DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah to meet Congress high command in Delhi, bat for cabinet berths for loyalists
Though it is not confirmed yet, some 15-20 are likely to be sworn in and veterans who were part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet are keeping their fingers crossed. BENGALURU: Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and caretaker CM Siddaramaiah will be in Delhi on Monday to finalise the list of council of ministers with the Congress high command, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Though the power transition went off smoothly, the two leaders are likely to butt heads over the induction of their loyalists into the cabinet and prove their sway over the high command. They are expected to present their own list of legislators to take oath along with Shivakumar at Lok Bhavan’s glass house at 4.05 pm on Wednesday. Though it is not confirmed yet, some 15-20 are likely to be sworn in and veterans who were part of the Siddaramaiah cabinet are keeping their fingers crossed. They include Dr G Parameshwara, HK Patil, KH Muniyappa, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre, Ramalinga Reddy, Priyank Kharge, Krishna Byre Gowda, Santhosh Lad, Zameer Ahmed Khan, K Venkatesh, Shivaraj Tangadagi and Dr HC Mahadevappa. The names of a few new faces, including AS Ponnanna, Saleem Ahmed, Speaker UT Khader, NA Haris, BK Hariprasad, TB Jayachandra, Basavaraj Rayareddy and Puttaranga are doing the rounds. “I met CM-designate Shivakumar. I interacted with him on a few issues. It was cordial … I came here to congratulate him and wish him all the best. The cabinet formation will be done after the chief minister goes, discusses with the high command and key leaders,” former law minister HK Patil told reporters after meeting Shivakumar. MB Patil, Bangarpet MLA SN Narayanaswamy, Malavalli MLA PM Narendra Swamy and former chief whip in the Assembly Ashok Pattan also met Shivakumar. After the swearing-in, a partial cabinet will be in place and the remaining vacancies are likely to be filled after the June 18 polls to four Rajya Sabha and seven MLC seats, sources said. On Sunday, scores of ministerial berth aspirants, including former ministers identified with the Siddaramaiah camp, like Santhosh Lad and Mahadevappa, met Shivakumar. First-time MLAs Basavaraj Shivaganga from Channagiri and Darshan Dhruvanarayana from Nanjangud also met their mentor. Asked who would take oath as ministers along with him on Wednesday, Shivakumar said, “I don’t know that. The party high command will decide. I will not comment on it.” Yathindra meets Shivakumar Siddaramaiah’s MLC-son Dr Yathindra, who is most likely to be sworn in as minister in the Shivakumar cabinet, called on Shivakumar at the Kumara Krupa Guest House on Sunday evening. “I am a ministerial aspirant. The high command has also assured me that I will be made a minister. I am waiting in anticipation. First, let the high command decide on inducting me as minister. I am ready to handle whichever portfolio assigned to me,” he told reporters. “I had only met Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha and somewhere on the way. I wasn’t able to come to his office or home to congratulate him. So, I came to convey my wishes. No (major) discussions happened. Just a little talk about SIR and our Mysuru district politics,” he added. 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
In another blow to Mamata Banerjee, 9 TMC councillors quit, Diamond Harbour municipal board dissolved
KOLKATA: In yet another setback for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following its rout in the recent Bengal assembly elections, the board of Diamond Harbour municipality was dissolved on Sunday. This came after nine of the party’s councillors resigned, leading to the municipality going under administrative control. Diamond Harbour sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ayan Dattagupta has taken over as administrator of the civic body. It is the parliamentary constituency of Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banrejee. Eight of the nine councillors of the 16-ward municipality had sent in their resignations on May 25, while the ninth resigned on Sunday, leading to the dissolution of the board. They cited financial irregularities within the civic body, police harassment and intimidation as reasons for resigning. Administrative sources said municipal chairman Pranab Das forwarded the resignations to the state urban development and municipal affairs department, which then ordered the dissolution of the board. 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 has never had a Dalit CM so far’: Congress leader SR Patil
BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader SR Patil said it is natural for people from the “downtrodden and marginalised communities” to hope that someone from their fold becomes the Karnataka Chief Minister. Patil noted that Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister so far. He also said that Dalit leader G Parameshwara has been given due respect. Speaking to reporters, he said, “The downtrodden people are protesting. It is quite natural for anyone to aspire to become the Chief Minister. Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister so far. Therefore, it is natural for people from the downtrodden and marginalised communities to hope that someone from their community becomes the Chief Minister and to express that aspiration through protests. I do not agree with the view that G Parameshwara has not been given importance. He is a senior leader of the Congress party and has been given due respect and an appropriate position both in the party and in the government. I am very proud of the government. The government is functioning well, and I am proud of its achievements”.. Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar will meet the party high command in New Delhi on Monday to discuss cabinet berths and other key political developments, Congress sources stated. Earlier on Sunday, DK Shivakumar said that he does not know how many leaders will be inducted into his cabinet and will take oath with him on June 3. When asked if other leaders would be sworn in with him, he told reporters in Bengaluru, “I don’t know. Whatever the party high command decides will happen.” Shivakumar, after his three-year stint as the Deputy Chief Minister, is set to assume the office as the Karnataka CM. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 3 at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. DK Shivakumar formally submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot informing him about his unanimous election as CLP leader. This came after the voluntary resignation of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on May 28. The Governor dissolved the previous Council of Ministers immediately, but asked Siddaramaiah to continue until the new government is sworn in. Courtesy : Public TV English Note: This news is originally published on https:/publictvenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
VCK panel lauds Thirumavalavan for backing TVK, hails CM Vijay for inducting 8 Dalit minister
The committee also passed a resolution expressing appreciation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for appointing eight Dalit ministers to key portfolios in the State Cabinet. CHENGALPATTU: The Chengalpattu district executive committee of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) passed a resolution congratulating party president Thol Thirumavalavan for extending support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form a government despite the party not securing a majority on its own. The committee also passed a resolution expressing appreciation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for appointing eight Dalit ministers to key portfolios in the State Cabinet. The resolutions were adopted at the district executive committee meeting held at a private marriage hall near Singaperumal Koil on Saturday. The meeting, held under the direction of Thirumavalavan, was chaired by district secretary Kethu alias Thennavan. VCK headquarters secretary Thagadur Tamizhchelvan attended as a special invitee and addressed party functionaries. Another resolution urged party functionaries from the district to participate in large numbers in the VCK awards function and conference scheduled to be held in Chennai on June 14. The meeting further resolved to intensify publicity efforts for the conference through wall posters, banners and grassroots mobilisation, with a target of bringing more than 5,000 participants from the district. The district executive committee also urged the Tamil Nadu government to install a 125-foot statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in the State, similar to those established in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Courtesy : DT Next Note: This news is originally published on https:dtnext.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Telangana CM warns SIR could affect Dalits, Adivasis, and migrant workers’ voter registration
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has raised concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, set to begin in Telangana in June 2026. He highlighted potential risks for vulnerable groups, particularly Dalits, Minorities, Adivasis, Tribals, and migrant workers, whose names might be removed during the revision process. During a Congress Political Affairs Committee meeting, the Chief Minister cautioned that the SIR could pose significant challenges for Lambada, Adivasi, and migrant workers. He said, “In several constituencies, a significant number of people have migrated elsewhere. The possibility of the omission of votes of Dalits, minorities, and women was also not ruled out in the SIR.” Conversely, Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao stated that the SIR has no political motives and is a routine task carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Speaking to ANI, he explained that the objective of the SIR is to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by removing discrepancies, similar to exercises conducted in West Bengal and other states. He added, “Like in Bengal and other places, where the fake voters and illegal immigrants are there, they will be deleted. And what Bengal has done, or what the SIR has done, is detect, delete, and deport. So this is what a voter list has to see–whether the voter list contains the real names, whether there are any fake voters in there, whether there are any dead voters, or whether there are any transferred and shifted voters. So SIR has no political overtones in it. It is a regular exercise done by the Election Commission of India.” The Telangana Congress has called for the SIR process to be conducted with transparency. A delegation of state Congress leaders has met with the State Chief Electoral Officer, urging that the revision be carried out transparently and extended over a sufficient period, noting no major elections are scheduled in the state. On May 14, 2026, the Election Commission of India announced the Phase-III Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across 16 States and three Union Territories, covering over 360 million electors, including Telangana. The Commission said the revision would be coordinated with the ongoing house listing component of the Census to ensure efficient use of resources. For Telangana and Punjab, the qualifying date is October 1, 2026. The schedule includes a preparation phase from June 15 to June 24, 2026; Booth Level Officer visits from June 25 to July 24, 2026; and rationalisation completed by July 24, 2026. The draft electoral roll will be published on July 31, 2026, with claims and objections open between July 31 and August 30, 2026. The notice phase and disposal will continue from July 31 to September 28, 2026, and the final roll will be published on October 1, 2026. Courtesy : TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
YSRCP MP urges Justice Balakrishnan Commission to grant SC status to Dalit Christians
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has written to the Chairperson of the Justice Balakrishnan Commission requesting the inclusion of Dalit Christians under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, to secure constitutional equality, social justice, and statutory protection. A YSRCP delegation led by Gurumoorthy met the commission’s Chairperson in New Delhi on Saturday, submitting a representation that seeks to extend Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians. In the letter, Gurumoorthy stated, “I most respectfully submit this representation before the Hon’ble Justice Balakrishnan Commission seeking inclusion of Christians of Scheduled Caste origin within the ambit of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, in furtherance of the constitutional principles of equality, secularism, social justice, and substantive non-discrimination.” The MP cited a unanimous resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 24, 2023, in which former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSR Congress Party acknowledged that Dalit Christians remain socially and economically backward, and recommended their inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list. Gurumoorthy wrote, “It is pertinent to submit that the former Chief Minister, Shri Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on behalf of the YSR Congress Party, through a unanimous resolution adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on 24 March 2023, categorically resolved that Dalit Christians continue to remain socially, educationally, and economically backward to the same extent as Scheduled Castes professing Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, and accordingly supported their inclusion in the Scheduled Castes list.” He alleged that Dalit Christians face social, educational, and economic disadvantages similar to other Scheduled Castes despite exclusion based on religion. He noted that conversion to Christianity does not erase caste identity or the historical discrimination experienced by the community. Gurumoorthy argued, “The continued exclusion of Dalit Christians constitutes an arbitrary religion-based classification lacking any rational nexus with the constitutional object of protective discrimination. Conversion to Christianity has neither extinguished caste identity nor eliminated the historical and continuing social disabilities attached to their caste origin. Despite exercising freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution, Dalit Christians continue to face caste-based exclusion, social segregation, economic deprivation, and institutional discrimination.” He further stated that this exclusion undermines the constitutional mandate under Article 46, which obliges the State to protect weaker sections from social injustice and exploitation. He claimed that Dalit Christians suffer caste-based disadvantages identical to other Scheduled Castes but remain outside the scope of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, resulting in a legal and statutory gap. Gurumoorthy asserted, “The present legal position also frustrates the constitutional vision under Article 46, which obligates the State to protect weaker sections from social injustice and exploitation. Despite suffering identical caste-based vulnerabilities, Dalit Christians remain excluded from protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 solely on account of religion, thereby creating a serious constitutional and statutory vacuum.” The MP emphasised that Article 341(2) empowers Parliament to include communities in the Scheduled Castes list, and urged that this authority be exercised in accordance with current social realities and constitutional principles. He concluded, “It is respectfully submitted that Article 341(2) expressly empowers Parliament to include communities within the Scheduled Castes list by law. The constitutional power vested therein must now be exercised in consonance with contemporary social realities and constitutional morality.” Courtesy : TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
LJP launches ‘Towards the Villages’ campaign in Bhadohi: Dalit Chaupal in Tulapur, emphasis on social justice and organizational expansion
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) organized a Dalit Chaupal and rural public dialogue program in Tulapur village of the Gyanpur assembly constituency in Bhadohi district, aimed at promoting social justice, constitutional rights, and organizational expansion. This program marked the launch of the party’s ambitious campaign, “LJP Goes to the Villages,” in Bhadohi district. A large number of people from the Pasi community, Dalits, backward classes, and all sections of society participated in this program. On this occasion, party leaders pledged to go from village to village, strengthening the organization and spreading the party’s policies and ideology to the last person in society. In his address, Advocate Rajiv Pasi, the chief guest and former President of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), highlighted the contributions of the party’s founder and former Union Minister, the late Ram Vilas Paswan, to social justice and Dalit upliftment. He said that throughout his political career, the late Paswan strongly raised the voice of the poor, the exploited, the deprived, and the Dalit community on the national stage. Postage Stamps Released Pasi stated that due to the efforts of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, postage stamps were issued in honor of Maharaja Bijli Pasi and the brave woman Uda Devi Pasi. He also played a key role in installing the portrait of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Parliament House. He said that today the party is reaching out to every village with those same ideals and thoughts. Bhadohi in-charge and State General Secretary Kamal Tiwari said that the party has launched a comprehensive campaign of village-level meetings in Bhadohi district. He expressed confidence that in the future, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will play an important and decisive role in Bhadohi politics. Addressing the workers, Tiwari said that organizational expansion will be given priority. The target has been set to add 10,000 new workers to the party within the next month. To this end, village-wide gatherings, membership drives, and outreach programs will be organized. Satyam Pandey | Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar) Courtesy: Hindi News
2027 Assembly Polls: UP Cabinet Expansion Reveals BJP’s Electoral Vulnerabilities
By trying to concede more space to OBCs and Dalits, the BJP has acknowledged the Opposition’s improved caste arithmetic as well as the hard bargaining potential of these communities. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with cabinet ministers performs ‘Ganga Pujan’ during a visit to review preparations for the ‘Magh Mela 2026’, at Sangam, in Prayagraj, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Photo: PTI New Delhi: Whether driven by social engineering, compulsions of transactional coalition politics or a defensive response to electoral reverses in 2022 and 2024, there is a jump in Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Dalit castes in Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s council of ministers. Adityanath is serving his second term as chief minister in Uttar Pradesh and faces a tough assembly election next year. An analysis by The Wire of ministerial berths assigned since Adityanath came to power in 2017 makes this shift in their caste composition more visible. In comparison to his first tenure, Adityanath’s current stint has allocated significantly more space to OBCs and Dalits at the direct expense of the traditional ‘upper castes’ (UCs). However, notwithstanding the gradual increase in representation of the marginalised and backward Hindu communities, UCs, in particular Brahmins and Thakurs, continue to enjoy ministerial berths disproportionately higher than their population in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) rule. Brahmins and Thakurs are the single biggest beneficiaries of ministerial posts under Adityanath 2.0 with a combined strength of 15, which is 25% of the total berths. In comparison, Dalits, who make up 21.5% of the state’s population, have only 18% representation in the council of ministers. This is only marginally better than the 15% representation they enjoyed during the tail-end of Adityanath’s first government. Looking ahead With the assembly elections less than a year away, the BJP has started the process of adjusting its caste arithmetic. After capturing vast swathes of the electoral field in India’s largest and most politically significant state in the 2014 and 2017 elections, the saffron party has been constantly losing ground. This makes the 2027 assembly election the first one the BJP would fight since 2014 on the heels of a popular defeat in the state in the 2024 parliamentary polls. The BJP’s gameplan in UP has primarily hinged on projecting the unity and representation of Hindus, cutting across caste lines. Last week, Adityanath expanded his council of ministers to its maximum allowed strength (60). Six new ministers, including two cabinet ministers, were inducted into Adityanath’s team, while two existing ministers were promoted with independent portfolios. Of these six new ministers, five hail from backward and Dalit Hindu castes. The cabinet expansion and induction of ministers from these communities is part of a considered narrative to project caste balance among different Hindu ‘jatis’. The BJP’s caste realignment also appears to be a direct defensive reaction to a resurgent Opposition led by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. The SP chief has made concerted efforts to shift from a rigid ‘Muslim-Yadav’ image, pivoting towards a broader caste rainbow under the banner of PDA (Pichda-Dalit-Alpsankhyak). This reinvention of Mandal politics through a Kanshi Ram-esque formula of ‘proportional representation’ has significantly altered the caste game in the state. The ruling party’s cabinet provides a clear window into the broader socio-political dynamics of its rule. The Wire extracted the caste background of every minister in UP under the two governments of Adityanath and compared them at their peak strength – September 2021 for the first term and May 2026 for the second term. During his first tenure (2017-2022), Adityanath’s council of ministers had a higher percentage of UCs. Out of the 60 ministers, 27 (45%) were UC, while 23 (38.3%) were OBC and nine (15%) were Dalits. The government also had a single token Muslim minister. In comparison, in his second term, the share of OBC and Dalit representation has increased. The number of UC ministers has fallen: of the 60 ministers, 26 (43.3%) are OBC, 22 (36.7%) are UC and 11 (18.3%) are Dalits. The number of Muslims remains the same – one. The second Adityanath government has three more OBCs, two additional Dalits and five fewer UCs than during the first term. It is important to point out that OBCs are the single largest bloc in the state, estimated to be between 40 to 45%, or perhaps even higher. Dalits make up 21.5% of the population while Muslims are 19.5%. UCs such as Brahmins, Tyagis, Bhumihars, Thakurs, Baniyas, Kayasthas and Khatris make up the rest. The redistribution of power becomes even more pronounced while examining the representation of cabinet ministers, the most powerful tier of the three ministerial categories. During his first term, Adityanath had 24 cabinet ministers, including himself. An overwhelming 16 (66.7%) berths belonged to UCs. OBCs lagged far behind with just seven (29.2%) cabinet ministers while Dalits had a solitary representative (4.1%). In comparison, today the 23-member cabinet presents a vastly different social profile. OBCs have leaped ahead to hold 11 berths (47.82%), while UC have dropped to 10 (43.47%) and Dalits hold two (8.69%). The Adityanath 2.0 cabinet, the core team of senior ministers, comprises four Brahmins, three Kurmis, two each from the Thakur, Rajbhar, Bhumihar, Jat and Jatav communities, and one each from the Baniya, Noniya Chauhan, Maurya-Kushwaha, Khatri, Nishad and Lodhi Rajput castes. Adityanath is himself a Kshatriya or ‘Thakur’. This increased representation of OBCs in the cabinet can partly be attributed to the BJP’s increasing dependence on smaller OBC allies. Out of the 23 cabinet ministers, four (three OBCs and one Dalit) belong to BJP’s allies. These are the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Apna Dal (Soneylal), Nishad Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Upper castes overrepresented at the cost of Muslims But there is another side to this reality. UCs still continue to be overrepresented under the BJP because the BJP does not field Muslim candidates in elections. With no need to make Muslims ministers, the party can make more OBCs and Dalits ministers, while keeping the UCs overrepresented
CBSE ignored Globarena track record in Telangana: KT Rama Rao
Expressing support for Class 12 students protesting the marks fiasco, Rama Rao said students and parents had every right to seek transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. HYDERABAD: Pointing out that Globarena, the company at the centre of the ongoing CBSE marks controversy, was the same firm responsible for the Telangana Intermediate results debacle in 2019, BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday accused the CBSE authorities of ignoring warning signs despite its track record. “It is unfortunate that Globarena, the same company that botched the Telangana Intermediate results in 2019, appears to have merely changed its name and gone on to secure an even bigger contract from the CBSE, only to create much larger chaos affecting students across the country,” he said. Expressing support for Class 12 students protesting the marks fiasco, Rama Rao said students and parents had every right to seek transparency and fairness in the evaluation process. Recalling the 2019 Intermediate results controversy, he said the then BRS government had constituted a three-member committee, removed officials concerned and initiated legal action against Globarena based on the panel’s findings. Rama Rao further alleged that despite its controversial history, the CBSE Board continued to accommodate the company. Meanwhile, the BRS working president also accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil promises made to unemployed youth and students under its ‘Youth Declaration’ and urged them to question the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the unfulfilled assurances. Addressing party functionaries in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency, Rama Rao alleged that promises of jobs, a job calendar and support for youth facing injustice remained unfulfilled even after the Congress came to power. He also asked party workers to remain alert during the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in Telangana, warning of possible irregularities in voter registration and verification by the Congress and BJP. 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
‘A chat with anti-national Soros agents’: Rahul Gandhi’s dig at BJP as he meets CBSE students
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a swipe at the BJP-led central government as he met CBSE class 12 students, who were labelled “anti-national”, “Pakistani” and “Soros agents” on social media after they raised concern over incorrect answer sheets. A massive uproar erupted after a student claimed that an answer sheet uploaded by CBSE under his roll number did not belong to him, which later prompted the board to acknowledge an error and intensified scrutiny of its evaluation process. The remarks come days after the Central Board of Secondary Education acknowledged that an incorrect Physics answer sheet had been uploaded under Vedant’s roll number and subsequently shared the correct answer book with him. Sharing a video of his interaction with Class 12 student Vedant Shrivastava and his friends, Rahul Gandhi criticised those who had targeted the student online after he raised concerns about discrepancies in his CBSE Physics answer sheet. “A revealing chat with my fellow “anti-national Soros agents.” Vedant and his friends are brilliant, brave young Indians who asked CBSE and the Modi government simple questions – but got insults instead of answers. They deserve a bright and secure future. We will make sure they get it,” Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X. The remarks come days after the Central Board of Secondary Education acknowledged that an incorrect Physics answer sheet had been uploaded under Vedant’s roll number and subsequently shared the correct answer book with him. In the video shared by Rahul Gandhi, Vedant recalled the backlash he faced after publicly raising the issue. “They started calling us anti national and Pakistani,” the student said. He added that some people believed “that we are some deep state agents that are trying to create a rest in India.” Responding to the student’s account, Rahul Gandhi criticised the attacks directed at him. “And your students, I mean, you’ve got nothing to do with anything. You’re asking for your answer sheet, that’s all. Now suddenly you become anti nationals. You have to accept the problem if you want to solve the problem,” Rahul Gandhi said. “You’re just refusing to accept that the problem. You’re blaming the poor kids and saying, you know, you’re deep state, you’re spies or terrorists,” he added. The controversy began after Vedant claimed that the Physics answer sheet uploaded by CBSE under his roll number did not belong to him. His posts on social media gained widespread attention, triggering a debate over the board’s newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system and the process for accessing evaluated answer books. Following a review, CBSE acknowledged the error and informed the student that the correct answer sheet had been sent to his registered email address. The board also said that steps were being taken to update his result, if required. 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