to fund the Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas. The initiative, however, has also attracted the attention of the Opposition. BJP MLAs have reportedly begun encouraging their loyal youth supporters to join the Sanghas, sensing the potential political advantage the Congress could derive from the network. “Though the initiative may give the Congress an edge, we have tactically involved our party’s youth in it,” two BJP MLAs told TNIE. Shivakumar also said the government was seeking to expand grassroots participation by involving people in guarantee committees. Six persons from every panchayat will get an opportunity to serve on the committees, providing around 70,000 people with a role in implementing and monitoring the government’s guarantee schemes. Shivakumar said the Congress had chalked out a plan to ensure every voter in the state was covered under one or the other government scheme, including the guarantees. He said that while the party had garnered 1.36 crore votes in the 2023 Assembly elections, the five guarantee schemes had covered 4.5 crore people, including women and students. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Trying to cut his voice’: DK Shivakumar backs Rahul Gandhi over FIR in ‘purification’ row
BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the FIR registered against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged ‘purification’ ritual at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground, saying the action was an attempt to curb his right to raise his voice for Dalits and other sections of society. Shivakumar told news agency ANI that Rahul Gandhi had every right to speak on issues concerning different sections of society in a democracy and questioned the registration of an FIR over his remarks. “This is a great democratic country. In democracy, there are a lot of issues on caste, religion, how to protect humanity, everything is there. Rahul Gandhi has been pressurising that what has been done wrong has to be rectified through an FIR,” he said. “Since he (Rahul Gandhi) is opening his voice for the Dalits of this country and their self-respect, and the BJP is filing an FIR here. The message you are sending is a letter of the opposition. He has every right to speak, every right to raise his voice, every right to stand by all sections of the society,” CM Shivakumar added. “So you are trying to cut it. With this attitude, I think democracy is not alive in this country. It is very unfortunate,” he said.Earlier, Nainital police said an investigation was underway into the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged ‘purification’ ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally on August 8. Speaking to ANI, police said the documents and facts available in the FIR are being examined and verified as part of the investigation. “At present, the documents and facts available in the FIR are being examined and verified as part of the investigation,” police said. The controversy began after a Congress rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Members of a right-wing group later conducted a ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual at the venue, triggering criticism from Congress leaders, who alleged that the act amounted to ‘untouchability’. Kharge raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that the ritual was linked to his identity as a Dalit leader and questioned whether such practices were acceptable in a democracy. The FIR was registered on August 30 against Rahul Gandhi over his statements regarding the ‘shuddhikaran yajna’ conducted at the Haldwvenue. The FIR was lodged following a complaint by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community, who alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Police invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u), along with Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. 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
BL Santosh asks BJP-MLAs, ‘How will you win in 2027?’:Why did we lose 2024 LS polls, what is the solution; MPs, MLAs told not to fight each other
The BJP’s concern has grown in Uttar Pradesh as Dalit votes have shifted towards the Samajwadi Party. The party will now launch a campaign to reconnect with Dalits. On Saturday, national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh held a four-hour meeting with MPs, MLAs and district presidents from the Kanpur division. BL Santosh asked the MLAs, How many votes did the BJP candidate receive in your Assembly constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha election? What was the reason for the defeat wherever the BJP lost? How will you make up for this in 2027, and how will you win the election? The MLAs said that in 2017 and 2019, a large number of Dalit votes that had moved away from the Bahujan Samaj Party came to the BJP. The BJP also received a substantial share of Dalit votes in 2022. However, in 2024, Dalit voters became alienated because of narratives such as the Constitution being changed and reservations being scrapped, and shifted towards the Samajwadi Party. Party leaders acknowledged that the Dalit vote is still shifting towards the Samajwadi Party. This could pose a major challenge for the BJP in the 2027 election. BL Santosh and Dharampal Singh urged party leaders to remain united and fight the Assembly election together. They said there should be no conflict between MLAs and MPs or between MLAs and district presidents. Read BL Santosh’s three key points 1- People no longer like VIP culture B.L. Santosh said that people no longer like VIP culture. Convoys of vehicles, sirens and getting tolls waived send the wrong message. This harms the party as well as MPs, MLAs and district presidents. Launch campaigns to bring members of the Dalit community and Dalit leaders into the party. Implement the Ambedkar statue scheme. Organise Sant Ravidas Jayanti programmes effectively and use them to bring Dalits closer to the BJP. 2- Do not limit social media to a photo album B.L. Santosh said that social media is now the biggest political tool. Do not limit it to photographs and albums. Make full use of it in preparing for the elections. It can be used to convey the party’s message to the public quickly and effectively. However, social media must not be misused. The meeting continued from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. BJP office-bearers from Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Etawah, Kannauj, Auraiya and Farrukhabad attended it. The meeting continued from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. BJP office-bearers from Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Etawah, Kannauj, Auraiya and Farrukhabad attended it. 3- Get the names of women deleted during SIR reinstated L. Santosh said that the names of a large number of voters had been deleted during SIR. This included voters who support the BJP ideology. B. L. Santosh said that the process of adding names was still under way. He directed party workers to have the names of those whose names had been deleted added again. He also raised the issue of the low gender ratio among women voters. He said that after marriage, the names of many women are deleted from the voter lists in their maternal homes but are not added to the lists in their marital homes. He directed party workers to have the names of such women added to the voter list, as women are a major vote bank for the BJP. Meeting lasted 4 hours, defeated candidates were also consulted The meeting lasted from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. BJP office-bearers from Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Etawah, Kannauj, Auraiya and Farrukhabad attended it. State General Secretary Shankar Lal Lodhi and Kanpur Regional President Ram Kishore Sahu were also present. BL Santosh also spoke to candidates who had lost the 2022 election. He asked them how many votes they had received and by how many votes the victory or defeat was decided. Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress renews push to rebuild party ahead of 2027 Assembly elections in Gujarat
The statement underlines the political significance the Congress attaches to Gujarat, where the party has struggled to regain its footing against the BJP’s long-standing dominance. AHMEDABAD: Newly appointed Gujarat Congress in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Singh Surjewala arrived in Gujarat on Saturday for his first visit since taking charge, signalling the Congress high command’s renewed push to rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. His arrival follows the removal of Mukul Wasnik from the Gujarat in-charge post, amid growing concerns over the party’s organisational performance. Welcomed at Ahmedabad Airport with a traditional turban ceremony and a tribal dance performance, Surjewala immediately stepped into a packed schedule of political meetings at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan. The visit is expected to set the tone for a major organisational exercise in the Gujarat Congress. Organisation Revamp Tops Surjewala’s Agenda Throughout the day, Surjewala is scheduled to meet state office bearers, city and district Congress presidents, heads of various cells and departments, and party MLAs. The discussions will centre on strengthening the organisation, energising grassroots workers and restoring the Congress’s political momentum across Gujarat. The timing is significant because the party has yet to finalise its new organisational team, despite repeated visits by Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda to Delhi. With the organisational restructuring still pending, Surjewala’s appointment has triggered expectations of major changes in the state unit. His immediate challenge is to rebuild a party organisation capable of taking on the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections. However, the Congress will also have to address internal weaknesses, revive worker morale and strengthen its presence at the district and booth levels. Surjewala Invokes Bapu, Sardar Patel and Congress Ideology Speaking after his arrival, Surjewala positioned Gujarat as the ideological heartland of the Congress and linked his new assignment to the party’s historical roots. “Gujarat is the land of Bapu and Sardar Patel, and the ideology of the Congress originated here. For the Gujarat Congress and the Indian National Congress, Gujarat is not merely a state but a source of inspiration. We will further strengthen the path of Gujarat’s creation, progress, development and communal harmony,” Surjewala said. The statement underlines the political significance the Congress attaches to Gujarat, where the party has struggled to regain its footing against the BJP’s long-standing dominance. Wasnik’s Exit Exposes Leadership Discontent According to Congress sources, the high command had expressed dissatisfaction with Mukul Wasnik’s working style. Sources alleged that Wasnik’s brief visits to Gujarat failed to provide the sustained leadership required to strengthen the party’s grassroots organisation. The criticism centres on an alleged routine in which Wasnik would arrive in Ahmedabad on a 2 pm flight and return to Delhi on the 7 PM flight, limiting his time for extensive organisational engagement. Congress insiders claim that this approach contributed to the weakening of the party’s ground-level network. The discontent reportedly intensified after the favourable political atmosphere generated during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra failed to translate into electoral gains. According to party sources, local leadership’s inaction weakened the momentum, culminating in a major Congress setback in the local body elections. ‘Racehorses’ Versus ‘Wedding Horses’: Congress Plans Internal Sorting With Surjewala now at the helm, the Gujarat Congress is reportedly preparing a sharper assessment of its leaders and workers. According to Congress sources, the new in-charge has been tasked with identifying “racehorse” leaders who are committed, active and capable of delivering results while separating them from “wedding horses”, a phrase used to describe leaders who create a show but deliver little on the ground. The exercise is expected to focus on performance, grassroots commitment and electoral effectiveness. At the same time, sources claim that the high command is examining allegations of senior leaders maintaining covert political links with the BJP. However, these allegations remain unverified, and no specific leader has been officially named or accused by the party in connection with such ties. Co-In-Charges Under Scanner The organisational shake-up could extend beyond the state leadership, with Congress sources speculating that co-in-charges Suhasini Yadav and Ramkishan Ojha may also face removal. The speculation comes amid expectations that Surjewala will push for a comprehensive restructuring of the Gujarat unit. While no official announcement has confirmed their removal, the possibility reflects the wider internal churn triggered by Wasnik’s exit. For Surjewala, the task ahead is clear: transform the Gujarat Congress from an organisation battling internal drift into a politically aggressive force capable of challenging the BJP in 2027. Whether the proposed restructuring delivers that revival will depend on how decisively the party acts and how effectively its leadership reconnects with workers on the ground. Dilip Singh Kshatriya 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
UP govt seems determined to use Goonda Act as tool of harassment: Allahabad HC
A Lucknow bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi said the Goonda Act is a “very powerful” legislation and must be invoked with great caution, only in clear cases and for maintaining public order. LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has come down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government over alleged misuse of the Goonda Act in the state, observing that cases coming before it indicate that the state government appears determined to use the stringent law as a tool of harassment. A Lucknow bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi said the Goonda Act is a “very powerful” legislation and must be invoked with great caution, only in clear cases and for maintaining public order. The court made the observations while quashing the order of the Gonda district magistrate declaring a person named Zahid Ali a “goonda” and externing him from the district for six months. The court also set aside the appellate order passed by the divisional commissioner upholding the DM’s decision. The Gonda District Magistrate had, on May 11, passed the order under Section 3(1) of the Goonda Act, relying on two criminal cases and a beat information report. One of the criminal cases dated back to 2010 and the other to 2020. The high court found that Ali had already been acquitted in the 2010 case by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gonda, on August 26, 2017. It observed that a case in which a person had already been acquitted could not subsequently be used as a ground to declare him a goonda. The court further noted that there was a gap of nearly six years between the 2020 criminal case and the 2026 order declaring Ali a goonda. It said no rational nexus could be established between the two. The high court also took exception to the police report mentioning the case in which Ali had already been acquitted, observing that it indicated that an incorrect picture of the petitioner had been placed before the DM. The court said that mere involvement in a single criminal case of 2020 could not establish that Ali was a habitual offender or habitually committed or abetted offences. The bench also refused to accept the beat information report as a valid basis for invoking the Goonda Act. No criminal case had been registered on the basis of the information, nor had Ali been given an opportunity of hearing in relation to it. Relying on such material, the court said, would violate the principles of natural justice. The court also found that the commissioner had treated the acquitted case as a pending case against Ali, reflecting a failure to properly exercise discretion. Holding that the orders passed by both the DM and the commissioner were legally unsustainable, the high court quashed them and allowed Ali’s petition. 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