President Murmu appoints six Governors, emphasising OBC and Dalit representation
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed six Governors across various Indian states in a significant reshuffle, highlighting representation from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Dalit communities. Sudha Yadav was appointed Governor of Karnataka. A former Lok Sabha MP from Mahendragarh, Haryana, and a BJP Parliamentary Board member, Yadav holds an MSc and PhD in Chemistry from IIT Roorkee. She served on the National Commission for Backwards Classes from 2019 to 2022. Yadav is a Yadav OBC leader from Haryana who entered politics following the death of her husband, Sukhbir Singh Yadav, a BSF Deputy Commandant martyred in the Kargil War. Dhal Singh Bisen, named Governor of Uttarakhand, is a former Lok Sabha MP from Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. He has served as an MLA and Cabinet Minister in Madhya Pradesh, managing portfolios such as School Education, Forest, Transport, and Mines, and chaired the Madhya Pradesh Fourth State Finance Commission. An Ayurveda practitioner by profession, Bisen has shown interest in Indian systems of medicine and modern medical practices. He is an OBC (Bhoyar Pawar) leader. Braj Mohan Ram, appointed Governor of Odisha, is a Dalit leader from the Dhobi community and former parliamentarian from Jharkhand. He represented Palamu in the Lok Sabha for three consecutive terms beginning in 1996 and served as an MLA in undivided Bihar. Ram has been involved with the Scheduled Caste Morcha, Dhobi Mahasangh, and educational initiatives in Chandwa. Dushyant Gautam, named Governor of Sikkim, is a Dalit leader with experience as BJP National General Secretary and president of the party’s Scheduled Caste Morcha. He has served as a councillor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and as a Rajya Sabha member, holding various organisational roles concerning Scheduled Caste communities within the BJP. Om Prakash Mathur, previously Governor of Sikkim, has been appointed Governor of Kerala, while Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the incumbent Governor of Kerala, has been assigned as Governor of Tamil Nadu. The appointments will take effect upon the respective individuals assuming office. Courtesy : The News Mill Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Resign, turn approver: Rahul to CEC Gyanesh
Says Opposition preparing ‘vote theft’ evidence for Prez; vows to fight until electoral system reformed featuredImageRahul Gandhi addresses a press conference, at AICC headquarters, in New Delhi, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. PTIAdvertisement Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated his advice to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign and turn approver, saying this would be a service to the nation and could spare him. Declaring that the Opposition would not back down, Rahul said its immediate demand was Gyanesh’s removal, after which it would pursue Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged electoral wrongdoing. Addressing a press conference in the national capital ahead of the ‘Chalo Delhi – March for Democracy’, Rahul accused the Modi government of protecting the CEC and alleged that restrictions were being imposed to prevent people from reaching the national capital to join the protests. He said the Opposition was preparing evidence to submit to President Droupadi Murmu and would pursue the matter through legal and political channels. Rahul questioned why Delhi was being turned into a fortress, with 20,000 to 30,000 police personnel deployed and people allegedly being stopped from reaching the city. He claimed trains and buses were being intercepted and passengers made to get off to prevent them from joining the demonstrations against alleged ‘vote chori’ and irregularities in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “Why is Delhi being jailed? Why is the capital city of India in jail?” he asked. Rahul said the heavy police deployment would not deter the Opposition, adding that it wanted the country to see how the government was responding to the movement. “Our strategy is different. We want these many policemen to be on the roads. We want this. The government is committing a big blunder. We want to show the country that the government and Modi are protecting Gyanesh Kumar,” he said. Issuing a direct warning to the CEC, Rahul said the campaign would continue until he resigned and those responsible for alleged electoral wrongdoing were held accountable. He claimed Kumar was not the ultimate decision-maker and that the Opposition intended to reach those directing the Election Commission’s actions. “We have information about you. We know your past. We understand your corruption. We know it. We are waiting,” he said. Rahul maintained that the movement went beyond the demand for the CEC’s resignation, asserting that the Opposition would continue its fight until the electoral system was reformed, the Constitution protected and justice delivered. He said the resistance had been building for years and had now taken the form of a wider public movement. “Till the CEC does not go, the electoral system is not revamped, the Constitution is not upheld, till justice is not delivered to the citizens, Indian youth and Opposition will not stop,” he said. He claimed that around 200 government officials were in contact with people around him and that some officials associated with the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Ministry of External Affairs were sharing information with the Opposition. “Do whatever you want, we won’t back out,” Rahul said, adding that young people across the country wanted to defend democracy and regarded the Constitution as central to their values. He also claimed that some police personnel were uncomfortable with being deployed against protesting students and young people, questioning why they were being asked to stop demonstrators while individuals allegedly linked to the RSS and BJP were being allowed to move freely. Appealing to people to express solidarity with the Constitution and the national flag, Rahul said the recent demonstrations were only the visible expression of a resistance that had been building for years. “Don’t think it started five days ago. Expression is seen now. Resistance has been going on for years together. It is our perseverance,” he said. “They may stop us today, tomorrow or the day after. A country is made like this. The country is not protected in a day or two. Month, two months, years, we won’t back down, no matter how much time it takes,” he added. Rejecting suggestions that different demonstrations represented separate campaigns, Rahul said all protests were part of one movement. He said the Opposition was fighting on several fronts, including the legal, political and psychological fronts, and sought to change public understanding of the state of democracy. “All the protests are one. There are no parallel protests. India is marching,” he said. “We are not fighting for the street. We are fighting for the mind,” he added. Rahul also alleged that the governance model promoted by Modi benefited powerful corporate interests, including industrialist Mukesh Ambani, at the cost of ordinary citizens and their children. He challenged the government to demonstrate that elections had not been manipulated. “The Opposition is asking one question. Prove to us you have not cheated in the elections,” he said. Asked whether Kumar had attempted to contact him, Rahul said messages had come through people around him and that several individuals on behalf of the government had reached out. He said he had not spoken to them personally and saw no need for private telephone conversations when his position was being stated publicly. “I don’t need to talk to them on the phone. I have nothing to hide. I believe in full transparency. What I have to talk, I speak from here,” he said. Rahul said the CEC could still be spared if he resigned, while making it clear that the Opposition would not compromise on its stated objective of defending the Constitution. “We understand the pressure you are under. We are forgiving people. We are not cruel people. But we will defend the Constitution,” he said. Shekhar Singh 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
CJI: Don’t drag SC into political battlefields or bring politics to court
NEW DELHI: A day after CJI Surya Kant turned down Congress leadership’s request to meet them privately on their “vote chori” charge, saying doing so will violate the principle of separation of powers, SC Monday reiterated that it should not be dragged into political battlefields nor politics be brought into the court. “We are not concerned with political parties or their activities. But courts should not be dragged into such kinds of things,” said a bench of CJI Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. In an email response, through which he turned down the request from leaders of opposition in the two Houses of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, for a face-to-face meeting, CJI had pointed out to them that it was duty-bound to hear petitions against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and those challenging SIR, and indicated that the court will hear those on priority. Wherever identified locations are there, protests can be held: SC The CJI-led bench Monday emphasised the need for it to exercise restraint and not enter the political thicket while hearing the complaint that protests and barricades were obstructing lawyers from working. At the commencement of proceedings, senior advocate Atmaram Nadkarni sought urgent hearing on a writ petition filed by a lawyer, saying he could not represent his client at an international arbitration because of protests and preventive measures. Nadkarni was joined by SCBA president Pradeep Rai who said the right to protest must co-exist with the right of other citizens to move and function without hindrance. SC agreed to list both the petitions for hearing on Tuesday along with pleas by Shailendra Mani Tripathi, opposition MPs M A Baby, Manoj Jha and Menaka Guruswamy, who have accused police of using excessive force to quell protests. Rai said, “Institution is performing its institutional duty and we are doing our professional duties. Political parties must not interfere with our domain.” CJI Surya Kant, while saying that court would not wade into others’ turf, said, “Democratic institutions should be allowed to function peacefully and there should not be any impediment in the functioning or movement of lawyers, court staff and litigants.” Following Nadkarni and Rai, advocate G Sankaranarayanan mentioned another petition repeating what was argued — detention of senior advocate Shadan Farasat in an “unseemly” manner — before SC on Sunday and suggested that asking protesters to exercise restraint, be peaceful and cooperate when police was using excessive force, was not fair. “I know SC has repeatedly said we must try to cooperate and exercise restraint. For once I would hope that court would say the same thing to police. That has not come from this bench so far. I am hoping that happens because of excesses they are allowing… the hooligans were roaming around with sticks,” he said. “They have hit children on the head and put out videos and proudly posted the videos saying they have done this and police have done nothing. And we are being told to exercise restraint. I do not know what we have done to be told to exercise restraint. At some point the bench will come to the rescue of the bar and the citizens of this country and send a strong message to the police,” he added. CJI agreed to list the petition on Tuesday but stressed yet again: “I will not allow SC or SC campus to become a political battlefield. We do not want advocates and lawyers to be part of the political battles inside the court premises. Wherever identified locations (for protest) are there, the protests can be held there.” 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
No denial from President’s office yet on ‘vote chori’: Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Congress neta Rahul Gandhi Monday told CEC Gyanesh Kumar that he could be forgiven for making a “mistake” if he resigned, telling him that the opposition is after the bigger powers behind him. Addressing a news conference, Rahul said, “Resign, turn approver. You have made a mistake, but you are not the mind behind the mistake.” Rahul warned Kumar that he will not be able to survive as the CEC, and that the opposition has details of his past record. He accused “five criminals” of attacking India’s democracy. Asked if the CEC has reached out to him, Rahul said, “I get messages and he is watching (the press conference).” Rahul said that 200 officers of the Modi govt — from CBI to MEA — are “in touch” with Congress, and providing it information. Referring to his Friday statement that the President agreed with the opposition delegation’s charge of “vote chori”, Rahul said there was no denial from the President’s office, even though it was “quietly done from the PMO”. “Even the President knows what is going on … We are excited about giving the evidence to the President (as asked by her) about what Modi and others are doing.” The LoP said the agitation would not stop even if it takes weeks and months to reach its destination. He counselled “perseverance” to opposition and youth both. Amid the massive security deployment, Rahul asked why is “Delhi in jail”. He said the Modi govt is falling deeper into the opposition trap by conveying to the country that it is resorting to repression just to protect the CEC. Playing videos of protest beatings, he said the Delhi Police, CRPF and ITBP are also “disturbed” at being asked to beat up patriotic youth while also being told to let saffron goons roam freely and harass protestors, including women. Using Hindu metaphors to issue an open invite to citizens and politicians, Rahul said the present agitation is “Shivji’s baraat” that anyone can join, and that it is spontaneous and not planned like “Shiv’s Tandav”. At the same time, he said “all protests are one”, in a reference to CJP and other outfits. 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 To Launch 1,300 Pink Electric Autos With Women, Transgender Drivers
The scheme is also aimed at making the last-mile travel safer and more convenient for women, particularly those travelling to and from Metro stations early in the morning or late in the evening. Delhi To Launch 1,300 Pink Electric Autos With Women, Transgender DriversThe DURGA scheme was approved by the Delhi Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on September 23. Delhi residents could get the option of booking pink electric autos through ride-hailing apps, with the government planning to bring women and transgender drivers onto these platforms without onboarding or subscription charges. The Delhi government on Sunday said it would ask ride-hailing companies to waive these charges for drivers selected under its DURGA E-Auto Scheme, which provides for 1,300 electric autorickshaws. If the companies agree to list these vehicles on their platforms, commuters could book an auto through their phones instead of looking for one on the road or at an auto stand. A Safer Last-Mile Ride For Women? The scheme is also aimed at making the last-mile travel safer and more convenient for women, particularly those travelling to and from Metro stations early in the morning or late in the evening. The government wants to provide another transport option for passengers covering the last stretch of their journey, often between a Metro station and their homes or workplaces. The Transport Department has also sought dedicated parking and charging spaces from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) at Metro and Namo Bharat stations. The focus on safety comes days after the National Commission for Women issued guidelines for app-based transport services, recommending stricter driver verification and an option for women travelling alone to request a woman driver, where available. 1,300 Pink Autos, 130 Slots For Transgender Drivers The DURGA scheme was approved by the Delhi Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on September 23. Of the 1,300 vehicles planned in the first phase, 1,170 will be reserved for women and 130 for transgender persons, who will be able to own and drive the autos to earn a living. The vehicles will be allotted across Delhi’s 13 revenue districts, with each district having a maximum quota of 90 autos for women and 10 for transgender applicants. Transport Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh said the scheme was intended to help women and transgender persons earn independently while increasing their participation in the transport sector. How Will The Autos Be Allotted? Applications will be processed through a dedicated online portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). District-level committees headed by District Magistrates will examine applications, with verification carried out every week. If eligible applicants outnumber the available slots in a district, allotments will be decided through an online lottery. Those selected will receive Letters of Intent, while registered owners will be issued identity cards, DURGA jackets and caps. Beneficiaries will also be eligible for purchase incentives under Delhi’s EV Policy 2026, which provides Rs 50,000 for eligible electric autos registered in the first year, subject to conditions. The government has not specified how much each beneficiary will ultimately pay for the vehicle. Delhi tried a similar push earlier. In 2022, 1,406 electric auto permits were reserved for women, but only 743 applied in the initial round, prompting another round of applications. The government also plans a two-phase study to assess the scheme’s impact on beneficiaries’ incomes and livelihoods. Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit student attacked, no FIR even after four days: Family appeals to SSP for justice, accuses police of neglecting their pleas
A Dalit student was attacked in Fugana, Muzaffarnagar. It is alleged that Rudraksh, a Class 11 student, was assaulted outside the school. The incident occurred on October 7th, but even four days later, no FIR has been filed in the case. Rudraksh studies at Kisan Inter College, Kharar. He stated that four students at the school frequently harassed him and used casteist slurs. When he complained to a teacher, the accused students became enraged. On October 7th, after school was over, four students with their faces covered attacked him with sticks and rods outside the gate. Rudraksh suffered a head injury and fell unconscious. He was first referred to CHC Budhana and then to the district hospital. The victim’s family alleges that they were not heard at the Fugana police station. Now, the family has appealed to the new SSP, Suraj Rai, for justice. Kharar Police Post in-charge Abhishek Chaudhary stated that all the children involved in the fight are minors; their parents are being called and action will be taken. Arjun Kumar | Budhana (Muzaffarnagar), Muzaffarnagar Courtesy: Hindu News
SP’s Dalit Mahasammelan in Agra, Akhilesh Yadav to attend: Event to be held on November 15th, target to gather 100,000 people; clarion call for 2027 elections
The Samajwadi Party is holding a Dalit Mahasammelan in Agra on November 15th. Party National President Akhilesh Yadav will attend. A meeting was held at the district office to prepare for the event, in which leaders and workers participated and responsibilities were assigned. Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman stated that the convention will be held in western Uttar Pradesh. The party has set a target of gathering 100,000 people. Metropolitan President Shabbir Abbas stated that Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief guest. SP leaders stated that there is discontent among the Dalit community against the BJP government. They believe that only the Samajwadi Party can defeat the BJP. This Mahasammelan is being considered a clarion call for the 2027 assembly elections. Merjuddin | (Partial) of Tajnagri Phase-1, Agra Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit girl suicide: NCSC seeks Madurai Collector’s report
In a communication received by the district administration on October 5, the panel has asked Madurai District Collector Nishant Krishna to submit a report on the incident. MADURAI: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the suicide of a Dalit girl at Usilampatti on 25th August, whose mother alleges that she took the extreme step after the two were humiliated by a government school headmistress when they sought admission to Class 11. In a communication received by the district administration on October 5, the panel has asked Madurai District Collector Nishant Krishna to submit a report on the incident. The Usilampatti police have registered an FIR under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Vimala Devi, headmistress of the Government Model Higher Secondary School in Usilampatti, who is now under suspension. The FIR was registered based on a complaint filed on August 28 by the girl’s mother, P Thavamani. However, police sources said they have been unable to proceed with the investigation because Vimala Devi has obtained an interim stay, and she is now on bail. In her complaint, Thavamani said that when she and her daughter approached the headmistress for admission on August 24, the headmistress got angry when the girl asked her mother not to fold her hands before her. The headmistress then asked the girl to leave the school. Thavamani alleged that the headmistress questioned the girl’s conduct for trying to join the school despite having already been admitted to the Government Kallar Higher Secondary School. The headmistress then allegedly phoned her counterpart there and enquired about the girl’s conduct on speaker mode. According to Thavamani, this upset the girl. The girl left the school crying and remained distressed after returning home. The following day, they went to the school where she had completed Class 10 and collected her Transfer Certificate. However, she died by suicide that evening when she was alone in the house, said the police source. The district education department suspended Vimala Devi for administrative inefficiency after a preliminary inquiry. The inquiry found that she did not handle the situation with the required administrative sensitivity and efficiency. A police source said the girl had scored 415 marks in Class X and joined the Biology-Mathematics stream hoping to become a nurse. But she found it difficult and asked her teachers to allow her to shift to the Commerce stream, but they did not accept the request. Since then, she has not shown interest in going to school, the source added. Gokul Vannan Courtesy : DT Next Note: This news is originally published on https:/dtnext.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TN CM Vijay hosts Rahul Gandhi at his house, discusses alliance over lunch
Sources said the two leaders discussed the current political situation and the alliance’s future plans for an hour. CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay hosted Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Neelankarai on Saturday. This was their first meeting since the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance was formed in Tamil Nadu. Rahul, who arrived at the Chennai airport from Delhi in the afternoon, went to Vijay’s residence, where the chief minister greeted him with an embrace and hosted a lunch for him. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore accompanied Rahul during his meeting with Vijay. Sources said the two leaders discussed the current political situation and the alliance’s future plans for an hour. After the meeting, Vijay and Rahul left in the same car and stopped at 7Padel Cafe, owned by cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in Palavakkam. Rahul and Vijay were flanked by Manickam Tagore, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Congress Assembly floor leader Tharahai Cuthbert at the cafe. Rahul then headed to Island Grounds for the ‘Voice of Students’ student interaction programme. The Rahul-Vijay meeting, coming ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Chennai on Sunday, gained significance as TVK MLAs and state Congress leaders had been engaging in a battle of words over the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. While a section of the TVK MLAs has called Vijay a PM candidate, Congress leaders have maintained that Rahul remains the undisputed choice of all the party’s allies, including the TVK. Saturday’s meeting appears to have helped clear the air for leaders and cadres of both parties amid questions from other political parties in the state over the TVK’s stance on the special intensive revision (SIR). 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
CJI Surya Kant refuses to meet Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi
The CJI, however, has not expressed any opinion on the Congress leaders’ proposed march to the Supreme Court on Monday, as mentioned in the letter addressed to him, they said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during a meeting in Ahmedabad. AICC via PTI/file Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday turned down a request from Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for a meeting on Monday to discuss issues relating to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Sources said the CJI has formally responded to a letter written to him by the Leader of Opposition, underlining 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 CJI is understood to have stated that under the constitutional scheme, the Supreme Court cannot interfere with the functioning of the Government on its administrative side. The Congress leaders have been asked to approach the top court on the judicial side for protection of fundamental rights, sources said. Any petition filed by the Congress leaders can also be heard along with already pending matters, they added. The CJI, however, has not expressed any opinion on the Congress leaders’ proposed march to the Supreme Court on Monday, as mentioned in the letter addressed to him, they said. A Bench led by CJI Kant had on May 27 upheld the validity of SIR exercise. 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