EC’s electoral roll revision in Bengal sparks citizenship concerns among transgender community
Kolkata: As the Election Commission of India (ECI) commenced the first phase of the three-stage Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal on Tuesday, the state’s transgender community, particularly those who have undergone gender affirming surgery (GAS) or gender confirmation surgery (GCS), expressed an acute sense of uncertainty regarding their voter status. Their concerns, to an extent, are genuine, mainly on two grounds. The primary concerns among community members centre on significant mismatches in identity documents, namely, gender, name, and appearance after their transition. The second concern is that the “transgender identity card” issued by the Union government, as well as the certificate given through the National Portal for Transgender Persons, which are often required to update one’s gender in documents such as PAN, Aadhaar, and even passports, do not appear among the twelve supporting documents listed by the Election Commission for the SIR process. IANS spoke with several transgender activists in the city, as well as legal experts, to understand the community’s concerns regarding the SIR and possible ways to resolve them. Prominent activist and former member of the West Bengal Transgender Development Board, Ranjita Sinha, told IANS that there is a fear of having to fight once again for the right to an Indian identity for transgender persons. Sinha said, “People who changed their identity, whether through surgery or selfdeclaration, will face serious difficulty. If someone’s name was on the 2002 voters’ list, the photograph and name recorded then will not match their present identity. Booth Level Officers will also visit homes for verification. Many transgender persons were forced out of their homes after choosing to live according to their identity. Some parents even declared their children dead. What will happen to such individuals?” She added that many community members now stay in transgender shelter homes. Sinha said, “Many do not even possess the transgender cards issued by the government. How will they get their names added to the voters’ list when they will first be asked to prove their citizenship? The government formulates policy without taking into consideration the plight of the transgender community. There is uncertainty among our community members, and we need clear guidance from the government to remove this anxiety.” Speaking to IANS, Debangshi Biswas Chowdhury, founder of Transgender Odhikar Sanghati Mancha, said that recognising the “transgender identity card” as a valid proof would have supported a large section of the community. Chowdhury said, “Since the transgender card is not on the approved list, each individual must now approach the Booth Level Officer in their area to establish identity. This is troublesome, particularly for those whose families have already declared them dead. They must first prove they are alive and then prove who they are. Many also hold birth certificates, school leaving certificates, and other papers only in their previous identity. How will they now present documents that reflect their present identity? Our community is discussing the matter and plans to request the Election Commission to include the transgender card as an accepted proof.” Debika Barua, a social media figure and transgender activist, said that the affidavit made during a change of identity would assist many in linking their present identity to their earlier one. The difficulty, she pointed out, is that some members of the community lacked the means to file such an affidavit in court and, therefore, do not have this proof. “From what we have learnt, those who still hold old documents such as birth certificates or school leaving certificates, where their parents’ names appear, will be able to establish their identity. If their parents’ names were on the 2002 voters’ list, their citizenship will be accepted, and only an affidavit will then be required to confirm their present identity. The difficulty will arise for those who do not have such an affidavit,” Barua said. Senior advocate at Calcutta High Court, Kaushik Gupta, told IANS that many transgender persons fear their citizenship will be questioned through the SIR exercise. “If they do not appear in the 2002 voters’ list and their parents’ names are also missing, their right to vote may come under scrutiny. Citizens have the right to vote and also the right not to vote. The SIR cannot be used as the yardstick to establish both citizenship and identity. It places an unfair burden on the people, as several of them were thrown out of their houses by their parents years ago, and many do not even have proper documents with them. However, the saving grace is their affidavit or gazette notification, which they had done to change their identity. That document will be crucial to prove their identity,” Gupta said. An official within the Election Commission acknowledged that this remains a grey area in the SIR process and requires attention. The official said, “A solution will certainly be found to safeguard the voting rights of eligible transgender voters. In my view, the affidavit or gazette notification made during their identity change will serve as a useful document for establishing identity.” Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Meet Akkai Padmashali, first transgender person from Karnataka to be part of SC-appointed panel
Trans rights activist Akkai Padmashali speaks about being named as a member of a Supreme Court-appointed committee. Trans rights activist Akkai Padmashali has been named as a member of a Supreme Court-appointed committee that has been to formulate an equal opportunity policy for the protection of the rights of transgender persons. With this, Ms. Padmashali becomes the first transgender person from Karnataka to be part of a panel appointed by the apex court. It is also the first Supreme Court-appointed committee to have representation from the transgender community. Reporting: Shilpa Elizabeth Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul gives Gaya town a miss again, campaigns in 3 other seats in region
Gaya: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while campaigning in Magadh division on Tuesday, emphatically said that if his alliance with the RJD and Left parties is voted to power, their govt would be like an umbrella, under which all disadvantaged and deprived sections, particularly dalits, EBCs and minorities, will get adequate cover, protection and participation. “It will not be the govt of any particular caste,” Rahul emphasised while holding public meetings in the Wazirganj constituency of Gaya district and neighbouring Aurangabad district’s Aurangabad and Kutumba seats. Though the LoP in Lok Sabha campaigned in both the seats of Aurangabad, he, like 2020 assembly election, gave Gaya town a miss once again this time, holding a meeting only in the Wazirganj constituency area of the district. Besides Wazirganj, Congress is contesting the Gaya town seat as well — the only two of the 10 seats in the district it has been allotted as part of the opposition Grand Alliance seat sharing. In Aurangabad district, Congress candidates are in the fray. The party’s state chief, Rajesh Ram, is contesting the Kutumba (Reserved) seat. Playing down Rahul’s failure to campaign for him, the Congress candidate from Gaya town, Akhauri Onkar Nath, alias Mohan Srivastava, said that it was not possible for a big leader like him to visit each and every constituency. “Rahul has already blessed my candidature by nominating me to contest the very important Gaya town seat,” said Srivastava, claiming he was very favourably placed in this election. Political observers believe that Rahul campaigned only in seats where the Congress performance has been good in the past. Both Aurangabad and Kutumba have sitting MLAs from the Congress. In 2015 too, the Congress won both Aurangabad and Kutumba. As far as Wazirganj is concerned, though the party lost the seat in 2020, it has been doing reasonably well in the elections here since 1980. Its candidate Awadhesh Kumar Singh won the seat six times between 1980 and 2015, five times as Congress candidate and once as an Independent (Feb 2005). But Gaya is a different ball game altogether. The last time the Congress won the seat was in 1985, when Jai Kumar Palit defeated his CPI rival Shakil Ahmad Khan. Political observers attribute this to the post-election analysis, which work out the strike rate of the top leaders. “Victory/defeat in the constituencies where the top leaders campaigned are examined threadbare. May be considering Gaya’s history, Rahul skipped the constituency,” feels an observer. The Congress leader, meanwhile, played to the gallery in all the three meetings. Deftly using the emotional card, Rahul alleged that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar have converted the state into a labour producing factory. “The people of Bihar live in sub-human conditions on footpaths all over the country,” the Congress leader said. Rahul also asked the youth whether they wanted to make reels or get decent jobs. “Job” was the reply in chorus. Rahul the said that even the reel-making offer was designed to “help PM Modi’s rich friends like Ambani”. Rahul was accompanied by Chhattisgarh’s former CM Bhupendra Baghel and BPCC chief Rajesh Ram in the meetings. 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% control the Army’: Rahul Gandhi’s caste claim at Bihar rally; BJP terms remark disgraceful
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday made a striking claim in Bihar, alleging that country’s 10 per cent, referring to upper castes, “hold control over the Army.” Addressing a poll rally in Aurangabad’s Kutumba, Rahul said, “90 per cent of the people come from extremely backward, backward, Dalit, and Adivasi communities.” He went on to assert that these groups – forming the vast majority of India’s population – remain largely excluded from power and privilege. “All the wealth goes to them, all the jobs go to them. Look at the judiciary – they have control there, and even in the army,” Rahul said, in one of his most direct attacks on the country’s social and institutional hierarchy.He further added, “90 per cent of India’s population is nowhere to be found,” suggesting that marginalised communities have been systematically denied access to leadership and opportunity. The BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Army. Party spokesperson Suresh Nakhua, in a post on X, said, “Rahul Gandhi is now searching for caste in the Armed Forces and says 10% of people control it. In his hate for PM Modi, he has already crossed the line into hating India.” Another BJP spokesperson, Sanju Verma, also hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks, saying, “Rahul Gandhi is shamelessly devious and deviously shameless. Listening to him in this clip leaves no doubt that this failed, forever-in-waiting PM is desperately trying to polarize. Now he is trying to divide the Army on caste lines — what an unhinged wreck this Leader of Opposition is. Disgraceful.” Directing his attack to Bihar government, Rahul painted a picture of unemployment in the state, blaming the Nitish Kumar government for pushing its youth into low-paying, menial labour across the country. Follow live coverage on Bihar elections “The people of Bihar are doing manual labour across the entire country. In different parts of the country, people from Bihar are building large buildings, roads, tunnels, and factories,” he said. Accusing the state government of failing its people, Rahul added, “In other words, the truth is this—that Nitish Kumar has wiped out employment here and turned the people of Bihar into the country’s labourers.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ amid Bihar elections, press conference to be held shortly
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the first phase of voting in the Bihar elections. It is believed that Rahul Gandhi may allegedly detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ during this press conference amid the election campaign New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday at 12 noon. Speculation is rife that he may make a major revelation, which was previously described as a ‘hydrogen bomb’ related to allegations of vote theft and voter list manipulation. On September 1, Rahul Gandhi warned the BJP of a major revelation, saying that he would soon detonate a ‘hydrogen bomb’ regarding its allegations of vote theft, as what was shown about Mahadevnagar was merely an ‘atom bomb’. Another scathing attack on the BJP Addressing a gathering on the last day of the “Voter Rights Yatra,” Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP. Rahul said, “The forces that murdered Mahatma Gandhi are now trying to destroy the Constitution of India.” The 16-day-long “Voter Rights Yatra,” led by Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, aims to raise awareness about voter rights and protest alleged “vote theft” and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The Prime Minister will not be able to show his face. Rahul Gandhi said in Patna that the same forces that murdered Mahatma Gandhi are trying to destroy the Constitution of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. The Congress leader said, “We will not let them destroy the Constitution of India… We received tremendous support during the Yatra. We will bring it, let the BJP get ready. Their truth will be revealed to the country. I thank the people of Bihar for helping us.” Rahul said, “I guarantee you, after the hydrogen bomb, Narendra Modi will not be able to show his face to this country.” Edited by: Anil Kumar About the author Anil Kumar He is part of the homepage team at Navbharat Times Digital. He has nearly 16 years of experience in both newspaper and digital media. He has been with Navbharat Times Online since January 2021. He writes news and analysis on politics and current affairs for the India and Delhi sections of the homepage. Courtesy: Hindi News
BRS leader Koppula Eshwar slams Revanth govt as ‘anti-dalit’, accuses Congress of betrayal
BRS leader Koppula Eshwar accused the Revanth Reddy government of being anti-Dalit and failing welfare promises. He alleged diversion of SC funds and misuse of schemes for Congress workers. The Dalit Bandhu Sadhana Samiti pledged support for BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha Hyderabad: Former Minister and BRS senior leader Koppula Eshwar termed the Revanth Reddy government as anti-Dalit, accusing it of insulting and deceiving Dalit communities. He said the Congress, which has been in power several times since Independence, continued to exploit Dalits as a vote bank, but failed to deliver promises made to them. Addressing a press meet at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, Eshwar said promises such as Rs 12 lakh assistance to Dalits under Dalit Bandhu scheme and Rs 6 lakh for Indiramma houses were used as political bait, with benefits restricted to the Congress workers. “SC sub-plan funds are being diverted, and not one review has been done on Dalit welfare,” he said. He pointed out that even on Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, the Chief Minister and Ministers failed to pay homage at the 125-foot Ambedkar statue. He said people were also deprived of any opportunity to pay homage by locking the premises. He urged Dalits in Jubilee Hills to teach a lesson to the Congress in the upcoming by-election. Dalit Bandhu Sadhana Samiti president Mahesh said BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had implemented Dalit Bandhu, benefitting 1.3 lakh families cutting across party lines. “The Congress has only made empty promises, while KCR empowered Dalits economically,” he said, urging Dalits not to get fooled again by the Congress. He announced the Samiti’s full support for BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha, and also campaign for her in Jubilee Hills byelection. 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
Dalit women forced to show menstrual proof at Haryana University: DASAM condemns ‘grotesque violation’ of dignity, privacy
Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) has strongly condemned a shocking incident at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak, Haryana, where women sanitation workers were allegedly forced by their supervisors to provide “photographs of their private parts and sanitary pads” as proof that they were menstruating. The workers, most of whom belong to Dalit communities, said they were threatened with dismissal when they refused, and two women, under extreme pressure, were compelled to comply with the degrading demand. In a press release issued on Monday, DASAM described the act as a “dehumanising and grotesque violation” of women’s dignity, bodily autonomy, and privacy. The incident reportedly occurred on 26 October 2025, when the sanitation workers were cleaning the university’s sports complex ahead of Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh’s scheduled visit. The two male supervisors, Vitender and Vinod Hooda, along with Assistant Registrar Shyam Sunder, allegedly coerced the women to work despite them saying they were in pain due to menstruation. DASAM said the act amounted to both sexual harassment and caste-based humiliation, calling it a “gross abuse of authority and obscene intrusion into the most intimate aspects of women’s lives.” The organisation said it exposed “the deeply entrenched casteist and patriarchal control” that governs India’s informal and contractual labour systems. The group welcomed the registration of an FIR against the two supervisors and the assistant registrar under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, intimidation, and outraging the modesty of women. However, it asserted that mere suspension of the accused was not sufficient, stressing that justice required a transparent, independent, and time-bound investigation. DASAM’s statement said the MDU case revealed not only individual misconduct but institutional complicity, reflecting how caste and gender hierarchies collude to dehumanise Dalit women workers. It pointed out that thousands of Dalit women employed as sanitation workers in universities and public institutions face daily indignities, wage theft, and harassment without job security or grievance mechanisms. The organisation noted that the accused had violated several constitutional rights, including Articles 14, 15, 17, 19(1)(g), and 21, and committed criminal offences under Sections 73, 77, and 124 of the BNS (corresponding to Sections 354A, 354, and 506 of the IPC), as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the POSH Act, 2013, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. DASAM called upon the Haryana government, the National Commission for Women, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to intervene decisively. It demanded the immediate dismissal and prosecution of all officials involved and sought a court-monitored, independent investigation to prevent institutional cover-up or retaliation. The organisation urged that the affected women be provided job security, protection from intimidation, trauma counselling, psychological support, and fair monetary compensation. It also demanded the establishment of a fully functional Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at MDU with representation from women sanitation workers and Dalit rights advocates, as well as the introduction of humane menstrual leave policies that respect privacy and prohibit any form of intrusive verification. DASAM said the incident underscored the urgent need for systemic reform to end the exploitative contractual labour system that perpetuates vulnerability and caste-based discrimination. It called for the regularisation of sanitation workers with permanent status, fair wages, insurance, provident fund, and safe working conditions, along with a statewide audit of workplace environments and an independent oversight mechanism to monitor caste- and gender-based harassment cases. “The women of MDU have shown extraordinary courage in asserting their rights and humanity,” DASAM said. “It is now the moral and constitutional duty of the State, judiciary, and society to ensure that their suffering leads to transformative change, not silence or token reform.” Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Delhi government launches Pink Saheli Smart Card: Who can avail and how to register
The Delhi government’s new Pink Saheli Smart Card aims to make public transport safer, easier, and free for women and transgender individuals in the capital. The Delhi government has launched the ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’, a special initiative that allows free travel for women and transgender individuals in all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses. Announced by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday, the scheme is designed to promote public transport, ensure safety, and make daily commuting more accessible for women and trans people across Delhi. With this move, all daughters, sisters, and mothers above 12 years of age will now be able to travel free of cost on DTC and cluster buses. The government said this is part of its broader effort to empower women, reduce transport costs, and encourage the use of public transport over private vehicles. The Pink Saheli Smart Card is a travel pass introduced by the Delhi government that enables women and transgender individuals to travel for free on all DTC and cluster bus routes. The initiative is part of Delhi’s ongoing mission to improve mobility, safety, and inclusivity in public transport. WHO CAN AVAIL THE BENEFITS? The free ride scheme applies to women and transgender individuals aged 12 years and above. They can use the card for unlimited free rides on Delhi’s public buses. HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE PINK SAHELI CARD Eligible passengers can register online through the Delhi Transport Department’s official portal or at designated DTC counters across the city. After registration, the Pink Saheli card will be issued, which can be used on all buses offering free travel under the scheme. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative is a “significant step towards making travel easier and safer for women in Delhi.” She added that the government wants to promote the use of public transport and provide more facilities and respect for women’s power. The Pink Saheli card also encourages more women to use public buses, thereby reducing dependency on private transport and helping cut down traffic and pollution in the capital. The initiative has also been praised for extending benefits to transgender individuals, marking a step towards gender inclusivity in public services. Officials said the move reflects Delhi’s commitment to creating a fair and inclusive transport system for all sections of society. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Upper caste landowner and aides beat Dalit man to death in UP
The accused’s family and his villagers say that the police are trying to protect the landlord, only charging him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder New Delhi: In the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, a landowner and his aides allegedly beat up a 40-year-old Dalit farm worker to death in Amethi district. The Dalit person, identified as Hausila Prasad, demanded his unpaid wages from the landlord, which led to his death, The Telegraph reported Prasad had been working for the upper-caste landlord Shubham Singh in his fields. Prasad’s wife, Kirti, said that Singh and his aides had forcefully taken Prasad to work for them in October, promising Rs 350 per day, but even after working for a week, he was not paid. Kirti told The Telegraph that when her husband went to demand his wages, the landowner and his men thrashed him with rods, and when he became unconscious, the accused took him to his home and threw him near the door. According to reports, Prasad died of severe head injuries and was moved between hospitals before he breathed his last on Sunday. The police arrested the landowner, but charged him only with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The family of the victim and the villagers said that the police are protecting the culprits, reminding that there are four people who are involved in attacking Prasad, only the landowner was added in the case. They also accused the police of diluting the charges against the landowner. One of Prasad’s relatives told The Telegraph that police only charged the offence of a minor brawl first and then changed it to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, against just one person. He said that the entire village is aware of who was behind the murder of the Dalit man, Prasa Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Nitish gave my father recognition, Rahul… The son of the ‘Mountain Man’ turned his back on the Congress after being denied a Congress ticket.
Bhagirath Manjhi, son of Bihar’s ‘Mountain Man’ Dashrath Manjhi, praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said that Nitish Kumar recognized his father’s great work in cutting mountains, for which he is grateful. However, he expressed disappointment at not receiving a Congress ticket despite receiving assurances from Rahul Gandhi and having built a permanent house for him. Rahul Gandhi visited Bhagirath Manjhi’s house (file) Gayaji: Bhagirath Manjhi, son of Bihar’s Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi, praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He said that Nitish Kumar recognized, praised, and recognized his father’s monumental work in cutting mountains and building roads. He will always be grateful to Nitish Kumar for this. Bhagirath Manjhi also recalled his meeting with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who had built a permanent house for his family. He expressed disappointment at not receiving a Congress ticket despite receiving assurances from him. “The Mountain Man’s” son praises Nitish Kumar Bhagirath Manjhi said that the person who brought his father Dashrath Manjhi’s work to the world’s attention was Nitish Kumar. He was the one who brought his father’s achievements to public attention. When asked about his meeting with Rahul Gandhi, he said, “I met Rahul Gandhi for the first time some time ago. I didn’t know him before.” Notably, the “Mountain Man’s” son was approached by the Congress party before the elections and promised a ticket to contest the Bihar elections. Bhagirath Manjhi still makes this claim, and he expressed disappointment at not receiving the opportunity. Displeased with not receiving a ticket from the Congress He said, “I told Rahul Gandhi that if I don’t get the ticket, you will have to face severe criticism. I also told him that I will also have to face rebuke for supporting the Congress.” However, he said he was grateful to Rahul Gandhi for building a permanent house for his family, adding that neither the Congress MP nor anyone else had informed him about it in advance. ‘Rahul Gandhi built my house’ Bhagirath Manjhi said that about a week after meeting Rahul Gandhi, engineers came to his village and built a house for his family, which has four bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Recalling the meeting, he said that Rahul spoke to him openly, sat on his bed, and even drank coconut water. Edited by: Sunil Pandey About the author Sunil Pandey is a senior journalist with Navbharat Times Bihar-Jharkhand. He has experience in print, TV, and digital, with 20 years of experience in politics, sports, business, and ground reporting. Courtesy: Hindi News