Rahul Gandhi too likely to meet families of drug victims
Encouraged by what it sees as the success of its five-day campaign highlighting public safety concerns amid rising gangster-related violence and extortion, the Punjab Congress is now turning its attention to the state’s drug crisis. The party is drawing up a detailed outreach programme that could see Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criss-cross Punjab to meet families affected by drug abuse. While Rahul’s dates have not been finalised, senior party leaders said the proposed visit could coincide with the next phase of the Congress campaign targeting both the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre over their handling of the drug menace. Party insiders said apart from gangster-related violence, the widespread abuse of synthetic drugs had emerged as a major public concern in feedback gathered through surveys conducted by the party high command across the state. Over the past week, AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot and PPCC chief Pargat Singh met the families of nearly 22 victims of gangster-related violence. A report on the feedback gathered during the campaign is being sent to the party high command. The Congress is now looking to extend its outreach to families who have lost their loved ones to drug abuse, seeking to bring the issue to the centre of Punjab’s political discourse. The move is aimed at highlighting the human cost of the drug menace while questioning the state government’s response to the crisis. Meanwhile, PPCC chief Pargat Singh has questioned Union Home Minster Amit Shah over the growing drug trade across the country, the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs and the destruction of the younger generation due to substance abuse. Article_Author Rajmeet 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
I believe in Shiva-Shakti… Rahul Gandhi attacks RSS on Vijayadashami, raises questions about women’s rights and the Constitution
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the RSS on the occasion of Vijayadashami, calling it a male-dominated and anti-constitutional organization. He alleged that the RSS considers women to be the property of men. New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has once again targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Rahul Gandhi has described the RSS as a male-dominated and anti-constitutional organization. In a post on the social media platform, Rahul Gandhi wrote that the RSS is a male-dominated, anti-constitutional organization that believes women are the property of men. He said that I believe in Shiva-Shakti, which is why I enjoy fighting them so much. The most beautiful thing is that many women from their organization are with me. The Leader of the Opposition also wished the countrymen a happy Vijayadashami. In his post, he wrote, “Heartiest wishes to all of you on Vijayadashami. May this festival, which marks the victory of truth and justice over arrogance, injustice, and oppression, bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to your lives.” Earlier, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal raised questions about Rahul Gandhi’s Vietnam trip. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi often spends most of his time traveling abroad. He comes to India, creates controversy over an issue, and then leaves again. Demand for Public Disclosure of Expenses and Meetings for Foreign Travel Praveen Khandelwal stated that the public lacks clear information about the purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips and the meetings he attends. He demanded that Rahul Gandhi make public the details of his foreign trips over the past two to three years. He also asked who Rahul Gandhi meets during these trips and who pays for his expenses. Khandelwal’s Question on Rahul Gandhi’s Foreign Travels He stated that Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a public figure. Therefore, the public has the right to know the purpose and expenses of his foreign trips. Reacting to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statements, Khandelwal said he felt Kharge hadn’t sufficiently examined the Congress party’s history before making his allegations. The actions Kharge is blaming others for are actions Congress itself has already committed during its tenure. Edited by: Ashok Upadhyay About the Author Ashok Upadhyay is a senior digital content producer at Navbharat Times Online. He has 10 years of experience in journalism. He began his journalism career with the Navbharat Times Hindi newspaper in 2014. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Doing a real disservice’: Annamalai backs CJP leaders, questions their continued custody
NEW DELHI: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday expressed Cockroach Janata Party and questioned Delhi Police’s handling of the case against its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. While talking to reporters, Annamalai said that continued judicial custody of CJP leaders raises concerns about the rule of law. “I’m a little bit concerned in our country. I have a feeling they (Delhi Police) have taken the law into their hands, and the judge gets recused… I may not agree with many of the CJP’s modes of protest. I may not agree with some of the antics of CJP. That’s a different argument. But I completely support CJP in terms of the questions they want to raise. “It is for the government to answer. But to arrest them for a violation and again to drag them in terms of how they spend their time in jail, that is only going to make the leaders of CJP stronger. I’m afraid of saying that the Delhi police are doing a real disservice,” he added. He also said that Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi has every right to question the SIR process, but institutional damage should not be caused. “Rahul Gandhi has every right to question the SIR process, but institutional damage should not be caused,” he further said. Earlier on Monday, a Delhi court extended the CJP leaders’ judicial custody by two days for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest venue, and obstructing police personnel on duty. Along with other CJP workers, they waved the national flag at the site and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before being detained and placed under preventive custody. According to their lawyer, their bail sureties were rejected due to a reported mismatch in documents. They will now be produced before the court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and praised Das and Ranka for remaining defiant despite spending five days in judicial custody. “You must be feeling very strong keeping a 26-year-old Saurav Das in jail. You must be feeling very strong beating children on the streets. You must be feeling very strong putting up barricades across Delhi and dragging students on the streets,” he said. Dipke claimed that Das and Ranka had gone to Jantar Mantar to wave the national flag but were sent to judicial custody. He also alleged that their court hearings had been repeatedly postponed. “Is this strength? Hiding behind the police, hiding behind the courts, is this Narendra Modi’s strength?” he asked. 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
From counting to reaching: Enhancing transgender welfare in India
The 2011 Census gave those wishing to identify as transgender the option to choose “Other” as their gender category. In this post, Neethu Naik contends that as the country moves towards another census, the challenge is to count transgender persons more accurately, and to ensure that those counted can actually reach the institutions created for them. In 2011, India’s Census recorded 487,803 people under the category “Other”. It was the first national enumeration to provide an “Other” gender category alongside female and male. Yet, this number was never a dedicated count of transgender persons. The government has explicitly acknowledged that the category included people who wished to record their sex as “Other”, while some transgender persons may have identified themselves as female or male (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 2019). Fifteen years later, this raises questions that go beyond enumeration: What do we actually know about India’s transgender population? Has there been a systematic effort to understand its changing size, geographical distribution, socioeconomic conditions, and welfare needs since 2011? If the demographic profile has changed, can welfare architecture that was designed around a 15-year-old and methodologically limited benchmark adequately capture present needs? These questions are particularly pertinent as India moves towards another Census. Since 2011, the State has developed considerably more elaborate welfare architecture. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and Rules of 2020 (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 2020) established a formal legal framework; the National Portal for Transgender Persons created an online certification mechanism; and the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme brought together rehabilitation, healthcare, shelter, skill development, and economic linkages for transgender persons (Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, 2020). But how far has this architecture actually reached? From demographic visibility to administrative visibility The National Portal for Transgender Persons was introduced to provide a relatively accessible mechanism for obtaining a transgender certificate and identity card. Certification is significant because it is not merely an instrument of identity recognition; it has become an administrative gateway to several welfare interventions under SMILE and to the Ayushman Bharat TG Plus health package. The state-wise certification data provide an interesting picture of this emerging administrative geography. My compilation of the data available on the National Portal records 48,579 applications and 40,618 certificates issued across the states and Union Territories for which figures were available (Table 1). There is wide geographical variation, ranging from Maharashtra recording 6,924 applications and 5,817 certificates on the one hand, and Sikkim recording 42 applications and 39 certificates on the other hand. These figures are influenced by factors such as awareness, digital access, documentation, administrative support, and willingness to seek certification. Hence, these may not represent true differences in demographic prevalence. Table 1. State/UT-wise applications received, and transgender certificates issued through the National Portal for Transgender Persons, September 2026 State/UT Applications received Certificates issued Pending Maharashtra 6,924 5,817 240 Karnataka 6,038 5,316 186 Odisha 3,957 3,654 86 Andhra Pradesh 3,907 3,516 68 Telangana 3,370 2,800 381 West Bengal 2,813 2,279 177 Uttar Pradesh 2,749 2,055 279 Gujarat 2,540 2,280 32 Kerala 2,262 1,863 36 Delhi 2,065 1,527 161 Tamil Nadu 1,787 1,236 126 Madhya Pradesh 1,456 1,191 92 Chhattisgarh 1,294 1,179 32 Bihar 1,217 1,039 40 Haryana 1,045 771 70 Manipur 1,006 937 24 Rajasthan 942 731 64 Assam 686 508 39 Jharkhan 668 545 63 Punjab 507 370 27 Jammu & Kashmir 347 271 19 Puducherry 346 284 5 Uttarakhand 225 129 26 Tripura 197 164 15 Himachal Pradesh 117 69 5 Chandigarh 72 48 6 Sikkim 42 39 0 Meghalaya 0 0 0 Goa 0 0 0 Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 Nagaland 0 0 0 A & N Islands 0 0 0 Mizoram 0 0 0 Daman & Diu 0 0 0 Lakshadweep 0 0 0 Ladakh 0 0 0 Total 48,579 40,618 2,299 Source: Author’s compilation based on data displayed on the National Portal for Transgender Persons; accessed in September 2026. Nevertheless, the variation raises an important issue: the first step towards entering the welfare system – becoming administratively visible – is itself geographically uneven. This is significant because the legal framework is explicitly based on self-perceived gender identity. The 2020 Rules provide for certification through an affidavit and do not require medical or physical examination. The National Portal further states that neighbourhood verification to establish whether an applicant is transgender is unnecessary. The intention is therefore to reduce the burden of proving identity. Yet the individual must still negotiate a bureaucratic process involving applications, documents, and digital interfaces. The portal provides alternatives where certain documents are unavailable, but this does not eliminate the wider barriers of digital literacy, awareness, family support, and confidence in approaching State institutions. This creates a paradox; a system designed around self-identification can still be difficult to access for those who are socially least equipped to navigate the State. What lies beyond certification? Certification is important, but it is only the beginning of the welfare journey. SMILE is designed as an integrated intervention. Its transgender component includes medical facilities, counselling, education, skill development, livelihood and economic linkages, shelter, and rehabilitation. Healthcare illustrates the significance of this linkage. Ayushman Bharat TG Plus provides annual health coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per eligible beneficiary, and includes hormone therapy, gender-affirming procedures, sex-reassignment surgery, and post-operative care. However, the transgender certificate is a mandatory requirement for accessing the package. Thus, access is not a single event; it is a chain encompassing awareness, application, certification, eligibility, and service access. The livelihood component raises an even broader question. The government has introduced skill-development and entrepreneurship interventions under SMILE, including a programme intended to train 1,800 transgender persons through entrepreneurship development. But how many people move from training to sustained employment? How many obtain independent livelihoods? How many enter formal workplaces? These are arguably more meaningful indicators of social and economic inclusion than the number who have merely participated in a programme. Significantly, the Ministry invited an evaluation study in 2024 to
Dalit Man Allegedly Abused With Caste Slurs, Locked Inside Kali Temple in Ballia Over Prayers
Two men have been booked for allegedly assaulting a Dalit man over his stay at a Kali temple and offering prayers there in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, police said on Monday, October 19. A case was registered late Sunday night at Rasra police station against Vishal Singh and Ankit Singh under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered following a complaint by Nageena Ram, a resident of Sardaspur village. Dalit Man Allegedly Abused With Caste Slurs According to the complaint, Ram lives at the village’s Kali temple and offers prayers there. The two accused allegedly abused him with caste-based slurs and assaulted him on Sunday evening, October 18, over the issue. The complaint further alleged that when people working in a nearby field arrived at the spot, the accused locked Ram inside the temple premises. They later allegedly went to his house and threatened to kill him, the complaint stated. Police Investigation Under Way Rasra police station in-charge Sushil Kumar confirmed that a case had been registered and said an investigation was under way. “Necessary legal action would be taken in the matter,” Kumar said. 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
Mahoba: Man harassed by bullies puts up house-for-sale posters, accused arrested
In Mahoba, a Dalit family, harassed by bullies, put up house-for-sale posters outside their home. Police have taken action and arrested the accused. In Bamrara village, in the Charkhari area of Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit family, harassed by bullies, put up house-for-sale posters outside their home. The victim, Ramkishan Anuragi, alleged that despite having paid off the loan, the accused demanded two lakh rupees and threatened to kidnap his daughter. After the incident gained attention, the police filed a case and arrested the accused. The victim expressed satisfaction with the police action. This matter became a topic of discussion throughout the region, prompting the police to take strict action. According to reports, Ramkishan Anuragi alleged that last year he had borrowed 65,000 rupees from Narendra Rajput, a resident of his village. The victim claimed that he had repaid 35,000 rupees, including principal and interest. Despite this, he was still being demanded another two lakh rupees. Ramkishan alleged that when he refused to pay the money, he was subjected to casteist abuse, threatened with death, and threatened with the kidnapping of his daughter. The victim had stated that he would file a complaint with the Charkhari police station. Alleging a lack of action, the family put up posters outside their home stating, “House for Sale.” Police Action After the matter went viral on social media, the police swung into action. Based on the victim’s complaint, they registered a case, arrested the accused, Narendra, and initiated necessary legal action. CO Charkhari Deepak Dubey stated that the matter involved a monetary dispute between the two parties. The victim has removed the posters after expressing satisfaction with the police action. Currently, the victim has expressed satisfaction with the police action to the media. Written By: Imran Khan, Mahoba Courtesy: Hindi News
Farmer, Dalit groups to hold anti-SIR protests across Karnataka on October 23
On SIR, the leaders alleged that nomadic communities, Dalits, Adivasis and religious minorities had been disproportionately affected by deletions from electoral rolls. Bengaluru: Farmer and Dalit organisations have called for people’s marches and protests across Karnataka on October 23, demanding the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a judicial inquiry into the allegations against him. “It is the responsibility of citizens to bring down a government that beats children and farmers, but this must be done peacefully and democratically through the right to vote guaranteed by the Constitution,” said actor Prakash Raj addressing a press meet in Bengaluru on Monday. “We will turn the entire country into Jantar Mantar on October 23. No amount of police or military deployment can suppress the people’s movement,” he said. Condemning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, the functioning of the Election Commission and police action against protesters, Prakash Raj said peaceful demonstrators in Delhi had been subjected to force. Journalists had been assaulted and their cameras snatched, he alleged, describing it as an attack on democracy and press freedom. State Raitha Sangha president Badagalapura Nagendra said the Centre was neglecting farmers’ interests and failing to fulfil assurances given after the historic agitation against the farm laws. “Centre’s indifference was a major reason for the crisis surrounding the ongoing sugarcane growers’ protest in Karnataka,” he said. Dalit Sangharsha Samiti activist Guruprasad Keragodu demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a judicial inquiry into his functioning. He also called for democratisation of the process of appointing election commissioners, complete scrapping of SIR and a fresh, people-friendly revision of electoral rolls under a new Election Commission. He further demanded that all elections held after SIR be cancelled and fresh elections conducted, that protesters be allowed to demonstrate at Jantar Mantar, and that cases registered against young protesters be withdrawn. On SIR, the leaders alleged that nomadic communities, Dalits, Adivasis and religious minorities had been disproportionately affected by deletions from threatened the constitutional principles of equality and representation, and called on Dalit organisations to treat the issue as a struggle for the community’s survival. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Behenji has formulated a special plan for Akash Anand, now set to make a splash in Bahujan politics.
The BSP supremo has formulated a comprehensive political plan for Akash Anand. His aunt and BSP supremo Mayawati, who was displeased with him for months, is now showering her nephew Akash Anand with love and rapidly advancing him in politics. Lucknow. Akash Anand will soon be showing his mettle in the electoral arenas of various districts in Uttar Pradesh, including Uttarakhand and Punjab. The BSP supremo has formulated a comprehensive political plan for Akash Anand. His aunt and BSP supremo Mayawati, who was displeased with Akash Anand for months, is now lavishing love on him and rapidly advancing him in politics. In her post, Behenji praised Akash Anand, saying that he is demonstrating great understanding and maturity as the BSP’s national convener and has been working diligently and swiftly in fulfilling his responsibilities. Behenji has announced that Akash Anand will address public meetings in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh on October 28, 2026, in Saharanpur on November 2, in Ayodhya on November 20, in Agra on November 22, and in Kanpur on November 29. On the occasion of Constitution Day on November 26, Akash Anand will be the chief guest at the ‘Vichar Sangrah Sammelan’ organized by the BSP in Punjab State. On the occasion of Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar’s Mahaparinirvan Diwas on December 6, Akash will address a public meeting in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. However, in her ex-post, Behenji once again targeted Ashok Siddharth. She wrote that Mr. Akash Anand is less responsible for the unpleasant events that have occurred recently, and his relative, Mr. Ashok Siddharth, is more responsible. It’s clear that after all the ups and downs, Akash Anand has made a strong comeback in the BSP. Now, he will be responsible for instilling enthusiasm among party workers in the electoral states. Raj Kumar Raj Kumar has been active in the media since 2020. He holds the position of Deputy Editor at Dalit Dastak. He monitors the political and social activities of the country and Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
AIISCA Condemns Alleged Police Brutality Against Dalit Students At IIT Bombay, Demands Action Against Officials
The All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association has demanded an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality and detentions during an October 18 protest at IIT Bombay seeking justice for Sahil Wakode. President Rahul Sonpimple urged Scheduled Castes commissions to intervene and sought accountability from police and institute authorities. Mumbai: The All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA) has condemned the alleged police brutality, assault and forcible detention of Dalit students and Ambedkarite activists during a protest at IIT Bombay on October 18, demanding an independent inquiry into the police action and accountability from the institute’s administration. “We strongly condemn the alleged police brutality, forcible detentions and assault of Ambedkarite activists and students during the peaceful protest at IIT Bombay demanding justice for Sahil Wakode,” said Rahul Sonpimple, national president of AIISCA. AIISCA demands independent police inquiry Sonpimple demanded the intervention of the Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, calling for an impartial inquiry into the conduct of the Mumbai Police and the role of the institute’s administration. “We demand that the commissions take immediate cognisance of the use of force against Dalit students and activists. The alleged desecration of Dr BR Ambedkar’s poster must also be investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said. AIISCA has sought accountability from the Deputy Commissioners of Police overseeing the Powai and Saki Naka jurisdictions, demanding an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the detentions, the alleged use of force and the orders under which the police acted. Action sought against IIT Bombay officials Sonpimple also demanded the resignation and arrest of IIT Bombay invigilator Suryanarayana Doolla, alleging that his conduct contributed to the circumstances surrounding Wakode’s death. He called for an impartial investigation and said criminal proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other applicable laws, including provisions relating to abetment of suicide, should be initiated if supported by evidence. The association has also sought the removal of IIT Bombay Director Sireesh Kedare, alleging that the institute’s administration failed to protect protesting students and permitted police entry onto the campus to detain demonstrators. Protest rights and accountability emphasised “Peaceful protest is a democratic right, not a crime. Students and activists demanding justice must not be subjected to violence, intimidation or arbitrary detention,” Sonpimple said. He urged the Maharashtra government, the statutory commissions, the Mumbai Police leadership and IIT Bombay’s administration to act on the demands and ensure that the allegations of police brutality are independently investigated. Sonpimple also called for the investigation into Wakode’s death to proceed transparently and without further delay, saying Dalit students must be able to seek justice and accountability without fear of repression. Shreya Jachak Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Ambedkar Nagar News: Bodies of Dalit couple found under suspicious circumstances, suspicion of murder
Jalalpur. The bodies of a Dalit couple, Vishnu Lal and Draupadi, were found on the side of a road in Ajanpara village in the Malipur area on Monday morning under suspicious circumstances. The woman had severe injuries on her neck, back, and legs, while Vishnu had no visible injuries. Villagers who were out defecating saw the bodies and informed the family and the police. CO Jalalpur Anup Kumar Singh, a forensic team, and a dog squad investigated the scene. Police suspect the deaths were caused by a wild animal attack, while the forest department denies any animal attack. Meanwhile, family members and villagers suspect murder. Meanwhile, rumors of an illicit relationship are also rife. Vishnu Lal (45), a resident of Ajanpara village in the Malipur area, had gone to irrigate a paddy field with his wife, Draupadi (39), at around 9 pm on Sunday night. They returned after turning on the water and went back to the field at around 1 am. After this, the two did not return home all night. Around 6 a.m., a villager who went out to defecate found their bodies lying on the side of a road about 50 meters from the field. Upon receiving the information, the deceased Vishnu Lal’s father, Ramkewal, along with other family members and villagers, rushed to the scene. According to Ramkewal, Vishnu Lal’s body was free of any visible injuries. Draupadi had severe bleeding injuries on the back of her neck. Furthermore, the woman’s leg had been eaten by a wild animal. Family members and villagers suspect murder, but no complaint has been filed. Meanwhile, some people are also hushedly discussing the possibility of an illicit relationship. CO Anup Kumar Singh, Station House Officer Tanuj Pal, the forensic team, and the dog squad investigated the scene. Following the police’s suspicion of a wild animal attack, Ranger Mudit Singh, under the direction of DFO Jagdamba Prasad, conducted the investigation with his team. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, samples of which have been taken and sent for testing. The couple’s death is initially suspected to have been caused by a wild animal attack. The post-mortem report is awaited, based on which further action will be taken. – Anoop Kumar Singh, CO Jalalpur Judging by the visible wounds on the bodies, it does not appear that an animal attack was the cause of death. After death, the woman’s leg was devoured by a small animal. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, which appear to be a few days old. No footprints were found at the scene. Courtesy: Hindi News