Congress appoints 29 observers amid alliance debate in Bihar
Patna: A day after state Congress legislators and senior functionaries met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in Delhi amid talks of a split and strain in the alliance with RJD, the All India Congress Committee on Saturday appointed 29 observers “for the selection of district presidents” to revamp the organisation following the humiliating defeat of the opposition Mahagathbandhan in the Bihar elections. Meanwhile, the RJD national executive committee meeting is scheduled to be held in Patna on Sunday. As Valmikinagar MLA Surendra Prasad told reporters that legislators conveyed their opinion to the leadership to sever ties with RJD and strengthen the organisation for “better results” in the future, union minister and HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi said it would be good for Congress if it decided to break away from RJD. “Bahut der kar di hujoor aate aate (took too long to arrive). Except a few, people in general hate RJD,” Manjhi said during his ‘Litti with Manjhi’ programme in Patna, which was attended, among others, by governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Nitish Kumar. Surendra Prasad said Congress would try to contest the next elections on its own. He told the media that Rahul Gandhi had also given his consent. On speculation about Congress MLAs deserting the party, he said they assured Rahul that they had emerged victorious even amid the NDA wave and would not go anywhere. However, Chanpatia MLA Abhishek Ranjan told this newspaper on Saturday that no such decision was taken by the central leadership regarding severing ties with RJD. “The Delhi meeting on Friday was held to discuss strengthening Congress at district and block levels. RJD is still our respected ally. Some leaders may have their personal opinions on the alliance,” he said. Abhishek also denied reports of a possible change in the state Congress president and said discussions focused on reorganising the party at district and block levels, followed by booth-level strengthening. Sources said Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, who was a special invitee to the meeting, along with a few legislators and leaders, requested the central leadership to go solo in Bihar if the party was to regain lost ground. Congress won only six assembly seats in the Nov elections, compared to 19 in the 2020 polls. Senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan has categorically stated that the party suffered in the assembly elections due to RJD’s image and the alliance. 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
Dhanbad: Dalit Community Outraged Over De-reservation of Municipal Corporation Seat, Holds Massive Protest at Randhir Verma Chowk
Dhanbad Municipal Corporation Elections: Dalit Community Outraged Over Loss of SC Seat. Massive protest at Randhir Verma Chowk, know what’s happening in the High Court. Dhanbad/Jharkhand: Amidst the buzz of the upcoming local body elections, the Dalit community’s anger has erupted against the government’s decision to de-reserve the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation seat. On Thursday, hundreds of people from the community held a one-day protest at Randhir Verma Chowk over this issue. The protesters strongly opposed the state government’s decision, calling it discriminatory and demanding its immediate withdrawal. Those participating in the protest said that based on the 2011 caste census, the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation seat was reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. However, recently the government has declared it unreserved, causing widespread anger among the Dalit community. The protesters termed this move an attack on their constitutional rights and a conspiracy to eliminate their social representation in local governance. Slogans raised against the government Those present at the protest site raised slogans against the government and alleged that the administration is undermining social justice by disregarding established rules. They said that this de-reservation decision has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community and threatens to weaken their political participation in the municipal administration. Case in High Court, judgment reserved Addressing the crowd, social activist Shantanu Chandra, also known as Bablu Paswan, said that a legal battle has been initiated against this injustice. He informed that a petition challenging the government’s decision was filed in the Ranchi High Court. The hearing on this matter has been completed and the court has reserved its judgment. “We will not remain silent against injustice” Shantanu Chandra further said that the community has full faith in the judiciary and hopes that the outcome will be in their favor. However, they questioned the government’s intentions, stating that their struggle would continue until justice is served and the decision is reversed. They declared defiantly, “We have full respect for the judicial process, but at the same time, we will not remain silent against injustice.” The protesters warned that if the government did not reconsider its decision, the movement would be intensified in the coming days. The protest concluded peacefully, with everyone reiterating their resolve to continue fighting for their rights through both legal and democratic means. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
How the 16-year-long Namantar Andolan led by Dalit communities created a new aesthetic in literature
The campaign, which began in 1978, sought to rename Marathwada University in recognition of Dr BR Ambedkar’s contribution to social welfare. This statement was in response to the historic Namantar Andolan, a 16-year struggle waged by Dalits to rename Marathwada University in recognition of Dr BR Ambedkar, not as an act of charity to Dalits, but as a right, challenging the dominant cultural and moral order and asserting normative self-esteem. Started in 1978, it finally culminated in 1994 with Namvistaar, naming the university D Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), portraying the “moral incapacity” of the social order, reflected in the state, to accept the dignity of Dalits, exposing the fault lines that run deep due to the psychic prevalence of conscious/unconscious caste-feudalism. This movement is marked by several notable events – the Long March, inspired by the Chinese Long March; the famous Jail Bharo Andolan; a unique show of Dalit-Muslim solidarity; and the creation of the novel “Dalit Public.” The movement spread across Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Dalit literature, which asserted the aesthetic equality of being Dalit, breaking free from the traditional, graded, hierarchical, phallocentric caste system, played a crucial role in this movement, not just contributing to the literary writings, but also acting as a conscience-building tool. From ‘reform’ to ‘radical’ This provided a further impetus to Dalit literature, in which Dalit writers crafted a new language of protest based on anger, using that which challenged the Brahmanical hegemony in the space of literature, i.e., through a defiant public spectacle, and the crafting of an antithetical, vernacular Ambedkarite counter-public that countered the Brahmanical public sphere by bypassing mainstream media, non-state actors, and academic gatekeeping. The ballads of Shahid Vilas Ghogare, songs sung by Vitthal Umap and Shambhaji Bhagat, the poetry of Aai by Jyoti Lanjewar, and an intellectual platform like Asmita Darsha, edited by Gangadhar Pantawane, along with numerous poems and writings in the regional languages, documented this historic struggle as a “public spectacle” of anguish. Thus, Dalit literature can be seen here employing the politics of montage – dialectical montage, symbolic montage, and parataxic syntax. Dialectical syntax may be seen in Shahir Vilas Ghogare’s lines, where he presents a contradiction: urban Dalits, who boast of staying in cities – Pune and Mumbai – saying “Jai Bhim”, yet live like the worthless. This can also be connected to the deployment of symbolic montage, where Dr Ambedkar aimed to break the shackles of caste-class-feudalism in villages and encourage Dalits to migrate to cities for their socio-economic and political emancipation. But the verses also point to the Dalits still facing atrocities based on caste, where they have to hide their caste even in the urban areas. Throughout the song, there is an episode of Pochiram Kamble, who was well-off materially but was killed for supporting the movement and saying the words “Jai Bheem.” Thus, Ghogare puts forth a deeper understanding of the machinations of caste in urban-rural areas, whose assault continues in both tangible and intangible realms, helping in understanding the opposition and hatred to Dr Ambedkar’s name for renaming the Marathwada University. The performance of this ballad was a chaotic juxtaposition of the deployment of heterogeneous elements – vernacular language, use of abuse in the composition, and the imagery that demonstrated the undignified living of Dalits in urban areas, the continuation of caste atrocities on Dalits in rural areas, and the denial of material rights to the Dalits, despite being legal citizens, in the independent republic of caste, demonstrating a “caste world” permeated by the banality of caste-evil. The Dalit feminist standpoint “I have seen you At the front of the Long March The end of your sari is tucked tightly at the waist Shouting, “Change the name” Taking the blow of the police stick on your upraised hands Going to jail with head held high…” The above lines have been excerpted from the poem Aai by poet Jyoti Lanjewar, who foregrounds the participation of women in the Namantar Andolan, especially by portraying the image of the “labouring mother” in the famous long march of 1979. Women were not mere passive agents but active participants fighting the brutality of the state and society from the forefront. Her other collections, such as Disha and Ajuna Vadal Uthale Nahi, are agencies that evoke images of Dalit women, where these visuals correct the anomalies in history, foreground her-story, and create a political resonance. The writings of Urmila Pawar, especially Aydaan, document the impact the movement had on her as she navigated the complexities of being a Dalit woman, making and unmaking her identity. Women like Jamnabai Appa Gaikwad, Sangeeta Deepak Pradhan, and Rukhmini Sakharam Satpute, who participated in this movement actively, represent the her-stories – portrayal of a distinct Dalit-feminist standpoint, where Dalit women, in the words of Uma Chakravarti, face “multiple patriarchies.” Later, due to the breathing space provided by the experiences of this movement, during as well as after the movement, there was a flood of writings by Dalit women, putting forth their saga, stories, and struggles in works like Jina Amucha by Babytai Kamble, Majhya Jalmachi Chittarkatha by Shantabai Kamble, Antahsphot by Kumudtai Pawade, and many more. Thus, the Namantar Aandolan brought about a metamorphosis in Dalit literature, which rejected liberalism as orthodox piety, employed strong yet raw language, and served as the agency of historical documentation – the martyrs, such as Pochiram Kamble, Gautam Waghmare, Vilas Dhone, Janardhan Mavde, and others, were documented. In the words of George Lukacs, literature captures the totality of this struggle – the power structure and the forces and their agencies that exercise power, looking beyond subjectivity and going beyond individualistic accounts to provide a collective narrative of the struggle as a whole. Nikhil Sanjay-Rekha Adsule Courtesy : Scroll Note: This news is originally published on https:/scroll.in/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress dismisses defection buzz as state MLAs meet Kharge, Rahul
Patna/New Delhi: The Congress on Friday dismissed reports that its six newly elected MLAs in Bihar were on the verge of deserting the party, even as the legislators attended a closed-door meeting with the party’s top leadership in Delhi and were asked to step up public engagement across the state. The meeting, held at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was attended by leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, along with the six MLAs and senior leaders from Bihar. The interaction came amid speculation triggered by the delay in the appointment of the Congress legislature party (CLP) leader in the Bihar assembly and rumours of possible defections to the JD(U). After the meeting, Venugopal rubbished the speculation. “There were rumours that all our MLAs are deserting our party. But they were present in the meeting. These are all bogus news. These types of rumours being spread against the Congress are completely baseless,” he said. The high command also directed the MLAs and senior state leaders to actively take up both major and local issues of public concern and carry the party’s ideology directly to the people. This instruction was issued even as the decision on the CLP leader was deferred. “The matter related to the selection of the CLP leader was discussed at the meeting with the high command. It would be announced shortly by the high command,” a senior Congress lawmaker from the state, who attended the meeting, said. He added that the discussions were held in a “very cordial atmosphere”. Another party source said all six MLAs were present and each of them, along with MPs and MLCs, shared their views and concerns about the state unit. “None of the six MLAs absented themselves from the meeting,” the source said. Former state Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha said, “The participants returned happy and satisfied.” According to party sources, the meeting reviewed the assembly election outcome, organisational issues and the delay in naming the CLP leader, even as the budget session of the Bihar assembly is scheduled to begin from Feb 2. Rahul urged leaders to consistently raise people’s issues before the govt and return to the public, while Kharge stressed sustained mobilisation on the streets to rebuild the party in Bihar. 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
Dalit Youth Brutally Beaten in Rampur: Four Villagers Accused, Dispute Arose While Returning from Market
Rampur. A serious case of assault on a Dalit youth has come to light in Purainia Kala village of Milak tehsil in the district. It is alleged that four people from the same village verbally abused and attacked the youth with sticks and rods, leaving him seriously injured. The injured youth reached the Milak police station and demanded strict legal action against the accused. The victim has been identified as Harpal. Harpal told the police that he is originally from Purainia Kala village but currently lives in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, where he works in a factory. He had come to his ancestral village about two days ago. According to the victim, on Thursday evening, around 4 pm, he was returning home after buying goods from the market. At that time, some people were playing cards under a banyan tree at the village square. These included Chandrapal, Vedpal, Ramashankar, and Deshraj. During this time, he had an argument with Chandrapal over some matter. Harpal alleges that after the argument, all the accused ganged up and started using abusive language against him. When he protested, the four attacked him. He was seriously injured in the assault with sticks, rods, and fists. Hearing the commotion, people from the surrounding area arrived at the spot, and only then did the attackers leave him in an injured state and flee. After the incident, with the help of his family and villagers, the injured Harpal was brought to the Milak police station. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police have conducted a medical examination. Several injury marks were found on the victim’s body. The Milak police station says that an investigation has been started based on the victim’s complaint. Further legal action will be taken against all the accused based on the evidence. The police are also investigating whether there was any old enmity behind the dispute. A tense atmosphere prevails in the village after this incident. The villagers say that strict action should be taken against the accused so that such incidents do not recur in the future. Currently, the police are investigating the entire matter and have assured the victim that justice will be served. Rohitash Mani Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit winner MIM BMC group leader
Mumbai: Vijay Ubale, a dalit who won from ward 140 in Govandi in the BMC polls, is AIMIM’s group leader in the civic body, said former MLA and party leader Waris Pathan. “The appointment is aligned with the party’s attempt to empower weaker sections,” he said. tnn 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
Two Dalit Families’ Homes Burned Down in Prayagraj: Belongings Reduced to Ashes, Families Left Homeless; They Plead for Help
A massive fire broke out on Wednesday in the Dalit settlement of Kohdar Pahari, under the Meja police station area of Prayagraj. Two Dalit families’ homes were completely destroyed in the incident. The affected families include Ram Milan Harijan (son of Jagannath Harijan) and Jagarnath (son of Ram Khelawan). Social worker Sanjay Kesarwani said that the fire started suddenly, causing panic in the settlement. By the time the fire department arrived, both houses had been completely reduced to ashes. All the household belongings kept in the houses were destroyed in the fire. As a result, both Dalit families have become homeless. They now have no means of shelter or food. The affected families have appealed to the government and administration for immediate financial assistance and rehabilitation. Rajesh Kumar Vishwakarma Courtesy: Hindi News
Dhanbad Municipal Seat De-Reservation Sparks Dalit Protest Ahead of Elections
Dhanbad: Members of the Dalit community staged a sit-in on Thursday against the de-reservation of the Dhanbad municipal seat ahead of the upcoming civic body elections. Hundreds of protesters gathered at Randhir Verma Chowk to express their strong opposition to the state govt’s decision, alleging a biased approach and demanding immediate withdrawal of the order. The protesters claimed that the Dhanbad municipal seat had been reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category on the basis of the 2011 caste census. However, the recent decision to make the seat unreserved has triggered widespread resentment within the Dalit community. Demonstrators described the move as a direct attack on their constitutional rights and social representation in local governance. Raising slogans against the govt, protesters accused it of ignoring established norms and undermining social justice. They asserted that the de-reservation decision has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community and could weaken their political participation in the civic administration of Dhanbad. Addressing the gathering, social activist Shantanu Chandra, also known as Bablu Paswan, said that the issue has already been taken to the Ranchi high court. He said that a petition challenging the govt’s decision has been filed and the matter is currently under judicial consideration. According to him, the court has reserved its verdict, and the community is hopeful of a favourable outcome. Shantanu Chandra further said that while they have full faith in the judiciary, the intentions of the government appear questionable. He emphasised that the agitation would continue until justice is delivered and the decision is reversed. “We respect the judicial process, but at the same time, we will not remain silent against injustice,” he said. Protesters warned that if the govt fails to reconsider its decision, the agitation would be intensified in the coming days. The demonstration concluded peacefully, with protesters reiterating their resolve to fight for their rights through both legal and democratic means. 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
Transgender group refutes ‘kinnar jihad’
Jaipur: After a transgender persons’ residence was set ablaze Wednesday in Mahanto ka Bagh, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur-based transgender group 3rd Voice Thursday protested against accusations of “kinnar jihad”, which it said were an attempt by vested interests to give a religious colour to a conflict over territory. Members said terms like “kinnar jihad” were being used to spread hatred, even though the transgender community participates in the joys and sorrows of people across religions. They alleged that their house was set ablaze as retaliation for opposing such statements during a transgender akhara held last week on Friday. More than 500 transgender persons from Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra and Rajasthan took part in that gathering. Senior community representative Deepa Bai said, “Our elders were assaulted, money was demanded, and we were threatened with eviction. This is not a religious conflict; it is a fight for dominance and control.” Another member, Rekha Bai, said threats had been coming for days. “We received death threats on WhatsApp 3 to 4 days before the incident. The night before, we were told to ‘wait till tomorrow’” she said. Transgender activist Noor Singh Shekhawat asserted, “Transgender community has neither religion nor caste. We fall under OBC category. We visit every household, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh. Our only religion is humanity.” Community member Sunita Bai added that money received as blessings is used for social welfare. “Whether it is a temple or a madrasa, a community feast or a girl’s wedding, we contribute everywhere,” she said. Local resident and retired bank branch manager Om Prakash Sharma supported the community, saying, “I have never seen religious discrimination among them.” 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
10 Army personnel killed in a heartbreaking accident in Doda… PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge express grief
Ten soldiers were killed when an army vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Doda district. PM Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi expressed their condolences over the accident. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday expressed grief over the death of 10 soldiers in an accident in which an army vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district. Expressing grief over the accident, PM Modi said that we have lost our brave army personnel. Their service to the nation will always be remembered. The PM prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He said that all possible help is being provided to those affected. An army vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others. Immediate need for road safety measures Congress President Kharge posted on the social media platform ‘X’ that he was deeply saddened by the tragic vehicle accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, in which several army personnel made the supreme sacrifice and many others were injured. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones. The nation stands united in profound grief, and we pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also said that many such accidents have occurred in the past. There is an urgent need to strengthen road infrastructure, improve mobility in difficult terrains, and implement road safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking losses. Rahul and Priyanka pay tribute to the martyrs Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, posted on ‘X’, “The news of the death of several of our soldiers and the injury of many others in the accident where an army vehicle fell into a gorge in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely painful. I pay my humble tribute to the martyrs and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers.” He said, “In this hour of grief, we all stand with the bereaved families of our brave soldiers.” Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the deaths of the soldiers. Priyanka Gandhi posted on ‘X’, “The news of the martyrdom of several soldiers due to the army vehicle falling into a deep gorge in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely saddening. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers.” Edited by: Anil Kumar About the Author Anil Kumar is part of the homepage team at Navbharat Times Digital. He has about 16 years of experience in both print and digital media. He has been associated with Navbharat Times Online since January 2021. He writes news and analysis related to politics and current affairs for the India and Delhi sections on the homepage. Courtesy: Hindi News