BSP Supports Women’s Reservation; Demand for Separate Quota for Dalit and OBC Women Intensifies
SC/ST/OBC Reservation: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Supremo Mayawati has welcomed the decision to grant 33 percent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies; however, she has simultaneously raised a demand for a separate reservation quota specifically for women belonging to the Dalit and OBC communities. Lucknow News: BSP Supremo Mayawati has welcomed the decision to grant 33 percent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, while simultaneously demanding a separate reservation quota for women from the Dalit and OBC communities. Addressing a press conference, she stated that her party has long advocated for granting 50 percent reservation to women; however, for the time being, the party views the current 33 percent reservation as a positive step and therefore extends its support to it. **Get the Full Details** Mayawati explicitly stated that a general reservation for women alone would not fully achieve the objective of social justice. She emphasized that it is imperative to provide a separate reservation quota for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to ensure their equal participation in the political sphere. According to her, this measure would prove instrumental in empowering the marginalized sections of society. **What She Said About the Congress** During the press conference, the BSP chief also launched a scathing attack on the Congress party. She remarked that when the Indian National Congress was in power, it failed to take any serious initiative regarding women’s reservation. Now that steps are finally being taken in this direction, the Congress is attempting to interfere with this reform. She alleged that the Congress’s stance is opportunistic and that the party is merely playing politics over this issue. **Tribute Paid to Dr. Ambedkar** Additionally, Mayawati made reference to the birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar. She noted that tributes were paid to the architect of the Constitution, Dr. Ambedkar, across the country, and she herself offered her homage to him. She further observed that in recent times, several political parties have begun incorporating the color blue into their programs in an attempt to woo Dalit voters; however, she asserted that the true significance and impact of this symbolism remain inextricably linked solely with the BSP. In conclusion, Mayawati stated that the BSP would continue to relentlessly struggle for social justice, equality, and the rights of marginalized sections of society. She expressed confidence that only her party’s policies could truly empower the Dalit and backward communities. Stay tuned to Zee News for the latest updates from Uttar Pradesh! Read UP News here and get real-time information. Every news story from Uttar Pradesh reaches you first, because we keep you prepared for every moment. Stay connected with us and stay updated! Courtesy : Hindi News
Ex-IAS officer P Sivakami releases Dalit Women’s Manifesto 2026; Calls for land rights, economic autonomy in TN
Addressing safety and justice, the manifesto calls for the formation of a dedicated Dalit Women’s Protection Wing in every district under women IPS officers. CHENNAI: Releasing the ‘Dalit Women’s Manifesto 2026’ ahead of the state Assembly election, former IAS officer and convenor of the All India Forum for Women’s Intellect P Sivakami called for a rights-based framework to ensure economic sovereignty, social justice and political representation of the marginalised. The manifesto places emphasis on land rights, proposing the establishment of a High-Powered Land Recovery Commission within 100 days to retrieve encroached panchami lands. These land parcels, it states, will be redistributed to landless Dalit women and utilised through collective farming models, including through the formation of farmer-producer organisations exclusively led by women. Housing security also features prominently, with priority allocation of concrete houses or apartments for homeless women in Dalit settlements. In the economic sphere, the document proposes the creation of an “Iyothee Thass Women’s Bank” to offer collateral-free and zero-interest loans for micro-enterprises. It also envisages the transformation of Dalit habitations into agro-industrial hubs and 25% reservation for Dalit women in industrial land allotment by agencies such as Sipcot and Sidco. Addressing safety and justice, the manifesto calls for the formation of a dedicated Dalit Women’s Protection Wing in every district under women IPS officers. It also seeks fast-track courts to dispose of cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act within six months and a fully funded legal aid mechanism allowing survivors to choose their advocates. Notably, it recommends that compensation for survivors of atrocities include guaranteed access to agricultural lands and sustainable livelihoods. On the education front, the manifesto proposes 100% government-funded international scholarships for Dalit women and digital skill vouchers covering emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. S Kumaresan 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
Dhar: ‘Aditya’ Revealed to be Abdul; Aadhaar Card Exposes ‘Love Jihad’ Plot—Accused Was Exploiting Woman Under Pretext of Marriage
Dhar: A case involving the concealment of identity to establish a relationship with—and subsequently rape—a Dalit woman has come to light in Dhamnod, located in the Dhar district. The accused’s true identity was exposed through his Aadhaar card. After the truth was revealed, the accused pressured the woman to convert her religion and threatened to kill her if she refused to comply. A case of ‘Love Jihad’ has surfaced in Dhar, a tribal-dominated district in Madhya Pradesh. The accused had befriended a young woman from the Dalit community at a mobile phone shop. Subsequently, posing under a Hindu name, he gave the woman false assurances of marriage, took her to a hotel, and raped her. However, while at the hotel, the woman spotted a photocopy of the accused’s Aadhaar card in his pocket, which listed his name as Abdul Hadi Pathan and his father’s name as Hussain Pathan. When his true identity was exposed, the accused threatened the woman and pressured her to undergo religious conversion. Meanwhile, the victim, accompanied by her family, reached the police station, where the police have registered a case against the accused under various sections of the law and have initiated an investigation. A police team was also dispatched to Khargone in search of the accused, but he has not yet been arrested. **The Story Began at a Mobile Shop** At the Dhamnod police station, the victim informed the police that approximately two years ago, she had met a young man named Aditya Thakur at a mobile shop located near the Maheshwar bus stand. The accused concealed his true identity and befriended the woman. During their conversations, the woman had disclosed to the accused that she belonged to the Balai community. Despite this, the accused continued to hide his identity and maintained the pretense of being in love with her. **How Was the Case Exposed?** According to the complaint, on December 10, 2025, the accused took the woman to the Deepak Hotel & Lodge, located at Maheshwar Phata in Dhamnod, where he raped her against her will. When she resisted, the accused claimed that both of them were Hindus and would soon get married. Subsequently, using the false promise of marriage as a pretext, he continued to sexually exploit the woman repeatedly. Subsequently, the accused intimidated and coerced her into accompanying him to the Mahakali Hotel and Lodge, where he raped her once again. During this incident, the young woman discovered a photocopy of an Aadhaar card in his pocket, which exposed his true identity. ‘Convert to Islam, and I will marry you’ When the young woman confronted him regarding his deception, the accused retorted threateningly, “So what if I am a Muslim? You simply change your religion and become a Muslim; I will then marry you.” When she resisted, the accused further threatened to kill her. Case Registered Against the Accused Acting on the victim’s complaint, the Dhamnod police have registered a case against the accused, Abdul Hadi Pathan, under sections pertaining to fraud, forcible rape, criminal intimidation (threats to life), the SC/ST Act, and the Freedom of Religion Act. Station In-charge Praveen Thackeray stated that the victim had approached the police station to lodge her complaint. Her statement has been officially recorded in the presence of a female police officer. It was revealed that the accused had befriended the young woman by concealing his true identity and using a false name. A formal case has been registered, and appropriate legal action is currently underway. Courtesy: Hindi News
Attempt to Encroach on Land Under Court Stay: Dalit Woman and Family Attacked in Para; Casteist Abuses Hurled
In the Para police station area of Lucknow, an attempt was made to forcibly encroach upon a plot of land, despite a standing court order to the contrary. When this attempt was resisted, a Dalit woman and her family were attacked. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, around 9:00 AM, near the Kamakhya Temple in the village of Para. Mayawati Gautam, a member of a Scheduled Caste community, has alleged that several named accused individuals—along with approximately 100 unidentified persons—arrived at her land in multiple vehicles, disguised as lawyers. According to the victim, the accused had arrived with a premeditated plan and immediately began attempting to take possession of the land. When Mayawati Gautam objected to their actions, the accused began verbally abusing her, using derogatory casteist slurs. As the altercation escalated, the accused assaulted Mayawati Gautam, her widowed daughter, and her younger son, beating them with sticks and clubs. All members of the family sustained serious injuries in this attack. Mayawati Gautam has further alleged that as the attackers were leaving the scene, they issued death threats to the entire family. The land at the center of this dispute is currently the subject of a pending legal case in court. A “status quo” order—mandating that the existing state of affairs regarding the property be maintained—is currently in force. The attempt to encroach upon the land, in blatant disregard of the court’s directive, is being viewed as a serious criminal offense. Several individuals have been named as accused in this case. Additionally, the involvement of approximately 100 unidentified persons is also under suspicion. The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) for Kakori stated that an investigation into the matter is underway and that appropriate legal action will be taken. Yuvraj Gautam | Banthra (Sarojininagar), Lucknow Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Widow in Mulnapur Accuses Lekhpal: Case of Encroachment on Disputed Land; Appeals to DM for Justice
In Mulnapur village—located in Utraon, Handia (Prayagraj)—a Dalit widow has leveled serious allegations against a *Lekhpal* (revenue official). The woman claims that the *Lekhpal*, acting in collusion with the opposing party, is facilitating the encroachment upon her disputed land. According to the aggrieved woman, Geeta Devi, there is a plot of land situated near her home, the ownership of which is currently sub judice (pending) in court. It is alleged that, through the connivance of the *Lekhpal* and the *Kanungo* (senior revenue official), the opposing party is making persistent attempts to seize control of this disputed land. Geeta Devi further stated that the opposing party—who belong to the Yadav community—are subjecting her to verbal abuse and physical assault. When contacted regarding this matter, *Lekhpal* Mithilesh Pandey stated that an investigation into the case is currently underway. He added that once the investigation is complete, the land will be remeasured, and the matter will be resolved. In light of these events, the aggrieved woman has written letters to the District Magistrate (DM) and the Police Commissioner, appealing to them for justice. Brijesh Kumar Gautam | Baudai (Phulpur), Prayagraj (Allahabad) Courtesy: Hindi News
Sub-Inspector Accused of Violating Widow’s Privacy: BKU Swaraj Submits Memorandum to SP in Kannauj, Demanding Inquiry and Action
On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Swaraj) visited the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) and leveled serious allegations against a Sub-Inspector (SI) stationed at the Talgram police station. Led by District President Pushpendra Singh Rathore, the organization’s members and farmers submitted a four-point memorandum—addressed to the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police—to the Superintendent of Police. The memorandum accuses the Sub-Inspector of behaving inappropriately with women, engaging in corruption, and being involved in unethical activities. The Union alleged that on March 26, 2026, the Sub-Inspector forcibly entered the home of a widow residing in the Girikuan locality of Talgram without permission or prior notice. At the time, the woman was bathing, resulting in a violation of her privacy. When the woman expressed her outrage over this incident and lodged a complaint, the Sub-Inspector, acting out of a spirit of vendetta, initiated proceedings against her brother and another individual for disturbing the peace. The Union has demanded that these proceedings be quashed. Furthermore, the Sub-Inspector faces allegations of negligence and collusion in another separate case. In December 2025, a young man died in the village of Kalkattapurwa (Kudra) within the Talgram area after consuming a poisonous powder provided by a gym operator. An FIR was registered in this matter; however, it is alleged that the Sub-Inspector colluded with the accused gym operator, failed to arrest him, and allowed the investigation to remain pending. Additionally, negligence is reportedly being shown in the completion of necessary legal formalities. Through the memorandum, the Union has put forward four key demands. These include the immediate transfer of the Sub-Inspector out of the district; a swift and impartial inquiry into all allegations leveled against him, accompanied by departmental action; the immediate arrest of the accused gym operator involved in the Kalkattapurwa (Kudra) case; and the immediate revocation of the proceedings initiated against the widow’s brother and the other individual for disturbing the peace. The organization has warned that if their demands are not met in a timely manner, they will be compelled to stage protests and sit-ins in solidarity with the victims, farmers, and women. Several activists, including Santosh Kumar, Akshay Kumar, Yogendra Rajput, Rajkumar, Vineet, and Pramod, were present on this occasion. Station House Officer (SHO) Vinay Sharma stated that the matters in question would be investigated, and further action would be taken once the investigation report is received. Sanjeev Kumar | Bamrauli (Chhibramau), Kannauj Courtesy: Hindi News
Punjab police drag Dalit woman by hair, assault her in broad daylight
Incident came to light after CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media. Chandigarh: In an alleged case of police brutality, a Dalit woman was assaulted and dragged by her hair in Punjab’s Jalandhar by a police officer on Friday, March 20. The incident came to light after CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media. The victim, Mamta Bhagat, claimed that she was trying to protect her son from the assault when the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) attacked her. He reportedly used extreme force and treated her with cruelty while dragging her out of the house. “The ASI crossed all limits. When he came, there was no woman police personnel with him. My sons were asleep at that time. I tried to talk to him, but instead he grabbed me by my hair and also entered into scuffle with my sons,” Mamta told reporters. The CCTV footage shows police officers beating half-clothed young men in the middle of the road. Mamta sustained severe head injuries and was seen with a bandage around her forehead. The issue escalated when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress leaders from Jalandhar West demanded action against the officer responsible for the attack. Former MLA Sheetal Angural, councillor Tarsem Lakhotra and former councillor Vipan Kumar were among those who staged a protest at Bhargo Camp Chowk. The protestors later arrived at the police station with the victim seeking action against the ASI. “We will not relent till the victim gets justice. We have been told that action is being mulled against the ASI concerned. We will also take the matter to the state commission for women and for SCs tomorrow,” Sheetal Angural said. Courtesy : TSD Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesiasatdaily.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit Woman Attacked in Gadaganj; FIR Filed After 6 Days: Accused Also Beat Husband and Mother-in-Law; Previous Case Under SC/ST Act Also Registered
In Bishun Das Pur village, located within the Gadaganj police station area of Raebareli district, Shanti Devi—a woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste—along with her husband, Ranjit Kumar, and mother-in-law, Rajkumari, were subjected to a life-threatening assault. The attackers dragged them out of their home and beat them, resulting in a severe head injury to Shanti Devi. She required nine stitches on her head and sustained serious injuries to her hands, legs, and waist. In an unconscious state, Shanti Devi was rushed to the Dinshah Gaura Community Health Center. After receiving primary treatment, she was referred to the District Hospital; subsequently, as her condition failed to improve, she was admitted to AIIMS. Following six days of treatment, her condition has shown some signs of improvement. On Monday, March 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM, Shanti Devi’s husband, Ranjit Kumar, lodged a formal complaint at the Gadaganj police station. He has accused fellow villagers—Ghanshyam, Deshraj, Aman, Mrs. Kamlesh, and Soni Surat—of assault and verbal abuse. Station House Officer (SHO) Dayanand Tiwari stated that a case has been registered against the accused under the relevant sections of the law, and the police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The SHO further revealed that just three months prior, another case involving assault and charges under the SC/ST Act had been registered against these very same individuals. Premchandra Srivastava | Jalalpur Dhai (Dalmau), Raebareli Courtesy: Hindi News
Woman who married herself in 2022 starts protest against transgender bill
Vadodara: She shot to limelight four years ago when she redefined personal identity by becoming India’s first woman to embrace sologamy. Kshama Bindu has once again stepped into the public sphere and claimed that the proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 will threaten her sologamy and discourage others from pursuing their freedom to choose their identity. Wearing her bridal saree, Kshama, who married herself in 2022, has taken to the streets in Delhi to protest against the bill, and she soon plans to organise a flash mob as well. “I chose to marry myself as I love my own identity. I am transmasculine, which means I identify myself more in a masculine way. I had even begun the process to remove my breasts and apply to change my gender from female to male on my Aadhaar card,” Kshama told TOI. “But this proposed bill has halted my plans. It forces transgender people to get govt approval for their identity. The bill erases centuries of India’s gender-diverse history. If the bill is passed, then I and many others like me won’t be able to assert their identity,” Kshama, 28, said. She recently wrote to the police department seeking permission for a hunger strike. “I have joined the protests against this bill. Why should we validate our gender identity before the govt? It is a violation of my right and dignity,” Kshama added. Kshama married herself in an elaborate ceremony in the presence of her friends in June 2022. Wearing a red bridal saree, she took pheras amid chanting of mantras and later danced to a few Bollywood numbers as well. “I am so much in love with myself and want to spend my whole life in my own company,” Kshama had said on her wedding day. 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
Dalit woman demands action against Jangaon Collector, others under SC/ST Act
A Dalit woman in Jangaon has sought action under the SC/ST Act against the district Collector and officials, alleging harassment, casteist remarks and attempts to remove her tea stall, leading to financial loss and distress. Jangaon: A Dalit woman has lodged a complaint with the Jangaon police seeking registration of a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against district Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha. In the complaint submitted to Jangaon Inspector of Police Satyanarayana Reddy, she also sought registration of a case against DRDO N Vasantha, Municipal Commissioner Maheshwar Reddy, Jangaon town revenue inspector Venkateshwarlu and staff under the Act. The woman, Palamakula Chinna Manjula of Erragollapahad village of Jangaon mandal, in her complaint on March 16, stated that a Vanitha tea stall was sanctioned to her under the Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme by allotting a site at a corner outside the district collectorate. The previous district Collector, Rizwan Basha Shaik, had provided a kiosk, power and water connection and inaugurated the tea stall on March 6, 2025, along with DRDO and district officials. However, Municipal Commissioner Maheshwar Reddy, tahsildar Mosim, RI Venkateshwarlu and staff tried to remove the tea stall with an earthmover and crane on March 11, stating that it was on the orders of the Collector, Sandeep Kumar Jha. When she pleaded with them not to damage the tea stall, they went back. The next day, they returned to remove the stall while making casteist remarks, saying that she had no right to run the stall there and would face serious consequences if the place was not vacated. On the other hand, the electricity department disconnected the tea stall’s power connection. As a result, she incurred a loss of Rs 10,000 as milk and other items in the fridge were damaged, Manjula lamented. The woman said that she had taken private loans worth Rs 3 lakh to develop the tea stall while repaying instalments of a Rs 3 lakh loan provided to her under the scheme. She sought legal action against the above officials for causing her financial loss and mental trauma. The police were yet to act on her complaint. It may be recalled that Sandeep Kumar Jha, when he was Sircilla Collector in February this year, faced severe criticism as he reportedly ordered the closure of a tea stall in Sircilla town because its owner Bathula Srinivas displayed a photo of BRS working president KT Rama Rao. Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights