LPG price hike adds to household burden in Karnataka
This is the second hike in the past three months. BENGALURU: The recent increase in the price of domestic LPG cylinders by Rs 29 has pushed the cost in Bengaluru to Rs 944 from Rs 915, adding to the burden on consumers already grappling with a series of price hikes in recent months. This is the second hike in the past three months. In March, LPG prices were increased by Rs 60 per cylinder following disruptions in global energy markets linked to tensions in West Asia. The price of a 5-kg LPG cylinder has also risen by around Rs 10, from Rs 340 to Rs 351. Speaking to TNIE about the impact of the hike, Ravi Richard, a retired professor, said, “The LPG price hike affects lower-middle-class and economically weaker sections in a serious way. “The Union government should ensure that low-income groups are protected from such increases through a differential pricing system. Those who can afford higher prices may be charged more, while poorer sections should be shielded from the burden.” “The repeated increase in LPG prices is putting significant pressure on household budgets, particularly those of middle-class and poor families. For families like ours, every rupee matters. The rising cost of essentials such as milk, cooking oil and now cooking gas is making daily life increasingly expensive,” said Shrikant, a resident of Horamavu. He added that the impact is being felt across the economy, with hotels and restaurants already raising prices. “Coupled with higher electricity tariffs, garbage collection charges and the implementation of the new labour code, food prices are likely to rise further,” he said. Suresh Kumar, an employee of a private company, said, “Given the trend of frequent LPG price hikes, it will not be surprising if the price crosses Rs 1,000 per cylinder. We are already bearing the burden of rising fuel costs and the increase in prices of essential commodities driven by higher diesel prices.” 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
INDIA bloc holds key meeting: Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav among top leaders present; DMK stays away
The meeting is being held against the backdrop of recent assembly polls in four states and the Union territory of Puducherry. While non-BJP parties secured victories in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the results were seen as a setback for the opposition, with the BJP winning West Bengal and Assam and retaining power in Puducherry alongside its ally, the All India NR Congress. The meeting has been convened at the request of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was defeated in West Bengal after 15 years in power and is now facing internal dissent. The TMC has had an on-off relationship with the INDIA bloc and contested the Lok Sabha polls in the state on its own. The leaders will address a joint press conference at 2:30 pm. Here are some key takeaways: Opening remarks and agenda Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the leaders and outlined the agenda in his opening remarks. The discussion includes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleged misuse of investigative agencies by the BJP-led Centre, perceived discrimination against non-BJP state governments, inflation, privatisation, unemployment, paper leaks, and what the opposition described as the Centre’s “weak” foreign policy, among other issues. Who are attending A total of 23 parties are participating in the INDIA bloc huddle. Opposition leaders present include Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge; TMC chief Mamata Banerjee; Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav; RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav; National Conference leader Omar Abdullah; and Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, along with leaders from Left parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is in attendance virtually. Who are missing The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had already announced that it will boycott the meeting, citing the Congress’ “betrayal.” The decision comes after the Tamil Nadu elections, in which the DMK lost power after a single term, following which the Congress aligned with newcomer Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government in the state. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also absent. Anti-Rahul posters Posters targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi appeared at multiple roundabouts in New Delhi ahead of the meeting. The posters highlighted past remarks made by opposition leaders against the Congress MP. They featured statements attributed to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal criticising Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. Tension between Congress and Left CPM’s John Brittas expressed serious concerns over the approach and conduct of the Congress, alleging that top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi, had accused the Left party of having an “understanding” with the BJP during the Kerala assembly elections. “We have serious reservations concerning the approach, attitude and conduct of the Congress party. Now it’s been three years since the inception of the INDIA bloc. We all came together to fight the BJP. But there is a murky situation that has happened in Kerala wherein people like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi accused us of having some sort of an alliance with the BJP,” Brittas told ANI. He questioned, “If that is the charge and approach of the Congress, then what is the whole purpose of us sitting together?” Brittas added that the CPI(M) does not seek validation from Congress regarding its commitment to opposing the BJP.” There were also tensions between the Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over seat-sharing for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The dispute has since been resolved. 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
Gehlot says September 2022 incident was indication of disagreement against Sachin Pilot, not Congress leadership
Ashok Gehlot alleged that Pilot’s associates were responsible for creating a perception that the MLAs supporting him had revolted against the Congress high command, leaving him with a bad reputation. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday criticised Congress leader Sachin Pilot and stated that the incidents that unfolded in September 2022 were not a revolt against the party high command but an indication of strong disagreement among the MLAs against Pilot’s elevation as the CM. The senior Congress leader alleged that Pilot’s associates were responsible for creating a perception that the MLAs supporting him had revolted against the Congress high command, leaving him with a bad reputation. Gehlot was speaking about the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting that was called in Jaipur on September 25, 2022, to discuss the leadership of the Rajasthan government if Gehlot were to be elected president of the party. Several MLAs close to Gehlot did not attend the meeting and opposed any move to make Pilot the chief minister. Gehlot on Sunday said that he was in line to become the Congress President, but such a situation unfolded that appeared to be a conspiracy, and he ended up with a bad reputation. However, he felt sorry in front of Sonia Gandhi for not being able to get a resolution passed in the CLP meeting. “It is repeatedly asked what happened on September 25. There can never be a revolt against the high command,” he said, adding that the incident was against “Sachin Pilot, whose name was being circulated” that he could take oath as the chief minister. He said the MLAs’ stance was that they had demonstrated loyalty to the high command. They stayed confined in hotels and saved the government. “They wanted any of them to be appointed as the chief minister and they would accept it, but Pilot was unacceptable to them because he was the one who took his MLAs to Manesar,” he said. Pilot, who was serving as the deputy chief minister in the Gehlot government, had rebelled against his leadership in 2020. It is alleged that he and some MLAs stayed in Haryana’s Manesar. The rebellion led to a political crisis in the state, which the party leadership resolved through intervention. Gehlot had alleged that it was a conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP to topple his government, using Pilot and other MLAs as pawns. In September 2022, a CLP meeting was called in Jaipur to discuss the leadership of the Rajasthan government if Gehlot were to be elected president of the Congress party. Sachin Pilot was considered the top runner to replace him. But MLAs loyal to Gehlot did not attend the meeting. Instead, they held a parallel meeting and went to Assembly Speaker C P Joshi’s residence to submit their mass resignations. Gehlot said there was no question of rebellion against the Congress high command. “Sonia Gandhi had offered me the chief minister’s post three times without me even asking for it. I was in line to become the Congress President, and I am not uneducated. I am well-educated. If Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party were making me Congress President, would I have refused?” he asked. “The situation that unfolded…I feel it was a conspiracy. AICC observers arrived suddenly, a spectacle ensued, and I ended up with a bad reputation,” he said. “People believe that Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain the chief minister rather than become Congress president, and that is why the revolt happened. How do I explain it to them?” he said. “The media spread this narrative, and I remained silent,” Gehlot said. Gehlot said he stayed silent because he needed to convey to Sonia Gandhi that he was the leader of the Legislature Party, and AICC observers had arrived. He added that he was unable to get the resolution passed and “expressing his regret to her”, he “apologised” for the situation that had arisen. Asserting that truth has no alternative, Gehlot said, “I have placed the truth before everyone and will continue to do so.” He said that historically the Congress high command had maintained strong trust in the Rajasthan unit. He alleged that the perception of revolt against the party high command was created by Pilot’s associates, which was incorrect. He said that when the party high command decides to change a chief minister, a majority of MLAs tend to align with the one who is going to become the new chief minister. “Whenever the high command decides that the chief minister should be replaced, 90 per cent of the MLAs who were previously with the incumbent chief minister switch their allegiance to the new one. What was the reason that when the new chief minister’s name began circulating — whether floated by Pilot’s associates — MLAs did not go to him,” he said. “Sachin Pilot needs to understand this. He has been in politics for about 15-20 years now. He has gained considerable experience. We are not his enemies. I used to visit his family since his childhood,” he said. Pilot made a mistake, and he should acknowledge it. He has not learned to accept the truth, which is why this issue persists, he said, adding that he does not want this issue to persist. Gehlot said, today, the Congress is in crisis, the country is in crisis. Only Congress can save the country and all leaders of the party should be united for this. The former chief minister said that he had helped Pilot become a union minister in the UPA government, but he never acknowledged this help. He is no longer chasing any post, Gehlot said, adding that “it would be a different matter if a position were to come my way unsolicited. I am not vying for any post.” Serving as chief minister three times is no small feat, he said, adding that his message is “Do not erase my line. Instead, draw a line longer than mine.” As for who becomes the chief minister and who
‘PM wants youth to keep making reels, fry pakodas’: Rahul slams Modi on CBSE OSM row
The Congress leader highlighted the students’ efforts to investigate the issue and raise concerns about the examination evaluation process. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday praised student whistleblower Sarthak Sidhant and his associate Nisarga Adhikary for exposing what he described as the “collusion” between the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and COEMPT, while stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the OSM controversy. Sharing a video of his meeting with the two on X, Gandhi said PM Modi wants young people to keep “making reels and fry ‘pakodas’”, but added that the students chose to question the system and seek answers. Gandhi met Sidhant, an 18-year-old student affected by the CBSE’s onscreen marking system (OSM), last week. Sidhant has alleged irregularities in the tendering process used to select a vendor for the OSM exercise for Class 12 board examinations. The Congress leader highlighted the students’ efforts to investigate the issue and raise concerns about the examination evaluation process. In his post in Hindi accompanying the video, Gandhi said, “Sarthak is 18 years old, yet, in terms of mindset, courage, and principles, he is second to none. He and his associate, Nisarg, accomplished what the country’s major media houses and investigative journalists could not: they exposed the collusion between CBSE and COEMPT to the nation.” An 18-year-old from the country proved faster and sharper than the CBI; this victory for the youth is, in the true sense, a defeat for the government, Gandhi said. “Modi ji wants our youth to keep making reels and frying pakodas, without asking questions or opening their eyes. But these young men did ask questions, and they found the answers, too,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. “This is India’s true youth power — inquisitive, aware and informed. And remember, the country’s future will not be led astray,” he said. While the government has shunted out two top CBSE officials following the on-screen marking system row, the opposition Congress has dismissed it as an eyewash and a cover-up, with Rahul Gandhi demanding that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be sacked and an independent judicial inquiry be ordered immediately. In the video, Gandhi asks Sidhant how he was able to find out information about alleged irregularities in the OSM tendering process. Gandhi also hails him for doing the job of investigative journalists. After meeting Sidhant and his family last Tuesday, Gandhi had posted pictures from the meeting and said, “Sarthak, stay firm on your principles.” Sidhant also made a presentation before a parliamentary panel on Tuesday on the alleged irregularities in the OSM tendering process. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) replaced the traditional method of checking papers with digital evaluation for Class 12 through the on-screen marking system. However, a controversy erupted after some Class 12 students alleged that the scanned copies of their answer sheets uploaded by the board did not match their handwriting, raising concerns over possible answer-sheet mismatch in the OSM system. 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
23 parties set to attend INDIA bloc’s ‘janbandhan’ meeting as Congress says alliance remains united
INDIA bloc is set to deliberate on the future course of action with an eye on 2029 Lok Sabha polls and will look to devise a joint strategy to corner the Modi govt on national issues. Twenty-three political parties have confirmed their participation in the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Monday, the Congress said, asserting that the opposition alliance remains united through its diversity. The meeting, branded as the ‘INDIA janbandhan’ gathering, will be held at the Constitution Club and is expected to discuss the alliance’s future strategy, including preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi, on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 12 noon.” Tagging Ramesh’s post, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien said, “Meeting with a common purpose and clear intent. INDIA united. Many parties look forward to meeting in the spirit of camaraderie.” Ramesh said some parties would not be attending the meeting. “There are some parties who have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons, even though they have conveyed their strong opposition to the Modi government’s policies and actions that are snatching away the right to vote for millions of Indians, assaulting the Constitution daily, attacking Opposition leaders through investigative agencies, seriously damaging the livelihoods of crores of Indians, breaking household budgets through relentless price rise, betraying the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth, dampening investment climate, and compromising the national interest by its foreign policy,” he said. In this photo from March 9, 2026, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and INDIA bloc leaders meet in Parliament to discuss the strategy. INDIA bloc must stay united, not contemplate third front: CPI leader D Raja In this photo from March 9, 2026, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun “Like India, the ‘INDIA janbandhan’ continues to stand united through its diversity,” Ramesh added. The meeting comes amid strains within the opposition alliance. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has decided to skip the gathering, citing what it described as the Congress’ “betrayal” in Tamil Nadu, while the CPI(M) has expressed dissatisfaction over remarks by senior Congress leaders alleging that the Left had colluded with the BJP in Kerala. According to sources, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby recently wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking clarification over statements by senior Congress leaders that suggested a political understanding between the CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala. The gathering also follows recent assembly elections in which the TMC and the DMK were voted out of power in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu respectively. Political observers view the meeting as an attempt to strengthen coordination among opposition parties amid shifting political equations in several states and ahead of future electoral contests. The Aam Aadmi Party has publicly distanced itself from the alliance, while the DMK formally announced this week that it would boycott the meeting. In the past, INDIA bloc leaders have also met ahead of Parliament sessions to discuss floor coordination and jointly raise issues against the central government. 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
Two Dalit youths stripped, tied, & dragged over theft suspicion in Muktsar; SC panel seeks report from SSP By June 9
Bathinda: Two Dalit youths were allegedly stripped, tied, and dragged through agricultural fields in scorching heat over suspicion of theft in Punjab’s Muktsar district on Saturday. The incident comes just two days after a viral video surfaced from Haryana’s Hansi district showing a Dalit youth hanging upside down in a well over the alleged theft of a water pump. Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken suo motu notice of the incident in Jhord village, seeking a report from the Muktsar SSP, to be submitted through the SP (headquarters) by June 9. Sources said a group of villagers stormed the homes of the two local youths after learning about the theft of a mobile phone from a migrant labourer. The two were taken to the paddy fields, where they were initially tied to a tree, partially undressed, and bound by their hands before being dragged, showed a video that later went viral and sparked outrage. Ashok Mahindra, a representative of a local pro-Dalit organisation, said, “The villagers acted in a Taliban style. Even if these youths committed a crime, there is a legal system to deal with them. We will request the Punjab social security minister, who represents the Malout constituency, to take serious note of this incident.” Malout DSP JS Dhaliwal identified the two youths as Gurpinder Singh (27) and Sandeep Singh (28), both residents of Jhord. Police said Gurpinder already faces a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. DSP Dhaliwal said the police are not overlooking the assault. “While we are investigating the alleged mobile snatching and the background of the youths, strict action is simultaneously being taken against those who indulged in this inhumane act.” Villagers claimed the two men confessed to the theft during the ordeal. Former Punjab SC Commission member Karanbir Singh Indora also strongly condemned the incident. “The villagers acted in a highly objectionable manner. No one has the right to take the law into their own hands.” Locals admitted to the assault but said they acted out of rage, claiming the two were involved in drug abuse and targeted a migrant labourer. 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
Scheduled Caste, minority wings of Congress plan joint stir against atrocities
MPs, MLAs, and community representatives from across the country would participate in the July 20 rally, Rajendra Pal Gautam, head of the SC department, and Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi, who heads the minority department, said at a press conference following a joint convention of the two departments. The Scheduled Castes (SC) and minority departments of the Congress on Saturday (June 6, 2026) announced a joint nationwide campaign against alleged atrocities on Dalits, minorities, and other marginalised communities, The campaign will culminate in a major protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, coinciding with the Monsoon Session of Parliament. MPs, MLAs, and community representatives from across the country would participate in the July 20 rally, Rajendra Pal Gautam, head of the SC department, and Rajya Sabha member Imran Pratapgarhi, who heads the minority department, said at a press conference following a joint convention of the two departments. Mr. Gautam alleged that Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, and backward communities continued to face systemic discrimination, claiming that institutions like police and bureaucracy often functioned with prejudice against them. He pointed to disparities in scholarship eligibility norms, noting that the annual income ceiling for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students was ₹2.5 lakh, compared with ₹8 lakh for beneficiaries in the Economically Weaker Sections category. He also criticised inadequate budgetary support for finance and development corporations meant for the SCs and the STs. Mr. Pratapgarhi accused the Centre of being indifferent to atrocities against marginalised communities. He said the two departments would coordinate activities down to the district and block levels and stand with victims wherever incidents of oppression were reported. A joint advisory council meeting will be held in Lucknow later this month, he added. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rajya Sabha Elections: Hemant surprises by giving ticket to a Dalit outside the Soren family, Baijnath becomes candidate
Political twist: Congress’s Pranav Jha, BJP’s Gaurav Vallabh, JMM’s Baijnath Ram, and independents Nathwani and Sai Reddy have filed nomination papers, but the BJP remains silent. The Rajya Sabha elections for two seats in Jharkhand have heated up the political atmosphere in the state. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) surprised everyone by not fielding anyone from the Soren family for the seat vacated by Guruji. The JMM, which had staked claim to both seats until Friday, announced former minister and central vice-president Baijnath Ram as its candidate on Saturday. However, the party has not yet given a concrete answer to the question of fielding a candidate for the second seat. Meanwhile, BJP’s chief whip in the Assembly, Naveen Jaiswal, claimed on Friday night that the party’s candidate would be announced on Saturday morning. Gaurav Vallabh has also purchased his nomination as a BJP candidate, but the party did not officially announce his name until late Saturday evening. Congress candidate Pranav Jha and JMM candidate Baijnath Ram have also purchased their nomination papers. JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that Baijnath Ram will file his nomination papers on Monday, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be present. Parimal Nathwani met the Chief Minister, will contest as an independent Parimal Nathwani arrived in Ranchi at 8 pm on Saturday. He went directly from the airport to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Kanke Road, where the two leaders met for about half an hour. After the meeting, Nathwani stated that it was merely a courtesy call and no discussion took place regarding the Rajya Sabha elections. He clarified that he will contest this election from Jharkhand as an independent. His nomination papers have been purchased and he will file his nomination papers on Monday. The ‘Behind the Scenes’ Game in the Rajya Sabha Elections Who will be the proposer? The ‘Mystery’ of 10 MLAs and the Entry of 2 Heavyweights The entry of heavyweight independents like Parimal Nathwani and Vijay Sai Reddy into the Rajya Sabha fray has made the election extremely interesting. According to the rules, a minimum of 10 MLAs are required for nominations. Inside Story: It is nearly impossible to gather 10 MLAs in the Jharkhand Assembly without the tacit consent or internal sabotage of a major party. Consequently, the biggest question in political circles is: who are the hidden MLAs willing to propose these heavyweights? Will this be a simmering discontent within the ruling and opposition parties, or will it be a new horse-trading game? BJP’s ‘Dark Horse’ Plan: Silence Behind the Chess Gaurav Vallabh has purchased his nomination papers, but the BJP has yet to reveal its cards. This delay in the official announcement is not without reason. Inside Story: The BJP’s silence isn’t a compulsion, but rather a part of Plan B. If the party doesn’t officially field its own candidate, it likely means it has decided to support a strong independent candidate behind the scenes. Instead of losing a direct contest, the independent candidate is intended to dent the Grand Alliance’s vote bank and appease disgruntled MLAs. Bhupesh and Ajay met the CM and said, “All is well.” Congress observers for the Rajya Sabha elections, Bhupesh Baghel and Ajay Sharma, met with Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday afternoon. After a nearly two-hour meeting, both observers stated that everything was fine. The alliance would win both seats in the Rajya Sabha elections. Bhupesh Baghel said that they had a good and frank conversation with the Chief Minister, there were no misunderstandings, and the alliance was strong. Why did the JMM choose Baijnath Ram? Baijnath Ram’s name was included in the list of ministers in the Champai Soren government, and this list had even reached the Raj Bhavan. However, he was stopped just before the swearing-in ceremony, leading to accusations of the party neglecting Dalits. Later, he was promised a suitable position, and that is why he was nominated for the Rajya Sabha seat. Furthermore, the JMM has played the Dalit card after the Congress fielded a Brahmin candidate. Candidate Profiles: At a Glance Parimal Nathwani: Industrialist and current Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh. He served as an independent Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand for two consecutive terms from 2008 to 2020. He lives in Dwarkesanandi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Pranav Jha: National Secretary of the Congress Party and media strategist for the party. He is also close to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He is originally from Anadipur village in Bhagalpur district and studied in Bokaro. He currently lives in South Avenue, Delhi. Gaurav Vallabh: A prominent BJP leader, economist, and academic. He is currently a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. He has served as a professor of economics at XLRI, Jamshedpur, and SISS, Ranchi. He is from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Baijnath Ram: A senior leader of the JMM and has served as a minister in the Jharkhand government. He is known as an experienced and dedicated JMM worker. He is seen as a prominent face of the party’s SC community. He originally hails from Dhobi Mohalla in Latehar. Sai Vijay Reddy: Chartered accountant and politician from Andhra Pradesh. He has served as the National General Secretary of the YSR Congress Party and a Rajya Sabha MP from Andhra Pradesh. He is considered a close associate of YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy and the party’s “Chanakya.” He hails from ISKCON City, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit experience in Punjab, felt and seen
The works of poets such as Kabir, Ravidas and Namdev have resonated for centuries, but it is only recently that Dalit literature has come to occupy centre stage. With the rise of subaltern studies, literature has developed many a niche segment, where hitherto invisible or suppressed groups have asserted their literary presence. Dalit writing, particularly under the influence of Marathi pioneers like Babasaheb Ambedkar and Namdeo Dhasal, started showing its prowess some 60 years ago, and has now become an irrepressible voice in almost all states of the country. Punjab has a very large presence of Dalits and an equally large body of Punjabi Dalit literature, yet not much has been translated so far to give it readership beyond Punjabi. The anthology ‘Gangrene’ offers for the first time a set of 12 stories in English to fill that gap. Translated by Akshaya Kumar and Navdeep Singh, the book comes with an elaborate introduction that gives an insight into the development of Punjabi Dalit writings as well as the dynamics of Dalit narratives of exploitation, discrimination and oppression. The translators claim that in contrast to progressive writers’ narratives of the poor and the underprivileged, these stories by Dalits themselves explore more authentically their lived experience. Veracity apart, the stories in the collection stand out for the diversity of experience, both in terms of physical and mental trauma, as perceived by Dalits and as enacted by their oppressors. If there are stories like ‘Cry of the Sky’, ‘My Story’, and ‘Everybody’s Story’, in which crimes like rape and violence against Dalits are portrayed, then there are also stories like ‘Doomsday’, ‘Cancer’ and ‘Cactus’, where the dominant caste characters have been shown to harbour deep-seated hatred, but not without giving us a peep into their mental and emotional conflict. The stories are equally divided between rural and urban settings. If the vehra (Dalit colony in a village) is the site of open disdain and exploitation by Jats and other village heads, then the city is an equally inhospitable place where Dalits, even after education and economic progress, cannot live without hiding their identity. A cobbler’s son will remain a cobbler’s son and a Dalit rising up to become a landlord will find trust and strength only in his own community, as in the story ‘Gaurjan’. Religion, the much-touted causa prima of the caste divide, figures in three stories – ‘Gangrene’, ‘Doomsday’ and ‘Roots’. Though Hindu Brahmins’ attitude towards Dalits is well known, in these stories, even Dalits who converted to religions like Sikhism and Buddhism find no respite. One muted theme that runs through almost all the stories is that for a Dalit, there is no escape from being a Dalit. Even if they try to override it with professional progress, pecuniary leap or physical prowess, the Dalit identity does not leave them. It will continue to lead them to misery and humiliation. I particularly liked two stories: ‘Bathloo’ and ‘Aatu Khoji’. Both are proud and professionally skilful workers, yet one ends up dead because of his sense of internalised lowliness, and the other in an effort to save Dalit honour. The book is a ready compendium to understand the psyche of both Punjabi Dalits and their oppressors. At times, it also portrays the Dalit reaction where violence and highhandedness of the dominant caste are met with equal aggression. But the stories largely remain clueless about how the conflict can be reduced or resolved. The book is translated well despite the usual intrusion of local terms here and there. It is going to prove to be a good resource material for comparing the Punjabi Dalit experience with other regional writings, particularly in Marathi and South Indian languages. Courtesy : Dailyhunt Note: This news is originally published on https:/dailyhunt.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalits are losing land in Karnataka despite PTCL Act protections
A public hearing organised by civil society groups in Bengaluru heard several testimonies of Dalits who lost their land and were unable to reclaim it due to adverse court rulings and bureaucratic hurdles. Karnataka appears to be on the cusp of another historic land struggle. Perhaps not as militant or as visible as the street marches organised by the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti in the 1970s, but no less significant in terms of its vision or potential for transformation. A small number of Dalits from seven districts in Karnataka told the jury of a public hearing in Bengaluru about how their families lost land to people from dominant castes and due to court rulings. Their stories were representative of 50 others whose testimonies will be presented to the government along with the observations of the jury. The public hearing on the implementation of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978, was held on Saturday, June 6. The hearing was the result of over six months of work put in by the PTCL Kaayde Bhoomi Vanchitara Horata Samiti, the All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), Manthan Law, Alternative Law Forum (ALF), and independent progressive researchers. Called the PTCL Act for short, the law itself was the result of a land agitation led by the Dalit Sangharasha Samiti in the 1970s. Under the law, land owned by people of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes cannot be transferred to non SC or non ST people. The public hearing was organised after compiling the testimonies of about 50 people from seven districts—Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Kolar, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Bengaluru South, and Davanagere. The jury panel comprised retired Supreme Court judge Justice V Gopal Gowda, former IAS officers SM Jamdar and D Thangaraj, and activist Jyothi Raj, and legal expert on PTCL cases HL Venkatesh. About 15 Dalit people spoke of how they lost their land. One common obstacle that emerged was the 2017 Supreme Court ruling in the Nekkanti Rama Lakshmi case. The SC dismissed the case stating that there had been a delay of 20 years in filing the application to reclaim the land, even though the law itself did not specify that claims had to be filed within a certain period. Rangamma, of Chinakavajra village in Madhugiri taluk in Tumakuru district, told the jury about how her husband’s grandfather Rangaiah was cheated out of a portion of his land. Chinakavajra village has 300 Vokkaliga families, 20 Dalit families, and three Naika families. She said that Rangaiah was granted two acres of darkhast land in 1954. For several years the family cultivated ragi and other crops and sometimes even had enough left over to either sell or simply give away to someone in need. Once when Rangaiah needed money to treat his wife, he approached a Vokkaliga man for Rs 200. He got the money, but did not realise that a sale deed for one acre had been executed without his knowledge. In 1961, the Vokkaliga man and his goons began harassing Rangaiah’s family, claiming that the land was theirs. Finally, in 2016 they came and assaulted the family with weapons and drove them off. Rangamma later told TNM that the attackers stripped them, beat them, and rubbed chilli powder in their eyes. Her family filed an atrocity complaint and the other side responded with an allegation of assault. “We’ve been shattered by this. Now we have to buy food, and look for work as agricultural labourers. But work isn’t always available and there are a lot of people who need work,” Rangamma told TNM. “We’ve been very pained by all this, they created a lot of trouble for us,” she added. Her case is currently in the Karnataka High Court. Manjunath, founder of the PTCL Horata Samiti, told TNM that he started the Samiti after he lost his own family land in Magadi taluk in 2018 after a long legal battle. “The High Court simply dismissed mine and 45 other applications for delay, citing the Nekkanti case. That was when I learned what real law is, even though the Act itself is good.” Once he began looking for others like him, he realised the scale of the impact. In 2022, he led a seven-month agitation in Freedom Park, which eventually led to the state government amending the PTCL Act in 2023 to explicitly say that there would be no time period limitation to invoke the Act. When the constitutionality of the amendment was challenged in the Karnataka High Court, several members of the organisers of the public hearing also fought to defend the amendment. Hearings concluded 10 months ago and the verdict is now awaited. Manjunath estimates that there are hundreds of cases in each district. In Bengaluru Urban alone, he says there are about 4,000 such claims, of which 3,000 were dismissed citing Nekkanti. “Now, without bothering about whether the claim is genuine, the courts simply ask when the application was filed and what the delay was, and dismiss it. That ruling has completely destroyed the PTCL Act,” he said. Justice V Gopala Gowda said that in Nekkanti, the Supreme Court had violated its own ruling in the Manchegowda and others vs State of Karnataka case in 1984. The Manchegowda case had challenged the constitutionality of the PTCL Act. The SC upheld the Act. Justice Gowda said that economic freedom was essential to the meaningful enjoyment of the constitutional promise of the right to life. Access to land was fundamental to securing such freedom, he said according to a press release. Former IAS officer Thangaraj said that significant challenges remain in the implementation of the law. Despite favourable orders from Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, beneficiaries often struggle to secure physical possession of their land due to a lack of cooperation from revenue and police officials, he said. Retired IAS officer SM Jamdar stated that the PTCL Act holds a mirror to the social inequalities that exist around us. There is a