Honour is not family’s monopoly, Yogi says, invoking dalit freedom fighter
The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. LUCKNOW: Reminding people of the contributions of several Dalit icons to winning freedom for the nation, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should know that it was not only Jawaharlal Nehru but also Masuriya Din Pasi who had gone to jail for the freedom of the country. Asserting that honour was not the exclusive property of any family, CM Yogi said those who raised their voices for Dalits and the deprived sections and dedicated their lives to the nation and society must also be given due respect. He was addressing a gathering after unveiling a statue of Masuriya, a Dalit freedom fighter from the Pasi community, at Mahashay Masuriyadin Smarak Inter College in Teliyarganj in Prayagraj. Notably, Masuriya Din Pasi was co-elected from the Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency twice, in 1952 and 1957, along with Nehru, and is also known to have worked towards the education of the Scheduled Castes. The CM stated that, as a member of the Constituent Assembly, Masuriya was the one who had got the British Criminal Tribes Act abolished. “After suffering defeat in the First War of Independence in 1857, the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act in 1871 and humiliated numerous castes, including the Pasi community. Babasaheb and Masuriya Din ji fought against that law and eventually got it abolished, connecting the Pasi, Sonkar, deprived and Dalit communities with the mainstream of the nation and inspiring them to live a life of dignity,” said the CM. He added that Masuriya Din lived for 66-67 years, of which he spent nine years (1932-1944) in jail for taking part in the freedom movement. Even after his release, he continued to carry out public awareness activities. The CM said that the intersection where Masuriya Din’s statue was installed would be named after him and sought a proposal from the Prayagraj Mayor. “The name of one institution in Prayagraj would also be changed to Mahashay Masuriya Din’s name. His statue would also be installed, as the society can progress only by honouring great personalities,” said the CM. He claimed that by honouring the past, the present could be improved, and only by improving the present could the future be bright. “Honouring Mahashay is honouring the freedom fighters, and no shortcoming will be allowed in this regard,” he stated. “He was pushed into oblivion in the annals of history, but the BJP government, which believes in development and heritage, does not allow great personalities to be forgotten. We have unveiled his statue to keep his memories alive,” the CM added. Yogi also invoked the history of Pasi warriors, citing Maharaja Bijli Pasi, who, he said, established 12 forts in and around the state capital in the 12th century as part of the efforts to resist foreign invaders. He also recalled the contribution of Makkha Pasi and his wife, freedom fighter Uda Devi Pasi, who took up the fight against the British after her husband’s death and laid down her life in the struggle. Namita Bajpai 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
Hardoi teenager held hostage and raped in Rajasthan: Lured with the promise of a job, forced to marry in a temple
A 17-year-old Dalit girl from Hardoi has alleged that she was held hostage and raped in Rajasthan after being lured with the promise of a job. The victim alleges that she somehow managed to escape from the accused’s clutches and reach home. Subsequently, she filed a complaint at the police station around 4 pm on Tuesday, demanding action against the accused. The case is registered at Baghauli police station. Police have begun an investigation. Now learn the full story… According to the victim, she has studied up to grade eight. It is alleged that on August 3, 2026, a young man from her village, a truck driver in Rajasthan, lured her with the promise of a good-paying job in Chandigarh. Instead of taking her to Chandigarh, the accused took her to Rajasthan and held her captive there. During this time, he forced her into sexual intercourse against her will. Threatened to return home When she resisted and insisted on returning home, the accused threatened to kill her. The victim also alleges that the accused staged a forced marriage at a temple. 50,000 rupees withdrawn from bank account The teenager alleged that the accused fraudulently withdrew approximately 50,000 rupees from her bank account. Later, when the accused’s family learned about her caste, they refused to accept her. Shahnawaz Khan | Hardoi Courtesy: Hindi News
No reservation for OBC, Dalits who convert: Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Thursday ruled a Scheduled Castes/OBC person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order will not be entitled to the benefits of reservation. The court held that reservation is attached to a constitutionally identified class and not to an individual as a personal entitlement, which can be transferred if a person converts. SC said backwardness suffered by the person in Hindu religion cannot be carried forward to the new religion embraced by him or her. The order came on a petition filed by then DMK-led Tamil Nadu govt challenging a Madras HC order quashing state govt’s order to allow reservations for Dalit and OBC converts to Islam. As reservation is provided to some communities of other religions, which are recognised as backward classes in different states, a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar held that conversion of OBCs/Dalits to a non-Hindu social order does not, by itself, confer membership of any particular notified backward class community of the adopted religion. The apex court’s verdict comes against the backdrop of growing demand for extending reservation to those OBCs/Dalits who converted to other religions. “A person who converts from a Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim affirmative action under Article 16(4) of Constitution merely on the basis of the social backwardness associated with his pre-conversion status; the backwardness suffered in the antecedent social order cannot, by itself, be carried forward so as to confer upon him the status of a backward class in the religion to which he has converted,” Supreme Courtsaid while quashing the Tamil Nadu order. 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
Allegations of house lock, assault, and forged deed: 75-year-old Dalit woman and family protest for the second day, administration begins investigation
Phool Kali, a 75-year-old Dalit woman, continued her protest with her family for the second day in Gauhania Kaundhiara. The woman, from Barethia village, alleges that her house was locked, she was assaulted, and a forged deed was executed. At the behest of SDM Bara, a revenue department accountant arrived at the protest site and heard the woman’s complaint. Phool Kali alleges that on October 7th, Rammilan Kushwaha, the operator of Kanak Hospital, arrived at her house with about two dozen people. They assaulted her children and locked the house. The woman filed a complaint and provided the police with a video of the assault. However, the police also filed a case against her family. The dispute also relates to a deed. According to Phool Kali, Rammilan Kushwaha had executed the deed of land belonging to her son Sohan in November 2022. In January 2026, a deed was also executed for the same portion of the house through Sohan, which the woman claims is fraudulent. She has demanded an investigation and cancellation of the deed. The elderly woman has demanded the unlocking of the house, a proper investigation into the assault, and justice by investigating the fraudulent deed. She has stated that the protest will continue until justice is achieved. Pravez Alam | Parsara (Bara), Prayagraj (Allahabad) Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul writes to President, Congress protests over Gautam’s appointment; seeks deferment till Ankita probe ends
The appointment of the BJP leader has triggered a fresh political row in Uttarakhand, with the Congress demanding answers over the alleged involvement of VIPs in the murder of the 19-year-old resort receptionist. DEHRADUN: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday urged President Droupadi Murmu to ask the government to reconsider Dushyant Gautam’s appointment as Sikkim governor and defer his assumption of office until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP angle in the 2022 murder of Ankita Bhandari. The appointment of the BJP leader has triggered a fresh political row in Uttarakhand, with the Congress demanding answers over the alleged involvement of VIPs in the murder of the 19-year-old resort receptionist. In a letter to Murmu, Gandhi said he was approaching her as a “last resort”, urging her to use Article 74(1) of the Constitution to ask the government to reconsider its advice on the appointment. Gautam was appointed governor on Monday. Gandhi alleged that the appointment could impede the investigation, arguing that criminal proceedings cannot be instituted or continued against a sitting governor. “Gautam’s appointment places him out of the reach of the CBI. An inquiry that can never result in prosecution is an inquiry in name only,” he said. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of disregarding women’s safety, Gandhi said the question of who the alleged VIPs were remained unanswered nearly four years after Ankita’s murder. “Please act, provide solace to Ankita’s grieving parents and protect the high post of Governor,” he wrote, urging the President to ensure that Gautam did not assume office until the investigation was completed. Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meet the parents of Ankita Bhandari, protesting against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim Governor over his alleged involvement in the 2022 Ankita Bhandari murder case at India Gate, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Social activist Yogita Bhayana also present. Gandhi had met Ankita’s parents at India Gate on Wednesday, where they protested against the appointment and sought justice for their daughter. The family has alleged Gautam’s involvement in the case, but the allegations do not establish any criminal role on his part. Meanwhile, Congress workers staged a protest in Dehradun on Thursday against the appointment. Former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, and party leaders Pritam Singh, Ganesh Godiyal, Karan Mahara and Garima Dasauni were among those who participated. “Ankita is our daughter. We will continue to fight for her, even if we have to be arrested,” Uttarakhand Congress president Godiyal said, calling the appointment an insult to Ankita and the state. Rawat said Ankita’s parents had travelled to Delhi to seek justice and were detained by police during their protest. He said the family was not alone in its demand for answers over the alleged VIP connection. Ankita, who worked as a receptionist at the Vanantra resort near Rishikesh, was murdered on September 18, 2022. Her employer, Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, had allegedly pressured her to provide “special services” to VIP guests, a demand she refused, Gandhi said in his letter. Her body was recovered from the Chilla canal four days later. Pulkit Arya and two resort employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were arrested in the case. A special investigation team (SIT) was constituted, and a chargesheet was filed based on evidence and witness statements. In May 2023, a Kotdwar court sentenced all three to life imprisonment for the murder. The alleged VIP angle, however, continued to draw political attention. Ankita’s family and activists have demanded a probe into the identities of the alleged VIP guests and alleged destruction of evidence. The state government has cited the arrests, SIT investigation and court proceedings as evidence of action in the case. It has also pointed to the Uttarakhand High Court’s December 2022 dismissal of a petition seeking a CBI probe. The petition was filed by journalist Ashutosh Negi and later joined by Ankita’s parents. The SIT had told the court that it examined forensic material, video footage, recorded statements and call detail records. A medical panel at AIIMS Rishikesh conducted the post-mortem examination. Following protests across Uttarakhand, the state government handed the investigation into the alleged VIP angle to the CBI in January this year. The probe is still underway. Narendra Sethi 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
Supreme Court issues notice to EC on Rahul Gandhi’s petition seeking SIR suspension
LoP, 9 other Opposition leaders allege wrongful deletion of 13 crore voters Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and others during ‘March for Democracy’ by INDIA bloc leaders, towards the Supreme Court, to file a petition against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and ‘vote chori’, at Barakhamba road, in New Delhi, October 12, 2026. PTI The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission and others on a petition filed by Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and nine other opposition leaders over alleged large-scale irregularities and deletion of 13 crore voters during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the Election Commission, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to respond to the petition that sought suspension of the ongoing SIR exercise. The Bench ordered tagging of the matter with petitions already pending before it. “Issue notice. But one objection before that…. We would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on the next date of hearing. Issuing notice does not mean that we are condemning anything. We are issuing notices…. But about one of the petitioners, we will definitely entertain the issue. The notice on behalf of one of the petitioners will be entertained on a provisional basis, subject to his explaining his conduct,” the CJI said. Rahul was represented by senior counsel Kapil Sibal. The Bench also issued notice on separate petitions filed by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. The petition filed by Rahul and other INDIA bloc leaders urged the top court to set up a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and assisted by technical experts and other persons of eminence to audit SIR deletions and access to electoral roll database, and to review EVM processes against global best practices. No deletion of voters’ names should be done without notice and hearing and eligible persons in Punjab and other poll-bound states should be allowed to seek inclusion till the last date, the petition demanded. The petition urged the top court to examine if decisions taken by the poll panel complied with Article 324, Section 18 of the 2023 CEC Act and the 1995 TN Seshan ruling and quash any decision taken without lawful authority. It also sought production of the Election Commission’s files, minutes, notings and objections recorded by Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi on disputed SIR decisions, along with ECINET and ERONET access logs as also the complete file recording the June 24, 2025, decision to launch nationwide SIR. Other prayers in the petition included action against those responsible for breaches, including under Section 32 of the RP Act, 1950; direction that every SIR decision be taken and minuted as per Section 18 till the case was decided; online Form 6 to conform to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, unless the Rules were amended; and booth-wise publication of deleted names with reasons and age and gender-wise breakdown, plus a functional restoration mechanism. The petition was filed a day after the Chief Justice of India declined to meet Rahul and Kharge for a discussion on issues relating to the SIR and ‘vote chori’ allegations against the CEC on the grounds that such a meeting would be inappropriate as the issues sought to be raised with him were pending before the Supreme Court for adjudication. The other petitioners from the INDIA bloc are Saugata Roy (TMC), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena-UBT), D Raja (CPI), Mahua Majhi (JMM), MA Baby (CPM) and ET Mohammed Basheer (IUML). Article_Author Satya Prakash Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Get your own party in order’: AAP targets Rahul over Cong state chief Pargat’s remarks on anti-drug drive
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Punjab’s anti-drug drive. It accused the Congress leadership of double standards and alleged that state Congress president was undermining the government’s action against drug traffickers. In a post on X, AAP questioned Gandhi’s stance on the crackdown, writing, “Rahul Gandhi Ji, in Punjab, the Mann government is taking strict action against drug traffickers, but your own state president Paragat Singh is standing in support of the drug traffickers. Can’t you see this, or are you deliberately turning a blind eye?” The party further challenged Gandhi to clarify whether his state unit supported the campaign against drugs, adding, “Before lecturing on the issue of drugs in Punjab, get your own party in order. At least ask your president whether he stands with the action against drugs or with the drug traffickers?”The exchange comes amid a political row over the killing of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Rahul Gandhi had criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government following the incident, saying that raising one’s voice against drug abuse in Punjab had become “a death sentence”. — PargatSOfficial (@PargatSOfficial) Jhota was allegedly shot by a medical shop owner and later succumbed to his injuries. The killing triggered protests and a statewide bandh on Thursday, with organisations demanding accountability over the state’s law-and-order situation and its anti-drug campaign. Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police, arrested the alleged main shooter, Asvini, in Salasar, Rajasthan, officials said on Wednesday. The district administration subsequently demolished the accused’s residence amid heavy security deployment. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh criticised the authorities’ handling of the bandh in a post on X, writing, “Today, Punjab is back on the streets against drugs. The Punjab bandh is not just a protest, but a clear declaration of the trust that has been shattered by the government and police administration.” — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) He also alleged that peaceful protesters were being arrested in Jalandhar and other constituencies, calling the reported action “absolutely unacceptable in a democracy”. Singh warned chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav against suppressing protesters, adding that no action in Mansa should be taken without the family’s consent. 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
Delhi govt to offer 1,300 pink e-autos to empower women, transgender persons
Delhi has opened the DURGA portal for women and transgender applicants to seek pink e-autos. The scheme aims to expand self-employment and make public transport more inclusive. The Delhi government on Monday launched a dedicated portal for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which women and transgender persons will get an opportunity to own and drive electric autos and earn a livelihood. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase. She said 1,170 have been earmarked for women and 130 for transgender persons, with a district-wise cap of 90 e-autos for women and 10 for transgender persons in each revenue district. The scheme, called Driving, Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender E-Auto (DURGA), was recently launched by the government. Through the initiative, the government aims to create self-employment opportunities for the targeted groups and increase their participation in public transport, Gupta said. Under the eligibility criteria, women applicants must be between 20 and 40 years of age and residents of Delhi. They must hold a valid Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving licence and a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badge. “The annual family income must not exceed Rs 5 lakh, and the prescribed condition relating to a maximum of three living children will also apply. Transgender applicants must also meet the specified age and Delhi residency requirements and hold a valid driving licence and PSV badge,” Gupta said in a statement. The application process will remain open for three months. Gupta said that if the number of eligible applications received in a district is higher than its prescribed quota when the portal closes, allotments will be made through an online lottery. The portal launch marks the start of applications for the DURGA e-auto scheme, under which 1,300 pink e-autos will be allotted in the first phase to eligible women and transgender applicants in Delhi. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kerala HC directs release of pending dues to transgender person who underwent sex reassignment surgery
Kochi: The high court has directed the director of the directorate of social justice to disburse the pending financial assistance of Rs 21,000 to a transgender person who underwent sex reassignment surgery (SRS) within two months. A bench of Justice P V Kunhikrishnan issued the direction while disposing of a petition filed by a 27-year-old transgender person from Thiruvananthapuram seeking Rs 36,000 in post-operative treatment assistance under a govt order dated Nov 14, 2018, as supplemented by another order dated Aug 22, 2023, along with interest. According to the petitioner, Rs 15,000 had already been received, leaving an unpaid balance of Rs 21,000. The petitioner approached the court alleging that the authorities had failed to disburse the remaining amount despite an application dated Sept 1, 2025, and a representation dated Sept 11, 2026. During the hearing, the state govt submitted that officials were taking steps to disburse the amount and were awaiting sanction from the authority concerned. Recording the submission, the court directed the social justice director to disburse the eligible amount of Rs 21,000 within two months. 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
Protesters detained outside IIT Bombay demanding justice for Dalit student Sahil Wakode
Mumbai Police detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members outside IIT Bombay as they demanded a fair investigation into Dalit student Sahil Wakode’s death and allegations of caste discrimination. Mumbai Police on Wednesday detained Ambedkarite leaders and civil society members who gathered outside IIT Bombay in response to the ‘Chalo IIT Bombay’ call, demanding accountability over the death of second-year BTech student Sahil Wakode. The civil society members also demanded an impartial investigation into allegations of caste discrimination. Among those detained were members of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA)—Rahul Sonpimple, Deepali Salve and Sambhaji Bhagat. The protest was organised in solidarity with Wakode’s parents, who have been on a hunger strike for nearly two weeks, demanding a fair investigation into their son’s death. According to reports, police detained protesters demonstrating outside IIT Bombay following a call by Sahil’s father, Ravindra Wakode. Reports suggest that Ravindra Wakode was also detained; however, Mumbai Police have denied the allegation. The police, meanwhile, responded with heavy deployment across the campus, restrictions on entry and the detention of people seeking to present their demands to the administration. The protest was also not allowed to proceed. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating Wakode’s death, has recorded statements from more than 40 people. The 22-year-old second-year BTech student was found dead in his hostel room on the evening of September 18. According to the police official, Wakode submitted a written statement to the institute after allegedly being caught cheating in an examination. In the statement, he said he had not prepared well for the paper, acknowledged his mistake and sought a second chance. A first information report (FIR) was registered by Powai police against Professor Doolla following a complaint lodged by Wakode’s father. The professor, who has been named as an accused in the abetment-to-suicide case, has, in his statement to the police, denied the allegations of harassment levelled against him by the student’s parents. Wakode’s parents, Ravindra and Sonali Wakode, began their hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on September 24, alleging caste discrimination at the institute and seeking justice for their son. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/maktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights