Rahul to kick off Cong campaign with Barnala rally
Bathinda: Aiming to kick-start the campaigning for the next assembly elections in Punjab, the Congress Party has decided to organise a massive rally to be addressed by leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at Barnala on Feb 28. The party on Thursday started preparations for the rally to be held in the grain market of Barnala. Former MLA Hardyal Singh Kamboj has been appointed as in charge of district Barnala for the rally and to coordinate with party leaders along with Barnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhillon. The party has been instructed not to leave anything to chance to make this rally a success so that the election campaigning is started in a big manner, said sources in the party. The three assembly segments in Barnala district, Barnala, Bhadaur and Megha; Kalan have been asked to gear up and organise elaborate meeting by February 21 and apprise about the outcome of the meeting to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, the sane evening for more efforts to be made to ensure a big gathering for the rally. PPCC general secretary (organisation) Capt Sandeep Singh Sandhu (retd) said, “The party leaders have been assigned duties for the smooth conduct of the rally at Barnala on Feb 28.” The Congress is making all out efforts to put a narrative against the central as well as state government and to make people believe that the Congress is the viable alternative in Punjab, the party sources said, adding the biggest issue before the party high command is to ensure all the leaders are on the same page, leaving behind the vertical factionalism. The Aam Aadmi Party has already kick-started the campaign by holding a rally at Killi Chahlan in Moga on Feb 16 while BJP is planning to hold a rally to be addressed by Union home minister Amit Shah in early March. 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
Ahmedabad: Dalit youth stabbed, casteist slurs uttered; case filed against 6 people
A minor dispute at a paan shop in the Ranip area led to a bloody clash; police registered an FIR against 6 accused under sections of the SC/ST Act and the BNS. Ahmedabad: A minor dispute turned violent late Saturday night in the Ranip area of the city. A 25-year-old Dalit youth was stabbed in the neck and seriously injured. Following the incident, the victim filed a complaint at the Ranip police station on Sunday. What is the entire matter? The victim has been identified as Sahil Vaghela, a resident of Purushottam Nagar opposite Pink City in Ranip, and works at a private company. In his statement to the police at the Civil Hospital, Sahil stated that the incident occurred around 10:30 pm on Saturday night. He had gone to a paan shop near Bakra Mandi when he encountered Shravan Thakor, Harshit Thakor, and four others. Casteist Slurs and Stabbing It is alleged that these men began questioning Sahil about a past incident in his society. The accused immediately began abusing him. Sahil alleges that he was insulted with casteist slurs and assaulted. During the scuffle, the main accused, Shravan, allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked Sahil. The knife wound struck the left side of his neck. Accused absconding, victim out of danger Seeing blood flowing from his neck, Sahil raised an alarm, which frightened all the attackers and they fled the scene. The injured Sahil immediately called his friends and a relative. He was then taken to the Civil Hospital by 108 ambulance. After being treated by doctors, he was discharged from the hospital and is currently reported to be out of danger. Police Action Given the seriousness of the case, the Ranip police have registered an FIR against six accused. Police have registered a case under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace. The accused have also been charged under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Not every insult to a member of the SC/ST community is an atrocity: Understand this important Calcutta High Court decision
The court also clarified that it is not enough for the accused to know the caste of the victim. A crime is committed when the insult is committed “on the ground or by reason of the person being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.” Kolkata—In a landmark judgment delivered on February 11, the Calcutta High Court clarified that every insult or threat directed at a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) is not automatically considered a crime under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. A single bench of Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), while hearing a criminal revisional application in the case of Moumita Bhattacharya v. State of West Bengal, quashed the entire proceedings at the Amherst Street Police Station, including the charge sheet filed therein. The case relates to a professional dispute in the Sanskrit Department. The complainant, who belongs to the SC community and joined as an Assistant Professor on November 14, 2018, alleged that Moumita Bhattacharya, as Head of the Department, humiliated him on the basis of caste, mentally harassed him, and harmed his career. The allegations included not inviting the complainant to departmental meetings, withholding meeting resolutions, stopping undergraduate classes, preventing him from conducting examination/evaluation duties, conspiring with students, and using abusive language in online meetings. The complaint was filed on December 4, 2021. Following an investigation, a charge sheet was filed on April 10, 2022, and the Special Court took cognizance. Petitioner Moumita Bhattacharya filed a petition under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashing of the proceedings. Citing his qualifications, he stated that he holds a PhD in Sanskrit from Visva Bharati University, a post-doctoral fellowship, passed SLET, and has held editorial positions in various journals, and stated that the allegations are false, motivated by vengeance, and lack the essential elements of an offence under the SC/ST Act. The Court, citing several Supreme Court judgments (Sajan Skaria v. State of Kerala, Hitesh Verma v. State of Uttarakhand, Swaran Singh v. State, etc.), clarified the essential elements of Section 3(1)(r). The Court stated: “The basic elements of an offence under Section 3(1)(r) are as follows: The accused must not be a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe. The accused must intentionally insult or intimidate a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe. Such insult or intimidation must be with the intent to humiliate that person. And such insult or intimidation must occur in a public place or in public view.” The court further made an important observation: “Not every intentional insult or threat directed at a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe will constitute caste-based humiliation. This is only the case if the insult or threat is due to the prevalent practice of untouchability or to reinforce notions such as the historical superiority of upper castes over lower castes/untouchables, or the notions of purity and impurity.” The court also clarified that it is not enough for the accused to know the victim’s caste. The offense is made out when the insult is inflicted “on the ground or by reason of the person being a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.” The complaint mentioned a specific incident where the complainant was referred to as “Adarsh Sir” in an online meeting. The court made a strong comment on this: “‘Adarsh’ means ideal, and ‘Sir’ is a respectful address. This court is at a loss to understand how calling someone ‘Adarsh Sir’ can be derogatory, even if done sarcastically. This cannot, in any case, constitute an offense under the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989.” Applying the principles of State of Haryana vs. Bhajan Lal, the court held that even if the allegations in the FIR are accepted as completely true, they do not constitute an offense. The proceedings appear to be motivated by personal enmity and revenge. Therefore, it is appropriate to quash them under Section 482 CrPC. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Kerala: Dalit priest resigns, upset over caste discrimination and threats, says ‘a conspiracy was hatched to steal’
‘An attempt was made to prove me a thief by removing the idol’s original ornaments’ – Fed up with caste discrimination and threats, a 23-year-old Dalit priest in Kerala has resigned from his job. Ernakulam (Kerala): A shocking incident has emerged from Alangad in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. A Dalit priest has resigned from his post, accusing the CPI(M)-backed Devaswom Employees Confederation of caste discrimination, threats, and fabricated complaints. The young priest, P.R. Vishnu, claims that when he refused to participate in certain unfair practices and wrongdoings, retaliatory action was initiated against him, making it impossible for him to continue working at the temple. Conspiracies began just months after joining the job 23-year-old Vishnu was serving as a part-time priest at the Malikampeedika Vathurakkavu Temple in Alangad. He had been appointed to this position approximately four months earlier after being selected by the Travancore Devaswom Recruitment Board (TDB) based on a written examination and interview. However, within a few months of his appointment, the temple administration began receiving false complaints in his name from fake addresses. Love for Sanatana Dharma and Attempt to Prove Him a ‘Thief’ Due to his deep faith in Sanatana Dharma, Vishnu underwent rigorous training in Tantric rituals and chose this profession. Recounting a horrific plot against him, he said: “Every effort was made to frame me as a thief. I was shocked to see that the real gold ornaments on the idol had been replaced with fake ones. I became suspicious and immediately called a goldsmith to have the ornaments checked. This way, I narrowly escaped being falsely accused of theft.” Family also being targeted Vishnu’s father, P.K. Ramesan, is a daily wage laborer, and his mother, Soumya Ramesan, is a homemaker. The priest alleges that his family is also being deliberately harassed. Vishnu revealed that he had filed a police complaint against a local man, and he is facing intense pressure from various quarters to withdraw it. What’s the future? Regarding the recent developments, Vishnu said that he received a call from the TDB Chairman’s office on Wednesday, and Crime Branch officials have recorded his statement. He has clearly told officials that if strict action is taken against those responsible for insulting him, he may reconsider his resignation. Devaswom Employees Confederation’s clarification Amidst this controversy, Devaswom Employees Confederation State President Prajit Kumar has given his side of the story. He said, “Our organization will not allow anyone to discriminate against our priests on the basis of caste, as they are directly selected by the TDB Commissioner. We will definitely take action against the TDB employees who insulted Vishnu.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
UP: 15-year-old Dalit gang-raped by two youths, minor at hotel
The accused had abandpned her under a bridge after committing the crime. Banda: A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped at a hotel in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district by two youths and a minor, who then abandoned her under a bridge, police said on Thursday, February 19. The two youths involved in the crime were arrested, and the juvenile was apprehended on Wednesday, February 18, they said. According to Atarra Circle Officer Praveen Yadav, the arrested have been identified as Mahesh Kushwaha (18), Shakti Singh (19), and a 15-year-old boy, all residents of Girwan village. Victim forced to inhale intoxicant, then taken to hotel He said the incident took place around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, February 17. The complaint filed by the girl’s father stated that his daughter had gone to the market in Atarra town with a friend, when the three accused on a motorcycle made her inhale some intoxicant. They took the semi-conscious teenager to a hotel on Station Road, committed the crime, and then abandoned her under the Ken Canal bridge before fleeing, CO Yadav said. A case was registered on Wednesday, and all the accused were held, the CO said. He added that one of the arrested accused was a former acquaintance of the victim. Posted by Khadija Irfan Rahim Courtesy : Scroll Note: This news is originally published on https:/scroll.in/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Who was Robert Dorgan? All about the transgender suspect in the Pawtucket Dennis M. Lynch Arena hockey shooting
Robert Dorgan was a 56-year-old transgender person from Rhode Island who was also known as Roberta Esposito. Police claims he was the suspect in a deadly shooting during a high school hockey game in Pawtucket. The incident happened at Dennis M. Lynch Arena and left three people dead, including Dorgan. Three others were hurt and are in critical condition. According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, Dorgan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials described the shooting as targeted. One of the people who died was his son. Robert Dorgan worked for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. After the shooting, company spokesperson David Hench said in a statement, “Robert Dorgan was an active employee with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and all those affected by this tragedy. Any further questions should be directed to law enforcement.” Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves identifies Robert Dorgan in targeted Rhode Island hockey arena shooting Police publicly identified Robert Dorgan during a Monday night press conference. Chief Tina Goncalves said the shooting took place during a youth hockey game that involved cooperative high school teams. She explained that three people, including Dorgan, died, and three others were taken to the hospital in critical condition. WJAR reported that Dorgan was the father of a senior from North Providence High School who was playing in the game. The station also reported that one of the deceased victims was his son. Authorities have not released the names or ages of the victims yes. Chief Goncalves said early information suggests the violence came from a family dispute. She also mentioned that one person involved was described as a “family friend,” but did not clarify whether that person was among the dead or injured. Court records show that Dorgan’s ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, filed for divorce in 2020. The divorce was finalized in June 2021. The couple had at least three children. During the divorce process, records listed that Dorgan had been living in Jacksonville, Florida, and working as a truck driver. After the shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena, one adult daughter spoke to media outlets and said her father had struggled with mental health issues for many years. Another adult child was reported among those shot, though officials have not confirmed identities. The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to gather evidence and speak with witnesses. 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
Harish calls Telangana cabinet ‘review’ in Delhi humiliating
Hyderabad: Taking strong objection to the Congress leadership summoning the Telangana cabinet to Delhi for a ‘review’, which he said was against the democratic spirit and hurt the ‘self-respect of Telangana’, senior BRS leader Harish Rao said the state was formed after immense sacrifices for self-rule and political dignity, and today it is being made to bow before a “Delhi durbar”, which is deeply humiliating for the state. He questioned whether the people of Telangana voted for an independent govt or for a govt that functions under remote control from Delhi. In an open letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, Harish criticised the Congress leadership for what he termed a “collapse of governance and betrayal of promises” in Telangana. He reminded the Congress leadership of the promises made during the elections and pointed out that, despite assurances that the guarantees would be implemented within 100 days, more than two-and-a-half years have passed without fulfilment. He demanded that the Congress leadership direct chief minister A Revanth Reddy to honour these commitments at least in the remaining tenure. “Congress promised legal backing for the six guarantees in the very first assembly session, but the bill failed to move forward, eroding public trust. The Congress should begin its review by apologising to the people for betraying their faith,” the BRS leader said. Referring to Sonia Gandhi’s personal assurance through bond papers for the implementation of the guarantees, Harish said those guarantees now lost all credibility due to the CM’s failure to deliver, making the bond papers meaningless in the eyes of the people. Harish added that the Congress made over ‘420 promises’, most of which remain unfulfilled. He alleged that farmers are suffering even due to poor fertiliser supply, exposing the govt’s administrative failure. He accused the chief minister of prioritising frequent visits to Delhi while neglecting governance in the state, suppressing dissenting voices, and resorting to abusive and vulgar language in public discourse. He said such conduct brought disrepute to Telangana’s political culture. Harish Rao demanded clear directions to the chief minister for the immediate implementation of the six guarantees and action on alleged scams. 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
Cong eyes reclaiming ground in Manipur: Venogopal Rao in Churachandpur
Churachandpur: With plans to reclaim Manipur, Venogopal Rao, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (SSA), visited Churachandpur on Wednesday to spearhead organisational reforms. Rao said the initiative follows directives from AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, who have called for a renewed push to rebuild the party’s base across the northeast. Explaining the policy, Rao said: “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan is a reformative initiative of the AICC to select district Congress presidents at district headquarters, involving all blocks, stakeholders, party leaders, and cadres, with individual consultation in a transparent way. Reorganisation will take place at the district level in an unbiased and fair manner as directed by the high command.” He stressed that Congress is regaining momentum nationwide. “Congress is gaining ground and has started reclaiming seats across India, as seen in Telangana,” he said. On Manipur, Rao said, “Congress has not lost followers or leaders here. Instead, their numbers are increasing. With their support, we will remove the misrule of the present government in Manipur.” He said, “Congress will not sink. It will bounce back and return to power across the country, state by state.” Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rao said, “From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, the Yatra evoked tremendous response from the people.” Highlighting the party’s social commitment, he added, “Congress is dedicated to the welfare of the downtrodden, SCs, STs, minorities, and women.” Pointing to Telangana’s changing mood, he remarked: “In my state, people once mocked Congress, asking ‘kaha hai Congress?’ But now they know the reality.” Rao was accompanied by Christopher Tilak, secretary in charge of northeast, and two observers from the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). They were warmly received by the Churachandpur District Congress Committee (DCC). A meeting led by DCC president T Chawngbiak discussed reorganisation policies and strategies in detail. 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
‘Far too much younger’: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar explains why he is not a ‘Rahulian’
NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday doubled down on his recent remarks in which he described himself as a “Gandhian”, a “Nehruvian” and a “Rajivian”, but not a “Rahulian”. The sidelined leader said that he is not a “Rahulian” because Rahul Gandhi is “far too much younger” than him and “far too distant” in his political life. Speaking to PTI, Aiyar said, “I recently said that ‘I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian’.” Explaining why he described himself as a “Gandhian”, Aiyar said, “I was six-year-old and my brother was four when Mahatma Gandhi picked us up in his arms and said ‘ye mere aankhon ke suraj aur chand hain’.” “From there, I became a ‘Gandhivaadi’.” On his identification with India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, he said, “As for Nehru, I was six when he became the prime minister, and I was 23 when he ceased being one, so my entire growing-up years were steeped in the Nehruvian ethos; that is why I also regard myself as a Nehruvian.” Aiyar said he considers himself a “Rajivian” because of his association with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. “I call myself a Rajivian because it was he, although two years younger than me, who astonished me by bringing me into the PMO and by doing the things he did… I could not believe it. That is how I became a Rajivian,” he said. He also clarified that he did not describe himself as an “Indiravian” as he “totally disapproved” of Indira Gandhi “converting our democracy into a tyranny by declaring an Emergency, albeit for only 18 months”. Referring to his comment on Rahul Gandhi, Aiyar said, “How can one expect me to be a ‘Rahulian’ when the boy is about 30 years younger than me, and I haven’t had an opportunity to work with him? That is why I cannot be a ‘Rahulian’ because he is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life.” The remarks come amid strained ties between Aiyar and the Congress leadership. The controversy began after he praised the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala and expressed confidence that the chief minister would continue in office. Speaking at an international seminar in Thiruvananthapuram, Aiyar had said, “So, in the presence of the chief minister, who I am sure will be the next chief minister, I renew my plea that to reinforce Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country, state laws should be amended based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac’s insights, the five-volume report I chaired and the note on district planning by V Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission when it truly supported Panchayati Raj.” The Congress distanced itself from his remarks. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said that Aiyar “has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years” and that he speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the people of Kerala would bring the Congress-led United Democratic Front back to power 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
No discussion at present on appointing Dalit CM: HM
Mangaluru: Home minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said there is no discussion at present on appointing a Dalit chief minister. He told reporters on Tuesday, that the govt is currently concentrating on governance and preparing the state budget. Responding to minister HC Mahadevappa’s remarks advocating for a Dalit chief minister, Parameshwara said that Mahadevappa expressed his personal opinion on the issue. “Mahadevappa is a capable leader and can handle any responsibility given to him. That is why he made the statement. In a democratic society, individuals express their views and choose their leaders. There is nothing wrong in that. However, the Congress has a high command, and it will take the final decision on such matters. It is not enough if a few people raise slogans in my favour. The high command will consider all aspects before arriving at a decision. At present, there is no such discussion on a Dalit chief minister,” he added. Reacting to the stone-pelting incident in Chikkamagaluru, Parameshwara said that action was already initiated. “Police will proceed in accordance with the law. It was reported that the woman in the house belongs to the Dalit community, and the police will register the case under the relevant legal provisions,” he said. On IT minister Priyank Kharge’s remarks against the RSS, Parameshwara said he was expressing his personal views. “He has his own opinion, and I have mine. Priyank Kharge expressed his views about the RSS. My opinion is not required in this matter,” he said. 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