AAP slams Rahul Gandhi’s silence on activist’s arrest, Congress hits back
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party and Congress crossed swords on Saturday, with AAP questioning the silence of Rahul Gandhi over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the stringent NSA and Congress hitting back by saying AAP was on the verge of collapse. In a post on X, AAP said, “India’s renowned social worker and scientist Sonam Wangchuk has been imprisoned by Modi’s dictatorial govt on a false charge of sedition, and the country’s so-called opposition leader has maintained silence on the issue.” The Arvind Kejriwal-headed party further said, “Rahul Gandhi, who asks how many of our aircraft were lost in Operation Sindoor, why is he silent on Sonam Wangchuk now? Is Rahul Gandhi a BJP agent.” Hitting back, Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate said in a post on X, “Arvind Kejriwal ji, your party is on the verge of collapse. Do you know why? Because the foundation of your party was laid by the RSS from behind the scenes. You managed to seize power by levelling fabricated accusations against the Congress, but the very entity that created you has now swallowed you up.” Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday condemned Centre’s “pathetic handling” of the situation and arrest of Wangchuk. He demanded immediate restoration of institutions and democracy in Ladakh, and a judicial inquiry into police firing killing four youths earlier this week. 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
India’s biggest state introduces jobs, housing, and health support for trans people
The government of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has announced a major policy change to support its transgender population. The state’s flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative, known as the CM Yuva scheme, will now include transgender individuals as eligible participants. The expanded program will offer a range of support, including vocational training, access to interest-free loans, housing assistance, healthcare benefits, and pensions. The state is also setting up 100 dedicated welfare centers across its districts to provide skill-building opportunities in areas such as tailoring, digital literacy, culinary work, and beauty services. Each of Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts is also expected to reserve two public sector job positions for transgender individuals. This marks a shift toward greater inclusion in employment and public life. “These steps are about giving dignity and opportunity to those who have been marginalized,” said Asim Arun, the state’s Social Welfare Minister. He emphasized that the government aims to bring transgender individuals into the mainstream through economic empowerment and social support. Transgender participants will also gain access to national welfare programs such as Ayushman Bharat for health coverage, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for housing, and other state-level subsidies and benefits. Officials say efforts are underway to carry out community surveys and awareness campaigns to ensure the program reaches those in need. The CM Yuva scheme was first launched in 2018 to support young entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh. It provides interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh (about USD 6,000) for small business ventures. To date, more than 40,000 people have benefited from the program. The government has allocated ₹1,000 crore (approximately USD 120 million) for the scheme in the 2024–2025 budget. With this new focus on transgender inclusion, the initiative aims to reduce economic inequality and promote broader participation in public life. Officials hope it will also set an example for other Indian states to follow. This development comes amid a growing national conversation about the rights and recognition of transgender people in India, where legal protections have improved but access to social and economic opportunities remains limited. Korina Estrada Courtesy : Transgenderfeed Note: This news is originally published on https:/transgenderfeed.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Transgender doctor wins legal recognition case in India
Dr. Beoncy Laishram, known as the first openly transgender doctor from Northeast India, has won a major court case that allows her academic and medical certificates to finally match her identity. The Manipur High Court ruled in August that her school boards, university, and the state medical council must update her documents with her female name and gender. This means her records will now reflect the same identity already shown on her official IDs, like her Aadhaar and voter card. Dr. Laishram began her gender affirmation journey in 2019, but until now, many institutions refused to change her certificates. Without this recognition, she faced challenges in her professional life and personal dignity. The court said the order is about protecting the rights of transgender people and making sure they have documents that match who they are. Supporters believe this case will set an example for others across the region who are still struggling to update their records. Dr. Laishram first gained attention in 2020 for her role as a frontline doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates say this ruling will make it easier for her to work without barriers caused by outdated paperwork. Legal experts also note that this decision could influence schools, universities, and professional bodies across India to make their systems more inclusive. For now, the ruling is seen as an important step toward equality for transgender professionals in the country. Korina Estrada Courtesy : Transgenderfeed Note: This news is originally published on https:/transgenderfeed.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Transgender community leader drugged, robbed of over 25L goods
Kanpur: Head of a transgender community accused a fellow transgender of robbing him of cash and jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh, including other valuables after sedating them with tea mixed with drugs in Sanigwan area, under the limits of Chakeri police station. The victim filed a complaint at Chakeri police station. CCTV footage from outside the house shows the accused leaving with several bags. The police have initiated an investigation in this regard. The victim, a resident of KR Puram, Sanigwan, informed the police that she lives with her group. A transgender person from Muzaffarpur visited her often. “On the morning of Sept 21, the accused visited along with two companions. On Wednesday night, around 10pm, the accused mixed a drug into the tea and served it to everyone. All the house occupants lost consciousness, after which the accused decamped with goods worth Rs 25 lakh. The theft was discovered the next day when everyone regained consciousness,” the victim said. Police have lodged an FIR in the case. Station house officer (SHO) Santosh Kumar Shukla stated that an investigation is underway. “Further action will be taken on the basis of evidence and other necessary findings,” said the SHO. tnn 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
‘Upper-caste community occupied my grandfather’s land,’ says Niranjan Arya:Former CS reveals Dalit land encroachment and workplace bias, sparking social media debate
Former Chief Secretary (CS) Niranjan Arya had raised the issue of discrimination against Dalits and the encroachment on their lands. He said – unity is only shown in speeches and books. This discrimination can also be seen in the workplace. Which file will be given to whom, who will be in which seat, which post should be given to whom, who should be seated in which interview? All this is discrimination. Arya had said this at the conference of the Scheduled Caste Employees Association in Jaipur on September 21. A debate has started on social media. Former Chief Secretary said- My village is in Pali district, named Raas. There, the upper-caste community has occupied my grandfather’s land for the past 40 years. I have been trying for the past year, but the occupation cannot be vacated. This is after I served as an IAS officer and Chief Secretary. Upper caste occupied land, unable to get it vacated Former Chief Secretary Niranjan Arya himself comes from the Dalit community. Arya said at the Ajak conference, “When I went to the village recently, someone told me that this land is yours.” I asked – “How is it mine?” Then he told me that these people have been occupying it since your grandfather’s time. They might have borrowed 50-100 rupees. That land is still under their occupation. I was a Collector in five districts, but this matter never came to my attention. Arya said- We are being told that cleaning is your job, then why is the municipal corporation giving cleaning contracts to companies? Our people are doing the cleaning, but someone else is the owner. We don’t have money or entrepreneurship. Others have taken over our business, and we have been reduced to laborers. Sharing his own story, he said, the lawyer’s behavior changed Arya shared an experience and said- After retiring as Chief Secretary, I went to a lawyer for a case. The lawyer belonged to a high community. Since I had retired, half my value was already diminished. When I went the first day, the lawyer offered tea. He entertained me with savories and biscuits. He even came out to see me off. When I went the second time, the lawyer casually asked what my rank was in the IAS. I said, ‘What does that have to do with my case? I have retired, haven’t I?’ Still, I said, let me clear your misunderstanding, my rank was 380. It was because of Ambedkar that I became an IAS. After this, there was a day and night difference in the lawyer’s behavior. When I left after that, they didn’t even come to see me off. Debate on social media After this video of former Chief Secretary Niranjan Arya, a debate has started on social media. One side is arguing in favor and the other against. Some users are raising questions about not being able to get the encroachment removed from their own land despite being the Chief Secretary. Some users have linked it to caste discrimination. Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accuses Karnataka government of ‘diverting’ funds meant for Dalit welfare
The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Congress government of “hoodwinking” Dalits by diverting funds meant for their welfare to other works, including the functioning of the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the government had earmarked ₹42,000 crore for Dalits’ welfare under Scheduled Castes Sub-Allocation & Tribal-Sub Allocation Act that mandates earmarking funds for the welfare of SC/ST communities in proportion to their population. Of this, ₹21,000 had been diverted to all the departments for taking up various works. Of the remaining ₹21,000 crore, a sum of ₹ 14,000 crore had been diverted to fund guarantee schemes, he alleged. “The remaining amount of ₹7,000 crore has been given to the Social Welfare Department, which had used this for various purposes including organising the International Democracy Day and Constitution Day. These funds have been used even for the functioning of Nagamohan Das Commission that looked into internal reservation among SCs,” he alleged. Much against the claims of the government of providing huge funds for the welfare of Dalits, there were several lapses in providing benefits to Dalit beneficiaries, he alleged. Citing an example, he said earlier, the government used to directly pay the school and college fees of Dalit students. But now, the students were expected to pay their fees and get a reimbursement from the government later, he said. 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
The message of a new Dalit party: Preparing to chart a new political course through education and foreign opportunities
The Dalit Quit India Party is being seen as a symbol of a new political and social direction emerging from education, the support of Indian diaspora, and global opportunities. Dalits want more. Even if they cannot find it in India, they may go to other countries to seek it. This is the message of the Dalit Quit India Party (DQIP), founded by intellectual and Dalit thinker Chandra Bhan Prasad. Although not yet registered as a political party, this group appears to be becoming a force in shaping the direction of Dalit thought. Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s core mantra for Dalits was education. In essence, he advised Dalits to “be educated, organize, fight,” and have self-confidence. Ambedkar was the first untouchable in India to obtain a PhD and study abroad. This is entirely thanks to a scholarship from the Maharaja of Baroda, which allowed him to pursue a law degree and a PhD from Columbia University and the London School of Economics (LSE). Prasad’s initial inspiration came from the farmers’ movement and he also received support from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). He says that the days when Dalit children were satisfied with a degree from a typical Indian university are over. Now, they must be ambitious and self-confident. Dalits must send their children abroad to study, not just at ordinary universities, but at prestigious institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and the London School of Economics. Children should also be fluent in English and develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), aiming to become faculty members at foreign universities. Their ambitions should be limitless. Prasad’s theoretical basis for this belief is that Dalits lack an elite and, as a result, have no social regulator or agency. Kanshi Ram’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) possessed this potential. However, Kanshi Ram shifted the movement from Ambedkar to Periyar, focusing on the plight of Dalits, even though he himself lived in poverty and deprivation, in order to resonate with his followers. In many parts of India, his BAMCEF devolved into a personality-centered organization of blind followers. Consequently, when someone left the organization, it disintegrated. The final blow was the shift from Bahujan to Sarvajan, which led to the rise of aggressive leaders like Chandrashekhar Azad and his Bhim Army. Prasad also believes that simply acquiring an academic degree from abroad will not suffice, and it is not a solution, as discrimination exists everywhere. According to a 2016 survey of 1,200 individuals of South Asian descent in the United States conducted by Equality Labs (released in 2018), 26 percent reported experiencing physical assault due to their caste, while 59 percent reported experiencing caste-related comments. However, this is the only such survey to date. More than half of those surveyed reported being afraid to identify as Dalit. Some even conceal their caste, while others proudly state it. Kanishka Elupula, a PhD student at Harvard University, told Pulitzer Center researchers during a 2019 project on caste in America, “When I’m at Harvard, I want to be known as an untouchable because I want people to know that.” Cases of caste discrimination have also been filed in US courts, particularly in California, a hub of the technology industry. Various measures have been introduced to address caste issues domestically in India. Maharashtra is the only state that provides scholarships to Dalit students enrolled in foreign universities to cover tuition fees, allowances, and living expenses. A National Council for Affirmative Action was established in 2010 by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), chaired by the late J.J. Irani. Based on annual reports, progress on this front is also patchy. There are still no Dalits in the top management levels of any major company, but Dalit matrimony websites are flooded with applications seeking or seeking marriages with individuals employed in multinational companies (MNCs). Dalit-led enterprises, led by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), are flourishing, and several state governments have changed procurement policies to benefit Dalit contractors. However, it is difficult to predict how politically and socially influential the unification of Dalit Indians in the Indian diaspora can be in the country. After all, the activities of the Indian diaspora have exacerbated many issues. On the other hand, violence against Dalits continues to rise, and National Crime Records Bureau data shows that the conviction rate remains low, at around 25 percent. For Dalits, education and capitalism remain the only paths to progress. Disobedience is the other. Aditi Phadnis Courtesy: Hindi News
Tension in Reddigudem in NTR district as Dalit youth alleges police assault; Section 144 imposed
Vijayawada: Tension prevailed at Reddigudem police station in NTR district on Friday after members of the Dalit community staged a protest, alleging that sub-inspector B Mohan Rao assaulted a 23-year-old Dalit youth, Nimmakuri Ravindra. The protesters demanded action against the officer, forcing authorities to impose Section 144 in the area and deploy Rapid Intervention Vehicles to maintain order. According to police, the allegations are false. “Ravindra is one of the accused in a recent case in Paritala, nearly a month ago. He was brought to the station for questioning back then, when he complained of stomach pain, he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Later, he, along with others, staged a protest and falsely alleged that I assaulted him. Following that, local community leaders gave a call for protest on Friday. The situation was immediately brought under control. Ravindra has two criminal cases pending against him,” SI Mohan Rao told TOI. The protests created unease among locals, though officials confirmed that the situation has since stabilized. Police said they are monitoring developments closely to prevent further unrest. 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
Priyanka promises respect & social justice for women
Patna/Motihari: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday urged the women of Bihar not to be swayed by the incentives being offered by the NDA govt in the state. She accused the BJP-led coalition of being “interested only in your votes,” while asserting that the Congress aimed to provide women with “respect.” Addressing a ‘Mahila Samvad’ at Sadaquat Ashram, the Congress state headquarters, Priyanka encouraged women to discern the “true intentions” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and CM Nitish Kumar, suggesting they “deserved to be taught a lesson” in the upcoming assembly elections.Referring to the transfer on Friday of Rs 7,500 crore among 75 lakh women beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana (MMRY), she said, “Now that elections are near, Rs 10,000 is being offered by the govt. But, take note, they are not promising that the dole will continue every month.” She added, “Women have the capacity to sense people’s true intentions (neeyat). They make use of this faculty while looking for a match for their daughters. You must, similarly, realise the true intentions of Modi, Shah, and Nitish.” Priyanka criticised the timing of the financial offers, claiming it revealed a focus solely on securing votes. “They cannot understand your need for respect. They will not address your need for safety. I think crimes against women must have risen ten-fold in the last 10 years,” she alleged. Outlining her party’s commitments, she said, “Our party wants to give women the respect that is their due. We have promised lands to the landless families. We propose that such parcels of land be registered in the name of a woman member.” She added, “My brother Rahul Gandhi has been fighting for social justice, an essential component of which is the uplift of women. In the elections, you must discern who is really interested in your welfare and who is just after your votes.” Highlighting the medical insurance scheme introduced in Rajasthan, she promised to replicate it in Bihar if the INDIA bloc came to power. “We promise to bring similar benefits in Bihar,” she said. Later, addressing a rally at Motihari, Priyanka praised Rahul Gandhi as a “real patriot” for his 4,000-km Bharat Jodo Yatra to connect with the people. She accused the NDA of focusing only on winning elections at any cost, saying they exploited caste and religious divides and resorted to “vote theft.” 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
Sikh remarks: Alld HC denies relief to Rahul Gandhi
Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Friday dismissed Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s plea against an order directing the magistrate court to decide afresh on FIR against him, over his purported utterances in the US. The order was passed by Justice Sameer Jain, who had heard a criminal revision filed by the Congress MP. One Nageshwar Mishra of Varanasi had filed an application before the court of additional chief judicial magistrate (MP-MLA), Varanasi, who after hearing the matter on November, 28, 2024, rejected the application seeking registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, while observing that the speech was given in the US, so the matter was outside its jurisdiction. The rejection order was challenged before the sessions court MP-MLA which allowed the revision, directing the ACJM to hear the matter afresh. The complainant claimed that in September 2024, during an event in the US, Gandhi said that the environment in India was not good for Sikhs. Mishra claimed there were protests against his statement, calling it provocative and divisive and sought the registration of an FIR against the purported statement at Sarnath police station of Varanasi. He moved the magisterial court after failing to get it registered. Senior advocate Gopal Chaturvedi, who represented Gandhi, had submitted that Mishra’s application did not mention the date of the purported statement. Additional advocate general Manish Goyal, however, said the point was whether there was a prima facie case or not and the high court ought to examine whether it should be decided by the magistrate concerned. He said if it is a statement on foreign soil by the leader of opposition against India, then it was a matter of investigation and further there was admission that Gandhi made utterances. 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