PM Modi slams RJD for ‘insulting’ Ambedkar says Bihar won’t tolerate disrespect to Dalit icon
Siwan (Bihar), (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the RJD for allegedly insulting Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar and asserted that the people of Bihar would not tolerate any disrespect to the Dalit icon. At a rally in Siwan district, which marked his fifth visit this year to the state and second in less than a month, Modi hailed the “big role” played by Bihar in India’s emergence as the “third largest economy” of the world. In a nearly 45-minute-long speech that followed the launch of projects worth more than Rs 5,900 crore and the flagging off of a Vande Bharat train, the Prime Minister cautioned the people against “attempts to recapture economic resources of Bihar” by the RJD-led opposition in the assembly polls due later this year. “Ambedkar was against dynasty rule. But they (RJD and its allies) do not like it. So they have his portrait placed at their feet. On my way, I saw posters demanding an apology for this insult to Babasaheb,” said Modi. He added, “But there has been no apology. This is because they hold Dalits in contempt. In contrast, Modi has Babasaheb in his heart and would like to keep his portrait close to his chest”. Modi, who did not mention RJD chief Lalu Prasad by name, referred to the instance of a portrait of Ambedkar being placed close to the feet of the ailing septuagenarian, for which he (Prasad) has been drawing flak from the BJP-led NDA. “The reason is that the RJD-Congress people have little respect for people belonging to the deprived castes, the Dalits, the OBCs and the EBCs. They consider themselves above Babasaheb Ambedkar. But they must remember that the disrespect to Babasaheb Ambedkar will not be forgiven by the people of Bihar,” the PM said. Modi also asserted that the world was greatly impressed with India’s progress and underscored Bihar’s big role in the country’s emergence as the world’s “third largest economy”. “You all know I have returned from abroad only yesterday. During my tour, I met many leaders of the developed world. They all were greatly impressed with the rate of progress in India. They are watching India becoming the third-largest economy in the world. In this, Bihar will definitely play a big role,” said the PM. In the last 11 years, the NDA government at the Centre has devoted itself to removing every hurdle that stands in the way of the poor, he said. “We will continue to make such efforts. The hard work has yielded handsome results,” the PM said. In the past decade, a record number of 25 crore Indians have defeated poverty, and this feat of India is being lauded by renowned institutions like the World Bank, he said. “In this national accomplishment, Bihar and the government headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have played a significant role,” said Modi. The PM also said a “prosperous” Bihar will help the country prosper. Training his guns at the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, “Beware, those responsible for jungle raj are looking for another opportunity to wreak havoc like they had once done.” They are playing various tricks to ensure that they recapture the state’s economic resources, claimed Modi, in an apparent reference to several populist promises made by the RJD and its ally Congress in the run-up to the assembly polls. “Unlike the NDA, which worked for development of all with support of all (‘sabka saath sabka vikas’), the opposition stood for family rule (‘parivar ka saath, parivar ka vikas’), which was against the spirit of the Constitution, given to us by Babasaheb Ambedkar”, Modi claimed. “This is the reason why the Congress-RJD people have portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar placed at their feet. In contrast, Modi keeps Babasaheb Ambedkar in his heart,” remarked the Prime Minister. Modi, who reached the venue perched atop an open vehicle, flanked on either side by Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U), and Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP. The chief minister, whose speech preceded that of the PM, showered praises on Modi for ordering a caste census, which the JD(U) boss had been demanding for long, and called upon the audience to rise in their seats as a mark of gratitude. In keeping with his penchant for adding local flavour to his speeches, Modi began his address by greeting the people in the local dialect of Bhojpuri and paying tributes to the first President Rajendra Prasad, who hailed from Siwan, and legendary socialist leader Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, who belonged to the adjoining district of Saran. The function saw the launch of projects worth more than Rs 5,900 crore by the PM, who also flagged off a Vande Bharat train that would run between Pataliputra Junction in the state capital and Gorakhpur in adjoining Uttar Pradesh. These development projects will take Bihar towards a bright future and make the state prosperous, said the PM. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Andhra Pradesh: BJP MLA accused of insulting Dalit sarpanch
Danapuram (Andhra Pradesh), June 20 (Language) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Adoni constituency of Andhra Pradesh PV Parthasarathy has been accused of insulting the Dalit Sarpanch of Danapuram village in Kurnool district. The Sarpanch has lodged a complaint with the police. Parthasarathy was on a tour to Danapuram on Monday and the alleged incident took place while overseeing the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission program at a temple complex here. A video circulated on social media shows Sarpanch Chandrashekhar being called to the stage by Parthasarathy in the temple complex. However, when he did not come, Parthasarathy called him three-four times and then asked if he was a Christian and therefore hesitant to come on stage. The video then shows the local woman leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) whispering in the MLA’s ear that the sarpanch belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC), after which the MLA gestured to the sarpanch and asked him to stand on the ground in front of the stage. The MLA’s act is being criticised as caste-based discrimination. On the controversy that erupted after the video surfaced, the MLA said he had only asked about the chairman’s religion as he “seemed reluctant to step on the temple platform”. “I called him to stand with me. He was hesitant, so I asked if he belonged to another religion…,” Parthasarathy told reporters. Meanwhile, the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Yuvajana Sramika Raithu Congress Party (YSRCP) condemned the MLA’s behaviour and accused the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of “blatant caste discrimination”. “Naidu, why is there so much hatred towards Scheduled Castes in your alliance?” the YSRCP questioned in a post on social media platform ‘X’. Similarly, the Human Rights Forum (HRF) condemned the BJP MLA for failing to prevent the public “humiliation” of a Dalit sarpanch during a Jal Jeevan Mission programme. It claimed, “The TDP leader blocked the way of the sarpanch citing his caste.” The HRF demanded action against the BJP MLA and the TDP leader under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and warned of protests if this was not done. Courtesy: Dheeraj, Hindi News
Dalit Lawyer allegedly abused, assaulted, threatened in Yadgir; Case registered
Yadgir, : A young Dalit lawyer was allegedly subjected to caste-based abuse, physical assault, and threats by two upper caste men in Nagarala village of Surapura taluk, triggering outrage after a video of the incident surfaced online. The victim, identified as Durgappa Hosamani, told Vartha Bharati that the incident occurred while he was walking along a road in the village. According to Hosamani, two men—identified as Mallayya and Arjuna—stopped him without any provocation and began verbally abusing him with casteist slurs, before physically assaulting and threatening to kill him. A video clip of the incident, which shows the lawyer being targeted and abused, has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation. Following a complaint filed by Hosamani, the Surapura Police have registered a case under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—115(2), 118(1), 126(2), 133, 352, and 351—as well as under relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka. Courtesy : Vartha Bharati Note: This news is originally published on https:/varthabharati.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Man booked for raping 13-year-old Dalit girl
Meerut: An FIR was filed against a 65-year-old man for allegedly raping a 13-year-old Dalit girl in a village of Bulandshahr district, police said on Friday. The girl’s family works in fields owned by the accused, they added. In a police complaint, the survivor’s father stated that the incident occurred on June 19, around 8 pm. His 13-year-old daughter went to the sugarcane field for defecation when the accused approached her, offering new clothes. Upon her refusal, he struck her, dragged her into the sugarcane field, and raped her. The survivor returned home and informed her family, following which they approached the police. A senior police officer said a case has been registered and the girl was sent for medical examination. “An investigation is underway, and an arrest will be made soon,” the officer said. An FIR under BNS section 65 (1) (Rape), and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been registered. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalit youth in Bihar allege that Bank of Baroda discriminates in loan processing, complaint written to RBI
Pappu Kumar alleges that the bank discriminates against small applicants. While his small loan application is being strictly scrutinized, the bank waived off Rs 44,481 crore of bad debts (NPAs) of 144 corporate companies in the last 8 years, which included many rich and influential borrowers. This difference shows that the bank is not treating the poor and Scheduled Caste youth fairly, which is against RBI rules. Rohtas- Many schemes are running on paper to provide employment opportunities to the deprived and marginalized community, but do the Dalit and backward class youth get the benefit of it in reality? Probably not! One such scheme is the ‘Suvidha’ loan of National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) under which various types of loans are provided to economically empower the Scheduled Caste persons. “Suvidha Loan” provides financial assistance to Scheduled Caste individuals to start small business or expand existing business. In the hope of self-employment, two youths from Bihar have been visiting Bank of Baroda for the last three months to get this loan, but despite being eligible and fulfilling all the documents, the bank refused to give loan to both of them. Pappu Kumar, a resident of Mauna village in Bihar, has filed a formal objection against Bank of Baroda (BOB) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in which he has accused the Bank of not following the guidelines of the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and discriminatory behavior. Pappu Kumar, an unemployed Scheduled Caste youth with an annual family income of Rs 1.25 lakh, had applied for a commercial vehicle loan under the NSFDC Suvidha Yojana on March 28, 2025. Pappu said the bank’s Dehri on Sone branch discriminated and harassed him, deliberately delayed disbursing loans and arbitrarily rejected applications, undermining the scheme’s objective of promoting financial inclusion and self-employment for marginalised communities. Vikas Kumar also has a similar complaint. NSFDC, a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has a scheme under which Scheduled Caste individuals with annual family income up to Rs 3 lakh can apply for loans. The applicant is provided loans up to Rs 10 lakh for small business activities, commercial vehicles such as jeeps and car taxis, without any collateral/security requirement or assessment of repayment capacity based on the applicant’s current income. Pappu and Vikas Kumar had applied under this scheme. Pappu told The Mooknayak that he had applied for a loan on 28-03-2025 to purchase a Tata Tigor XT CNG model for self-employment/business. The scheme provides loans at subsidized rates for purchasing vehicles, which he wanted to promote self-employment. Pappu says the BOB branch manager initially insisted on submitting income tax returns, which is not required under NSFDC guidelines. His application was accepted only after repeated clarifications. Despite submitting the application, the bank kept the loan “in process” pending for two months without any valid justification and kept citing vague reasons like approval from higher authorities. When he filed an RTI application to clarify the reasons for the delay, he received an incomplete and misleading response, which further strengthened his allegations of caste-based discrimination and misuse of position. Pappu argues that the bank’s actions violate NSFDC’s mission to promote prosperity among the Scheduled Castes through financial assistance and skill development initiatives. Similarly, the bank expressed its inability to give a loan to Vikas Kumar, writing that Vikas’s annual income is Rs 1.25 lakh and he has applied for a loan of Rs 8,90,689 for a commercial vehicle. As per the bank’s guidelines, loans are given only up to three times the income. In such a situation, the bank said that Vikas can be given a loan of only Rs. 3,75,000/- as per three times his annual income. If he is given a loan for seven years (84 months), then according to this, the average EMI will be Rs 12000 to 15000, whereas Vikas’s average monthly income is Rs 10416/-. The bank wrote in its letter, “According to this, you do not have the repaying capacity, so we are unable to approve your loan as per the above documents and bank guidelines.” The applicant says that the bank misrepresented his loan application by processing it under the agricultural finance conditions in a wrong manner, which is inconsistent with the objectives of the NSFDC scheme. The NSFDC framework evaluates repayment capacity not based on the applicant’s current income but on the expected income from the proposed venture such as commercial vehicle operation. Kumar estimates that a self-employed taxi driver can generate an income of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month, which can easily cover the EMI of Rs 15,000-16,000, yet BOB neither approved the loan nor considered this income possibility, but applied business loan norms that are inappropriate for this scheme. Pappu Kumar has made several serious allegations against Bank of Baroda (BOB). He says that the bank changed the terms of his loan, breaking the rules of NSFDC (National Stadium Finance Development Corporation). According to NSFDC, the loan repayment period should have been 66 months, but the bank increased it to 84 months. Also, the bank offered him loans at normal commercial rates instead of subsidized low interest rates (4-6%), which increased his financial burden. Kumar also alleged that the bank discriminates against small applicants. He said that while his small loan application is being strictly scrutinized, the bank waived off Rs 44,481 crore of bad debts (NPAs) of 144 corporate companies in the last 8 years, which included many rich and influential borrowers. This difference shows that the bank is not treating the poor and Scheduled Caste youth fairly, which is against RBI rules. Kumar has demanded RBI to direct BOB to approve his loan of Rs 8.91 lakh on NSFDC terms. He should be compensated Rs 8.91 lakh for financial loss and Rs 1 lakh for mental stress. RBI has been demanded to take action against the wrong practices of the bank and implement the NSFDC scheme properly. Courtesy: Geetha Sunil
Friendship broke, then Dalit youth was publicly humiliated by shaving his head! Shocking incident in Faridabad
After the friendship with Dalit youth broke, a conspiracy was hatched to beat him, the accused shaved his hair and hurled casteist abuses at him. Faridabad: Faridabad Police on Wednesday arrested a 19-year-old youth and detained two minors. They are accused of assaulting, holding hostage and humiliating a Dalit youth in Subhash Colony of Ballabhgarh. The incident is reported to have taken place on Monday evening. According to the police, the victim has been identified as Sahil (aged 25 to 30 years). The accused thrashed him, shaved his head, eyebrows and moustache and allegedly hurled casteist abuses at him. Apart from this, Rs 3,000 was also taken from the victim’s pocket and later he was left outside his house. Police investigation has revealed that the main accused and Sahil were close friends in the past, but their relationship had deteriorated in recent times. The two knew each other for about eight years. The police said, “The reason for the quarrel is the changing relations of friendship. At present, no caste angle has emerged, but since the victim belongs to the Scheduled Caste, a case has been registered under the SC/ST Act. Sahil is not in a position to give a statement right now, but we are expecting his statement today.” The case was registered at Adarsh Nagar police station on the complaint of Sahil’s cousin Suraj. The police also clarified that there is no truth in the viral reports claiming that the victim was made to drink urine or hung upside down. On Wednesday, the main accused was produced in court and sent to judicial custody, while the two minors were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Adarsh Nagar police station in-charge Inspector Nafe Singh said that the victim has suffered minor injuries. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Domestic workers urge Union government to enact law for fair wages, social security
Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State govt. to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, among other demands Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, speaking during an event organised as part of the International Domestic Workers Day, in Chennai on Monday. Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, speaking during an event organised as part of the International Domestic Workers Day, in Chennai on Monday. | Photo Credit: M. SRINATH In the 25 years that R. Rajeshwari has been a domestic worker, only in the last 10 years did she come to know about her right to a weekly holiday and bonus. “We think domestic work is not important. Back in the village, people don’t value workers who clean the house or the bathroom. But now, we understand the dignity and social security in the work,” she said at an event here on Monday. On the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) urged the Union government to enact a legislation ensuring decent work, fair wages, social security and legal rights to domestic workers. “Domestic work helped me to educate my daughter only in a matriculation school. Its vital that we receive better wages and that people recognise our work as important,” said Rajeshwari. Better awareness needed Speaking at an event organised on the occasion, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan said, “Even with the government’s support, there is a need for better societal awareness. A lot of improvements for women have come about through law. However, many problems persist due to constraints faced within the family set up.” Further, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State government to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, revise their existing minimum wage to ₹100 per hour and establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms for domestic worker recruitment by agencies to prevent exploitation, among other demands. Member of Parliament Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Legislative Assembly of T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi, District Judge and Deputy Secretary District Legal Services Authority S. Vengadalakshmi, chief functionary TNDWWT Josephine Amala Valarmathi and members of the TNDWWT also spoke at the event. Courtesy : The Hindu Bureau, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Don’t use Sanskrit honourific ‘Mahatma’ for Ayyankali: Vedan says Dalits still enslaved by Sanatana Dharma
At an event held in Thiruvananthapuram, Vedan requested the organisers not to adorn him with the headgear and instead accepted it in his hands as a symbolic gesture Thiruvananthapuram: Rapper Vedan (Hirandas Murali) respectfully declined an attempt by event organisers to place a traditional headgear on his head during a memorial event for social reformer Ayyankali. The incident occurred at the “Smrithi Sangamam” event organised by KPMS (Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha) in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, marking the 84th death anniversary of Ayyankali. Vedan, the chief guest at the event, requested the organisers not to adorn him with the headgear and instead accepted it in his hands as a symbolic gesture. He was also presented with a ceremonial sword during the function. Speaking at the event, Vedan said that Dalits still remain shackled—enslaved by the structures of Sanatana Dharma. “A time will come when the broader society will celebrate icons like ‘Mahaveer’ Ayyankali and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Until then, we must remain patient,” he said. His words were met with cheers andapplause from the attendees. Vedan criticised Kerala society, alleging that both Ayyankali and Ambedkar are being misrepresented as casteists. “I have merely walked the paths they clearedfor us. Even though it’s challenging to navigate these routes through the Sanatana-dominated spaces, I will continue,” he asserted. He expressed hope for a future where thousands will gather annually to celebrate these reformers and stressed the need for societal progress to reach that stage. However, he acknowledged that it may take a long time for the marginalised to evolve into a unified and questioning political force, as divisions continue to deepen. At a separate event organised by the Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) in Venganoor, Vedan reiterated that Ayyankali should be called “Mahaveeran” instead of “Mahatma”, a Sanskritic title. Accepting the inaugural Villuvandi Award at the event, he urged for unity among oppressed communities. “The oppressed Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Adivasis must come together. A time will come when we will emerge as a strong political force,” he said. Roaring Welcome at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium Earlier, Vedan received a thunderous welcome at the Olympia Hall of Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, where crowds chanted his name as he arrived. His declaration that he would continue to tread the path paved by Ambedkar and Ayyankali energised the gathering. He repeatedly stated, “Next year, on this very day, let us celebrate with tens of thousands gathering at the venue.” On popular request, Vedan sang a few lines from Poykayil Appachan’s poem and concluded his address with a rendition of his popular track Kadalamma. For the audience, Vedan was not just a guest — he was one among them, a family member returning home. ‘Dalit-Adivasi Communities Must Unite to Become a Political Force’ Rapper Vedan, speaking at the Ayyankali commemoration organised by Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham at the Panchajanyam Smrithi Mandapam in Venganoor, said that the lack of unity among the Dalit and Adivasi communities was the root cause of their continued marginalisation He expressed hope for a future where these communities would rise as a powerful political force. “We are merely walking the illuminated path shown by renaissance leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar and Ayyankali. But our lack of fraternity is being exploited as a weapon by Sanatanists,” he warned. Rejecting the use of the Sanskrit honourific Mahatma, Vedan reiterated his desire to refer to Ayyankali as Mahaveeran — a title more befitting of his revolutionary spirit. Courtesy : Mathrubhumi Note: This news is originally published on https:/mathrubhumi.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Andhra BJP MLA denies stage access to Dalit sarpanch, video sparks outrage
A viral video from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district shows BJP MLA PV Parthasarathi allegedly denying a Dalit sarpanch access to the stage after learning his caste. The video sparked public outrage over caste-based discrimination, especially at a public event. A video from Adoni in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district has gone viral on social media, showing BJP MLA PV Parthasarathi allegedly humiliating a Dalit sarpanch during a public event by denying him access to the stage upon learning of his caste. The video, dated June 16, captures Parthasarathi addressing a public gathering in his constituency. During the event, the MLA is seen calling out to a sarpanch in the crowd, saying, “Hey Sarpanch, you come here, why are you standing there?” As the sarpanch hesitates to step forward, the MLA is then heard asking, “Is he a Christian?” A Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader standing next to him responds, “He is a Scheduled Caste (SC), sir.” Following this, both the BJP MLA and the TDP leader appear to gesture toward the ground in front of the stage, instructing the sarpanch to remain there instead of joining them on stage. “Okay, come and stand here then,” the MLA says, and the sarpanch complies. The TDP leader can be seen repeatedly covering her face from the cameras during this exchange. The video has triggered sharp criticism online, with many calling the incident casteist and humiliating. Several users have pointed to the body language and gestures of the leaders as deeply disrespectful, particularly in a public setting. “Who’s more to blame the casteist leader who insulted the Dalit sarpanch, or the sarpanch himself who stayed silent, valuing power over dignity? Isn’t this silence what emboldens daily humiliation of Dalits, Muslims, and the marginalised?” wrote an X user. “A BJP MLA publicly degrades a Dalit Sarpanch with ‘Oh, SC ha?’ This is not a slip-up. It’s caste supremacy showing its real face.” wrote another. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Budaun News: Dalit family returning from wedding beaten up, accused of snatching 50 thousand
Ughaiti. A family returning from a wedding ceremony was attacked by the people of the village itself. The attackers did not spare even the women. The victim family has accused the attackers of snatching 50 thousand rupees as well. The whole family reached the police station with a complaint, but the inspector has denied having any information about the incident. Har Dayal, a resident of Hamupur village of the police station area, said that he had gone to village Sateti of Bilsi police station area on foot with his family. His sister-in-law’s wedding was there. He was returning to his village with his family from there, when as soon as he left Ughaiti intersection, on Mahanagar Road at around 1 pm, two goons of his village started misbehaving with the women with him. When he objected, they beat him up. The attackers used abusive caste-specific language. It is alleged that 50 thousand rupees were also snatched from Har Dayal’s brother Bablu in the fight. After the incident, the whole family reached the police station directly. Where he told the whole story by giving a written complaint naming the accused. The complainant family waited there for a long time for justice. Later they left after giving a written complaint. Inspector Kamlesh Mishra said that no such case is in his knowledge. Courtesy : Hindi News