‘Nobody’s really watching The Kerala Story’: Rahul Gandhi criticises weaponisation of cinema and media
NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticised the use of cinema and media for political propaganda, referring to the debate around the film The Kerala Story. He said movies and media should unite people rather than deepen divisions in society. Sharing a video of his interaction with students of Marian College in Idukki, Kerala, Gandhi said cinema and media were increasingly being “weaponised” to vilify communities and create social divisions, according to news agency ANI. Captioning the post on social media, Gandhi wrote, “The real Kerala story – compassion, unity, and always standing by one another. Cinema and media should bring people together, not be weaponised to divide society or vilify communities.” In the video, a student asked him whether cinema was increasingly being used as a political propaganda tool to shape public perception, referring to controversies around films such as “The Kerala Story”. Responding to the question, Gandhi said the public understands Kerala’s social and cultural fabric. “‘The Kerala Story’s’ hall seems to be empty, and nobody’s really watching it. And it shows you that there are people, the majority of this country, have an understanding of what Kerala is and Kerala’s traditions and cultures,” Gandhi said. He also reflected on his experience as the then Member of Parliament from Wayanad for five years and the lessons he learnt from the people of the state. “I spent five years being an MP from Wayanad. I learnt a lot from the people of Kerala, and also the people of Wayanad. When I first arrived there, there was a big landslide, and a lot of people had died. I was very surprised at the reaction of the people to that landslide. In fact, I was very impressed by it,” Gandhi said. Describing the response of residents during the tragedy, he highlighted the spirit of solidarity among the people. “It was quite amazing to see that somebody who’s lost his family, lost his house, he’s interested in helping somebody else. And it didn’t matter what community that person was from, what religion, none of that mattered. It was that there’s a problem, and all of us have to get together to solve the problem. I found that to be a very powerful thing,” he said. Gandhi said people from Kerala are widely respected across the country. “Of course, you people have made us very proud. The only thing one hears about the people of Kerala is praise,” he said. He also reiterated his concerns about the role of media and films in shaping narratives. “Movies, TV, media have been weaponised to vilify people, to alienate people, to create division in society so that certain people can benefit and other people are harmed,” Gandhi said. 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
In Chhatarpur, miscreants entered the home of a Dalit family at midnight and beat them with sticks for refusing to give them gutkha.
In Chhatarpur, miscreants, angry at being denied gutkha and cigarettes, entered the home of a Dalit family and assaulted them. A case has been filed against 10 accused. Chhatarpur: A case of bullying has come to light in the Bamitha police station area on Wednesday night. Angry at a Dalit family for not opening their shop at night, miscreants entered the home of a Dalit family and launched a deadly attack with sticks, injuring the young shopkeeper, his father, and mother. Police have filed a case against 10 accused in this case and launched a search. Entered and assaulted The entire incident took place in Jhamatuli village, under the Bamitha police station area. Arvind Ahirwar was sleeping in his home late at night when some miscreants entered his shop to buy gutkha and cigarettes. The shopkeeper refused to give them the goods as it was late at night. Enraged, the miscreants used casteist slurs and broke into the house. After which, the miscreants brutally assaulted the shopkeeper and his family. There is an atmosphere of terror in the village after the incident. The miscreants attacked after refusing to give goods. Victim shopkeeper Arvind Ahirwar said, “My father Bisla Ahirwar runs a grocery shop in the village. Around 12 o’clock on Wednesday night, some people including Rana Singh, Shailendra Singh, and Darru Patel arrived at the house and knocked on the gate and asked to open the shop to give them gutkha and cigarettes. But due to the late hour, the shop was refused. This enraged the accused and they started abusing and assaulting him with sticks.” A case has been filed against 10 accused. He further explained, “When my mother and I heard the commotion and went to intervene, the accused assaulted us with sticks. They pelted the house with stones and fired shots to spread terror in the village. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police arrived at the scene, but by then the accused had fled. Based on the complaint of the victim’s family, the police have filed an FIR against 10 people.” Victim Visla Ahirwar stated, “Praveen and Naveen have a liquor contract in the village. Rana Singh and his associates, who are involved in the liquor business, carried out this incident. We also filmed the incident and provided it to the police.” Station House Officer Ashutosh Shroti stated, “A dispute arose over not being given gutkha. A case has been filed against 10 people. The accused are being searched.” Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Mahasabha says internal reservation tool to divide community
Rajesh demanded that the caste census report prepared by the Karnataka Backward Classes Department be made public and that reservation policies be implemented based on the findings of that report. MYSURU: Dalit Mahasabha president S Rajesh has urged the government to reject the internal reservation report submitted by Justice H N Nagamohan Das, calling it “unscientific and divisive”. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Rajesh said the report attempts to divide communities and should not be implemented. He demanded that the caste census report prepared by the Karnataka Backward Classes Department be made public and that reservation policies be implemented based on the findings of that report. “According to the caste census data, there are about 53 lakh people belonging to Scheduled Castes. In this context, the Nagamohan Das report contains several errors,” he said. Rajesh also claimed that Dr B R Ambedkar was never in favour of internal reservation. “If Dr Ambedkar had supported such a system, it would have been clearly mentioned in the Constitution. When Dalits across the country and the state unite, it becomes difficult for dominant castes to control them. Internal reservation is being used as a tool to create divisions among Dalit communities,” he said. He claimed that Justice Nagamohan Das had shown “bias” during the process of preparing the report. “From the very first meeting until the submission of the report to the government, there were indications that he favoured one particular community,” Rajesh said. According to him, during the first meeting, the former judge had stated that one community was extremely backward while another had already received a larger share of benefits. “He has portrayed a community with a larger population as smaller and a community with a smaller population as larger in his report. The survey process was concluded in haste even though data collection in urban areas was not fully completed. Communities such as Adi Karnataka, Adi Dravida and Adi Andhra have been placed in separate groups. This has led to injustice to the Alemari community,” he alleged. He claimed that communities belonging to the same homogeneous group have been placed in different categories instead of being grouped together. Rajesh said the Dalit Mahasabha will urge Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to reject what he described as an “unscientific and prejudiced report” and drop the proposal for internal reservation, which he said threatens the unity and identity of Dalit communities. 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
Five arrested for assault on dalit man in Sivaganga
Sivaganga: Police arrested five members after a dalit man was allegedly assaulted by a group following a verbal altercation on Tuesday evening. According to police sources, on Tuesday evening (March 3), the victim, identified as Rasu of Idaikattur, was involved in a heated argument with his acquaintances, Pandiarajan of Chettikulam and Maheswaran of V Pudukulam. While the initial argument appeared to settle, the situation turned violent later that night when Maheswaran, accompanied by a group of supporters, allegedly barged into Rasu’s residence. The group reportedly picked a fresh quarrel before physically assaulting Rasu, who sustained simple injuries in the attack. Following a complaint, Manamadurai police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including rioting, uttering obscene words, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation. Given the nature of the assault, police also invoked several sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A senior police official confirmed that five individuals were arrested so far. A team of police is currently searching for the remaining suspects. To maintain law and order, police personnel were stationed at Idaikattur and surrounding hamlets, and the situation was monitored. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, speaking to reporters here on Thursday evening, said that the Tamil Nadu govt must go beyond simply punishing those responsible for the recent deadly attacks in Perumpathu and Sivaganga. It should also expose the underlying “sinister designs” fuelled by drug use among “dominant groups” that reportedly orchestrated this violence. 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
JNUTA Calls For Removal Of JNU VC Over Controversial Dalit Remarks: What Happened So Far?
In a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, JNUTA questioned the Ministry and Central Government’s stance on the VC’s comments and the detention of protesting students. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) on Thursday called for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit due to her controversial remarks on a podcast that dismissed UGC regulations and allegedly contained casteist undertones. In a letter to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, JNUTA questioned the Ministry and Central Government’s stance on the VC’s comments and the detention of protesting students, reported ANI. They also raised concerns about the VC’s political connections with the Union government, suggesting these ties influenced her appointment. JNUTA highlighted the government’s inaction following the violent suppression and detention of students who peacefully protested the VC’s remarks. They argued that this contradicts the government’s commitment to justice and casts doubt on its seriousness about addressing caste discrimination. Demanding the VC’s immediate removal, JNUTA cited multiple instances of her “mis-governance” and noted that similar demands had been made three times in 2025 alone. They accused the government of implicitly endorsing the VC’s casteist views by not acting against her. The association pointed out the VC’s misuse of the ‘None Found Suitable’ (NFS) provision to obstruct faculty appointments for reserved positions, discriminatory promotion practices, and the declining representation of women and SC/ST categories in the student body. Criticising the VC’s false claims about the secrecy of the UGC Equity Regulations and the proportion of women faculty, JNUTA emphasised that these can be easily disproven with available data. They deemed the VC unfit to lead an institution known for academic excellence and social equity, stressing that the Ministry’s reputation is also at stake. JNUTA urged the Education Ministry to take prompt action, asserting that the VC’s continuation is unacceptable and detrimental to the university’s reputation. They emphasised that the need for such regulations is undeniable and refuted the VC’s analysis as condemnable, urging the Ministry to act decisively. What Happened So Far? The Vice Chancellor’s statement, made in a podcast released on February 16, sparked controversy. Discussing the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Equity (Anti-Discrimination) Rules of 2026, which aim to prevent caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, she described the regulations as “unnecessary and irrational.” She commented that “it’s not easy to move forward by demonising someone or constantly portraying yourself as a victim. It’s like a temporary addiction.” This statement quickly stirred a reaction on social media. As the controversy grew, the VC clarified that her statement had been misrepresented. She insisted she did not mean to imply that the Dalit community always plays the victim card, but rather that some people use such language as part of a “woke” ideology. She stated that the controversy was unnecessary and that care had not been taken in formulating the rules, adding, “I myself am a Bahujan.” The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) labelled the Vice Chancellor’s remarks as “blatantly casteist” and demanded her resignation. They argued that such statements promote caste discrimination and inequality in universities. The atmosphere on the JNU campus has since become tense, with student organisations insisting that protests will continue until the Vice Chancellor apologises or resigns. As many as 14 JNU students, arrested during a protest march last week, have recently been released after a Delhi court ordered their immediate release. Among those released are JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, vice president Gopika K Babu, joint secretary Danish Ali, former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar, and AISA All India president Neha, among others. The court granted bail to the protesters on February 27, noting that while assaulting police personnel is a serious offence, the accused are students with their careers ahead of them. Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A Group of Trans Women in India Helped Vaccinate Almost 1,500 Children
“People started inviting us in, offering us tea, and asking for advice,” one trans woman involved in the campaign said. A group of transgender women in India helped vaccinate nearly 1,500 children over the past two years as part of a non-governmental pilot program, organizers reported this week. The Sakhee Project, which launched in April 2023, sought to improve vaccination rates and health outcomes for migrant communities in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The program was operated by the nonprofit non-governmental organization ZMQ Development and funded by the international health partnership Gavi, per a post about the project on Gavi’s website published Thursday. Looking to combat vaccine skepticism and mistrust of officials among migrant residents — especially those who are undocumented — organizers enlisted trans women to bridge the communication gap. Members of the trans cohort were collectively dubbed “Sakhee didi” (a common Hindi phrase denoting a trusted sister-like friend), and were trained to go door-to-door providing vaccine information and accompanying health workers to perform immunization. “Migrant families often fear authorities, especially if they lack documents,” ZMQ founder Hilmi Quraishi explained, per Gavi. “We needed a bridge between the health system and the community.” Two years later, the Sakhee didis have filled that role, helping vaccinate almost 1,500 children in Maharashtra by reaching about 40 households per day, according to Gavi’s report. Across three cohorts of children, all had received at least one vaccination dose since 2023, and community members reportedly adhered to vaccination schedules more consistently. Despite early incidents of mistrust and abuse directed at the women, including fears that they would kidnap and injure children, community attitudes shifted over time, some of the workers recalled. “At first, we were chased away,” said, Amrin Khan, one of the women who acted as a Sakhee didi. “Later, people started inviting us in, offering us tea, and asking for advice. They would say, ‘Come in, sister. Sit down and talk.’” That’s a significant shift for trans people in India, who face heavy marginalization, stigmatization, and violence. As many as 80% of trans women in the region rely on sex work or begging to survive, Indian trans activist Abhina Aher told Open Democracy in 2023. The organizers and workers of the Sakhee Project hoped that the program would provide better work opportunities and a chance to push back against common anti-trans prejudice — and appear to have succeeded. “They [the Sakhee didis] made our work much easier,” nurse and midwife Yasmeen Khan told Gavi. “When we went with them, people opened up. They were excellent communicators and played a crucial role in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.” Unfortunately, it’s not clear what the future holds for the Sakhee didis or the life-saving initiative they made possible. Gavi’s report noted that the project, described as a two-year pilot program, “has since ended,” and did not provide information about any plans for its future. Them contacted ZMQ via its website for further details, but did not immediately receive a reply. Economic and social opportunities are slowly opening up for trans people in India, though discrimination and abuse are still common. In 2021, another nonprofit organization chose Maharashtra as the site for Kinnar Vidyalaya, a school providing free education specifically for trans students of all ages. The following year, the Indian Department of School Education and Literacy hired three trans teachers for government school positions for the first time in history. Here’s hoping the celebrated Sakhee didis can likewise start well-deserved careers in public health soon. By Samantha Riedel Courtesy : Them Note: This news is originally published on https:/them.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Conflict has reached our backyard’: Rahul Gandhi targets Centre after Iranian warship sunk in Indian Ocean
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday targeted the Centre after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, warning that the conflict in West Asia poses serious risks for India’s energy security. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said the world was entering a turbulent phase and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of saying “nothing”. “The world has entered a volatile phase. Stormy seas lie ahead. India’s oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG,” Rahul Gandhi wrote. Rahul also referred to the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which had recently taken part in the Indian Navy’s Milan naval exercise before heading back through the Indian Ocean. “The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing,” he said. Calling for stronger leadership in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, Rahul said the country needed a firm and steady response. “At a moment like this, we need a steady hand at the wheel,” he wrote. “Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy,” Rahul said. The remarks came after the US Navy sank the Iranian Moudge-class frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier this week using a Mark-48 torpedo launched from a submarine, an attack that reportedly killed dozens of sailors. Iran has strongly condemned the strike, calling it an “atrocity at sea” and warning that the United States would “bitterly regret” the precedent set by attacking the vessel. Iranian officials also pointed out that the frigate had recently visited India as part of naval engagements linked to the Milan exercise. The incident comes amid a rapidly widening conflict in West Asia, with missiles, drones and rockets being exchanged across Iran, Israel and other parts of the region. 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
Iran crisis: Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi’s ‘silence’ on warship sinking in ‘our backyard’
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said PM Narendra Modi’s silence in the wake of “conflict” and the sinking of an Iranian warship showed that the PM had “surrendered strategy sovereignty”. The opposition party also slammed govt for “undoing” the foreign policy painstakingly built over the last seven decades. Rahul said the world had entered a volatile phase and “stormy seas” lay ahead, with oil supplies and 40% of Indian imports transiting through the Strait of Hormuz under threat. “The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the PM has said nothing. At a moment like this, we need a steady hand at the wheel. Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy,” he said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the PM’s silence after the sinking of the Iranian ship that was India’s guest showed “Modi government’s reckless abdication of India’s strategic and national interests”. He also questioned the “absence” of maritime rescue and relief when 38 Indian-flagged commercial ships along with 1,100 sailors were stuck in the conflict-hit region. He said the government had also not made public the plan to deal with rising oil prices and limited reserves, especially after agreeing with the US to stop import from Russia. One crore Indians were in Gulf region countries and there were desperate messages from medical students seeking help, he said. “Clearly, Modi’s surrender is both political and moral. It demeans India’s core national interests and destroys our foreign policy carefully built and followed by successive governments over the years,” Kharge said. 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
‘Exploitation’: Rahul Gandhi takes ‘compromised individual’ dig at Centre after US waiver on Russian oil
Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed PM Narendra Modi-led government over its foreign policy in the backdrop of the recent waiver issued by the United States for India allowing New Delhi to buy Russian oil, alleging that it was the result of the “exploitation of a compromised individual.” Taking his criticism to X while retweeting a video shared by the Congress of his speech in the Lok Sabha on concerns related to India’s trade sovereignty, Rahul wrote: “India’s foreign policy emerges from the collective will of our people. It should be rooted in our history, our geography, and our spiritual ethos based on Satya and Ahimsa. What we are witnessing today is not policy. It is the result of the exploitation of a compromised individual.” In the video shared by the Congress, Rahul can be heard blaming Prime Minister Modi and calling him “compromised.” He said, “The US will tell us who we can or cannot buy oil from — if it’s Russia or Iran, the US will decide. But our Prime Minister will not decide.” Earlier in the day, Congress targeted the Centre after the United States announced that it would allow India to continue purchasing Russian oil, questioning how long this “American blackmail” would continue.In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote: “Trump ka naya khel, Dilli dost ko kaha, Putin se le sakte ho tel, kab tak chalega ye Ameriki blackmail (Trump’s new game; told his friend in Delhi you can get oil from Putin; how long will this American blackmail continue?).” The remarks came after the US issued a temporary waiver allowing India to continue buying Russian oil, saying the move was intended to stabilise global energy supplies amid rising tensions in the Middle East. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: “President Trump’s energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.” He added that Washington expects India to increase energy imports from the United States in the future. “India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of US oil,” Bessent wrote, noting that the temporary measure would “alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage.” The waiver comes at a time when India faces potential risks of energy supply disruptions in Middle East following escalating tensions in the region. The situation intensified after a joint US-Israel military strike on February 28 on Iran that killed Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. India sources nearly 40 percent of its oil imports from the region, with a significant share transported through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Russia has indicated that it is ready to redirect crude shipments to India to offset potential supply disruptions caused by the conflict. According to Reuters, nearly 9.5 million barrels of Russian oil are currently positioned near Indian waters and could reach the country within weeks. The potential shift in supply follows Iranian strikes on vessels in the region, raising fears that the Strait of Hormuz could be partially closed — a development that could affect roughly 40 percent of India’s crude imports. 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 Permission Needed”: Dalit Bahujan Front Rebuilds Ambedkar Statue Platform in Telangana After Government Demolition
Dalit activists rebuilt an Ambedkar statue platform in Velur village, Wargal mandal, a day after R&B officials demolished it under police protection overnight. Dalit activists staged a protest and rebuilt a platform for installing a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar at Velur village in Wargal mandal on Wednesday, a day after Roads and Buildings department officials demolished the original structure under police protection. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Dalit organisations across the district. What Happened at Velur Village Members of the Dalit and backward class communities in the village had constructed a platform along with pillars around it about a week ago with the intention of installing a statue of Dr Ambedkar. R&B officials subsequently objected to the construction, claiming the land on which the platform was built belonged to their department, even though the location was reportedly around 50 feet away from the road. Following a complaint from R&B officials, Gouraram police registered a case against 14 Dalits from the village. On Tuesday night, R&B officials removed the platform under police security, drawing immediate anger from the community. Community Returns, Builds Again News of the demolition spread quickly and drew Dalit activists from across the district to the village on Wednesday. Despite the presence of police, a large number of people gathered and constructed a fresh platform at the same site. Dalit Bahujan Front secretary Shankar addressed the gathering and made clear that the community would not be deterred. “We will not tolerate any attempt to create obstacles in our efforts,” he said, warning that they would confront anyone who tried to prevent the installation of the statue. Shankar also dismissed the need for any official permission for the act. He said the community had every right to install the statue of Dr Ambedkar and that no approval was required from any authority, as Ambedkar was the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. 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