Defence objects to allowing new material at evidence stage in defamation case against Rahul Gandhi
Pune: The defence lawyer, Milind Pawar, on Tuesday filed a written objection before a special MP/MLA court in the city against the court allowing new material to be introduced at the evidence stage, without it forming part of the original record, in an ongoing defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of the Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, has filed the case regarding the Congress leader’s alleged defamatory speech against the Hindutva icon, in London in March 2023. The court has concluded the recording of Satyaki’s chief examination, and the case is at the stage of cross examination by the defence lawyer. The case has been posted for next hearing on Feb 6. Satyaki had earlier submitted a CD, containing the alleged defamatory speech, along with a 65B (verification) certificate under the Indian Evidence Act, but it could not be played in court due to some unknown technical reasons. At a subsequent hearing, Satyaki presented a couple of pen drives along with a verification certificate and the court allowed them to be played. The defence lawyer then orally objected to this but the court overruled the objection on the basis that Satyaki had made an oral request. On Tuesday, the defence submitted a written objection before commencing with the cross examination of Satyaki. It stated that overruling the objection was “illegal, procedurally irregular, and contrary to the mandatory provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, because electronic evidence cannot be admitted, exhibited, or played without following the due procedure prescribed by law.” The defence objection stated, among other things, that the Supreme Court has consistently held that the complainant cannot be permitted to introduce new facts, documents, or electronic material at the stage of chief examination which were neither pleaded in the complaint nor disclosed earlier, as such a course would impermissibly expand the scope of the complaint, amount to filling up lacunae in the prosecution case, and cause serious prejudice to the defence. Following the filing of the written objection, and upon the request made by advocate Pawar, the court adjourned the matter for further cross examination. 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
Himachal fire tragedy: Toll rises to 10 in Arki market blaze; 9 Nepalese nationals, 8-year-old among dead
SHIMLA: The death toll in the fire at Arki market in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district was revised to 10 on Tuesday.Rahul Jain, additional deputy commissioner, Solan, said nine Nepalese nationals and an eight-year-old child from Bihar had died in the blaze that broke out in an old wooden residential building and spread to nearby shops and buildings after multiple cylinder explosions. Three more human remains were found after a 30member National Disaster Response Force team from Slapper in Mandi and a sniffer dog squad joined search operations. Jain said, “Only human remains are being found, as this was an extremely severe fire. Only one injured child was recovered on Monday, who later died in the hospital.” Three more human remains were found after a 30-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Slapper in Mandi district and a sniffer dog squad joined search operations at Arki market in Solan district on Tuesday. Rahul Jain, additional deputy commissioner of Solan, said a total of 10 people, including nine Nepal nationals and an eight-year-old child from Bihar, had lost their lives in the fire. “So far, we did not recover any complete body. Only human remains are being found, as this was an extremely severe fire. Only one injured child was recovered on Monday, who later died in the hospital,” he added. Jain said the rescue teams recovered two human remains on Monday and three on Tuesday, which the forensics team collected and stored for possible DNA matching later. A joint search operation involving NDRF, SDRF, the district administration, police, home guards, and fire department teams is set to resume on Wednesday morning. The Solan deputy commissioner ordered a magisterial inquiry into the complete incident on Monday. DNA samples from the deceased persons’ family members were collected, and identification of the recovered remains will be possible only after DNA results, said SDM Arki, Nishant Tomar. The police registered an FIR under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter, said SP Gaurav Singh. Also, legal action is being taken against the damaged 4-storey old wooden building owner, Rajeev Gupta, under the Essential Commodities Act, as at least 6 LPG cylinders stored in the building exploded during the blaze. The owner was using his building’s ground and first floor for commercial purposes, and the top 2 floors were rented out to migrant labourers from Nepal and Bihar. The search operation was also obstructed on Monday due to encroachments made in the carriageway at the site, as the search teams were not able to move JCB earth excavator machines smoothly. 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
‘Even if effort fails … ‘: DK Shivakumar shares cryptic post after meeting Rahul Gandhi
BENGALURU: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar shared a cryptic post on Wednesday after his meeting with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. In the post on X, he said: “Even if the effort fails, the prayer does not fail.” The post follows a brief, exclusive interaction between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Shivakumar at Mysuru airport on Tuesday, which triggered fresh speculation over a possible change of guard in the state, even as chief minister Siddaramaiah insisted there was no discussion of politics. Rahul, on his way to Gudalur in Tamil Nadu, arrived at Mysuru’s Mandakalli airport around 2pm on a special flight. He was received by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who had earlier flown together to Mysuru. Within minutes, Rahul left by helicopter for Gudalur, while the Chief Minister and his deputy exited the airport separately. Later, when Rahul returned to Mysuru ahead of schedule on his return to Delhi, Shivakumar reached the airport early and had a three-minute one-on-one conversation with the former AICC chief on the tarmac. Siddaramaiah joined them subsequently, after which Rahul interacted briefly with both leaders before leaving on a special flight around 5.45pm. The exclusive exchange between Rahul and Shivakumar, coming amid sustained speculation over a possible change of guard in the state, sparked renewed political buzz. Shivakumar also shared pictures of the meeting with reporters. However, neither he nor Siddaramaiah addressed the media. Earlier, Shivakumar was present when Mysuru city police presented a guard of honour to Siddaramaiah but stayed away when the Chief Minister spoke to reporters. Shivakumar later left for a star hotel in the city, where he briefly stayed while awaiting Rahul’s return. Siddaramaiah went to his residence in Ramakrishna Nagar. Asked about the meeting later, Siddaramaiah said, “It is the media which is speculating a change in CM, but there is no confusion or issues between Shivakumar and me. Some MLAs have spoken without knowledge. Only Shivakumar and I can speak on this. A decision on a change, if any, will be taken by the party high command and we both will abide by it.” To avoid a repeat of scenes witnessed during AICC general secretary KC Venugopal’s visit to Mangaluru airport last month — where supporters of the CM and Shivakumar shouted slogans backing their leaders for the CM post — Congress and police decided to bar party workers from entering Mysuru airport on Tuesday. 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
Cal HC orders SFIO to investigate Rose Valley assets attached by ED
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed Centre to order the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to investigate Rose Valley assets worth Rs 1,171 crore attached by ED across the country, and submit a comprehensive report within a month. The division bench of justices Rajarshi Bharadwaj and Uday Kumar noted that Rose Valley-linked cases had been pending with Calcutta HC since 2016. “The attached assets constitute public money in every sense, held in trust for restitution to victims,” the bench stated. Earlier, after the bench had asked the SFIO to conduct an audit following allegations of bias against the asset disposal committee, the statutory body had raised objections before the HC stating “jurisdictional” trouble over conducting forensic audit of the committee, since it cannot be called an “office”. The division bench clarified, “No direction has been or is being issued to SFIO to conduct any audit or assessment of the receipt and payments of Asset Disposal Committee per se… Rather, the forensic audit mandate pertains squarely to the attached assets of the Rose Valley Group of Companies, which indisputably qualify as “companies” incorporated under the relevant company laws. These assets, valued between Rs 20,000 to 30,000 crore and presently under attachment by the ED, form the corpus central to the multi-crore chit fund scam that has defrauded thousands of innocent depositors.” Sebi, CBI, ED, ADC, Rose Valley representatives, and depositors, were directed to extend unconditional cooperation by furnishing all requisite documents, electronic data, physical access, and clarifications within seven days of SFIO’s requisition. Centre was directed to take a decision after perusing the report as to whether SFIO needed to proceed with forensic auditing. The order comes a day after the Supreme Court on Monday rejected the ED’s petition seeking a stay on HC’s forensic audit 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
Hatred fuelled on basis of caste and religion, claims Congress after Dalit woman’s killing in U.P.
The party claims the State tops in crimes against SCs, flags delay in releasing crime data The Congress on Monday criticised the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh over the alleged killing of a Dalit woman in Meerut, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of fostering hatred on the basis of caste and religion and selective use of State power. A Dalit woman was allegedly killed and her 20-year-old daughter abducted in a village in Meerut district last Thursday. The police said a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the crime. The incident led to tension in the area, following which additional police forces were deployed. The abducted daughter was later traced to neighbouring Saharanpur district on Saturday, officials said. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Congress Scheduled Caste department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam alleged that caste-based animosity and religion-based hostility was being encouraged under BJP rule. “Hatred is being fuelled in the country on the basis of caste and religion, and this is happening under the patronage of BJP governments,” Mr. Gautam alleged. The Congress leader accused the Uttar Pradesh administration of targeting Dalits, tribals and backward classes through what he described as the selective use of coercive measures. Referring to the State government’s practice of demolishing properties of alleged offenders, he said such action appeared to be guided by caste and religious considerations. “When a Dalit is oppressed in the State, the bulldozer does not move,” he alleged. Recounting the Meerut incident, the Congress leader said the woman was killed when she attempted to resist the abduction of her daughter. He also claimed that Congress party representatives were stopped from meeting the victim’s family. “If the police showed the same diligence in preventing crime and ensuring punishment for the guilty, such incidents would not recur,” he said. Mr. Gautam further alleged that if the accused belonged to a Dalit, tribal or backward community, action such as demolition would have followed swiftly. “The law should not operate on the basis of caste or religion. If it does, the country will weaken,” he said. ‘No data since 2022’ He also criticised the government for not releasing data on atrocities committed against Dalits after 2022, calling it a failure of governance. Claiming that Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of cases of atrocities against Dalits in the past five years, he said that BJP-ruled States together contributed a majority of such cases nationally. Questioning restrictions on protests, Mr. Gautam said the authorities had earlier denied permission for demonstrations citing procedural requirements. “If a rape or killing occurs, do we have to wait 10 days to demand justice?” he asked. The Uttar Pradesh government has not yet responded to the Congress’s allegations. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit atrocities rising in BJP-governed states: Congress
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the abduction of a Dalit girl and the murder of her mother in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, Congress on Monday alleged that Dalit atrocities are rising in BJP-governed states, but the Centre has not released the anti-Scheduled Castes (SC) crime data for the last four years, while the Union home ministry is not allowing protests against atrocities on the bizarre grounds that a 10-day notice is required for permission. Former Delhi minister and Congress SC department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam said National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on Dalit atrocities was last released in 2022 and has not since been made public. He said between 2019 and 2022, crimes against SCs registered a massive growth of 13.1%, with UP topping the charts. He said BJP-governed UP, MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Bihar “account for 76% of total atrocities against Dalits.” Gautam alleged Delhi Police denied permission to Congress to hold a dharna against the Meerut abduction-murder of Dalit women on Monday, saying a 10-day notice should be given to the administration. “If a rape or a murder takes place, and there is urgency to highlight it, should we wait for 10 days to protest? What kind of norm is this?” he asked. The former minister said the BJP govt is taking away the constitutional right to protest and seek justice. He claimed that SC atrocities are rising because the government is not allowing protests to demand action from a reluctant administration. He said the number of unregistered cases is very high, arguing a total of 57,582 cases were registered nationally in 2022, while a central government-launched helpline call for Dalit atrocities received over 6.5 lakh calls in 2021—in which only 825 cases were registered against 3.33 lakh calls on the helpline in UP, and 718 cases were lodged out of 58,000 calls in Bihar. The Congress leader said UP has created “bulldozer justice,” but the bulldozer is rusted when the perpetrators of atrocity are upper castes, while it razes the houses within hours when the culprits are Dalit, minority, or backward. 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
Power tussle intensifies in state with a new push for ‘Dalit CM’
Bengaluru: Speculationis growing within political circles that the leadership tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is unlikely to ease unless Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi intervenes. Amid this backdrop, a section of Dalit leaders and organisations are stepping up efforts to press for a Dalit chief minister in Karnataka, adding a new dimension to the ongoing power struggle within the ruling Congress. Sources said plans are underway to organise a major Dalit rally in the Old Mysuru region, demanding that the community be given the top post. Several Dalit leaders are reportedly exerting pressure on Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, one of the most prominent Dalit faces in the state, to grant permission and lend support to the proposed rally. A group led by Venkataramanaswamy, popularly known as ‘Papu’ of Chamarajanagar, met Dr Parameshwara in Tumakuru on Sunday and sought a date for the rally. However, Parameshwara is said to have advised the delegation to wait for some more time, indicating caution amid the sensitive political situation within the party. Sources close to the developments said Parameshwara, who is considered part of the Siddaramaiah camp, is reluctant to openly back a Dalit rally at this juncture. As a long-time loyalist of the Congress and a close associate of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Parameshwara is reportedly unwilling to take a stand that could be perceived as going against the party’s central leadership. Though he recently met Kharge in Delhi, Parameshwara described it as a courtesy call, and details of their discussion have not been disclosed. Meanwhile, Parameshwara’s supporters staged a protest near the Congress headquarters in Delhi, demanding a “Dalit CM” for Karnataka. Adding to the pressure, DSS leader Mavalli Shankar said that if Siddaramaiah were to step down, Parameshwara should be appointed chief minister, citing his loyalty and long service to the party. He announced that a Dalit rally would be organised soon to strengthen the demand. Mavalli Shankar also argued that despite decades since Independence, many senior Dalit leaders have not been adequately represented in top constitutional and executive positions. “This time, that injustice should not be repeated,” he said. At the same time, pro-Siddaramaiah AHINDA organisations have begun preparations to hold rallies across the state to support the chief minister continuing in office. Sources said rallies are being planned in Mysuru and Hubballi, with another major event likely in central Karnataka, possibly in Haveri or Davanagere. With competing rallies being planned by different social and political groups, the Congress leadership in Karnataka appears to be entering a critical phase, as internal dynamics intensify and pressure mounts on the high command to intervene and restore balance. Courtesy : The Hans India Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Swami Vivekananda’s views on the Hindu caste system and its Ambedkarite / Dalit–Bahujan Critique
Swami Vivekananda’s views on the Hindu caste system were complex, internally contradictory, and evolved over time. He criticised caste-based discrimination and untouchability, yet defended the theoretical framework of Varna and stopped short of advocating the annihilation of caste as later demanded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. in Annihilate Caste By SR Darapuri Below is a clear, structured, and academically balanced account of his position. Vivekananda’s Basic Position: Varna vs. Caste Swami Vivekananda consistently distinguished between: Varna – which he described as a functional division of labour and Jāti (caste by birth) – which he admitted had become degenerate and oppressive. His Claim was that the original Varna system was based on guna (qualities) and karma (work), not on birth. He believed that Varna was socially useful in ancient times and the problem was hereditary fixation and ritual hierarchy, not Varna itself. Critique of Caste-Based Discrimination Vivekananda strongly condemned Untouchability, Social exclusion, denial of education to Shudras and Brahminical arrogance and priestly monopoly. He called untouchability a “great national sin”, he blamed upper-caste Hindus for India’s weakness and decline and He insisted Shudras must be educated and uplifted. He said: “So long as the millions live like brutes, no number of politics will save this country.” Defence of Varna Order Despite his social criticism, Vivekananda did not reject caste altogether. He argued that society naturally produces different types of people, Varṇa represented psychological and occupational diversity and complete social equality was neither possible nor desirable. He even said that all societies have caste-like divisions and modern class systems are merely new forms of caste. This defence places him closer to reformist Hinduism than to radical social democracy. His View on Shudras and “Lower Castes” The progressive aspects of Swami Vivekanand are: He declared Shudras were oppressed historically, asserted that education and power must reach them and he predicted the rise of Shudras as inevitable. His prophecy was that “The next Buddha will be born among the Shudras.” He also said that the next raj will be of Shudras. His limitations were that he did not call for destruction of the caste system, he saw uplift as moral–spiritual, not structural–legal and he never demanded political power or constitutional safeguards for Dalits. Vivekananda vs. Ambedkar (Brief Contrast) Vivekananda criticised Birth-based caste as degenerated Varna but Dr. Ambedkar Saw it as a structural system of graded inequality. Vivekananda defended the Varna system whereas Dr. Ambedkar completely rejected it. Vivekananda treated Untouchability as a moral sin whereas Dr. Ambedkar saw it as a crime requiring law. Vivekananda saw spiritual reform as its solution whereas Dr. Ambedkar stood for Annihilation of caste and law. Vivekanand said that Hindu scriptures required to be reinterpreted whereas Dr. Ambedkar rejected them as creators of the caste system. Ambedkar famously argued that reformers like Vivekananda underestimated the structural violence of caste. Why Vivekananda Did Not Reject Caste Entirely Three key reasons were: Vedantic framework as he believed Hindu philosophy could be morally purified without social rupture. His fear of social chaos as he saw caste abolition as potentially destabilising Indian society. His elite reform perspective which made his approach top-down and moral, not subaltern or political. Scholarly Assessment Most historians agree that Vivekananda was progressive for his time but not radical enough to challenge caste as an institution. His ideas helped Hindu reform, not Dalit emancipation From a Dalit–Bahujan or Ambedkarite perspective, his approach is seen as: Ethically sympathetic but structurally inadequate. Swami Vivekananda: Condemned caste oppression, opposed untouchability and supported Shudra uplift. But he: defended Varna, did not call for annihilation of caste and prioritised spiritual reform over social justice. Thus, he remains a reformist within Hinduism, not a revolutionary against caste. Swami Vivekananda’s Thought from an Ambedkarite and Dalit–Bahujan Perspective (Sympathetic yet Structurally Weak) From an Ambedkarite and Dalit–Bahujan perspective, Swami Vivekananda’s engagement with the question of caste can be described as sympathetic reformism, but one that fails to challenge the foundational structure of the caste system. According to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, caste is not merely a moral aberration or social evil; rather, it is a system of division of labourers, rooted in the division of labour itself. It is an institutional arrangement that determines and restricts an individual’s social, economic, and intellectual possibilities from birth. Ambedkarite / Dalit–Bahujan Critique (a) The Fundamental Problem of Defending Varna From an Ambedkarite standpoint, Vivekananda’s greatest limitation lies in his theoretical defence of the Varna system. Ambedkar unequivocally argues: “There is no fundamental difference between Varna and caste; Varna is the philosophical justification of caste.” From this perspective, Vivekananda’s claim that Varna was originally based on guna (qualities) and karma (work) is regarded as historically and sociologically untenable. Dalit–Bahujan thinkers argue that any social system which determines occupation, status, and social worth across generations on the basis of birth is inherently oppressive. (b) Moral Critique versus Structural Critique Swami Vivekananda viewed untouchability as a “sin” and a form of “immorality,” whereas Dr. Ambedkar understood it as a form of crime and institutionalized social violence. This marks the fundamental divergence between the two approaches: Vivekananda sought solutions in moral purification, compassion, and spiritual awakening whereas Ambedkar located solutions in law, political power, social rights, and structural transformation. From a Dalit–Bahujan standpoint, moral exhortations without structural change amount to little more than consolation for the oppressed. (c) The Shudra Question and the Question of Power Vivekananda expressed sympathy for the Shudras and spoke of their uplift, but: He did not raise the issue of political representation, he did not demand redistribution of resources and power and he did not propose dismantling Brahmanical monopoly over knowledge For Ambedkar, the liberation of Shudras and Ati-Shudras meant education, organization, and power. Vivekananda’s thought does not reach this level of political and institutional clarity. (d) Scriptures, Religion, and Caste While Vivekananda attempted to portray caste as a “distortion” through reinterpretation of Hindu scriptures, Ambedkar arrived at a far more radical conclusion that “Caste is the soul of Hinduism; unless the religion itself is transformed, caste cannot be
Teacher’s Atrocity on Disabled Dalit Student in Azamgarh: “Whenever I teach Chemistry, you won’t come to class… You belong to the Chamar caste…”
Beaten for being 10 minutes late, stepped on his leg, and threatened to be thrown from the roof. Azamgarh – A highly shameful incident in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh has exposed the cruel side of society where caste discrimination and physical disability are mocked. Indrajeet Kumar, a disabled Dalit student studying at Vivekananda High School and Inter College, was allegedly subjected to extreme cruelty by his chemistry teacher, Yogendra. For being just 10 minutes late, the student was not only beaten but also had his leg stepped on, causing injury, and was threatened with being thrown from the roof. When the frightened student grabbed the teacher’s sweater, the teacher allegedly made casteist remarks, saying, “You are a Chamar, and you grabbed my sweater.” Narrating the incident in a video, the student Indrajeet explained that he comes to school by bicycle and was slightly delayed due to his locomotor disability (difficulty in walking). Indrajeet said in a pained voice, “As soon as I entered, the sir started scolding me. He said that whenever he teaches Chemistry, I won’t be allowed in his class. I went outside, but some boys who were late were allowed inside. After that, 20-25 more students came late, and they were also allowed in.” When Indrajeet insisted on being allowed in, he was beaten. He further revealed that the teacher hit him on the head, face, and stomach, stepped on his leg, and tried to push him off the roof. When the student grabbed his sweater, the teacher angrily said, “You are from the Chamar caste, and you grabbed my sweater.” After this, other boys were also called and beaten. Indrajeet, who struggles to come to school despite his disability, said, “I was late because of my disability, but why did I get punished?” The victimized student filed a complaint with the police, but they allegedly reprimanded him and tried to hush up the matter. The student said, “We went to file a complaint, but nothing happened. They chased us away.” The incident has gone viral on social media, where journalist Piyush Rai shared the video and brought it to public attention. The post has received thousands of views, and people have demanded the teacher’s arrest. Opposition parties and Dalit organizations have termed it a caste-based atrocity and demanded immediate action from the Yogi government. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Gender-inclusive Pongal celebration embraces transgender
Madurai: To reaffirm gender equality and create safe, inclusive educational spaces, the Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, in association with the Transgender Resource Centre, organized a gender-inclusive Pongal celebration on Monday. More than 450 college students participated in the event, which was seen as a step towards social equality and acceptance for members of the transgender community within academic institutions, said head of social work department M Nishanth. Priya Babu, founder of the Transgender Resource Centre, said cultural celebrations provide an important platform to break social barriers and encourage meaningful interaction between students and members of the transgender community. Two transwomen — Mastani and Shreya — studying second-year economics at Madurai Kamaraj University were invited to the stage. Mastani told TOI, “Usually we would like to celebrate with our families, but it is not possible for all of us. I really enjoyed the celebrations. We played many games like uriyadi, lemon on the spoon. We had dance and music performances. Such celebrations effectively enforce inclusion, in addition to awareness programmes in colleges.” Addressing the gathering, Priya highlighted the crucial role educational institutions play in shaping young minds and supporting individuals during periods of personal transition. “Nearly a 50% of student’s time is spent in educational institutions and the remaining 50% in households. When individuals experience gender-affirming thoughts, creating a safe and supportive space within colleges, it will ensure that they do not drop out of colleges,” she said. More than 25 trans men and trans women participated in the celebrations. “Usually we keep pongal department-wise and end our celebrations. This year it is more meaningful,” Nishanth said. Priya urged other educational institutions across the state to adopt similar initiatives and celebrate festivals in a gender-inclusive manner. Such efforts, she said, would help reduce stigma and ensure that transgender students feel valued and supported in their pursuit of education. 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