Transgender women wreak havoc on police in Kanpur, stripped naked and beaten, kicked in the chest; case filed after video goes viral
A video is rapidly going viral on social media, showing some transgender people assaulting a policeman. Based on the complaint of the victim, a case has been filed against the accused. A video of a policeman being assaulted in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is rapidly going viral on social media. The video shows some transgender people assaulting a policeman. The incident caused a stir within the police department. Taking cognizance of the matter, the police have initiated action. Based on the complaint filed by the policeman, a case has been filed against the accused. The matter came to light through a viral video A video circulating on social media shows a dispute between a policeman and transgender people. As the situation escalated, scenes of transgender people assaulting the policeman have emerged. The video clearly shows transgender people arguing, then stripping naked and assaulting a police officer. Meanwhile, a transgender person is seen kicking the police officer in the chest. After the video went viral, the incident sparked widespread public discussion. However, the details of what sparked the dispute and the circumstances that led to the altercation will only be clear after a police investigation. Case Registered Based on a Report After the video surfaced, the police took the matter seriously and obtained a written complaint from the police officer involved. Based on this, a charge has been registered against the accused under relevant sections. The police are now taking further legal action in the matter, investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. ACP stated: Legal action underway Assistant Police Commissioner Ghatampur Krishnakant stated that cognizance has been taken of the video viral on social media. A case has been registered based on the written complaint submitted by the police officer concerned. Further legal action is underway in the matter as per the law. Report by Anurag Srivastava, correspondent from Kanpur Courtesy: Hindi News
Beaten and thrown out of home for being transgender at 21, she refused to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor; at 31, Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul becomes one of India’s first Dalit transgender women to earn an MD
When Dr Koyyala Ruth John Paul came out to her family as a transgender woman, she says she was beaten and forced to leave home. She was in the third year of her medical course. At a time when she could have lost the chance to continue her education, she found support among members of the transgender community and kept studying. Today, the doctor from Khammam district in Telangana has completed her MD in Emergency Medicine. At 31, she is among the first Dalit transgender women in India to achieve this qualification, as reported by The Indian Express. But the degree has not ended her struggle. She is still seeking official recognition of her gender in records and wants to work in a government hospital. Forced to leave home, she found support in her community Dr Ruth is the youngest of three siblings and grew up in Khammam. Her father died of a cardiac arrest in 2006, after which her mother, a daily wage labourer, raised the three children. Books remained an important part of her life. She says she was inspired by the life and work of Dr BR Ambedkar, particularly his emphasis on dignity, education and the fight against caste discrimination. Ruth completed her Class 10 and Class 12 examinations with good results. She enrolled for medicine using the gender assigned to her at birth. However, during her third year of medical studies, she came out to her family. She said that her family struggled to accept her identity. “They beat me and threw me out of the house,” she said. She said she saw begging and sex work as the two options available to her at the time. She eventually connected with educated members of the transgender community, who helped her continue her studies. Hyderabad-based transgender activists Rachana Mudraboyina and Vyjayanthi Vasantha Mogli supported her during this period. She completed her MBBS in 2019 from a medical college in Hyderabad. Her relationship with her family has since improved. They are now reconciled and support her. A medical career, but repeated rejection In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. After completing her MBBS, Ruth faced difficulties finding work. As per a 2022 TOI report, 15 hospitals in Hyderabad had turned her away after her graduation in 2018. The report also said that she and another transgender doctor, Prachi Rathore, were appointed as medical officers at the state-run Osmania General Hospital, becoming the first transgender duo to get government jobs in Telangana. “It is a huge day for me and my community. I really did not expect this because I was rejected ever since I graduated. They never told me outright, but the reason was apparent,” Ruth told TOI at the time. Her next challenge was securing a postgraduate medical seat. She appeared for and cleared NEET-PG three times between 2021 and 2023. Although the application form allowed her to register as an SC transgender woman, she said she was placed in the women’s category during counselling. She approached the Telangana High Court in 2021, seeking recognition as a Scheduled Caste transgender woman for admission purposes. In 2022, the National Medical Commission (NMC) wrote to her that she could not be included in the transgender category during counselling because there was no precedent for such an inclusion. The issue also came before the Telangana High Court in June 2023. As reported by The Times of India, the court questioned whether prejudice was preventing a transgender candidate from securing a postgraduate medical seat. It sought details of the marks of candidates admitted under the Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes categories. The court’s observations came amid a dispute over how Ruth should be considered during NEET-PG counselling. Her lawyers argued that transgender candidates should be recognised as a separate category in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions. In August 2023, she joined the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for an MD in Emergency Medicine. At the time, she had become the first transgender person to join a postgraduate medical programme in the state. She had wanted to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, but was allotted Emergency Medicine. The legal dispute over her recognition as a transgender candidate continued. According to the Indian Express report, the case is still pending before the Telangana High Court. In 2023, the court passed an interim order allowing her admission, but in the women’s category. She said she was thrilled when the MD examination results were announced on October 9. Why she chose medicine For Ruth, becoming a doctor was not only about completing a degree. She was also concerned about the difficulties transgender women faced in accessing healthcare. She says that she had seen transgender women in her neighbourhood living with HIV/AIDS who struggled to receive proper medical attention because of their identity. After facing difficulties finding work, she joined Mitr Transgender Clinic, a specialised healthcare network for the transgender community that was initially funded by USAID. The Hyderabad clinic shut down after funding cuts in 2025. It reopened in May that year as Sabrang Clinic in Narayanguda. She now works at ESIC Hospital in Hyderabad. Her older brother’s name, John Paul, is the surname she has chosen to use. According to her, he had wanted to become a doctor, but their mother could not afford to fund his education. Completing her MD has taken Ruth another step towards the career she wanted. But she says she still wants her gender to be correctly reflected in official records and hopes to work in a government hospital, where she can treat people who cannot afford private healthcare. 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
Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi Demands Strict Action in the Case of Casteist Remarks Against a Dalit Student
Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi has written to the Director General of Police (DGP) demanding strict action against an art festival judge who allegedly made casteist and derogatory remarks against a 17-year-old Dalit student. To encourage the student, the minister has also offered her an opportunity to perform at a government event to be held on December 6th. Kerala Minister K.A. Thulasi has demanded strict action against a school art festival judge who allegedly made casteist and derogatory remarks against a 17-year-old Dalit student. The minister has also offered her an opportunity to perform at a government event to boost her confidence. The Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes Welfare has written to the Director General of Police (DGP) demanding strict action in connection with this recent incident. According to an official statement, he has also written to the Ministers of General Education and Home Affairs, urging them to take necessary action. A 12th-grade student from Veeranakavu in Kattakkada taluk was allegedly subjected to caste-based derogatory remarks by a judge during a recent school arts festival. The judge is also accused of making derogatory comments about the student’s skin color and physique. According to the statement, the student’s parents met with the Minister and complained, following which he immediately intervened. The Minister directed officials to provide justice to the student and initiate legal action against those responsible for the incident. To restore the student’s confidence, Minister Tulsi has arranged for her to perform a dance performance at the inauguration ceremony of a housing scheme for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities on December 6. The statement said that Tulsi personally called the student to inform her of the opportunity and assured her of all possible support from the government in pursuing her artistic interests. Disclaimer: Prabhasakshi has not edited this story. This story has been published from a PTI-language feed. Courtesy : Hindi News
Mission Uttar Pradesh: BJP is targeting Dalit votes with BSP’s cultural strategy
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced grand celebrations for Valmiki’s birth anniversary. The Valmikis, a major section of Dalits, claim descent from Maharshi Valmiki. Concentrated in towns and cities, they have produced an educated class and their goodwill towards BJP appears to be growing The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), founded by Kanshi Ram, once commanded a vast Dalit base across India, above all in Uttar Pradesh (UP). That base carried it to power in Lucknow. Mayawati, its leader, has been chief minister four times, and in 2007 she won the Assembly election outright, emerging as the single dominant force in UP politics. Over the last few elections, however, BSP’s vote share has declined steadily and the party has suffered heavy defeats. It now faces the most critical moment in its history, with no representation in either Lok Sabha or the UP Assembly. Kanshi Ram’s strategic vision had stitched together a broad Bahujan social coalition: Dalits, non-Yadav Other Backward Classes , the lower strata of Muslims and, later, Brahmins. Gradually, each of these groups grew disillusioned, and many deserted the party. Dalits, who make up roughly 21.6 per cent of UP’s population, were its core vote for decades. Among them, the Jatavs, Pasis, Koris, Sonkars, Valmikis and others became the strongest pillars of support. Kanshi Ram and Mayawati mobilised these communities through three strategies: first, a sense of dignity, by giving prominence to their identity, history, icons and heroes; second, an aspiration to a rightful share in development and politics; and third, a dream of a better future. Together, they delivered a huge Dalit vote to BSP. After 2012, though, the party’s electoral base visibly fragmented. BSP lost the Assembly election that year and today has no seat in Lok Sabha or the state Assembly, with the party’s sole MLA, Umashankar Singh, dying on August 5, 2026. Field studies suggest that, among Dalits, the party has retained its base among the Jatavs, although a section of them, too, has deserted it for various reasons. Dalit voters, then, stand at a political crossroads. Where once they had a single party, they now seek multiple choices. The most notable shift is towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and for two reasons. First, the welfare schemes led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Garib Kalyan Yojanas, have drawn Dalit and other marginalised communities to BJP. Second, the cultural politics through which BSP once mobilised Dalits has been largely appropriated by BJP strategists and reinvented. Its central plank was the forging of identity and the enhancement of dignity by celebrating Dalit cultures, histories and heroes and by honouring their saints, gurus and icons. Mayawati repeatedly said that one of the Bahujan regime’s chief achievements was the respect it accorded to these figures. BJP appears to be reinventing the same strategy with the coming Assembly election in view. Mayawati renamed Bhadohi as Sant Ravidas Nagar during an earlier tenure in 1997, honouring the revered saint worshipped widely among Dalits, especially Jatavs. Akhilesh Yadav restored the old name in 2014 after the Samajwadi Party (SP) took power in 2012. In July, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared that the district would again be Sant Ravidas Nagar Bhadohi, winning goodwill among Dalits, most of whom in rural UP follow the Ravidas tradition. Adityanath has also announced grand celebrations for Valmiki’s birth anniversary. Sweepers and the Valmiki community, a major section of Dalits, claim descent from Maharshi Valmiki. Concentrated in towns and cities, they have produced an educated political class, and goodwill towards BJP appears to be growing among them. BJP, thus, is courting Dalits and marginalised groups through symbolic and substantive means. Cultural strategies BSP pioneered decades ago are now being deployed by BJP, alongside the economic benefits of its welfare schemes. Taken together, the two approaches may well draw Dalit voters towards BJP in the 2027 UP Assembly election. Badri Narayan (Badri Narayan is vice chancellor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and the author of Republic of Hindutva) Courtesy : Open Magazine Note: This news is originally published on https:/openmagazine.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Akhilesh Yadav questions Amit Shah over crimes against women, Dalits in U.P.
Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected, Akhilesh Yadav said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (October 31, 2026) questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over crimes against women and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, while party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the BJP had lost ground in the state, citing its recent electoral setbacks. “Home Minister should look into why women face so much injustice in Uttar Pradesh, why the state witnesses so many murders and why people from the Dalit community are among the worst affected,” Mr. Yadav said. Uniform Civil Code in U.P. if BJP voted to power again: Amit Shah Reacting to Mr. Shah’s assertion that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was firmly established and could not be dislodged, Mr. Prasad said the party’s political footing had already weakened. Mr. Shah had on Friday (October 30) compared the BJP government’s position in the state to “Angad’s foot”, saying nobody could move it, and expressed confidence that the party would return to power. “The foot has already been uprooted,” Mr. Prasad told PTI Videos. He said the BJP had failed to retain several seats in the recent Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections despite making every effort. He cited the party’s defeats in Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been elected, as well as in Lucknow and Agra. He also referred to its defeat in Prayagraj, a prominent educational centre. He also cited the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, saying the BJP had failed to achieve its target of winning all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. No government jobs in Uttar Pradesh for protesters ‘involved in regime change through violence’ “Under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, the Samajwadi Party won 37 seats, while the Congress won six. The opposition INDIA bloc secured 43 of the state’s 80 seats,” he said. Mr. Shah had announced on Friday (October 30) that the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttar Pradesh if voted to power again. He had also targeted the SP leadership over the Ram temple issue, referring to the police firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990, and saying the SP had ordered firing on Ram devotees while the BJP had built the Ram temple. 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
JNU Cuts Reserved PhD Seats for Dalit, Adivasi, Disabled Students; CPI(M) MP Writes to Education Minister
NEW DELHI — CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP K Radhakrishnan has written to Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, seeking urgent intervention over the reduction in reserved seats for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates in Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) PhD admissions for the 2026–27 academic year. In a letter dated October 29, 2026, Radhakrishnan, who represents Alathur in Kerala and leads the CPI(M) in the Lok Sabha, raised serious concerns over the university’s PhD admission prospectus, pointing out that the seat allocations fall short of the prescribed reservation requirements. “It has come to light that the university administration has drastically slashed the mandated reservation quota for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD),” the MP wrote in his letter. According to the figures cited by Radhakrishnan, JNU has allocated only 38 seats to Scheduled Tribe candidates against the 53 required under the 7.5 per cent reservation quota, calculated against a total of 711 seats. Similarly, SC candidates have been allotted 103 seats against the 107 required under the 15 per cent reservation quota. The shortfall is even more pronounced in the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. Against the 36 seats required under the 5 per cent reservation provision, the university has allocated just 17. Taken together, the three categories face a shortfall of 38 seats — 15 for ST candidates, four for SC candidates and 19 for PwBD candidates. Expressing strong concern over the disparity, Radhakrishnan described the reduction as a serious setback to the principles of equal opportunity and representation in higher education. “This denial of constitutional representation in one of India’s premier higher education institutions is a clear violation of social justice and equity,” he wrote. He further stated that such practices systematically deprive students from marginalised backgrounds of opportunities to pursue higher education and advanced research. MP demands withdrawal of JNU prospectus Seeking immediate corrective action, Radhakrishnan urged the Union Education Minister to intervene and direct the university administration to revise its admission policy and restore the required reserved seats. In his letter, he specifically requested the minister to direct JNU to “withdraw this flawed prospectus, rectify the seat matrix, and fully restore the constitutional quota reserved for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates without delay.” The MP is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Courtesy : Clarion India Note: This news is originally published on https:/clarionindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
From Mallikarjun Kharge’s lawn, 250 opposition MPs ‘impeach’ CEC Gyanesh Kumar
NEW DELHI: With Rahul Gandhi terming “public impeachment” and Sunday’s Ramlila Maidan rally a “dangerous political weapon” targeting Modi-Shah-Gyanesh, the INDIA bloc, in a symbolic move, Saturday passed a “resolution” to “impeach” CEC Gyanesh Kumar accusing it of colluding with the ruling BJP to compromise national election management. It also sought that Kumar be “tried for treason”. Six “charges” of “premeditated attack on poll process” – as part of “criminal conspiracy” of BJP, PM Modi and Union minister Amit Shah – span questionable handling of poll rolls, “manipulated” SIR to delete 14 crore voters, illegal changes to Form 6 to block new voters, deletion of voters through software. CEC Kumar has also been accused of ignoring the two ECs in decision making. The “public impeachment” held in the lawns of the residence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge involved around 250 MPs from opposition. The venue was designed with Parliament chamber like decor, with former Speaker Meira Kumar in the high chair. LoP Rajya Sabha Kharge tabled the resolution while Rahul concluded the debate, before Meira Kumar put the resolution to vote that was passed by a voice vote. The slogan ‘vote chor gaddi chhod’ ended the assembly after three hours of debate. Setting the tone, Kharge said Modi has hatched conspiracies to retain power, which include engineering defections, splitting parties, electoral bonds, misuse of agencies, while adding the 2023 “immunity law” for the CEC is another such instrument. Underlining the need for “public impeachment”, Kharge said RS and LS rejected the opposition notices for removal of Kumar. Rahul said 15% of 2024 voters have been deleted by SIR, which means the LS polls were illegal. “I can comfortably say Kumar will not survive as CEC. We have enough proof. If BJP keeps him after we reveal what we know, then the BJP game would be clear,” he argued. Harendra Malik of SP said SIR has sought to target “PDA voters” of his party ahead of UP polls. Sagarika Ghose of TMC said 2026 Bengal polls were stolen after 29 lakh voters “vanished” under “Vanish Kumar’s SIR”. John Brittas (CPM), in a searing warning, said India should not be the Germany of 1930s, a parallel also drawn by Mamata TMC’s Mahua Moitra. Those who spoke were Mehbooba Mufti (PDP), Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena), Abhay Sinha (RJD), NK Premachandran (RSP), Sandosh Kumar (CPI), Rajeev Rai (SP), Durai Vaiko (MDMK), Kapil Sibal, Jose Mani (KCM), Devarajan (FB), ET Muhammed Basheer (IUML), Sudama Prasad (CPI-ML), Nasir Aslam (NC), Thol Thirumavalavan (VCK), Baidyanath Ram (JMM). Civil society luminaries like Yogendra Yadav, Nikhil Dey, Sharukh Alam advocate, Anjali Bharadwaj, Noor Shridhar provided incisive arguments and data to put the EC in the dock. Neha Bora of AISA and NSUI volunteer Ritu Barala also spoke. 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
India’s opposition set to hold mega rally seeking election chief’s resignation
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in the Indian capital, Delhi, for a mega opposition rally, seeking the resignation of chief election commissioner and electoral reforms. The rally, called by the main opposition Congress party, will begin around noon at the famous Ramlila Maidan grounds, with leaders claiming a million people could attend. Several top leaders of the Congress-led INDIA alliance have said they would attend and the influential Gen Z-led pressure group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has also pledged support. The rally comes amid growing criticism of a voter-list revision exercise that has removed 130 million names from the draft rolls across India. The Election Commission of India (ECI) says the exercise is aimed at updating the voters’ list by purging names of people who have died or moved away from their registered addresses. But opposition parties allege that the exercise – known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) – could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by removing eligible voters from the rolls. They accuse the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the BJP of “vote chori (theft)”. Both the BJP and the ECI have denied the allegations. The controversy intensified in September when The Indian Express newspaper in its investigation reported that the CEC, Gyanesh Kumar, made key decisions related to the exercise without the agreement of the two other election commissioners, who had raised objections on more than a dozen occasions. NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters form human chains while holding placards and Indian national flags demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in voter rolls and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Hyderabad, India, on October 24, 2026NurPhoto via Getty Images Protests have been going on for weeks seeking CEC Kumar’s resignation and electoral reforms The Election Commission said differences of opinion were normal in any institution and did not affect its functioning. But concerns over the revision process have continued, with the opposition parties, the CJP and student groups organising a number of protests in Delhi and other Indian cities. Last month, Congress MP and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi led tens of thousands of protesters in a march from Connaught Place in central Delhi to the Supreme Court, seeking the CEC’s resignation. “The march was just the trailer,” a party leader told the BBC, adding that “Sunday’s rally will be several times bigger than that”. Ahead of the rally, Gandhi said their protest was against “the demolition of Indian democracy”, adding that “all the opposition parties and everybody who wants to come, political or non-political, is welcome”. “There is huge anger, huge emotional pain because millions are being disenfranchised,” he said. “We are all standing together because we are defending the Constitution. We are defending the idea of India. We are defending the vote, which is the expression of all Indians.” Getty Images Protesters gather around a bus carrying Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a demonstration on October 12, 2026 in New DelhiGetty Images Thousands gathered for the last Congress rally in Delhi on 12 October Delhi police have given permission to hold Sunday’s rally, but it comes with several conditions. Media reports say the rally must end by 5pm, CCTV cameras must be installed at the venue and no marches will be allowed outside the designated protest site. The planned mega rally has also divided opinion among traders in Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets, located less than a kilometre from Ramlila Maidan. Earlier this week, a group of traders said the protest could hurt business during the festive season, coming just a week before Diwali. But a rival group of traders said they supported Gandhi’s rally and criticised the BJP for taking out a march through the market on Thursday, saying that disrupted the festive season more. Rekha Gupta/X Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin (centre L) with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta (centre R) take part in a “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” protest march in New Delhi on October 28, 2026.Rekha Gupta/X Leaders of the ruling BJP party also carried out a march in Chandni Chowk market on Thursday Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel across the city, including the roads leading up to Ramlila Grounds, Sunday’s protest venue. The opposition, which has been preparing for the rally for days now, has accused the government of trying to stop people from travelling to Delhi to take part in the protest. Rahul Gandhi has appealed to people to turn up in large numbers. “Don’t worry about the police, don’t worry about lathis [batons] – the BJP will not have the guts to try any of their antics,” he wrote on X. His comments come amid growing concerns about the policing of recent protests in the capital. On 10 October, thousands of security personnel were deployed and large parts of the city were shut down to thwart protests called by the CJP against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. All of the top CJP leaders were detained and many demonstrators were beaten and dragged through the streets to break up their protests. BBC reporters covering demonstrations saw police dragging away protesters and using batons on some of them. The CJP has publicly backed the INDIA bloc rally, but it is unclear whether its senior leaders will attend. Geeta Pandey and Nikita Yadav Courtesy : BBC Note: This news is originally published on https:/bbc.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
India Alliance Rally: Traders fear losses of ₹12,000 crore or gains of ₹50 crore? Rahul Gandhi has made a big move!
Congress Protest in Delhi: Traders fear losses due to Rahul Gandhi’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. According to trade organizations, business could be affected by up to ₹12,000 crore. However, markets are also expecting business worth up to ₹50 crore due to Rahul Gandhi’s appeal. Will the opposition rally benefit or harm Delhi’s traders? New Delhi: A major rally by the Congress and India Alliance is scheduled to be held today, November 1, 2026, at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Congress and opposition parties have organized this protest against alleged irregularities in the voter list and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and leaders from several opposition parties are expected to attend the rally. The opposition alliance has claimed that around 1 million people will attend the rally. Meanwhile, Delhi’s business organizations and the BJP have raised questions about the impact of this rally on business. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has also posted a business-related post on Instagram. He appealed to the millions of people attending the rally, “It’s the festival season. It’s the time of Diwali, Chhath, and Bhai Dooj. I want the millions of people coming to Delhi from outside to help the local businesses. Protest, march, rally, and do some shopping as well—it will benefit the businesses.” Some estimates suggest that people coming to Delhi from other states for rallies or other purposes often buy something. If Rahul Gandhi’s appeal works, Delhi’s businesses could benefit significantly from this rally. What are the businesses worried about? This rally, scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan, is expected to impact business in approximately 20 major markets in the capital. Business organizations claim that this could impact business worth between ₹10,000 and ₹12,000 crore per day. According to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), the rally is expected to disrupt business in major markets like Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, Khari Baoli, Connaught Place, and Daryaganj. These markets typically see a large crowd of customers during Diwali. Traffic jams, road closures, and police restrictions could make it difficult for customers to reach the shops. 1 million people expected to gather According to trade organizations, approximately 1 million people are expected to attend the rally. Additionally, 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles are expected. The large number of people and vehicles could cause heavy traffic jams in central Delhi. This could impact the movement of goods and services. Markets to remain open on Sundays Generally, major markets in Delhi, such as Sadar Bazaar, Chawri Bazaar, and Chandni Chowk, are closed on Sundays. Since it’s Diwali season, most shops in the markets are expected to remain open on Sundays. Because of this, it’s been said that the rally will impact business on Sunday. However, most big businesses keep their shops closed on Sundays. Benefits or losses from the rally? While the Congress rally is said to cause losses to businesses, another aspect also emerges. Whenever someone comes to Delhi from another state, they usually buy something. Since 1 million people are expected to attend the rally, if Rahul Gandhi’s appeal impacts the rally’s attendees, businesses could see substantial profits. Assuming an average person spends ₹500 on shopping, food, and drinks, then 1 million people will spend approximately ₹50 crore. This means that this amount will go into the pockets of Delhi’s businesses. How accurate is the claim of a loss of ₹12,000 crore? Business organizations claim that the rally could impact business by up to ₹12,000 crore. This figure could be significantly lower on Sunday. Major markets in Delhi typically see higher business volumes from Monday to Saturday. Sundays are closed, which reduces business. Therefore, traders can benefit from the purchases made by rally-goers during Sunday’s market hours. This means the rally will not significantly impact business due to the Sunday market closure. A chance for significant shopping in many places As festivals like Diwali, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath are approaching, and the cold has also arrived in a significant way, rally-goers may be interested in purchasing festival-related items, warm clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and makeup items. The wedding season is also about to begin, which could lead to increased business for these businesses. Curated by: Rajesh Bharti About the Author Rajesh Bharti is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times (Digital). He joined Navbharat Times, the digital wing of the Times of India Group, in July 2024. Rajesh Bharti works on the Business Desk at NBT Digital. Courtesy: Hindi News
Document change regime developed following NALSA ‘grossly discriminatory’ against ‘biological females’: PIL
The India chapter of the UK-based trust seeks to overrule the NALSA judgment that laid down that legal recognition of gender identity was part of the Constitutional right to dignity and freedom UK-based Women’s Declaration International has challenged parts of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2026 and also the operating procedures of UIDAI, which are meant to enable an update to the name and gender of persons on their Aadhaar cards. (Image used for representational purpose only) UK-based Women’s Declaration International has challenged parts of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2026 and also the operating procedures of UIDAI, which are meant to enable an update to the name and gender of persons on their Aadhaar cards. (Image used for representational purpose only) | Photo Credit: Getty Images A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court has argued that the regulatory regime developed in India on the back of the landmark 2014 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) judgement that recognised transgender identity is “grossly discriminatory” against “biological females”. The PIL filed by the India chapter of UK-based Women’s Declaration International (WDI) argued that the document change regime also “dilutes” the rights, protections, and entitlements meant for “biological females,” and further impinges on the right to freedom of speech and expression by compelling all citizens to “express belief in gender identities”. A decade after NALSA, trans students still await inclusion on Indian campuses The trust, which describes itself as a “feminist, non-partisan, all-volunteer and all-female organisation advocating for the rights, dignity, safety, and freedom of women”, is seeking to overrule key portions of the NALSA judgement, specifically, the portion that ruled that legal recognition of gender identity constituted a part of the right to dignity and freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of India. In addition, the WDI has challenged parts of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2026, which provides the statutory framework for recognising gender identity and enables gender-diverse people to obtain gender certificates. The petitioners have also challenged the standard operating procedures of the UIDAI, which are meant to enable an update to the name and gender of persons on their Aadhaar cards. Government tables Bill to redefine ‘transgender person’, remove ‘self-perceived’ identity A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) issued notices to the Union Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Law, and Health and Family Welfare on the PIL. The WDI has argued that while people have a right to “believe in gender identities and hold and express these internal experiences”, the regulatory regime that has developed in India through the years since the 2014 judgement has legally recognised gender identity by “overwriting the sex marker in official documents with the person’s professed internal experience”. It added that this change in “sex marker” has been allowed to propagate into other identity documents like Aadhaar, Voter ID, passports, and birth certificates, which has “come at the cost of women’s rights to equality, dignity and freedom”. Identity certificates for transgenders Transgender identity certificate will be treated as valid documentation for PAN: Centre to Supreme Court Change in transgender law cannot take away rights already given, Supreme Court tells Centre SIR: Why transgender persons fear exclusion from voter rolls In the petition, the WDI has cited instances of the State Election Commission in Kerala, in 2025, allowing two people the NGO identifies as “biological males self-identifying as female” to contest Panchayat elections on seats reserved for women; one “biological male” in Kerala being allowed to participate in the women’s category of Judo, a contact sport, and winning a State-level championship; one “biological male” in Tamil Nadu being appointed as a “female” nursing assistant at a government hospital; and one “biological male” being admitted to the National Cadet Corps Girls Division, “despite concerns regarding shared accommodation and intimate facilities”. WDI India’s petition echoes arguments on gender identity and its recognition in the West, particularly in the United States of America, and in the United Kingdom, where the first half of this decade has seen multiple court decisions ruling that women-only spaces are meant to be reserved for people based on their sex and not their gender identity, and that language like “man”, “woman”, and “sex” in statutory provisions is meant to protect the rights and entitlements available by virtue of “biological sex”. U.K. top court’s definition of woman further polarises debate on gender The WDI’s petition has cited the landmark U.K. Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v. The Scottish Ministers (2025)and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2026 decisions reserving women’s sports for “biological females” to make its case. Notably, while WDI India has argued that the same regulatory regime that has allowed “biological males” to change their identity documents based on their self-identification of gender and threatened spaces, protections, rights, and entitlements meant for “biological females”, has also stripped “biological females” of these spaces, protections, rights, and entitlements by allowing them to change their identity documents to “male”. What are the changes being proposed to Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 | Explained Further, this petition’s arguments before the Supreme Court come at a time when India is on its way to giving effect to the 106th Constitutional Amendment, which provides for reserving 33% of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women. This is also coming at the heels of the Union Government amending the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act earlier this year to redefine “transgender” persons based purely on physiological characteristics and removing a provision guaranteeing the right to “self-perceived gender identity”. And even as the 2026 amendments to the trans rights law remain under challenge before the Supreme Court, WDI India has argued that the “constitutional issues” it has raised in its petition are not fully resolved by the 2026 amendments. Abhinay Lakshman 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