CM’s ‘Gen Z’ push sparks buzz over young faces in Telangana Cabinet
Some believe Revanth is keen to give greater representation to young legislators, while others think move is aimed at enhancing Cong appeal HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s recent remarks on “Gen Z” have set off speculation within the Congress over the possible induction of younger MLAs into the state Cabinet during the impending expansion or reshuffle. Party leaders said the discussion has gained momentum, with many believing that Revanth is keen to give greater representation to younger legislators. The move is also being seen as an effort to strengthen the Congress’ appeal among young voters, not only in Telangana but across the country. According to senior party leaders, if the proposal goes ahead, one or two young MLAs could find a place in the Cabinet. They say the move would reflect Revanth’s political style while helping the party connect better with younger voters. Sources said Revanth is likely to take up the proposal with the Congress high command, arguing that projecting younger ministers could work in the party’s favour ahead of the next electoral cycle. The speculation has also led to some nervousness among sitting ministers, as any Cabinet expansion or reshuffle could change the existing political equations. According to party sources, the Cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected in August. They said discussions on the Karnataka Cabinet expansion are almost complete at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) level, after which the focus is likely to shift to Telangana. Young aspirants Following the chief minister’s remarks that Gen Z leaders should become ministers, the names of some of the Assembly’s youngest MLAs, including Mamidala Yashaswini Reddy, Mynampally Rohith Rao and Chittem Parnika Reddy, have begun doing the rounds in Congress circles. Party sources said there is a fair chance that one or two young legislators could be accommodated in the Cabinet. At the same time, there is also talk that up to three senior ministers could be dropped and given organisational responsibilities, either in the state unit of the party or at the national level. Congress leaders expect Revanth to discuss the issue with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who has consistently encouraged greater participation by young people in politics. They believe the induction of younger ministers could send a message beyond Telangana and help the party strike a chord with young voters across the country. Leaders familiar with the chief minister’s political thinking also believe he is likely to give more tickets to younger candidates in the next Assembly elections, particularly if the proposed delimitation exercise increases the number of Assembly constituencies. They say this would fit in with Revanth’s long-term political strategy in both Telangana and the Congress. Party leaders also point out that several first-time legislators are relatively young. They mention MPs Chamala Kiran Reddy, Kadiyam Kavya, K Raghuveer Reddy, Gaddam Vamshi Krishna and Anil Kumar Yadav, along with MLC Balmoor Venkat, as part of the younger leadership, even if they do not fall within the Gen Z age group. Senior Congress leaders also expect the party to field a larger number of candidates in the 40-45 age bracket at the next Assembly elections, especially if the number of constituencies increases from the present 119 to 182 following delimitation. Ireddy Srinivas Reddy 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’s statement, “A person who defends rapists has been appointed Education Minister,” sparked uproar in the Lok Sabha.
The ruling party strongly objected to Priyanka Gandhi’s statement in the Lok Sabha, calling it baseless and offensive against the Education Minister. Several ministers, including Kiren Rijiju, demanded an apology and action, while Priyanka Gandhi stated that she would verify her allegations through appropriate channels. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that after youth protests demanding reforms in the education system, PM Modi appointed a person who “defends rapists” as the country’s Education Minister. Rahul Gandhi targeted Education Minister Prahlad Joshi in the Lok Sabha following remarks made by party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka had made some comments about Joshi in the Lok Sabha, citing a newspaper report about the accused in the Bilkis Bano case being granted bail, which were expunged from the House proceedings. Following this, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament, “After protests by young people demanding reforms to the education system in the country, the BJP has appointed a person who defends rapists as the country’s Education Minister. There can be nothing more shameful than someone who advocates for the protection of rapists becoming the country’s Education Minister.” Taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “The Prime Minister’s move is strange. He has so many people in his cabinet; he could have appointed anyone as Education Minister, but he chose someone who defends rapists.” Later, Rahul Gandhi posted on X, “No one can be more despicable than someone who defends rapists. Prahlad Joshi is an insult to our education system and every student. Now, the institutions where millions of young women study will be under his supervision.” He emphasized that the women of India will never accept Prime Minister Modi’s new Education Minister. Uproar over Priyanka’s statement When Priyanka Gandhi mentioned this issue in the Lok Sabha, ruling party members objected, calling it a baseless and offensive remark against the Education Minister. The House witnessed a brief uproar over the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected, stating that the comments made regarding the new Education Minister were character assassination and that it was inappropriate to make such allegations without verification. Demand for an apology from Priyanka Gandhi He said that if Priyanka Gandhi cannot verify her allegations, she should apologize to the House. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that such statements should not be made in the House without facts. Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cannot get away with making such allegations. He demanded that the Congress MP apologize to the House and action be taken against her. Priyanka Gandhi said that she would verify her statement in the House through appropriate channels. Edited by: Ashok Upadhyay About the Author Ashok Upadhyay is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. He has 12 years of field reporting and desk work experience. He began his journalism career with Navbharat Times Hindi newspaper in 2014. He has extensive experience reporting on the political and crime beats. He also worked on the central desk at Amar Ujala Dehradun and has done ground reporting for several elections. He has been working on the news desk at NBT Digital for the last six years. Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress, BJP spar over Pralhad Joshi’s pick as education minister
NEW DELHI: Congress and BJP sparred over the choice of Union minister Pralhad Joshi being given the charge of the education ministry, with leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi accusing him of defending rapists and BJP’s chief spokesperson Anil Baluni hitting back by accusing Rahul of distorting facts for an individual’s character assassination. Rahul alleged that Joshi had, in a TV interview a few years ago, justified the release of those convicted of the gang rape of Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and dubbed the Union minister a “filthy man”. The charge, made after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had expunged remarks by Rahul’s sister, Wayanad MP and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, drew a fierce response from Baluni, “This is unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.” Accusing Rahul of making “misleading and factually incorrect” statements about Joshi’s TV interview, the Pauri Garhwal MP said, “Joshi never tried to defend anybody. He was commenting on the process of remission and made no comment on the merits of the case.” Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rahul said, “After all these young people protesting about the education system and so many girls protesting and being beaten and thrashed, BJP has given the charge of the ministry to a man who is a defender of rapists. There can be no filthier man than somebody who says rapists need protection. That is the education minister of India today.” He added, “It is strange. It’s a strange reaction from the Prime Minister. There are so many people in his cabinet. He could have chosen any one of them. But he chooses a person who protects rapists. It’s quite amazing.” Coming down hard on the Gandhi siblings, Baluni, head of BJP media cell, said the two should try to get their facts right and understand them. “They twist facts to suit what is convenient for them. They always make baseless charges to mislead people,” he 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
Delulu opposition thinks youth are with it, Rahul suffering from FOMO: NDA
NEW DELHI: BJP and its allies Tuesday lauded govt’s engagement with protesting students, asserted the youth believe in PM Narendra Modi’s ability to root out the menace of paper leaks and turned to Gen Z’s lingo to mock leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi as they mounted a sharp counterattack on the opposition in Lok Sabha. “I will tell you in Gen Z language. Because of this issue (protest), opposition thinks the youth are with them. There is no bigger ‘delulu’ than it. Gen Z knows if any govt is working, then it is Modi govt,” BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, accusing rivals of spreading cynicism and anarchy, while Modi has used the crisis to launch root-and-branch reforms in the education system. Another party MP Anurag Thakur hit out at opposition parties for using students for their political gains and cited numerous incidents of paper leaks when they were in office in different states. When SP was in office in UP, the state service commission served the interest of one caste, and its chairperson Anil Yadav’s appointment was struck down by HC, he said, amid noisy protest by SP members. Thakur’s attack followed govt’s robust defence from another party MP Bansuri Swaraj, who was the first speaker from the alliance, as she accused the opposition of “selective outrage” over paper leaks, saying such incidents frequently happened during the Congress-led UPA’s term in office. Amid opposition’s jibes, she said it was not about whataboutery but calling out the opposition. Targeting Congress, NDA members were prompt in sympathising with the concerns expressed by protesting students, asserting govt has heard them and offering suggestions to govt. Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde targeted Rahul over his protests, saying he sat on a dharna outside Modi’s residence as he thought he was “MIA” (missing in action) and suffered from ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out), but no student joined his demonstration. TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu suggested govt reform the burgeoning coaching system, suggesting it preyed on students’ aspirations. Its market is around Rs 56,000 crore and will zoom to Rs 1 lakh crore in 6-7 years, he said, adding education should not be profit-driven, a point backed by Shinde too. Alleging that opposition sent anti-social elements to the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar who used filthy language and abuses for Modi, the Shiv Sena member said the engagement with protesters underscored govt’s democratic commitment. “We did not confine ourselves to condemnation but took up the task of cleaning the system. Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on moral grounds and not because of you (opposition),” he said, praising a series of measures taken by govt to reform the examination system. 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
CJP warns of fresh protests if govt fails to honour FIR withdrawal promise; Kapil Sibal announces legal support
Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday accused the Centre of violating its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against protesters, alleging that hundreds of students had been arrested or were facing police action in several states despite the agreement reached before the outfit suspended its nationwide agitation. CJP also said it was awaiting the government’s promised written agreement on the withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters and organisers, and warned that it would be forced to resume its agitation if the assurance was not received by Tuesday. Addressing a press conference, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the issue was discussed during the third round of talks with the government before the 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar was called off. “In the third round of talks, we had agreed that all FIRs filed against protesters and organisers across the country would be withdrawn and no new FIR would be filed against any organiser and protester in future,” Ranka said. He said the CJP had submitted a draft agreement to Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, and it was agreed that the government would share a written agreement by Tuesday after legal consultations. “We are waiting for the government to share the written agreement. We hope a senior Cabinet minister will honour the agreement and FIRs will be withdrawn, no protester or organiser would be harassed, and no cases would be filed in future,” he said. Ranka said if the written agreement was not received by Tuesday and protesters and organisers arrested in connection with the agitation were not released, the outfit would be “forced to protest again”. In a statement posted on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation was witnessing a “complete breach” of the understanding reached with the government regarding police action against protesters. “We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harrassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi around detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics,” the statement said. In the statement issued Monday, the CJP said it had received “multiple reports” of students and other protesters being “targeted, detained, or arrested by various state agencies”, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. “The Cockroach Janta Party had called off its nationwide protest only after the Government of India assured us that no punitive action would be taken against any protester, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. The reports emerging from these states are therefore a matter of grave concern,” it said. The outfit said its legal team is coordinating with lawyers in concerned states to secure the release of those detained and provide legal assistance. It also urged the Centre, particularly Nadda and Singh, to honour the assurance given during the negotiations by ensuring the release of those detained and preventing any “coercive or retaliatory action” against protesters anywhere in the country. “The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too,” the statement said. “Our decision to suspend the nationwide protest was taken in good faith and solely on the basis of the government’s assurance that it would stand by its word. Any departure from that assurance would not merely amount to a breach of trust with the Cockroach Janta Party but would also be a breach of public trust with lakhs of young Indians who chose dialogue over protests,” it said. Warning that any breach of the assurance would be “completely unacceptable to the youth”, the CJP demanded that all detainees be released and all FIRs withdrawn immediately, failing which it would “take further necessary steps”. Das also said the CJP had been providing legal and medical assistance to protesters across the country since the beginning of the movement. Adding to its concerns, the CJP flagged reports of Instagram accounts linked to student activists and volunteers being taken down, alleging that the crackdown extended to digital platforms alongside on-ground action. CJP member Ratna Singh also alleged intensified police action across states, citing FIRs in Assam, arrests in Kolkata and detentions in Bihar, with stringent charges invoked in some cases. The organisation also announced the launch of ‘Saakshi’, an online platform where protesters can upload videos and photographs allegedly showing police action against protesters on July 20. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who also addressed the press conference, said no action should be taken against students who participated in what he described as an organic protest. Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. “We don’t want action to be taken against students who did a protest. It was an organic movement. Governments want no dissent,” Sibal said. “We have to make a website through which protesters can approach lawyers. I appeal to lawyers across the country to stand with these protesters,” 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 ri
Rahul-Akhilesh’s ‘UP ke Ladke’ chemistry puts youth anger at centre of UP’s 2027 political battle
The spirit of “UP ke Ladke” resurfaced at Jantar Mantar, where Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav stood with protesting students instead of sharing an election stage. LUCKNOW: The camaraderie between Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP and national president Akhilesh Yadav seen at Jantar Mantar during the recent students’ protests was a reminder of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when the two had come together as “UP ke Ladke”, an expression allegedly coined by Prashant Kishore. While Rahul Gandhi brought the visibility of the Leader of the Opposition, Akhilesh Yadav carried the electoral weight of Uttar Pradesh, the state that plays a decisive role in national politics and is set to go to the Assembly polls early next year. Together, they reframed the protest as a question of governance and accountability. However, will the political chemistry between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, combined with the alleged youth anger against the dispensation, be able to deliver major political gains to the INDIA bloc in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections? That will be interesting to watch. The ethos of “UP ke Ladke” was palpable in a very different setting at Jantar Mantar. This time, there was no electoral pitch, no seat-sharing talks and no campaign rally. There were protesting students instead. The NEET agitation, initially focused on alleged irregularities in the examination process, expanded to include unemployment, recruitment delays and declining trust in public institutions after Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav joined the protest. They might not have initiated the agitation, but their presence amplified its political significance and visibility. While Rahul Gandhi said the protest was not just about NEET or one examination but about the future of the youth, which was at stake, Akhilesh Yadav added that students in Uttar Pradesh were angry over delays in recruitment. “This is a fight for their future,” he said. Perhaps it was their presence that transformed the protest from a student-led agitation into a national political issue. For the Opposition, the issue fits into a wider narrative of unemployment and institutional failure. For Akhilesh Yadav, it is even more politically immediate, given Uttar Pradesh’s large population of competitive examination aspirants. Though the “UP ke Ladke” slogan failed to make much impact among voters in the 2017 Assembly elections, when both leaders campaigned together as the young faces of the Congress-SP alliance, the political symbolism endured. It resurfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress and Samajwadi Party jointly challenged the BJP in Uttar Pradesh under the INDIA bloc, changing the political landscape of the state. The Jantar Mantar appearance signals that this partnership is once again finding political space, this time around youth anger and examination-related distress. However, political experts believe the joint appearance of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav is politically significant and, if sustained, could shape the anti-incumbency mood among first-time voters in the 2027 Assembly elections. The camaraderie may strengthen Opposition unity in urban and semi-urban constituencies where examination-related frustration is most visible, political experts say. Though the BJP continues to maintain strong organisational dominance in Uttar Pradesh, youth anger operates on a different tangent, away from traditional caste-based politics. This makes the NEET controversy and broader issues surrounding the examination system potentially powerful political triggers. The real challenge for the ruling party is addressing the lived experience of aspirants who feel excluded from opportunities. “However, it is imperative for both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to expand the issue from NEET to jobs, recruitment, and education reform besides maintaining unity when electoral negotiations begin in the earnest,” said Prof A K Mishra, a political scientist. If the sentiment that their future is at stake deepens among the youth, the defining question of the 2027 Assembly elections may not be about caste arithmetic or party machinery. It could instead be about who succeeds in owning the politics of student anxiety, youth anger and the aspirations of a new generation of women voters. Namita Bajpai 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 ri
Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav arrested in Patna NEET protest case, sent to 14-day judicial custody
PATNA: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a case registered over a protest at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during demonstrations against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His lawyer, Jagannath Singh, alleged irregularities in the arrest process and said a bail plea could be moved on Monday. “An FIR was filed on July 26, whereas the arrest took place on the July 25, at 7:30 pm, from the city centre mall. I just submitted an application to the judge for his release. He told me to process the bail demand on Monday. I reached Naubatpur police station at 10:30 am. There were 2 SPs there. I asked them the reason behind his arrest. His family members don’t even know that he was under arrest since 7.30 pm. We still haven’t gotten the copy of the FIR,” Singh told reporters. Yadav was detained by Bihar Police on Saturday after joining students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak during a Bihar Bandh in Patna. Reacting to the arrest, JJD’s Bankipur by-election candidate Veena Manvi questioned the timing of the police action and alleged that party leaders had faced repeated “torture” since the start of the election campaign. “I don’t want to say anything. We’ve been tortured since the 13th. First, they (police) picked me on nomination day, then they picked him today. It seems like the entire Bankipur district is now dependent on the Janshakti Janata Dal. What’s wrong if we protest a little?… What crime did he commit? If the national flag was shown once among the children, was that a crime? And even if there was a crime in your opinion, they should have taken him away right then and there. But what’s the point in picking him up when he was having family time in the evening, going shopping? I also do not know the reason behind this.” Before being taken into custody, Yadav expressed support for the protesting students and urged the government to address their demands. “The children’s demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth,” he told reporters. His arrest came after violence erupted in Patna during a statewide Bihar Bandh called by several opposition parties and social organisations over the alleged NEET paper leak and recent police action against student protesters. A traffic police booth was allegedly vandalised during the protest, while clashes broke out between protesters and police. Stone-pelting was reported and police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The demonstrations were held across Bihar, with students demanding reforms in the education system and action over alleged irregularities in the examination process. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and vandalised police vehicles in Patna, prompting heavy police deployment. Pradhan has since stepped down following nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces.” Following his resignation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers. 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 ri
‘Modi govt fears truth and non-violence’: Rahul Gandhi on Ken-Betwa protest crackdown
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Narendra Modi government fears “both truth and non-violent resistance”, days after police dispersed tribal protests against the Ken-Betwa river linking project in BJP-led Madhya Pradesh.”The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh had sat on a water satyagraha and hunger strike because their land was taken away for the Ken-Betwa project, but they received neither fair compensation nor dignified rehabilitation,” the Lok Sabha leader of opposition wrote on X. Calling tribals the country’s “original owners”, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the first right over water, forests and land “belongs to them alone.” “And their ‘satyagraha’ is because that very right is being snatched from them today. In their unique way, their demand is simply this: provide a proper means of livelihood—or else life is no different from a funeral pyre. But even this is unacceptable to the BJP government. Instead of listening to them, their peaceful protest is being crushed with police force,” the Raebareli MP added. The former Congress chief expressed solidarity with the protesting tribal communities and asserted that his party would ensure justice, including fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for them. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video clip highlighting the protests in Madhya Pradesh. On July 19, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district removed protesters from the site, bringing their 15-day agitation to an end. The Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project is India’s first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. It aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares of land, provide drinking water to around 6.2 million people, and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 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 ri
BJP’s new strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, attempts to garner the Dalit vote
BJP’s ‘Harmony Mission’ in Uttarakhand, using Saint Ravidas as a vehicle, new strategy for the 2027 Assembly elections, politics intensifies, report by Dheeraj Sajwan Dehradun: Ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the BJP has decided to embark on its most significant social and political mission. To expand its reach among the Dalit vote bank in Uttarakhand, the BJP has launched a “Harmony Resolution Campaign” centered on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The party aims to further strengthen its hold on the state’s approximately 17% Dalit vote bank. To achieve this, the Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan will be launched in Uttarakhand, along with the entire country, in February next year, centering on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The BJP is describing this campaign as a program of social harmony and cultural awakening. However, the opposition is calling it an electoral strategy to garner Dalit votes. According to political analysts, this campaign is not merely a religious or social event, but also a major political exercise to shift social equations in its favor ahead of the 2027 elections. 107 Ravidas temples will be the focus of the campaign, with the BJP reaching the booth level: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express from Jalandhar. Following this, the BJP is now launching a national-level “Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan” leading up to the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. The campaign will begin with the lighting of lamps on Guru Parva on July 29th, and various programs will be organized across the country until February 20, 2027. Crucially, election-bound states, including Uttarakhand, have been given special focus. 107 temples dedicated to Sant Ravidas in the state have been designated as the focus of the campaign. From Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, urns containing sacred soil from the birthplace of Sant Ravidas will be delivered to several states, including Uttarakhand. Following this, Kalash Yatras, social dialogues, seminars, and booth-level programs will be organized. The party’s objective is to spread the message of social harmony among the Dalit community while also strengthening its organizational base. BJP state spokesperson Mathura Dutt Joshi said, Congress attacks, saying, “The campaign is not about harmony, it’s an election stunt.” Congress has reacted sharply to the BJP’s campaign. Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh called it an election stunt to influence the Dalit community. She said, “How can a party that has been accused of ignoring the ideas of Constitution maker Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and weakening the spirit of the Constitution, talk about harmony?” Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh said, “Large leaders like Lalu and Mulayam are the products of Lohia’s non-Congressism: Political analysts believe that the social and political structure of Uttarakhand is quite different from that of states like Uttar Pradesh. The Dalit community here has its own social history, local leadership, and distinct political behavior.” Senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that, Furthermore, senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik further adds that, Caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics: Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s non-Congressism movement gave a new direction to backward class politics, which later led to the emergence of leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav. He says that the BJP has also been conveying political messages from time to time through social representation. The recent appointment of Babita Sahotra to the Child Welfare Committee can also be considered part of this broader social strategy. According to him, the purpose of starting the campaign now is to ensure that this message continues to resonate with the society until the elections. Haridwar and Terai are the most focused areas, with the Bhim Army and BSP also a challenge: Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma believes that the BJP’s entire strategy in Uttarakhand has been designed with Haridwar and the Terai region in mind. According to him, the BJP did not achieve the expected success in the Haridwar district in the last assembly elections. In the 2022 elections, out of the 11 assembly seats in the district, the BJP was able to win only three: Haridwar, Roorkee, and BHEL Ranipur. The remaining seats were won by Congress, BSP, and independent candidates. Dalit voters played a decisive role in most of these areas. Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma says, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results in many assembly seats: According to Bhagirath Sharma, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results not only in Haridwar, but also in several assembly seats in the Pachhadun region of Dehradun, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital districts. This is why the party is already developing a network of social dialogue down to the booth level. Political experts believe that an important aspect of Uttarakhand politics is that the Dalit community has been deeply connected not only to national symbols but also to its local social leaders. Devbhoomi has given birth to numerous Dalit leaders and social reformers like Jayanand Bharti, Hari Prasad Tamta, and Khushi Ram Arya, whose social acceptance remains intact in many areas. In such a situation, the biggest question will be whether the national-level harmony campaign in the name of Saint Ravidas will be able to influence Uttarakhand’s local social symbols, or will the state’s politics continue to revolve around local social identities. However, it is certain that political parties’ activism and social campaigns aimed at the Dalit vote bank will intensify in the coming months ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The Dalit community can play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics: While the BJP is striving for social expansion through harmony, the Congress, BSP, and Bhim Army are facing the challenge of maintaining this same social base in their own ways. In such a situation, the Dalit community may once again play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Responsible for brutal assault on innocent students’: After Dharmendra Pradhan, opposition turns heat on Amit Shah, seeks resignation
NEW DELHI: The opposition is set to intensify its attack on the government in Parliament on Monday by demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Brittas said opposition parties would also raise the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, when Parliament resumes. The remarks come a day after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a 36-day agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with the government also accepting the protesters’ other key demands. “Last day, Shah said the government respected the youth who led the protest. Where was that respect for the last 36 days? When students were being beaten on the streets of the national capital, and their skulls were being cracked open, where was that respect?” Brittas said. “If there is even a grain of sincerity in those words, Amit Shah too should resign. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The home minister, who is responsible for this brutal assault on innocent students, must resign,” he added. Opposition prepares to corner government in Parliament Brittas said the opposition would support any move to strengthen laws against examination-related fraud but questioned the government’s decision to amend the existing legislation instead of ensuring its implementation. He noted that Parliament had enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in 2024 after the government claimed it would curb paper leaks. “Now the government is only proposing amendments to that law. The problem is not the absence of legislation but the lack of political will to enforce it and the authorities’ alleged compromise with vested interests,” he claimed. INDIA bloc parties are planning to seek an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting the NEET paper leak. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to home minister Amit Shah seeking accountability, while Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose has submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue. The opposition is expected to raise allegations regarding the use of pellet guns, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest, and injuries suffered by students. The government, meanwhile, is scheduled to introduce amendments to the anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks stricter penalties for paper leaks, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals involved, while organised crimes related to examination fraud could attract fines of up to Rs 10 crore. Questions over higher education secretary appointment Brittas also questioned the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, alleging that the officer had previously faced accusations of irregularities in the disbursal of central government subsidies. “Such an officer has now been appointed to head the department responsible for public examinations, where transparency and integrity are of utmost importance. All these issues will be raised during the discussion in Parliament,” he said. He further alleged that while authorities had released details of police personnel injured during the protests, no information had been made public about injured students. “The home ministry has released details of police personnel who were allegedly injured. But not a single detail has been made public about the protesters who were brutally assaulted. There is a complete veil of secrecy over their condition,” Brittas claimed. He said the identities and medical condition of injured students should be disclosed so that their families and organisations willing to assist them could provide support. Separately, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also blamed Amit Shah for the police action during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar. Raut alleged that students were attacked and women protesters were harassed, holding the home minister responsible for the incident. He also claimed Shah was responsible for “whatever bad and undemocratic is happening in the country.” The BJP rejected Raut’s remarks, with Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban asking the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader to focus on his “already depleted party”. The protests, which began on June 20 over the NEET paper leak, were called off on Saturday after the government accepted key demands of the protesters and Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister. The July 20 police action against protesters marching towards Parliament has since become a major flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging excessive use of force, including pellet guns. Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest, while the CRPF has not publicly responded to allegations involving its Rapid Action Force. 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