‘Nothing to learn’: How Congress reacted to Digvijaya Singh’s RSS praise; senior leader clarifies stance
NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday stopped short of agreeing with its senior leader Digvijay Singh after he gave example of Rashtriya Swayamseva Sangh (RSS) to call for organisational reforms within Congress. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, reacting to former Madhya Pradesh chief minister’s remarks said that an organisation known for Godse can not teach anything to a organisation founded by Gandhi. “There’s nothing to learn from the RSS. What can an organisation known for Godse teach an organisation founded by Gandhi?” Khera said. ‘Power of the organisation’ Earlier on Saturday Digvijay praised the organisational strength of RSS and shared a black-and-white photograph from a social media platform that showed Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated back on the ground while BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani sat on a chair in the background, acknowledging how the RSS shapes leadership within the organisation. “I found this image on the Quora site. It’s very impressive. How an RSS grassroots swayamsevak and Jan Sangh BJP worker sat on the floor at the feet of leaders and became the state’s Chief Minister and the country’s Prime Minister. This is the power of the organisation.” However, he issued a clarification, saying, “I’ve been saying this from the beginning: I am opposed to the ideology of the RSS. They neither respect the Constitution nor the country’s laws, and it’s an unregistered organisation.” “But I admire their organisational capacity because an organisation that isn’t even registered has become so powerful that the Prime Minister says from the Red Fort that it is the world’s largest NGO. If it’s an NGO, then where have your rules and regulations gone? But I admire their organisational capacity,” he added. Earlier this week, Singh had also praised Rahul Gandhi for his stance on socio-economic issues, giving him “full marks” while calling for internal reforms within the Congress. Drawing a parallel with Rahul Gandhi’s push for Election Commission reforms, Singh argued that the party itself needed similar changes. In another post on X, he wrote, “Rahul ji you are absolutely ‘Bang On’ in matters of Socio-Economic Issues. Full Marks. But now please look at Congress also. Like Election Commission needs Reforms, So Does Indian National Congress. You have started with ‘संघटन सृजन’ But we need more Pragmatic Decentralised Functioning.” He added, “I am sure you would do it because I know you can do it. Only problem is that it is not easy to ‘Convince’ you!!” BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi Meanwhile, BJP alleged that Digvijay’s praise for the organisational power of the BJP and the RSS was an “open dissent” against Rahul Gandhi’s leadership in the party. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Rahul was bringing his party “upside down” because he had been sidelined in the party. “It’s because our Narendra Modi is ‘guddri ke lal’ (diamond in the rough) and their leader is ‘Jawahar ke lal’ (great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru). Since our Narendra Modi has risen to top from bottom, he is taking the party (BJP) also to the top from bottom,” Trivedi told a press conference at the BJP headquarters here. In a swipe to Rahul, he said, “Since their leader is ‘Jawahar ke lal’ who is now ‘side down from up’, he is bringing his party upside down.” This comes after the Congress held the CWC meet in Delhi on Saturday under the chaimanship of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge — first after the party suffered a huge loss in Bihar assembly elections. After the CWC meet, Kharge announced that the grand-old-party launch a nation-wide protest against the Centre for replacing rural employment scheme – MGNREGA – with VB G-RAM-G law from January 5. “In the meeting, we took an oath. We decided to launch a massive movement across the country, making the MNREGA scheme the central point. Indian National Congress party, taking a leading role, will launch the Save MNREGA Campaign from January 5th,” Kharge said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jamia students back Dalit Professor suspended over exam question on atrocities against Muslims
Students of the Department of Social Work at Jamia Millia Islamia have issued a strong statement expressing solidarity with Prof. Virendra Balaji Shahare, who was suspended by the university administration over an end-of-semester examination question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India,” calling the action an “erosion of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy, and an impermissible narrowing of scholarly discourse.” In their statement, the students asserted that the professor had committed “no wrongdoing” and maintained that the question cited as the basis for complaints was fully aligned with the prescribed syllabus. They said the syllabus explicitly mandates critical engagement with issues such as marginalisation, discrimination, violence, and structural injustice, and added that a copy of the syllabus was attached to their statement to substantiate the claim. “Penalising an academic for facilitating critical engagement undermines the very foundation of social science education,” the students said. The students argued that Jamia formally offers courses in Dalit and Minority Studies, Social Inclusion, Human Rights, and Social Justice, disciplines that are premised on critical inquiry and structural analysis. In this context, they said, the action against Prof. Shahare represents an erosion of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy, and an impermissible narrowing of scholarly discourse. The statement strongly criticised the university’s invocation of Statute 37(1) to suspend the professor, calling it “arbitrary, excessive, and legally untenable.” According to the students, the statute allows suspension only in exceptional circumstances involving prima facie evidence of grave misconduct, and solely as a temporary measure pending inquiry. They maintained that setting an examination question approved through institutional mechanisms does not amount to misconduct, negligence, or “unbecoming conduct” under the statute. Highlighting that examination papers undergo multiple levels of moderation and approval, the students questioned why only Prof. Shahare had been singled out. “No questions have been raised against moderation committees, departmental vetting processes, or the Controller of Examinations, who bears statutory responsibility for the conduct of examinations,” the statement said. The students also raised concerns about caste-based discrimination, noting that Prof. Shahare is a Dalit academic, stating, “The suspension reflects a disturbing pattern where individuals from marginalised communities bear the brunt of punitive action, while systemic accountability is evaded,” they alleged. The students described the reported mention of filing a police FIR against the professor as a “dangerous and unjust escalation,” warning that it could set a precedent for criminalising pedagogy. “Academic disagreements or public discomfort cannot and must not be converted into criminal liability,” the statement said. The students demanded immediate and permanent revocation of Prof. Shahare’s suspension, withdrawal of any legal action, a public apology from the university, assurances against scapegoating faculty from marginalised communities, and a reaffirmation of Jamia’s commitment to academic freedom and constitutional values. “We stand with our professor. We reject this injustice. And we will continue to speak until it is corrected,” they asserted. Similarly, students of the Department of Political Science at Jamia Millia Islamia condemned the suspension and demanded its immediate revocation, stating that “institutions of higher learning must address internal disagreements through transparent, proportionate, and procedurally fair mechanisms.” The students warned that such action affects not only the faculty member concerned but also the academic environment and students’ right to a free and critical learning space, adding that dialogue, not punitive measures, must remain the guiding principle of university governance. Virendra Balaji Shahare, was the paper setter for the BA (Hons) Social Work Semester-I examination titled Social Problems in India for the academic session 2025–26. The suspension comes after Prof. Shahare included a question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India” in the examination paper he set, sparking outrage among students, fellow teachers, and rights groups/ The university stated that it had received several complaints from various sources regarding the content of the question paper. In its order dated December 23, 2025, the university stated that the competent authority had taken a “serious view” of what it described as the professor’s negligence and carelessness. Acting on the instructions of the competent authority, Jamia said Prof. Shahare had been placed under suspension pending further orders. The Jamia Millia Islamia unit of the Fraternity Movement has demanded the revocation of the teacher’s suspension, calling it a move to defend academic freedom. The order further stated that a police FIR would be filed “as per rules” in connection with the matter. Invoking Statute 37(1) of the Statutes of the University, the Vice-Chancellor ordered disciplinary action, stating that the alleged negligence amounted to an act “unbecoming” of a faculty member. Earlier, several student organisations, including AIDSO, AIMSU, AIRSO, AISA, DISSC, MSF, the Fraternity Movement, SFI, and SIO, in a joint statement condemned the suspension, stating that the examination question asking students to “discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India” was clearly syllabus-based and academically legitimate. They called the university’s decision to suspend him and file a police FIR an unprecedented, disproportionate, and dangerous attack on academic autonomy, democratic functioning, and Jamia’s historical legacy of critical inquiry. They also demanded the immediate revocation of the suspension and withdrawal of all punitive proceedings. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Protest over the killing of a Dalit youth in Bangladesh: Bajrang Dal, VHP burn effigy of Bangladesh, demand action
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists staged a protest at Sarju Pandey Park in Ghazipur on Thursday. The protest was against the alleged killing of a Dalit Hindu youth, Deepu Das, in Bangladesh. The activists also burned a symbolic effigy of Bangladesh during the protest. Activists of the organizations alleged that Deepu Das was murdered by radical organizations active in Bangladesh. They also questioned the role of the interim government there. The protesters said that the incident has created an atmosphere of fear among the Hindu community living in Bangladesh. The protest was organized to express the concerns of the Hindu community and to demonstrate social solidarity. The organizers said that the program was completely peaceful and its purpose was to express their feelings in a democratic manner. A large number of activists and common people from the city, block, and district levels participated in the protest. Several prominent activists were present at the protest, including Bajrang Dal District President Vipin Srivastava, District Convenor Ravi Raj, and Convenor Ratan Ji. Among them were Bechu, Dharmendra Kashyap, Omkar Rai, Amit Rai, Kripa Shankar Rai, Sudhakar Rai, Anand Tiwari, Omprakash Pandey, Pradeep Verma, Chandan Pandey, Deendayal Ji, City President Anurag Chauhan, Vinod Bajrangi, Brijesh, Harsh Singh, Hemant Tiwari, and Akhilesh Singh. Hundreds of other activists were also present. The organizers appealed to the Hindu community to maintain unity and continue to raise their voices for the victims. Shashi Kant Tiwari Courtesy: Hindi News
Brother of Dalit migrant worker lynched in Kerala urges ban on Sangh Parivar organisations
The brother of a Dalit migrant worker from Chhattisgarh who was lynched by BJP–RSS members in Kerala’s Palakkad has appealed to the Indian government to ban such Sangh Parivar organisations, which he said “consider themselves nationalist and religious while killing people in the name of caste and religion.” In a video message, Shashikant Baghel, the brother of Ram Narayan Baghel, introduced himself as a resident of Karhi in Chhattisgarh and said his brother was brutally beaten to death on December 17 by alleged Sangh Parivar goons. “The Sangh Parivar calls itself patriotic, but what kind of patriotism is this, beating their own people by branding them as Bangladeshis and still claiming to be nationalists?,” he asked. He said that he had appealed to the Kerala government for justice and staged protests with the support of various organisations, saying, “With their help, I fought with the Kerala government for justice for my brother.” Earlier, Kerala’s political parties condemned the lynching, describing him as a “victim of the Sangh Parivar’s hate politics” and warning that mob lynchings, once associated with Sangh Parivar strongholds in North India, occurring in Kerala as well marked a shocking reality and a clear manifestation of a poisonous, racist ideology. Police have arrested five people, including four BJP workers, in connection with the case. Those arrested are Ananthan (55) of East Attappallam; BJP–RSS workers A Anu (38) of Attappallam Kallankadu, C Prasad (34) and C Murali (38) of Attappallam Mahallikadu; and K Bibin (30) of East Attappallam. Meanwhile, the Kerala government announced a minimum compensation of ₹10 lakh for the family of Ram Narayan, who had arrived in Palakkad just four days earlier in search of work and was staying with a relative near Attappallam under Walayar police limits when he lost his way and got stranded in the village. The post-mortem report confirmed that the cause of death was severe head injury. As the family initially refused to claim the body, Revenue Minister K Rajan held discussions with them and assured compensation of “not less than ₹10 lakh.” The Chief Secretary was tasked with implementing the Tehseen S. Poonawalla guidelines, Section 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was added to the case, and ₹10 lakh was sanctioned from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Ram Narayan is survived by his wife, two young children, and his mother. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Clash between two Dalit groups in Kaili village: Dispute over harassing a mentally challenged youth, several injured
Kharkhoda. A violent clash broke out between two Dalit communities in Kaili village of the Kharkhoda police station area on Friday night at around 8 pm. The dispute started with a minor argument over harassing a mentally challenged young man, but quickly escalated into a major conflict. According to the information, Rakesh, a young man from the Jatav community, was going somewhere for some work. At that time, some youths from the Valmiki community started arguing with him and harassed him. Rakesh’s family and community members came to his defense, and a fight broke out between both sides with sticks and clubs. The fight quickly escalated, creating a tense situation. Several people from both sides were involved in this fight. According to local sources, two people were seriously injured in the clash and were immediately admitted to the medical center in Kharkhoda. The injured are undergoing treatment, and their condition is reported to be stable. According to local residents, the increasing tension in the village caused people in the surrounding areas to remain confined to their homes out of fear. Villagers demanded that the police increase security and restore peace quickly. The Kharkhoda police station in-charge confirmed the incident and said that there was no firing in the area. Only a physical altercation took place, and the police have registered a complaint from the concerned parties and initiated legal action based on the medical reports. The station in-charge appealed to both sides to maintain peace. Local administration and police officials are now continuously monitoring the village. The police aim to ensure that no further violent activity takes place and that mutual peace is restored between the two communities. The villagers also appreciated the promptness of the police and said that agreements and awareness at the community level are also necessary to prevent such incidents in the future. The administration has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone who engages in violence or disturbs public peace. Thus, this incident in Kaili village of Kharkhoda highlights the tension between communities in the region and makes the need for maintaining security and peace even more crucial. Rafiq Ahmed Courtesy: Hindi News
Atrocities against Dalit Hindus in Bangladesh are tragic: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Brij Lal says India will not remain silent
Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Commission Chairman Brij Lal arrived in Unnao to attend an event. During his interaction with the media, he made a strong statement regarding the atrocities being committed against Hindus, especially Dalits, in Bangladesh. He described these incidents as extremely tragic and worrying, and said that they would not be tolerated at any cost. Referring to the partition of India, Brij Lal said that in the 1946 Constituent Assembly elections, approximately 95 percent of Muslim brothers in undivided India had voted in favor of Pakistan. Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. At that time, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had suggested an exchange of population to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, but this could not happen. He said that Dalit leader Jogendra Nath Mandal, whom Jinnah had made the first Law Minister of Pakistan, had assured that Dalits would be safe in Pakistan. Because of this, a large number of people from the Dalit community stayed there. The Commission Chairman further said that most of the Hindus who are being persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan today are Dalits. When Jogendra Nath Mandal returned to India from Pakistan on October 8, 1950, there was a stampede among the Hindus there. At that time, a large number of people were settled in districts like Assam, Bengal, Pilibhit, and Kheri. Sharing his experience, Brij Lal said that he himself had been the Superintendent of Police of Pilibhit and had witnessed the suffering of that period firsthand. Taking a dig at political parties, Brij Lal said that candle marches are held for the events in Gaza, but when Hindus are burned alive or brutally murdered in Bangladesh, many political parties remain silent. He called this extremely unfortunate. The Commission Chairman clarified that India is not remaining silent on this issue and will take appropriate action. Courtesy: Hindi News
UP officer who raped 10yo Dalit girl and agoat tied at her house found dead in jail
Meerut: A 59-year-old assistant development officer (ADO) in the agriculture department in Bulandshahr’s Shikarpur block, who was accused of raping a 10-year-old girl and then a goat tied at her house in 2024, died of “cardiac arrest” in jail on Thursday, which happened to be his birthday. The case was scheduled for court hearing on Jan 6. “The accused was in prison for almost a year. He was a heart patient and was undergoing treatment in Delhi and Meerut while in judicial custody. He complained of chest discomfort yesterday in prison and died on the way to hospital. His autopsy report has confirmed death due to cardiac arrest, and the body has been handed over to his family,” jailor, Ashok Kumar, said on Friday. The crime dates back to Aug 13, last year, when the ADO reached a Dalit man’s house for an inspection. Finding his young daughter alone at home, he forcibly dragged her to a room and sexually assaulted her. Before leaving, he also had unnatural sex with a goat tied inside her home and a neighbour caught the barbaric act in his phone camera. The accused was later arrested and an FIR under BNS section 65 (2) (rape on a woman under 12 years), section 3 (2)(5) of SC/ST Act, section 5M/6 of Pocso Act and section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act were registered against him. He remained in jail after the court rejected his bail plea. ADGC Varun Kaushik said, “His crime was heinous. Fourteen witnesses have testified in court until now. The girl had identified the accused in court. A medical examination of the goat was also conducted, which confirmed the assault. We presented strong evidence in court to prove him guilty.” 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
‘Erudite and deeply decent’: Congress, leaders across party lines pay tribute to Manmohan Singh on first death anniversary; Tharoor shares heartfelt video
NEW DELHI: First death anniversary of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was marked on Friday with leaders paying tributes across the country. Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away last year at the age of 92. Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi paid tribute, saying Singh’s decisions helped the poor and underprivileged, and his humility and hard work remained an inspiration. Rahul also paid floral tributes at Manmohan Singh’s residence at 24, Akbar Road in New Delhi. Party leaders and workers remembered Singh at events held in different states. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge described Singh as a transformative leader who changed the direction of India’s economy. He said Singh’s reforms expanded opportunities and helped millions move out of poverty. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) Shashi Tharoor’s video tribute Shashi Tharoor shared a video message, describing Singh as an “erudite and deeply decent leader”. He said Singh’s quiet nature often spoke louder than political noise. “Today the nation pauses to mark a solemn milestone, the first death anniversary of a man whose silence often spoke louder than the clamour of our current political discourse, our former Prime Minister, the erudite and deeply decent Dr Manmohan Singh. It has been a year since we lost him, yet the void he left in the intellectual and moral landscape of Indian public life remains palpable Dr Singh was in many ways, in the famous phrase, an accidental politician, but he was a very conscious patriot,” Tharoor said in his video message. He said Singh would be remembered as a transformative Prime Minister who combined a quiet manner with firm conviction, pointing to his decision to stake his government on the civil nuclear deal that strengthened India’s position globally. Tharoor added that Singh’s years as Prime Minister were not only about economic growth. They were also about building a framework of rights, including the Right to Information, the Right to Education, MGNREGA, the right to work and the Right to Food Security. — ShashiTharoor (@ShashiTharoor) Leaders across parties remember Singh “On the death anniversary of former Prime Minister, ‘Padma Vibhushan’ Dr Manmohan Singh ji, humble tribute to him. As finance minister and Prime Minister, he made invaluable contributions to the nation’s development,” UP CM Adityanath wrote on X. West Bengal’s CM Mamta Banerjee wrote, “Remembering former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, on his death anniversary.” Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule, and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar were among the many leaders who remembered Singh. Born in 1932, Manmohan Singh was an economist who served as RBI Governor and finance minister before becoming Prime Minister. 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
Foxconn expansion: Karnataka chief minister accuses Centre of credit chori
Bengaluru/New Delhi: A war of words has broken out between the state govt and the Centre over credit for Foxconn’s rapid expansion, with chief minister Siddaramaiah Friday accusing union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw of “stealing Karnataka’s success”. The CM questioned why BJP’s “double-engine govts” had failed to match Karnataka’s industrial performance after Vaishnaw linked Foxconn’s expansion in the state to the Centre’s Make in India programme. Vaishnaw’s remarks followed a Facebook post by Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who shared a news report titled “Foxconn hires 30k staff at new, women-led unit” and praised Karnataka for creating a manufacturing ecosystem capable of scaling quickly. In his post, Rahul Gandhi said, “30,000 staff hired in just eight–nine months – the fastest factory ramp-up seen in India so far…” He described the expansion as “transformative job creation”, noting that around 80% of the workforce were women aged 19–24. “Karnataka is setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed,” he said, adding, “This is the India we must build: jobs with dignity, and opportunities for all.” In his response, Vaishnaw said, “Thanks, Rahul Gandhi, for acknowledging the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision.” Responding on X, Siddaramaiah said, “If Make in India is truly a success, why can’t BJP’s ‘double-engine’ states match what Karnataka has delivered?” “When you have no achievements to show, you steal others’ success and take the credit,” he added. Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of Apple devices, has its second-largest facility outside China at Devanahalli near Bengaluru. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce up to 20 million iPhones a year. Over the past 12 months, iPhones worth $22 billion have been assembled in India, accounting for nearly 20% of Apple’s global iPhone output. Quotes Thanks, Rahul Gandhi, for acknowledging the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme (reflected in Foxconn’s expansion). As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision -Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union minister If Make in India is truly a success, why can’t BJP’s ‘double-engine’ states match what Karnataka has delivered? When you have no achievements to show, you steal others’ success and take the credit -Siddaramaiah, chief minister 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
Haryana: 12-year-old Dalit boy held captive and given electric shocks on suspicion of theft, case registered against 10 people
Palwal: Humanity shamed in Palwal: Minor returning home on the night of December 10th was held captive and tortured, also accused of sexual assault, case registered under SC/ST Act. Palwal: A shocking incident that shames humanity has come to light from Palwal, Haryana. Ten members of a single family have been accused of holding a 12-year-old Dalit boy captive for hours and brutally torturing him. The family committed this inhumane act after accusing the child of theft. The police have taken action in the matter and registered a case. What is the whole matter? This heartbreaking incident took place on the night of December 10th. The victim child, who works carrying lights at weddings to help his family financially, was returning to his village Banchari from Hodal town that night. According to the police, at around 11:30 pm, he was coming home with two other children when a car started following them. The people in the car were allegedly intoxicated. Frightened, the children started running. In an attempt to save himself, the victim boy jumped into the premises of a house, while his companions ran towards the village. The family living in the house where he jumped caught him, mistaking him for a thief. After that, what they did to the child before informing the police was horrific. The brutality inflicted on the child The police said that the accused allegedly tied the child’s hands and feet and repeatedly gave him electric shocks. Not only that, the victim minor told investigators that he was also sexually assaulted. The child has suffered serious burn injuries and is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. The family held him captive for several hours and later called the police. Police action In this case, the police have registered a case against 10 members of the family. The accused have been booked under the following sections: Voluntarily causing hurt, Wrongful confinement, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. According to the latest information, one accused has been arrested so far in this case, while the three main accused are still absconding. What happened in court? The three main suspects, who are currently absconding, had filed an anticipatory bail application on Monday. The case was heard in the Sessions Court on Wednesday. During the hearing, the medical report related to the minor’s injuries was presented, after which the court adjourned the hearing. The next hearing in this case will be held on January 8. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News