Kanpur woman murdered, 7-months pregnant: Postmortem reveals suspicion of rape, murder case filed against two lovers
The postmortem report of a Dalit woman found under suspicious circumstances in a mango orchard in Ghatampur, Kanpur, has arrived. The report revealed she was seven months pregnant. Doctors suspected rape and prepared slides for examination, while the DNA of the unborn child has also been preserved. However, the postmortem report has yet to provide any answer to the cause of death. Based on a complaint filed by the woman’s father, police have registered a case against her two lovers under serious charges, including murder. Both accused are absconding, and the police are searching for them. Police are now attempting to solve the mystery using DNA reports, mobile phone data, and forensic investigations. Father accuses two young men of murder In his complaint to police, the father, a resident of a village in the Ghatampur police station area, stated that his 25-year-old daughter was in a love relationship with Gola Pandey, a resident of the village, and Pranjul, a resident of the city. According to the family, the girl had been living away from home for about a month. On Thursday morning, her body was found lying in a mango orchard on the outskirts of the village. The father alleged that the two young men murdered his daughter and dumped her body there. Ghatampur Inspector Manoj Singh Bhadoria stated that a case has been registered against both accused based on the father’s complaint, and they are being searched for. Key findings revealed in the post-mortem examination The post-mortem report, which arrived late Thursday evening, confirmed that the girl was seven months pregnant. According to the report, the DNA of the unborn child has been preserved for testing. Doctors have also preserved necessary samples (slides) to investigate the possibility of sexual assault. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether sexual assault occurred. This will only be confirmed after the forensic examination report is received. Cause of death still unclear The post-mortem report has not yet determined the cause of death. Therefore, the viscera and other examination reports are awaited. Police say that further action will be taken based on all scientific and forensic evidence. The police did not find the woman’s mobile phone or purse at the scene. Therefore, the investigation team is now examining her mobile number’s call details and location. Police hope the mobile number will reveal who the woman last contacted and her activities before the incident. The police are also examining call details and digital evidence. The post-mortem report has raised several new questions in the case. Police are now trying to determine how the woman died, how she reached the garden, and who was with her at the time of the incident. The investigating officer says that the entire case is being pieced together based on forensic reports, DNA testing, mobile call details, and other evidence. Police say that only after the investigation is complete will the true cause of death and the circumstances of the incident become clear. Himanshu Tiwari | Kanpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Rapido Driver Says Account Suspended for 99 Years After He Objected to Casteist Remarks
A 30-year-old Dalit cab driver in Lucknow has alleged that Rapido suspended his driver account for 99 years and 11 months after he confronted four passengers over alleged casteist remarks. The driver says the company took action without hearing his side of the incident. Driver says passengers made casteist remarks Ankit Kumar, a resident of Lucknow’s PGI area, said the incident took place on Monday when he picked up four passengers from Utrahtia railway station and was taking them to Charbagh railway station. According to Kumar, the passengers were initially discussing and criticising a senior railway officer. He said he did not intervene at first but objected when they allegedly began using casteist slurs and linking the officer’s abilities to his caste. Kumar, who belongs to the Chamar community, said he repeatedly asked the passengers to stop. “I requested them several times to withdraw their remarks, but they continued,” Kumar told the media. He said he reminded them that a person’s ability has nothing to do with their caste. In a video of the confrontation that circulated on social media, Kumar can be heard questioning the passengers over their language. “How can you use casteist remarks? If you have a problem with a person, use their name. Why are you defaming the entire community?” he said. Passengers asked to leave the cab Kumar said the passengers continued making the alleged remarks despite his objections. He eventually stopped the vehicle near Telibagh market, close to a police outpost, and asked all four passengers to get out. An argument reportedly followed after the passengers left the vehicle. Kumar said the incident was later recorded and the video was widely shared on social media. He also claimed that he began receiving abusive and threatening messages after the video went viral. “People are questioning why I objected and asked the passengers to leave. I have been receiving threats and abusive messages ever since the video went viral,” he said. ‘Company did not hear my side’ Kumar has alleged that the passengers later complained to the ride-hailing company, following which his driver account was suspended. According to him, the app showed a suspension period of “99 years and 11 months”. “The company should have at least heard my side of the story once. After that, whether they chose to suspend me or not was their decision. But they suspended me without even asking what had happened,” Kumar said. He added that he had no personal dispute with the passengers and objected only because of the alleged casteist comments. “They kept making casteist remarks against one of their own officers, so I objected,” he said. Suspension affects family’s livelihood Kumar holds a diploma in mechanical engineering but drives a cab to support his family. He said he is the sole earning member of his household. His father works as a daily-wage labourer, while his mother is a homemaker. 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
Freedom fighter who opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school:Rampratap Sharma quit police job after hearing Netaji’s speech, fought two battles in Pali
At an age when most children are busy playing, 12-year-old Rampratap Sharma lost both his parents. Jagirdars (landlords) seized his ancestral land, while incidents of oppression against weaker sections deeply disturbed him. After listening to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s speech in Jodhpur, he resigned from his police job and joined the freedom struggle. He faced lathi charges during various movements and was also jailed. At a time when untouchability was widespread and schools refused admission to Dalit children, he opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school in a rented house. He persuaded his younger brother to leave his job and take responsibility for teaching at the school. It later developed into a full-fledged school. Today, a Government Senior Secondary School operates in the same bungalow that once housed British officers. The Bhaskar team visited his village to trace the story of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma, who fought not only against British rule but also campaigned against untouchability. Read this special report. Lost his parents at the age of 12 Gundoj village is around 20 kilometres from Pali. In the Brahmpuri area of the village stand the ancestral homes of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma and his younger brother, Magraj. When we visited the house, his grandson and Magraj’s son recounted stories from that era. Grandson Mahesh Joshi recalls that Rampratap Sharma was 12 when he lost his parents. Under the feudal system, jagirdars had seized the family’s ancestral land. In these circumstances, he had to take refuge in his maternal grandparents’ village, Bagri. The land belonging to his maternal grandparents was also under the control of feudal lords. Assault on weaker sections deeply disturbed him In 1934, an open court was held in Bagri, his maternal grandparents’ village. There, prominent moneylenders and traders, along with people from weaker sections of society, were openly and brutally beaten. The incident deeply shook Rampratap. It was then that he decided to free both his family’s land and his maternal grandfather’s land from the control of the feudal lords. Sharma wanted to join the Indian Army and rise to a position of authority. However, according to the book Vande Mataram, Brahmins were not recruited into the British-Indian Army at the time. As a result, Rampratap Sharma joined the police and was appointed as a head constable. Quit police job after hearing Netaji’s speech in Jodhpur In 1938, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had returned from abroad, addressed a public meeting in Jodhpur. Head Constable Rampratap Sharma was responsible for maintaining law and order at the gathering. After hearing Bose’s speech, Sharma was deeply inspired by his nationalist spirit. The following year, in 1939, Rampratap Sharma resigned from the police service. He returned to his ancestral village, Gundoj, and began raising his voice against the jagirdari and feudal systems. That same year, he became a member of the Marwar Lok Parishad. Jailed during the Satyagraha movement Under the guidance of Jamnalal Bajaj and Hiralal Shastri, the Satyagraha movement was in full swing. For actively participating in the movement, the British government arrested Rampratap Sharma in 1943 and sent him to jail. Cases were registered against him under several sections, including robbery. After spending two years in jail, Sharma was acquitted in 1945 by Hakim Roopsingh Rathore and Gordhan Singh Bhandari. After being released from Jodhpur jail, he returned to his village and once again joined the farmers’ movement. He was also assaulted several times for opposing British rule and the feudal system. Opened Rajasthan’s first Dalit school in a rented house According to his biography published in Vande Mataram, Rampratap Sharma was a strong supporter of Vinoba Bhave’s movement against untouchability. He was therefore firmly opposed to the practice. At the time, Dalit or Scheduled Caste children were not admitted to Gundoj’s school. To educate these children, Sharma rented the house of Seth Pukhraj Jain, who had supported him during the Satyagraha movement. In 1945, an education committee was formed and the state’s first Dalit school was established. The responsibility for teaching was given to his younger brother, Magraj. He brought to the school children for whom getting an education had been little more than a dream. At the time, small bungalows for British officers stood near the village bus stand. After India gained independence, Sharma shifted the school to these bungalows in 1955. Today, the same school is known as Government Senior Secondary School, Gundoj. Adopted a Dalit girl as his daughter and arranged her marriage Badri Lal Joshi, 73, nephew of freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma, says Jaianarayan Vyas, under the guidance of Mathuradas Mathur, led a campaign against untouchability. He travelled on foot to several villages in Pali district to spread awareness. Badri Lal Joshi says, “Before independence, the first Dalit school in the state was opened by my uncle Rampratap Sharma. My father was a government teacher at the time. He left his job and taught at that school.” Became the village’s first sarpanch Freedom fighter Rampratap Sharma’s grandson, Mahesh Joshi, says his grandfather was the voice of the poor and deprived. After India gained independence, Sharma hoisted the Tricolour at the Dalit school and later became the village’s first sarpanch. Mahesh Joshi says his grandfather, Rampratap Sharma, became the first District Congress President in 1954. He also took a Dalit girl from the village into his family and raised her as his own daughter. He educated her and arranged her marriage. Even today, the family maintains regular contact with her family and continues to share a relationship based on mutual respect. Virendra Udesh/ Gundoj, Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mayawati expressed concern for Dalits and the most backward classes while extending greetings on August 15th, saying, “Higher institutions should be vigilant.”
Mayawati: BSP chief Mayawati extended Independence Day greetings to the nation. She urged those holding high constitutional and legal positions to be mindful of their responsibilities. Lucknow: The nation is celebrating its 80th Independence Day on Saturday. Bahujan Samaj Party National President Mayawati extended her best wishes to everyone on this occasion. She also raised the issue of the welfare of millions of Dalits, tribals, the most backward classes, and other religious minorities. On her X handle, Mayawati wrote, “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all Indian citizens and their families living across the country and the world on the 80th Independence Day today.” No matter how much joy and enthusiasm everyone celebrates Independence Day with, in harmony and brotherhood, it will be insufficient. It would be better if those in high constitutional and legal positions are more mindful of their responsibilities, as the public has come to expect more from them about their true and genuine responsibility towards the nation and public interest. “Higher Institutions Will Fulfill Their Responsibility Honestly” The BSP supremo further wrote, “On special occasions like Independence Day, people expect that the higher institutions here will fulfill the purpose and responsibility of the checks and balances of the Indian Constitution with complete honesty and integrity. Only then will the true benefits of India’s republic, especially the millions of Dalits, Adivasis, the most backward classes, Muslims and other religious minorities, as well as the poor, laborers, farmers, youth, women, and other working people, accrue in the form of a life free from unemployment and corruption, a life of happiness and prosperity, and that India’s democracy and sacred Constitution will prove meaningful as per everyone’s expectations. This is the message of today.” Vaibhav Pandey About the Author Vaibhav Pandey is a Senior Journalist/Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has 18 years of experience in the media industry. Vaibhav Pandey joined Navbharat Times Online in 2018. He currently covers news in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Courtesy: Hindi News
DSS condemns ‘purification’ ceremony at Haldwani Ramlila ground after Kharge’s rally
Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) State convener D.G. Sagar has condemned the reported purification ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground in Uttarakhand on August 10, two days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there. Mr. Sagar, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi city on Friday, said that the purification ritual performed at the Ramlila ground was not only an insult to Mr. Kharge but also to the Scheduled Caste community. He said the incident showed that caste discrimination and untouchability continued despite constitutional safeguards. Recalling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Mahad Satyagraha of 1927, Mr. Sagar said that similar purification rituals were performed after Dr. Ambedkar and Dalits drank water from the Chavdar Tank. “Nearly 100 years later, if such practices are repeated, it shows that the fight against caste discrimination is not over,” he said. Mr. Sagar said that the reported ritual at the Ramlila ground raised concerns about the constitutional values of equality and dignity; he urged Uttarakhand authorities to register cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and laws relating to untouchability, and arrest those responsible. He warned that the Samiti would intensify its agitation across the State if action was not taken. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A new twist has been taken in the Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, with the government taking this decision.
The investigation into the much-discussed Tehri Dalit teenager murder case has been handed over to the CBI. A fresh investigation is now underway, and it is expected that all the facts will be revealed. Tehri: The Dalit teenager murder case in Pratapnagar block is once again in the headlines. Amidst the ongoing police investigation, the government has taken a significant decision. As a result, the government has agreed to hand over the case to the CBI. Consequently, a fresh investigation will be conducted into the murder of the Dalit teenager. The Tehri Dalit teenager murder case, which garnered national and not just Uttarakhand headlines, has taken a major turn. The case was being investigated at the police level, but now the government has agreed to have the CBI (Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department) investigate it. Consequently, the investigation into the murder will now proceed anew at the CBI level. The CBI will investigate the case: In fact, on August 3rd of this month, a letter was sent to the government by the Inspector General of Police, Crime and Law and Order, at Police Headquarters, requesting the CBI to investigate the case. Considering the gravity of the case and the current circumstances, the Police Headquarters’ proposal was considered at the government level. Following this, the government agreed to a CBI investigation. An order regarding this has been issued by Additional Secretary Tripti Bhatt. The order requires Police Headquarters to prepare an investigation report and provide it to the government as soon as possible. Based on this report, the CBI will proceed with the investigation. What is the full story? A Dalit teenager, resident of a village in the Pratapnagar block, died on June 8th. The night before, the teenager, along with his friend, had gone to the home of a minor girl. It is alleged that the girl’s family members locked them in a room and severely beat them with sticks. The seriously injured teenager was taken to the hospital, but died on the way. His friend was also seriously injured. On the complaint of the teenager’s family, the police registered a case and arrested four people, including the girl’s father and grandfather. This sparked outrage in the area, and demands for a fair investigation arose. The case later took a new turn when, based on the High Court’s directive and the minor’s mother’s complaint, the police also filed a case against the teenager and his friend under the POCSO Act. The case also received significant political and social backlash. On June 30, Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad met with the Dalit teenager’s family and demanded a CBI investigation. Now, following the government’s decision to conduct a CBI investigation, the entire case will be investigated by a new investigating agency. In this context, the CBCID will be crucial in examining the facts revealed during the investigation, previous actions, and allegations against both parties. Now, all eyes will be on what new facts emerge from the new investigation and the direction the case progresses. It’s worth noting that this case has been in the news for quite some time. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit farmer killed over goat grazing in Bidar
A 45-year-old Dalit farmer was allegedly killed after he was assaulted with an axe following a dispute over goats entering an agricultural field at Jirgyal village in Bhalki taluk, Bidar district, on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Rajkumar Vitalrao Shinde, a resident of Jirgyal. The Mehakar police have registered a case against four persons — Pradeep Vamanrao Shinde, 52; Rajkumar Muralidhar Biradar, 42; Sharad Vamanrao Lade, 45; and Shubham Sharad Lade, 25 — all farmers from Jirgyal village. The FIR records them as belonging to the Maratha community. According to the complaint filed by Susheela, 70, the deceased’s mother, Rajkumar owned goats and regularly took them out for grazing. She alleged that about four or five days before the incident, some of the goats had entered Pradeepa Lade’s agricultural field and damaged the crop, following which Pradeepa had reprimanded Rajkumar. On Thursday, Rajkumar had gone to graze the goats at around 11 a.m. in the agricultural land belonging to Angad Dadarao. His brother Mahendra reportedly brought him lunch at around 12.15 p.m. The complaint states that Mahendra later telephoned his mother and told her that when he went to give lunch to Rajkumar, four persons — Pradeep Vamanrao Lade, Rajkumar Muralidhar Biradar, Sharad Vamanrao Lade, and Shubham Sharad Lade — had allegedly confronted Rajkumar over the goats entering their field. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly abused Rajkumar using caste-related slurs. It further alleges that Pradeepa took an axe and struck Rajkumar on the head, causing a serious bleeding injury. The complainant said that when she reached the spot, the accused had allegedly fled. She and her husband, Vitalrao Shinde, found Rajkumar with a severe head injury. He had died at the spot, according to the complaint. The Mehakar police have registered a case under Sections 103, 115(2), 352 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2)(va) and 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The FIR was registered on Thursday. 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
Gujarat tribal farmers’ forest land protest intensifies as administrative boundary becomes new flashpoint
The protest, which entered its sixth day on Friday, intensified as tribal leaders and BJP representatives reached the site to extend support to the farmers. AHMEDABAD: A seven-day non-violent protest by tribal farmers in Sagbara taluka of Gujarat’s Narmada district has intensified over access to forest land cultivated by villagers for years. The standoff has now acquired a political and administrative edge, with BJP leaders joining the protest and Congress extending support, while the Forest Department maintains that cultivation is subject to provisions of the Forest Rights Act and a Gram Sabha resolution. At the heart of the dispute is a boundary complication: the farmers live in Narmada district, while the disputed forest land falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Surat district. The forest land dispute in tribal-majority Narmada district has turned into a growing political and administrative confrontation, with farmers from 12 villages, including Khopi in Sagbara taluka, continuing their non-violent dharna after being stopped from ploughing land they claim to have cultivated for years. The protest, which entered its sixth day on Friday, intensified as tribal leaders and BJP representatives reached the site to extend support to the farmers and assure them that their demands would be taken up with the government. The Congress has also backed the tribal community, adding a political dimension to what began as a dispute over cultivation rights. The immediate trigger came when farmers reached the fields to plough the disputed forest land but were stopped by Forest Department personnel. Rather than retreat, the farmers stayed back in the fields and began a sit-in, continuing their protest through the night. Their agitation has since continued, turning the issue into a wider demand for recognition of traditional cultivation rights. One of the protesting farmers, in a video message, said the community had been cultivating the land for years and questioned the sudden restrictions imposed by the authorities. “We have been cultivating this land for years, but now police have been deployed to stop us from ploughing it. We want to make it clear to the government that these are lands on which our farmers have traditionally cultivated. The government and Forest Department have introduced different rules and are preventing us from farming. We are therefore sitting in protest to reclaim our right to cultivate the land.” The farmer said the Forest Department, however, has put forward a different interpretation of the dispute. Surat Forest Department ACF Gaurav Kumar said the administration was acting in accordance with the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and that the dispute was complicated by the administrative location of the land. According to Kumar, the Act protects eligible claimants who were cultivating forest land before December 13, 2005. However, he said the disputed land is located within Surat district, while the farmers seeking to cultivate it reside in Sagbara, Narmada district. Kumar said the issue also involves the requirement of a Gram Sabha resolution from the village where the land is located. “The Forest Rights Act, 2006 provides protection where cultivation has been taking place since December 13, 2005. But in this case, the farmers are from Sagbara, while the forest land falls within Surat district. Under the relevant provisions, a Gram Sabha resolution is required from the area where the land is located. The people of Umarpada have informed us that their Gram Sabha has not passed any resolution permitting farmers from Sagbara to come and cultivate the land. Therefore, the present dispute is essentially linked to the administrative boundary. The Forest Department is acting according to the provisions of the tribal rights law.” The administrative boundary has now emerged as the central fault line in the dispute. According to the Forest Department, the area was part of the erstwhile Bharuch district before Narmada district was carved out, while the disputed forest land currently falls within Surat district. The result is an unusual situation in which the farmers demanding cultivation rights reside in one district while the land they seek to cultivate is administered by another. The farmers, however, insist that administrative boundaries cannot override their longstanding cultivation practices. Their argument is simple: if they have been cultivating the land for years, they should not be denied access because of a change or clarification in administrative jurisdiction. The dispute has also put the implementation of tribal forest rights under scrutiny. On World Tribal Day, when the focus traditionally turns to tribal rights over jal, jangal and zameen, farmers from these villages are instead sitting in the fields demanding access to the very land they claim as their traditional source of livelihood. The protest has meanwhile drawn growing political attention. BJP leader Leelaben Vasava joined the farmers, followed by Narmada MP Mansukh Vasava, Nandod MLA Dr Darshanaben Deshmukh and Dediapada BJP leaders, including former ministers Motilal Vasava and Shankar Vasava. The leaders assured the protesters that their demands would be conveyed to the state government. BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, who has urged the farmers to maintain a non-violent agitation, sharply questioned the manner in which the dispute was being handled by officials. “Listen to elected representatives like us as well. Do not listen only to Forest Department officials. Decisions should not be taken merely by sitting in an office and looking at satellite maps. Come to Narmada district and see the situation on the ground. Farmers from Surat district are cultivating, while farmers from Narmada are being stopped. We have been elected for seven terms, so our words should also be heard. Come here, understand the ground reality and deliver justice to these farmers.” He said the BJP leader’s intervention has added pressure on the administration, particularly because the protest involves farmers from a tribal belt where forest rights and access to land remain deeply linked to livelihood. For the protesters, however, the political support is secondary to their core demand. They have made it clear that the dharna will continue until the government provides what they describe as a fair, lawful and permanent solution to the cultivation dispute. The
“The attackers should be brought back,” Minister in-charge Krishna Paswan expressed his anger over the attack on a Dalit in Kaushambi.
In Kaushambi, a bullock disappeared after being taken after being requisitioned. A Dalit who went to complain was beaten and threatened with death. As the matter escalated, the Minister-in-Charge criticized the police administration and ordered strict action. Ashok Vishwakarma, Kaushambi: Minister-in-Charge Krishna Paswan’s anger reached its peak upon learning of the lack of police action against a Dalit family in Gaderian Ka Pura village, under the Saini police station in Kaushambi, four days ago. The Minister-in-Charge, who arrived at the victim’s home late Tuesday night with his entourage, strongly criticized the police officers. While reprimanding the Superintendent of Police for failing to reach the scene, he also instructed the Chief Superintendent of Police (CO) to bring back all the attackers. The disappearance of the bullock that was requisitioned and taken back is said to be the reason behind the incident. Learn more about the incident According to village resident Kesai Saroj, on the afternoon of August 6th, he was grazing his bull in the fields when Shankar Lal of Paras village borrowed it for some work. On August 8th, when the bull didn’t return, he went to retrieve it with his younger son, Chhavilal, nephews Aman and Ashok. Ehsan Usmani and Gufran, both villagers present, abused him and told him to turn back. Upon his protest, the men used casteist slurs and beat him severely with sticks. They threatened to crush him to death with a Scorpio if he complained. Someone recorded a video of the incident and made it viral. The victim, a Dalit family, who went to complain about the incident were ignored and chased away. The accused were charged with disturbing the peace and were released. Meanwhile, Minister of State in Charge Krishna Paswan, enraged by the viral video, went to the victim’s family’s home with her entourage at 9 pm on Tuesday. She contacted the SP via mobile phone, sharply criticizing him for failing to reach the scene, and demanded the immediate suspension of the outpost in-charge. Instructions given to the CO When asked about the action taken against the bullies, CO Satendra Tiwari stated that he was dissatisfied with their actions. Was something serious being awaited? He said that Shankar Lal, who had demanded the oxen and taken away, along with the bullies Ehsan Usmani and Gufran, should be dragged out and strict action should be taken. Authored by: Vishal Choubey About the author Vishal Choubey works for Navbharat Times Online. Vishal writes on politics, crime, governance, and law and order in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, among other issues. He has four years of experience in journalism. He joined Navbharat Times Online in April 2025. Courtesy: Hindi News
Purification at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after Kharge’s rally, Congress says it’s an insult to Dalits
After the Congress’s Vijay Shankhnaad rally in Haldwani, the Ramlila Maidan was purified, which the Congress called an insult to Dalits. Jagran correspondent, Haldwani. Following the Congress’s Vijay Shankhnaad rally, the Shri Ram Sena Charitable Trust has sparked a new controversy by purifying the city’s Ramlila Maidan. The Congress, which has been on the back foot since the SSP was abused on the day of the rally, is now cornering the BJP on this issue. The party says that the rally included Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, State in-charge Kumari Selja, and Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, all Dalits. The purification havan ceremony clearly demonstrates the BJP’s anti-Dalit mindset. The organization that organized the havan argues that slogans in support of the Muslim religion were raised from the stage during the rally. On August 8th, Congress National President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, attended the Vijay Shankhnaad rally held at Ramlila Maidan. Controversy erupted even before the event began. A large number of activists, led by State President Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, stormed the SSP’s office after the police stopped the vehicles of the rally workers under the guise of checking. SSP Manjunath TC was not in the office at the time. Video went viral During this period, a video of abusive language being used against the SSP also circulated. Meanwhile, after the rally, the BJP, citing a video, alleged that slogans in support of the Muslim religion were raised during Kharge’s rally. Based on the video, on August 10th, an organization called Shri Ram Sena Charitable Service Trust reached Ramlila Maidan and performed a havan (fire ritual) and sprinkled Ganga water. The organization alleged that Ramlila Maidan, a venue for events related to Sanatan Dharma, had been violated. Its sanctity had been violated. On the other hand, Congress, calling the video fake (AI-created), staged a protest at the police multi-purpose building on Tuesday, demanding an FIR against the accused. Congress leaders, meanwhile, said that those with a BJP mindset do not want social harmony to prevail in the country. The BJP, which claims to be pro-Dalit, has been exposed. Congress workers burn BJP effigy On Wednesday, under the leadership of Indra Pal Arya, District President of the Congress Scheduled Caste Department, workers staged a protest at Buddha Park. Congress workers stated that after Kharge’s rally, a purification ritual was performed at Ramlila Maidan, along with the sprinkling of Ganga water. This act by the BJP is against social equality and brotherhood. It is an insult not only to Kharge but to the entire Scheduled Caste community. Radha Arya, coordinator of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Cell, said that the BJP has always promoted an anti-Dalit mentality. Along with the effigy burning, a memorandum was sent to the President through the Tehsildar, demanding an impartial investigation into the matter and action against the culprits. BY GOVIND SINGHE EDITED BY: SHIV GOVIND MISHRAA Courtesy: Hindi News