Villagers block roads in Yadgir over denial of access to Dalit families
Yadgir: Villagers in Guranur village of Gurmitkal taluk have blocked all roads leading to the village in support of Dalit families, alleging that two upper-caste households have denied them access to their farmlands for the past two years. The protest follows what villagers describe as a prolonged dispute over access routes. They alleged that an alternative pathway was blocked a week ago and that the families concerned refused to reopen the roads despite repeated requests. “You can complain to whoever you want, but we will not open the road,” the families allegedly told villagers, according to those leading the protest. Muttanna Hiremani, a Dalit activist in the village, claimed that an open meeting convened at the village temple to resolve the issue also failed, with the two families refusing to agree to reopening the road. Dalit families said they had submitted representations to authorities, but no action was taken to restore access, prompting villagers to join them and launch the road blockade from Thursday. The protest has also disrupted the daily routine of schoolchildren, who are now forced to cross agricultural fields to reach their schools due to the road closures. 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
Disabled Dalit family gets land after 17 years: Administration in Ballarpur grants possession of 3 bighas, demand for 2 more
A disabled Dalit family in Ballarpur village, Bhogaon tehsil in Mainpuri, has been granted partial possession of their leased land after 17 years. This action was taken under Operation Mission Samadhan, a program being run by the District Magistrate. The family is now demanding possession of the remaining 2 bighas of land. Geeta Balmiki, a resident of Ballarpur, filed a complaint with the District Magistrate about 20 days ago. She explained that her disabled father, Balakram, had received a lease for 5 bighas of agricultural land about 17 years ago. Since receiving the lease, village strongmen Ratan Singh, Ram Singh, and their family members had illegally occupied the land. According to Geeta, her disabled parents filed numerous complaints at the Tehsil Day and Police Station Day, but the Lekhpal, Kanungo, and police ignored these complaints and filed false settlement reports. Geeta took up the fight herself after her parents became unable to move. Upon learning of the “Mission Samadhan” campaign, she met with the District Magistrate along with her disabled parents and pleaded for the return of their land by removing the illegal encroachment. Following the complaint, a team of Lekhpal-Kanungo arrived at the scene with police force. After measurement, the family was given possession of 3 bighas of agricultural land. The land was marked with lime and millet was sown. Geeta stated that she would soon meet with the District Magistrate and demand the removal of the illegal encroachment from the remaining 2 bighas of land. SDM Neeraj Dwivedi stated that the victim would be given possession of the remaining 2 bighas of land within three days. He also stated that an investigation would be conducted into why the Lekhpal-Kanungo had acted in the past. The SDM issued a stern warning to the illegal encroachers not to re-occupy the land. Anupam Awasthi | Bhogaon, Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress raises fresh concerns over Great Nicobar project, seeks public disclosure of studies
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has shot off a letter to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, flagging concerns over the lack of transparency in the Great Nicobar Island project. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has shot off a letter to Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, flagging concerns over the lack of transparency in the Great Nicobar Island project. He asserted that the environmental impact assessments of different aspects of the venture are “demonstrably inadequate.” Ramesh’s latest letter comes against the backdrop of a series of exchanges with Yadav over the Great Nicobar Island project in the past few years. “I am sorry to say yet again that the environmental impact assessments of different aspects of the Great Nicobar Island Project are demonstrably inadequate and fall woefully short of guidelines set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change itself,” the former environment minister said in his letter to Yadav. Ramesh pointed out that these had been detailed in his earlier letters to which Yadav had “no worthwhile answer”. “Your position is that conditions made part of the environmental clearance mandate continuous monitoring. In this connection, may I submit the following for your consideration. Six-monthly compliance reports are to be made public. But after March 2024 no such compliance report has been made available. Minutes of the project monitoring committee meetings are being uploaded several months after they have been held,” Ramesh said. Ramesh said the environmental clearance for the project, granted on November 11, 2022, required several conservation and mitigation plans to be submitted within 15 days. However, these plans have not been made public The plans were to be prepared by institutions including the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) and the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department (ANFD), he said. According to Ramesh, some of these institutions were later asked to revise their monitoring and mitigation proposals after incorporating suggestions from the Expert Appraisal Committee. “These plans too are not publicly available,” he said. Ramesh further argued that it was “strange, to say the least” that some of these plans may have been submitted only after being appraised by the committee concerned, raising questions about their adequacy and reliability He also pointed out that the updated Environment Management Plan, which was to be based on existing and additional studies, remains unavailable in the public domain. “There are at least, as far as I have been able to make out, 12 such studies by different institutions. Several studies are still pending, which proves that the environmental clearance was granted prematurely and hastily. Some mitigation measures, such as the large-scale relocation of coral colonies, are clearly unrealistic and almost impossible to implement,” Ramesh said. The Congress leader noted that he had earlier sought the public release of the report of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the National Green Tribunal, along with the field survey conducted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, on which the committee’s conclusions regarding the Coastal Regulation Zone status of the proposed transshipment port were based. “Everything I am asking to be made public in no way hampers the fulfilment of the so-called strategic objectives that are now being cited as the rationale for the Great Nicobar Island Project. Serious questions over its environmental impact assessment and legitimate concerns about its grave ecological consequences remain unanswered and unaddressed by your sadly evasive replies,” Ramesh said. “I am simply unable to understand the extraordinary level of non-transparency being adopted to conceal reports, studies and plans,” he added. The Congress on Wednesday criticised the project, describing the proposed transshipment port at Galathea Bay as a recipe for ecological disaster that would result in the large-scale destruction of coral colonies. Ramesh has also written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, urging him to reconsider the decision to reject the full expansion of the INS Baaz runway. In his correspondence with Yadav, he has repeatedly highlighted what he described as the “demonstrably dubious” nature of the project’s environmental impact assessment. The Centre plans to develop an international container transshipment port, a civilian-cum-naval airport, a township and a power plant under the Great Nicobar Island project. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the government’s claim that the project is primarily about national defence and a transshipment port is a “lie”, arguing instead that it is intended to benefit a single businessman through the development of hotels and casinos on ecologically sensitive land. Earlier this month, Rahul released a video of over 16 minutes based on his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in late April and urged people to sign a petition calling on the government to “choose green over greed”. 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
Chhatron ki Goonj: Rahul Gandhi launches campaign to amplify issues related to nation’s education system
In a post on X, Gandhi posted a link to the campaign where students can share ideas and sign a petition. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a campaign for nation’s education reform, such as paper leaks, high fees, and urged students to join the same. He said that it is a platform for students to make demands directly to the government. In a post on X, Gandhi posted a link to the campaign where students can share ideas and sign a petition. “If you’ve suffered because of paper leaks, exam issues, or high fees, if this education system has shattered your dreams, if your family has invested a lifetime of savings in your education, then ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ is your voice,” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said in the post. Gandhi said that this initiative goes beyond just a campaign; it is a platform for students to raise issues such as the need for affordable education, fair examinations, and dignified employment opportunities. “Join the movement: Click the link below. Fill in your name and share your ideas. Sign the petition — that’s it,” Gandhi said, urging the youth to sign up for this movement. “More the signatures, louder the goonj!” he added. Gandhi also released a video message and said his programme in Kota on Wednesday received a very good response. “For this, I would like to thank the students of India. Millions of youth, the future of India and the students of India watched our presentation in Kota, a critique of the education system you are facing, the walls you are facing. “What are the biggest issues? Number one, the education system is not designed around you. It is not designed around your imagination. Number two, it does not enable you to do what you want to do in life. lt buckets you into becoming an engineer, into becoming a doctor, into becoming a lawyer,” Gandhi said. “An education system should free your imagination. And the third most important and the most disheartening fact, the cost of our education system. 22 lakh families spend as much money to get their children through NEET as the government of India gives for its entire education budget,” he claimed. Gandhi said five exams cost these families the same amount of money as the Budget of five massive ministries in the Indian government, he said, adding that this is a “shame”. “This is something that all of us should change. This is not a political issue, this is a national issue. We want you to tell us about your imagination,” he said. In his post along with the video, Gandhi said, “Yesterday, together, we made history in Kota. For the first time, the country has realized that massive extortion is taking place in the name of education.” “We must turn the flame kindled in Kota into a blazing torch, and there is a definite role for you in this journey. Send in your suggestions and sign the petition,” he said. His appeal for participation in the campaign followed a day after he interacted with students at a convention in Kota, Rajasthan. During this interaction, he described India’s education system as a “rejection system” rather than a selection system, claiming it places an excessive financial burden and causes significant stress to students and middle-class families. While addressing the gathering in Kota, known for its coaching centres, Gandhi remarked that the current education structure is “extremely stressful and unfair”. “This is not good for the country. I want all of us to work together to ensure that no student in this country ever feels what this girl felt,” he had said at the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ rally in Kota, where he interacted with students on various issues like paper leaks and unemployment. 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
Ladki Hai Ek, Naam Rajni Hai: Dalit, Daughter Of Pushcart Puller And Labourer Set To Join Bihar Police
Rajni Kumari will be the first woman from Paswan Tola of Bhajaur village to join the police force. Jamui: For Rajni Kumari, life has been a journey of perseverance amid extreme poverty, deprivation, debt and manual labour. Finally, her courage has paid off, and she is now a constable in Bihar Police. Behind her success is the story of the immense sacrifice of her parents. Daughter of a father who is a pushcart puller and a mother who works as a labourer, Rajni has emerged as the pride of the Paswan community. As soon as the news of her selection reached Bhajaur village, located around 3 km from Jamui district headquarters, a festive atmosphere spread among the Paswan community. There are around 10 families living in the small hamlet of Paswan Tola, whose primary source of livelihood is manual labour. Till now, no girl of this hamlet had ever made it to the Bihar Police. Rajni grew up in a small, two-room mud house near a pond, with a roof of straw and sacks. “It’s a matter of great joy that my granddaughter’s future is secured. She worked hard and became successful. I have five sons, all of whom work as labourers. None of their families have been able to educate their children. Nor have their children achieved anything yet. However, one of my granddaughters has succeeded in clearing the Bihar Police exam, bringing glory to the entire family,” said her grandmother Shyampari Devi. The family’s financial situation was so bad that making ends meet was often a challenge. But they always had big dreams. Despite the struggles, Rajni never wavered from her goals and her resolve grew stronger. Her father, Dashrath Paswan explained, “It wasn’t possible to run the family and pay for the children’s education solely through labour wages. I took a loan and bought a handcart so that my daughter could study.” Leaving home at four in the morning, accepting whatever work came his way and working late into the night became his daily routine. He never considered any task to be small but kept working with the sole goal of educating his daughter. “We were determined to educate our daughter, no matter what difficulties we faced. Today, our hard work has paid off. Rajni is the first daughter of the entire Paswan community here to become a Bihar Police official,” Dashrath said. Rajni’s mother Sunita Devi had tears in her eyes as she recalled the family’s struggles. “At times, the situation became so difficult that it was difficult to imagine what the future held. But the family never gave up. Uncles, aunts and other relatives also helped when needed,” she said. She said that the extended family were always there to support financially and morally whenever needed. This family unity became the foundation of Rajni’s success. Rajni recalled that her parents never sent their children to work but worked to educate them. “My parents told us that they would educate us even if they had to work hard day and night,” she said. She received her primary education in Buxar and then did her matriculation and intermediate from Jamui High School. She is currently a third-year undergraduate student. Along with the studies, she prepared for the Bihar Police recruitment exam. Her goal was to get a government job. Her elder brother broke the news of her selection. “I’ll never forget that moment. The whole family was filled with joy. It felt as if my parents’ long-cherished dream had come true,” Rajni narrated. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Madhya Pradesh: What Does It Mean To Live In Localities With Caste Indicative Names?
Chhatarpur: The scourge of casteism continues to be rampant in certain parts of Bundelkhand, despite the Constitution guaranteeing equality to every citizen of the country. Chhatarpur district still has hamlets and neighbourhoods with caste indicative names. Members of the Dalit community living in these areas have not been able to integrate into the mainstream of the society and have reportedly endured social discrimination and mental anguish for generations. They feel humiliated and ashamed when their village is referred to by its caste indicative name, Chamaruwa Purva is one such hamlet in Bagota village that continues to retain its caste indicative name. Residents claim families of prospective brides turn away upon hearing the area’s name, and even the rickshaw and auto drivers refuse to drop passengers here. There are many such areas and settlements in Chhatarpur whose caste-based names are mentioned in government records. Some of them are Kacchiyana Purva, Dhimran Purva, Ghusyana Mohalla and Koryana Mohalla. The residents claim that these caste-based names have caused Dalits to bear social stigma for generations. They say future generations will continue to suffer, until the names of such places are changed. Chamruwa Purva is inhabited solely by Dalits who were reportedly resettled 2 km away from the main village before Independence. The Dalits living in this hamlet are troubled by its name. One of the public representatives (Janpad Sadasya) Dalpat Ahirwar, who lives in Chamaruwa Purva, explained, “We still face social stigma. Whenever our children go for employment or to an educational institution, people look down upon us after hearing the name of our hamlet.” He added that the residents of the hamlet are unable to find a house on rent elsewhere or a job once they mention their address. “When we go to enroll our children in school, we’re asked about the area we live in. We feel embarrassed to reveal the name. We face difficulties because the area’s name is caste-indicative.” He claimed that several applications have been submitted to the local administration to change the name of the hamlet, but there has been no positive response. Meanwhile, Advocate Devendra Anuragi of Chhatarpur disclosed, “Not only is Chamaruwa Purva caste indicative, but even the Koryana Government School in Toriya Mohalla is referred to by the same name in government records. Dalits have been suffering the consequences of this for centuries. Upon hearing the name, people associate their identity with caste.” Another resident of Chamaruwa Purva, Bhubani Bai Ahirwar, disclosed, “When we return from shopping in the city, rickshaw pullers and auto drivers refuse to drop us home. Hearing the hamlet’s name, no one comes this way. Even the family of a prospective bride doesn’t come to the area to arrange a match.” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chhatarpur District Panchayat, Namah Shivay Arajaria, said that to change the caste indicative names of hamlets or areas, the Gram Panchayat has to pass a resolution and get it forwarded by the Gram Sabha. “If the file comes to me from the Panchayat, we can propose a name change,” he said. A resident of Chamaruwa Purva, Sunil Kumar, candidly admitted, “The name of the hamlet is like an abuse. When one goes to get a child admitted to a school and the address is asked, it feels insulting.” Meanwhile, Anuragi pointed out that while the country and society have changed with time, Chhatarpur continues to have neighbourhoods, hamlets, and schools that are known by caste indicative names that remind the people of the old social order. “Now, these need to be changed for social harmony,” he underlined. Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Balrampur: Dalit shopkeeper stabbed for demanding payment for food at a dhaba; both accused arrested
Police arrested Raju Singh and Sanjay Singh, who stabbed Dalit dhaba owner Rahul Sonkar, and sent them to jail. Balrampur: In the city Kotwali area of Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit shopkeeper’s request for payment for food served at his own dhaba proved costly. Over a small sum, the shopkeeper was brutally attacked with knives by the goons, leaving him seriously injured. Following the incident, the bloodied shopkeeper was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, from where he was referred to Bahraich District Hospital. Both named accused arrested: Following the incident, police arrested the two main accused in the deadly attack. Police also recovered the knife used in the attack at the location of the arrested accused. City Police Circle Officer Jyotishree stated on Thursday that the victim, Rahul Sonkar, runs a small dhaba. There, on Wednesday evening, he was fatally attacked. Raju and Sanjay were being left without paying: According to CO Nagar, Raju Singh and Sanjay Singh went to Rahul Sonkar’s shop on Wednesday to eat. After eating, the two accused tried to leave the counter without paying. The shopkeeper stopped them. When Rahul asked for money, Sanjay Singh and Raju Singh became enraged and began abusing him publicly, using casteist slurs. The dispute escalated to the point where they pulled out knives and attacked Rahul with intent to kill, seriously injuring him. Referred to Bahraich due to critical condition: The injured shopkeeper was initially taken to the local District Memorial Hospital for treatment. Doctors there deemed his condition critical and referred him to Bahraich for treatment. The police have registered a case in this matter. The named accused are Raju Singh, son of Ram Jag Singh, a resident of Nanpur Majgawa in the Maharajganj police station area, and Sanjay Singh, son of Gopal Singh, a resident of Risalpur Koyalara in the Kotwali Dehat area. Police have completed the legal process and sent both accused to jail. Courtesy: Hindi News
Two Dalit Youths Beaten to Death by Mob on Theft Suspicion at Rajgir Temple Fair in Bihar
Two Dalit youths were allegedly beaten to death after being accused of theft at the famous Jhunkia Baba Temple during the ongoing Malmas fair in Rajgir. The victims, identified as Pintu Paswan (24) and Shravan Paswan (18), were residents of Ganjpar village in Nalanda district. Both had reportedly gone to the temple fair on Sunday night. Theft Suspicion Led to Mob Attack According to reports, the incident took place around 3:30 am on Monday when four youths allegedly entered the Pangat area of the temple premises. Temple authorities claimed the youths were trying to steal. All India Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Antaryami Sharan said there had been several theft incidents in recent days, which had created anger among devotees. “In the last few days, many theft incidents were reported in the temple. Devotees were already upset, and because of the Malmas fair, thousands had gathered there,” he said. When devotees noticed suspicious movement, they chased the youths. While two of them managed to escape, Pintu and Shravan reportedly fell while running and were caught by the crowd. Soon after, the mob allegedly attacked them brutally with sticks. Temple Security Handed Victims to Police The temple security team later rescued the injured youths from the mob and handed them over to the Rajgir Police. The victims were first taken to a local hospital and later referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for better treatment. However, both died during treatment due to serious injuries. Police Call It Double Murder Nalanda Superintendent of Police Bharat Soni said the case is being investigated from all angles. “We are investigating the case from every aspect. This is a case of double murder. Postmortem has been completed, and the report is awaited. Several teams have been formed to arrest all the accused. Some suspects are under interrogation,” he said. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of the Rajgir DSP. Heavy police force has also been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Family Demands Justice Pintu’s mother, Saroj Devi, said her son was a daily wage labourer and the only earning member of the family after his father’s death. “I don’t know why my son went near the temple. He and his friend were beaten so badly that they died. We want the killers arrested immediately,” she said. She added that Pintu was the eldest among five brothers and three sisters and his death has left the family devastated. 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
How Bengaluru’s Neeli Paradé creates space for Dalit stories that go beyond trauma
The third season of Neeli Paradé featured four short films by Dalit filmmakers. The post-screening discussion explored the films’ themes, creative processes, and social contexts. On June 14, the Dr Ambareesh Auditorium in Chamrajpet hosted season 3 of Neeli Paradé, a screening of four short films by Ambedkarite filmmakers. Presented by Neelavarana, a Bengaluru-based Ambedkarite production house and artists’ collective, the event celebrates Dalit and Bahujan lives and experiences while creating space for dialogue between filmmakers and audiences through post-screening discussions. Neeli Paradé was first organised in 2022, and has since evolved from a small show into a recurring platform for Dalit and Bahujan filmmakers and conversations around their cinema. Among the short films screened, the spotlight rested on Moda Moda by MK Abhilash and Out of Syllabus by Mahishaa, who is also the founder of Neelavarana. Moda Moda follows a couple who decide to name their would-be child Moda (clouds). Out of Syllabus centres on the blooming companionship between two girls, Sneha and Kritika, and their shared backgrounds as they walk home from school. Following the screenings, both filmmakers participated in a discussion moderated by Vijeta Kumar, an assistant professor at Bengaluru’s St Joseph’s University. The discussion explored the films’ themes, creative processes, and social contexts. The focus remained on community and shared values, while the stories told made the setting intimate and personal. “I think films are a great way to get people to think about things that they might not otherwise be comfortable talking about,” remarks Taanika Shankar, a schoolteacher who had attended Neeli Paradé for the first time. “I moved to Bengaluru a couple of years ago, and I too come from a Dalit background. I wanted to find a community where there are Dalit filmmakers and films about issues that impact Dalits. That’s when I came across the channel Neelavarna Media,” recalls Abhiraj Dethe, a director and writer whose recent works include projects with Flying Dosa Films. Abhiraj has attended earlier sessions and even remembers having previously watched one of the films screened on June 14. The post-screening discussion reflected on how the films moved beyond conventional portrayals of Dalit lives. “Since the time we started making films, I have seen that stories dealing with Dalit issues often portray us either as victims or as fighters,” commented an audience member. “Here, I see that the characters are also smiling, and the filmmaker is also smiling.” The event also featured stalls run by community-owned small businesses selling crochet products, artwork, and homemade chocolates. The initiative was aimed at supporting independent artists and entrepreneurs. Looking ahead, Mahishaa aspires to make Neeli Paradé an annual festival and to expand its reach to other cities like Mysuru and Mangalore through special invitations. Neelavarana is also open to where the future might lead, including the possibility of venturing into longer formats, which may be difficult, Mahishaa notes. “The next major step is to move towards feature films. That is a challenge. That’s something we have to figure out how to do, but we do want to eventually go into feature films and bigger screenings and events,” he told TNM. Written by:Swetha Anil Kumar, Deva Manohar Manoj (Students interning with TNM) Courtesy TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsminute.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Why should a Dalit worry about RSS’: BJP MP to Priyank Kharge; gets sharp ‘fear none’ reply
NEW DELHI: A remark by BJP MP Ramesh Jigajinagi questioning why a Dalit minister should be concerned about the RSS triggered a sharp response from Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday, with the Congress leader saying he “fears none” because he follows BR Ambedkar’s ideology. The controversy started from Priyank Kharge’s letter earlier this week to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, seeking clarity on the organisation’s legal status and asking it to disclose details of its funding, income, expenditure and assets in the interest of transparency and constitutional accountability. Addressing a press conference in Vijayapura on Wednesday, Jigajinagi criticised the move, saying Priyank Kharge was overstepping his role as Home Minister. “Is it his job to ask such questions about RSS? People will only tell him (what RSS is). Whoever came in the way of RSS did not survive. He is unnecessarily picking up an issue with the RSS. We feel bad about it,” the BJP MP said, according to news agency PTI. “My question is – why does this Dalit man need to be concerned about the RSS?” he asked.Jigajinagi also said Priyank Kharge became a minister because his father, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, had “toiled hard” for the party and advised him to focus on governance instead of targeting the RSS. Responding to the BJP leader, Kharge said Jigajinagi’s remarks could be interpreted in several ways. “Is it a word of caution, advising Dalits not to associate with the RSS, which believes in the fundamentals of a hierarchical social order?” he asked. He also questioned whether the BJP MP was suggesting that, as a Dalit, he had no right to question “an organisation formed to safeguard the interests of those with a sense of social superiority.” Priyank Kharge further asked whether Jigajinagi’s remark that “no one who has taken on the RSS has survived” was made out of fear or intended to intimidate him. “What are the reasons behind this threat? What does he mean by saying ‘no one has survived’? Is the RSS a terrorist organisation? Does it eliminate those who question it?” the minister asked. Asserting that he draws strength from Ambedkar’s ideals, Priyank Kharge said, “I am a follower of Babasaheb’s ideology. The courage to question and my intellectual conviction come from him. Those who believe in Babasaheb do not fear.” “I fear only a lack of morality, not threats, because Ambedkar’s blood runs in our veins,” he added. 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