Dalit Rapido Driver Says Account Suspended for 99 Years After He Objected to Casteist Remarks
A 30-year-old Dalit cab driver in Lucknow has alleged that Rapido suspended his driver account for 99 years and 11 months after he confronted four passengers over alleged casteist remarks. The driver says the company took action without hearing his side of the incident. Driver says passengers made casteist remarks Ankit Kumar, a resident of Lucknow’s PGI area, said the incident took place on Monday when he picked up four passengers from Utrahtia railway station and was taking them to Charbagh railway station. According to Kumar, the passengers were initially discussing and criticising a senior railway officer. He said he did not intervene at first but objected when they allegedly began using casteist slurs and linking the officer’s abilities to his caste. Kumar, who belongs to the Chamar community, said he repeatedly asked the passengers to stop. “I requested them several times to withdraw their remarks, but they continued,” Kumar told the media. He said he reminded them that a person’s ability has nothing to do with their caste. In a video of the confrontation that circulated on social media, Kumar can be heard questioning the passengers over their language. “How can you use casteist remarks? If you have a problem with a person, use their name. Why are you defaming the entire community?” he said. Passengers asked to leave the cab Kumar said the passengers continued making the alleged remarks despite his objections. He eventually stopped the vehicle near Telibagh market, close to a police outpost, and asked all four passengers to get out. An argument reportedly followed after the passengers left the vehicle. Kumar said the incident was later recorded and the video was widely shared on social media. He also claimed that he began receiving abusive and threatening messages after the video went viral. “People are questioning why I objected and asked the passengers to leave. I have been receiving threats and abusive messages ever since the video went viral,” he said. ‘Company did not hear my side’ Kumar has alleged that the passengers later complained to the ride-hailing company, following which his driver account was suspended. According to him, the app showed a suspension period of “99 years and 11 months”. “The company should have at least heard my side of the story once. After that, whether they chose to suspend me or not was their decision. But they suspended me without even asking what had happened,” Kumar said. He added that he had no personal dispute with the passengers and objected only because of the alleged casteist comments. “They kept making casteist remarks against one of their own officers, so I objected,” he said. Suspension affects family’s livelihood Kumar holds a diploma in mechanical engineering but drives a cab to support his family. He said he is the sole earning member of his household. His father works as a daily-wage labourer, while his mother is a homemaker. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand protest: Students to burn Soren and Rahul effigies, gherao CM’s residence August 20
Protesters said they will demand Soren’s resignation and urged Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him. Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations on Saturday accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress of playing politics with their issues, and announced they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation. The protesters said they would also burn effigies of the chief minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance had “failed to take concrete action” on their demands. They also demanded that Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him. The protesters took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the country’s 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reform of the recruitment examination system. The protest under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 22nd day, with thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-bound demonstrators on fast, taking part in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium — the site of the ongoing agitation — to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi. Carrying national flags, the protesters raised slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”. “We will gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said. The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addressed their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and an independent probe into the recruitment process. The students’ platform has sought a CBI investigation, or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand, into the alleged exam irregularities. It has also demanded the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations it considers suspicious. The protesters appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao of CM Soren’s residence on August 20, and said they would not withdraw their agitation until their demands were met. They also targeted Gandhi, saying he had expressed support for students but that “no concrete action” had followed. The students’ platform demanded that Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it was unwilling to act on their concerns. “We demanded CM Hemant Soren’s resignation as the government failed to cancel JSSC-CGL and the JPSC examinations in which irregularities were found,” the student leader said. JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who has been on a fast for 14 days, alleged that police had prevented him from leaving Sadar Hospital to take part in the march. Videos purportedly showing Mahto scuffling with security personnel while attempting to leave the hospital were widely circulated on social media. The protesters maintained that their movement was not limited to certain examinations but concerned the credibility of the entire recruitment system and the future of thousands of young job aspirants. “Independence doesn’t just mean freedom from the British, but also freedom from inequality of opportunities, corruption and injustice,” the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch said, urging young people to raise their voices peacefully for their rights. Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP MLA Champai Soren accused the Hemant Soren government of running a “despotic government” and questioned its reluctance to recommend a CBI probe into the allegations. Speaking to journalists at Bhuiyandih in Jamshedpur, Champai Soren said hundreds of students away from their homes were compelled to remain at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium even on Independence Day. “If you are not a part of a job-selling racket, what is the problem in recommending a CBI probe?” he asked. The state government, however, sought to reassure job aspirants by announcing measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure. In his Independence Day address, the chief minister said questions surrounding the recruitment examinations had shaken the trust of an entire generation of job aspirants. He assured students that investigations into the alleged irregularities would be conducted impartially and that anyone found guilty would face strict legal action, irrespective of influence or position. Soren also cautioned against declaring anyone guilty without evidence and said justice must be based on facts. He stressed that merely apprehending those responsible for the irregularities would not be enough, and called for systemic reforms to prevent manipulation of examinations in future. Among the measures outlined by the government are a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process. The state government has also launched the “Students’ Voice with Students” campaign to seek suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms to the examination system. Soren said creating employment opportunities was among the government’s top priorities. He maintained that the objective was not merely to fill vacant government posts but also to create wider employment opportunities through recruitment agencies and other avenues. He described paper leaks as a national problem while stressing that Jharkhand had a responsibility to ensure fair and credible examinations. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also expressed concern over alleged examination malpractice, saying question-paper leaks undermine the morale and prospects of students who seek success through hard work and talent. 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
Rahul Gandhi to visit Pune on Aug 22
Pune: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Pune on Aug 22 to participate in ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative by the Congress. Announcing Rahul’s visit to Pune, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday said Gandhi will interact with students during his visit. “Before Pune, Rahul participated in ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj cities where he spoke to the students to understand their issues. In a similar manner, he will interact with girl students in Pune to understand the challenges being faced by them in regards with the education system,” Sapkal said. Rahul’s interaction with the younger generation in Pune will take place against the backdrop of the recent Cockroach Janata Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where he and other opposition members raised the issue of violence against the protesters. During his visit to Pune, the Congress leader is expected to target the centre on the recent NEET paper leak issue. 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
Freedom fighter who opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school:Rampratap Sharma quit police job after hearing Netaji’s speech, fought two battles in Pali
At an age when most children are busy playing, 12-year-old Rampratap Sharma lost both his parents. Jagirdars (landlords) seized his ancestral land, while incidents of oppression against weaker sections deeply disturbed him. After listening to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s speech in Jodhpur, he resigned from his police job and joined the freedom struggle. He faced lathi charges during various movements and was also jailed. At a time when untouchability was widespread and schools refused admission to Dalit children, he opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school in a rented house. He persuaded his younger brother to leave his job and take responsibility for teaching at the school. It later developed into a full-fledged school. Today, a Government Senior Secondary School operates in the same bungalow that once housed British officers. The Bhaskar team visited his village to trace the story of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma, who fought not only against British rule but also campaigned against untouchability. Read this special report. Lost his parents at the age of 12 Gundoj village is around 20 kilometres from Pali. In the Brahmpuri area of the village stand the ancestral homes of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma and his younger brother, Magraj. When we visited the house, his grandson and Magraj’s son recounted stories from that era. Grandson Mahesh Joshi recalls that Rampratap Sharma was 12 when he lost his parents. Under the feudal system, jagirdars had seized the family’s ancestral land. In these circumstances, he had to take refuge in his maternal grandparents’ village, Bagri. The land belonging to his maternal grandparents was also under the control of feudal lords. Assault on weaker sections deeply disturbed him In 1934, an open court was held in Bagri, his maternal grandparents’ village. There, prominent moneylenders and traders, along with people from weaker sections of society, were openly and brutally beaten. The incident deeply shook Rampratap. It was then that he decided to free both his family’s land and his maternal grandfather’s land from the control of the feudal lords. Sharma wanted to join the Indian Army and rise to a position of authority. However, according to the book Vande Mataram, Brahmins were not recruited into the British-Indian Army at the time. As a result, Rampratap Sharma joined the police and was appointed as a head constable. Quit police job after hearing Netaji’s speech in Jodhpur In 1938, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had returned from abroad, addressed a public meeting in Jodhpur. Head Constable Rampratap Sharma was responsible for maintaining law and order at the gathering. After hearing Bose’s speech, Sharma was deeply inspired by his nationalist spirit. The following year, in 1939, Rampratap Sharma resigned from the police service. He returned to his ancestral village, Gundoj, and began raising his voice against the jagirdari and feudal systems. That same year, he became a member of the Marwar Lok Parishad. Jailed during the Satyagraha movement Under the guidance of Jamnalal Bajaj and Hiralal Shastri, the Satyagraha movement was in full swing. For actively participating in the movement, the British government arrested Rampratap Sharma in 1943 and sent him to jail. Cases were registered against him under several sections, including robbery. After spending two years in jail, Sharma was acquitted in 1945 by Hakim Roopsingh Rathore and Gordhan Singh Bhandari. After being released from Jodhpur jail, he returned to his village and once again joined the farmers’ movement. He was also assaulted several times for opposing British rule and the feudal system. Opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school in a rented house According to his biography published in Vande Mataram, Rampratap Sharma was a strong supporter of Vinoba Bhave’s movement against untouchability. He was therefore firmly opposed to the practice. At the time, Dalit or Scheduled Caste children were not admitted to Gundoj’s school. To educate these children, Sharma rented the house of Seth Pukhraj Jain, who had supported him during the Satyagraha movement. In 1945, an education committee was formed and the state’s first Dalit school was established. The responsibility for teaching was given to his younger brother, Magraj. He brought to the school children for whom getting an education had been little more than a dream. At the time, small bungalows for British officers stood near the village bus stand. After India gained independence, Sharma shifted the school to these bungalows in 1955. Today, the same school is known as Government Senior Secondary School, Gundoj. Adopted a Dalit girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage Badri Lal Joshi, 73, nephew of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma, says Jaianarayan Vyas, under the guidance of Mathuradas Mathur, led a campaign against untouchability. He travelled on foot to several villages in Pali district to spread awareness. Badri Lal Joshi says, “Before independence, the first Dalit school in the state was opened by my uncle Rampratap Sharma. My father was a government teacher at the time. He left his job and taught at that school.” Became the village’s first sarpanch Freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma’s grandson, Mahesh Joshi, says his grandfather was the voice of the poor and deprived. After India gained independence, Sharma hoisted the Tricolour at the Dalit school and later became the village’s first sarpanch. Mahesh Joshi says his grandfather, Rampratap Sharma, became the first District Congress President in 1954. He also took a Dalit girl from the village into his family and raised her as his own daughter. He educated her and arranged her marriage. Even today, the family maintains regular contact with her family and continues to share a relationship based on mutual respect. Virendra Udesh/ Gundoj, Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mayawati expressed concern for Dalits and the most backward classes while extending greetings on August 15th, saying, “Higher institutions should be vigilant.”
Mayawati: BSP chief Mayawati extended Independence Day greetings to the nation. She urged those holding high constitutional and legal positions to be mindful of their responsibilities. Lucknow: The nation is celebrating its 80th Independence Day on Saturday. Bahujan Samaj Party National President Mayawati extended her best wishes to everyone on this occasion. She also raised the issue of the welfare of millions of Dalits, tribals, the most backward classes, and other religious minorities. On her X handle, Mayawati wrote, “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all Indian citizens and their families living across the country and the world on the 80th Independence Day today.” No matter how much joy and enthusiasm everyone celebrates Independence Day with, in harmony and brotherhood, it will be insufficient. It would be better if those in high constitutional and legal positions are more mindful of their responsibilities, as the public has come to expect more from them about their true and genuine responsibility towards the nation and public interest. “Higher Institutions Will Fulfill Their Responsibility Honestly” The BSP supremo further wrote, “On special occasions like Independence Day, people expect that the higher institutions here will fulfill the purpose and responsibility of the checks and balances of the Indian Constitution with complete honesty and integrity. Only then will the true benefits of India’s republic, especially the millions of Dalits, Adivasis, the most backward classes, Muslims and other religious minorities, as well as the poor, laborers, farmers, youth, women, and other working people, accrue in the form of a life free from unemployment and corruption, a life of happiness and prosperity, and that India’s democracy and sacred Constitution will prove meaningful as per everyone’s expectations. This is the message of today.” Vaibhav Pandey About the Author Vaibhav Pandey is a Senior Journalist/Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has 18 years of experience in the media industry. Vaibhav Pandey joined Navbharat Times Online in 2018. He currently covers news in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Courtesy: Hindi News
DSS condemns ‘purification’ ceremony at Haldwani Ramlila ground after Kharge’s rally
Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) State convener D.G. Sagar has condemned the reported purification ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground in Uttarakhand on August 10, two days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there. Mr. Sagar, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on Friday, said that the purification ritual performed at the Ramlila ground was not only an insult to Mr. Kharge but also to the Scheduled Caste community. He said the incident showed that caste discrimination and untouchability continued despite constitutional safeguards. Recalling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Mahad Satyagraha of 1927, Mr. Sagar said that similar purification rituals were performed after Dr. Ambedkar and Dalits drank water from the Chavdar Tank. “Nearly 100 years later, if such practices are repeated, it shows that the fight against caste discrimination is not over,” he said. Mr. Sagar said that the reported ritual at the Ramlila ground raised concerns about the constitutional values of equality and dignity; he urged Uttarakhand authorities to register cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and laws relating to untouchability, and arrest those responsible. He warned that the Samiti would intensify its agitation across the State if action was not taken. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A new twist has been taken in the Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, with the government taking this decision.
The investigation into the much-discussed Tehri Dalit teenager murder case has been handed over to the CBI. A fresh investigation is now underway, and it is expected that all the facts will be revealed. Tehri: The Dalit teenager murder case in Pratapnagar block is once again in the headlines. Amidst the ongoing police investigation, the government has taken a significant decision. As a result, the government has agreed to hand over the case to the CBI. Consequently, a fresh investigation will be conducted into the murder of the Dalit teenager. The Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, which garnered national and not just Uttarakhand headlines, has taken a major turn. The case was being investigated at the police level, but now the government has agreed to have the CBI (Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department) investigate it. Consequently, the investigation into the murder will now proceed anew at the CBI level. The CBI will investigate the case: In fact, on August 3rd of this month, a letter was sent to the government by the Inspector General of Police, Crime and Law and Order, at Police Headquarters, requesting the CBI to investigate the case. Considering the gravity of the case and the current circumstances, the Police Headquarters’ proposal was considered at the government level. Following this, the government agreed to a CBI investigation. An order regarding this has been issued by Additional Secretary Tripti Bhatt. The order requires Police Headquarters to prepare an investigation report and provide it to the government as soon as possible. Based on this report, the CBI will proceed with the investigation. What is the full story? A Dalit teenager, resident of a village in the Pratapnagar block, died on June 8th. The night before, the teenager, along with his friend, had gone to the home of a minor girl. It is alleged that the girl’s family members locked them in a room and severely beat them with sticks. The seriously injured teenager was taken to the hospital, but died on the way. His friend was also seriously injured. On the complaint of the teenager’s family, the police registered a case and arrested four people, including the girl’s father and grandfather. This sparked outrage in the area, and demands for a fair investigation arose. The case later took a new turn when, based on the High Court’s directive and the minor’s mother’s complaint, the police also filed a case against the teenager and his friend under the POCSO Act. The case also received significant political and social backlash. On June 30, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad met with the Dalit teenager’s family and demanded a CBI investigation. Now, following the government’s decision to conduct a CBI investigation, the entire case will be investigated by a new investigating agency. In this context, the CBCID will be crucial in examining the facts revealed during the investigation, previous actions, and allegations against both parties. Now, all eyes will be on what new facts emerge from the new investigation and the direction the case progresses. It’s worth noting that this case has been in the news for quite some time. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit farmer killed over goat grazing in Bidar
A 45-year-old Dalit farmer was allegedly killed after he was assaulted with an axe following a dispute over goats entering an agricultural field at Jirgyal village in Bhalki taluk, Bidar district, on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Rajkumar Vitalrao Shinde, a resident of Jirgyal. The Mehakar police have registered a case against four persons — Pradeep Vamanrao Shinde, 52; Rajkumar Muralidhar Biradar, 42; Sharad Vamanrao Lade, 45; and Shubham Sharad Lade, 25 — all farmers from Jirgyal village. The FIR records them as belonging to the Maratha community. According to the complaint filed by Susheela, 70, the deceased’s mother, Rajkumar owned goats and regularly took them out for grazing. She alleged that about four or five days before the incident, some of the goats had entered Pradeepa Lade’s agricultural field and damaged the crop, following which Pradeepa had reprimanded Rajkumar. On Thursday, Rajkumar had gone to graze the goats at around 11 a.m. in the agricultural land belonging to Angad Dadarao. His brother Mahendra reportedly brought him lunch at around 12.15 p.m. The complaint states that Mahendra later telephoned his mother and told her that when he went to give lunch to Rajkumar, four persons — Pradeep Vamanrao Lade, Rajkumar Muralidhar Biradar, Sharad Vamanrao Lade, and Shubham Sharad Lade — had allegedly confronted Rajkumar over the goats entering their field. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly abused Rajkumar using caste-related slurs. It further alleges that Pradeepa took an axe and struck Rajkumar on the head, causing a serious bleeding injury. The complainant said that when she reached the spot, the accused had allegedly fled. She and her husband, Vitalrao Shinde, found Rajkumar with a severe head injury. He had died at the spot, according to the complaint. The Mehakar police have registered a case under Sections 103, 115(2), 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The FIR was registered on Thursday. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Gujarat tribal farmers’ forest land protest intensifies as administrative boundary becomes new flashpoint
The protest, which entered its sixth day on Friday, intensified as tribal leaders and BJP representatives reached the site to extend support to the farmers. AHMEDABAD: A seven-day non-violent protest by tribal farmers in Sagbara taluka of Gujarat’s Narmada district has intensified over access to forest land cultivated by villagers for years. The standoff has now acquired a political and administrative edge, with BJP leaders joining the protest and Congress extending support, while the Forest Department maintains that cultivation is subject to provisions of the Forest Rights Act and a Gram Sabha resolution. At the heart of the dispute is a boundary complication: the farmers live in Narmada district, while the disputed forest land falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Surat district. The forest land dispute in tribal-majority Narmada district has turned into a growing political and administrative confrontation, with farmers from 12 villages, including Khopi in Sagbara taluka, continuing their non-violent dharna after being stopped from ploughing land they claim to have cultivated for years. The protest, which entered its sixth day on Friday, intensified as tribal leaders and BJP representatives reached the site to extend support to the farmers and assure them that their demands would be taken up with the government. The Congress has also backed the tribal community, adding a political dimension to what began as a dispute over cultivation rights. The immediate trigger came when farmers reached the fields to plough the disputed forest land but were stopped by Forest Department personnel. Rather than retreat, the farmers stayed back in the fields and began a sit-in, continuing their protest through the night. Their agitation has since continued, turning the issue into a wider demand for recognition of traditional cultivation rights. One of the protesting farmers, in a video message, said the community had been cultivating the land for years and questioned the sudden restrictions imposed by the authorities. “We have been cultivating this land for years, but now police have been deployed to stop us from ploughing it. We want to make it clear to the government that these are lands on which our farmers have traditionally cultivated. The government and Forest Department have introduced different rules and are preventing us from farming. We are therefore sitting in protest to reclaim our right to cultivate the land.” The farmer said the Forest Department, however, has put forward a different interpretation of the dispute. Surat Forest Department ACF Gaurav Kumar said the administration was acting in accordance with the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and that the dispute was complicated by the administrative location of the land. According to Kumar, the Act protects eligible claimants who were cultivating forest land before December 13, 2005. However, he said the disputed land is located within Surat district, while the farmers seeking to cultivate it reside in Sagbara, Narmada district. Kumar said the issue also involves the requirement of a Gram Sabha resolution from the village where the land is located. “The Forest Rights Act, 2006 provides protection where cultivation has been taking place since December 13, 2005. But in this case, the farmers are from Sagbara, while the forest land falls within Surat district. Under the relevant provisions, a Gram Sabha resolution is required from the area where the land is located. The people of Umarpada have informed us that their Gram Sabha has not passed any resolution permitting farmers from Sagbara to come and cultivate the land. Therefore, the present dispute is essentially linked to the administrative boundary. The Forest Department is acting according to the provisions of the tribal rights law.” The administrative boundary has now emerged as the central fault line in the dispute. According to the Forest Department, the area was part of the erstwhile Bharuch district before Narmada district was carved out, while the disputed forest land currently falls within Surat district. The result is an unusual situation in which the farmers demanding cultivation rights reside in one district while the land they seek to cultivate is administered by another. The farmers, however, insist that administrative boundaries cannot override their longstanding cultivation practices. Their argument is simple: if they have been cultivating the land for years, they should not be denied access because of a change or clarification in administrative jurisdiction. The dispute has also put the implementation of tribal forest rights under scrutiny. On World Tribal Day, when the focus traditionally turns to tribal rights over jal, jangal and zameen, farmers from these villages are instead sitting in the fields demanding access to the very land they claim as their traditional source of livelihood. The protest has meanwhile drawn growing political attention. BJP leader Leelaben Vasava joined the farmers, followed by Narmada MP Mansukh Vasava, Nandod MLA Dr Darshanaben Deshmukh and Dediapada BJP leaders, including former ministers Motilal Vasava and Shankar Vasava. The leaders assured the protesters that their demands would be conveyed to the state government. BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, who has urged the farmers to maintain a non-violent agitation, sharply questioned the manner in which the dispute was being handled by officials. “Listen to elected representatives like us as well. Do not listen only to Forest Department officials. Decisions should not be taken merely by sitting in an office and looking at satellite maps. Come to Narmada district and see the situation on the ground. Farmers from Surat district are cultivating, while farmers from Narmada are being stopped. We have been elected for seven terms, so our words should also be heard. Come here, understand the ground reality and deliver justice to these farmers.” He said the BJP leader’s intervention has added pressure on the administration, particularly because the protest involves farmers from a tribal belt where forest rights and access to land remain deeply linked to livelihood. For the protesters, however, the political support is secondary to their core demand. They have made it clear that the dharna will continue until the government provides what they describe as a fair, lawful and permanent solution to the cultivation dispute. The
Rahul Gandhi to visit Amritsar this month in a likely effort to quell infighting, fissures in Punjab unit
During the party’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, the grand old party found itself firefighting internal power struggles and fissures as public clashes erupted between rival factions. CHANDIGARH: Amid efforts to end the factionalism in the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Amritsar by this month-end. The reason behind the visit is the internal power struggles and fissures between the state leadership and the recent clashes between supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, besides AICC General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel’s visit to the State leaving behing no breakthrough. Party sources said that the schedule of Rahul Gandhi’s visit is being worked out as the State unit leaders are planning to hold a ‘unity bus yatra’ during his visit, as he is expected to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and other religious places in Amritsar. The visit of Rahul coincides with final efforts by the party high command to end infighting in the state Congress. Sources added that it is expected that during his visit, Rahul will give a message of unity to the state leadership, as the high command has already said the dissenting leaders that it will not act under pressure and will take a decision that is in sync with the ground reality. Thus, a few important decisions to achieve unity are expected in the coming days. On August 12, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa met Rahul Gandhi outside Parliament House in Delhi in the presence of Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and discussed the situation in the state unit ahead of the assembly elections. A day before, a dinner meeting was held at the Delhi residence of Gurdaspur MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, which was attended by Jalandhar MP and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Bajwa, and MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh and Pargat Singh. During the meeting, it was felt that MPs and senior leaders should approach the high command and brief the central leadership about the latest developments, as these leaders had asked Bajwa to get them time from Rahul for the meeting, as they have approached him but have not been given time so far. On August 7, 15 Punjab Congress MLAs wrote to the high command seeking appointments with KC Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi to discuss ‘pressing’ issues. Earlier, during the nine-day organisational tour of AICC General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel from July 31 to August 8, the party’s ‘Har booth, Congress Mazboot’ camping, which covered around 18 districts and an earlier five-day exercise by Baghel in July at Chandigarh, which had been intended to address much the same problem, had produced little breakthrough. During the party’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, the grand old party found itself firefighting internal power struggles and fissures as public clashes erupted between rival factions, with supporters of former Chief Minister Channi raising slogans in his favour and verbal clashes breaking out between supporters of Channi and Warring at several meetings. “Go back Baghel” posters also surfaced in Muktsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda and other places. The infighting came to the fore when the Congress leadership, on July 1, announced its decision to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as state unit chief and appointed former Chief Minister Channi as chairperson of its campaign committee. Channi’s supporters have been demanding that he be declared the party’s chief ministerial face for the 2027 Assembly elections. Harpreet Bajwa 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