UP Elections 2027: Avinash Pandey removed, Congress prepares to balance Dalit-OBC equations by handing over the reins to Rajendra Pal Gautam
Ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly Elections, the Congress has made a major organizational reshuffle. Focusing on the Dalit and OBC vote bank, it is preparing to strengthen its hold within the “INDIA” alliance. Uttar Pradesh: Just before the Assembly elections, the Congress has begun laying out its strategic and organizational foundation in the state. The party’s entire focus is now on building a strong Dalit and OBC social alliance. The Congress is confident that this formula will not only regain lost ground in the state but also significantly strengthen its negotiating power within the opposition “INDIA” alliance. In a major move, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Friday removed Avinash Pandey from the post of General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh. In his place, Rajendra Pal Gautam, National President of the Scheduled Castes Department and a prominent Dalit leader, has been given this important responsibility. Just a day before this announcement, Gautam was in Lucknow, where he, along with Anil Jaihind, in-charge of the AICC’s OBC wing, celebrated Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj’s birth anniversary as ‘Reservation Day.’ According to senior Congress sources, Rajendra Pal Gautam’s appointment is not being seen as a simple organizational change. The party is aiming to send a major political message to Dalit voters ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Congress also wants to establish that its ally, the Samajwadi Party (SP), is not the only option for Dalits in their fight for rights, but that the party is also a strong platform for them. According to reports from within the party, this organizational reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh will not be limited to the change of in-charges. Ahead of the elections, major changes have already been scripted for the state’s co-in-charges (secretaries) and state leadership. There is talk that the next president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPPCC) could be appointed to a prominent OBC leader, ensuring the party’s Dalit-OBC social engineering strategy is fully implemented. A senior Congress leader explained this strategy, stating that the party fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections strongly on issues of social justice and protection of the Constitution, yielding positive results. If the Congress wants to carry this discourse into the 2027 assembly elections, it must demonstrate this social commitment within its organizational structure. Currently, the Uttar Pradesh Congress is headed by Ajay Rai, a prominent Bhumihar leader from eastern Uttar Pradesh. He was appointed state president in August 2023, replacing Dalit leader Brijlal Khabri. Rai had contested the previous two Lok Sabha elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi constituency, which was crucial for the party’s electoral strategy at the time. In the 2024 elections, he also succeeded in significantly reducing PM Modi’s victory margin. However, Congress strategists believe that the political demands of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are completely different. The perception within the party has grown increasingly strong that the campaign to protect the Constitution and reservations in the last Lok Sabha elections led a significant portion of Dalit voters to the “India” alliance. Retaining this vote bank in the upcoming electoral battle is crucial for the party’s future. While Samajwadi Party leaders are publicly downplaying this Congress assessment, Congress leaders argue that this support from Dalits and backward classes will put them in a strong position during seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming Assembly elections. It’s clear that Congress’s entire restructuring plan has been designed with the 2027 election battle in mind. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Three workers cleaning a septic tank in Delhi died tragically after inhaling toxic gas; three others, including the factory owner, have been arrested.
Three workers died from toxic gas while cleaning a septic tank in Mundka, Delhi; police arrested the factory owner and contractor, raising serious questions about administrative negligence. New Delhi: A tragic and disturbing incident occurred on Friday in the Mundka Industrial Area of the national capital, Delhi. Three workers who had entered a septic tank at a printing press factory lost their lives while cleaning it. Police took swift action and arrested three people, including the factory owner and contractor. Initial police investigations revealed that the three workers entered the tank one after the other and died after inhaling the suffocating and toxic gases present within. According to an official, at 12:03 pm, the police, Delhi Fire Service, and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) received an emergency call about people trapped inside the factory in Mundka. The deceased have been identified as 38-year-old Arun, 32-year-old Sandeep, and 42-year-old Chand. All three were residents of the Indira Lake area of Sultanpuri. Following the rescue operation, police pulled out the bodies from the tank and sent them to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital for post-mortem to confirm the exact cause of death. Outer Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vikram Singh, giving details of the case, said that factory owner Suraj Marwah had hired a contractor named Neeraj, a resident of Nangloi, to clean the septic tank. Police have arrested Suraj Marwah, contractor Neeraj, and factory employee Jayant. A case has been registered against them under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They have also been charged under Section 9 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and the stringent provisions of Section 3(1)(j) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Senior government officials say a detailed report will be prepared to ascertain the exact sequence of events and the cause of death. Officials also clarified that the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) is primarily responsible for cleaning septic tanks in the city’s industrial areas. Following this heartbreaking incident, Bezwada Wilson, national convener of the Safai Karmachari Andolan, met with the families of the victims. He expressed concern that there are approximately 30,000 sanitation workers in Delhi, of whom 10,000 work solely as septic and sewer tank cleaners. He clarified that no worker should be asked to enter the tank, even with safety equipment, and that the work should be done entirely through mechanized methods. Meanwhile, Sucheta Dey, Vice President of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), claimed that even government departments are sometimes seen employing manual scavengers without any safety gear. The incident has also drawn political backlash. Delhi Congress President Devendra Yadav has termed the incident as a result of gross administrative negligence. He has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and adequate compensation for the destitute families of the deceased. This is not the first case of deaths during sewer cleaning in the capital. Similar deaths were reported last year in Ashok Vihar, New Friends Colony, and Narela. According to official data shared by the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) in the Lok Sabha in March this year, 62 deaths have occurred in Delhi since 2017 due to hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning. The Commission’s data also shows that Delhi was one of the first cities to ban the practice, yet among 22 states and two union territories, Delhi recorded the highest number of complaints related to manual scavenging in 2025, at 140. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Ban the RSS’: Dalit organizations enraged by BJP leaders’ comments on Priyank Kharge, sparking violent protests in Karnataka
Dalit organizations, enraged by BJP leaders’ comments on Priyank Kharge, staged a violent protest in Kalaburagi, demanding a ban on the RSS and the removal of Mohan Bhagwat’s security. Karnataka: Kalaburagi witnessed massive protests on Thursday. The Dalit Sanghatanegala Samanvaya Samiti (DSS) and several other Dalit organizations staged a strong protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The protest was directed at recent comments made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders against state minister Priyank Kharge. Priyanka Kharge had raised some questions about the status and functioning of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The protesters say that BJP leaders should have responded rationally to the issues raised by Kharge. Instead, they launched personal attacks on the minister and are threatening him. The protesters categorically stated that the statements made against Kharge by BJP MP Ramesh Jigajinagi and former ministers K.S. Eshwarappa and C.T. Ravi were highly objectionable. They believed these leaders’ statements were completely insulting and intimidating. Dalit organizations have appealed to the state government to take this entire incident seriously. They stated that democratic values and freedom of expression must be protected at all costs. Recently, Kharge wrote a letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, seeking clarification regarding the organization’s registration and its stated objectives. The protesters defended this move, stating that these questions were being asked in the interest of public accountability and transparency, and not to target any particular individual. These organizations have called on the state government and the Congress party to extend their full support to Priyank Kharge. They reiterated their demand for a thorough investigation into the functioning of the RSS, stating that there is a severe lack of transparency in its structure. They also demanded that the organization be registered under a proper regulatory framework. Protesters formed a human chain outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi to register their protest. They raised slogans, expressing solidarity with Kharge and demanding the registration of the RSS. Participants held placards bearing strong messages, including “Ban the RSS,” “The RSS must be registered,” “Withdraw RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s Z-plus security,” and “We stand with Priyank Kharge.” Following the protest, the organizations submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar through the Deputy Commissioner. The memorandum urged the state government to examine the legal status of the RSS and take appropriate steps to uphold constitutional values and social harmony. The entire protest was led by social activists Devendra Sinnur, Mallappa Hosamani, Renuka Singhe, Dinesh Doddamani, and several other members of various organizations. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit activists raise hostel shortage issue
Mangaluru: Dalit activists on Saturday expressed concern over the shortage of hostels for SC/ST students, saying the lack of accommodation has been causing hardship to students from remote areas who come to the city to pursue higher education. At the monthly SC/ST grievances redressal meeting held at the city police commissioner’s office, Dalit activist SP Anand urged the authorities to complete the hostel admission process before schools and colleges reopen. In response to the issue, an official from the social welfare department said a proposal had been submitted to the govt seeking sanction for two separate hostels for boys and girls. Anand said that govt guidelines permit the department to operate hostels in rented buildings when there is a shortage of accommodation and urged the authorities to invoke the provision until permanent facilities are created. The meeting also discussed a range of traffic, civic and law-and-order issues. DCP (Law and Order) Mithun H.N. chaired the meeting. 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
Father-son duo held for torching Dalit family’s house in Pilibhit
Pilibhit: A father-son duo was arrested for allegedly setting the house of a Dalit family on fire in Piparia Mandan village under Barkhera police station limits early on Saturday. Pilibhit SP Sukirti Madhav told TOI that the accused suspected the family of abducting a 20-year-old woman from their household. The woman went missing under mysterious circumstances on Thursday evening, and police registered a missing person report the next day. Complainant Nanhe Lal (35) said he had gone to Etah district on June 26 to drop off a group of labourers when the incident took place. He alleged that Akash Pandey and his father, Bhannu Pandey, reached his house, hurled casteist slurs at his family, and set the thatched front portion of the house on fire. His wife and children escaped unhurt, but the grain and firewood stored in the house were allegedly reduced to ashes, while the main door of the pucca structure was damaged. “As locals gathered at the spot to help, the accused fled after threatening to kill the entire family,” Lal alleged. He added that the duo had accused him of abducting Bhannu Pandey’s daughter-in-law. SHO Satyandra Kumar said that a case was registered against both the accused under relevant sections of the BNS and the SC/ST Act. They were arrested and sent to jail. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident. 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
LoP alleges manual scavenging in Dalit Dy CM Parameshwara’s home dist
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Saturday alleged that Dalits continued to face “grave injustices” under the Congress government, citing an example of “manual scavenging” in Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara’s home district of Tumakuru. The BJP leader alleged that there was diversion of welfare funds meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and rising atrocities against them. Ashoka posted an undated video on his ‘X’ handle on Saturday where people in bare-minimum clothes were seen lifting and loading filth in a tractor on the Karnataka Electricity Board Engineers’ Association’s building premises. According to him, Dalits were still being forced into manual scavenging even in the home district of Parameshwara, a Dalit himself, and the government has failed to safeguard their rights. “In the very home district of Parameshwara, where slogans were once raised demanding a ‘Dalit Chief Minister’, the downtrodden communities are still being forced into the pitiable condition of manually carrying human excreta. Under the government led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, the rights of Dalits have absolutely no value,” he said. Alleging that four workers were made to manually clean a septic tank at the premises of the KEB Engineers’ Association, Ashoka claimed that the authorities had failed to act despite a similar incident involving a child labourer at the Koratagere bus stand. “Even after a child labourer was recently made to perform similar work at the Koratagere bus stand, neither the district administration nor the government has woken up to the issue,” he said. Ashoka further alleged that the Congress government had misused Rs 53,059.45 crore from the SCSP-TSP funds over the last three years for guarantee schemes. He also accused it of “reducing allocations” to corporations meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He also alleged a rise in atrocities against SCs and STs, with 2,277 cases recorded in 2025, and referred to the reported discovery of maggots in food served at the Jai Bhim Hostel in Chikkaballapur as another example of the government’s failure. Accusing the ruling party of “betraying the interests of marginalised communities”, Ashoka said, “The Congress, which loudly claims to stand for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, is in reality taking steps that undermine their interests.” He further charged that “the party has earned the ignominy of turning the state into a ‘model state’ for atrocities against Dalits,” and said Home Minister Priyank Kharge, who is also a Dalit, “has lost the moral authority to invoke the Constitution and the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar”. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
The Importance of Being DK Shivakumar in Rahul Calculus
Shivakumar is yet to acquire national status, but definitely has national recall. He has emerged as a serious national trouble-shooter for his party. No thanks to Rahul, who detests mass leaders who will not kowtow to him It seems the Congress has a credible national face at last. A trouble shooter who has negotiated the complexities of Opposition politics, which it badly needs, especially after it couldn’t get its Rajya Sabha nominee in Jharkhand through. Last week, a masterclass in the difference between rhetoric and reality happened in Karnataka: the Congress won all five Legislative Council seats it contested—plus an additional seat by persuading cross voting by the BJP. It was the kind of outcome old Congress managers once considered routine, but which the Rahul Congress has no idea, or interest, on how to achieve. The architect of the win is DK Shivakumar; probably the reason Uddhav Thackeray—whose party rapidly imploded after six MPs crossed over to the Shinde-BJP camp—invited him to Mumbai to confabulate. Whether DKS, with all his political management skill, can pull off a miracle in Maharashtra to save an INDIA ally is questionable. It was left to him to soothe MK Stalin, whom Rahul treated churlishly in public during the Tamil Nadu elections and dumped unceremoniously. Shivakumar is yet to acquire national status, but definitely has national recall. He has emerged as a serious national trouble shooter for his party. No thanks to Rahul, who detests mass leaders who will not kowtow to him. Yet, political kinetics keeps pulling DKS’s name into the national conversation. But for today’s Congress, such interlocutors and enforcers are suspect. The party historically marginalises leaders of the DKS type. In the 1970s, Devaraj Urs built the most sophisticated social coalition the Congress had ever achieved in Karnataka by forging OBCs, Dalits, and minorities into an unprecedented electoral force. Discarded by Indira Gandhi, he died politically diminished. Sharad Pawar built Congress into a dominant force in Maharashtra, cultivating the cooperative sector and managing the competing interests of the Maratha peasantry, Mumbai’s working class, and Pune’s commercial communities. Expelled in 1999, he formed the NCP, and sank the Congress’s political future. Sachin Pilot resuscitated the Rajasthan Congress from its post-2013 coma, delivered in 2018, and was then subjected to deliberate humiliation, denied the chief ministership, and was pushed to the point of open rebellion in 2020 after he was denied the chief ministership like DKS initially was. The party has neither earned nor acknowledged such a restraint and loyalty. While Sachin has faded from the national radar, for now, DKS occupies the alternative position. In a party where giant leaders like Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kamal Nath, and Pranab Mukherjee could forge inter-party consensuses, apart from Bhupesh Baghel and Mukul Wasnik, now, the Rahul coterie comprises Kaushal Vidyarthee, Alankar Sawai, KB Byju, Praveen Chakravarty et al. Chakravarty who? Exactly. Kharge, in spite of all the respect he commands, cannot influence a single voter in UP. Rahul’s pernicious puppeteer KC Venugopal wouldn’t know the name of a single party worker in Bihar. CWC members like geriatric AK Antony, Anand Sharma, Deepa Dasmunsi, Channi, etc. can’t get 10 voters between them in Madhya Pradesh. Himanta Sarma humiliated Gaurav Gogoi. To call Jairam Ramesh a mass leader is like calling a Tiffin box a buffet—all are has-beens or will-never-beens. The Congress’s last bastion is the South. It has three Congress CMs, and is an alliance partner in Tamil Nadu. Hence, the national choice is limited. DKS speaks Hindi without the self-consciousness that afflicts many southern politicians, and English without the affectation of someone mimicking cosmopolitanism. He is a Vokkaliga from the dominant Karnataka community, but he has consistently reached beyond community arithmetic to keep his party afloat. In UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana, the BJP has built a ruthless victory machine over decades of patient work. The Opposition’s only effective response will be to build a counter-machine with equal patience and seriousness. That requires someone who understands the construction of party infrastructure at the district and booth level, financial savvy seduction, soothing of local egos, and the management of factional disputes before they become the internal wars that cost the party winnable seats. The only Congress alternative to the BJP is DK Shivakumar; and it knows this, too. With such powerful adversaries like Modi and the RSS, it won’t be smooth sailing for him. The distinction between what Rahul and Karnataka’s DK Shivakumar offers is not what is better or worse. DKS commands a rare combination which cannot be earned with genetic entitlement: charisma and calculation. He understands not just how elections are won, but also how they are fought. In politics, ideological, cadre-driven machines defeat movements. The man who can build the Congress such a machine is waiting. Will his own party, and Rahul Gandhi, allow him to do that? Ravi Shankar 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
‘Theft of youth’s future’: Congress slams Centre over Maharashtra TET 2026 paper leak
Priyanka Gandhi urged students to raise their voices against recurring exam irregularities, saying, “Until you raise your voice loud and clear, this terror with your future will continue unabated.” The Congress on Saturday slammed the BJP-led government over the postponement of the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)-2026 following allegations of a paper leak, accusing it of repeatedly failing the country’s youth. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the development as a betrayal of young aspirants. “Another paper leak. Another exam cancelled. This time, Maharashtra’s TET. “The country’s education and examination system has been turned into a system of extortion, leaving every youngster in the country insecure,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. “This is not just a paper leak, this is the theft of the youth’s future,” he added. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed concern, urging students to raise their voices against recurring examination irregularities. “Youth, wake up!!! Until you raise your voice loud and clear, this terror with your future will continue unabated. You’ve been deceived once again.” she said on X. Referring to a series of examination controversies, Priyanka Gandhi said, “NEET, CBSE, SSC, CUET and now TET. This chain will only stop when you launch a movement and demonstrate your strength. Until that happens, the BJP government and the Prime Minister will have no accountability toward you. They won’t put a curb on corruption in exams, nor will they take responsibility for your future.” Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that exam paper leaks had become a recurring feature under the current government. “It seems determined to score a shameful century. It has already presided over nearly 90 exam paper leaks. Today, another has been reported — this time in Maharashtra, where tomorrow’s TET examination has been cancelled after the paper was leaked,” Khera said in a post on X. “The so-called double-engine sarkar runs on one fuel alone: scams,” he alleged. “For this government, paper leaks have become an industry that it profits from. But for India’s youth, they mean years of hard work, sacrifice and hope being destroyed in a matter of minutes,” he added. Khera further claimed that the government had repeatedly let down young people. “It has stolen their opportunities, toyed with their aspirations and repeatedly betrayed their trust. And perhaps it will be the youth of India who ultimately consign the BJP’s political career to the doldrums. That would be poetic justice,” he asserted. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) postponed the TET-2026, scheduled for Sunday, after a raid in Bhiwandi in Thane district uncovered individuals allegedly in possession of several questions purportedly matching those in the examination paper. Police have registered a case against three persons in connection with the matter. In a statement, the MSCE said it remained committed to conducting examinations with complete transparency. “Given the gravity of the situation and the necessity for an in-depth probe, the exam scheduled for June 28, 2026, has been postponed,” it said. According to the Thane district administration, the suspected breach came to light in the early hours of Saturday after police acted on intelligence inputs about individuals possessing unauthorised information related to the examination paper. 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
A Dalit family in Balrampur has been holding the Tazia for 35 years: Three generations have carried on the tradition, a unique example of communal harmony.
A unique example of communal harmony was witnessed during Muharram in Majra Chahtwa, Gumdi Gram Panchayat, Shriduttganj Block, Balrampur. A Dalit Hindu family has been holding the Tazia with complete faith and respect for the past 35 years. This tradition has been carried on by three generations of the family: Asharam, his son Shiv Prasad, and grandson Kamal Kanaujia. This year too, the family held the Tazia with great devotion, attracting a large number of people from the village and surrounding areas. Kamal Kanaujia explained that the family began holding the Tazia after a vow of his ancestors was fulfilled. His grandfather Asharam carried on the tradition, followed by his father Shiv Prasad, and now he himself is carrying on the responsibility. According to Asharam, the family believes that keeping the Tazia (Tajiya) maintains God’s blessings, removes troubles, and brings happiness and prosperity. Shiv Prasad also said that this tradition brings prosperity to agriculture, business progress, and family well-being. Villagers say that this tradition in Chahatwa is not merely a matter of religious faith, but a living example of social harmony, mutual trust, and Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. During Muharram, people from both communities actively participate in each other’s events, further strengthening the Ganga-Jamuni culture in the village. At a time when news of divisions in society emerges, this Dalit Hindu family in Chahatwa has been sending an important message of humanity, mutual respect, and social harmony by keeping the Tazia for three generations. Aamir Hasan Siddiqui | Shriduttganj (Balrampur), Balrampur Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit youth dies during treatment: Violence over old rivalry in Ujramau village, special team formed
Shyamveer Pratap Singh alias Sonu (approximately 35 years old), a Dalit youth injured in an alleged assault over an old rivalry in Ujramau village, Rajepur police station area, died while undergoing treatment at Hallet Hospital in Kanpur. The village is mourning and outraged following the youth’s death. Given the seriousness of the case, the police have formed a special team to arrest the accused. According to a police complaint, the incident occurred on the night of June 18, 2026. Shyamveer Pratap Singh was at the home of Badal, a resident of the village, where he worked. It is alleged that Saurabh, a resident of the village, arrived there with two or three of his friends. An altercation ensued between them over an old rivalry. Family members allege that Shyamveer was assaulted with casteist slurs, leaving him seriously injured. The injured Shyamveer was initially taken to the Community Health Center in Rajepur. After first aid, he was referred to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was sent to Hallet Hospital in Kanpur, where he was treated for several days. He died at around 4 a.m. on June 25th. Kanpur police prepared an inquest report and conducted a post-mortem examination. Shyamveer was the third of four brothers. His untimely death has brought a great deal of grief to his family. The family is inconsolable, and there is widespread anger in the village. Rajepur police are investigating the case based on a complaint filed by the deceased’s brother, Uday Pratap Singh. Following the young man’s death, the investigation will be based on the post-mortem report, medical evidence, and other available facts. Rajepur Police Station in-charge Nagendra Singh stated that the incident has been taken seriously. A special police team has been formed to arrest the accused, and raids are being conducted at their possible hideouts. Shailendra Kumar | Rajepur (Farrukhabad), Farrukhabad Courtesy: Hindi News