Six-member guarantee panels in every gram panchayat soon: CM Shivakumar
Former PM Jawaharlal Nehru was in jail for several years, both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives, while Sonia Gandhi sacrificed power. BENGALURU: The state government will constitute six-member guarantee committees in every gram panchayat to empower Congress workers. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said legislators have been instructed to constitute the committees by the next week. “If party workers are with us, we are ready to empower them. Around 250 people will be empowered in every taluk,” he said. Addressing party workers at a programme on Wednesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the CM said unlike Congress workers, BJP and JDS workers cannot wear the Tricolour. “The Congress represents sacrifice, life and power. Former PM Jawaharlal Nehru was in jail for several years, both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives, while Sonia Gandhi sacrificed power. Is there anyone who sacrificed their lives or power in BJP?’’ he said. “Let BJP members conduct their padayatra, we have the capacity to walk four steps ahead of them.” 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
Rahul Gandhi flags potholed roads built under PMGSY in Rae Bareli
Rae Bareli/Lucknow: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday highlighted the poor condition of roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in his constituency Rae Bareli during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting. Rahul displayed photographs of pothole-riddled roads from the city and identified specific stretches to question the officials and seek action. “He asked the officials concerned why the roads were in such condition and what was being done to repair them,” said a member who attended the meeting, adding, “The PMGSY executive engineer assured the MP that the damaged roads would be repaired.” Rahul, who was on a two-day visit of his constituency, stressed the need to identify roads according to the agencies that constructed them and maintain records so that responsibility for their maintenance could be clearly established. Rahul attended the meeting at the Collectorate along with Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, food and civil supplies minister Manoj Kumar Pandey, horticulture miunister Dinesh Pratap Singh and other elected representatives and officials. The meeting reviewed implementation of various central govt schemes in the district. Dinesh Pratap Singh later accused the Congress MP of appearing more interested in finding faults with govt schemes than reviewing their implementation. Pandey later said 22 lakh people in Rae Bareli were receiving ration under the food security programme. On the road network, he said around 16,000 small and major roads had been constructed in the district over the past five years. After the meeting, Rahul left the collectorate without speaking to reporters. Earlier, he met Congress functionaries and representatives of various organisations at Bhuemau guest house. People from Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur also met him and raised local issues. Congress functionaries said Rahul Gandhi listened to their concerns and assured them of efforts to address them. He also handed over two ambulances to the health department and inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 3 crore. His visit coincided with a protest by Samajwadi Party MLAs Rahul Lodhi and Shyam Sundar Bhati outside the collectorate. The legislators alleged that the district panchayat was ignoring local issues and displayed placards highlighting school closures, alleged land encroachment, farmers’ problems, unemployment, false cases and poor basic amenities. Rahul had reached Rae Bareli on Tuesday evening and met traders and lawyers to discuss their concerns. 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
BRS-Congress spar over alleged insult to Telangana Dalit Speaker; 2 MLCs arrested
Two BRS MLCs were arrested over alleged remarks against Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, triggering protests and demands for an apology from KCR. KTR and other party leaders were detained as the BRS accused the Congress government of suppressing the Opposition. A full-blown political war erupted in Telangana on Tuesday after police arrested two BRS MLCs over allegedly derogatory remarks against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. The Congress called the remarks an insult to Kumar, a Dalit leader, and demanded an apology from BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao. Congress workers and Dalit activists also marched towards KCR’s farmhouse. The BRS accused the ruling party of using the controversy to cover up its failures and renewed its allegations of police high-handedness against its women legislators. WHAT TRIGGERED THE ROW The controversy began on Monday after the Speaker’s Officer on Special Duty accused BRS MLCs Thatha Madhusudan and N Naveen Kumar Reddy of making derogatory remarks against him. The complaint alleged that the two MLCs launched a “malicious, unprovoked and premeditated verbal tirade” targeting the Speaker’s integrity, authority and constitutional conduct. However, Madhusudan denied making any derogatory remarks and expressed regret if they had hurt the Speaker. The government also accused BRS leaders of attacking officials and removing their shirts in the presence of women officials. The BRS countered by alleging that former ministers Sabitha Indra Reddy and Sunitha Lakshma Reddy were surrounded, dragged and manhandled by the police. TWO BRS MLC ARRESTED A case was registered against Madhusudan and Reddy at the Saifabad police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Both MLCs were arrested on Tuesday. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy described the alleged remarks as an insult to Telangana’s four crore people. Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka later met the Speaker and assured him that action would be taken against those responsible. ASSEMBLY SEEKS KCR APOLOGY The Telangana Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the alleged remarks and called on KCR to take responsibility for his party members’ conduct and tender an unconditional apology. The resolution also condemned the two MLCs for allegedly removing their T-shirts in public in the presence of women. The House decided to forward the resolution to the Legislative Council chairman for appropriate action against the two MLCs. PROTEST REACHES KCR’S FARMHOUSE The row then spilled out of the Assembly as Congress workers and Dalit activists marched towards KCR’s farmhouse at Erravelli, accusing the BRS of insulting Dalits. However, police stopped the protesters before they could reach the farmhouse. KTR and other BRS leaders left the Assembly for Erravelli but were stopped and taken into preventive custody over possible law and order concerns. He alleged that police were allowing Congress workers to approach the farmhouse while preventing BRS leaders from reaching it. He also accused the ruling party of trying to attack KCR. BRS HITS BACK AT CONGRESS The BRS Working President accused the government of using the Speaker as a shield to divert attention from its failures and silence the Opposition through arrests and police cases. He demanded an apology from the government over the alleged mistreatment of the two women BRS MLAs. The former minister also targeted the Congress over its alleged failure to fulfil election promises related to jobs, farm support, unemployment assistance and welfare benefits. Abdul Basheer 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
‘Every Northeast family in Delhi asking – are we safe?’ Rahul on Manipuri musician’s killing
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condemned the death of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, who was allegedly assaulted by a group of men in Delhi.In a social media post on X, Rahul questioned Union home minister Amit Shah and Delhi Police over what they were doing to stop the growing lawlessness against people from the Northeast in Delhi. “Chongtham Vikram Singh ji, a renowned musician from Manipur, went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home. He was beaten to death for it. A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country’s capital. After many such incidents, every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today – are we safe here?” the Congress leader said. “What are Shah’s MHA and Delhi Police doing to stop this growing lawlessness, especially against people from the Northeast? There must be a swift investigation, and the culprits must be brought to justice. My condolences to Vikram ji’s family,” he added. The 54-year-old Manipuri music teacher allegedly died after being assaulted by a group of men in Kilokari Village, in Delhi’s Ashram area, following a dispute over noise and nuisance outside his residence. According to police, Vikram Singh had objected to alleged shouting and nuisance by delivery boys and dhaba staff opposite his house. When he came downstairs to object, he was allegedly attacked with fists and blows. Vikram was taken to Holy Family Hospital by his son Yaiphaba for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries. According to the Police, a PCR call regarding the alleged beating of C Vikram Singh was received at Delhi’s Sunlight Colony police station on September 7. Police said the preliminary enquiry indicated that Singh had objected to alleged shouting and nuisance by delivery boys and dhaba staff in front of his residence in Kilokari Village. When he came downstairs and objected, he was allegedly assaulted with fists and blows. The official further informed that they have registered an FIR under murder provisions and said all the accused, including minors, have been apprehended. Further investigation is still under way. 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
Expelled Bihar Congress functionaries protest outside party office, seek meeting with Rahul
NEW DELHI: A group of expelled Bihar Congress functionaries Tuesday protested in front of the party office here, and demanded a meeting with Rahul Gandhi so that they could “apprise” him of the realities of the state unit. The former Congress functionaries, led by Anand Madhab, were expelled for “anti-party activities” after Bihar assembly elections. They had alleged irregularities in the selection of candidates and blamed AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru and Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar. Madhab said their demands include an immediate appointment with Rahul, withdrawal of all disciplinary and expulsion proceedings and orders against them. He also demanded removal of Allavaru and Kumar from their posts. Madhab said the process of restoration of faith in the party would start with the fulfilment of their demands. He said the leaders charged with indiscipline should be restored to their earlier positions in the organisation. Madhab said he and colleagues had been demanding a meeting with Rahul for a while, and decided to come to the capital after their demands and concerns were not heard. He said the group protesting is not a dissident bloc but comprises dedicated Congress workers. “We have come to our own house, to meet our guardians and apprise them of the goings on in Bihar Congress,” he said. The protesters included former MLAs Anil Singh, Chhatrapati Yadav, Poonam Devi, and former Bihar Pradesh Congress vice-president Jamal Ahmed, Nagendra paswan. 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
Bombay high court refuses to junk defamation case, says Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against PM Modi must be decided at trial
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday dismissed a petition by Congress politician Rahul Gandhi that challenged summons issued to him by a magistrate on a defamation complaint over his alleged 2018 statements against PM Narendra Modi related to the Rafale fighter aircraft deal.“In absence of any manifest illegality, perversity in the impugned order, it is not a fit case for interference in exercise of inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Considering overall facts and circumstances, this court finds no infirmity in the impugned order,’’ said Justice Nitin Borkar. The criminal defamation complaint was filed by BJP functionary Mahesh Shrishrimal before a Girgaon magistrate stating that Gandhi’s statements were made in a rally in Rajasthan and had hurt the sentiments of all BJP members. The magistrate issued summons against Gandhi in August 2019. Gandhi received the summons in July 2021 and then moved the high court seeking quashing of the proceedings. On December 16, 2021, the high court, in an interim order, had deferred the proceedings before the magistrate. Shrishrimal’s advocate Rohan Mahadik opposed Gandhi’s petition insisting that the statements targeted all BJP members. Senior advocate Sudeep Pasbola, for Gandhi, argued that the complaint was frivolous, non-maintainable, and intended to harass adversaries. He said only an aggrieved person could file it. Advocate General Milind Sathe countered that an individual BJP member also qualifies as an aggrieved person with locus standi and legal right to file the complaint. He urged that the complaint should not be quashed at the preliminary stage. In the order, Justice Borkar said: “On prima facie reading of the defamatory statement, inter alia, describes the Prime Minister, who is also the prominent face of the said political party, as having engaged in the acts of theft while being the Commander of Thieves.” Justice Borkar said: “Therefore, at this threshold, it cannot be said that the alleged defamatory imputation is incapable of extending to those clearly identified with the party and its leadership, including its office-bearers.” Whether the imputations were confined to the PM alone, or whether and to what extent they cast the shadow upon BJP members and functionaries “is a matter requiring an appreciation of evidence and context…a determination that must await trial rather than be conclusively answered by this court… “, said the high court. After the order, Gandhi’s advocate requested a stay on the order for eight weeks to approach the Supreme Court. After Mahadik opposed it, Justice Borkar stayed the order for six weeks. 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 begins two-day Rae Bareli visit, to review devpt works
Lucknow: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi began a two-day visit to his Rae Bareli constituency on Tuesday. His packed schedule includes meetings with local stakeholders, a review of development works and a visit to flood-affected areas. He was given a warm welcome by state leadership at Amausi airport in Lucknow from where he took the road to reach Rae Bareli. On the way, he was greeted by cadres and workers in different places. Gandhi is scheduled to chair a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) on Wednesday, where the progress of central govt schemes, pending issues and action taken on directions issued at earlier meetings are expected to come up for review. He is also scheduled to meet bullion traders and representatives of the Central Bar Association, besides delegations of sportspersons, medical professionals and chemists. Gandhi will inaugurate development works completed at a cost of Rs 3 crore from his MP Local Area Development Scheme funds. The Congress leader is expected to visit flood-affected areas in Shivgarh and Maharajganj to assess the situation and interact with residents. The visit comes as the party prepares for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, adding a political dimension to Gandhi’s constituency outreach. Gandhi last visited Rae Bareli in May. Gandhi’s flight makes go-around amid strong winds Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was aboard Air India flight AI-1717 from Delhi to Lucknow, which made a go-around at 3.45 pm due to strong winds. The aircraft landed safely in Lucknow on its second attempt at 3.55 pm. 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
Samajwadi Party ready to adapt to Gen Z, adopting blue along with green and red
The Samajwadi Party is introducing a new dress code for its student wing. The party has adopted blue along with its traditional iconic colors, green and red. Through this color, the SP aims to connect with the youth and Dalits. The Samajwadi Party is adopting blue as its symbol along with green and red. Parvez Iqbal Siddiqui, Lucknow: Red and green have been the official colors of the Samajwadi Party (SP) since its inception. The SP was founded on October 4, 1992. Since then, its symbols have remained red and green. However, the SP is now expanding its symbolism and is also adopting blue. Blue is a powerful symbol of Dalit resistance. Blue T-shirts and jeans for the student wing The Samajwadi Party’s student wing, called the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, is ready to adopt a completely new and modern look. It resonates better with Gen Z. It’s a dress code that includes a blue T-shirt and jeans, or a shirt and trousers of the same shade. Akhilesh and Shivpal in Blue Scarves This isn’t the first time blue has been included in the SP’s official colors. Recently, on August 31, during a meeting of the party’s district and city presidents across the state, senior party leaders, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and National General Secretary Shivpal Yadav, were seen wearing blue scarves with the party’s election symbol, the bicycle, printed in red. The blue scarves were different from the previous red and green scarves, which were replaced by a red-checked gamchha during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. When asked about the blue scarves, party officials deflected the question. Blue to woo Dalits SP officials claim that the color blue was adopted because it represents the vast open sky, under which everyone is equal and free from caste-based discrimination. It is a different matter that it was also the favorite color of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Blue has also been the color of Dalits. This community is now an important part of the Samajwadi Party’s PDA agenda. It is believed that the party leadership may formally announce the new dress code for the Chhatra Sabha at a special event to be held at the SP headquarters in Lucknow in the next few days. Choice of Color Popular with Youth According to sources, the SP leadership has decided to give the members of the party’s student wing a distinct identity from the rest of the party’s organizations. However, sources said that the red and green colors have been retained in the Chhatra Sabha’s logo, its basic elements, shape, and color scheme. Party strategists say that since the Chhatra Sabha comprises mostly Gen Z students, the party leadership decided to choose colors popular among the youth. Edited by: Suryakant Pathak About the Author Suryakant Pathak is a consultant at Navbharat Times (Digital). He has been associated with the digital wing of Navbharat Times, part of the Times of India Group, since June 2025. Suryakant Pathak serves on the Bihar desk at NBT Digital. Courtesy: Hindi News
Purification row: Punjab Congress protests Haldwani ritual; demands FIR against organisers
Punjab Congress staged a protest on Monday against the BJP and RSS over a “purification” ritual allegedly conducted at Uttarakhand’s Haldwani Ramlila Ground after a Congress rally attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The protesters also demanded that the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the incident be withdrawn. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa condemned the ritual and demanded action against those who organised it. “The Congress party in Punjab, and across India, does not believe in caste-based discrimination. We demand that an FIR be registered against the person who performed the ‘purification’ in Haldwani. The false FIR against Rahul Gandhi should be discarded immediately,” news agency ANI quoted Randhawa saying. Former Punjab chief minister and Punjab Congress campaign committee chairperson Charanjit Singh Channi said the protest was against what he described as the “discriminatory mindset” of the BJP and RSS. “We have staged a protest against the mindset of the RSS and the BJP, specifically regarding the incident where the stage was ‘purified’ after Mallikarjun Kharge had stepped onto it. They treated the stage as ‘contaminated’ simply because a Dalit had set foot on it. An FIR must be registered against those responsible for this act. This protest serves as an expression of our anger and a warning to the government,” Channi said. The protest comes days after Haldwani City Kotwali Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi on August 30 following a complaint over his remarks about the ritual. The complainant, Amit Kumar, a 26-year-old Valmiki community member and office-bearer of Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas, alleged that Gandhi’s comments hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community. According to the complaint, Gandhi had on August 29 described the “shuddhikaran yajna” at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground as an act of untouchability and anti-Dalit discrimination. The FIR invokes provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The organisers, however, have denied that the ritual had any caste-based motive. 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
Keralam CM gets Rahul’s assurance: No further delay in KPCC chief appointment
Thiruvananthapuram: AICC leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday assured chief minister V D Satheesan that the appointment of a full-time KPCC president would not be delayed further. Gandhi gave the assurance during their meeting at 10 Janpath, Sonia Gandhi’s official residence, in New Delhi, after Satheesan pressed for an early appointment, sources said. Satheesan’s main message to Rahul was that the KPCC needed a full-time president without further delay, as there is concern among members of its political affairs committee about the delay. He also highlighted the organisational difficulties in the absence of a full-time president during his 30-minute meeting. The state party chief, Sunny Joseph, is a minister in Satheesan cabinet. It is not clear whether the CM suggested any particular name during his meeting. Sources said Satheesan has no objection to the appointment of Joseph Vazhakkan, who is a nominee of home minister Ramesh Chennithala. Soon after returning to Kerala House following his meeting with Rahul, Satheesan was visited by Kodikunnil Suresh, who is among those aspiring to the KPCC president’s post. Suresh subsequently told the media that holding the post of an MP does not disqualify a person from becoming the party’s state president. He also said he would not contest the next Lok Sabha election, while openly expressing his interest in becoming the KPCC chief. The Congress high command, however, is reportedly giving priority to organisational issues in north Indian states where assembly elections are due in the coming months. It remains unclear whether the KPCC appointment will be announced immediately. According to sources, the PM SHRI controversy did not figure in the meeting. The AICC has maintained that the scheme is part of the Sangh Parivar agenda, while the state government has said it will implement it only if certain conditions are accepted, including no interference in the curriculum and the state retaining the authority to decide which schools will adopt the scheme. 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