After the Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar, Congress is busy campaigning to keep the atmosphere hot against the government, released a newsletter
Bihar Assembly Election 2025: After the Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar, now the Congress is publicizing the purpose of this journey. It is accusing the BJP of vote theft and tampering with the voter list through SIR. Patna: Congress has started publicizing its purpose after Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar. After the journey, the Congress released a newsletter. It tells about Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign to “expose vote theft and protect democracy”. Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Bihar, the Congress has said that this journey was done to protect the rights of voters. This journey passed through 25 districts. The process of assembly elections in Bihar is likely to start after mid-October. Before this, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and India Alliance (INDIA Bloc) are putting all their strength to create an atmosphere in their favor. Congress said – will protect the rights of voters Congress has told about Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against “vote theft” in a post on X. Congress has said that the purpose of his Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar is to protect the rights of voters. Congress said, “Our campaign against vote theft has exposed how BJP is stealing votes and rigging elections in connivance with the Election Commission.” Congress has urged people to read the newsletter so that they can get more information. The newsletter explains in detail the campaign against electoral malpractices. It says that Rahul Gandhi exposed “voter fraud and the role of the Election Commission (ECI) in helping the BJP” for months. It also says that the real turning point came when he caught more than one lakh fake votes in Bangalore Central. After this, he started the Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar to convey the message directly to the people. Voter rights claim to become mass movement The newsletter claims, “What started as a leader’s fight has now become a mass movement to protect our right to vote.” It said the yatra highlighted the disenfranchisement of lakhs of voters through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The yatra covered 1300 km in Bihar and included 18 rallies. These were attended by All India Alliance leaders like RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, CPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and VIP’s Mukesh Sahni. The newsletter also said that Rahul Gandhi had a tea party with Bihar residents declared “dead” in the Election Commission’s SIR draft voter list. He participated in harvesting makhana with farmers in Purnia. He also traveled on a Bullet with his sister Priyanka Gandhi and Tejashwi. The newsletter alleged that BJP people are “stealing votes” in five ways. These methods are – fake and invalid addresses, misuse of Form 6, duplicate voters, bulk voters at the same address and invalid photographs. Curated by: Suryakant Pathak About the author Suryakant Pathak is a consultant at Navbharat Times Online. He has been doing journalism for the last 31 years. He writes news, analysis and blogs on India’s international relations, political-social developments in the country and the world. He started as a reporter in Dainik Bhaskar in 1995. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Punjab is struggling with floods, this gentleman is touring Malaysia’: AAP’s Anurag Dhanda hits out at Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national media in charge Anurag Dhanda on Sunday took a jibe alleged that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was “touring Malaysia” at a time when Punjab was reeling under floods. In a post on X, Anurag Dhanda shared, “If there are elections in Punjab, this person will show up asking for votes, but today when Punjab is struggling with floods, this gentleman is touring Malaysia?” As of Saturday, 46 people have lost their lives due to floods in Punjab, according to the officials. Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that nearly 2,000 villages and over four lakh people have been affected. He said that 24 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and two teams of the state disaster response force (SDRF) are on the ground, supported by 144 boats and a state government helicopter. Earlier BJP IT Department in-charge Amit Malviya launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of going on a “clandestine vacation” to Langkawi, Malaysia, amidst the Bihar Assembly elections. Malviya took to the social media platform X to share a picture of Gandhi, questioning the timing and purpose of his trip. In a post on X, Amit Malviya shared, “Rahul Gandhi has slipped away yet again–this time on a clandestine vacation in Langkawi, Malaysia. Looks like the heat and dust of Bihar’s politics was too much for the Congress Yuvraj, who had to rush off for a break. Or is it another one of those secret meetings that no one is supposed to know about? Either way, while people struggle with real issues, Rahul Gandhi is busy perfecting the art of disappearing and vacationing.” Earlier, Rahul Gandhi launched a newsletter, standing firm on his revelations of alleged “vote theft” against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Centre. “The opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against ‘vote theft’ is exposing how the Election Commission and BJP are colluding to steal your vote and rigging the elections,” Congress posted on X while informing about the release of a newsletter that entails Gandhi’s “atom bomb” presser. In his press conference held on August 7, Gandhi alleged over one lakh fake voters in the Mahadevapura assembly constituency in Karnataka’s Bengaluru Central. The newsletter also highlights Gandhi’s ‘Vote Adhikaar Yatra’ in Bihar, where he was joined by his allies in the INDIA bloc, including Bihar LoP and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav. 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.
13-year-old Dalit girl allegedly raped, filmed by accused in UP village
In a horrific incident in a village under the Bazar Shukul police station area, a 13-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by a man from her village, who also filmed the assault, police reported on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The accused, now in custody and under interrogation, faces serious charges following the crime that has sparked outrage. According to police, the incident occurred on Friday evening when the accused lured the girl out of her home and assaulted her. He recorded the act and threatened to upload the video online and kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone. Despite the threats, the traumatized girl confided in her mother upon returning home. Her father promptly lodged a complaint at the Bazar Shukul police station on Saturday, detailing the harrowing ordeal. Station Officer Abhinesh Kumar confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The police are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victim. The case highlights the persistent issue of violence against marginalized communities, particularly Dalit girls, in rural India. Authorities are under pressure to act swiftly, as the incident underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to protect vulnerable children and enforce stringent penalties for such heinous crimes. Courtesy : Muslim Mirror Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Uttar Pradesh: 19-year-old Dalit woman alleges gang rape in Pratapgarh Gang Rape, raped
In a distressing incident in the Patti area of Pratapgarh district, a 19-year-old Dalit woman, a college student, was allegedly raped by two men on Saturday, September 6, 2025, police reported on Sunday. The assault occurred when the victim visited a village under the Patti police station jurisdiction to collect money from a friend’s acquaintance, according to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), East, Shailendra Lal. Based on the victim’s complaint, a case was registered on Saturday evening against the two accused, identified as Aman and his accomplice, under relevant legal provisions, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and applicable laws for crimes against Scheduled Castes. The police have launched a manhunt, forming four specialized teams to apprehend the suspects. ASP Lal assured that the accused would be arrested soon, emphasizing the authorities’ commitment to swift justice. This case underscores the ongoing issue of violence against Dalit women in India, raising concerns about safety and systemic discrimination. The police are under pressure to act decisively to ensure accountability and provide support to the victim, as the community demands stringent action against the perpetrators to prevent such heinous crimes. — With Agencies Inputs Courtesy : Muslim Mirror Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Kerala: Tribal settlements of Idukki still deprived of basic facilities, warning of election boycott
Tribal settlements of Idukki still away from road and health facilities, angry community decided to boycott elections. Kerala: Ahead of the local body and assembly elections in the state, the lack of basic facilities in the major tribal settlements of Idukki district has once again become a topic of discussion. The biggest concern is that two Muthuvan tribal settlements of Edamalkudi Panchayat and five settlements of Vattavada Panchayat are still completely cut off from road connectivity. A report submitted by the State Special Branch to the Kerala Government states that the resentment of the people is increasing due to the continuous lack of facilities in the Edamalkudi area. Carrying patients on bamboo stretchers Due to lack of road connectivity, patients in areas like Edamalakudi, Swamiyarlakudi, Koodallarkudi, Mele Valsapettikudi, Vayaltharakudi and Parasukkadavukudi have to be carried to the hospital through forests on makeshift stretchers made of bamboo. Recently, an elderly woman was carried to the hospital in Mankulam through dense forests for 10 km in a similar way. A child died on August 21. In another incident, a woman suffering from asthma could not be taken to the Family Health Centre in Societykudi in time, due to which her condition deteriorated and she later lost her life. “The tribals of the district have been demanding basic amenities and road connectivity for a long time, but no concrete steps have been taken so far,” said a tribal member of the Vattavada panchayat. Announcement of boycott of elections In a recent meeting of tribal leaders of two wards of the Vattavada Gram Panchayat, a decision was taken to boycott the upcoming elections. In the meeting of tribal chiefs (Ooru Kootam), it was decided that there will be no participation in the elections. To fill the reserved seats in the Panchayat, political parties need to field candidates from these five settlements, but no one is ready to come forward. Unfulfilled hopes even after 15 years According to the information, the recent death of a five-year-old child in Koodallarkudi settlement of Edamalakudi has shaken the people of the Panchayat. It is noteworthy that in the year 2010, the first tribal Gram Panchayat was formed exclusively for the Muthuvan community. But even after 15 years, the community is struggling for basic facilities. The Intelligence Wing report has recommended the government to intervene immediately and solve the problems. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul’s pro-OBC pitch leaves upper caste Congress leaders uneasy in Magadh region
Gaya: In the 2020 assembly elections, Congress contested five general seats, including Aurangabad, Tekari, Gaya Town, Wazirganj, Hisua and Warisaliganj, in the Magadh division. On all these five seats, Congress fielded upper caste candidates. The five seats were divided between two dominant upper castes in the 3:2 ratio. The strike rate of the party was much lower than alliance partners RJD and CPI-ML. Of the five general seats it contested, the party won two (Aurangabad and Hisua) and lost three. The Left party registered a 100% strike rate as it won both Ghosi and Arwal seats. Ghosi win was significant as it was regarded as the fiefdom of Jagdish Sharma. Things have changed a lot within the Congress in the last five years. In a major strategic shift, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has taken a distinctly pro-OBC stand with emphasis on caste census and poor representation of OBCs, EBCs in the decision making positions.On account of changed position of the Congress, the upper caste Congress ticket aspirants feel uncomfortable and this was also felt during meets preparatory to the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ where some of them appeared dismayed. The yatra got better traction in areas dominated by the OBCs thereby strengthening the pro-OBC lobby within the Congress, feel observers. According to Ali Hussain, principal of a Gaya-based college, politics is a game of numbers and as such no party can prosper without taking into account the arithmetical realities. Hussain, who has been teaching political science, said in Bihar, politics per se has gone OBC-dalit centric and even BJP has re calibrated its strategy along those lines. Vijai Kumar Mithu, a senior Congress leader of Magadh division and former member of the All India Congress Committee, said Congress all along has accommodated all sections in its fold and comprehensive representation of different section commensurate with their numbers was in the party’s larger interests. In order to be seen walking the talk, Congress has been promoting leaders like Chandrika Yadav, Santosh Kushwaha, Naina Devi, Priye Ranjan, Kailash Pal and Shweta Yadav etc. In 2020, both Congress and BJP-HAM(S) fielded same caste candidates in Aurangabad, Tekari, Wazirganj, Hisua and Warisaliganj. Party insiders believe that the strategy did not yield the desired result and as such things may be different this time. The resignation of Arun Kumar Prasad from the Congress is also being seen in the context of party’s changing social profile where the wings of upper caste leaders are likely to be sufficiently clipped. Prasad told this newspaper that he resigned from the Congress to join the Jan Suraaj as he found it ideologically superior to the Congress. 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.
Odisha cops serve notice to Rajiv Foundation seeking foreign contribution details
BHUBANESWAR: Police on Sunday served a notice to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), seeking details of its financial records and foreign contributions, in connection with a case registered earlier this year in Jharsuguda against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his alleged “anti-national” remarks. Police said notice has been issued under section 94 of BNSS. The foundation director has been summoned by the police as well. Police have sought a range of documents, including year-wise foreign contributions since the foundation’s inception in 1991, details of bank accounts, authorized signatories, names and contacts of auditors, a copy of the FCRA license, and clarifications on specific donations. Jharsuguda police have specifically asked the foundation if it has brought foreign donations from controversial preacher Zakir Naik and the Chinese government. Additionally, an explanation has been sought regarding the alleged diversion of the PM relief fund during the UPA era. “Failure to comply with the notice could result in penal action under Section 210 of the BNSS,” a police officer said. An FIR had been lodged on February 7 against Gandhi in Jharsuguda after his speech at the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters in Delhi on January 15, where he accused the BJP and RSS of capturing national institutions and stated, “We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself”. The complaint was filed by local BJP units and allied organizations, alleging that Gandhi’s remarks incited subversive activities and undermined India’s sovereignty. Inspector General (Northern Range) Himanshu Lal said, “Police are well within their scope to investigate the case. The case is progressing well”. This case is notable as it is one of the first high-profile cases under the BNSS, which replaced the Indian Penal Code in July 2024, marking a significant shift in legal proceedings related to national security and public order. 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 held Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar to protect voters’ rights: Congress
Patna: After completing the fortnight-long Voter Adhikar Yatra across 25 districts of Bihar, the Congress on Sunday released a newsletter highlighting leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign to “expose vote chori and defend democracy”. The initiative takes on added significance ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, for which both the NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc have mobilised all resources. In an X post, the Congress drew attention to Rahul’s ongoing campaign against “vote theft”, saying that his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar was aimed at safeguarding voters’ rights. “Our campaign against vote theft has exposed how the BJP, in connivance with the Election Commission, is stealing the votes and rigging the elections,” the Congress said, urging people to read the newsletter for further details. Detailing the campaign against electoral manipulation, the newsletter stated that Rahul had, for months, exposed “voter fraud and the ECI’s role in aiding the BJP”. It added that the turning point came when he uncovered over 1 lakh fake votes in Bangalore Central, after which he launched the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar to take the message directly to the people. “What began as the fight of one leader has now grown into a people’s movement to protect our right to vote,” the newsletter claimed, adding that the yatra, highlighting “the disenfranchisement of lakhs of voters through the special intensive revision (SIR)” of electoral rolls, covered 1,300 km across Bihar and included 18 rallies attended by INDIA bloc leaders, such as RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, CPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya and VIP’s Mukesh Sahani. The newsletter also mentioned Rahul hosting a tea party with Bihar residents declared “dead” on the EC’s SIR draft rolls, participating in makhana harvesting with farmers in Purnia, and taking a bullet ride on pillion with his sister Priyanka Gandhi alongside Tejashwi. It further alleged that BJP operatives have been “stealing votes” using five methods – fake and invalid addresses, misuse of Form 6, duplicate voters, bulk voters at a single address and invalid photos. 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.
Bodoland of Assam became the first tribal region in the country, where 15 lakh land records were digitized – know the full story
Bodoland Territorial Region created history, it became the first tribal area of Assam where all land records are completely digitized. This is being considered a big step towards transparency and resolution of land disputes. New Delhi: Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam has become the first tribal council area in the country to completely digitize all its land records. This achievement is considered an important step in the councils formed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. According to officials, more than 15 lakh land-related documents, including text and maps, have been digitized in BTR, spread over an area of 8,970 square kilometers. This work was completed just a few weeks ago, ending the process of manual record-keeping that was going on for decades. Councils under the Sixth Schedule North-east India has a total of 10 autonomous tribal councils under the Sixth Schedule—three each in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram, and one in Tripura. Assam’s Karbi Anglong-West Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao councils were set up nearly five decades before the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The BTC was set up in 2003. The BTC currently administers five districts in north and west Assam. Why was digitisation necessary? The Sixth Schedule gives special rights to tribal areas in matters related to land, forest and local governance. Despite this, these councils face lack of resources, infrastructure challenges and administrative difficulties. The BTR administration has adopted a technology-based governance system to overcome these obstacles. According to officials, the council has made this big change by working on the lines of the e-office system and the Digital India Mission. BTC secretary Dhiraj Saud said the process, which began in 2023, was aimed at bringing transparency in land ownership and simplifying traditional land ownership patterns. “The process involved ground-level surveys in all districts — Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Tamulpur and Udalguri. Old records, including those dating back several decades, were digitised and matched with revenue records and maps,” he said. Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping was also used to ensure accuracy of land boundaries. Boost to Mission Bwismuthi 2.0 This digitisation has also given new impetus to the BTR government’s Mission Bwismuthi 2.0. The scheme, launched earlier this year, gave land rights to 47,000 landless indigenous families, including about 9,000 small tea growers and rubber farmers. In its first phase, 14 land related services were made available and so far more than 2.11 lakh applications have been settled. New digital facility for the public Through the new digital platform, farmers, landholders and common citizens can now get information related to their land through kiosks, mobile applications and web portals. A revenue department official said, “Land disputes in our region have often become a cause of social tension. Digitization will ensure transparency and the chances of corruption, fraud and conflict will be reduced to a great extent.” An example for other councils Officials believe that the digitization of land records and e-office system in BTR has become an ideal example for other autonomous councils of the North-East. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
‘Fake caste certificate deprives a qualified tribal candidate of opportunity’: Supreme Court gives relief to MBBS student of Maharashtra, imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on father
On July 7, 2022, the verification committee passed an order that Chaitanya “Mannervarlu” does not belong to the Scheduled Tribe. By this time Chaitanya had not only completed her MBBS degree but also got admission in the Post Graduate (PG) course in the general category, where she is currently in the second year. New Delhi- The Supreme Court has given a big relief to the appellant MBBS pass Chaitanya by giving an important verdict in a famous fake caste certificate case of Maharashtra. But the apex court has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on her father. With a fake caste certificate, Chaitanya not only got admission in MBBS but also completed the degree and internship and now has got admission from the general category for the post graduate degree. The court, while maintaining a balance between equity and law, has granted relief to the student and imposed penalty on the father, saying that “this act has deprived an eligible tribal candidate of an opportunity.” The court ordered Chaitanya’s father to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the National Defence Fund within two months. The case pertains to the “Mannervarlu” category of Scheduled Tribes (ST), under which Chaitanya had claimed she belonged to this tribe. Chaitanya was born on 7 August 1998, and when she was a minor, a caste certificate was issued in her favour on 1 July 2009, declaring her as a member of the “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe under Section 27 of the Presidential Order 1976. Chaitanya, who wanted to take admission in MBBS course, approached the Scheduled Tribe Caste Certificate Verification Committee, Aurangabad for verification of her certificate through her father Sanjay Vithalrao Palekar on 30 July 2015. Unfortunately, the committee delayed the verification of this claim, which led to Chaitanya getting admission to the MBBS course on 24 July 2016 on the basis of his caste certificate. He successfully completed MBBS in 2021 and started internship after completing the final year on 5 May 2021. The records show that Chaitanya excelled in class 12 and his academic performance was also excellent during MBBS. However, on 7 July 2022, the verification committee passed an order that Chaitanya does not belong to the “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe. By this time Chaitanya had not only completed his MBBS degree but also enrolled in the Post Graduate (PG) course in the general category, where he is currently in the second year. Chaitanya filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against this decision of the committee, but it was dismissed. The core issue of the case was the fraud committed by Chaitanya’s father and uncle, who obtained new certificates in 2007 by concealing the rejection of their tribal claims in 1989. Bombay High Court gave this decision The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court, while passing judgement on writ petition no. 8531/2022 on July 24, 2023, upheld the order of the Verification Committee dated July 7, 2022. The High Court found that the tribal claims of Chaitanya’s father Sanjay Palekar and uncle Rajiv Palekar were rejected in 1989, and their appeal was dismissed in 1991. Despite this, they obtained new validity certificates in 2007 by concealing this fact. The High Court termed it a constitutional fraud and said that Chaitanya’s father had filed a false affidavit before the committee, claiming that no one in his family’s claim was rejected. The court cited the Supreme Court case Raju Ramsing Vasave v Mahesh Deorao Bhiwapurkar (2008) 9 SCC 54, which held that certificates obtained by fraud are invalid and not binding on other family members. The High Court also observed that the certificates of other relatives submitted by Chaitanya were also based on fraud, as earlier rejections were concealed. Rejecting the debate on the review power of the committee, the court clarified that this is a clear case of fraud and not an issue of review. The High Court rejected Chaitanya’s reference to other cases where directions were given to issue validity certificates pending scrutiny of relatives’ certificates. The court said that this case is an example of clear fraud on the Constitution and Chaitanya cannot benefit from the fraud of his father and relatives. Dismissing the petition, the High Court said that the affidavits filed by Chaitanya and his father were false and the committee was justified in rejecting the claim. Supreme Court order The Supreme Court bench of Justice J.B. A bench of Justices Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan partly allowed Chaitanya’s appeal in Civil Appeal No. 11196/2025. The court upheld the High Court’s findings, saying there was no legal error, but granted relief in special circumstances, taking into account Chaitanya’s educational qualifications and career prospects. The court noted that Chaitanya has completed MBBS and is pursuing a PG course in the general category. If the appeal was dismissed, her entire career would be at stake. The court held Chaitanya’s father primarily responsible for the situation, who put his daughter in trouble by concealing crucial facts. Referring to its interim order (28 November 2023), the court took on record the affidavit of the father, in which he gave up the claim of “Mannervarlu” Scheduled Tribe for himself and his family. The court regularised Chaitanya’s MBBS admission and directed the university to issue his degree certificate, which would be final. Chaitanya was, however, barred from claiming Scheduled Tribe anytime in the future. Acknowledging that due to this fraud a deserving Scheduled Tribe candidate lost the opportunity of pursuing MBBS course, the court ordered Chaitanya’s father to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the National Defence Fund within two months. The matter was again listed after two months for a compliance report. The court also observed that if the verification committee had conducted a timely inquiry, this situation might not have arisen. The Supreme Court order overrides the High Court’s decision, regularising only Chaitanya’s MBBS admission, while upholding the High Court’s decision on all other aspects. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy : Hindi News