Dalit family attacked, casteist slurs used: Case filed against five named accused in Sadabad
A Dalit family in the village of Heli Bhag Midawali in the Sadabad police station area has been accused of entering their home, assaulting them, and using casteist slurs. Based on the victim’s complaint, police have registered a case against five named accused under various sections and the SC/ST Act and have begun an investigation. Sanjeev, son of Sonveer, a resident of the village of Heli Bhag Midawali, stated in his complaint to the police that he is financially weak and lives with his family in a room near a tubewell outside the village. According to Sanjeev, at around 12:30 pm on July 7, Bani Singh alias Bijendra Singh, Arvind Kumar, Rahul, Gopal, and Shubham arrived at his room with iron rods and sticks. The accused entered the house and began assaulting Sanjeev’s wife, Preeti, and children. Sanjeev alleged that when he resisted, he was also assaulted, resulting in serious head injuries. Hearing the noise, Mukesh Kumar and Brajesh Kumar, who were working in a nearby field, rushed to the scene. They attempted to intervene, but the accused assaulted them as well, resulting in injuries to their hands. The complaint also alleges that during the assault, the accused used casteist slurs and threatened to kill him. They reportedly threatened to kill Sanjeev’s entire family and demolish the room he was living in with a JCB. Sanjeev somehow escaped and reached the Sadabad police station, reporting the incident to the police. Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the five named accused under relevant sections and the SC/ST Act. Deputy Superintendent of Police JN Asthana stated that the matter is being investigated and further legal action will be taken based on the facts that emerge from the investigation. Kishore Kumar Varshney | Sadabad, Hathras Courtesy : Hindi News
Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s Views on the Bhakti Movement and the Upliftment of Dalits
The Bhakti Movement occupies an important place in the social and religious history of India. Emerging between the seventh and seventeenth centuries in different parts of the country, it emphasized personal devotion (bhakti) to God, rejected excessive ritualism, and sought to establish a direct relationship between the devotee and the divine. Several Bhakti saints, including Kabir, Ravidas, Chokhamela, Namdev, Tukaram and Nandanar, condemned social discrimination and proclaimed the equality of all human beings before God. Because many of these saints came from marginalized communities or openly criticized caste prejudice, the Bhakti Movement is often celebrated as a movement of social equality and Dalit emancipation. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, however, offered a far more critical and historically grounded assessment. While acknowledging the moral courage and egalitarian spirit of several Bhakti saints, he argued that the movement failed to dismantle the caste system or bring about the social, economic and political liberation of the Dalits. In his view, the Bhakti Movement represented an ethical protest against caste discrimination but not a programme for structural social transformation. The distinction between spiritual equality and social equality lies at the heart of Ambedkar’s critique. Ambedkar’s Appreciation of the Bhakti Saints Ambedkar did not dismiss the Bhakti tradition in its entirety. He recognized that many saints challenged the religious orthodoxy of their time and gave voice to the aspirations of the oppressed. Saints such as Ravidas and Chokhamela, themselves born into communities regarded as “untouchable,” exposed the inhumanity of caste discrimination through their poetry and personal experiences. Kabir boldly attacked Brahminical ritualism as well as Islamic orthodoxy, emphasizing morality, reason and the unity of humanity over religious formalism. These saints questioned hereditary privilege, criticized priestly domination and insisted that devotion, rather than birth, was the true basis of religious worth. They affirmed the dignity of labour and rejected the idea that spiritual status depended upon caste. Their teachings inspired generations of oppressed people and enriched India’s ethical and literary traditions. Ambedkar acknowledged these contributions and regarded them as important voices of dissent within Indian society. Bhakti as a Spiritual Rather Than Social Revolution Despite recognizing these achievements, Ambedkar argued that the Bhakti Movement remained essentially a spiritual movement rather than a social revolution. Its central concern was the individual’s relationship with God rather than the reconstruction of society. While Bhakti saints preached equality before God, they rarely developed a systematic programme for abolishing caste, redistributing economic power or transforming social institutions. For Ambedkar, this constituted the fundamental limitation of the movement. A religion that teaches spiritual equality while accepting social inequality cannot produce genuine human emancipation. Equality before God has little practical significance if people continue to suffer discrimination in everyday life. A Dalit who is denied entry into a temple, prevented from drawing water from a public well, excluded from education or deprived of economic opportunities cannot be considered equal merely because religion declares all souls to be equal before God. Ambedkar therefore insisted that social equality must precede or accompany spiritual equality. Without changes in the structure of society, devotional teachings remain largely symbolic. Failure to Destroy the Caste System Ambedkar’s most significant criticism was that the Bhakti Movement failed to destroy the caste system. Although many saints condemned untouchability and emphasized human brotherhood, caste hierarchy continued to dominate Hindu society long after the movement had spread across India. He pointed to a striking contradiction in Hindu society. Upper-caste Hindus often revered saints like Ravidas and Chokhamela as holy men while simultaneously refusing to treat ordinary Dalits as equals. Temples celebrated Dalit saints, but living Dalits remained excluded from temples, schools, public wells and positions of dignity. This paradox demonstrated, according to Ambedkar, that admiration for exceptional individuals did not translate into equality for the oppressed community as a whole. The Bhakti Movement produced revered saints but failed to eliminate the social practices that degraded millions of ordinary Dalits. Consequently, caste survived largely intact despite centuries of devotional preaching. Individual Salvation Versus Collective Liberation Ambedkar also criticized the movement for emphasizing individual salvation instead of collective social struggle. Bhakti encouraged devotees to seek liberation through prayer, surrender and devotion to God. While such devotion might provide spiritual consolation, it did not equip oppressed communities with the political organization or social consciousness necessary to challenge systems of exploitation. Ambedkar believed that no oppressed community could secure justice merely through moral persuasion or religious devotion. Real emancipation required education, political representation, legal rights, economic resources and organized social movements. His famous call to “Educate, Agitate and Organize” reflected this conviction. Liberation could only be achieved through collective action and democratic struggle, not through individual acts of devotion. Bhakti and the Absence of Social Democracy For Ambedkar, democracy was not simply a political system but a way of life founded upon liberty, equality and fraternity. Although Bhakti occasionally promoted the ideal of fraternity, it failed to establish liberty and equality within the social order. Hereditary occupations remained unchanged, caste endogamy continued, Brahminical authority survived, and untouchability persisted. As a result, the movement did not create the social conditions necessary for democracy. Ambedkar argued that political democracy cannot endure where society itself remains deeply unequal. Social democracy requires equal opportunities, equal dignity and equal citizenship—objectives that devotional reform alone could not achieve. Critique of Saint Worship Ambedkar was also skeptical of the tendency to rely upon saints as agents of social transformation. He argued that history is changed not by isolated holy individuals but by organized and conscious masses. Saints may awaken moral awareness, but lasting social change depends upon institutions, laws, political movements and collective action. He believed that excessive reverence for saints often encouraged passive acceptance of injustice rather than active resistance against it. The oppressed, he argued, must become the makers of their own history instead of waiting for moral reform from privileged sections of society. Ambedkar’s Alternative Vision Unlike the Bhakti saints, Ambedkar proposed a comprehensive programme for the emancipation of Dalits. This programme included the annihilation of caste, universal education, economic justice,
Rajasthan SI Suspended After Dalit Youth Dies in Knife Attack; Family Alleges Police Ignored Prior Complaint
A police sub-inspector has been suspended in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district after a Dalit youth died following a knife attack, with the victim’s family alleging that police failed to act on an earlier complaint that could have prevented the incident. The action was taken after allegations of negligence surfaced against the officer, who had reportedly ignored a written complaint filed by the victim two days before the attack. Victim Had Filed Harassment Complaint Before Attack The incident took place on the evening of July 3 near the Shani Temple in Srikaranpur town, where two youths, Charanjit Singh and Shivraj, were allegedly attacked with knives. Charanjit, who suffered critical injuries, was shifted to a hospital in Sri Ganganagar, where he died during treatment on July 4. Shivraj is still undergoing treatment. According to the police, Charanjit had submitted a written complaint to Sub-Inspector Mala Singh two days before the attack, alleging that the accused had harassed a girl. However, no action was taken on the complaint. Police believe that after the complaint was ignored, the accused allegedly attacked Charanjit and Shivraj out of revenge. Family Alleges Police Negligence Following Charanjit’s death, his family staged a protest outside the police station on July 5, accusing the police of serious negligence. The family alleged that timely action on the earlier complaint could have prevented the attack and saved Charanjit’s life. District chief Dularam Meghwal also submitted a written complaint to the Inspector General of Police (Bikaner Range), alleging that SI Mala Singh had deliberately failed to act despite receiving the complaint. Meghwal further stated that Charanjit belonged to a Dalit family and urged strict action against those responsible. SI Suspended, Probe Underway After receiving the complaint, the Inspector General directed Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Harishankar to take immediate action. The SP subsequently suspended SI Mala Singh pending an inquiry. Speaking on the matter, SP Harishankar said, “The investigation is underway. Teams have been formed to arrest the accused, and the entire incident is being thoroughly investigated.” Police said further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. 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
‘One Sewer Death Every 45 Hours’: Safai Karamchari Abhiyan Asks Prime Minister to Save Dalit Lives
After the law banning manual scavenging was passed, deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks rose from 39 in 2016 to 121 in 2025 and the figure is set to jump again in 2026. ‘One Sewer Death Every 45 Hours’: Safai Karamchari Abhiyan Asks Prime Minister to Save Dalit Lives A file photo from May 2019 of Delhi Univesity students and sanitation staff protesting. Credit: Riya Bhardwaj New Delhi: The Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA) has questioned the government’s silence and delays in ending manual scavenging in India. Highlighting the death of 101 people across the country since January 2026 while engaged in manually cleaning sewers and septic tanks, SKA said that its figure – 121 deaths for the whole of 2025 – showed the situation was worsening. “Needless to say, Dalit lives don’t matter for government and they have turned into a new normal,” Bezwada Wilson, a Magsaysay Prize awardee and head of the SKA, said in a statement. The NGO’s figures show an “alarming” rise in the number of deaths in sewers and septic tanks ever since manual scavenging was banned by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. “In 2016, only 39 deaths were reported, which jumped by 350% next year in 2017 to 137 deaths,” said the statement. It said over 1,726 deaths have been reported across the country since 2013. It said a sanitation worker’s death is being reported while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, on average, “every 45 hours”, while governments choose “shameless” silence. “We demand that our Prime Minister immediately announce a complete stop to deaths inside sewers and septic tanks,” it said. Governments in denial Wilson pointed out that the government has been denying sewer deaths though they were still taking place, more than a decade after the practice was outlawed. “No death has been reported due to manual scavenging, which is lifting of human excreta from insanitary latrines,” the government of India told parliament in 2023. “Further, no report from States/UTs has been received about the inhuman practice of manual scavenging,” Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said in parliament. A press release issued by the government based on this parliament (Rajya Sabha) response said in October 2023 that out of 766 districts, only 249 – fewer than 35% – had declared themselves manual scavengers-free “and uploaded the certificate on portal”. At the same time, in 2018, the Delhi government admitted that manual scavenging was ongoing in the capital, while the Superme Court asked the Union government to correctly assess the situation. The SKA statement records 12 deaths in Delhi-NCR, which are part of the “horrific” increase in cases across the country. It said 16 states had reported such deaths so far in 2026, an indication of the spread of the problem. Complete ban on dry toilets and manual cleaning Bezwada Wilson spent four decades battling the practice through SKA’s activism, a social movement and a court case (related to a 1993 law that has also proved ineffective in ending the scourge) before manual scavenging could be outlawed, without exception and across the country, by the 2013 law. Both the 1993 and 2013 laws are in place, seeking to address separate aspects of the practice: employment of people to clean sewers and septic tanks manually as well as building of dry toilets, etc., both of which perpetuate the practice. The statement also criticised state governments for not taking action to prevent manual scavenging and said it had expected better response to the law. Of the 1,726 deaths since 2013, 1,203 were just from Tamil Nadu (332), Gujarat (216), Delhi-NCR (157), Maharashtra (155), Uttar Pradesh (148), Haryana (104) and Bihar (94). “Despite such big numbers, none of these states have taken a single step to stop these deaths,” the statement said. State governments complicit The SKA statement was also critical of the government’s flagship ‘Swachh Bharat‘ scheme to build toilets across the country as well as of the scheme for mechanised cleaning of drainage systems, saying they neither mechanised the sanitation ecosystem nor completely eliminated dry toilets. Wilson said the failure of governments to elimitate the practice showed “how much they value the lives of safai karamcharis, who are still considered to be untouchable”. In 2019, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Union government over ambiguity in eradication of manual scavenging and passed an order banning the practice in six metropolitan cities. It had said it was “sick” of trying to get the Union and state governments to implement the 1993 law. India ranks very poorly in terms of its global sanitation status, for which are responsible lack of scientific cleaning methods and planning and caste- and gender-based inequality, as acknowledged by UNICEF, the Indian government’s partner in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, in 2020. A survey by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed in 2024 that 91.9% of the 38,000 sanitation workers profiled (thus far) belonged to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Classes. Courtesy : The Wire Note: This news is originally published on https:/thewire.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Allegations of extortion in the name of the second installment of the PM-Awas Yojana: Dalit youth beaten up for protesting, SDM says action will be taken after investigation
A case of alleged illegal extortion for the second installment of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has come to light in Amila Nagar Panchayat in Mau. It is alleged that a Dalit youth was assaulted for resisting the demand for money. A 36-second video of the incident is also circulating on social media. However, the viral video has not been independently verified. Vikas Kumar, son of Virendra, a resident of Saraya Dalit Basti, alleged that on Thursday afternoon, two young men, reportedly associated with the regional accountant, came to the village to photograph houses for the second installment of the PM-Awas Yojana. Vikas says that the construction work for the first installment of his house had been completed. When he asked for the photos, the young men allegedly demanded money in exchange for the photos. The victim alleges that when he refused to pay and started filming with his mobile phone, one of the young men seen in the video got up from his chair and began assaulting and abusing him. His mobile phone was also damaged during the incident. Vikas alleged that the two youths, under the protection of the regional accountant, extort money illegally in the name of photographing residences. He said that the government has designated authorized employees for this task, yet such activities continue to occur. According to the victim, similar complaints have been reported in the Nagar Panchayat area before, but the lack of effective action is encouraging such cases. The matter has gained traction after a video went viral on social media. However, the video could not be independently verified. Ghosi SDM Ashok Singh stated that an investigation will be conducted. If the investigation confirms irregularities or assault, appropriate action will be taken as per the rules. Mithilesh Kumar Rai | Amila, Mau Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit student murder protests get louder, 63 booked
Meerut: A day after using force to disperse Dalit demonstrators, the Meerut police have booked 13 named and 50 unnamed people on severe charges, including attempt to murder and outraging the modesty of women cops. Seven people have been arrested and remanded in 14 days of judicial custody. Police claimed 11 cops were injured and women personnel were harmed.The police crackdown on Wednesday targeted protesters demanding justice for Lalita Gautam, a BA final year Dalit student who went missing on May 15 and her body was found in a sugarcane field the next day in Rohta area of Meerut district. The victim’s family and local outfits alleged a shoddy police investigation. Tensions escalated when negotiations failed, and protesters blocked roads near the collectorate after being denied a personal audience with the DM VK Singh and SSP Avinash Pandey. The situation turned volatile when a police force led by SSP Pandey initiated a baton charge to clear the roadway. During the crackdown, SSP Pandey was seen assaulting a Noida-based lawyer, Ravi Gautam, inside a police transit van. Police have also invoked an attempt to suicide charge against Gautam, claiming he tried to hang himself inside the vehicle.Authorities allege that external, anti-social elements orchestrated the unrest. SP (Rural) Abhijeet Kumar identified Digvijay Singh Bhati, an externed history-sheeter from Amroha, as the mastermind behind the unauthorised blockade. Officials also linked some accused to the notorious Amit Miranda gang, claiming they intentionally placed local women and minors in the front. Police stated that local residents were spared, but strict legal action would continue against outside agitators.On Thursday, police sealed the deceased woman’s village Thiraut for outsiders to prevent any escalation of the situation.The accused have strongly denied the allegations. In a released video, Bhati claimed complete ignorance and challenged authorities to prove his presence in Meerut. Hemant Pradhan, a Congress functionary named in the case, stated that the protest was entirely peaceful. “The authorities shut the main gate of the collectorate and carried out the assault, which itself is illegal,” Pradhan said.Defending the police action, SSP Pandey stated that the primary suspect in the murder—who was in a relationship with the victim—had already been arrested and jailed before being released on bail. He alleged that external elements, including Ravi Gautam, were instigating the victim’s family with inducements like money and weapon licences to spread anarchy.The incident has triggered sharp political reactions. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the police action, while Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad announced plans to visit the victim’s family. Additionally, activist and former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Meerut police. 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
Ahead of cabinet expansion, MLC BK Hariprasad gains Siddaramaiah’s backing
The argument is that if Hariprasad wields power, it would also help organise the party, drawing a parallel to Shivakumar, who held both the DCM and KPCC chief’s posts. BENGALURU: As the countdown begins for cabinet expansion, and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar gears up to fill 20 berths, the name of KPCC chief and MLC BK Hariprasad has come to the fore, springing a surprise. According to sources, former CM Siddaramiah has been backing Hariprasad to be made minister and also floor leader in the Council. The argument is that if Hariprasad wields power, it would also help organise the party, drawing a parallel to Shivakumar who held both the DCM and KPCC chief’s posts. It is to be seen whether Siddaramaiah’s plan materialises when he along with Shivakumar and Hariprasad, call on the high command after LOP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi returns from his foreign trip on Sunday. If Hariprasad misses out on becoming minister, Siddaramaiah’s son and Urban Development Minister Dr Yathindra is likely to be the floor leader. Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi was also aspiring to be KPCC chief while keeping his ministerial berth, but the high command turned it down. Now, Satish is feeling let down as Siddaramaiah did not back him to the hilt. Sources said Satish’s relationship with Siddaramaiah began to sour a couple of months before the latter stepped down as CM, after Satish held talks with Shivakumar and his brother DK Suresh, former Bengaluru Rural MP, , say political analysts. Meanwhile, DK Suresh, who is now Bamul Chairman, hosted dinner for select Congress MLAs at a hotel in Bengaluru on Wednesday evening. The legislators, who were were vocal in backing Shivakumar’s claim the CM’s post, included Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna, Channagiri MLA Basavaraj Shivaganga, Maddur MLA Kadaluru Uday, Sira MLA TB Jayachandra, Hoskote MLA Sharath Bachegowda, Ranebennur MLA Prakash Koliwad, Srirangapatna MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda and newly elected MLC Vinay Karthik, sources said. In fact, Balakrishna hosted the dinner on behalf of Suresh as a goodwill gesture to keep the MLAs in good humour, they added. 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
NC invites 52 leaders across party lines for J&K statehood protest at Jantar Mantar
Farooq Abdullah reaches out to INDIA bloc, BJP, regional parties and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference has invited 52 political leaders of the country within and outside INDIA Bloc including J&K’s Grand Mufti and Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to join the protest at Jantar Mantar for statehood restoration to J&K on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon session. NC president Farooq Abdullah has reached out to political parties across J&K and leaders from across the country, inviting them to join the peaceful, democratic protest at Jantar Mantar on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. “This is not about one party, one region, or one people. It is about defending India’s federal spirit, upholding the Constitution, and demanding the long-overdue restoration of J&K’s statehood as repeatedly promised,” he said. “We hope every democratic voice across the country will stand united in this collective cause”. Among the 52 prominent political leaders invited for the statehood restoration protest include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Asaduddin Owaisi, Y S Jagam Mohan Reddy, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Arvind Kejriwal, M A Baby CPI(M) General Secretary, D Raja of CPI, Kapil Sibal, BSP chief Mayawati, BRS President K. Chandrashekar Rao, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari, J&K Congress chief G A Mir, J&K BJP president Satpal Sharma, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and J&K Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam. In his letter, NC president said the central government had repeatedly assured in parliament that statehood would be restored after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories by centre on August 5, 2019. He said despite successful conduct of Assembly elections in 2024 and formation of an elected government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the promise of restoring statehood remains unfulfilled. “This is not merely a delay. It is an affront to the democratic will of an entire people,” he said, adding that the continued denial of statehood undermines the federal character of the Constitution and weakens democratic institutions. “Our protest shall be peaceful, democratic, and constitutional — as it must be, and as it shall be. We are not asking for anything beyond what was promised. Our demands shall not transgress from those which have already promised to us. The cause of federalism is not the cause of one party, one people or one region. It is the cause of every citizen of India who believes that the genius of our constitutional order lies in the balance it strikes between unity and diversity,” Abdullah said. He said the stand for restoration of statehood to J&K is to stand for the integrity of that balance — for the proposition that no people should be governed without their consent, and no promise made in parliament should be allowed to lapse into convenient oblivion. “People of J&K have chosen hope — we have chosen the ballot, the Constitution, and the democratic process that all of us in some way or another have been a part of. We deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect,” the NC president said. “Together, let us send an unambiguous message that the people of J&K remain the guardians of the voice of those who have been made to wait too long,” he added. It would be interesting to see how many of the 52 leaders attend the NC leader’s protest for statehood restoration on July 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the opening day of parliament’s monsoon session. After forming the government, CM Omar in his first cabinet meeting passed a resolution on restoration of statehood and handed copies of the resolution to PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other central leaders but there has been no forward movement on the issue in over one and half year’s rule of NC government. Fayaz Wani 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
Signs of thaw: Will abide by Cong poll strategy, says Channi; pressure won’t work on party high command, warns Baghel, says he’s ready to meet dissidents even if they don’t
Chandigarh: In the first sign of softening of stance, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi signalled on Wednesday that his camp would ultimately abide by Congress’s election strategy. Describing Rahul Gandhi as his leader, Channi said, “Elections are seven months away. Whatever strategy the party adopts, we will work accordingly and contest the elections.” This was preceded by a clear message from Punjab Congress affairs in charge Bhupesh Baghel during the day that “no pressure works on the party high command”. Baghel has been here for three days, trying to resolve the crisis, but Channi and former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have not yet met him. On Wednesday, Baghel reiterated that he was ready to meet Channi, Randhawa and any of the dissident group members even if they don’t come to meet him. According to sources, the Channi camp is meeting on Thursday to chart its next course of action and decide whether to meet Baghel. They had earlier decided to approach Congress high command directly with their concerns instead of routing them through Baghel. Baghel told mediapersons that he has spoken with Channi and Randhawa over phone. “They told me they were busy with some work and were out of town, but would get in touch with me after they returned. Either I will visit their homes for tea or they can come to the PCC office,” he said. Baghel, however, ruled out any possibility of the high command revisiting its decision under pressure. “No pressure works on the party high command. I do not believe decisions are made under pressure, nor should they be. Therefore, the decisions that have already been taken will remain in effect. Once the high command has taken a decision, it will not be changed. Is it a ‘gudda-guddi ka khel’?” he said. Warring too reiterated his willingness to engage with the dissenting leaders, saying he would personally meet each of them. He said that if anyone was dissatisfied with him, he was prepared to make every effort to win their support. “They are all more capable than me and senior to me,” Warring said. Back-channel efforts to break the impasse gathered pace. Former cabinet minister Razia Sultana, who attended the Channi group meeting in Mohali, met Baghel on Wednesday. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also met Channi a day after Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka had spoken with the former CM. Aujla told TOI that he urged Channi to place the grievances before the senior leadership so that issues be resolved at the earliest. “We are trying to resolve the grievances so that everyone comes on the same page and launches a collective campaign against AAP govt,” Aujla said. Describing the issue as a “family matter”, Verka said there was flexibility in the process of dialogue. “They can come to us or we can go to them. Those who still want to meet Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge or KC Venugopal will have their meetings facilitated. Discussions are on. Our effort is to speak to everyone who has grievances and address their concerns,” he said. However, former MLA Karan Kaur Brar, daughter-in-law of former Punjab CM Harcharan Singh Brar, who hails from Muktsar, Warring’s home district, hit out at him, saying: “Whoever Congress high command appoints as state president, I will accept. However, I believe the current president has created a great deal of discord within the party.” Congress national spokesperson Udit Raj said factionalism has often proved costly for the party and urged leaders to resolve their differences through organisational mechanisms. “The fault lies with us. We lost Uttarakhand election because of infighting and factionalism. Whenever we lose, factionalism is the primary reason. If there are grievances, they should be raised on the appropriate platform. In my view, the leaders should have met Bhupesh Baghel. By taking these matters into the public domain, it’s only strengthening BJP,” he said. Channi On Jalalpur Asked about the showcause notice issued to former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, who attended the Channi camp meetings, the former CM said he would comment only after examining the matter. 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
TN: After being sent to jail for a bike theft complaint three years ago, a Dalit woman journalist became the target of casteist hatred and police indifference.
The entire family, including her pregnant sister-in-law, was beaten up. The family alleges that the police deliberately withheld action despite video evidence. Villupuram – A 27-year-old Dalit woman journalist, who filed a theft complaint three years ago in V. Sithamur village in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, is now facing “punishment” for that very complaint. She has been a constant target of casteist hatred since two influential caste brothers were jailed. On June 22nd, her brother and entire family were fatally attacked, including her pregnant sister-in-law, who was beaten with slippers. Two weeks later, the main accused remain at large, and the Tamil Nadu police’s callousness is evident. What is the whole matter? In January 2023, two bikes were stolen from the journalist’s home. She filed a complaint and named two local youths, Raghu and Ambu. Police investigations revealed that the two brothers were habitual bike thieves. Fifteen bikes and two tractors were recovered from them. However, the journalist’s bike was not recovered. Both brothers were arrested and later released on bail. Since then, the brothers had been angry with the female reporter. They threatened her that she would pay the price for complaining against influential caste people. On June 22, a fight broke out between Ambu and an insurance agent in front of a shop outside the journalist’s house. The woman’s brother, Sanju (31), asked them to peacefully leave the shop. Ambu left, but returned a short time later with Raghu and other associates. The gang began hurling casteist abuses at Sanju and assaulting him. Hearing the noise, Sanju’s pregnant wife, his brother’s wife, and his mother (58) came out of the house. The accused men also hurled casteist abuses at the women and attacked them. Raghu hit the pregnant woman three times with a slipper and pushed her. The mother’s saree was torn. The accused openly threatened the family, “Whenever the journalist goes out for work, they will target her too.” The entire incident was captured on CCTV installed at home. On June 23, the victims filed a complaint at the Arakandanallur police station. Police charged the accused under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the Prevention of Women Harassment Act, and the BNS Act. However, two weeks later, Raghu, Ambu, and another key accused remain at large. Police have only arrested the fourth accused, Kumar. Police claim the accused are in Bengaluru, but their exact location is unknown. The family and activists allege that despite video evidence, the police are deliberately withholding action. Human rights activist V. Lalitha, who is providing legal assistance to the family, told TNIE that several villages (Vadakaraithalanur, Vasantha Krishnapuram, Veerapandi Pulikkal, Kadakkanur, etc.) under the Arakandanallur police station have witnessed cases of gang violence and murder against Dalits over the past decade, but none have resulted in convictions. Lalita says, “Immediate arrest is required under the SC/ST (PoA) Act. Excuses like ‘can’t be traced’ point to police complicity. This police station continues to fail in cases involving Dalits.” The victim, a female journalist, says, “My sister-in-law is in her second trimester of pregnancy and is experiencing severe pain. We are all scared, but I am not going to give up my job out of fear.” Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News