‘Get your own party in order’: AAP targets Rahul over Cong state chief Pargat’s remarks on anti-drug drive
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Punjab’s anti-drug drive. It accused the Congress leadership of double standards and alleged that state Congress president was undermining the government’s action against drug traffickers. In a post on X, AAP questioned Gandhi’s stance on the crackdown, writing, “Rahul Gandhi Ji, in Punjab, the Mann government is taking strict action against drug traffickers, but your own state president Paragat Singh is standing in support of the drug traffickers. Can’t you see this, or are you deliberately turning a blind eye?” The party further challenged Gandhi to clarify whether his state unit supported the campaign against drugs, adding, “Before lecturing on the issue of drugs in Punjab, get your own party in order. At least ask your president whether he stands with the action against drugs or with the drug traffickers?”The exchange comes amid a political row over the killing of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Rahul Gandhi had criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government following the incident, saying that raising one’s voice against drug abuse in Punjab had become “a death sentence”. — PargatSOfficial (@PargatSOfficial) Jhota was allegedly shot by a medical shop owner and later succumbed to his injuries. The killing triggered protests and a statewide bandh on Thursday, with organisations demanding accountability over the state’s law-and-order situation and its anti-drug campaign. Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police, arrested the alleged main shooter, Asvini, in Salasar, Rajasthan, officials said on Wednesday. The district administration subsequently demolished the accused’s residence amid heavy security deployment. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh criticised the authorities’ handling of the bandh in a post on X, writing, “Today, Punjab is back on the streets against drugs. The Punjab bandh is not just a protest, but a clear declaration of the trust that has been shattered by the government and police administration.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) He also alleged that peaceful protesters were being arrested in Jalandhar and other constituencies, calling the reported action “absolutely unacceptable in a democracy”. Singh warned chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav against suppressing protesters, adding that no action in Mansa should be taken without the family’s consent. 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
Delhi govt to offer 1,300 pink e-autos to empower women, transgender persons
Delhi has opened the DURGA portal for women and transgender applicants to seek pink e-autos. The scheme aims to expand self-employment and make public transport more inclusive. The Delhi government on Monday launched a dedicated portal for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which women and transgender persons will get an opportunity to own and drive electric autos and earn a livelihood. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase. She said 1,170 have been earmarked for women and 130 for transgender persons, with a district-wise cap of 90 e-autos for women and 10 for transgender persons in each revenue district. The scheme, called Driving, Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender E-Auto (DURGA), was recently launched by the government. Through the initiative, the government aims to create self-employment opportunities for the targeted groups and increase their participation in public transport, Gupta said. Under the eligibility criteria, women applicants must be between 20 and 40 years of age and residents of Delhi. They must hold a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence and a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge. “The annual family income must not exceed Rs 5 lakh, and the prescribed condition relating to a maximum of three living children will also apply. Transgender applicants must also meet the specified age and Delhi residency requirements and hold a valid driving licence and PSV badge,” Gupta said in a statement. The application process will remain open for three months. Gupta said that if the number of eligible applications received in a district is higher than its prescribed quota when the portal closes, allotments will be made through an online lottery. The portal launch marks the start of applications for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase to eligible women and transgender applicants in Delhi. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kerala HC directs release of pending dues to transgender person who underwent sex reassignment surgery
Kochi: The high court has directed the director of the directorate of social justice to disburse the pending financial assistance of Rs 21,000 to a transgender person who underwent sex reassignment surgery (SRS) within two months. A bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan issued the direction while disposing of a petition filed by a 27-year-old transgender person from Thiruvananthapuram seeking Rs 36,000 in post-operative treatment assistance under a govt order dated Nov 14, 2018, as supplemented by another order dated Aug 22, 2023, along with interest. According to the petitioner, Rs 15,000 had already been received, leaving an unpaid balance of Rs 21,000. The petitioner approached the court alleging that the authorities had failed to disburse the remaining amount despite an application dated Sept 1, 2025, and a representation dated Sept 11, 2026. During the hearing, the state govt submitted that officials were taking steps to disburse the amount and were awaiting sanction from the authority concerned. Recording the submission, the court directed the social justice director to disburse the eligible amount of Rs 21,000 within two months. 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
Protesters detained outside IIT Bombay demanding justice for Dalit student Sahil Wakode
Mumbai Police detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members outside IIT Bombay as they demanded a fair investigation into Dalit student Sahil Wakode’s death and allegations of caste discrimination. Mumbai Police on Wednesday detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members who gathered outside IIT Bombay in response to the ‘Chalo IIT Bombay’ call, demanding accountability over the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The civil society members also demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of caste discrimination. Among those detained were members of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA)—Rahul Sonpimple, Deepali Salve and Sambhaji Bhagat. The protest was organised in solidarity with Wakode’s parents, who have been on a hunger strike for nearly two weeks, demanding a fair investigation into their son’s death. According to reports, police detained protesters demonstrating outside IIT Bombay following a call by Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode. Reports suggest that Ravindra Wakode was also detained; however, Mumbai Police have denied the allegation. The police, meanwhile, responded with heavy deployment across the campus, restrictions on entry and the detention of people seeking to present their demands to the administration. The protest was also not allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating Wakode’s death, has recorded statements from more than 40 people. The 22-year-old second-year BTech student was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. According to the police official, Wakode submitted a written statement to the institute after allegedly being caught cheating in an examination. In the statement, he said he had not prepared well for the paper, acknowledged his mistake and sought a second chance. A first information report (FIR) was registered by Powai police against Professor Doolla following a complaint lodged by Wakode’s father. The professor, who has been named as an accused in the abetment-to-suicide case, has, in his statement to the police, denied the allegations of harassment levelled against him by the student’s parents. Wakode’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, began their hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on September 24, alleging caste discrimination at the institute and seeking justice for their son. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Road to Dalit cremation ground in Rahmatpur blocked: Robbers accused of encroaching on government road, halting construction work; complaint to SDM
In Rahmatpur village, Muzaffarnagar, rowdy people have blocked the road to the Dalit cremation ground. They are accused of encroaching on the government road, hindering funerals and the construction of the cremation ground. Victims Moolchand, Chandrakiran, Vijaypal, Mohit, Indu, and village head representative Alok Kumar stated that this road has existed since ancestral times. Shubham, son of Karnail, Neeraj, son of Brajbir, and Karnail, son of Chatar Singh, are accused of blocking the road and digging pits, blocking traffic. Alok Kumar stated that the road blockage prevents construction materials from reaching the cremation ground, halting construction. There are also difficulties transporting bodies. Villagers have complained to the Sub-District Magistrate, Jansath, and the Bhopa police. A team from the Revenue Department inspected the site. Kanungo Sunil Sharma stated that the road appears to be old. After examining the documents, the measurement will be done and action will be taken as per the rules. Sandeep | Bhopa (Morna), Muzaffarnagar Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit, Adivasi women recount ordeals in 35 atrocity cases at Hyderabad legal clinic
Victims as well as witnesses in 35 cases of atrocities against Dalit and Adivasi women and girls on Wednesday shared their experiences of seeking justice, at a legal clinic organised by Dalit Sthree Sakthi (DSS) in Hyderabad. The victims narrated their ordeals in cases involving murder, rape and cheating on the pretext of love. Senior government officials and representatives of civil society organisations attended the clinic as jury members, heard the grievances and assured the victims of support in pursuing their cases. DSS national convener Jhansi Geddam presided over the clinic and coordinated the proceedings. Director of Public Prosecutions Sambasiva Reddy commended the victims for their faith in the justice system and the Constitution. He assured them of assistance in prosecuting the cases and said special courts would be established in every district. CEO of Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty and Panchayat Raj Commissioner Divya Devarajan stressed the need for financial assistance to victims and said support would be extended through Sneha Cooperative Societies. She said SERP, in coordination with the Scheduled Castes Development Department (SCDD), would help victims secure bank loans. SCDD Commissioner Vijayendra Boyi expressed anguish over the crimes and said such incidents reflect the prevailing regressive social conditions. The government had sanctioned ₹40 crore towards compensation for victims of atrocities, with another ₹31 crore in the process of being sanctioned, she said. Assuring the victims of compensation and rehabilitation, she stressed that financial assistance alone was not enough and that justice must be secured in every case. 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
A Dalit was defrauded in Ayodhya over land deed: Three accused also accused of casteist slurs and death threats.
A case of fraud involving a land deed has come to light in Ayodhya. Hazari Lal, a Dalit man, has filed a lawsuit against three individuals, accusing them of fraud, casteist slurs, and death threats. Hazari Lal purchased an old 14.61 square meter house in Kushmaha village from Ashok Kumar on January 6, 2026, for ₹2 lakh. It is alleged that the accused fraudulently sold the same land back to Hazari Lal. According to Hazari Lal, on the night of July 21, 2026, Ashok Kumar, Satyam, and Shivam came to his house. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill him. The accused later refused to return the money. On Hazari Lal’s complaint, the police have registered a case against Ashok Kumar Verma, Satyam Verma, Shivam Verma, and Satyam’s maternal uncle and have begun an investigation. Brijesh Chandra Pandey | Pura Bazaar (Ayodhya), Ayodhya Courtesy: Hindi News
In Mainpuri, miscreants harvested a Dalit woman’s crop: When she protested, they were subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. A case has been filed.
In Vikrampur village, Mainpuri, miscreants forcibly harvested a Dalit woman’s standing paddy crop. When she protested, the woman was subjected to caste-related abuses and death threats. The victim, Preeti (Scheduled Caste), filed a complaint at the Auncha police station. According to her, on October 11, 2026, at 12 noon, Shailendra, Chandrapal, and Amol Singh (residents of Nagla Vanshi, Auncha), along with their men, harvested the paddy crop from her field (plot number 104/5) using a harvester. When Preeti objected, the accused hurled caste-related abuses and threatened to kill her. According to the victim, the accused are influential and this crop was her only source of income, causing significant losses. The victim has filed a case with the Auncha police station and demanded strict action. The police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Station in-charge Chandrapal Singh stated that the investigation has been initiated. Arjun Singh | Madhan (Ghiror), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Can’t suppress voice of youth: Rahul Gandhi warns PM Modi, slams ‘police brutality’
Protesters say assaulted in illegal detention centres, hit on private parts, phones seized, data deleted He also warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that no one could stand against the united voice of India. Accusing the government of trying to suppress young people who are protesting against alleged electoral malpractice, Rahul, while addressing a press conference along with the youth, said the movement had brought Indians together beyond divisions of religion, caste and gender. He vowed to ensure that those responsible for the alleged police excesses — from senior officials to policemen accused of assaulting protesters — were brought to justice. “These young people have only one voice, and that is the voice of India. No one can stand against it,” he said. Pointing to the students standing alongside him, Rahul said there was no Hindu, Muslim or caste identity in their collective struggle, nor any division between men and women. There was only one voice and one movement — the voice of India, he added. Issuing a stern warning to the government, Rahul urged protesters to record every incident of alleged police brutality and preserve all evidence, including videos. “When this movement ends, these pieces of evidence will be used to ensure that everyone responsible is punished,” he said, adding that no one would be spared. Besides the police personnel accused of assaulting students, Rahul named PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar among people who must face accountability. The students who met Rahul also recounted disturbing accounts of their alleged treatment in police custody. Three of the students Samarth, Dharmendra and Arjun alleged that the police personnel kicked and assaulted them on the chest, back and private parts and tried to choke them. They said their phones were confiscated after they were taken into custody. Delhi University student Adira said she had sustained injuries to her ear and lost her hearing following the alleged police assault. She claimed there was no woman police officer in the detention bus and alleged that she was dragged along the road, taken to a basement and beaten with kicks and punches. She also alleged blows to her cheek, upper abdomen and private parts. National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) national secretary Ritu Barala described the alleged police conduct as inhuman, saying citizens of Independent India were being subjected to brutality reminiscent of British rule. She said Rahul was standing by the students like an elder brother and asserted that they would not be intimidated into abandoning their fight against injustice. Content creator Ramit Verma alleged that he was detained on October 11 at the behest of members of the RSS and Bajrang Dal, whom he accused of threatening peaceful protesters with sticks and stones. He further alleged that phones were seized from several protesters inside detention buses, data was deleted from some devices and many phones were not returned. Meanwhile, one of the injured students, Samarth, played Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, ‘Vaishnava Jana To’, on a flute. “Nafrat ka jawab pyar se diya jaega” (hatred will be answered with love), the student said. Shekhar Singh Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Not benefiting anyone’: Traders urge Rahul to rethink SIR protests amid festive season, cite business losses
NEW DELHI: Traders’ associations have urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the ongoing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that demonstrations and road blockades in the national capital are hurting businesses ahead of Diwali. Representatives of trade bodies said traders stock up on goods and often take loans ahead of the festive season, relying on increased sales to meet annual expenses. They claimed that disruptions were keeping customers away, restricting market access and affecting deliveries, with small traders bearing the brunt. Ajay Gupta, a member of the National Traders Welfare Board, said “I humbly request the Leader of the Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, to reconsider the agitation currently underway, as it is not benefiting anyone; instead, it is creating an atmosphere of anarchy,” he said. “We are not opposed to the act of protesting itself … but it should be done in a manner that causes no harm to the common man and creates no obstacles for us traders in running our businesses,” he added. Meanwhile, Ghanshyam Das Goyal of the Dal and Besan Millers Association said traders from areas around Delhi usually visit the capital to purchase stocks for Diwali, but the disruptions had discouraged them from coming. Prakash Purgal of the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchant Association also urged Rahul to pursue dialogue instead of road blockades, warning that closures during the Dussehra-Diwali and wedding season could hurt small businesses. “The Navratri festival is currently underway. Traders from areas surrounding Delhi usually come to the city to purchase stock for the Diwali season; however, due to the commotion you have stirred up, people have stopped visiting Delhi,” Prakash Purgal, representing the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchant Association, also urged Rahul to ensure that protests did not lead to road blockades during the festive season. He said Dussehra, Diwali and the wedding season were crucial for traders, who had begun to see a recovery after a prolonged period of business difficulties. Warning that road blockades could force small traders to shut their shops, Purgal called for disputes to be resolved through dialogue. “Please consider this carefully: whatever issues need to be discussed should be addressed through dialogue, rather than by blocking roads and spoiling the festive spirit of Dussehra and Diwali,” he said. Several trade bodies from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Kerala submitted representations on October 12 and 13, seeking steps to ensure that protests do not obstruct commercial activity during the festive season. The traders’ appeal comes amid an intensifying INDIA bloc campaign against the Election Commission’s functioning under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition has demanded Kumar’s resignation, scrapping of the SIR exercise and restoration of deleted voter names, alleging irregularities in the revision process. It has also called for a return to ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs), restoration of pre-SIR electoral rolls for future elections and an effective appeals mechanism for voters excluded from the rolls. The bloc has pursued protests and legal action as part of its wider “Save Democracy” campaign. 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