The auspicious moment of the much-awaited Yogi cabinet expansion is coming soon, backward-dalit leaders including Puja Pal expelled from SP will get a chance!
Pooja Pal News: The auspicious moment of Yogi cabinet expansion is about to come. If experts are to be believed, the cabinet expansion can happen in the coming Navratri, in which backward and dalit leaders including Puja Pal can be given a chance. Abhay Singh Rathore, Lucknow: After 2014, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2024, now everyone’s eyes are on the UP assembly elections-2027. This election is very important for every political party, because the way to Delhi goes through UP. On the other hand, the ruling BJP is making every possible effort to win the 2027 assembly elections and score a hat-trick of victory, but the results of the crushing defeat that the BJP has suffered in UP in the last 2024 Lok Sabha elections have warned the BJP for the upcoming assembly elections. Samajwadi Party’s PDA (Backward, Dalit and Minority) is believed to have played an important role in this setback to BJP. At the same time, BJP has now taken a lesson from its old and bad results and has made a special strategy to blunt the edge of SP’s PDA. A sample of which will be seen in the Yogi cabinet expansion before the upcoming elections. Cabinet expansion can happen on the auspicious days of Navratri Actually, the first cabinet expansion of the second term of UP’s Yogi government is possible for a long time. There were discussions many times, but it remained limited to discussions only. But, now soon that auspicious moment is going to come, which is being awaited by MLA-MLC to the ruling party and most of all the opposition. If reliable sources are to be believed, the much-awaited cabinet expansion of the Yogi government can happen in the coming auspicious days. That is, there is a strong possibility of cabinet expansion in the days of the upcoming Navratri. This cabinet expansion is considered very important from the point of view of the upcoming assembly elections, because the caste and social equations that will be seen in this expansion will be the future strategy of BJP. That is, this cabinet expansion will leave the mark of the election strategy of the assembly elections. It is almost certain that Puja Pal, expelled from SP, will become a minister So far, the names of many leaders have been discussed among those who will be included in the Yogi cabinet expansion, which have remained limited to discussions only, but it is considered certain that the name of MLA Puja Pal, who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party, will be included in this cabinet. By making Puja Pal a minister, BJP will try to hit many targets with one arrow. The biggest strength of Puja Pal becoming a minister is said to be her coming from the extremely backward class. Also, the way she opened a front against mafia Atiq Ahmed in the recent assembly session and praised CM Yogi Adityanath, after that the Samajwadi Party has expelled her from the party. Due to this, BJP feels that the public will have sympathy with her. After BSP, SP, now she will soon start a new innings with BJP In her 20-year political journey, Puja Pal has been in BSP for 13 years and SP for about six and a half years. Now after being expelled from SP, Pooja Pal can soon start a new innings with BJP. Recently she also met CM Yogi. After which the discussion is intense. She will be included in the cabinet expansion only after joining BJP. Senior journalist Rajkumar Singh said that BJP can project Pooja Pal as a female firebrand leader. Also, by making Pooja Pal a minister, BJP will also try to hurt Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA. Similarly, other people from OBC can also be made ministers. Pooja Pal will become firebrand woman leader of BJP BJP has made a special strategy to deal with the PDA of Samajwadi Party. Now BJP’s maximum focus is on P i.e. backward and D i.e. Dalit except A (minority i.e. Muslim) of PDA in Akhilesh Yadav. BJP is now trying its best to bring the backward and Dalit class voters who had gone to SP in the Lok Sabha elections to its side. For this reason, the ruling BJP is now completely focused on backward and Dalit. Senior journalists say that UP BJP still lacks a female firebrand leader and the way Puja Pal has praised CM Yogi while making statements against her husband’s murderer Atiq Ahmed in the House, BJP seems to be overcoming the lack of a female firebrand leader. It is difficult for upper caste leaders to get a place in the cabinet By doing this, BJP will make inroads into anti-Muslim and Akhilesh’s Dalit vote on the pretext of Atiq. Senior journalists said that after being expelled from SP, Puja Pal has now become completely independent. Now she can go anywhere, so before being made a minister, Puja Pal will join BJP. If the senior journalist is to be believed, the chances of any Thakur-Pandit leader being included in this cabinet expansion are very low, because they (Thakur-Pandit) have adequate representation in the current government. In such a situation, if BJP includes any upper caste leader in the cabinet, then Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA will become more powerful. Taking advantage of this issue, Akhilesh Yadav can also attack BJP, so mostly leaders from backward and Dalit classes will become ministers in the cabinet. Bhupendra Chaudhary, Akash Saxena and many other names in discussion, Raja Bhaiya not in the list! Apart from Puja Pal, Akash Saxena, MLA from Rampur, can also be made a minister in this list. Also, MLA Thakur Ramveer Singh, who won the by-election from Kundarki seat of Moradabad, current UP BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary and some other leaders can be included in the cabinet. There are 7 vacant ministerial positions in the Yogi government, out of which 5 new leaders can be made ministers. Ramveer Singh has sent a message by winning from Kundarki and Akash Saxena from
Behind Gender Balance In Karnataka’s Dalit Communities Lies A Story Of Exclusion
Beneath Karnataka’s recorded gender parity statistics among Scheduled Castes lies a fractured reality of caste hierarchies, poverty, and unequal opportunities for Dalit women. When the Justice H. N. Nagamohan Das Committee submitted its 1,766-page report on Karnataka’s Scheduled Castes earlier this month, one statistic jumped out of the dense pages of charts and tables. For the first time in decades, the state has recorded near gender parity in its Scheduled Caste population. Out of a total of 1.07 crore people surveyed, 53.6 lakh are men and 53.3 lakh are women, making the ratio 50.1 per cent male to 49.8 per cent female. The finding is significant in a country where skewed sex ratios have long symbolised discrimination and neglect. For policymakers in Karnataka, it marks what many are calling a “turning point” in caste and gender politics. ‘It is very rare in India’s caste demographics to see this kind of balance,’ a senior official in the Social Welfare said. ‘For us, this is not just a number; it has to become a foundation for gender-sensitive policy.’ The Committee too has framed this balance as a “positive development” that could shape the state’s future interventions in education, employment, and healthcare for Dalit women. Yet beneath the optimism lies a more complicated story. While parity is visible at the aggregate level, the micro realities of population distribution, poverty, and caste fragmentation raise the question of whether this statistical balance will actually translate into equality on the ground. The hidden divide: small sub-castes left behind The survey shows that 15 of the 101 Scheduled Caste sub-castes in Karnataka now have more women than men. Some of these groups are extremely small. The Lingader, for instance, have only 60 members statewide, but women form 62 per cent of their total population. The Mundala sub-caste, which is the largest among female-majority groups, has 31,726 members and a gender split of 52 per cent women to 48 per cent men. The district-level data also reveal striking variations. In Kodagu, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Mandya, Scheduled Caste women constitute 52 per cent of the sub-caste populations, higher than the state average. ‘This kind of district-level variation is very important,’ said Dr Ramesh Gowda, professor of sociology. ‘It shows that in coastal and hilly districts, migration patterns and male mortality rates create a gendered demographic tilt. These women form the backbone of SC households, but their labour and struggles are often invisible.’ Karnataka’s Scheduled Castes have, for the first time, recorded near gender parity, with almost equal numbers of men and women. But beneath the promising statistic lies a fractured reality of caste hierarchies, poverty, and unequal opportunities for Dalit women. But parity in numbers does not automatically translate into parity in opportunity. The same report underlines that Karnataka’s Scheduled Caste population is far from homogenous. The internal composition is deeply unequal. Seventy-three of the 101 sub-castes have fewer than 10,000 members each. Another twelve fall in the 10,000 to 50,000 range. Only five groups fall between 50,000 and one lakh, while just eleven sub-castes exceed one lakh in population. The implications are clear: almost ninety per cent of Karnataka’s SC sub-castes are numerically small and scattered across the state. Their small numbers mean that even though they are constitutionally entitled to reservations, they do not have the organisational networks, political clout, or critical mass to convert quotas into tangible benefits. The report is frank about this imbalance. It observes that “despite having SC reservation, these groups do not have the numerical strength to compete with stronger communities.” In other words, the communities that are small in number end up being outcompeted by larger sub-castes within the SC umbrella, who are better networked and more visible in state institutions. The consequences of this imbalance are starkest in the area of poverty. The survey notes that many of the smaller sub-castes live in “maximum poverty”, with families struggling even to secure two proper meals a day. Beyond numbers: the politics of internal quotas For activists working in Dalit women’s rights, this gap between numbers and lived experience is painfully familiar. Shanta Devi, women activist in North Karnataka, said that the benefits of state schemes rarely trickle down to the smallest groups. ‘When the government announces scholarships or job quotas, it is usually the bigger sub-castes with hostels, coaching centres, and political leaders who benefit. Smaller communities, especially women among them, remain invisible,’ she said. The Das Committee itself cautions against reading parity as empowerment. While it notes the near-equal numbers of men and women, it also warns that “the smallest sub-castes face the greatest risk of being left out.” Many are not even properly documented in official records. Some sub-castes, like the Lingader or Adi Beda, have populations so tiny that they are easily subsumed within broader categories, erasing their distinct needs. For activists working in Dalit women’s rights, this gap between numbers and lived experience is painfully familiar. Shanta Devi, women activist in North Karnataka, said that the benefits of state schemes rarely trickle down to the smallest groups. ‘When the government announces scholarships or job quotas, it is usually the bigger sub-castes with hostels, coaching centres, and political leaders who benefit. Smaller communities, especially women among them, remain invisible,’ she said. The political backdrop to this survey is Karnataka’s long-running debate over internal reservation among Scheduled Castes. For decades, groups like the Madigas (classified as SC-Left) have argued that the benefits of the 17 per cent SC quota have been disproportionately cornered by the Holeyas or Chalavadis (SC-Right). After years of agitation, the state cabinet recently approved an internal division of the quota: 6 per cent for SC-Left, 6 per cent for SC-Right, and 5 per cent for all other SC groups. Officials described the Cabinet’s decision on internal reservation among SCs as an attempt to ensure ‘equity and social justice’ across all communities within the SC category.” Whether this formula addresses the concerns of the smallest sub-castes remains to be seen. Critics point out that
‘Results of last LS polls manipulated’: Rahul Gandhi in Bihar rally; doubles down on ‘vote chori’ charge against BJP, EC
NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi on Thursday in Bihar said that he was confident the 2024 Lok Sabha polls were manipulated. “Confident that results of last Lok Sabha polls were manipulated,” said Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Munger. The opposition leader doubled down on his ‘vote chori’ accusation against the ruling party, saying, “BJP trying to steal people’s votes to benefit a section of industrialists,” he said in the rally. The Congress chief further said that the party will not allow BJP to get away with alleged ‘vote chori’. “We will not allow BJP to indulge in ‘vote chori’ in collusion with Election Commission,” he said. Gandhi said that ‘vote chori’ is an “attack on the Constitution of India.” Earlier in the day, the Congress leader urged citizens to safeguard their voting rights and protect the country’s democracy. Posting on his X account, Gandhi said: “Dear Voters of India, I want to ask you all a straightforward question – can a government formed by stealing votes ever have the intention of serving the public? No, right! They don’t even need your votes, so they don’t care about your problems either.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) Gandhi went on to list the Centre’s alleged governance failures in his post. – “Record-breaking unemployment is ruining the future of the youth. The government keeps filling the coffers of capitalists!” -“Scandals like NEET, SSC, and paper leaks have destroyed the careers of millions of students. The government has simply turned a blind eye!” – “Inflation is skyrocketing, making life unbearable for the common man. Yet, the government keeps increasing taxes!” – “Train accidents and the collapse of basic infrastructure like roads and bridges have led to the untimely deaths of hundreds of innocent people. But the government hasn’t even held anyone accountable.” – “From Poonch to Manipur, incidents of terror and violence have occurred – hundreds have died. The government hasn’t even taken responsibility!” – “Demonetisation, COVID, and the farmers’ protests claimed millions of lives. The Prime Minister didn’t offer help, let alone show any empathy!” 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.
Opposition will benefit from Rahul’s walking
Rahul Gandhi has started ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, which is his fifth major padyatra. Its objective is to raise the issue of removal of names from the voter list and to unite the marginalized communities. Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar Voter Rights Yatra Subodh Ghildiyal: Rahul Gandhi has built his political identity and image around padyatras from the very beginning. The ‘Vote Rights Yatra’ which started from Bihar on Sunday is his fifth major padyatra. 508 days ago, he had done Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Manipur to Mumbai, which was successful. Under his current campaign in Bihar, he will walk both on foot and by vehicle. He will cover a distance of 1300 km through 20 districts. Just need an opportunity. Even in his early days in politics, Rahul had done padyatra against land acquisition in Bhatta-Parsaul of West UP. To promote the issues of farmers, he did a ‘Kisan Yatra’ from Deoria to Delhi. In 2015, he visited Kedarnath. Its purpose was to show that the situation has become normal after the disaster of 2013. All these examples show that wherever there is a slight possibility, Rahul Gandhi takes to the streets. Shadow of SIR. But the Bihar Yatra is not like any previous campaign. It is happening at a time when the Supreme Court, accepting the demands of the opposition, has directed the Election Commission to make public the information of those whose names have been removed from the new draft roll. Assembly elections are to be held in Bihar by the end of this year and a few months before that, when the process of Special Intensive Revision i.e. SIR suddenly started, many doubts started arising. Fear of the opposition. The meeting with the Election Commission deepened the fear of the opposition that the workers, poor and marginalized people who have migrated outside the state may be excluded from the voter list. This class is considered anti-BJP. There were massive protests against SIR and the matter reached the Supreme Court. All this happened during the monsoon session of Parliament, which also gave a big platform to the opposition. This is how the possibility arose. On August 7, Rahul claimed that there was a large-scale manipulation in the voter list of Mahadevpura assembly constituency of Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 general elections. This claim shocked the country and strengthened the doubts that the Congress has been expressing on the results of some seats of Maharashtra Assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. When the Supreme Court gave instructions to the Election Commission, it was believed that Rahul’s hard work has paid off. This also led to the possibility that could there be another yatra, which carries protest and election together? New identity. After the SIR controversy, RJD, CPI-ML and other allies welcomed the idea of the yatra. This 16-day yatra will pass through 100 to 125 assembly constituencies. There will be an attempt to woo the extremely backward classes, SC, ST, Muslims and poor sections. Rahul has created a new identity by combining caste census, removal of reservation cap, exposing atrocities and secularism. This is on the lines of Mukesh Sahni’s VIP Party and Dipankar Bhattacharya’s CPI-ML. Example of UP. The purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar visit is to attract the Bahujan Samaj and to make a dent in the vote bank of Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Chirag Paswan’s LJP. Akhilesh Yadav had made a similar strategy in UP last year, in which he was successful. In response to BJP’s extremely backward class, Samajwadi Party created its identity as PDA i.e. a party of backward, Dalit and tribal classes. Rahul Gandhi’s agenda of social justice worked in conjunction with Akhilesh and SP got a spectacular victory in the last Lok Sabha elections. SP’s victory. From 2004 till now, there is a lot of evidence that shows that in the states where Congress is marginalized, Rahul Gandhi’s presence benefits his allies or ideological rivals more. Rahul’s important role in the victory of the Mahagathbandhan in UP in 2024 is internally accepted. There is even talk that the campaign he launched against the corruption prevalent in UP in 2007 made BSP a villain and this became the basis for the victory of SP in 2012. The Rahul factor also worked during the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra last year. At the same time, despite Congress being a marginal party in Tamil Nadu, DMK gives importance to Rahul’s credibility. The journey will happen again. In Sasaram, Tejashwi Yadav was driving the jeep and Rahul was sitting on the seat next to him. This picture indicates that Tejashwi is in the lead role in his state. RJD has the organization, while Congress brings national leadership and ideology, whose face is Rahul. Bihar elections are still a few months away. In such a situation, this trip cannot be the last. It is expected that Rahul will hit the road again when the elections come closer. Edited by: Sanjeev Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul accuses BJP of stealing votes, says Bihar will fight back
Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of “stealing votes” with the support of the Election Commission and claimed the alleged practice was aimed at shaping the future of industrialists. He said Bihar would not allow it to happen again. “Do you know why the vote theft is being done across the country? They want to rob your future and shape the future of big industrialists,” Rahul told a gathering in Munger on the fifth day of his “Voter Adhikar Yatra”. Rahul returned to Bihar after a day’s break and joined the yatra in Lakhisarai. Earlier in the day, RJD leader and leader of opposition in the state assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, had resumed the march in Sheikhpura in his absence. Apprehending that even the last elections might have been manipulated, Rahul alleged, “BJP and the Election Commission are stealing votes in every state. Perhaps they even did it in the last election, but this time we have found out.” Standing atop an open jeep alongside INDIA bloc leaders, Rahul waved to crowds lining the roads. Groups of enthusiastic youths rushed forward to greet him and he shook hands with many, stopping frequently to interact with people. Earlier in the day, he wrote on social media that a govt formed by stealing votes had no interest in serving the public. “Since they don’t even need your votes, they don’t care about your problems either,” he said. Citing demonetisation, the Covid crisis and the farmers’ movement, he alleged that despite hundreds of lives being lost, PM Narendra Modi neither offered help nor expressed empathy. “Do you know why? Because this government wasn’t chosen by you; it was formed by stealing votes. Whether you live, die, or suffer – it makes no difference to them because they are confident they will return to power through theft.” Calling a clean voter list the foundation of free and fair elections, Rahul appealed to the masses not to let their rights slip away. He alleged record unemployment was destroying the future of youth while scams such as NEET, SSC and repeated paper leaks had crushed the dreams of lakhs of students. “But the govt has simply turned a blind eye,” he said. Rahul also attacked the NDA govt over incidents of violence and terror. “From Pahalgam to Manipur, hundreds of lives have been lost, but the govt has not taken responsibility,” he alleged. He added that train accidents and the collapse of roads and bridges had caused untimely deaths, yet accountability was missing. The yatra, launched from Sasaram on Aug 17, is scheduled to conclude with a rally in Patna on Sept 1. 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.
NE’s 1st trans doctor wins legal battle to have new identity in academic certs
IMPHAL: Beoncy Laishram, who broke the glass ceiling by becoming the Northeast’s first transgender doctor, won another landmark battle Tuesday when Manipur high court acknowledged her right to have all academic certificates reissued to reflect her “female” name and gender. The court directed the authorities to issue the certificates Beoncy had applied for within a month of the order. Beoncy, born male and known as Boboi Laishram before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in Oct 2019, got her Aadhaar, voter ID and PAN updated by producing a transgender certificate issued by the district magistrate of Imphal West. She approached the high court in Feb 2024 after the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, Manipur University and Manipur Medical Council refused to change her name and gender in their records. Beoncy’s counsel Jayna Kothari cited sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, while arguing for her right to have the requisite modifications made in her academic certificates. The law applies to all official documents, including one’s birth certificate. The court ruled that the relevant provisions outlined in sections 6 and 7 of the Act must be incorporated into all laws, rules and regulations governing establishments within Manipur, as defined under Section 2(b) of the legislation. For Beoncy, the judgment comes as “a relief” that she can now build on her career without having to worry about identity confusion. “I have been thinking of specialising in surgery or gynaecology someday. I was scared I would be made to stay in a boys’ hostel just because my academic records say I am a male,” she said. 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.
20-year-old Dalit girl’s charred body found in Karnataka’s Chitradurga, boyfriend held
On Tuesday evening, the mother identified her daughter’s charred body at the mortuary of Chitradurga District Hospital based on a tattoo on her hand. CHITRADURGA: A 20-year-old Dalit college student was allegedly murdered and burnt to death by her boyfriend in Chitradurga. The police have taken the accused, a 21-year-old unemployed school-dropout, into custody for questioning. Various Dalit organisations and ABVP, the student wing of the BJP, alleged the victim was raped and murdered. The police are, however, yet to confirm the charges of rape. Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Bandaru said the body of a young woman was found in a charred state on Tuesday in a vacant plot on NH 48 in Gonur village under Chitradurga Rural Police Station limits. The police suspect the victim was killed and the body burnt using petrol by the accused. The victim was a second year BA student at Government Women’s College in Chitradurga. She stayed at the college hostel and had informed the hostel warden that she will be going to her village at Koverahatti in Hiriyur taluk on August 14. She told her family that she was going out with a friend Chethan. Later when she did not reach home and could not be reached on her mobile phone, the victim’s mother went to the hostel on Tuesday to check her whereabouts. The mother also lodged a complaint with the police. On Tuesday evening, the mother identified her daughter’s charred body at the mortuary of Chitradurga District Hospital based on a tattoo on her hand. ‘Dispute between victim, accused led to murder’ Sources in the police department said the victim and Chethan were in love. The police suspect that there were disagreements between the two and it might have led to the murder. On Wednesday, the body of the victim was handed over to the family after postmortem. The protesters demanded the arrest of the accused and blocked roads in various parts of Chitradurga city. Meanwhile, Planning and Statistics Minister D Sudhakar condemned the murder. The minister handed over a compensation cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the victim’s family, including Rs 2.50 lakh from the district administration and Rs 2.50 lakh by himself. 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.
Dalit teen abducted, forced to prostrate before caste Hindus in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai
Madurai: A 17-year-old Dalit boy from Sankampatti village in Usilampatti, Madurai, was allegedly abducted and humiliated by a group of caste Hindus who forced him to prostrate before them. The incident occurred on January 16, but police registered a case only on January 18, sparking outrage from rights groups. According to the teenager’s complaint, members of the dominant caste abducted him when he returned home for the Pongal holidays. He alleged that the group hurled casteist slurs, beat him, and forced him to prostrate before each member present, including a six-year-old child. The boy’s relative, advocate Deviammal, further alleged that the attackers urinated on him before releasing him after learning that police had been alerted. The Usilampatti police have registered an FIR against six individuals, invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 296(b) and 351(2), along with Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, the police denied the allegation that the accused urinated on the boy. “The case has been registered based on the teenager’s complaint. The claim about urination is not true. Further investigation is underway,” officials stated. The Neelam Cultural Centre condemned the delay in filing the FIR, accusing the police of shielding the accused. “The police registered the FIR only on January 18 even though the complaint was lodged on January 16. This shows their bias,” the group posted on X. The boy, who is undergoing treatment at the Usilampatti Government Hospital, remains traumatised. Relatives also accused the police of trying to weaken the case by misrepresenting his age as 19 instead of 17. facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonlinkedin sharing buttonemail sharing buttonprint sharing button Courtesy : Vartha Bharati Note: This news is originally published on https:/varthabharati.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Voter Rights Yatra’ will start without Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi will take charge, now pamphlets will be distributed door to door
Voter Rights Yatra’ will start without Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi will take charge, now pamphlets will be distributed door to door Bihar Voter Adhikar Yatra: Before the assembly elections in Bihar, India Alliance is taking out Vote Rights Yatra. The alliance is also putting its promises in front of the public along with the Voter Rights Yatra. The workers will go door to door and distribute the rights pamphlets. Rahul Gandhi will also join the Yatra. Akhilesh Yadav will participate in the Yatra on August 28. Today is the fifth day of the Vote Rights Yatra. Patna: Before the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav have started the Voter Rights Yatra to woo the public. In this journey, the leaders of the alliance are directly communicating with the people and are taking the list of their promises to every house through pamphlets. Today is the fifth day of the Yatra, but Rahul Gandhi will not start the journey today. Let us know when Rahul Gandhi will join the Yatra again… When will Rahul Gandhi join the Voter Rights Yatra? Thursday is the fifth day of the Voter Rights Yatra. It will start from Sheikhpura and reach Munger, where there will be a halt at night. The yatra had a break on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi will join the yatra from Thursday evening due to being busy with work related to the Vice Presidential election. Tejashwi Yadav and other opposition leaders will lead the yatra from the morning itself. Akhilesh Yadav will also join the yatra Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal informed on social media platform X that on August 28, Samajwadi Party President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will also join this yatra. He said that Akhilesh’s joining will further strengthen the public movement against vote theft. Mahagathbandhan workers distributing pamphlets full of promises During the yatra, alliance workers are distributing a pamphlet to the people. This pamphlet has pictures of the alliance’s prominent leaders Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni and CPI General Secretary D. Raja. This pamphlet mentions promises related to income, medicine, education and social justice. The alliance says that their election manifesto will be prepared on the basis of these promises. Direct communication with the public The alliance is explaining to the public what will be done if their government is formed. Their promise is that better employment (earnings), better health facilities (medicine), quality education (study) and social justice will be ensured to the people. Curated by: Sudhendra Pratap Singh About the author Sudhendra Pratap Singh, Principal Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. Started journalism from Agra. Started the journey from local newspaper Agrabharat. From here the caravan grew and reached NBT.com via Kalpataru Express, Hindustan News Paper and News18. Currently, he is working on the politics of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Courtesy: Hindi News
For the first time in a village in Gujarat, a Dalit youth got his hair cut at a barber shop – a centuries-old tradition broken
In Alwada village of Banaskantha, a Dalit youth got his hair cut at a barber shop for the first time, a historic step towards social equality. Banaskantha – A historic event took place on 7 August in Alwada village of Banaskantha district of Gujarat. Kiran (Kirti) Chauhan, a 24-year-old farm labourer of the village, got his hair cut at the village barber shop for the first time. This occasion became a symbol of freedom from the social shackles that had been going on for generations for the Dalit community, not just a haircut. Broken wall of generations About 250 Dalit families live in Alwada village with a population of about 6,500. But this discrimination was going on here for generations that the barbers of the village did not cut the hair of Dalits. Dalits were forced to go to other villages to visit barber shops and many times had to hide their caste. 58-year-old Chhogaji Chauhan says, “Our ancestors used to face this discrimination even before independence. And my children have also been facing the same for the last eight decades.” This experience was very emotional for Kirti Chauhan. He said, “For the first time in 24 years, I sat on the chair of the barber in my village. Earlier we always had to go out. That day I felt that I have been accepted in my own village and am free.” Initiative of social workers and administration In the continuous efforts of the Dalit community, they got the support of social worker Chetan Dabhi. He explained to the upper castes and barbers of the village that this practice is unconstitutional. When the matter did not work out with the explanation, the police and the district administration had to intervene. Mamlatdar Janak Mehta held a meeting with the village leaders and resolved the issue. At the same time, Gram Sarpanch Suresh Chaudhary expressed regret over the past discrimination and said that it is a matter of happiness for him to see this change happening during his tenure. Now all the five barber shops of the village welcome Dalit customers. Barbers and upper castes have also accepted the change Pintu, a 21-year-old barber who cut Kirti’s hair, said, “We used to do this due to tradition. But now that the elders have given permission, there is no restriction. Our business has also increased due to this.” People from the upper castes are also satisfied with this change. Prakash Patel from the Patidar community said, “If everyone can come to my grocery shop, then why not to the barber shop? It is good that this wrong practice has ended now.” A long journey still remains Although this change is commendable, the Dalit community believes that discrimination has not ended completely. Dalit farmer Ishwar Chauhan says, “Today we have got a place in the barber shop, but we are still made to sit separately in the community feast. Hopefully, one day this will also end.” For Alwada village, this haircut is not just an ordinary event, but a big step towards respect, acceptance and equality. As the villagers say, “This is not just a haircut, but a new beginning.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News