‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’: Rahul Gandhi becomes active ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on SIR, invokes ‘Mahakal’
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions filed against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and the decisions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar today. Ahead of this hearing, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shared a picture of Mahakal with the words “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” written on it. It should be noted that Rahul Gandhi is going to protest at Ramlila Maidan from November 1. New Delhi: On Tuesday, ahead of the crucial hearing on SIR in the Supreme Court, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, shared a special picture. It shows three white lines and a vertical red line, symbolizing Mahakal. He also wrote “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram.” It should be noted that there is a heated debate between Rahul Gandhi and the government regarding SIR. The way Rahul Gandhi wrote “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram” seems to indicate his enthusiasm. What they mean is that something good and auspicious is about to happen. In Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Satyam means the victory of truth. Shivam means well-being and auspiciousness. Sundaram means not only external but also internal beauty, symbolizing joy and divinity. Hearing of petitions against SIR and Gyanesh Kumar in the Supreme Court today The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions against SIR and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar today. A bench headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is hearing these petitions. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has filed a 28-page affidavit and presented various arguments in its defense. The Election Commission of India presented several arguments in its defense on Monday. The Election Commission of India stated that it took decisions unanimously. The Election Commission of India categorically rejected media reports and opposition allegations that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took unilateral decisions despite objections from the other two Election Commissioners. According to the Commission, all orders related to the SIR were passed unanimously by all three members. Curated by: Sanjeev Kumar About the Author Sanjeev Kumar (Senior Digital Content Producer) Sanjeev Kumar currently serves as Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times. He joined Navbharat Times, the digital wing of the Times of India Group, in May 2025. He has six years of experience working on the online news desk in journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News
Holiday on Valmiki Jayanti in UP: A Strategy to Strengthen Outreach to the Dalit Community Before 2027?
The Dalit vote bank has long played a decisive role in Uttar Pradesh politics. With the 2027 Assembly elections in sight, the BJP is also eyeing this major social segment. The Yogi government’s major decision regarding Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is considered significant from a political perspective ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. With the announcement of a public holiday today, the government will celebrate Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti in all 75 districts. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will attend a program organized in Kanpur on this occasion. Focus on the Dalit Community The Dalit vote bank has long played a decisive role in Uttar Pradesh politics. With the 2027 Assembly elections in sight, the BJP is also eyeing this major social segment. The statewide celebrations of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti can be seen as an attempt to strengthen socio-cultural ties among the Dalit community. The Special Significance of Valmiki Jayanti Maharishi Valmiki holds a special place in Indian tradition, and his birth anniversary holds special significance among the Valmiki community. Therefore, organizing events in all 75 districts of the state, and the Chief Minister personally attending the events, reflects the government’s priority. All Eyes on Dalit Voters Winning Dalit voters will be crucial for all major political parties in the 2027 elections. While the BJP may seek to expand its reach through social representation and cultural events, the SP is relying on its PDA alliance, and the BSP on its traditional Dalit base. Tough Competition in the 2027 Elections Ahead of the 2027 elections, all major parties are competing to woo Dalit voters: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Attempts to unite Dalits under a broader Hindu identity and development agenda through cultural events, development of the Valmiki Circuit/Bithoor, and social harmony. Samajwadi Party (SP): Under its PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) alliance, it is engaged in organizing the Dalit community on the issue of social justice and representation. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP): The BSP is continuously emphasizing cadre camps and organizational expansion at the grassroots level to keep its traditional Dalit core vote bank united and prevent it from shifting. Congress: The Congress is also trying to reconnect with Dalits and underprivileged communities through programs in the districts on the occasion of birth anniversaries of great personalities. Pankaj Chaturvedi | Edited By: Prashant Kumar Singh Pankaj Chaturvedi has over a decade of experience in journalism. He has been covering national and Uttar Pradesh politics. His journalistic journey began with Amar Ujala and Punjab Kesari in Delhi. Courtesy: Hindi News
Telangana has become Rahul’s ATM: KTR
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Sunday accused Rahul Gandhi of turning a blind eye to Telangana’s problems despite making 420 promises to voters, alleging that chief minister A Revanth Reddy was running the state as an ATM for the Congress leader. Speaking at Telangana Bhavan during the induction of Khairatabad minority leader Jibran Shareef into BRS, KTR alleged that Congress failed to fulfil its election promises even after 1,000 days. He accused Rahul Gandhi of remaining silent on corruption and irregularities in the state despite touring other parts of the country. KTR said Rahul Gandhi had promised implementation of six guarantees within 100 days, 13 declarations and 420 assurances during the campaign. He questioned why the Congress leader was not visiting Telangana to answer voters on the status of these promises. Recalling Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with unemployed youth at a tea stall in Ashok Nagar before elections, KTR asked what had happened to Congress’ promise of providing two lakh jobs in the first year of its govt. Thousands of unemployed youth were still waiting for jobs, he alleged. Minority welfare and farmers’ promises questionedKTR also questioned Congress over its minority welfare commitments, including a promise to allocate Rs 4,000 crore for minority welfare. He asked why govt had not increased Aasara pensions from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 and why its promise to provide farmers Rs 15,000 per acre, against Rs 10,000 under the previous BRS govt, had not been fully implemented. Accusing the Revanth Reddy administration of being intolerant of criticism, KTR said people questioning govt were facing abuse and threats of cases instead of receiving answers. He alleged that several controversies involving land transactions and business deals linked to the chief minister’s family had raised questions about transparency. KTR made claims concerning a five-acre land parcel, reportedly worth around Rs 200 crore but transferred to Revanth Reddy’s younger brother for Rs 7 crore. He also sought explanations for business activities linked to the chief minister’s family, including an alleged Rs 1,000 crore deal involving another brother. Congress cannot take on BJP, says KTR KTR accused BJP-led Union govt of creating divisions among people, while alleging that Congress was exploiting people in Telangana. He said Congress alone lacked political strength to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and counter communal politics. He also criticised the use of central investigative agencies such as ED, CBI and income tax department against opposition leaders, alleging that cases and arrests were being used to intimidate political opponents. Recalling BRS rule, KTR said Hyderabad had faced power cuts and water shortages before Telangana’s formation, while K Chandrasekhar Rao’s govt worked to improve electricity supply, drinking water and infrastructure. He claimed BRS had maintained communal harmony and promoted Hyderabad’s composite culture during its decade in power. KCR will return as CM in 2028 Predicting a return to power, KTR said public dissatisfaction with the Congress govt was growing among farmers, poor people and unemployed youth. He said BRS would continue to question misuse of power and promised that K Chandrasekhar Rao would become chief minister again in 2028. 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
‘BJP, RSS plan to seize AIADMK’s space, prep actor to launch party’
Tagore alleged the BJP tried to control EPS, woo TTV Dhinakaran and project former state BJP chief K Annamalai in a new political role. MADURAI: TNCC president and Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore on Sunday said BJP and RSS were pursuing multiple strategies to capture AIADMK’s political space and were preparing an actor to launch a party. Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Tagore said BJP had attempted to bring AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami under its control and was now trying to draw AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran towards it. He also alleged that BJP was attempting to project former state BJP president K Annamalai in a new political role. Tagore said the alliance between the Congress and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, would remain strong for a long time, as both parties shared a commitment to secularism and social justice. The Congress’s dream was to restore Kamaraj rule in Tamil Nadu. “There is nothing new in what minister Rajesh Kumar said. Every political party has its own aspirations, and the Congress’s dream is to establish Kamaraj rule again. A serious attempt was made in 1989, but similar efforts have not been made since,” he said. Describing the Congress-TVK partnership as a relationship built on mutual respect, he said the bond between Vijay and Rahul Gandhi was genuinely brotherly. The Congress is part of the government and the party hopes to increase its strength and receive due recognition, he added. 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
‘200 seats our right’: Hoardings stir buzz amid Congress-SP talks
Lucknow: Amid negotiations between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party over seat-sharing for the 2027 UP polls, hoardings reading “200 seat haq hai hamara, UP ko hai Rahul Gandhi par bharosa” appeared in the state capital on Sunday, triggering a buzz in political circles.The posters, seen at locations including Gomti Nagar, carried photographs of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra, state in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam and working president Imran Masood. BJP leaders took a jibe at the INDIA bloc soon after. “Had it been up to us, we wouldn’t have given them more than 25 seats!” BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said when asked to comment. Leaders from both parties later alleged that the BJP was trying to sabotage their alliance. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of putting up fake posters to create differences within the INDIA bloc. “The alliance has given the BJP a stomach ache. They are so terrified that they are putting up fake posters,” he wrote on social media. Yadav also demanded action against municipal officials for allegedly allowing the hoardings to be displayed without payment of the prescribed fees. “If fees were paid, a receipt would have to be issued, which would reveal the identity of the conspirator and lead to their arrest,” he said. Congress’s UP in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam also alleged that the BJP was behind the campaign. “This is nothing but mischief by the BJP, which has not only put up these hoardings but is also propagating them,” he said. Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra said those behind the posters were intimidated by the alliance’s strength. “Those who hide behind posters and indulge in childish antics are intimidated by the strength of INDIA. This is not a partnership for power, but a resolve to fight together for the Constitution and democracy,” she said. The controversy comes as the Congress seeks a substantial share of seats in the 403-member Assembly. Gautam recently said the party had submitted an initial list of 175 to 200 constituencies where it believed it could make an impact. 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 to launch Punjab Cong poll campaign from Sangrur on Nov 4
Chandigarh: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Sangrur on Nov 4 to launch the party’s poll campaign for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, state Congress chief Pargat Singh announced on Sunday. Ahead of the visit, AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and Punjab in charge Sachin Pilot arrived in Mohali to oversee preparations and review electoral strategy. Venugopal, welcomed by senior state leaders including Partap Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, expressed confidence in a Congress victory. Gandhi’s planned rally comes as the governing Aam Aadmi Party faces criticism over the state’s drug crisis and recent related deaths, which included the broad daylight murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa and death by suicide of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur district. Pargat Singh told the media that Punjab Congress had been “exempted” from the Nov 1 INDIA bloc ‘Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao’ rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan being held in protest against the CEC Gyanesh Kumar over preparations for Rahul’s rally and meetings. “The visit will provide fresh direction and momentum to the party’s election campaign from the heartland of Malwa, while sending a clear message to party leaders and workers to be fully prepared for Mission 2027,” Pargat Singh 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
Karnataka CM orders probe after three Dalit ministers stopped at Mysuru Dasara
Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has ordered an inquiry into an incident in which three ministers were stopped by police personnel while proceeding to the Nandidhwaja Pooja at Mysuru Palace on Tuesday, October 20. The incident triggered a political controversy, with the Opposition BJP and JD(S) alleging that the ministers were disrespected because they belong to the Dalit community.Buy Maps Shivakumar directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to identify those responsible for the incident and submit a report. “The officials acted high-handedly by restricting the ministers. I intervened immediately to facilitate their entry. Such irresponsibility cannot be tolerated. I have therefore ordered the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry and submit a report,” the Chief Minister said. Ministers stopped while proceeding to ritual The incident involved Ministers PM Narendraswamy, KS Basavantappa and Shivaraj Tangadagi, who were following the Chief Minister towards the venue of the Nandidhwaja Pooja at Mysuru Palace during the Dasara celebrations. Video footage of the incident shows a police officer stopping the three ministers as they attempted to proceed towards the venue. They were allowed to continue only after Shivakumar intervened and facilitated their entry.Book Local Tours The footage subsequently circulated on social media, drawing criticism from Opposition parties and raising questions about the security arrangements and treatment of elected representatives at the event. The Chief Minister’s decision to order an inquiry is expected to establish the circumstances in which the ministers were stopped and determine whether officials violated established procedures. BJP and JD(S) criticise incident The Opposition BJP and JD(S) strongly criticised the incident, alleging that the ministers had been subjected to disrespect because of their Dalit identity. The BJP also shared the video footage on social media. The episode prompted a political debate over whether the police action was a routine enforcement of security arrangements or an instance of inappropriate treatment of the ministers. Muzrai Minister KS Basavantappa said the ministers had not been informed of any protocol that restricted their movement during the ceremony. He questioned why they were stopped despite police personnel being aware of their positions in the government. “We would have known about any such protocol. There was no restriction on the ministers’ movements. I don’t know why we were stopped, despite the officers knowing that we were ministers,” Basavantappa said. He also demanded action against the officials involved in the incident. The inquiry ordered by Shivakumar will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the conduct of the personnel concerned. Parameshwara cautions against giving incident a caste angle Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara sought to play down the controversy, saying the police were carrying out their duties amid security and protocol arrangements for the Dasara event. He noted that although the ministers were initially stopped while the Chief Minister proceeded towards the venue, Shivakumar later returned and took them along. “Although the Ministers were initially stopped while the Chief Minister moved ahead, he later returned and took them along. The police were performing their duty. There is no need to create an unnecessary controversy over the matter,” Parameshwara said. He also objected to repeatedly identifying the three leaders as “Dalit Ministers”, questioning why their caste should be emphasised when referring to them in their official capacity. “Should every individual be identified by their caste? Are Ministers belonging to other communities referred to by their caste?” he asked. Parameshwara acknowledged that there could have been lapses in the handling of the situation but argued that the incident should not be turned into a major controversy. “I am not saying there were no lapses. Such mistakes can happen. But it is not appropriate to turn minor lapses into a major controversy,” he said. Inquiry to establish responsibility The incident has brought the conduct of security personnel at a major public ceremony under scrutiny, with differing views emerging within the ruling establishment and the Opposition over its significance. While Basavantappa has demanded action against the officials involved, Parameshwara has urged restraint and cautioned against interpreting the incident through a caste lens. The BJP and JD(S), meanwhile, have accused the authorities of disrespecting the ministers. Shivakumar’s directive to the Chief Secretary places the focus on the inquiry and its findings. The report is expected to clarify why the ministers were stopped, whether any protocol justified the action and who should be held accountable for any lapses. Courtesy : News Karnataka Note: This news is originally published on https:/newskarnataka.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi is PM because of Congress’ contribution to democracy, says Karnataka CM Shivakumar
Shivakumar’s comments came in response to Modi’s allegation that the Congress had spent years making repeated attempts to establish Rahul Gandhi as its prominent national leader. BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday asserted that the Congress played a pivotal role in establishing democracy in India, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes his position to the party’s contributions to the country’s democratic system. Shivakumar’s comments came in response to Modi’s allegation that the Congress had spent years making repeated attempts to establish Rahul Gandhi as its prominent national leader. “Congress has a long history. Even the PM knows that without Congress this country wouldn’t have seen democracy. This is a party which has given democracy. If at all he (Modi) is the PM today, it is due to the Congress Party’s contribution to India’s leadership and democracy,” Shivakumar told reporters. “One should not forget the root. If you forget the root, you will not get the fruit,” he said. Modi on Thursday had hit out at the opposition Congress, saying that while the world was searching for a “new order”, some people were dreaming of “disorder” in India. In a direct attack on the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Modi had said the Congress made more failed attempts to launch its leader than India made rocket launches from Sriharikota in a year. Responding to the BJP’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s repeated foreign trips, and its allegation that he returned from them and tried to destabilise the government, Shivakumar said the Congress leader was invited abroad by political leaders, business leaders and universities. “He is a leader. Many foreign political leaders, business leaders and universities request him. He is a leader whom the entire world is looking at,” he said. 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
‘No tweet yet for Raihan Vadra’: BJP floats ‘Priyanka vs Rahul’ angle amid Bikaner House exhibition row
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday alleged a rift within the Congress between siblings and Lok Sabha MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, pointing out that Rahul has yet to post a single tweet in support of his nephew, Raihan Vadra, Priyanka’s son. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of trying to “soft-launch” her son by “manufacturing” a controversy over the removal of certain photographs from Raihan Vadra’s exhibition by Delhi’s Bikaner House. “Priyanka Vadra’s entire attempt was to soft launch her son by manufacturing a controversy. She has lost political faith in Rahul Gandhi!” Bhandari wrote on X. — pradip103 (@pradip103) Claiming that Rahul Gandhi was on vacation in Vietnam, Bhandari added, “Rahul Gandhi who from Vietnam is tweeting on every issue under the sun, has till now not openly done a single tweet in favour of Raihan Vadra. It’s Priyanka vs Rahul in Congress!” The BJP spokesperson also shared purported screenshots of conversations between Raihan Vadra and Bikaner House, alleging that the 26-year-old had included political photographs in his exhibition despite being aware of the venue’s booking guidelines. Bhandari claimed the photographs were included under the Gandhi family’s ‘pressure’, prompting Bikaner House to ask Raihan to remove the political content. “Rehan Vadra’s email to Bikaner House dated 10 June & the proposal he sent to Bikaner House in the same mail had him declare the exhibition containing themes of nature, wildlife, artwork, sculpture! No Political content! To this Bikaner House accepted the proposal on 30 th June by reverting on the email!” Bhandari said. “Rehan was aware of the booking guidelines, this is is why his initial exhibition idea which he was working since 3 years had no political content! Under pressure of his family for a political launch, the political photographs were inserted later on to which Bikaner House reverted asking for removal on 21st October 2026!,” he added. A controversy erupted on Thursday after Raihan Vadra, son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, claimed that Bikaner House had asked him to remove photographs depicting the recent youth protests in Delhi just hours before the scheduled opening of his exhibition, No Idea Is Final, at 7 pm on Wednesday. Responding to the allegation, Bikaner House cited its management policy, stating, “Certain photographs from the exhibition ‘No Idea Is Final’ were found to be inconsistent with the policy of the Bikaner House Management Society and accordingly, their removal was requested.” 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 launches year-long campaign marking Dalit temple-entry centenary
Bhubaneswar: Congress on Thursday announced a year-long nationwide campaign to commemorate 100 years of the Dalit temple-entry movement, with meetings, seminars and public outreach programmes planned across major cities and pilgrimage centres ahead of a mega gathering in Tirupati in Oct 2027. Addressing a media meet at Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) office here, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Chinta Mohan said the centenary observances would begin around Oct 13 this year and continue till Oct 13, 2027. The campaign aims to highlight the struggle against untouchability. According to Mohan, programmes would be organised in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Bengaluru and Chennai, besides pilgrimage centres including Srisailam and locations in Kerala. He said leaders from different political parties, legal experts, intellectuals and social activists would be invited to participate in the events. Mohan attributed the Dalit temple-entry movement to the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and Congress, and recounted an incident involving a Dalit man, Murugan, at Tiruchanur temple near Tirupati nearly a century ago. He claimed that the episode eventually led to a campaign against untouchability and facilitated temple entry for Dalits. He said the year-long programme would culminate in a large public meeting in Tirupati in Oct 2027 to mark the centenary of the movement. Mohan also announced that Oct 13 would be observed annually as Dalit Rights Day. Alleging that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and minorities were yet to secure full political, economic and social equality, the Congress leader accused the BJP-led govt of undermining Dalit rights. Earlier, Mohan was felicitated at the OPCC headquarters by state Congress members. 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