Key accused held for ‘torture’ of 2 dalits
Berhampur: Police on Thursday arrested three more persons, including prime accused Rajesh Samal (20) of Jahada, for the alleged torture of dalits Babula Nayak and Bulu Nayak on suspicion that they were cattle smugglers. With this, the number of people arrested went up to 12. “We are searching for other persons involved in the case,” said Chandrika Swain, IIC, Dharakote police station. The development comes on a day a Congress fact-finding team visited Singipur village in Ganjam district to speak to Babula and Bulu. The Congress team led by Rajedra Pal Goutam, chairman of party’s SC department, took stock of the situation after talking to Babula Nayak and Bulu Nayak. “It’s an act of barbarity. We strongly condemned the incident. Strong action should be taken against the persons involved in the inhuman act,” said Goutam. Senior BJP leader and former assembly deputy speaker Ram Chandra Panda said the state govt has taken swift action against the accused. “When police are investigating the matter, it should not be politicised,” Panda said. TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Congress demands the arrest of prime accused in the Dalit torture case in Ganjam
Stating that the two dalit persons were subjected to inhumane and brutal treatment by a group of people claiming to be members of the VHP and cow vigilantes, Kadam said this is unacceptable in a civilised society. BHUBANESWAR : A fact-finding team led by leader of Congress Legislature PartyRam Chandra Kadam on Thursday demanded immediate arrest of the prime accused in the incident of torture of two dalits at a village of Ganjam district on June 22. Addressing a media conference here, Kadam targeted the state government for the collapse of law and order situation in the state and demanded that immediate steps should be taken to ensure the safety of dalits, tribals and minorities in the state. “The law and order situation has collapsed after the double-engine government came to power in the state. The government should distance itself from the RSS and VHP’s agenda and maintain law and order in the state,” he said. Stating that the two dalit persons were subjected to inhumane and brutal treatment by a group of people claiming to be members of the VHP and cow vigilantes, Kadam said this is unacceptable in a civilized society. This incident has brought shame to our state, he said. The CLP leader said one of the victims, Babulal Nayak, had purchased a cow from Gomata Gumma area on the day to gift it to his daughter on her wedding, following Hindu rituals. When he was returning home, some anti-social youths stopped him at Khariguma and questioned him. When Babulal replied that he was taking it as a gift for his daughter’s wedding, the accused began to abuse him using casteist slurs and assaulted him. When another person intervened, he was also brutally beaten. Kadam alleged that the accused demanded Rs 30,000 from the victims and when they could not pay, they subjected them to inhumane treatment, including making them crawl on their knees, forced them to eat grass and drink dirty water from a drain. This horrific incident occurred just six km away from the police station, but the administration seemed unaware, he added. Stating that the victims belonging to poor dalit families are struggling to make ends meet, Kadam said that after the incident, their mental state has deteriorated and they are now traumatised. He demanded that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each should be provided to the victims. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘Apologise to Biharis’: Prashant Kishore’s ‘bada bada gyan’ swipe at Rahul Gandhi; accuses Congress of doing ‘historic injustice’
NEW DELHI: As Bihar braces for a high-stakes assembly election later this year, political sparring has intensified with Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor taking direct aim at Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. In a sharp remark, Kishor questioned Gandhi’s commitment to Bihar and accused the Congress of decades-long neglect and tokenism. In a recent interview with news agency ANI, Kishor, who has been traversing Bihar’s rural interiors as part of his Jan Suraaj campaign, threw a gauntlet at the Congress leader, daring him to spend just a single night in a village in the state to demonstrate any real grassroots engagement. “Rahul ji keeps coming and going here, but doesn’t really undertake any Yatra. If Rahul Gandhi has ever spent even one night in a village in Bihar, let us know. If he can spend just one night in a village, we’ll accept it,” Kishor said. “Tum Delhi mein bethkar Bihariyo ke naam par haste ho aur yaha bethkar gyan dete ho (You sit in Delhi, laugh at Biharis then come here to lecture us),” he added, underscoring what he described as a condescending attitude from the Congress high command. Kishor also turned his fire on Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy for allegedly disparaging Biharis, demanding an apology and criticising the Congress party for enabling such attitudes. “In Telangana, their chief minister is Revanth Reddy, it’s been two years since he became CM. Before that, he was in the TDP (Telugu Desam Party), and before that, he was in the RSS and the BJP. After becoming chief minister, he officially stated that doing labour is in the DNA of Biharis. Biharis are born to do labour work. Why did he say this? Because most of his rival KCR’s officers had a Bihar background. So he was implying that Telangana is in a bad state because Biharis are running it. And to justify that, he added another statement saying it’s in Biharis’ DNA to do labour, and that’s why KCR appointed them as bureaucrats,” Kishor said. “Aap Bihariyo ko kehte ho ki vo paida hue hai mazduri karne ke liye aur phir yaha aakar bada-bada gyan doge (You say Biharis are born to do labour work, and then come here and preach to us?)” he told ANI in an interview. Recalling an unfulfilled promise from decades ago, Kishor also invoked former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 1989 commitment to turn Bihar into a development hub. “Where did that money go? Congress remained in power afterwards, so tell us, what did you do for Bihar?” he asked. He further demanded that Rahul Gandhi issue an apology for what he called the “historic injustice” inflicted upon Biharis by the Congress. “If Congress apologised for the injustice done to Sikhs, then Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Biharis as well before campaigning in Bihar. If Biharis are only born for labour, then why are you coming here? Just go campaign in Telangana and get your votes there,” Kishor said. Taking a dig at Congress’s electoral relevance in the state, Kishor said its future in Bihar rests entirely on “Lalu ji’s charity”. “Congress has no real existence in Bihar. For the past 25-30 years, it’s been a party that just carries Lalu ji’s bag. If Rahul Gandhi truly has political strength, let him contest elections in Bihar on his own. Try demanding 40 per cent of the seats from Lalu ji and see what happens. In Bihar, Congress dances to Lalu ji’s tune. Whatever he decides, that’s what happens,” he said. The Bihar assembly elections are expected to be held in October or November this year, though the Election Commission of India is yet to announce the official dates. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), will look to retain power. On the other side, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc, consisting of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and the Left parties, aims to unseat CM Nitish Kumar. Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is positioning itself as a third alternative, aiming to disrupt the traditional bipolar contest in the state. In the current 243-member Bihar assembly, the NDA holds a majority with 131 seats — BJP has 80 MLAs, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and support from two Independents. The INDIA bloc has a strength of 111, led by the RJD with 77 MLAs, Congress with 19, and the Left parties accounting for the rest. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul Gandhi skirts poll panel’s meeting invite
The Congress party is showing reluctance to meet with the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi had alleged irregularities in Maharashtra and Haryana elections. Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the purpose of such a meeting. The Congress has reiterated its demand for a copy of the electoral roll and CCTV footage. New Delhi: The Congress has signalled that party leader Rahul Gandhi is in no hurry to accept the Election Commission brass’ invitation to him to have a discussion on the merit of his often repeated allegation of irregularity in the conduct of Maharashtra and Haryana elections. After party president Mallikarjun Kharge chose to be non-committal on Gandhi accepting the EC invite, the Congress leadership once again wrote to the poll body, reiterating its demand for a copy of the electoral roll and CCTV footage of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Earlier, Kharge, responding to media queries on the EC’s invite to Gandhi, had wondered what the point of such a meeting was, saying past complaints to the poll body about the conduct of elections in some states “remain unaddressed”. The EC had invited Gandhi to discuss his charges after the poll body dismissed his allegations on data regarding electoral rolls and voter turnout. The Congress leadership said it would be “happy to meet the EC” after the poll body meets its demand. EC Cites SC Ruling to Deny Congress Roll Request Rejecting the Congress party’s demand for a ‘machine-readable’ digital copy of the electoral roll as “untenable”, the Election Commission is learnt to have reminded the party that a similar plea made in 2019 had been rejected by the SC. Courtesy : TET Note: This news is originally published on https:/theeconomictimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Congress leaders harbouring Emergency mindset: BJP MP
Indore: BJP MP and spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi on Wednesday accused Congress leaders of harbouring ‘Emergency period mindset’ that they were above Constitution and their ambitions outweighed national interests. “Congress believes in the objectionable slogan of ‘India is Indira and Indira is India.’ The same mindset of Emergency remains prevalent in the party even today. And leaders like Rahul Gandhi consider themselves above Constitution,” Trivedi said while addressing a press conference to mark 50 years of Emergency. He said that June 25, 1975 marked a black chapter in the history of Indian democracy as fundamental rights of citizens were trampled, freedom of expression was shackled, and voices of the Opposition were crushed. “Congress wants to run the country according to its convenience. If it wins elections, it doesn’t have any problem with Constitution, but after any setback in polls, it starts claiming that the Constitution is in danger,” he said, referring to Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi waving the ‘red book’ in Congress rallies. Trivedi questioned Gandhi’s comments during his foreign visits and said, “Months ago, Rahul Gandhi went abroad and asked why the defenders of democracy – US and Europe – were silent on India. Calling them defenders… Such utterances show the party’s Emergency mindset. Their political ambitions outweigh interests of the nation.” To a query, Trivedi said that the West Asia crisis was nothing but a fight between Muslim countries for supremacy. “One pole of this fight is Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Sunni world, and the other pole is Iran, the leader of the Shia world. We hope that a positive spirit will emerge and the crisis in West Asia will be resolved peacefully soon,” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Indian court rules a transgender woman is a woman
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on June 16 issued a landmark ruling that says Indian law cannot deny transgender women recognition as women solely because they cannot bear children. Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa, who presided over the case, rejected arguments that tie womanhood exclusively to reproductive capacity, declaring such views “legally unsustainable” and contrary to the Indian constitution’s guarantees of dignity, equality, and identity. The decision, rooted in the Supreme Court’s 2014 National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India ruling that recognized individuals as a “third gender” with equal fundamental rights, marks a significant step toward gender justice in India. “A trans woman, born male and later transitioning to female, is legally entitled to recognition as a woman,” Pratapa declared. The court emphasized this recognition is enshrined in Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the constitution; which guarantee equality before the law, prohibit discrimination based on sex, and protect the right to life and personal liberty respectively. Pratapa further clarified that trans women are entitled to the same protections as cisgender women under Section 498A of the Indian penal code, which addresses cruelty by a husband or his relatives. “Denying such protection by questioning their womanhood amounts to discrimination,” said the High Court in its ruling. The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Viswanathan Krishnamurthy and his parents, who sought to dismiss a dowry harassment case brought by Pokala Sabhana, a trans woman. Shabana alleged that Krishnamurthy and his family subjected her to cruelty and demanded dowry, charges that prompted her to seek protection under Section 498A. The court’s decision to uphold her legal standing as a woman ensures that trans women can access critical protections against domestic abuse, setting a precedent for future cases. Section 498A’s applicability to trans women, as the court affirmed, extends critical protections against domestic cruelty to marginalized groups. Trans women can now seek legal recourse under this provision for physical, emotional, or economic abuse, including dowry-related harassment, by their husbands or in-laws. This recognition ensures access to police intervention, potential arrest of perpetrators, and penalties under the Indian penal code, aligning trans women’s marital protections with those afforded to cisgender women. By including trans women under Section 498A, the ruling strengthens their ability to combat domestic violence and assert their rights within familial structures. Shabana and Krishnamurthy lived together in Ongole, a city in Andhra Pradesh, for a short time before Krishnamurthy relocated to Chennai and ceased communication, according to the court document the Washington Blade obtained. Shabana filed a complaint at the Ongole Women’s Police Station, alleging her in-laws threatened her life and that Krishnamurthy abused her. Based on her accusations, the police registered a case against Krishnamurthy and his parents under Section 498A. Krishnamurthy and his parents in 2022 petitioned the Andhra Pradesh High Court to dismiss the case, arguing that Shabana, as a trans woman, could not invoke Section 498A, a provision typically applied to cisgender women. The petitioners’ counsel argued that trans women, due to their inability to conceive, do not meet the legal definition of a woman and thus cannot invoke Section 498A. They also contended Shabana’s cruelty and dowry harassment allegations were baseless and lacked evidentiary support. The Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected the petitioners’ arguments, ruling that gender identity does not hinge on the ability to bear children and other biological factors. The court affirmed that trans women, like Shabana, have the right to file complaints under Section 498A and are entitled to all constitutional protections afforded to women under the constitution. While affirming that trans women are legally recognized as women, the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the case against Krishnamurthy and his family, citing insufficient evidence rather than gender-based arguments. The court noted Shabana’s claims of dowry demands and cruelty lacked supporting material. It ruled that proceeding with the trial without prima facie evidence would constitute a misuse of the judicial process. “I am relieved, the delighted and thank the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the judge for upholding our basic human right to be identified as what we want. What better reason could that be for celebrating this Pride Month,” said Kalki Subramaniam, a prominent trans activist and artist. “For transgender community, especially trans women this verdict means a lot.” Subramaniam told the Blade that the verdict is a momentous achievement. She described it as a significant stride toward justice, dignity, and equality for trans people throughout India. “By affirming their legal status as women, the court has shattered discriminatory barriers and reinforced the fundamental principle that identity is valid and deserving of full legal protection,” said Subramaniam. “This ruling marks a significant moment of progress, sending a clear message that our legal frameworks are evolving to be more inclusive and reflective of the diverse realities of our society. It is a victory of human rights and a beacon of hope for a more equitable future.” Meera Parida, a prominent trans activist in Odisha, told the Blade the ruling is a significant triumph. “Only because a trans woman cannot bear a child, she is not a woman — that’s not good,” she said. “This is a respectful judgement for all of us,” added Parida. “This is restoring equality and somewhere because of this verdict the stigmatization wall will fall and people will respect us. I respect this verdict.” “This verdict is very progressive and a crucial step forward to the transgender community and gender equality,” Rani Patel, president and founder of Aarohan, an organization that works to address educational disparities among underprivileged communities and advocates for LGBTQ rights, told the Blade. “People said that we should give them separate toilets and classrooms, but that totally excludes them from the community. Many women also cannot give birth to a child, so that is totally different.” “If someone is carrying themselves as female, they should be honored with their status,” added Patel. “Since the purpose of the verdict is to recognize trans women as women, they will get all the status
Karnataka: Parents boycott School over Dalit cook
Chamarajanagar: A concerning incident has come to light from Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka, where parents have allegedly withdrawn their children from a government school following the appointment of a Dalit woman as the head cook. The incident has been reported from the Government Higher Primary School in Homma village in Chamarajanagar district. Of the 22 students enrolled, parents of 21 students have withdrawn their children, leaving only one student currently attending the school. According to the head cook and the kitchen staff, only seven out of the 22 students used to eat the Mid-Day Meals prepared at the school. Sources indicated that the appointment of a Dalit woman as the head cook had triggered dissatisfaction among some parents. Reportedly, several parents unhappy with the appointment collected Transfer Certificates (TCs) for their children and admitted them to other schools. As a result, the school is now on the verge of closure, sources added. Local residents allege that caste-based bias is the sole reason for withdrawing the children, pointing to the cook’s Dalit identity. In the academic year 2024–25, the school initially had 22 students. Of these, 12 have already taken TCs, and withdrawal applications have been submitted for the remaining students. With no students left, the school now faces imminent closure, sources said. Currently, the school has just one student attending the classes and two teachers. The parents of the remaining student have also requested a TC to transfer their child elsewhere, according to sources. After the development went viral on social media, the district administration rushed to the school on Wednesday and held a series of meetings with teachers and parents. Officials from the Education Department and the Department of Social Welfare also visited the Homma village school. Chamarajanagar SP, B.T. Kavitha, Zilla Panchayat CEO Mona Roat, and DDPI Ramachandra Raje Urs personally spoke to parents and teachers regarding the development. Parents told CEO Roat that they had withdrawn their children due to the poor quality of teaching at the school. However, the team of officials managed to convince the parents of eight children to re-enroll them in the school. SP Kavitha stated that a comprehensive investigation will be undertaken to determine why the children were not consuming meals at the school. “If it is found that untouchability was practiced and a complaint is lodged, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” she said. Roat noted that the preliminary report suggested the students were withdrawn due to poor education quality, but new claims have emerged. “We are receiving conflicting reports regarding the students’ transfer. We have assured the parents that qualified teachers will be posted at the school and action will be taken wherever necessary,” she said. Posted by Marziya Sharif Courtesy : Siasat Note: This news is originally published on https:/siasat.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
VP Singh’s birth anniversary: Discussion on Ambedkar’s Dalit struggles, student leader said – former PM made the power of Indian society
Vishwanath Pratap Singh: On the occasion of former Prime Minister VP Singh’s birth anniversary, seminars were organized at various places in Varanasi. Student leaders and teachers also organized programs together in BHU. Special discussion was held on VP Singh’s leadership and work. Varanasi News: A seminar was held in BHU student union building on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister VP Singh. On Wednesday, a discussion was held on his work among former student leaders and professors. Ancient History Department Chairman Prof. MP Ahirwar said that the battles fought by Dr. Ambedkar for Dalits were established by VP Singh as the power of the society. After VP Singh, the living leader of Buddha’s tradition, Arjun Singh gave true representation to the backward castes in the field of education. Kashiram also made a major contribution. VP Singh was born on 25 June 1931. Former president of the students’ union Shiv Kumar said that after Gandhi, Ambedkar and Lohia, the heroes of the struggle on democratic issues, George Fernandes, Madhu Limaye, Madhu Dandavate and VP Singh took it to the last point legally. At that time, leadership in politics was decided on the basis of ideology and struggle. Former General Secretary of the students’ union Dr. Subedar Singh said that VP Singh took hundreds of people like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas to the top of power in politics, who perhaps became victims of elite politics in his absence. Did not forget student politics throughout his life Former minister Dr. Bahadur Singh Yadav said that after Gandhi, Lohia, the backward people united in the freedom struggle under the leadership of VP Singh. Even though the newly created socialists have forgotten him. Former president Harshvardhan Singh said that he was the president of UP College Students’ Union and kept alive the affection for student politics and student leaders throughout his life. During this, Manoj Singh Kaka, Kundan Rai Prof. Anand Deepayan, farmer leader Rajendra Chaudhary, director Dr. Shammi Kumar etc. were present. Published by: Aman Vishwakarma Courtesy: Hindi News
Blood Donation Barriers: Santa Khurai’s Long SC Fight for Trans Rights
Blood donation bans in India unfairly target transgender people. Santa Khurai’s 2021 Supreme Court fight, dragging on, challenges the 2017 guidelines for trans equality. Blood donation remains a deeply contested issue for transgender individuals in India, where discriminatory policies perpetuate exclusion and stigma. The Guidelines for Blood Donor Selection & Blood Donor Referral, 2017, issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), permanently bar transgender people, along with men who have sex with men and female sex workers, from donating blood, citing them as “at risk” for HIV and other infections. This blanket ban, rooted in outdated assumptions rather than individual risk assessment, dehumanises entire communities, denying them the fundamental right to contribute to life-saving efforts. Santa Khurai, a transgender activist and Nupi Maanbi (transgender woman) from Manipur, decided to challenge this injustice. Through her 2021 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court, Khurai is fighting to dismantle these discriminatory guidelines, advocating for equality and dignity for transgender persons in India’s healthcare system. Confronting Transgender Discrimination in Blood Donation We Have a Request for You: Keep Our Journalism Alive We are a small, dedicated team at The Probe, committed to in-depth, slow journalism that dives deeper than daily headlines. We can’t sustain our vital work without your support. Please consider contributing to our social impact projects: Support Us or Become a Member of The Probe. Even your smallest support will help us keep our journalism alive. Her resolve to challenge India’s discriminatory blood donation guidelines was sparked by the lived experiences of her community. In her words, “Initially, I wasn’t aware of the existence of these guidelines. But after listening to numerous community experiences, I realised how unjust they were. Through my work with trans communities, it became clear that the guideline is rooted in deep-seated prejudice—especially against trans women, who are often hyper-visible and marginalised. These biases are reflected in laws, policies, societal attitudes, and even within families. The ban on blood donation is just one glaring example of this discrimination. I felt it was essential to challenge this unfair guideline, not just for the trans community but for all people pushed to the margins—sex workers, for instance, who also face targeted exclusion.” Khurai speaks about a distressing incident in 2013 at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), a prominent medical college and hospital in Imphal, Manipur. Three transgender women approached Khurai with a harrowing account. They had gone to JNIMS’s blood bank to donate blood, one of them for her own aunt, a patient in need. “They had gone to donate blood but they were publicly humiliated by the staff at the blood bank.” Nearly a decade later, in 2021, a similar incident unfolded at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, a private healthcare facility in Langol, Imphal West. Two transgender women were denied the opportunity to donate blood, facing rejection rooted in the same discriminatory 2017 NBTC/NACO guidelines. Khurai shared the gravity of this moment: “This incident was particularly poignant because Dr. Beoncy Laishram, a trailblazing transgender doctor and Resident Medical Officer at Shija Hospitals, intervened to support them. As Manipur’s first and only transgender doctor, a post-operative trans woman who underwent sex reassignment surgery in Puducherry, Dr. Laishram is a symbol of hope for Nupi Maanbi. Yet, her efforts to advocate for the blood donation rights for these women were met with disdain”. Stay informed with The Probe. Get original stories, exclusive insights, and thoughtful, in-depth analysis delivered straight to your phone. Join our WhatsApp channel now! Click the link to join: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaXEzAk90x2otXl7Lo0L The 2021 incident at Shija Hospitals took a particularly insulting turn when blood bank officials mocked Dr. Laishram’s credentials, questioning if she was merely an Ayurvedic doctor, despite her role as a qualified Resident Medical Officer. Khurai recalled this indignity: “This was so humiliating. The doctor told me exactly what she went through and later shared a copy of the 2017 guidelines, which was my first direct encounter with the policy.” Trans Women’s Greater Exclusion The discrimination embedded in India’s blood donation policies disproportionately targets transgender women due to their hyper-visibility and societal marginalisation. Khurai highlighted this stark disparity: “I then spoke to several gay men and trans men who told me they had donated blood multiple times without facing any hostility. That contrast made it clear that the discrimination was specifically targeted at trans women, who face higher visibility and marginalisation.” The 2017 guidelines blatantly violate Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law, Article 15 prohibits discrimination based on sex—interpreted to include gender identity in landmark rulings like NALSA v. Union of India (2014)—and Article 21 ensures the right to life and personal liberty, encompassing dignity. Santa Khurai argues that the 2017 guidelines undermine these constitutional protections by singling out transgender women, among others, without scientific justification, thus perpetuating stigma. “It discriminates against individuals based on gender identity and sexual orientation—specifically targeting trans women—and therefore contradicts the constitutional promise of equality and dignity,” she stated. The discriminatory impact of the 2017 guidelines is particularly severe for transgender women, who face heightened scrutiny due to their visibility, unlike trans men or closeted gay men who may evade such barriers. This stigma is deeply ingrained in public consciousness.” This targeted stigmatisation, coupled with the guidelines’ restrictions, denies trans women the basic act of altruism—saving lives—while cisgender and heterosexual individuals face no such barriers. The 2014 NALSA judgment, which recognised transgender rights to self-determination under Articles 14, 15, and 21, should have paved the way for inclusive policies. However, Khurai notes, “Despite this judgment, its implementation remains inconsistent across the country. The executive has failed to enforce it effectively.” Khurai urges India to emulate inclusive blood donation models like the UK’s, which has eliminated bans on gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, adopting a gender-neutral, behaviour-based screening process through the FAIR approach, ensuring safety without stigmatising entire communities. “The UK model is something India can replicate. They’ve lifted
Sivagiri mutt chief praises PM Modi for accepting all religions
Thiruvananthapuram: We can see the integrity, purity of ideals, spiritual depth and discipline of Mahatma Gandhi in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Sivagiri Mutt head Swami Satchidananda on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, the president of Sivagiri Mutt said that his comments came after he realised the personal charisma of Modi. He said, “Many created the impression that something negative would happen in the country when Modi became the Prime Minister. However, in the last 11 years, there is no evidence that Modi ever rejected or denounced any religion.” “He has always taken a stand, accepting other religions,” said Satchidananda. “Though Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were invited several times to take part in Sivagiri Mutt programmes, they haven’t attended. But Modi attended the programme to mark the centenary of the conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi on his own in New Delhi on Tuesday,” he said. “When Sivagiri Mutt sent an email to PMO, Modi contacted the mutt and conveyed his willingness to participate in the event,” said Satchidananda. He said at the function that Modi was the only Prime Minister who described Sree Narayana Guru as the soul of the nation. He also described Modi as “a great son of India” whose devotion to Sivagiri and Sree Narayana Guru was quite evident. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.