Don’t go public about quitting electoral politics: Rahul Gandhi to Siddaramaiah
The proposed caste enumeration as part of the 2027 Census also figured prominently during Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul, the sources said. BENGALURU: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday reportedly advised former chief minister Siddaramaiah not to make public statements about quitting electoral politics. At a meeting with Siddaramaiah in Delhi, Rahul told him that such remarks could hurt the Congress. The two are learnt to have discussed the political situation in the state and party organisational and electoral issues for nearly one-and-a-half hours, sources close to Siddaramaiah said. Rahul is also understood to have told Siddaramaiah that the Congress needs senior leaders of his experience. Siddaramaiah is learnt to have explained that his decision is limited to electoral politics. He wants to remain active in public life and continue to raise issues concerning people. He cited his age and the changing nature of electoral politics for his decision not to contest the 2028 Assembly elections. Siddaramaiah recently said that he would not contest the 2028 Assembly elections, triggering speculation about his political future. He subsequently clarified that he had referred only to retirement from electoral politics and not active politics. Siddaramaiah, however, downplayed the significance of his meeting with Rahul. He told reporters that he had sought an appointment with Rahul and met him. The sources said Siddaramaiah also discussed filling two vacancies in the Shivakumar Cabinet and nomination of five MLCs. He is learnt to have proposed the names of some of his loyalists. Siddaramaiah is understood to have conveyed his concerns over his role being overlooked during the recent Cabinet expansion. He had backed Byadgi MLA Basavaraj Shivannanavar, a Kuruba leader, for a cabinet berth. However, the high command considered Chikkamagaluru MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda, also a Kuruba leader, before dropping her at the last minute. Political observers said Siddaramaiah is keen that his suggestions be given weightage while choosing Kuruba leaders for important posts, given his influence among the community members. Siddaramaiah also met AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal. The proposed caste enumeration as part of the 2027 Census also figured prominently during Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul, the sources said. Rahul is learnt to have sought Siddaramaiah’s views on the Centre’s decision to include caste enumeration in the 2027 Census. Being a prominent Congress leader familiar with issues related to Backward Classes and member of the Congress Working Committee, Siddaramaiah could be assigned a key role in shaping the party’s response to the exercise. The sources said Siddaramaiah may have discussed the implementation of the findings of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission’s socio-educational survey. The meeting assumes significance as the Congress seeks to build its campaign around social justice, caste representation and the rights of Backward Classes ahead of the 2028 Assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi Says India’s Education System Failing Young Generation, Flags 3 Key Issues
Rahul Gandhi criticised India’s education system, stating it is failing the youth it aims to uplift due to issues like paper leaks and high fees. The Congress leader’s remarks came ahead of the fifth edition of his ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said India’s education system was failing the very generation it was meant to lift and asked students, parents and teachers to tell him why they have lost hope in it. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said fixing the education system begins with listening to those who experience its failures every day. “India’s education system is failing the very generation it was meant to lift. Paper leaks. Crushing fees. Decaying infrastructure. Millions of young Indians work honestly, and the system still lets them down,” Gandhi said on X. “Fixing it begins with listening to those who experience its failures every day. Students, parents, teachers, tell me: why have you lost hope in the education system?” he said. Gandhi asked students, parents and teachers to share their experiences, evidence and ideas on an online link he shared. “Together, we will bring hope back,” Gandhi added. The Congress leader’s remarks came ahead of the fifth edition of his ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative, which will be held in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on September 19. He has asserted that hearing the voice of every student in the country is essential to changing the system. Gandhi has held four ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ events in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune. The last one in Pune on August 22 was for girl students. Courtesy : Times Now Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesnow.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Delhi: 4 illegal Bangladeshi nationals disguised as transgender held
The Foreigner Cell of Delhi’s North-West District apprehended four illegal Bangladeshi nationals in Jahangir Puri. The suspects, caught near Bhalaswa Flyover, were disguised as transgender persons and lacked valid travel or identity documents. In a continued drive against illegal immigration, the Foreigner Cell of North-West District apprehended four illegal Bangladeshi nationals in Jahangir Puri, Delhi, in an operation conducted in the early hours of the morning near Bhalaswa Flyover. Acting on specific intelligence, the team intercepted the suspects, who were found in the area disguised as transgender persons. During sustained questioning and verification, it was established that they were Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in India without any valid travel or identity documents. Details of the Raid and Investigation According to the Delhi Police, the Foreigner Cell of North-West District had been monitoring suspicious activities based on surveillance and secret information. The team conducted an early morning raid near Bhalaswa Flyover, PS Jahangir Puri, on September 7. Delhi Police, in their statement, also said that at the instance of the secret informer, the team apprehended four suspicious persons. During initial questioning, the suspects failed to produce any valid travel or identity documents. Detailed verification of documents, digital footprints and sustained interrogation established that they were Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in India. During the investigation, five smartphones installed with the banned IMO application and Bangladeshi national identity documents stored in the phone gallery were recovered. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, North-West District, Delhi, the apprehended individuals have been identified as Saikat alias Megha Das (35), Md Nur Mohammad (21), Nazimuddin alias Neha Kakkan (29), and Md Zahid Hasan alias Shivangi Roy (23), all hailing from various districts in Bangladesh. Necessary legal action was initiated as per the provisions of law. The apprehended Bangladeshi national was produced before the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), and deportation proceedings were initiated as per the established procedure. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP Election 2027: Akhilesh Yadav targets Brahmins, Dalits and Gen-Z with new PDA and blue gamcha strategy | Explained
With UP elections due in early 2027, the SP chief is redefining his party’s coalition, courting Brahmins with one hand and Dalits with the other — while BJP watches its most loyal vote bank show early signs of restlessness On August 5, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav stood before a Brahmin Sammelan at his party’s Lucknow headquarters and made a statement that carried considerably more weight than it appeared to on the surface. He declared that the ‘P’ in ‘PDA’ stands for ‘Pandits’. This was not a slip of the tongue. When Akhilesh coined the term PDA during the 2022 UP Assembly elections, the ‘P’ explicitly stood for ‘Pichhda’, meaning backwards or Other Backward Classes. That formulation was the foundation of the social coalition he was building: Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — backward castes, Dalits and minorities. It was a direct challenge to the BJP’s dominant Hindu consolidation strategy and helped the SP make significant gains, even if it was not ultimately enough to form the government. Now, with the 2027 UP elections scheduled for February or March of next year, the ‘P’ has been expanded, or perhaps repositioned, to include Pandits. The question being asked across Lucknow’s political circles is whether this represents a genuine strategic evolution or an opportunistic repositioning. The answer, on examination, appears to be both, and that combination is precisely what makes it interesting. Why Brahmins Matter So Much in Uttar Pradesh To understand Akhilesh’s Brahmin outreach, you need to understand the electoral arithmetic of Uttar Pradesh at a granular level. Political analysts estimate that the Brahmin community can decisively influence outcomes in more than 115 of the 403 Assembly constituencies across the state. This is not simply a function of numbers — Brahmins constitute approximately 10 to 11 percent of UP’s population — but of their geographic distribution across constituencies and their traditional role as opinion leaders in rural and semi-urban settings. The data across successive elections makes the pattern unmistakable. In 2007, when Mayawati led the BSP to a landmark 206-seat majority, the party had achieved something genuinely unprecedented: it secured 16 percent of the Brahmin vote through a deliberate Brahmin-Dalit alliance strategy. The BJP still received 44 percent, but the split was significant enough to help the BSP sweep to a majority. The 2012 SP victory saw the party win 224 seats, partly on the strength of 19 percent of the Brahmin vote, double its 2007 performance of 10 percent. The BJP got 38 percent of Brahmin votes that year, with the community fractured across multiple parties. Then came 2017, and the numbers tell a stark story. Riding the Modi wave, the BJP secured approximately 83 percent of Brahmin votes and more than 300 seats. The SP collapsed to 7 percent of Brahmin votes. In 2022, the consolidation deepened further. The BJP captured 89 percent of Brahmin votes. The SP got 6 percent. Those two numbers, 89 and 6, are the context for everything Akhilesh is doing with the Brahmin Sammelan and the reframed PDA acronym. Even a modest swing in Brahmin votes, from 6 percent to 15 or 20 percent, could alter outcomes in dozens of constituencies. What Is Driving Brahmin Discontent With the BJP? The opposition’s narrative about Brahmin disenchantment with the BJP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath centres on two overlapping allegations. The first is that Thakurs or Rajputs, the caste community to which Yogi himself belongs, have been disproportionately favoured for appointments across state administration, police postings and government positions. This allegation of Thakur dominance in the state’s power structure has been circulating within Brahmin circles for several years and carries enough traction that the BJP has felt compelled to respond. The second is the Maha Kumbh episode. Akhilesh has repeatedly alleged that Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, a revered religious figure with significant standing among Brahmins, was prevented from taking a holy dip during the Maha Kumbh. Whether or not this allegation is fully accurate, it has served as a powerful symbolic touchpoint for Brahmin grievance politics, suggesting that even high-status religious figures from the community are not immune to being marginalised under the current administration. At the Brahmin Sammelan, Akhilesh wove these threads together: the BJP targets SP workers, it targets Brahmins, and now it is even after the ‘P’ in PDA. The framing positions Brahmins not as a group being invited into the SP’s coalition out of political convenience but as a community that shares a common adversary with the SP’s traditional base. How much of this narrative has actually penetrated Brahmin opinion is difficult to assess. Many Brahmins in UP remain deeply sceptical of the SP, which they have historically associated with minority appeasement policies and a governance culture they see as hostile to their interests. The gap between Brahmin discontent with the BJP and Brahmin willingness to vote SP is wide, and bridging it requires more than a well-attended sammelan. The BJP’s Response: Playing Defence on Its Own Ground The BJP has not sat passively while Akhilesh pursues his Brahmin outreach. The party’s response has been both structural and strategic. Its appointment of Nagendra Nath Tripathi, an RSS ideologue, as national organiser for senior workers’ outreach is the most revealing signal. Tripathi previously served as BJP’s zonal general secretary for Bihar and Jharkhand and is considered an expert in grassroots-level organisation. Deploying him specifically for senior workers’ outreach, a category in which Brahmin party workers are prominently represented, is a clear message that the BJP intends to actively retain rather than passively assume the loyalty of its most historically reliable upper-caste constituency. Newly appointed UP in-charge Vinod Tawde has also specifically targeted the PDA strategy in his early public interventions, signalling that the BJP has decided to contest Akhilesh’s social coalition framing rather than ignore it. The BJP’s structural advantage in this contest is considerable. It has 89 percent Brahmin votes to protect rather than 6 percent to build from. Even if Brahmin discontent is real, translating it into votes for the SP
Family alleges forced cremation of Dalit man Gulzar Singh in Punjab
Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Sangrur in Punjab who died after allegedly consuming poison. Image source: X/screengrab The family of Sangrur suicide victim Gulzar Singh on Thursday alleged that his cremation was carried out “forcibly”, as opposition parties renewed their demand for a CBI probe into his death. National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Kishor Makwana and senior BJP leaders visited Gulzar’s family in Turbanjara village in Sangrur district. The family alleged that the administration conducted the cremation without its consent and that the body was taken directly to the cremation ground instead of being brought home for rituals. Gulzar’s son Shahbaz, in a purported video released on Thursday, claimed that the cremation was carried out “forcibly” and that his brother was “misled” into cremating the body. “We appeal that until justice is done, we will neither hold ‘bhog’ nor collect his ashes,” he said. His other son, Lakhwinder Singh, also alleged that the cremation was conducted without the family’s consent. The family demanded action against Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and all those allegedly named by Gulzar before his death. Gulzar, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Dirba, died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison. His family has claimed that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs after questioning Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event on Sunday. The NCSC said Makwana told the family that Gulzar had been raising his voice against the drug menace and was threatened and intimidated, which led him to take the extreme step. The commission also said the family had sought strict action against those allegedly involved in threatening Gulzar and demanded security for them. Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, demanded Cheema’s dismissal and a CBI inquiry into the death. BJP Punjab chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, national vice president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma met the family and assured them of assistance. Dhillon said the BJP had demanded a CBI inquiry. Congress Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP government had humiliated the family by conducting the last rites against its wishes. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also alleged that the family’s consent was not taken and that the cremation was hurried. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha criticised the Mann government over the drug situation in Punjab, alleging that synthetic drugs, or “chitta”, were widely available and that home delivery of intoxicants was taking place. On the way to the village, BJP leaders alleged that AAP workers surrounded Dhillon’s vehicle and raised slogans against the BJP, asking it not to “do politics over the dead”. Five people have so far been booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment of suicide and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Courtesy : The Pioneer Note: This news is originally published on https:/thepioneer.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Telangana ‘Purification’ Row: Congress, Dalit Groups Slam BRS; Hold Ex-CM KCR Responsible
A day before the ‘purification’ ritual was performed, Congress leaders and Dalit members took out a procession in protest against two BRS MLCs, Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy, who they said had insulted assembly speaker G. Prasad Kumar, a Dalit, on September 7. Hyderabad: A month after a ‘purification’ ritual was performed in Uttarakhand following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s address at a rally in Haldwani, a similar anti-Dalit practice was publicly demonstrated in Telangana on Wednesday (September 9). This happened a day after Dalit leaders and Congress workers held a protest against Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) president and former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. On Tuesday, September 8, a large number of Dalit leaders and Congress workers had marched in a ‘Chavu-Dappu’ procession to Rao’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Varadharajapuram village in Siddipet district. Funereal drums, ‘Chavu-Dappu’, were beaten during this procession. Beating the drums in a funeral procession is an occupation traditionally associated with Dalits. The Congress leaders’ procession was in protest against two BRS MLCs, Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy, who they said had insulted assembly speaker G. Prasad Kumar, a Dalit, on September 7. That was on the first day of the state assembly’s monsoon session, when the BRS MLAs and MLCs had tried to gatecrash into the assembly premises against severe security restrictions in the area. Alleging that the area near the farmhouse was “desecrated” by the drum-beating procession, the BRS cadre on Wednesday poured turmeric-water and milk on the road and nearby places to symbolise ‘purification’ of the entire area. The Scheduled Caste cell of the Congress termed this as an attempt to promote untouchability, and, alleging that it was done the blessings of Rao, demanding action against him under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1987. Scheduled Caste organisations representing Mala and Madiga sub-castes reacted strongly to the ritual after videos went viral on social media. A Congress leader, Satish Madiga, said a zero FIR had been registered at Saifabad against Rao and other BRS leaders. Congress party’s Choppadandi MLA, Medipally Sathyam, said he had filed a complaint at Saifabad police station. His complaint says the procession led by Congress workers near the farmhouse was part of a statewide call by the party to protest the intemperate remarks previously made by the two BRS MLCs – Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Kumar Reddy – against Speaker Kumar’s late mother. Sathyam’s complaint said that the call for “dandora” – a traditional drumbeat to gather people and share important news – was issued to seek an apology from Rao for the misconduct of his party’s MLCs. The Congress protest and aftermath Congress workers had proceeded towards K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s farmhouse from four directions. A large group had also gathered on the Hyderabad-Karimnagar highway, led by former MLA T. Narsa Reddy. This group alone could approach the farmhouse, breaching the obstacles set up by the police along the way. Narsa Reddy was injured in clashes with police during this march. His group still remained two kilometres away from Rao’s farmhouse. Speaking to the media later, Sathyam alleged that the ‘purification’ ritual which followed the march was conducted on the instructions of Rao. He said it was evident that the BRS practiced caste discrimination. Another Congress MLA, K. Shankaraiah, wished “bad times” befall Rao, which BRS later said meant that the rival party aimed to “kill” him. Following this series of developments, the Congress has said it will “expose” the anti-Dalit stand of the BRS. Over a dozen party MLCs demanded that the Election Commission of India derecognises the BRS. A delegation of Congress legislators from non-elite castes, led by deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, called on Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and said the BRS was trying to push the state into a “dark era”. They compared the developments to Germany under the Nazi Party and the activities of the American far-right hate group Ku Klux Klan. BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao in a scuffle with police as the BRS legislators tried to gatecrash into the Assembly wearing black T-shirts to protest against the Congress-led Telangana government failures on September 7. photo by arrangement. The BRS, led by working president K.T. Rama Rao, met the governor separately and complained that the procession to the farmhouse was an aborted attempt to murder Rao, and alleged that it had been authorised by chief minister Revanth Reddy. He said the Congress had mobilised thousands of people with police escort to lay siege to the farmhouse. However, the Congress maintained that the police stopped them at several places enroute. Monsoon Session chaos The purification ritual topped a series of incidents that unfolded since the BRS legislators tried to gatecrash the assembly premises wearing black T-shirts. There were scuffles between them and a huge police force that sought to stop anyone wearing black clothing or carrying black items from entering the Assembly. That is when Tata Madhusudhan and Naveen Reddy allegedly made remarks about the Speaker and his family. BRS MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy stopped by women police from entering the Assembly on September 7. Photo by arrangement. During this incident, a few MLAs had taken off their T-shirts and confronted the police, including women constables, in a half-dressed state. A woman constable trying to catch BRS MLA and former minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy was caught on camera. The video was aired on TV channels and weaponised by the BRS as an assault against a legislator. The party has sought action against the police. Police and Assembly actions so far On Wednesday, BRS members stormed into the well of the House and 22 were suspended for the rest of the session, which ends on Saturday (September 12). At the same time, the police arrested Madhusudhan and Naveen Reddy. They were released within hours in court. The verbal abuse by both the legislators has been referred to the ethics committee of the Legislative Council. Chief minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced a comprehensive inquiry
Cong will continue to fight for dignity of Dalits: Ganesh Godiyal
Dehradun, The political controversy over the alleged ‘purification’ of the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally on 8 August further escalated today with hundreds of Congress leaders and workers marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun despite heavy rain. The protesters were stopped by the police near Hathibarkala, where barricades had been erected to prevent them from proceeding further. Tension prevailed for some time as Congress leaders and workers attempted to cross the barricades, resulting in pushing and shoving between the protesters and the police personnel. Some Congress leaders and workers were later taken into custody by the police. The protest, organised by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, was led by state president Ganesh Godiyal and saw the participation of party state in-charge Kumari Selja, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, former state Congress president Pritam Singh and several Congress MLAs and senior leaders. The protesters assembled at Parade Ground, where senior leaders addressed the gathering before the march towards the Chief Minister’s residence began. The Congress has stepped up its agitation over the alleged purification ritual performed at the Haldwani venue after Kharge addressed a public meeting there. The party has described the incident as an insult to its national president and an affront to democratic values and the dignity of the Opposition. Congress leaders have also objected to the alleged failure of the authorities to register FIRs on complaints submitted at various police stations against those responsible for the ritual, while an FIR has been registered against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in connection with his remarks on the controversy. Addressing party workers, Godiyal said the Congress would continue its democratic agitation until action was taken against those responsible for the incident. He said the party was demanding accountability and would continue to raise the voice of the people and its workers before the State Government. Godiyal added that the party will continue to fight for the dignity of the Dalits and for the justice. Kumari Selja accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand of betraying the sentiments and trust of the people of the State. She alleged that the venue of a rally addressed by the Congress national president was subjected to ‘purification’ by people associated with the BJP after the programme. She alleged that the BJP is resorting to every possible tactic in view of the forthcoming elections and said the Congress would not remain silent on issues involving social discrimination and the dignity of its leaders. The Congress has also linked the controversy with the FIR registered against Rahul Gandhi and has alleged that the authorities are adopting a discriminatory approach by failing to act on complaints against those who conducted the alleged purification ritual while taking action against the Leader of the Opposition. It may be recalled that the protest had been planned as a major show of strength by the State Congress. The party workers from different districts reached Dehradun for the programme despite heavy rain at the time of the march. The large gathering also affected traffic movement in several parts of the city, with police and district administration making extensive security arrangements along the proposed route to the CM’s residence. The rally also threw the traffic arrangements across the city into disarray. Traffic jams were witnessed almost at all important roads in the city. The Police were unable to manage the traffic. As the protesters moved towards Hathibarkala, police stopped them at the barricading. Congress workers raised slogans against the State Government and demanded action against those responsible for the Haldwani incident. Several protesters climbed onto the barricades during the confrontation before being pushed back by the police. The situation remained tense for some time but did not escalate into major violence. As the Congress has turned the incident into a Dalit issue, the controversy has now widened far beyond Uttarakhand. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has raised the issue at the national level, while the party has been seeking action against those involved in the alleged purification ceremony. Congress leaders have argued that the incident carries implications beyond party politics and relates to the larger question of caste discrimination and social equality. The BJP, on the other hand, has rejected the Congress’ interpretation of the incident and has accused the Opposition of attempting to disturb social harmony for political purposes. The party had announced ‘Samajik Sauhard Sankalp Dharna’ programmes at its organisational district headquarters across Uttarakhand on Monday to counter the Congress campaign. A Zero FIR was registered in Bengaluru against BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt despite Bhatt and the BJP distancing from the purification event. Bhatt has maintained that the ritual was related to a havan after garbage had allegedly been left at the venue but the BJP had no connection to the purification exercise. The Congress protest in Dehradun also saw several prominent personalities joining the party in the presence of Kumari Selja and other senior leaders. Those who joined the Congress included former Roorkee mayor Yashpal Rana, former Yamkeshwar block chief Bhuvanesh Kharkwal, former principal and former chairman of the Haridwar Cane Committee Manoj Saini, former minister of state rank Ram Kumar Walia, former Dehradun Mandi Samiti chairman Ravindra Anand, advocate Sachin Kumar and others. By ARUN PRATAP SINGH Courtesy : Garhwal Post Note: This news is originally published on https:/garhwalpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit labourer’s suicide: Family alleges forced cremation
Sangrur: The family of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh — who died by suicide after allegedly being harassed for publicly questioning finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on the unchecked sale of drugs in his village — on Thursday alleged that he was cremated without their consent. Gulzar’s son, Lakhwinder Singh, alleged that the district administration carried out his father’s last rites without the family’s approval and did not allow him to see his father’s face one last time. “Govt forcibly carried out the last rites. They told us they would provide a job and other things, but we received nothing. Police pressure was immense — it was the district police. It happened without our consent,” Lakhwinder said. The family has vowed not to perform the Bhog ceremony until Cheema is named in the FIR and arrested. Sangrur deputy commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur, however, said that the family “expressed satisfaction” with the administration’s response, and mentioned that ₹5 lakh ex gratia compensation had already been disbursed and a govt job assured. Earlier in the day, National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana visited Toor Banjara village and flagged an “atmosphere of fear” tied to the drug trade among Dalit youth.A political firestorm has engulfed Punjab over the suicide. A convoy carrying Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, party national vice-president Manpreet Singh Badal and former state presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma, was allegedly surrounded by AAP workers near Toor Banjara when they were on their way to offer condolences to the family. Dhillon called it a “brazen assault on democracy”. Sangrur BJP district president Daman Bajwa said no vehicles were damaged in the incident but alleged that AAP workers struck the vehicles with their fists, while police personnel stationed roughly 100 metres away did not intervene and “turned mute spectators”. Dhillon and general secretary Parminder Singh Brar backed the family’s account and reiterated the demand for a CBI probe. Calling it a case of “abuse of power and denial of basic dignity”, they demanded Cheema’s resignation. AAP Dirba in charge Pritam Singh Peetu Sarpanch refuted the allegations and said he, along with party workers, had only protested against BJP and Congress leaders for politicising Gulzar’s death. He said none of the BJP vehicles were attacked, and that AAP workers were only carrying banners. Former Congress CM Charanjit Singh Channi and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira sought accountability from state govt on the cremation. Senior Congress functionary Vijay Inder Singla accused the AAP leadership of shielding Cheema. Bholath Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira termed the alleged forced cremation an abuse of state power and demanded Cheema’s dismissal, criminal cases against him and the executive magistrates involved, and Rs 2 crore compensation for the family. 4 of 5 Accused Arrested Police have registered a case against five residents of Toor Banjara — sarpanch Baljinder Kaur, her husband Baljeet Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh and Gona Singh — under BNS Section 108 for abetment of suicide and under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Apart from the Sukhdev, the others have been arrested. Medical sources indicate several hours were lost after Gulzar took poison as he was moved between Sangrur Civil Hospital, Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, a private facility in Sangrur and finally DMC Ludhiana before he died. 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’s Raichur man booked for practising untouchability
Small eateries and hotels allegedly deny Dalit customers service and refuse them regular tumblers, instead pouring water directly when they ask to drink. BENGALURU: Police have registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act against a hotel owner in Raichur district for practising untouchability. Deputy Commissioner Raichur S Poovita told TNIE that an FIR was registered after a preliminary enquiry by Lingasugur tahsildar Satyamma. There was public ire after a video went viral on social media that showed the hotel owner, Shivappa S Hadapad, standing beside a Dalit man and pouring drinking water into a man’s mouth in Itchanal village. Small eateries and hotels in the area often do not entertain Dalit clients and whenever they request for water to drink they refuse to give them a tumbler used by regular clients and pour them water. Some keep separate cutlery and cups and plates for the Dalit clients. Some explained that while some Dalit castes like Bhovis and Lambanis are touchable Dalits these restrictions apply to untouchable Dalits. Sources say that in some eateries and restaurants there are designated tables and seats for Dalits. Bansy Kalappa Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit middle-aged man beaten for demanding repayment of 13-year-old loan: 80,000 rupees case in Hardoi, assault with sticks, allegations of casteist slurs
In Baghauli, Hardoi, demanding repayment of a 13-year-old loan proved costly for a Dalit middle-aged man. When he demanded the return of 80,000 rupees given in 2013, the accused kicked, punched, and beat him with sticks. He used casteist slurs and threatened to kill him. A case has been registered against the accused following court intervention based on the victim’s complaint. The report was filed at Baghauli police station at 9:15 pm on Thursday. Ram Avtar (52), a resident of Jutela village, had lent 80,000 rupees to Kamlesh Kumar Dixit of his own village in 2013. Ram Avtar paid the amount in four installments via check from the Aryavart Regional Rural Bank branch in Baghauli. This included ₹40,000 on May 23, ₹8,000 on June 4, ₹12,000 on June 11, and ₹20,000 on June 15, 2013. This transaction was documented on a ₹100 stamp in front of witnesses. When the money wasn’t returned, Ram Avtar complained to the Superintendent of Police. Threat of being implicated in a false case The police had arranged for payment by November 22, 2024, but even then, the money was not received. When the victim went to ask for the money again at 5 p.m. on June 12, 2026, the accused assaulted him with sticks and hurled casteist slurs at him. He also threatened to implicate him in a false case. When his complaint was not heard at the police station, the victim filed an application in the court of the Special Judge, SC/ST Act. On the court’s orders, Baghauli police registered a case against the accused, Kamlesh, and began an investigation. The police are investigating the matter. Shahnawaz Khan | Hardoi Courtesy: Hindi News