CPI meet calls for review of SC verdict
Vijayawada: Around-table organised by the CPI state committee here on Tuesday demanded that Dalit Christians be recognised as Scheduled Castes and called for a review of the recent Supreme Court verdict denying them SC status. The meeting, held at Dasari Bhavan under the chairmanship of CPI state secretary G Eswaraiah, brought together leaders from Left parties, Congress, and various Dalit, labour, women, youth, student, minority and Christian organisations. Speakers expressed concern over what they termed as growing ideological influence on institutions, alleging that such trends were impacting policy decisions and judicial pronouncements. Moving a resolution, Eswaraiah said the Supreme Court’s March 24 judgment reiterated that SC status does not extend to Dalit Christians. He stressed that Paragraph 3 of the 1950 Presidential Order must be removed to enable their inclusion and noted that several petitions on the issue are pending before the apex court.Despite religious conversion, Dalits continue to face social and economic discrimination, he said, adding that denial of SC status deprives Dalit Christians of reservations in education and employment, as well as protections under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He also stated that the judgment violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and urged the Centre to seek a review before a full bench of the Supreme Court. AP Congress president YS Sharmila criticised the verdict, stating that it goes against the spirit of the Constitution and fails to adequately consider Articles 14, 15, and 25. She pointed out that the social and economic conditions of Dalits do not change even after religious conversion, making the denial of SC status unjust. She termed it discriminatory that conversion does not affect other castes in the same manner and warned that injustice to nearly 80 lakh Dalit Christians in the state would amount to a serious social concern. Former Union Minister JD Seelam said efforts were made during the Congress regime to address the issue, but remained incomplete due to the government’s tenure ending. CPI national secretary K Ramakrishna said caste discrimination persists from birth to death and cannot be eliminated through religious conversion. He demanded a nationwide caste census and questioned why Dalit Christians should be denied SC reservations when discrimination continues. CPM state secretary V Srinivasa Rao said the Supreme Court verdict is not justified, explaining that caste is a social construct and does not change with religion. He suggested that the issue be examined by a Constitutional bench. YSRCP state spokesperson and former MLC Jupudi Prabhakar Rao recalled Dr B R Ambedkar’s view that the State has no religion and said the verdict would cause irreparable loss to Dalit Christians.The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to seek a review of the judgment and called upon the Andhra Pradesh Assembly to pass a similar resolution. 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
Dalit History Month | Students Complete All Formalities, Yet Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University Denies Permission to Screen ‘Ulgulan’!
Despite the completion of all formalities, students have yet to receive permission to use the auditorium for this event, which is scheduled for April 3. The students are disheartened regarding the screening of the film on Birsa Munda. Wardha — The screening of the feature film *Ulgulan: Ek Kranti* (Ulgulan: A Revolution)—based on the life of freedom fighter Birsa Munda and organized by students from Jharkhand at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University—has stalled due to administrative confusion and the bureaucratic shuffling of files from one department to another. Despite having completed all necessary formalities, the students have not yet received permission to use the auditorium for this event, which is scheduled for April 3. Rahul Kumar, a resident of Jharkhand’s Garhwa district and a student in the Department of Mass Communication, told *The Mooknayak* that on March 20, he submitted a formal application to the university administration seeking permission to screen the film at the Ghalib Auditorium, located within the Tulsi Bhawan complex. According to the regulations established by the university, it is mandatory to submit such applications at least 10 days prior to the scheduled event—a requirement the student duly fulfilled. The application was forwarded by the Head of the Department, Dr. Sandeep Kumar Verma. On the very same day, the Dean of Student Welfare, Dr. Awadhesh Kumar Shukla, also approved the application and forwarded it to the Registrar, Qader Nawaz Khan. A situation of administrative delay and uncertainty continues to prevail at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University regarding the screening of the feature film *Ulgulan: Ek Kranti*—based on the life of freedom fighter Birsa Munda—which is being organized by students hailing from Jharkhand. Subsequently, on March 23, the file reached the Registrar’s office; however, from there, it was sent back to the office of the Dean of Student Welfare. The file was then forwarded to the Cultural Committee, where the review and certification of the film were completed by March 26. Despite the completion of all necessary formalities, the students have not yet been granted final permission. The administration has now deferred the matter to a meeting scheduled for April 1, a delay that has left the students feeling deeply disappointed. University Regulations Regarding Programs With a view to ensuring that the various programs organized by students are conducted in a systematic, disciplined, and orderly manner—and in alignment with the objectives of the University—the following set of regulations has been established. According to a circular issued by the Registrar, Kader Nawaz Khan, on January 19, 2026: The program must be academic in nature and consistent with the objectives of the University. Applications related to a program must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office at least 10 (ten) days prior to the scheduled date of the program. With the exception of special occasions—such as the birth or death anniversaries of eminent personalities—programs shall be organized exclusively on working days. Applications must be forwarded through the respective Head of the Department. The organization of the program must be conducted under the supervision of the concerned Head of the Department or a committee of faculty members nominated by them. Permission shall not be granted for any student-organized program on days when a program is being organized by the University itself. It is mandatory to attach the subject matter and detailed description of the program along with the application. The application form must be accompanied by a list containing the names of at least 10 students (or, in departments with fewer than 10 students, the names of all enrolled students), along with their department names, mobile numbers, and email addresses. Additionally, the name of the hostel and the respective room numbers must be specified. The resources available within the auditorium must be utilized responsibly. In the event of any damage, the cost of repairs or replacement must be borne by the program coordinator or the organizing team of research scholars/students. Pasting posters, banners, or similar materials on the walls within the University campus is strictly prohibited. The auditorium shall be allocated exclusively to the specific organizing team that applied for it; this allocation is non-transferable and cannot be altered. Posters and banners may be displayed only at the specific venue of the program and at locations designated by the University. The display of posters and banners at any location other than those designated is prohibited. The organizing team must submit an Undertaking (Declaration of Compliance) regarding adherence to the regulations governing the event, forwarded through their respective Head of the Department. 13. The duration of the program shall not exceed two hours, and permission for the program shall be valid until 9:00 PM. Apart from the auditorium and the resources currently available, the university will not provide any additional resources. The organizers themselves must make arrangements for these. Students state that for the past 10 days, they have been continuously making rounds of various offices seeking permission to use an auditorium, yet they have received no clear response. Student Rahul Kumar remarks, “We submitted our application on March 20. The regulations stipulate that permission should be granted within 10 days; however, we are facing nothing but stalling tactics. The file is simply being shuffled from one department to another.” The students have also raised the pertinent question: given that the film has already received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification and all administrative formalities have been completed, why is there such a delay in granting permission? They allege that the deliberate shuffling of the file between departments is a calculated attempt to postpone the event. It is noteworthy that this event had already been announced during the screening of another documentary. Consequently, the failure to secure permission at the eleventh hour casts a shadow of doubt over the students’ efforts and has completely sapped their enthusiasm for organizing the event. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
BJP Finalizes Plan to Woo Dalit Vote Bank on Ambedkar Jayanti: Know the Full Strategy
Ahead of the Panchayat and urban local body elections scheduled for this year in the state, the BJP is attempting to make inroads into the Congress party’s traditional Dalit vote bank. Jaipur: The BJP has intensified its preparations for the upcoming Panchayat and urban local body elections in the state. Before entering the electoral fray, the party has now actively begun working towards balancing social equations. In this context, the BJP has devised a strategy to penetrate the Congress party’s traditional Dalit vote bank, which accounts for 17 percent of the electorate. To achieve this, the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, is being utilized as a primary vehicle. In the politics of Rajasthan, the role of the Dalit—or Scheduled Caste—vote bank is considered pivotal. The Dalit community is estimated to constitute approximately 17 percent of the state’s total population, translating to a numerical strength of around 1.20 crore people. This is precisely why, in every election—whether for the Legislative Assembly, the Lok Sabha, or the Panchayat and local bodies—courting this demographic remains a top priority for political parties. Although this segment has traditionally been considered a Congress stronghold, the BJP has significantly strengthened its grip on this vote bank over the last few years. Dr. Ambedkar remains the most prominent leader of the Dalit community; consequently, the BJP is executing its strategy by placing Ambedkar at the very center of its efforts. On April 14th, the BJP intends to celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti as a grand festival. The party is planning to organize a week-long series of large-scale events to mark the occasion. Through these initiatives, the party aims to expand its outreach within the Dalit community and prominently highlight their issues. Congress Insulted ‘Baba Saheb’: BJP State President Madan Rathore stated that the Congress party has exploited the Dalit community by treating them merely as a traditional vote bank, thereby keeping them deprived of development. He noted that there is now a palpable desire for change within the Dalit community. Keeping this sentiment in mind, the BJP has outlined a series of programs for Ambedkar Jayanti. The party intends to expose the true character of the Congress party before the Dalit community. This year, the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations on April 14th will be observed as a week-long event. Through seminars and discussions focusing on the life and legacy of Dr. Ambedkar, the party will inform the public about how ‘Baba Saheb’ championed the cause of justice during the drafting of the Constitution, and how it is the BJP that has truly accorded him the respect he deserves. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, sites ranging from Ambedkar’s birthplace to his places of education and *Nirvana* (final resting place) have been developed as “Panch Teerth” (Five Pilgrimage Sites). Several historic initiatives, including the observance of Constitution Day, have been undertaken in his honor. Rathore alleged that the Congress party had hindered Ambedkar’s rise. **Special Focus on the Dalit Community** The BJP will conduct a mega public outreach campaign across the state between April 7 and April 14. Party workers will remain active from the booth level right up to the state level. They will engage in door-to-door interactions to publicize government schemes and the party’s ideology. They will strengthen their outreach in every village and settlement. The campaign will focus primarily on rural areas and Dalit settlements. Workers will visit villages to organize “Chaupal” (community gathering) programs. They will engage in direct dialogue with the people to listen to their grievances. They will highlight Ambedkar’s ideas and his contributions to the Constitution. Cleanliness and public awareness programs will be conducted. Cleanliness drives will be organized at public places. Senior party leaders will be felicitated. Seminars and discussion sessions will be held at the *Mandal*, booth, and *Shakti Kendra* levels. BJP leaders will expound upon Ambedkar’s biography and life story. **Read:** Rajasthan Government’s Major Decision: The Gift of the “Panch Teerth Yatra”—Free Travel to Sites Associated with Baba Saheb Ambedkar. **Door-to-Door and Ward-to-Ward Campaigning:** Under this campaign, BJP workers—as explained by the campaign’s convener and State General Secretary, Pintu Saini—will go from village to village and ward to ward to convey Ambedkar’s ideas, his contributions to the Constitution, and the message of social justice to the people. They will conduct dialogues, meetings, and awareness rallies within Dalit settlements. Party leaders have been instructed to establish contact with influential members of society at the local level and apprise them of the party’s policies. The BJP’s strategy is not limited merely to organizing events; rather, changes are also being implemented at the organizational level. Responsibilities are being assigned to party workers belonging to the Dalit community so that they can effectively convey the party’s message within their own communities. Special emphasis will also be placed on ensuring that government schemes and benefits reach the Dalit community. Party MPs, MLAs, and other elected representatives will also join these gatherings and take Ambedkar’s ideas to the masses. Courtesy: Hindi News
Identity on trial: Why India’s new transgender law is facing backlash
‘Cause shade never made anybody less gay’ – Taylor Swift, You Need to Calm Down Last week, two contrasting developments related to the LGBTQ+ community made global headlines. One, in the German city of Munich, Dominik Krause was elected mayor, the first openly gay man to hold a constitutional office in the European country. Second, at the same time Krause was celebrating his victory with his partner and the public, in India, Parliament passed a legislation – The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment bill, 2026 – striking away the statute of self-determination. That translates to taking away the individual’s right to self identification, a Constitutional guarantee, and liberty over one’s own body. Cause shade never made anybody less gay (X) On Monday, March 30, President Droupadi Murmu assented to the bill, making the proposed legislation the law and bringing it into effect. Ironically, the ‘rights’ of the very community it claims to ‘protect’ have since risen in protest, taking to the streets to vociferously and legally push back against the proposed propositions challenging it. Not just that, the passage of the controversial bill itself created a massive uproar in both Houses of Parliament. In Lok Sabha, it was taken up March 24, stopping the discussion on the Finance bill midway with Union Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju insisting the bill needed to be passed the very day. And it did, with a voice vote amidst the din in the House, opposition walking out and an exhaustive two-minute-long reply by the concerned minister for social justice and empowerment Virendra Kumar. — Drvirendrakum13 (@Drvirendrakum13) The story was no different the next day in the Upper House, the proposed legislation passed while the opposition demanded that it be sent to the select committee. Fauzia Khan in Parliament Speaking on bill, NCP(SP) MP Fauzia Khan said “Viksit Bharat slogan shouldn’t be about ‘selective’ Bharat.” Replying to which Kumar argued, every person’s emancipation and empowerment, asserting that the amendment will ensure that transgender persons continue to get legal recognition and protection. But, with a caveat, that a ‘magistrate’ and a ‘medical board’ would somehow determine if you are a trans person and qualify for rights, and that they would be protected. — DrFauziaKhanNCP (@DrFauziaKhanNCP) Anish Gwande, LGBTQ+ rights activist and national spokesperson of NCP(SP), also first openly gay person to hold such office for a major political party in India, speaking to TOI described the bill as “illegal, unconstitutional and illogical” adding “it is unfortunate that the bill was passed by both houses of Parliament without any substantive discussion within 24 hours.” He went on to question the timing of the bill, “It is bizarre to see governments focus on amendments to the trans bill, instead of war in West Asia, on LPG crisis in the country, on the depreciating Rupee.” The gender question For many the world exists in two colours – ‘black and white’, but it still leaves a population embracing the ‘greys’. The greys believe in facets of being agathokakological – the in-between areas, complexity, nuance, mixed feelings, or situations that aren’t purely one thing. A concept alien to the binaries. Similarly, what and how an individual feels about their ‘own’ body, nobody else can understand or tell but that particular individual. To understand this, it becomes essential to distinguish between sex and gender, terms often used interchangeably but conceptually distinct. Protest against Transgender Persons bill (PTI) Biological sex typically refers to physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive anatomy, usually categorised as male or female. Gender, however, is understood in scholarly literature as a social and psychological construct that encompasses identity, roles, expressions, and lived experience. As philosopher Judith Butler argues, gender is not something one simply is, but something one does – a continuous process shaped by social norms and personal agency. Similarly, the World Health Organization defines gender as the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed, including norms, behaviours, and roles associated with being a particular gender. This understanding moves beyond rigid binaries and acknowledges that gender exists along a spectrum. The American Psychological Association further recognises gender identity as a deeply felt, inherent sense of being male, female, a blend of both, or neither, an internal experience that may or may not align with the sex assigned at birth. In this context, the idea of the ‘greys’ is not merely poetic but empirically grounded. Contemporary gender studies consistently affirm that human identity resists strict categorisation. What appears as ambiguity to the binary lens is, in fact, a legitimate and lived reality for many. Thus, gender is not a fixed endpoint but an evolving narrative, one that is deeply personal, socially mediated, and often negotiated within structures that struggle to accommodate its fluidity. The Transgender persons (protection of rights) amendments Act 2026 What the Act entails The legislation introduces changes across four key areas: Definition of transgender persons Process of identity certification Offences and penalties Composition and functioning of institutional bodies The government’s Statement of Objects and Reasons argues that the earlier definition was “vague” and made it difficult to identify “genuine oppressed persons.” It further clarifies that protections should not extend to “self-perceived identity” or what it terms “acquirable characteristics.” 2019 Act vs 2026 Amendment This framing signals a shift in legislative intent, from recognising identity as self-determined to one that is externally verified. Key changes in the provisions A narrower definition The Act replaces the broader 2019 definition with a more restrictive one. It identifies transgender persons under two categories: Those belonging to specific socio-cultural groups, such as kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta, or individuals with congenital variations in sexual characteristics, including differences in chromosomes, genitalia, hormones or gonadal development. It also includes a category of persons who have allegedly been compelled, “by force, allurement, inducement, deceit or undue influence, either with or without consent”, to assume or present a transgender identity, reeking of the underlying premise of the Act. Notably, it excludes persons with “self-perceived gender identity” and
As TG bill becomes law, community uncertain about status of 32000 TG certificates issued on basis of ‘self-perceived identity’
NEW DELHI: With the Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 becoming law with President of India Droupadi Murmu’s assent on Monday, all eyes are now on the way forward as the amendments do away with the provisions in the 2019 law that allowed “self-perceived gender identity” to be the basis for self-determination and identification for approval for transgender certificate by the district magistrate. The amended definition of “transgender persons” makes it clear that it will not include persons with “different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities”. A medical board headed by the chief medical officer has been introduced. Going forward the district magistrate will issue a certificate of transgender identity, after examining the recommendation of the medical board cited as “authority” to be constituted by the central or state governments. Moreover, the DM will also have the option to seek assistance from medical experts. While the TG community members are exploring the legal route to challenge the enacted amendments in Court, they wonder what will be the fate of the over 32,000 TG certificates issued so far based on self-perceived identity and those pending approval. Member of the National Council for Transgender Persons Abhina Aher told TOI that the community was planning to take legal recourse as the Bill violates the landmark NALSA judgement of 2014 that affirmed the right to self-determination of transgender persons. A visit to the National Portal for Transgender Persons linked to the website of the ministry of social justice and empowerment shows that the total number of applications received stands at 37362. The portal puts the number of TG certificates issued so far at 32660, and of these, TG identity cards have been issued to 32630 persons. As many as 5833 applicants have not been found eligible, and 4794 applications were pending approval as of Tuesday. In this backdrop, youth like Akash (name changed) are a worried lot. A transman from Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri who is currently in Delhi for coaching as he aspires to sit for the civil services examination, Akash says he is fearful of what lies ahead. “ I got my TG certificate on March 18 but will this certificate stay valid? The amendments don’t even mention transman or transwoman in the definition and take away the right to self-perceived identification. So, what happens to me and others in the same situation? Who will stand up to secure our rights and protect us from exploitation?” Akash asked. The amended definition of “transgender person” lays down that it includes a person having such socio-cultural identities as kinner, hijra, aravani and jogta, or eunuch, or a person with intersex variations specified below or a person who, at birth, has a congenital variation in one or more of the following sex characteristics as compared to male or female development. –primary sexual characteristics –external genitalia –chromosomal patterns –gonadal development –endogenous hormone production or response, or such other medical conditions. The definition also includes “any person or child who has been, by force, allurement, inducement, deceit or undue influence, either with or without consent, compelled to assume, adopt, or outwardly present a transgender identity, by mutilation, emasculation, castration, amputation, or any surgical, chemical, or hormonal procedure or otherwise.” 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
New Bill wants to make us invisible: Kol trans community on Transgender Day of Visibility
Kolkata: As the world celebrated Transgender Day of Visibility (TDV) on Tuesday, the community in Kolkata voiced their concern about the proposed Transgender Amendment Bill 2026. March 31 is observed as TDV worldwide to celebrate accomplishments by transgender people while raising awareness about the discrimination they face. The community anticipates that this bill would push them to invisibility. However, they plan to protest for their rights. The proposed amendment removes the recognition of self-identified gender, which the community argues is a principle affirmed by the SC in the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs. Union of India. The bill introduces a screening committee that could enforce surgical gatekeeping and biomedical surveillance, which the community has strongly opposed. Members of the city’s transgender community and their allies gathered in front of Ranu Chhaya Mancha to voice their protest and demand withdrawal of the bill. Activists argue the legislation, which mandates a medical board’s approval for gender identity certification, fundamentally undermines the right to self-identification, upheld by the landmark NALSA judgment. Santosh Giri, a gender rights activist and transgender (TG) person, said the community is being forced back to the beginning of their struggle. “We will follow what was given to us before after so much hard work,” Giri said. At present, a person can get a TG certificate by applying to the DM. This certificate allows them to change their gender in official documents in addition to giving them access to govt welfare schemes. The new bill requires applications to be scrutinised by a screening or medical committee before approval by the DM. “We thought the BJP govt was sensitive to this community when it started Garima Greh, a shelter home for TGs. Now the amendment bill says a medical board will certify who is TG and who is not. One govt cannot have two opposite policies for the community,” said Ranjita Sinha, a TG and founder director of Association of Transgender and Hijra in Bengal. A panel discussion was held on the amendment bill by Gokhale Road Bandhan on Tuesday. “Our protest is against the systemic erasure of trans and non-binary identities,” said Souvik Ghosh, a gender rights activist. Anurag Maitreyi, an activist, called it an attempt to weaken their collective bargaining power and strength. Rights and mental health worker Debdutta Biswas said, “TG certificates gave us our identity according to the previous bill. According to the new definition, that identity doesn’t exist. Who will decide that — the govt? Self-gender identity is my right.” Lawyer and women’s rights activist Bharati Mutsuddi called the amendment insensitive. 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
LGBTQIA+ community members protest against Transgender Act, term it regressive and demand withdrawal
Pune: Members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday staged a protest march at the district collector’s office against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, which recently came into force after the Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament and receiving Presidential assent on Monday. The protest coincided with International Transgender Visibility Day, observed globally on March 31. Activists and community members from across the city and state gathered with placards, alleging that the Act was passed sans consultation with stakeholders or members of the transgender community. Protesters raised strong objections to several provisions, claiming they violate privacy and roll back hard-earned rights. Disha Shaikh, a transwoman and spokesperson of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), said, “Whatever we achieved through years of struggle has been lost with this Act. It feels like we have been pushed back 30 years.” She termed certain provisions “regressive” and alleged that the law criminalises aspects of identity in a manner reminiscent of colonial-era policies. Under the new Act, the provision for self-identification has been removed, making medical board approval mandatory before issuance of a gender identity certificate by the district magistrate. It also criminalises attempts to forcibly convert individuals into the transgender community. Manasvi Goilkar, a member of the community, said protests will be intensified across Maharashtra. “We have formed a state-level group to organise district-wise protests and submit our objections to authorities,” she said, adding that to fight their battle on legal front, a petition is also being prepared which will soon be filed in the court. “We are not seeking amendments — we want the Act withdrawn entirely.” Goilkar said that the Act completely ignores some categories of the transgender community. For instance, transmen and transwomen are not mentioned in the new Act, and the focus is mostly shifted to sociocultural groups like hijra, kinner and others. Shaikh alleged that safeguards recognised under the 2014 NALSA vs Union of India landmark SC judgment have been diluted. She questioned the alleged partiality against the transgender community by govt. “When schemes like Ladki Bahin or Mahila Samman Yojana were introduced, women were not asked to undergo medical tests. Why is the transgender community being subjected to this?” she asked, stating that self-declaration of gender should be allowed for them. Activists also expressed concern over the provision criminalising forced conversion, stating it could be misused. They fear it may lead to false allegations, including claims of child abduction — a narrative they say has surfaced in rural areas in the past. Dr Kanchan Pawar, a healthcare professional, who has been working with the transgender community for over 15 years, said the new Act raises several concerns. “The law appears discriminatory in many ways, particularly due to its narrow definitions and the lack of clarity on the process for certification,” she said. She also expressed concern over provisions requiring medical practitioners to report gender-affirming procedures. “This raises serious issues around doctor-patient confidentiality and privacy. Many in the medical fraternity are uncertain and anxious about the medico-legal implications of these amendments,” she 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
Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar, Randeep Surjewala slam Centre over soaring prices, LPG shortage
BENGALURU: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar and Congress state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday held a joint press conference at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters, sharply criticising the Centre over soaring prices of essential commodities and alleged rollback of welfare benefits. Shivakumar said citizens are “suffering due to rising prices,” blaming government mistakes and international conflicts for straining households. He highlighted shortages in LPG supply, electricity unreliability, rising firewood dependence, and a Rs 60 hike in cylinder prices. Targeting the Centre’s Ujjwala LPG scheme, he said, “Ujjwala is gone, and they have started the firewood scheme. People now depend on firewood instead of gas. Power and railway fares have also increased.” The deputy CM accused the central government of waging a “price-rise war on ordinary people,” while presenting the Congress-led Karnataka government’s welfare measures as a counter. “Through our five guarantee schemes, we are directly supporting citizens. The Centre blames wars for inflation, but our programmes help people cope with rising costs,” he asserted. Shivakumar alleged the Modi government collected Rs 43 lakh crore in petroleum taxes over 11 years, terming it “brazen loot,” and claimed these funds contributed to high prices. In contrast, he said, Karnataka’s Congress model allocates Rs 1,18,000 crore for direct benefits to citizens. “Two models exist: Karnataka’s guarantees transfer Rs 1,18,000 crore directly to people to protect them from BJP-led inflation, while the Modi government continues to extract taxes and hike prices, looting citizens,” he said. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the rupee’s fall, stock market crash, job losses, and economic hardships, calling PM Modi “compromised” in a social media post. “Rupee: Rs 95 + 100 Stocks: Crashing Economy: Collapsed Jobs: Gone Income: Falling Savings: Wiped out Cylinders: Unavailable. Why? PM Compromised,” Rahul Gandhi wrote, adding that the Prime Minister is “desperate to protect himself and his financial structure, but 140 crore Indians know India’s future has been surrendered.” 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
‘So-called defender of Hinduism says nothing about Sabarimala’: Rahul Gandhi takes dig at PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of selectively raising religious issues and questioning his silence on the alleged Sabarimala gold theft case. Addressing an election rally in Kannur, Kerala, ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, Gandhi said, “When the so-called defender (the PM) of Hinduism comes to Keralam, he says nothing about Sabarimala,” he said. He further alleged inaction over the issue and accused leaders of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of wrongdoing. “How is the BJP supporting the CM (Pinarayi Vijayan)? First, wherever the PM goes, he talks about temples, religion and gods. But when the PM comes to Keralam, he doesn’t raise the issue of the Sabarimala temple. CPM leaders stole gold from the Sabarimala temple, but no action has been taken against them,” Gandhi said. — ANI (@ANI) Gandhi claimed that there was an underlying understanding between the BJP and the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF in Kerala. He alleged that the chief minister was being shielded by the Centre. “Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala. The CM of Kerala knows that Narendra Modi is not acting on his cases; the CM knows that Narendra Modi has the key to putting the CM in jail right now. You will hear Congress attacking Narendra Modi, but you will never hear Kerala CM attacking Modi or Modi attacking Kerala CM,” he said. In another remark, Gandhi jibed at PM Modi. “The way Donald Trump controls Narendra Modi, the same way Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala,” he said while addressing the rally. The Congress leader also claimed that the BJP preferred the LDF to remain in power in the state. “Modi wants LDF to win the Assembly elections in Kerala,” he said. Sharpening his attack on the Left, Gandhi said the CPI(M) had deviated from its ideological roots. “CPI(M) no longer Left party but extreme Right wing party,” he said. He framed the upcoming election as a contest between contrasting ideologies while alleging an unusual alignment between political rivals. “This election is a fight between two ideologies. The ideology of the Left Front CPM, the ideology of the UDF and the Congress party. And for the first time, we are seeing that there is a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front. Normally, this would be quite surprising that a Left party is allying with an extreme right party,” he said. The remarks come amid an intensifying political battle in Kerala, where both the ruling LDF and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) have accused each other of acting as the BJP’s “B-team.” Earlier, Gandhi had alleged that the LDF was “completely supported by BJP” and described the Left government as a “corporate-funded government,” claiming it no longer functioned as a true Left formation. He also suggested that the BJP preferred the LDF in power as it would be easier to influence compared to the Congress-led UDF. On the other hand, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has countered by accusing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of acting as the BJP’s “B-team,” intensifying the war of words ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections in the state. 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
BJP can only win in Kerala with Congress support, says Govindan
Thrissur: CPM state secretary M V Govindan on Tuesday said if at all BJP wins any assembly seat in Kerala, it would be at the expense of Congress. Addressing a news conference in Thrissur, Govindan said BJP had earlier won Nemom assembly seat and Thrissur parliament seat by cutting into Congress vote base. Asked whether CPM foresaw the possibilities of Congress supporting BJP in any constituency, Govindan said this would be known only after the elections. Countering the charges levelled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that CPM leaders were involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case, Govindan alleged that it was AICC general secretary K C Venugopal who first took the controversial figure Unnikrishnan Potti to Sabarimala, when he was the devaswom minister. He also alleged that UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony, MP, had taken Potti and Bellary-based gold dealer Govardhan to the house of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, several times. Rahul must explain the true purpose of those visits, the CPM state secretary said. Govindan claimed that LDF has no alliance with SDPI. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of accepting SDPI votes. “Let Congress first say they will not accept the votes of Jamaat-e-Islami, then we will answer the question as to whether we will accept the votes of SDPI,” CPM secretary said. Meanwhile, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat said Rahul has shot a ‘self-goal’ by raking up Sabarimala issue during his election campaign. Rahul was asking who had stolen gold from Sabarimala, but he should have asked who had taken Potti to Sonia, Brinda told a news conference here. 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