Imran Masood backtracks from Priyanka Gandhi remark, says Rahul Gandhi is the leader
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Imran Masood said Rahul Gandhi is the acknowledged leader of the party, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s, issuing a clarification after a remark of his – “if Priyanka was the PM, Hindus would not have faced persecution in Bangladesh like today” – triggered a row. Masood explained that he was asked a question about Priyanka in context of Bangladesh, and he centered his response around it. “Rahul Gandhi is leader of Congress, and he is also the leader of Priyanka… Rahul and Priyanka are grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. If they had the command, Hindus in Bangladesh would not have faced the situation that they are facing now (while BJP is in office). That’s all I said.” The clarification, apparently after a prod from All India Congress Committee, sought to address the confusion that Masood’s response caused, being grabbed by BJP and TV headlines – which called it opposition party’s lack of confidence in Rahul. As if complementing Masood’s remark, PTI quoted Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra as saying that “Priyanka has a bright future in politics, and a time will come when people would like to see her at the top office.” Masood also slammed senior party functionary Shashi Tharoor over the latter’s praise for “Bihar’s model of development”, calling the LS member from Kerala directionless: “He is at a stage in life where he is lost. He is with Congress and talks about BJP. BJP has no future in Kerala, what will he do?” Earlier, Masood had said, “Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the PM and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is the granddaughter of Indira, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven’t healed.” Seizing upon the issue, BJP spokesman Shehzad Poonawalla said, “Congress MP Imran Masood has clearly said he does not have faith in Rahul anymore and sought to bring Priyanka in his place. Then an endorsement to this came from Robert Vadra, who said, ‘Yes, it is correct’.” Congress is wary of “Rahul vs Priyanka” headlines, realising that overzealous supporters of the Gandhi siblings end up offering an opportunity to rival BJP. 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
Dalit labourer lynched in Kerala over suspicion of being Bangladeshi
BHOPAL/THRISSUR: Kerala govt promised on Monday a compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh to the family of Ramnarayan Baghel, a 31-year-old Dalit daily wage labourer from Chhattisgarh, who was lynched by a mob in Walayar, Palakkad district, on Wednesday after being suspected of being a “Bangladeshi” or a thief. chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the killing “unacceptable in a progressive society” and ordered strict action. The assurance came after Baghel’s family, currently in Kerala, refused to accept his body until justice and financial aid were guaranteed. Following talks, authorities said the body will be airlifted from Kochi to Raipur Tuesday at state expense. Baghel arrived in Palakkad on Dec 13 seeking work and found employment as a construction labourer. Four days later, suspicion proved fatal. Vijayan said an SIT, led by Palakkad SP, is probing the case, with directions to review details and take necessary legal steps. Kerala police registered a case and arrested five suspects. They were produced before court and sent to judicial custody. Further arrests are likely. Police said the assault occurred at Attappallam East. Before death, hospital staff said Baghel told them he was attacked by a mob accusing him of theft. Investigators said no evidence of theft was found in his possession. Autopsy at Govt Medical College and Hospital in Thrissur showed death due to excessive bleeding caused by severe blunt force wounds to head and other body parts. Medical college hospital sources said embalming would be completed by Monday night. The killing has sparked political row after videos surfaced showing the mob questioning Baghel’s identity and asking if he was a “Bangladeshi”. 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
HRC orders probe into ‘custodial death’ of Dalit man
Hyderabad: Telangana Human Rights Commission has ordered a detailed probe into allegations of illegal detention, custodial torture, and custodial death of a Dalit man, Karla Rajesh, terming the claims ‘serious’ and warranting a thorough examination. The commission took up the matter based on separate complaints filed by Rajesh’s mother, Karla Lalitha, and MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga. The complaints allege that Rajesh was unlawfully detained by Chilkur and Kodad rural police, subjected to third degree methods, falsely implicated in cases, and denied access to his family during custody. Rajesh was an accused in the chief minister’s relief fund scam. It was alleged before the commission that Rajesh sustained severe injuries due to custodial torture and was later shifted from a sub-jail to govt hospitals, where he subsequently died. The TGHRC observed that if the allegations are proved, they would amount to grave violations of human rights and due process. Noting the seriousness of the case, the commission said a comprehensive examination of all related complaints was necessary to establish the facts and fix responsibility. It directed the principal secretary, home department, to submit a detailed report on the incident, including the circumstances of Rajesh’s detention, medical treatment provided, and the sequence of events leading to his death. Last week, Kodad rural circle inspector Pratap Lingam was suspended while Chilkur SI Suresh Reddy was attached to the SP’s office for their alleged negligence in ensuring timely treatment to Rajesh. Family members and relatives of Rajesh alleged that he was arrested on Nov 4 and subjected to third degree torture in the custody resulting in his death on Nov 16. 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
Dalit youth attacked with shoes and kicks in Chhatarpur, brutally beaten in broad daylight, CCTV footage reveals the incident
The victim, a Dalit youth, sustained serious injuries in the attack. With the help of his family and local residents, he was immediately admitted to the district hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. The Azad Samaj Party and Congress have criticized the government. Bhopal: Outrage has spread in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, after a case of brutal assault on a Dalit youth came to light. The incident reportedly took place in front of Punjab National Bank in the City Kotwali police station area, where the youth was thrown to the ground and beaten with shoes and kicks. CCTV footage of the entire incident surfaced on Monday, raising several questions about police action and law and order. The CCTV video clearly shows the youth being pushed to the ground, after which the attackers repeatedly strike his face with shoes and kicks. The attackers are also seen stomping on the youth’s face in the video, which gives an idea of the brutality of the assault. Onlookers stood by and watched, and no one dared to intervene. Admitted to district hospital in serious condition The victim, a Dalit youth, sustained serious injuries in the attack. With the help of his family and local residents, he was immediately admitted to the district hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. According to doctors, the youth has suffered deep injuries to his face and other parts of his body and will be kept under observation for some time. Two-day-old case, accused sent to jail Speaking to The Mooknayak, City Kotwali police station in-charge Arvind Singh Dangi said that the incident took place on December 20, two days ago. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police immediately took action and arrested the main accused and produced him in court, from where he was sent to jail. He said that the CCTV footage related to the incident has now surfaced two days later, and the entire case is being investigated again in detail based on this footage. If the involvement of other people comes to light during the investigation, strict action will be taken against them as per the rules. Pressure mounts after footage surfaces After the CCTV video was made public, pressure has increased on the police to take impartial and strict action. Social organizations and members of the Dalit community have alleged that if the video had not surfaced, the seriousness of the case might have been downplayed. People are demanding that other people involved in the incident be identified and strict action be taken against them under relevant sections of the law. Demand for action under SC/ST Act Since the incident involved a Dalit youth, social activists have demanded strict action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. They say that this is not just a case of assault, but a case of caste-based violence, which should not be taken lightly. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Azad Samaj Party leader Sunil Asteya said that under BJP rule, Dalits are being continuously targeted and brutally beaten. He said that incidents of violence against Dalits have increased in the state, but the government seems completely unable to stop them. He demanded that the culprits in this case be given the harshest possible punishment so that such incidents do not recur in the future. He further added that if the government fails to stop the atrocities against Dalits, the Bhim Army and the Azad Samaj Party will be forced to take to the streets. Sunil Asteya warned that the organization will fight at every level for the respect and safety of the Dalit community and will not remain silent against injustice. Police claim investigation is ongoing The police say that the entire incident is being re-investigated based on the CCTV footage. If other people are also found to be involved in this attack, legal action will be taken against them as well. The police are also looking into whether there was any old dispute behind the incident or whether it is a case of caste-based hatred. Such an incident occurring in a busy area of the city, in front of a bank, raises serious questions about law and order. This daylight assault has increased the feeling of insecurity among the general public. Local citizens say that swift and strict action on such incidents can deter criminals in the future. Currently, the victim is admitted to the hospital and the police investigation is ongoing. After the CCTV footage surfaced, this case has now become more than just an incident of assault; it has become a serious question concerning the safety and justice of Dalits. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Pradeep Ahirwar, former member of the State Scheduled Castes Commission and State President of the SC Congress, said that incidents of atrocities against Dalits are continuously increasing in Madhya Pradesh. Every day, reports of assault, humiliation, and violence against Dalit youth are emerging from somewhere or the other, but the government is failing to stop them. He said that despite the existence of laws, they are not being properly implemented at the ground level. He further added that such incidents are creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the Dalit community. The government is only limited to making statements, while what is needed is strict action and swift justice. Pradeep Ahirwar demanded that strict action be taken against the culprits and that the victims be provided with security and justice, so that faith in the law is maintained in society. Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News
Pregnant Woman Killed in Karnataka for Marrying Dalit Man; Father Among Three Arrested: Police
A 20 year old pregnant woman was allegedly killed by her own family members in Inam Veerapur village of Dharwad district in Karnataka on Sunday for marrying a Dalit youth, police said. The woman, Manya Patil, was seven months pregnant and had married Vivekanand Doddamani earlier this year despite strong opposition from her family. The killing has triggered protests in the area. According to the police, Manya’s father Prakashgouda, along with other relatives, allegedly attacked her with pipes, causing serious head injuries that led to her death. Police have arrested her father and two other family members in connection with the case. Manya belonged to the Lingayat community, while Vivekanand is from a Dalit community. Dharwad Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya said the couple had married in May 2025 at the Hubballi rural police station after fearing violence from Manya’s family. She said the police had tried to counsel Manya’s parents, but they continued to oppose the marriage. Police also said that members of Manya’s family allegedly assaulted Vivekanand’s father, mother and other relatives. Following the killing, Dalit activists staged a sit in protest with Manya’s body, condemning the incident and demanding strict action against those responsible. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Telangana panel seeks report on alleged Dalit youth custodial death
Hyderabad, The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has directed the state Home department to submit a detailed report on the alleged custodial death of a Dalit youth in Suryapet district. Taking serious cognisance of allegations of illegal detention, custodial torture and death, the Commission passed the order on Monday based on a complaint filed by the youth’s mother, an official release said. According to the complaint, the deceased was allegedly unlawfully detained by Chilkur and Kodad Rural police between November 4 and November 9, subjected to third-degree torture, falsely implicated in a criminal case and denied access to his family. The complainant stated that her son was remanded to judicial custody on November 10. On the same day, she received a call from Huzurnagar sub-jail authorities informing her that his health had deteriorated. When she reached the jail, she found him in a serious medical condition. She further alleged that on November 14, her son was shifted to the district government hospital in Suryapet due to his worsening condition and was later referred to a state-run hospital in Hyderabad, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 16. The Commission noted that it was alleged the youth suffered severe injuries due to custodial torture and died after being shifted from the sub-jail to hospital care. Considering the gravity of the alleged human rights violations, the TGHRC clubbed the matter with an earlier complaint on the issue and directed the principal secretary, Home department, to submit a comprehensive report. The case has been listed for further consideration on January 12, 2026, the release said. Courtesy : Journalism Of Inclusiveness Note: This news is originallypublishedonhttps:/journalismofinclusiveness.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit man sets himself on fire after pouring petrol in Etawah; officials had come to evict him from his ancestral home
22-year-old Shivam Valmiki lived with his family in his ancestral house. A court case was ongoing regarding the ownership of the house. The decision came against Shivam. Shivam Valmiki seriously burnt Etawah: A major commotion erupted in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, when an administrative team went to evict a Dalit man from his house on a court order. The Dalit man, angered by the removal of his belongings from the house, poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire. The police present at the spot, with the help of the public, extinguished the fire and took the young man to the district hospital. Due to his critical condition, he was referred to Saifai Medical College. Shivam Valmiki (22) lives with his family in a house located at Pakka Talab Chauraha in the Etawah Sadar Kotwali area. This was his ancestral house, the dispute over which was ongoing in the Civil Judge Junior Division court in Etawah. The court’s decision came against Shivam. A team from the revenue department, including the Amin, Naib Tehsildar, and other officials, along with police force, reached the spot to evict him. As soon as the police, in front of the revenue team, started removing Shivam’s belongings from the house, a commotion ensued. Referred to Saifai Medical College During the eviction process, Devi Prasad Patel from the other party was present at the spot with his people. That’s when Shivam poured petrol inside the house and set himself on fire. Seeing the Dalit man burning in flames, the officials and police panicked. The fire was quickly extinguished, and Shivam, in a critical condition, was taken to the district hospital. Due to his critical condition, the doctors referred him to Saifai Medical College. Thumb impression taken on a blank paper from the drug-addicted brother-in-law: Sister-in-law The family members are outraged by this incident. Shivam’s sister-in-law, Jyoti, alleged that her brother-in-law was a drug addict. His thumb impression was taken on a blank paper while he was intoxicated. After the brother-in-law’s death, Devi Prasad filed a case in court to get the ancestral house vacated. It was reported that Devi Prasad Patel runs a hotel and is harassing them because of his money and influence. Today, these same people came with a revenue department team to evict them from their house. It was alleged that they threw the household belongings out in front of the police and officials. When Shivam protested, he was beaten, and then petrol was poured on him and he was set on fire. What did CO Abhay Narayan Singh say? Etawah CO Abhay Narayan Singh said that the Civil Judge Junior Division had ordered the eviction after hearing the dispute. The revenue department and police had come to evict them based on the court order when Shivam set himself on fire after dousing himself with petrol. Shivam is being treated at Saifai Medical College. Edited by: Vaibhav Pandey About the Author Vaibhav Pandey is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times Online. He covers news related to current affairs, human nature, crime, social issues, and politics. He has 18 years of experience in the media. During this time, he has covered the UP Assembly elections, Lok Sabha elections, and the West Bengal Assembly elections 2021. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Transgenderism killed Charlie Kirk’: MAGA commentator makes shocking claim at Turning Point USA event
A MAGA commentator stirred a row after claiming that transgenderism was responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder, during a speech at the same organization’s AmericaFest event. Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson posted on X and called Transgenderism an ‘epidemic’: “I called out – by name – the true evil, demonic force that took Charlie Kirk from us live on stage at AmericaFest. Transgenderism. The epidemic of transgender violence is running rampant in our country. Transgenderism is a lie. God made male and female. God did not make you in the wrong body. God does not make mistakes. Charlie’s final words warned of this threat. The very ideology that claimed his life. His death exposed the danger. His legacy demands we confront it. Openly, unapologetically, without fear. Thank God the Trump administration is doing just that.” Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a campus event by a sniper. Turning Point USA held a major conference in Phoenix to honour Kirk’s legacy. I called out – by name – the true evil, demonic force that took Charlie Kirk from live on stage at America Fest. Transgenderism. The epidemic of transgender violence is running rampant in our country. Transgenderism is a lie. God made male and female. God did not make you in… pic.twitter.com/YAUXtcsHZb — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 21, 2025 The man accused of killing Kirk was in a romantic relationship with a transgender partner, Utah officials confirmed at the time, but authorities say there is no evidence yet that this was the motive for the attack. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder. Robinson has also been charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. He has not publicly explained why he carried out the attack and is not cooperating with investigators. Utah governor Spencer Cox said that Robinson’s partner was male and transitioning to female, and that the individual has been “very cooperative” with authorities and had no advance knowledge of the shooting. Regarding Kirk, he was an outspoken activist who promoted traditional views on family and gender roles. He was an evangelical Christian who did not support transgender policies and often criticised LGBTQ+ communities at various events. He had a hardline stance that third-gender roles undermine the “natural” male and female roles. Under GOP administration, Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defence, has moved to implement policies removing openly transgender troops from the military and ending gender‑affirming care, following a Supreme Court decision allowing a trans service ban. He has also criticised diversity initiatives and “gender delusion” within the armed forces. 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
‘Will deliver decisive treatment’: Congress MP endorses Priyanka Gandhi for PM; draws Indira parallel on Bangladesh
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday said that Priyanka Gandhi will “deliver a decisive treatment” to Bangladesh if she becomes the Prime Minister. Refuting the charges from the BJP targeting Priyanka Gandhi for allegedly not speaking out strongly enough against violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Masood said that Wayanad MP spoke out the strongly the last time Bangladesh was becoming a central issue. “Priyanka Gandhi had raised her voice foremost last time when violence took place in Bangladesh. Make Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister first, and then see how she responds, just like Indira Gandhi,” Masood said. “Just like Indira Gandhi broke Pakistan into two places, Priyanka Gandhi will deliver a decisive treatment to the country (Bangladesh) so that it would not be able to become a hub of anti-India narratives,” he added. When asked what will Rahul Gandhi do if Priyanka becomes PM, Masood said,” Rahul Gandhi will act too—they are not separate. Rahul and Priyanka are like two eyes on the same face, the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. Don’t look at them separately—they are two eyes, one vision”. Amid the ongoing protests in Dhaka, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities after the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. The protests came in the backdrop of a mob lynching of the Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, a worker in a garment factory, in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. According to reports, Dipu Das, who was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy charges, had his body hanged and set on fire on December 18. The Daily Star, citing Mymensingh’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Abdullah Al Mamun, stated that a factory official had informed Bhaluka police that a group of workers attacked Dipu inside the factory, accusing him of making communal remarks. Factory sources told The Daily Star that the assailants later took Dipu out of the factory premises, where residents also joined the attack, resulting in his death. However, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-14 Company Commander in Mymensingh, Md Samsuzzaman, told The Daily Star that investigators found no evidence suggesting the deceased had posted or written anything on Facebook that could have hurt religious sentiments, adding that neither residents nor fellow garment factory workers could point to any such activity by the victim. The victim’s brother, Apu Chandra Das, also filed a case at Bhaluka Police Station on Friday, naming 140 to 150 unidentified individuals as accused. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation among political leaders, religious organisations and minority groups in Bangladesh and India. 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
Democracy Under Attack in India, ED-CBI Turned into Weapons, Says Rahul Gandhi in Germany
Rahul Gandhi questioned the fairness of elections in India, saying that the BJP has captured the institutional framework. He alleged that intelligence agencies, the CBI and ED have been weaponized, and there are fundamental problems with the electoral machinery. Gandhi said the opposition will have to find a way to counter this situation. New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has once again raised questions about the fairness of elections in India and claimed that the BJP has completely captured the country’s institutional framework, but the opposition will have to find a way to counter this. Speaking at a dialogue program at the Hertie School in Berlin, the German capital, he alleged that intelligence agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate have been turned into weapons. Rahul Gandhi uploaded a video of the program ‘Politics is the Art of Listening’ held in Berlin on his YouTube channel on Monday. He said, ‘We are raising questions about the fairness of elections in India… Our country’s democratic framework is under attack from all sides.’ He mentioned that the name of a Brazilian model appeared 22 times in the Haryana voter list. Fundamental problems in the electoral machinery: Rahul The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, ‘We are not getting answers from the Election Commission to the questions we are raising.’ He said that there are some fundamental problems in the electoral machinery in India. ‘The institutional framework has been completely captured, when you look at our intelligence agencies, the CBI and the ED, you find that they have been completely weaponized.’ The Congress MP further said, ‘Look, how many cases are there against BJP people by the ED and CBI? The answer will be none.’ He claimed that most of the cases have been registered against people from the opposition. He alleged that if you are a big industrialist and intend to support the Congress, you will be threatened. The ED and CBI will come after you.’ BJP has a lot of money… In Berlin, Rahul Gandhi, while referring to election funding, said that the BJP has much more money than the Congress. Therefore, as the opposition, we have to find a way to counter the situation… but you have to understand that we are not just fighting the BJP, we are also fighting against its takeover of the Indian institutional framework.’ Responding to a question related to the air pollution situation in Delhi and some other major cities of India, Rahul said that there is no contradiction between production and pollution; what matters is the type of fuel you are using, the type of energy you use for production. The pollution in our big cities can be addressed through appropriate government intervention.’ He said that Germany has a lot of production, but the air here is clean. Response on the Israel issue The Congress leader, responding to a question related to Israel, said, ‘We buy weapons from many countries, we buy from Israel, we also buy from Russia and we also buy from America. In difficult situations, we will have to defend ourselves… What Hamas did was completely wrong, and what Israel did afterward was also wrong. Women and children should not have been bombed.’ Edited by: Abhishek Pandey About the author Abhishek Pandey is a Consultant Writer at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than three years of experience working on news related to current affairs, politics, crime, and public interest. He has also closely covered the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022 and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Courtesy: Hindi News