6 days after PM’s tour, Rahul visits flood-hit Punjab
AMRITSAR/GURDASPUR: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi toured several flood-ravaged villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts Monday. His visit came six days after PM Modi dropped by flood-affected areas of Punjab. Rahul chose to keep the media at bay throughout. He later posted on X: “The floods have caused severe devastation in Punjab. I met villagers in Ghonewal where homes are ruined, fields destroyed and lives shattered. Both state & central govts must ensure relief packages and compensation reach victims without delay. In this tragedy, I stand with every affected family. I will amplify their voices and ensure they receive every possible assistance.” Rahul echoed the sentiment of state Congress netas that central relief package of Rs 1,600 crore was far too meagre when compared to the scale of the devastation. State Congress leadership, meanwhile, alleged that Rahul was barred from visiting certain areas under the guise of “security concerns”. PCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that local police and NDRF officials stopped Rahul from visiting Toor village across Ravi river. Rahul reached Makora Pattan village, around 85km from Amritsar, and was about to set off by boat for the next stop on his itinerary, the marooned Toor. However, he could not, as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge received a phone call from Union home minister Amit Shah, requesting that Rahul should avoid crossing the flooded river for safety concerns, Warring said. After landing at Amritsar airport Monday morning, Rahul headed for Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib, where he offered prayers. 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
Bajwa condemns AAP govt for ‘obstructing’ Rahul Gandhi’s visit to flood-hit villages
Amritsar: Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt for “deliberately obstructing” the Congress MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, from visiting the flood-ravaged villages along the Ravi river. In a statement issued here on Monday, Bajwa termed the move as “shameful, insensitive, and politically motivated”, accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP govt of hiding behind flimsy security excuses. “This was not about security, it was a political decision aimed at avoiding accountability. If the govt claims it cannot protect a senior leader like Rahul Gandhi, how will it protect ordinary Punjabis?” Bajwa questioned. Despite these obstructions, Rahul Gandhi stood firm in solidarity with the flood-hit people of Punjab. He reached Amritsar and personally visited Ghonewal village in Ajnala, one of the worst-affected areas, he said. The Qadian legislator slammed both AAP and BJP leaders for allegedly neglecting the border villages. “These are our people, our brothers and sisters. Just because they live along the border does not make them any less Indian. The silence and absence of the ruling parties is a betrayal of their suffering,” he alleged. MSID:: 123902642 413 | 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
‘No Safety Gear, Deadly Gases’: Two Dalit Men Die of Suffocation While Cleaning Sewer in Ahmedabad
Two Dalit youths died of suffocation inside a sewer manhole in Ahmedabad’s Bopal area on 5 September. The victims, 20-year-old Vikas Lal Bahadur Kori and 21-year-old Kanhaiyalal Khushiram Kori, had gone inside the sewer to clean it when poisonous gases knocked them unconscious. Both were later declared dead at a hospital. Initially, police had arrested only the labour contractor. But now, after expanding the investigation, Ahmedabad Rural Police have named the site contractor and site engineer as accused as well. “We have already arrested Mukeshkumar Someshwar Adalat Thakur, the labour contractor. Site contractor Saurabh Panchal and site engineer Jayanil have also been made accused and will be arrested soon,” said Tapasin Dodiya, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SC/ST Cell. The case was registered after a complaint by Lal Bahadur Kori, father of Vikas. Lal Bahadur, who hails from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, said his son had been working as a plumber in Ahmedabad for three years. “On September 6, I got a call from my relative Anish, who told me Vikas had fainted while cleaning a sewer. He assured me Vikas was being treated and would be sent home in an ambulance. But the next day when the ambulance arrived, it was carrying my son’s dead body,” Lal Bahadur said in his complaint. According to the FIR, on the day of the incident, contractor Thakur brought a pressure machine and asked Vikas to get inside the gutter near ‘The Garden Bungalows’ to clean it. He was not given any safety equipment. Vikas fell unconscious due to toxic gas, and his friend Kanhaiyalal went inside to save him but also collapsed. Firefighters later pulled them out and rushed them to hospital, where doctors declared Kanhaiyalal dead at 3:40 pm and Vikas at 10:40 pm. “The two youths were first asked to work on a private sewer line at a construction site. Later, they were told to connect it to the municipal sewer line, which was clogged due to rain. It was during this task that the accident happened,” said DySP Dodiya. Police have booked the accused under provisions of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering human life, and under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act. They are also charged under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Activists have demanded strict accountability. “The law is quite clear that those responsible for the deaths of workers, including government officials in charge, must be held accountable,” said Parshottam Vaghela of Human Dignity, an NGO that works on such cases. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Woman in UP Harassed, Forced to Clean Road by Councillors, Approaches SP
In Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit woman named Uma Devi has approached the Superintendent of Police after facing harassment and threats from two local councillors. Uma Devi, a resident of ward number four in Kishni town, earns her livelihood by rearing goats and buffaloes. According to her complaint, on September 4, 2025, her husband was grazing their goats when the animals dirtied the culvert near the councillors’ houses. This reportedly angered councillors Amit Kumar and Ravi Pal, who began abusing her husband and demanded that he clean the road. Uma Devi said the men threatened to kill her family if they did not obey. Fearing for her safety, she cleaned the public road herself. The incident was caught on CCTV. She also alleged that when she went to the local police station to file a complaint, her grievances were ignored. “The accused are pressuring me every day to compromise. They threaten to kill us if we don’t end the matter,” Uma Devi told reporters after submitting her complaint to the SP. Taking note of the case, the Superintendent of Police has directed the Kishni police station to investigate and assured Uma Devi of justice. He said strict action would be taken against those responsible. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Youth, Mother Assaulted in Ghaziabad, Tensions Boil Into Village Clash
Fresh caste violence has erupted in Ghaziabad’s Masauta village, where Dalit and Rajput communities clashed on Sunday evening. Heavy stone-pelting broke out between the two sides, forcing police to rush additional forces to the area. The Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed to maintain order, while several police teams remain stationed in the village. According to police, the tension began after a Dalit youth’s bike collided with a car carrying Rajput men on Saturday. The car occupants allegedly slapped the youth, sparking anger. Later, when the boy and his mother went to complain, they were allegedly beaten. This escalated into a larger confrontation between the two groups. “Stone pelting was reported around 8 pm. Our teams reached the spot quickly and managed to bring the situation under control,” said Acting Assistant Police Commissioner of Mussoorie, Amit Saxena. He added that CCTV footage from the village is being scanned to identify all those involved. Police have detained at least six people so far, and a case has been filed under multiple sections, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Officials confirmed that Bhim Army leaders also reached the village, which further heightened tensions. Despite a heavy police presence, locals remain fearful of renewed violence. “We don’t feel safe. The situation is still tense, and we hope the authorities take strict action,” a villager who requested anonymity told media. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Tamil Nadu: Dalit Boy Beaten, Stripped, and Subjected to Caste Slurs for Meeting Vanniyar Girl
Police in Chennai have arrested two men for allegedly stripping, beating, and abusing a 17-year-old Dalit boy who had gone to meet a girl at her relatives’ house in Secretariat Colony on Friday, September 12. The accused have been identified as Saravanan, said to be a former BJP functionary, and his brother Logesh. According to police, the girl’s relatives confined the boy in a room and then called Saravanan. When he arrived, Saravanan and his brother allegedly assaulted the boy, stripped him, and hurled casteist abuses. The boy, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Adi Dravidar) community, has been friends for years with the girl, who is from the Most Backward Class (Vanniyar) community. They continued to stay in touch through social media even after moving to different schools. “The boy was beaten badly and humiliated. Saravanan used caste slurs against him,” a police officer said. The teenager is now receiving treatment at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital. Police have booked the accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of obscene acts, voluntarily causing hurt, attempt to murder, and criminal intimidation. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kerala elections: Congress in search of Dalit and tribal faces, decades of neglect proving costly?
Till the 1980s, the party was full of prominent Dalit leaders, but factionalism ruined everything. Now finding candidates for 16 reserved seats has also become a big challenge. Kochi: The preparations for the assembly elections to be held in Kerala in May next year have intensified, but the Congress party is stuck in a strange difficulty. The party is struggling to find its Dalit and tribal candidates just before the elections. This turmoil has exposed a bitter truth that the party has failed miserably in preparing and promoting new leaders from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The result is that the party is feeling very weak on the 16 reserved seats (14 SC and 2 ST) of the state. A golden past, which is now only in memories This difference between the past and the present is very clear. By the mid-1980s, the Congress had no dearth of stalwart leaders from backward communities. Names like Vella Echaran Iyani, M. P. Thami, K. K. Balakrishnan, K. Raghavan Master, Damodaran Kalassery, P. K. Velayudhan, K. K. Madhavan, T. K. C. Vaduthala, Kittappa Narayana Swamy and Dr. M. A. Kuttappan not only gave the party legislative strength but also had a strong grassroots hold. These leaders were not just candidates but mass leaders who were deeply respected in the society. Factionalism ruined the party But as factionalism within the party deepened in the late 1980s and 90s, Dalit and tribal representation shrunk. Political analyst Dizo Kappan says, “The main reason for the failure to promote SC/ST leaders in the Congress was the never-ending infighting between the ‘A’ and ‘I’ groups. This factionalism prevented the emergence of new leaders and created a vacuum that has not been filled till date.” Dependence on old faces a problem This vacuum has become a major challenge for the party today. For decades, the party’s leadership has depended on a handful of “safe” names, most prominent among them being Kodikunnil Suresh and Pandalam Sudhakaran. Kodikunnil, who was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989, is still an MP, while Sudhakaran has been active in politics since his first election in 1982. Critics believe that these two leaders have effectively closed the doors for younger leaders. Ramesh Mathew, a former journalist and longtime Congress watcher, says, “The Congress is unable to think of any new names other than Kodikunnil and Sudhakaran. After some issues surfaced regarding Remya Haridas, the party can only blame itself for this situation.” It is clear that the party’s bench strength is worryingly weak. The party has no ready options for the 16 reserved seats. On the other hand, the CPM and the BJP are apparently trying to groom Dalit and tribal candidates, which has increased the Congress’s worries even more. Leadership admits mistake, promises change A senior Congress source acknowledged the crisis, but insisted that change is coming. “The AICC now wants fresh faces from the fishermen, SC and ST communities, not old and tired faces like Kodikunnil and [T.N.] Prathapan. We have identified some promising new faces, and 2026 will see a clear generational change,” he said. According to sources, Sajithamol, the widow of Pathanamthitta District Congress Committee (DCC) vice-president and district panchayat member M.G. Kannan, who died in May this year at the age of 42, could be one of the Congress’ choices from the backward community for the Assembly election. Return to power at stake In the 140-member Assembly, these 16 reserved seats could prove to be decisive. Losing ground on this front could mean a dash to the Congress’ hopes of returning to power. Kottayam’s P.R. Leaders like Sona – who is educated, holds a doctorate degree and is active in social work – represent the kind of profile the party should have cultivated years ago. Instead, sources say, the neglect of Dalit leadership at the grassroots has left the Congress today scrambling across the state for credible candidates at the last minute. It is ironic that a party that once produced stalwarts like K.K. Balakrishnan – who held several ministerial portfolios, including Harijan Welfare and Transport – and a staunch Ambedkarite like Dr. Kuttappan, who reached the Assembly despite factional sabotage, is today struggling to find even a few well-known Dalit leaders. As the countdown to the elections begins, the Congress is realising that the mistake of ignoring and sidelining its Dalit and tribal leaders for decades cannot be undone by a mere search for candidates. The past is fast catching up with them – and the party may pay a heavy price for it. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
BJP, Congress eye bigger share of seats in Magadh region
Gaya: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting in Bodh Gaya on Aug 22 and the positive response to Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in the Magadh division, the bargaining position of both national parties has improved within their respective alliances. Political observers said in the 2020 assembly elections, both parties played second fiddle in NDA and Mahagathbandhan, respectively. In 2020, JD(U) led the NDA in Magadh by contesting 11 of the 26 seats, while the BJP fielded candidates in 10. BJP secured three of these 10 seats in four districts of the division but did not contest in Jahanabad. JD(U), however, failed to win any of the 11 seats it contested in Magadh. Even in Ghosi, long considered Jagdish Sharma’s stronghold, his son Rahul suffered a decisive defeat to CPI(ML) candidate Ram Bali Yadav, who had been seen as an underdog throughout the campaign. In Rafiganj, JD(U) candidate Ashok Kumar Singh slipped to third place. Within the NDA, HAM(S) emerged as the most successful with Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party winning three of the five seats it contested in Gaya, Jahanabad and Aurangabad. In the Mahagathbandhan camp, CPI(ML) achieved a perfect strike rate by winning both Ghosi and Arwal. Congress secured three of the seven seats it contested. Over the past five years, and particularly in recent months, political fortunes in the region have shifted. Gaya district BJP chief Prem Prakash argued that BJP’s growing strength must be reflected in seat-sharing. “BJP was much stronger now and this strength must be reflected in the distribution of seats based on the winnability of the candidates. Moreover, unlike other parties inside and outside the alliance, BJP has got a leader like Prem Kumar, the undisputed EBC leader of Bihar,” said Prakash. In 2015, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Shah Nawaz Hussain, while addressing an election rally in Gaya, had presented Kumar as BJP’s potential CM face. Congress functionaries also believe their position warrants a larger share of seats. Vijay Kumar Mithu, former AICC member, said, “Based on traction, Congress definitely deserves more than the seven seats it contested in 2020. The party would demand at least one more SC seat as it has significantly strengthened itself in recent times and though it has become more popular in all social groups, its footprint was most pronounced among the Dalits and EBCs.” Ali Hussain, principal of a Gaya-based college and a political science teacher for nearly two decades, observed that the rival coalitions would eventually need to adjust. “Sooner or later, the rival coalitions will have to recalibrate their strategy in view of the ground realities,” he added. 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
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to tour flood-hit border districts of Punjab
Chandigarh: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit flood-affected areas in Punjab on Monday. He will land in Amritsar on a chartered flight in the morning and will take a return flight on the same plane from Pathankot after visiting flood-affected areas in border districts, an official said. As per his schedule, the Raebareli MP is set to go to flood-affected Ghonewal, Ajnala, Gurchak, and Makoura before heading to Pathankot. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said Gandhi had always batted for the interests of farmers, raising their issues and slamming the BJP-led Centre govt for favouring corporates. “Now that floodwaters have receded, it is an appropriate time for him (Rahul Gandhi) to have a first-person account of the damage suffered by farmers. He will meet flood-affected farmers and people, and his visit is expected to force the govt to give immediate and adequate relief to farmers,” Warring said. Warring reiterated that the Rs 1,600-crore financial assistance announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Punjab was “peanuts” and that “so far not even a rupee has been given from the promised amount”. Leader of opposition and Congress MLA from Qadian, Partap Singh Bajwa, too said the visit was expected to force both govts, in the state and at the Centre, to “take the rehabilitation of flood-affected people seriously”. “We would request him (Rahul Gandhi) to take up the matter with the PM and tell him to rethink the relief amount as it is meagre. We would also urge him to get clarity from the PM on disaster funds as the PM said Rs 12,000 crore was lying with Punjab, the state govt said it received Rs 1m500 crore, and the CAG report mentioned that by March 31, 2023, Punjab had Rs ,9041 crore in disaster funds,” Bajwa said. He added Gandhi would visit flood-affected areas in assembly constituencies of Dera Baba Nanak, Ajnala, and Dinanagar. Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Bittu, in a post in Punjabi, took a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s recent foreign visit. “When the elections for Vice-President were happening, you were busy enjoying your holidays. And when Punjab was drowning and people were crying, you were living it up in Malaysia!” In an apparent reference to the Congress leader’s scheduled visit to Punjab on Monday, Bittu said in the post, “These visits don’t seem to be about alleviating people’s pain but rather for staging political drama.” Bittu to Gandhi: ‘What breed of horse are you?’ Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Bittu termed visit “political drama”. In a post on X, Bittu said, “It is said that Rahul Gandhi ji is coming to Punjab! Rahul often says that Congress has all kinds of horses – racehorses, wedding horses, even lame horses. But Rahul ji, can you or your party leaders, especially the leaders of Punjab, tell the people what breed of horse you are?” 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
Rajasthan: Dalit farmer’s field fence burnt in Balotra, caste abuses and death threats alleged
Dalit farmer assaulted and threatened in Tapra village of Balotra; field fence burnt, police accused of delaying action Rajasthan: A tense situation prevails over the field of a Dalit farmer in Tapra village of Balotra district. It is alleged that the nearby farm owner not only set the field fence on fire, but also hurled caste abuses and threatened to kill him. The incident took place in the field of Chhagna Ram Meghwal, where Mohanlal Bhil was working in the field. The victim Mohanlal says that the neighboring farm owner, Ummed Singh, was constantly pressurizing him and tried to attack him several times. The victim’s side also claims that they have a video of the incident, in which the accused Ummed Singh is seen openly hurling caste abuses, beating him and threatening to kill him with a sword. Recently, the accused set the farm fence on fire, causing great damage. In this case, Mohanlal Bhil has lodged an FIR in the police station. However, the villagers allege that the police delayed taking action by two days and have not yet shown the required seriousness in the matter. Villagers demand strict action The Dalit community and the people of the village have united and demanded from the administration that strict action should be taken against the accused. They say that such incidents are creating an atmosphere of fear in the society. They have also expected the police to take this matter with sensitivity and take immediate and fair action on the complaints of the Dalit community, so that the victim’s family can get justice. Sharvan Kumar Courtesy : Hindi News