Bihar Family Performs Daughter’s Funeral After Inter-caste Marriage
Brahmin girl marries a dailt boy in the Chapay village of Bihar Purnia: Riya Goswami, 18, from Bihar’s Purnia district, wanted to marry a boy of her choice. She had little idea that the family with whom she had spent eighteen years would perform her last rites for marriage outside her caste. “I, too, wanted to marry someone I lived with. But parents often intimidate their children by threatening to kill them if they marry outside their caste. That is why we are forced to take such a step,” said Riya. She entered into an inter-caste marriage with Milan Paswan, 23, evoking resistance from her family, which performed the girl’s last rites. “Parents fight for the sake of caste and society, but they fail to consider their own daughter,” rues Riya. Brahmin Girl Marries Dalit Boy Riya, the Brahmin girl, married Milan from the Paswan community in the Chapay village in the Gangeli Panchayat under the Maranga police station area of Purnia. According to Riya, she and Milan married at the Purnia court on September 9. A few days later, without informing her family, Riya left for her in-laws’ home with the boy and after searching for her, her family filed a complaint with the police. The police subsequently recovered the girl and had her statement recorded in court under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. According to her family, Riya stated in the court that she wished to go with Milan. Family Carries Out Funeral Procession After the marriage of Riya with Milan, villagers convened a Panchayat meeting in the Chapay village, where members of the boy’s side were asked to return the girl. Her family explained that Milan used to visit their home and was a good friend of Riya’s brother. As the boy would visit the family, love developed between the two following which they decided to marry. Following the marriage, the family fashioned an effigy of the daughter, decorated a funeral bier, took out a procession, and performed her last rites. A large number of villagers were present during the proceedings. Riya’s parents also announced throughout the village that their daughter was now dead. “My daughter has left. For us, she is dead now. Her last rites have been performed. We are Brahmins. In our community, accepting water from that household is forbidden. If someone in our society does something like this, this is the inevitable consequence. If we don’t do this, we would have to leave the village. Tell me, how would we live here then?,” asked Raja Ram Goswami, the girl’s grandfather. The girl’s father, Manoj Goswami, stated that on the night of September 9, around midnight, his daughter left home with Milan—who lives about 100 meters away—and contracted a court marriage. He said that they would no longer have any ties with the girl. Subsequent rituals, including the “Nakhabal” (hair and nail trimming), “Dashvi” (tenth-day ritual), and “Terahvi” (thirteenth-day ritual), would be performed in accordance with traditional customs, the family said. Girl Gets Emotional Following the marriage, Riya remains miffed with her parents. “If parents simply asked their children if they liked someone, why would we take such a step? That is why I no longer have any relationship with my parents; my in-laws are my family now, I have no one else in the world,” she said. As she spoke, tears welled up in Riya’s eyes. “I am pursuing a BA degree, and I do not believe in the caste system; casteism does not exist. I am very happy today.” Not Afraid Of Society When asked if he feared society, Milan said, “Society won’t run my household or earn a living to feed me. So, I don’t care what people think.” Milan’s father, Dilip Paswan, said, “The villagers were pressuring us, but both the boy and the girl insisted they wanted to be together. They said they would die if they couldn’t get married. So, we agreed. Now, we will treat Riya as both a daughter-in-law and a daughter.” Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Over 120 Erravalli Dalit farmers receive revenue department notices
The Telangana revenue department has served notices to over 120 Dalit farmers in Erravalli following a land survey after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced plans to take back the lands. Farmers have sought protection of their holdings and livelihoodGeographic Reference Siddipet: After Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced in the State Assembly that he would take back the lands in Erravalli and distribute them to other farmers, the revenue department served notices on over 120 Dalit farmers of Erravalli, leaving them in a state of shock. After carrying out surveys of lands in Survey No. 325 for three consecutive days until Saturday, the revenue department served notices on 120 farmers. The revenue department asked them to appear before the authorities with all the documents in their possession regarding the ownership of their lands. Sources in the revenue department said notices would be served on all farmers holding lands in the survey number. The 388 acres and 5 guntas of land were distributed to Dalit farmers in Erravalli and neighbouring villages some 60 years ago. Since then, the farmers had been in possession of the land. However, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had changed their lives considerably by helping them cultivate the fallow lands after 2014. He built a lake close to the lands and helped the farmers get a drip irrigation system and other facilities. Gajwel RDO Chandrakala directed the farmers to appear before the authorities on September 21. The farmers demanded that the government keep their lands intact, as they were their only source of livelihood. Meanwhile, farmers of Sivaru Venkatapur, a neighbouring village to Erravalli, alleged that some 180 acres of land in the survey number belonged to them. They demanded that the government earmark the lands properly, following the old revenue records. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
After 12 years, a Dalit student claimed the post of president at JNU’s Kaveri Hostel, sparking uproar; election cancelled – learn the full story
Students say that those with a casteist and Manuwadi mindset could not tolerate the candidacy of a Dalit candidate, so they hacked the democratic system and disrupted it. New Delhi – A major controversy has erupted over the student union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) Kaveri Hostel. The hostel election process has been cancelled, following allegations of casteism and violence surrounding a Dalit candidate’s candidacy for the post of president. This is the same Kaveri Hostel where hateful casteist slogans like “Chamar, Dalit, leave India” and “Brahmin, Baniya, Zindabad” were recently painted on the walls, drawing widespread condemnation. Kaveri Hostel houses a total of 308 students, including PG, UG, and PhD students. Every year, the Student Union (Students’ Body) is elected to address issues related to student welfare, such as improved infrastructure, quality food, cleanliness, mess facilities, and other student interests. This year, after 12 years, a Dalit student contested for the position of president. For all these years, there have been no SC community representatives on the hostel committee. There have been students from the tribal community, but they are considered to be staunchly RSS-oriented. Ajay Kumar Rao, a PhD student in Hindi literature, a candidate for president from the Progressive Panel, shared his experience with The Mooknayak. He said that elections are held every year to improve hostel infrastructure, protect students’ interests, and address welfare issues. The hostel election process is completely democratic and transparent. The Election Committee presents the names of nominated candidates for various positions (such as president, member, etc.) to the General Body Meeting (GBM). At this meeting, students’ support is sought against each candidate’s name. Students show their support by raising their hands. The candidates who receive the most hands, or a majority, are elected to the respective position. This process is based on consensus and direct democracy, allowing all resident students to participate. This method is common at the hostel level in campuses like JNU, where decisions are made by raising hands instead of using ballot papers, ensuring a speedy, fair, and universal participation. This method clearly expresses the collective will of the students, and in the event of any dispute, a decision is immediately reached within the GBM. This year, the election process began as follows: the election notification was issued on February 3rd. The body conducting the elections is the Election Committee, which consists of six students with neutral and open ideologies. The election committee was elected at the hostel’s General Body Meeting (GBM), in which Talha Ansari was elected. The election of the remaining five students, Vijay Jaiswal, Anubhav Tripathi, Priyanshu Chaturvedi, Ritul Joshi, and Animesh Kumar, was not democratic because they adhere to the RSS ideology, and an investigation is underway against some of them by the Proctor. Ajay Kumar Rao alleges that the election of the remaining members, except for Talha Ansari, was not conducted democratically and by consensus. The opposition, enraged by the idea of a Dalit student becoming president, created a ruckus. A scuffle and fight broke out between the students. Ajay’s glasses were broken during the altercation, and some others suffered minor injuries. The students complained to the warden, following which the election process was cancelled. Bahujan students say that those with a casteist and Manuwadi mindset could not tolerate the candidacy of a Dalit candidate, so they hacked the democratic system and disrupted it. Citing incidents of caste discrimination occurring on campuses across the country, Ajay said that Kaveri Hostel is no exception. South Asians and Expatriates The two major student organizations active in the hostel are the ABVP and the Progressive Panel. The Progressive Panel is a joint alliance of students from the Congress, Left, and Ambedkarite ideologies, seeking a system based on the principles of social inclusion, equity, and equality. Meanwhile, students with opposing ideologies are stuck in the age-old narrow-minded notions of superiority and inferiority. Non-vegetarian food is available in the hostel mess five days a week, but there have been debates and protests over not preparing non-vegetarian food on festivals. Religious events like Ram Navami and processions on campus are events that violate constitutional values and the principles of equality in an academic campus. This incident exposes the deep roots of casteism on a supposedly progressive campus like JNU, where attempts to suppress the voices of Dalit students continue. Ajay Kumar and his colleagues have appealed for the restoration of democratic processes. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit student at IIT Bombay commits suicide; father says a professor used to make ‘casteist’ comments about his son
DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that a case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide, the SC/ST Act, and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all individuals named by the family. Mumbai – Following the suicide of a second-year student at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay’s Powai campus on Friday evening, his family has leveled serious allegations of caste discrimination and institutional harassment. The deceased student has been identified as Sahil Ravindra Wakode (22), a resident of Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district and a second-year B.Tech student in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay. Sahil belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, and his classmates describe him as a very hardworking student who had achieved an 8.5 CGPA in his first year. An FIR has been registered at the Powai police station in this case, which has been charged under the SC/ST Act following allegations from family members, and the investigation has now been transferred to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. This is reported to be the third suicide case reported on the IIT Bombay campus this year. Sahil was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Hostel No. 4 on Friday evening. When his roommates received no response, they informed the administration, which then called the police. No suicide note was recovered from the scene, and the police initially reported the case as an accidental death. According to the IIT Bombay administration, Sahil was caught using a mobile phone in the examination hall on the day of the incident and attempted to find answers by uploading the question paper to ChatGPT. The institute also clarified that no disciplinary action was initiated against the student following the incident. The institute stated that Sahil was assured that the incident would not impact his academic future. The institute has pledged support to Sahil’s friends, classmates, teachers, and others affected by the incident. It also stated that the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated. According to students, Sahil was asked to leave the hall after an alleged confrontation during an exam and was reprimanded by a professor in the corridor. About an hour after this alleged confrontation, Sahil hanged himself in his hostel room, and his body was recovered around 6 p.m. Sahil’s mother, Sonali Wakode, spoke to the media on Saturday, directly alleging that her son had been subjected to caste-based harassment and torture. She also alleged that he had been assaulted and demanded justice. Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode (47), alleged that for the past few months, Professor Suryanarayan Dulla of the Department of Energy Sciences had been making caste-based remarks and mentally harassing his son. The father demanded the professor’s immediate arrest and a Crime Branch investigation into the matter. However, all these allegations are still under investigation and have not been independently verified. The father also claimed that the professor threatened to implicate Sahil in a false case. Following the family’s complaint, a case has been registered at the Powai police station under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. DCP Dattatreya Nalawade of Mumbai Police stated that the case has been registered under sections of abetment to suicide and other relevant sections, and an investigation is underway against all the individuals named by the family. The family initially refused to accept Sahil’s body, but later accepted it when the case was handed over to the Crime Branch on Saturday night. An ACP-rank officer will now lead the investigation. Protests on Campus As news of the death spread, a large number of students gathered, surrounded the office of Director Shirish Kedare, and demanded the resignation of both the Director and Professor Dulla. The students also blocked the main gate of the institute, prompting police to arrive. By late evening, approximately 400 students had gathered, and by midnight, the number had grown to over a thousand. A third-year electrical student said during the protest that this was the third such incident at IIT Bombay this year and the second in the last two months. Students are demanding accountability and transparency from the administration. Another student described the incident as shocking, saying, “It feels like one of us has been left behind. The situation is still management versus students, but first, we should remember the soul that left us.” Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, reacting to the incident, said that the government will conduct a thorough investigation and ensure appropriate action. The Darshan Solanki Case Recalls This is not the first time allegations of caste discrimination have surfaced at IIT Bombay. In February 2023, first-year B.Tech student Darshan Solanki jumped to his death from the seventh floor of his hostel, and his family had also alleged caste discrimination. According to Solanki’s mother’s statement, recorded in the police chargesheet, Darshan had told his mother that his fellow students’ behavior had changed when they learned about his caste. This incident marks the third student suicide at IIT Bombay in six months, raising serious questions about student mental health at higher education institutions nationwide. Between October 2022 and October 2025, 154,046 college students aged 18-25 called the Tele-Manas helpline, of which approximately 4%, or 5,642, were related to suicide-related concerns. The Supreme Court has also underscored the severity of this crisis, with 13,044 student suicides recorded in 2022 alone, representing 7.6% of the total suicides that year. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
J&K Congress stages protest against picture linking Rahul, Akhilesh with terrorism
JAMMU: J&K Congress Saturday staged an anti-BJP protest in Jammu for allegedly linking Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav with terrorism. The protest was led by state Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra. A picture has been circulating on social media for past few days depicting Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav on top with a caption “Yeh Jati Poochtey Hai“, in the middle Thackrey brothers (Udhav and Raj) with caption “Yeh Bhasha Poonchtey Hai“ and last and third frame showing some terrorists with caption “Yeh Dharam Poochtey Hai”. Referring to the social media post, Karra said, “It was aimed at creating an impression that Gandhi, Yadav and the Congress were linked with terrorism. “Congress and Gandhi family do not need certificates of patriotism from BJP, whose mentors have the legacy of being the sycophants of the British and supporters of two-nation theory which led to the Partition of the country,” he said. Karra also referred to alleged links between BJP figures and individuals whom he described as associated with terrorism, like Ilyas Khan and Talib Hussain, who were arrested by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. 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
System threatened by students as they ask questions: Rahul
INDORE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the “system” created by top BJP politicians and certain businessmen controlling every aspect of governance in the country is threatened by students. Addressing youth at a ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ in Indore, he said, “The system is threatened by students as they ask questions. That is why the system does not want students. The system wants ‘andh bhakts’.” He described students as embodiments of curiosity, love, humility, courage, tolerance and honesty, while characterising blind followers as “delusional, hateful, arrogant, cowardly, patriarchal and dishonest”. Rahul also targeted NSA Ajit Doval, accusing him of enabling “surveillance of citizens’ communication data to help govt exert control over the population”. 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 girl accused of rape at gunpoint: FIR not filed even after 4 days, complaint filed with SP
A Dalit girl has been accused of being raped at gunpoint in a village in the Mahoba city Kotwali area. The victim alleges that two young men entered her home and committed the crime at gunpoint. The accused are also accused of stealing ₹2 lakh (approximately $200,000) of wedding-related money and gold and silver jewelry. The victim, accompanied by Samajwadi Party leader Hari Singh Verma, reached the SP’s office to complain that an FIR had not been filed and a medical examination had not been conducted even four days after the incident. Woman alone at home, two young men entered According to the victim, the incident occurred around 1:30 pm on September 14th. Her parents and brother had gone to work. She was alone at home. It is alleged that two young men from the same village entered her house armed with a pistol. One of the men held a pistol to her temple and threatened to kill her. The other young man then raped her. The victim alleges that after the incident, the accused took away ₹2 lakh in cash and gold and silver jewelry purchased for the wedding. The wedding money was saved over 25 years. According to the family, they had saved ₹2 lakh through hard labor over 25 years. The woman and her brother were to be married in January, and the money and jewelry were kept safe for this purpose. The victim’s family alleges that when they went to the accused’s house to complain after the incident, they were subjected to casteist slurs and threatened with death. FIR and medical examination not completed even after four days The victim alleges that even four days after the incident, the police had not registered a case based on her complaint. She had not even been medically examined. Following this, she went to the Superintendent of Police’s office with SP leader and former Block Chief Hari Singh Verma and demanded action. Given the seriousness of the case, the Superintendent of Police has directed the City Superintendent of Police to investigate and take strict action within two days. The victim’s family is demanding strict action and the death penalty against the accused. Irfan Khan Pathan | Mahoba Courtesy: Hindi News
AAP’s Dalit Paradox: Ambedkar On The Wall, And A Minister Facing Grave Questions
Gulzar Singh’s death has pointed to major loopholes in the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). Chandigarh; Punjab is home to the largest proportion of Dalits in its population among all states, and some recent developments have put the politics concerning them on the boil, giving the Opposition ammunition to fire at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A party that displays Dalit icon and eminent jurist Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s portraits in its offices is now in the dock for a Dalit man’s death. And it’s linked to the drug crisis and rural distress, which have emerged as major issues on their own, six months ahead of the state polls. Gulzar Singh was a resident of Toor Banjara village that fell under the Dirba assembly constituency, from where Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is the MLA. This area falls in Sangrur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Gulzar Singh’s death has raised questions over the state’s high-decibel campaign ‘Yudh Naheyan Virudh’ (War On Drugs). On September 6, 2026, Harpal Cheema, a Dalit himself, was present in Toor Banjara when Gulzar Singh confronted him publicly and asked why drugs were openly being sold in the village. Instead of supporting Gulzar Singh for providing information about drug smuggling in the village, the minister, staff, and locals allegedly moved him aside. Later that evening, Gulzar Singh was allegedly summoned and subjected to severe pressure, intimidation, and demands to issue an unconditional public apology for questioning the minister. Distressed, Gulzar Singh consumed a poisonous substance on September 8 and died. Before his death, he recorded a video statement (dying declaration) naming minister Cheema and local panchayat members regarding the intimidation he faced. The minister has denied any role, and a case has been registered against some local leaders. The death triggered massive statewide political outrage and demands for accountability. He’d said his son was a drug addict. He not only told the minister publicly that his village was stressed due to the availability of drugs but also said three young men had died due to addiction. Opposition parties had already dubbed the anti-drugs campaign as mere propaganda, and are now accusing the AAP of double standards regarding promises made to the Dalit community and protecting their rights. Police charged the sarpanch, her husband, and three others with abetment to suicide and under the SC/ST Act, but Harpal Cheema is not named in that FIR, despite the man having made a dying declaration in a viral video clearly naming him as the reason behind his death. The political fallout is larger than one FIR. The Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have all called the FIR a “cover-up”. AAP calls it “vulture politics”. Another AAP minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, had resigned from the cabinet on March 21, 2026, following allegations that he abetted the suicide of a state warehousing official. The Opposition wants action against Harpal Cheema along those lines. Opposition Attacks AAP Over “Promises Not Kept” Since Dalits form 32 per cent of the population, parties made a beeline to console Gulzar’s family. The AAP government did swing into action and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh besides promising employment to a member of his family. But the Opposition wants Cheema’s resignation and action against him. “Sangrur is the district that elected the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister to the Assembly. The deceased, Gulzar Singh, complained in front of Harpal Cheema that ‘chitta’ (heroin) was being sold in his locality, that three children in his neighbourhood had already died of drug overdose, and that his own child was also taking drugs. Instead of investigating the accused and acting against the drug mafia, the Finance Minister sends his goons, pressure is put on the family, and Gulzar Singh is pushed to the point of suicide,” BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh alleged. Congress’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot also put Cheema in the dock. “The point at which the state of Punjab stands today is a matter of concern for the entire country,” he said, “The Chief Minister of this government had said we will end the drug problem in three months. Today four and a half years have passed, and more drugs are being sold than before.” “Today a poor Dalit daily-wage earner, Gulzar Singh, took his own life. Which human being takes his own life except when hope is already finished? That man’s crime was that he spoke about his children’s drug problem. He committed the crime of asking a question, and under pressure, he was forced to take his own life,” he added. “We have no caste enmity with Harpal Singh Cheema, but he is the Finance Minister,” he further said. “A man is taking his life and making a video saying he is taking his life with his own hands because of that person. Does the law not even require that there should be an investigation?” he asked, reminding AAP of its poll promise to appoint a Dalit MLA as Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister. Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is trying to “hide Harpal Cheema’s sins”, as the party had earlier dropped another cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, who was also accused of abetment to suicide. “There cannot be two laws in this country. District manager (of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation) Gagandeep Singh Randhawa had also died by suicide. In his dying declaration, he named a cabinet minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar. The minister was arrested and has been in jail for seven months. Gulzar Singh clearly stated that Harpal Cheema was responsible for his death. Five people were arrested, but Harpal Cheema was not arrested,” he noted. “Harpal Cheema is Kejriwal’s adopted son. We will ensure his resignation. We will come onto the streets. From the Punjab and Haryana High Court, there will be his resignation, there will be his arrest, and he will also go to jail,” Partap Singh Bajwa said.
Literary window to Dalit life, ideology at book fair
Lucknow: Where stories travel across languages, generations and social backgrounds, literature on caste and equality is drawing the attention of young readers. From autobiographies documenting discrimination, to work tracing the history of marginalised communities, Dalit literature has emerged as a significant section at the Gomti Book Festival. Books such as Omprakash Valmiki’s ‘Joothan’, Bama’s ‘Karukku’, and Sharankumar Limbale’s ‘The Outcaste’ are finding readers alongside work, including B R Ambedkar’s ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ and ‘The Untouchables’, as well as literature on the Dalit Panthers movement. The collection also features writings of social reformer Jyotirao Phule, including ‘Gulamgiri’ and ‘Shetkaryacha Asud’, along with works by authors and thinkers who have examined caste, identity, dignity, social justice and resistance. For many students, buying these books is an opportunity to understand experiences different from their own. “I wanted to read ‘Joothan’ because it gives a first-person account of caste discrimination and shows why equality cannot remain only an idea,” said Amitesh Pal, a student. Another student, Jahnvi Singh, said she bought ‘Who Were the Shudras?’ to understand the historical development of the caste system and its impact on people’s lives, adding that students should read such books to develop a better understanding of society. “Among the books on caste and social justice, ‘Annihilation of Caste’ is drawing strong interest from young readers, with around seven copies being sold each day. Students are increasingly picking up such books because they want to understand caste, equality and social reform through the writings of those who challenged existing social structures,” said a publisher at the festival, Kamla Kumar. 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
Mamata Banerjee moves Supreme Court against EC freeze on TMC name, ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol
Challenge comes after EC barred both factions from using the original party identity and allotted new names and symbols for October 6 bypolls NEW DELHI: Former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee has moved the Supreme Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to freeze the party’s name and election symbol. The plea is likely to be mentioned before the Chief Justice of India-led Bench on September 21 for urgent listing and hearing. On Friday, the poll panel allotted the Mamata Banerjee-led faction the name “Mamata All India Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Football Player’ symbol. The rival faction led by Arup Roy was allotted the name “Democratic Trinamool Congress” and the ‘Envelope’ symbol for the October 6 bypolls in two West Bengal Assembly constituencies, Nandigram and Rejinagar. In an interim order on Thursday, the Election Commission barred the rival factions from using the original name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its ‘Flowers and Grass’ symbol for the upcoming bypolls. The factions were directed to choose new names and symbols until the dispute is resolved. The EC’s Thursday order said, “on due consideration of the totality of information available on record…the Commission is of the opinion that there are two rival groups in the All India Trinamool Congress, one led by Ms Mamata Banerjee and the other led by Shri Arup Roy, and each group is now claiming to be the party and therefore the matter requires a substantive determination by the Commission under Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order 1968.” AI in sports video 2AI in sports video 2 Banerjee had on Friday described the EC’s decision as a “Black Day” in the country’s democratic history and said she would continue to claim the original party name and symbol. “We will not surrender. We will not bow our heads before political pressure. We will fight this battle democratically and legally,” she said, according to The New Indian Express. She also said the organisation was built through nearly three decades of political struggle and that she could not abandon the All India Trinamool Congress, which she founded in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. The dispute over the party’s identity followed a rebellion within the TMC after its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. The rival camp has staked its claim to control of the party, with the EC examining competing submissions on its organisational structure, authorised representatives, name and election symbol. The EC’s intervention was prompted by the approaching bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar in West Bengal, and Nagaon in Assam. Both factions had sought to contest under the original TMC identity, prompting the Commission to issue an interim arrangement before the elections. The legal challenge also comes as the TMC’s political crisis deepens. Banerjee’s faction has decided to support the Congress candidate in the Nandigram bypoll after its own nominee withdrew from the contest. Banerjee said the decision was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc. The Supreme Court challenge will now bring the dispute over the TMC’s original name and symbol before the judiciary, while the EC’s substantive proceedings under Paragraph 15 remain pending. Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty 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