CM VD Satheesan to meet top Congress leaders in Delhi on May 23
“Efforts are on to get an appointment with the prime minister. However, there’s no confirmation yet,” an official with the Chief Minister’s Office said. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In his first visit to the national capital after assuming office, Chief Minister V D Satheesan is set to meet senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday. Though there are reports that Satheesan will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said there is no confirmation on the same. “Efforts are on to get an appointment with the prime minister. However, there’s no confirmation yet,” an official with the Chief Minister’s Office said. Satheesan, who left the state capital on Friday night, is scheduled to stay at the Kerala House. He will meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi as well. However, no official programme has been charted for the Kerala chief minister in Delhi during this visit. He is expected to return to Kochi later in the day. Though Satheesan planned to meet the Congress’ central leadership soon after taking oath as the chief minister, the prolonged discussions on cabinet formation and portfolio allocation delayed his visit to Delhi. In his meeting with the top party leaders, the chief minister is expected to discuss about the future plans for the state. 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
Vijay expands TN cabinet with 23 ministers; Congress joins state government after 60
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has executed a massive Cabinet expansion and portfolio reshuffle, inducting 23 new ministers. In a politically historic move, the Congress party makes a comeback to the TN Cabinet after nearly six decades. The expansion also signals a futuristic administrative reset with the creation of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) ministry under R Kumar. Watch the video for a complete breakdown of the major shifts, including N Marie Wilson taking over Finance from senior leader K. A. Sengottaiyan, new portfolios retained by CM Vijay, and updates on alliance partners like IUML and VCK joining the government. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Hope for justice and ruin Homes: Dalits being evicted from land in Kerala express anger, FIR filed against 50
Massive protests erupt in a Dalit settlement in Ernakulam, Kerala, over a land dispute. FIR filed against 50 people for obstructing police action. A Dalit settlement in Kerala’s Ernakulam district witnessed a massive uproar during an eviction drive. Police announced on Thursday that a case has been filed against approximately 50 identified individuals for obstructing government work during the drive. The incident occurred in the Pariyathukavu area, where a long-standing dispute has been ongoing over the ownership of a piece of land. Residents prevented the police and the accompanying Advocate Commission from carrying out the eviction proceedings. This action stems from a property dispute in which a private individual has legally established ownership of the land where these Dalit families have lived for many years. An officer from the Thadiyittaparambu police station stated that a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for obstructing a public servant from performing his official duty, taking a tough stand against the protesters. Amid this tense situation, political activity has also intensified. The CPI(M) has formed a special protection committee to ensure the safety of families in the area from any potential police action. Subject to a visit to the affected area, senior CPI(M) leader P. Rajeev spoke to reporters. He clarified that the previous LDF government intended to grant land rights to the residents in accordance with the rules after the survey work was completed. Rajeev stated that the government in the state changed before the survey process was completed, leading to the administration’s use of force, which is highly condemnable. He stated that a protection committee has been formed to address this situation. The CPI(M) leader also claimed that while they could have protected these people without a committee, the situation has now changed and only a public protest can provide security to these families. He urged the state government to take the necessary steps to complete the survey process as soon as possible. He also demanded that no other punitive action be taken regarding the disputed land until the survey is completed. This eviction drive in Pariyathukavu has been a contentious issue for several years. According to reports, the administration has made several attempts to clear the area in the past, but all were unsuccessful. On Wednesday, the dispute turned violent when protesters began threatening suicide. They completely blocked the path of the heavily deployed police personnel equipped with anti-riot equipment. Given the presence of women and children at the protest, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala immediately intervened. To prevent the situation from getting out of control, he ordered the police to withdraw from the area. Meanwhile, the affected Dalit families have repeatedly approached the courts against their eviction. However, their appeals have been dismissed each time. These families have consistently claimed that the land they live on is government property and not owned by any private individual. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has upheld the ownership rights of the private individual in the legal battle. In light of this decision, the Kerala High Court directed the enforcement of the private individual’s rights, forcing the administration to launch the eviction drive. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Karnataka: Caste-Based Insults at Madeeshwara Temple Festival; Shobha Yatra Denied Entry to Dalit Settlement Despite Receiving Donations!
The Dalit community alleges that they face such disrespectful treatment every year. The procession never enters their settlement, and if they do visit the temple, they are forced to stand at a distance. Members of the Dalit community in Machalli, a remote village in Krishnaraja Nagar taluk of Mysuru district, have alleged severe untouchability and caste discrimination surrounding the Madeeshwara Temple and the deity’s Shobha Yatra. According to local residents, it is a long-standing tradition in the village that during the annual festival of Lord Madeeshwara, the bull procession is taken to every home and every settlement. This tradition was not followed in the Dalit settlement during last week’s festival. The Dalit community alleges that they are forced to perform puja in a humiliating and unequal manner. As soon as their festival is over, the idol is immediately removed and taken away, depriving them of the opportunity to worship the deity. Residents of the Dalit neighborhood reported waiting for two to three hours, but no arrangements were made for their worship. The temple doors were closed, and people left. One member said, “This is happening even in the 21st century, which is very sad.” The community alleges that this happens every year. The procession never comes to their settlement, and if they go to the temple, they are forced to stand at a distance. According to the Dalit community, this time the village elders had agreed in a public meeting and promised that full arrangements would be made for the worship in the Dalit settlement as well. Trusting this promise, every Dalit family contributed thousands of rupees for the worship. But when the deity’s procession reached the Dalit settlement, the situation suddenly changed. Within just two minutes, the idol was snatched away, and the worship was not performed. Following this, some elders and young people of the village gathered and openly declared, “They only have 15 houses, what can they do?” Members of the Dalit community allege that they were subjected to severe abuse, death threats, and other atrocities. Dalit residents also stated that they pay taxes and volunteer for public and religious events in the village, yet they are not allowed to enter the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, touch the deity, or worship on an equal footing. The village is home to approximately 60 Dalit families, most of whom are agricultural laborers. Following this incident, members of the Dalit community have protested in the village, demanding immediate action from the district administration and equal rights in the temple. They have also accused the Social Welfare Department and local authorities of failing to reach the village despite repeated complaints. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindu News
She Trained With a Secret & Fought Closed Gates To Become India’s First Trans Woman Cricket Umpire
Rithika Sri from Salem, Tamil Nadu, once feared losing her cricket dream if she revealed her truth. Today, she is India’s first trans woman cricket umpire, officiating matches and aiming for the BCCI panel. Rithika Sri’s journey to the cricket field began with a late-night IPL broadcast and a dream she initially kept hidden. Photograph: (AI-assisted image) There is a particular kind of courage required to stand at the crease in a white coat, arm raised, the eyes of twenty-two players on you, knowing that every call you make will be scrutinised, and that getting there at all was in itself a battle that had nothing to do with cricket. That is the world Rithika Sri inhabits every time she walks onto a ground in Tamil Nadu’s Salem, Namakkal, or Coimbatore. At 31, she has become India’s first trans woman cricket umpire, officiating league fixtures and association matches across the State. But before the white coat, before the “ma’am” from players who now address her with ease, there was a gate — and a security guard who would not let her through. An unlikely beginning Rithika’s love affair with cricket umpiring was born not in Tamil Nadu but in Punjab. In 2019, she was working at a BPO company in Mohali under her birth name, Muthuraj, when she found herself riveted to the IPL on television. The athleticism of the players was one thing; what arrested her attention was the stillness of the umpires — their authority, their calm. She went online, researched the pathway, and discovered a clear ladder: district panel, state panel, BCCI panel. Then the pandemic came. Job opportunities dried up for outsiders in Punjab, and she returned to her hometown of Salem. But what looked like a setback became a turning point. A mentor who said ‘Yes’ Back in Salem, Rithika tracked down Jayaraman, the chairman of the Salem District Association’s umpire committee, through an online search and he offered her a chance. For months, she trained, made errors, felt discouraged, and considered giving up. She also carried a secret — her gender identity — terrified that revealing it would cost her the only professional dream she had allowed herself. It was Jayaraman’s wife who eventually broke the silence for her, after observing Rithika over time. The umpire committee chairman’s response, when he learned the truth, was decisive. If the government extended opportunities to the third gender, he said, why wouldn’t he? Cricket He encouraged her to build her qualifications first, transition when she felt ready, and return to the field. It was the kind of acceptance that changes a life. In 2024, Rithika underwent gender-affirming surgery in Coimbatore and, through Jayaraman’s reference, was introduced to Ramesh, the umpire committee chairman of the Coimbatore District Cricket Association, who welcomed her immediately. ‘Cricketers call me ma’am’ Her debut as a trans woman umpire was not without turbulence. At one ground in Coimbatore, security personnel stopped her at the entrance. She had official credentials and told them she was there to officiate, but they turned her away regardless. It was a moment that could have ended everything. Instead, it hardened her resolve. The Coimbatore Cricket Association intervened, ensured she had access, and made clear that she was to be treated with the same respect as any umpire on their panel. The players caught up quickly. “Cricketers call me ‘ma’am’,” Rithika said. “I am happy and grateful.” A door opened by policy Rithika’s historic achievement was also enabled by a consequential institutional reform. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association introduced an “Other” gender category in its State Panel Umpire examination application — an administrative change that may seem minor on paper but carried enormous weight in practice. Without that third box to tick, the formal pathway would have remained closed. Rithika, who holds a diploma in mechanical engineering and was raised by a single mother alongside six siblings, now officiates matches organised by local clubs, corporates, and district associations. On the field, she is known for calm, firm decision-making — the very qualities that first drew her to the white coat. Eyes on the horizon Her ambitions are clear and unambiguous: state-level recognition, a place on the BCCI panel, and eventually, the IPL and international stages. The road is long, but Rithika Sri has already demonstrated that the longest distances can be covered one decision and one step at a time, whether it is a raised finger on the field, or the daily but important act of showing up as exactly who you are. By Avantika Krishna Edited By Khushi Arora Courtesy : The Better India Note: This news is originally published on https:/thebetterindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi making reels in Italy, while our youth tormented by paper leaks: Rahul Gandhi
In a post on X in Hindi, he said the Congress will not stop till Pradhan resigns and a robust system to prevent paper leaks is put in place. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the NEET-UG paper leak, saying he had neither accepted responsibility nor removed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the post. In a post on X in Hindi, he said the Congress will not stop till Pradhan resigns and a robust system to prevent paper leaks is put in place. Taking a swipe at Modi, he said while the prime minister was making reels in Italy, the youth of India were taking to the streets seeking justice over the paper leak. “When Modi ji was making reels while handing out candies in Italy – youth in India, tormented by paper leaks, were taking to the streets demanding justice,” he said in his post. “Because the NEET Paper Leak has ruined the futures of lakhs of students. Many children have even lost their lives. And Modi ji neither took responsibility, nor removed Dharmendra Pradhan, nor uttered a single word,” he said. With students, NSUI and INC workers seeking justice, BJP’s state governments are ‘raining lathis’ down on them, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said. “A government that answers students’ questions with batons doesn’t run on accountability – it runs on fear. But we will not be scared. We won’t stop until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and a strong, secure system is put in place to stop paper leaks in the country,” Gandhi said. This fight, the former Congress chief said, is for every such student whose future this “failed” government has stolen. Gandhi tagged a post from the Rajasthan Congress where, in a purported video, water cannon was used to disperse protesting students and NSUI workers protesting outside the BJP headquarters in Jaipur. The Congress had organised a protest seeking the removal of Pradhan as education minister over the paper leak. 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
Telangana CM Revanth demands a special Parliament session to pass women’s quota bill
He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday demanded that the Union government immediately convene a special session of Parliament to introduce and pass the women’s reservation Bill for providing 33 per cent quota in the legislative bodies. Addressing the gathering after paying floral tributes to a statue of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary near the Secretariat, the CM said that the INDIA bloc is ready to support the women’s reservation bill in Parliament. He emphasised that women’s reservation in legislative bodies should be enacted Revanth asked the Centre to take inspiration from Rajiv Gandhi, who he said introduced women’s quota in local bodies during his tenure as prime minister to empower them politically, and ensure implementation of 33 per cent women’s reservations in the legislative bodies. He also warned all parties against politicising the women’s reservation Bill. Recalling the “yeoman services rendered by great visionary Rajiv Gandhi who introduced information technology to the nation and earned it global recognition”, he said: “It was Rajiv Gandhi who ushered in the era of technology in the country. He also steered the country onto the path of development through liberalised policies.” He also recalled that Sonia Gandhi took a courageous decision of fulfilling the statehood dream. “Telangana is maintaining an inseparable bond with the Gandhi family. People will remember and cherish the Gandhi family as long as Telangana exists,” he 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
Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan elected Speaker of 16th Kerala Assembly
Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan was elected Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday. Of the 140 members, pro tem Speaker G Sudhakaran, the returning officer for the election, abstained from voting. Of the 139 votes polled, Radhakrishnan, fielded by the UDF, secured 101 votes. While the LDF’s AC Moideen received 35 votes, the BJP’s BB Gopakumar polled three votes. Radhakrishnan, 76, has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 1991. An eight time MLA, he served as Home Minister in the 2011-2016 Oommen Chandy government. He later handled the Forest, Transport, Sports, Cinema and Environment portfolios for the remainder of the ministry’s tenure. In the 2026 Assembly election, he won from Kottayam with a margin of nearly 36,000 votes. 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
‘Blood and animal flesh on the body…’ Delhi woman gang-raped and forced to convert; 4 accused arrested
A case has come to light in Delhi in which a Dalit woman was gang-raped. Blood and flesh were also thrown at her. Four people have been arrested in this case. New Delhi: A shocking incident has come to light in the national capital. A 23-year-old Dalit woman was abducted by some men in Delhi’s Batla House area. The woman alleges that she was gang-raped and brutally tortured. According to the woman, the men also tried to force her to convert. The woman complained that in 2021, she was in contact with a man named Sahil through social media. She later learned his name was Faheem. The accused told her that he was from a wealthy Hindu family and wanted to marry her. Gang rape and pornographic video made: The woman stated that in 2022, the accused called her to Batla House, where other people were present. She was gang raped there. Furthermore, he, along with his friends, made a video of her and blackmailed her. The woman was then taken to Meerut, where she alleged she was sexually assaulted again. The woman described her ordeal: The woman stated that Faheem and his relatives were involved in illegal arms dealing. To intimidate her, Faheem would pour blood on her. Furthermore, he would throw animal meat on her. She also alleged that a man named Tasleem Maulvi tortured her afterward. Four accused arrested: Southeast Delhi Police registered an FIR in the gang rape case and have arrested four accused. Police stated that the woman was first gang raped in the Batla House area. An FIR was registered in this regard at the Jamia Nagar police station. Four people have been arrested in connection with the gang rape of the woman. It should be noted that in 2025, Gurugram police arrested Faheem and confiscated his phone. Edited By: Shilpa Srivastava Courtesy: Hindi News
Casteist language in census forms! NCSC issues notice to Punjab government on complaint
The main issue concerns words included in Punjab’s official list of Scheduled Castes, which are associated with the Valmiki community of sanitation workers. These words have been in use for a long time, but the community now considers them derogatory. New Delhi/Chandigarh – The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken cognizance of a complaint regarding the use of allegedly casteist words in the official list of Scheduled Castes being used in the upcoming census. The Commission has directed the Punjab Census Director and the Principal Secretary of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department to submit a detailed action taken report (ATR) in this matter within 15 days. The Commission’s recent notice states that it has taken cognizance of a complaint submitted on May 6 by Hardeep Singh Gill, Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis. The complaint describes certain words used in both English and Punjabi in the Punjab government’s Scheduled Caste list (specifically Entry No. 2 relating to the Valmiki community) as casteist and derogatory. The Commission has informed both officials that if a response is not received within the stipulated time, it may, invoking the powers of a civil court under Article 338 of the Constitution, issue summons to the concerned officials to appear before it either personally or through a representative. The main issue concerns the inclusion of words associated with the Safai Karamchari community (Valmiki/Balmiki) in the official list of Scheduled Castes in Punjab. These words have been in use for a long time, but the community now considers them derogatory. These words are included in the proforma being used during the preparation of the 2027 Census. Census Operations Director Navjot Khosa has clarified that this list is not new. It has been in existence for decades, and the same proforma was used in the 2011 Census. It is used only for caste enumeration, not to insult anyone. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has taken this complaint seriously and initiated an investigation. Community representatives have demanded the removal of these words and action under relevant provisions. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News