‘Transgenderism killed Charlie Kirk’: MAGA commentator makes shocking claim at Turning Point USA event
A MAGA commentator stirred a row after claiming that transgenderism was responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder, during a speech at the same organization’s AmericaFest event. Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson posted on X and called Transgenderism an ‘epidemic’: “I called out – by name – the true evil, demonic force that took Charlie Kirk from us live on stage at AmericaFest. Transgenderism. The epidemic of transgender violence is running rampant in our country. Transgenderism is a lie. God made male and female. God did not make you in the wrong body. God does not make mistakes. Charlie’s final words warned of this threat. The very ideology that claimed his life. His death exposed the danger. His legacy demands we confront it. Openly, unapologetically, without fear. Thank God the Trump administration is doing just that.” Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a campus event by a sniper. Turning Point USA held a major conference in Phoenix to honour Kirk’s legacy. I called out – by name – the true evil, demonic force that took Charlie Kirk from live on stage at America Fest. Transgenderism. The epidemic of transgender violence is running rampant in our country. Transgenderism is a lie. God made male and female. God did not make you in… pic.twitter.com/YAUXtcsHZb — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 21, 2025 The man accused of killing Kirk was in a romantic relationship with a transgender partner, Utah officials confirmed at the time, but authorities say there is no evidence yet that this was the motive for the attack. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder. Robinson has also been charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. He has not publicly explained why he carried out the attack and is not cooperating with investigators. Utah governor Spencer Cox said that Robinson’s partner was male and transitioning to female, and that the individual has been “very cooperative” with authorities and had no advance knowledge of the shooting. Regarding Kirk, he was an outspoken activist who promoted traditional views on family and gender roles. He was an evangelical Christian who did not support transgender policies and often criticised LGBTQ+ communities at various events. He had a hardline stance that third-gender roles undermine the “natural” male and female roles. Under GOP administration, Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defence, has moved to implement policies removing openly transgender troops from the military and ending gender‑affirming care, following a Supreme Court decision allowing a trans service ban. He has also criticised diversity initiatives and “gender delusion” within the armed forces. 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
‘Will deliver decisive treatment’: Congress MP endorses Priyanka Gandhi for PM; draws Indira parallel on Bangladesh
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday said that Priyanka Gandhi will “deliver a decisive treatment” to Bangladesh if she becomes the Prime Minister. Refuting the charges from the BJP targeting Priyanka Gandhi for allegedly not speaking out strongly enough against violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Masood said that Wayanad MP spoke out the strongly the last time Bangladesh was becoming a central issue. “Priyanka Gandhi had raised her voice foremost last time when violence took place in Bangladesh. Make Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister first, and then see how she responds, just like Indira Gandhi,” Masood said. “Just like Indira Gandhi broke Pakistan into two places, Priyanka Gandhi will deliver a decisive treatment to the country (Bangladesh) so that it would not be able to become a hub of anti-India narratives,” he added. When asked what will Rahul Gandhi do if Priyanka becomes PM, Masood said,” Rahul Gandhi will act too—they are not separate. Rahul and Priyanka are like two eyes on the same face, the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. Don’t look at them separately—they are two eyes, one vision”. Amid the ongoing protests in Dhaka, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities after the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. The protests came in the backdrop of a mob lynching of the Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, a worker in a garment factory, in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. According to reports, Dipu Das, who was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy charges, had his body hanged and set on fire on December 18. The Daily Star, citing Mymensingh’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Abdullah Al Mamun, stated that a factory official had informed Bhaluka police that a group of workers attacked Dipu inside the factory, accusing him of making communal remarks. Factory sources told The Daily Star that the assailants later took Dipu out of the factory premises, where residents also joined the attack, resulting in his death. However, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-14 Company Commander in Mymensingh, Md Samsuzzaman, told The Daily Star that investigators found no evidence suggesting the deceased had posted or written anything on Facebook that could have hurt religious sentiments, adding that neither residents nor fellow garment factory workers could point to any such activity by the victim. The victim’s brother, Apu Chandra Das, also filed a case at Bhaluka Police Station on Friday, naming 140 to 150 unidentified individuals as accused. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation among political leaders, religious organisations and minority groups in Bangladesh and India. 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
Democracy Under Attack in India, ED-CBI Turned into Weapons, Says Rahul Gandhi in Germany
Rahul Gandhi questioned the fairness of elections in India, saying that the BJP has captured the institutional framework. He alleged that intelligence agencies, the CBI and ED have been weaponized, and there are fundamental problems with the electoral machinery. Gandhi said the opposition will have to find a way to counter this situation. New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has once again raised questions about the fairness of elections in India and claimed that the BJP has completely captured the country’s institutional framework, but the opposition will have to find a way to counter this. Speaking at a dialogue program at the Hertie School in Berlin, the German capital, he alleged that intelligence agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate have been turned into weapons. Rahul Gandhi uploaded a video of the program ‘Politics is the Art of Listening’ held in Berlin on his YouTube channel on Monday. He said, ‘We are raising questions about the fairness of elections in India… Our country’s democratic framework is under attack from all sides.’ He mentioned that the name of a Brazilian model appeared 22 times in the Haryana voter list. Fundamental problems in the electoral machinery: Rahul The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, ‘We are not getting answers from the Election Commission to the questions we are raising.’ He said that there are some fundamental problems in the electoral machinery in India. ‘The institutional framework has been completely captured, when you look at our intelligence agencies, the CBI and the ED, you find that they have been completely weaponized.’ The Congress MP further said, ‘Look, how many cases are there against BJP people by the ED and CBI? The answer will be none.’ He claimed that most of the cases have been registered against people from the opposition. He alleged that if you are a big industrialist and intend to support the Congress, you will be threatened. The ED and CBI will come after you.’ BJP has a lot of money… In Berlin, Rahul Gandhi, while referring to election funding, said that the BJP has much more money than the Congress. Therefore, as the opposition, we have to find a way to counter the situation… but you have to understand that we are not just fighting the BJP, we are also fighting against its takeover of the Indian institutional framework.’ Responding to a question related to the air pollution situation in Delhi and some other major cities of India, Rahul said that there is no contradiction between production and pollution; what matters is the type of fuel you are using, the type of energy you use for production. The pollution in our big cities can be addressed through appropriate government intervention.’ He said that Germany has a lot of production, but the air here is clean. Response on the Israel issue The Congress leader, responding to a question related to Israel, said, ‘We buy weapons from many countries, we buy from Israel, we also buy from Russia and we also buy from America. In difficult situations, we will have to defend ourselves… What Hamas did was completely wrong, and what Israel did afterward was also wrong. Women and children should not have been bombed.’ Edited by: Abhishek Pandey About the author Abhishek Pandey is a Consultant Writer at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than three years of experience working on news related to current affairs, politics, crime, and public interest. He has also closely covered the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022 and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul Gandhi doesn’t care about the country and is behaving like a child. Why did the BJP target him?
BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi’s Germany Visit: Rahul Gandhi made some comments during his visit to Germany that have raised the political temperature in India. The BJP even hit back, saying he is not the Leader of the Opposition, but an anti-India leader. BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi: Find out what he said New Delhi: During his visit to Germany on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said at an event that the country’s institutional structure is under massive attack. The BJP government is trying to steal votes. He also mentioned duplicate voters in the voter list. The Congress MP said that the 2024 Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections were not fair. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre has reacted strongly to the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the Lok Sabha. BJP rebukes Rahul Gandhi BJP leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that the Congress MP is not the Leader of the Opposition, but an anti-India leader who goes abroad and speaks against the country. The Union Minister called Rahul Gandhi a child and said he doesn’t care about the country. BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s Congress wants anarchy! Shobha Karandlaje asked, “What does Rahul Gandhi want to achieve?” Reacting to the Congress leader’s comment, Shobha Karandlaje asked, “What does Rahul Gandhi want to achieve by doing this? Rahul Gandhi still behaves like a child, not a leader.” BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also targeted Rahul Gandhi. He asked, “Is there anyone who loves India who would want India to fail?” Pradeep Bhandari’s attack, referring to George Soros, stated, “Rahul Gandhi says in Germany that he thinks people will fight each other. India will fail. There will be unrest.” The BJP leader said, “From fighting the Indian state to threatening anarchy, Rahul Gandhi’s Congress, along with its ideological mentor, George Soros, wants anarchy and unrest in Indian democracy.” Congress hates Indian democracy: BJP The BJP leader further said that Rahul Gandhi goes abroad to unite such anti-India forces. Targeting the country’s main opposition party, he said that Congress hates Indian democracy. Congress hates India’s progress. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress wants anarchy! What Rahul Gandhi Said Rahul Gandhi, at an event in Germany on Monday, alleged a “massive attack” on India’s institutions. During a lecture in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi said that India’s institutional system has been largely taken over. He said that investigative agencies, such as the ED and CBI, have been weaponized. He claimed that the ED and CBI have no cases against the BJP, while most cases are against opposition leaders. He said that if a businessman supports the Congress, he is threatened. Curated by: Ruchir Shukla About the Author Ruchir Shukla has been with Navbharat Times Online since February 2020. He began his career with a news agency in 2011. During this time, he broke major news stories through reporting. He specializes in political, social, crime, and positive news. He has been working in digital media for nearly 12 years. He graduated from Delhi University. Courtesy: Hindi News
Family kills pregnant woman over inter-caste marriage to Dalit man
A 20-year-old woman was killed by her father and two brothers for marrying a Dalit Vivekananda Doddamani against the family’s wishes. She was identified as Manya Patil from Inam-Veerapur village in Hubballi Rural taluk. Manya’s family attacked her, Vivekananda, and his family on December 22. The local police arrested the trio after a case was registered at the Hubballi Rural police station on Sunday. The investigation in the case is currently underway. Manya, who was six months pregnant, succumbed to injuries at a private hospital. Vivekananda has been admitted to KIMS Hospital in Hubballi. 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
Banda: Justice after nine years in Dalit youth’s murder case, two convicts sentenced to life imprisonment, read the full story
Banda News: The SC-ST court in Banda has sentenced two accused, Raja Babu and Gabbar Singh, to life imprisonment for the murder of a Dalit youth in 2015 over a dispute involving borrowed money. In the case of the shooting death of a Scheduled Caste youth and the assault on his father in Banda district, the court of Additional Sessions Judge/Special Judge SC/ST Dr. Vikas Srivastava I sentenced the two convicts to life imprisonment with hard labor. They were also fined Rs. 46,000 under other sections of the law. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one-year sentence for each. The entire amount will be paid as compensation to the legal dependents of the deceased, Shyam. Both convicts have been sent to jail. Bhukhan Verma, son of Shivmangal Verma, a resident of Majhiwan village in Baberu police station area, filed a complaint at the police station on October 30, 2015, stating that on October 29, 2015, at 10 PM, Arun alias Raja Babu Pandey, son of Satyanarayan, a resident of Visandi village in Bisanda police station area, and another person whom he recognized, arrived on a motorcycle. Both individuals used to visit his house regularly. They called his son Shyam (36) outside the house. Attacked and injured with the butt of a pistol His son, he, and his younger son Chunku came out with a torch. The two men started demanding the money they had lent to Shyam. He said that he did not have the money at the moment. This led to an argument between the two men. After this, they fired at his son with the intention of killing him. Shyam fell to the ground and started writhing in pain. After this, he shouted and tried to catch the two men, but they attacked him with the butt of a pistol, injuring him. Found guilty and punished with sentence and fine Villagers rushed to the spot, and the two men fled towards the forest, leaving behind their motorcycle, mobile phone, shoes, and scarf. A short time later, his son died. The investigating officer at the time, Yashveer Singh, Circle Officer of Baberu, filed a charge sheet against Jai Singh alias Gabbar Singh, a resident of Patwan, in court on January 29, 2016, during the course of the investigation. Charges were framed against both of them in court on May 18, 2016. Twelve witnesses were presented during the trial. In his 87-page judgment, the judge found Arun alias Rajababu and Jai Singh alias Gabbar Singh guilty of murder and sentenced them to punishment and a fine. Published by: Himanshu Awasthi Courtesy: Hindi News
Activists demand land distribution for Scheduled Castes ahead of protest
VIZIANAGARAM, Ambedkar Porata Samithi State president Soru Sambayya on Sunday urged the government to distribute house sites and agriculture lands to Scheduled Caste communities to help them attain financial stability and live a respectable life in society. Addressing the media in Bobbili on Sunday, Mr. Sambayya said that the association, along with other organisations would stage a protest at the Vizianagaram Collector’s office on December 29 to urge the government to distribute lands to eligible Dalit families as recommended by the Koneru Rangarao Committee in 2007. He said that the committee had directed the then United AP government to survey lands and assign them to SC families so that the they would earn a regular income through agriculture. “The present government instead of expanding and distributing lands is trying to confiscate the assigned lands. It is a cause of concern to Dalit sections of society. Against this backdrop, we will stage a protest on December 29 to draw the attention of the government,” said Mr. Sambayya. K Srinivasa Rao 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 noon meal cook alleges caste discrimination in TN; petitions Collector, SP
Nirosha was one of the two cooks working under the breakfast scheme at a middle school near Thogamalai KARUR: A 35-year-old Dalit woman has recently petitioned the district collector and the SP in Karur, alleging that she was removed from her post as a cook under the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme (CMBS) at a panchayat union middle school near Thogamalai in Karur district, allegedly due to caste-based discrimination. Sources said R Nirosha, a resident of Chinna Reddipatti in Thogamalai union, was appointed as a cook at the panchayat union middle school under the CMBS when the scheme was launched at the school on September 10, 2025. Nirosha was one of the two cooks working under the scheme at the school. Speaking to TNIE, Nirosha alleged on Sunday that parents of some students benefiting from the scheme had objected to her cooking food for their children. They also made remarks referring to her caste. Subsequently, on December 16, the headmistress asked her to quit, stating that the parents had stopped sending their children for breakfast. When she reported for duty the next day, she found another woman working in her place, whom she claimed belonged to a caste Hindu. She subsequently approached the Block Mission Manager (BMM), Mahalir Thittam, who reiterated the stand taken by the headmistress. On December 18, Nirosha submitted a CSR complaint at Thogamalai police station stating that she was asked to stop reporting to duty by BMM of Thogamalai union, following pressure from the school headmistress, Bhanumathi. However, during an enquiry, BMM stated that Nirosha had not been removed from service and that she had been absent from work for these days. When contacted, District Education Officer Shanmugam told TNIE that Nirosha had not been terminated. He said she had remained absent following remarks allegedly made by the parents on her caste, adding that she was free to resume duty. Attempts made to contact headmistress Bhanumathi over the phone were in vain. Meanwhile, Nirosha said she would not return to work unless action is taken against those who allegedly abused her by referring to her caste. 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
Kerala mob lynching: CM Pinarayi Vijayan vows strict action after mob beats Dalit labourer to death; orders probe
NEW DELHI: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday assured strict action and justice for the family of Ram Narayan Bakel, who was killed in a mob assault in Walayar in Palakkad district, calling the incident unacceptable in a progressive society like Kerala. In a statement issued by the CMO, Vijayan said a special investigation team led by the Palakkad Superintendent of Police has been formed to probe the case. “Justice will be ensured for the family of Ram Narayan Bakel, who was killed following a mob assault in Walayar, Palakkad. Strict action will be taken against those responsible,” the statement read. The CMO added that instructions have been given to thoroughly examine the case, initiate necessary legal action and review compensation for the victim’s family. “Such acts, which tarnish the reputation of a progressive society like Kerala, are completely unacceptable. Everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” it added. The chief minister’s assurance comes after a chilling case of mob violence was reported in Palakkad. Ramnarayan Baghel (31), a Dalit migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh, was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people in Walayar. According to initial reports, he was mistakenly suspected of being a Bangladeshi national or a thief following a local theft incident. Baghel, a resident of Karhi village in Sakti district of Chhattisgarh, had arrived in Palakkad on December 13 in search of work and was employed as a daily-wage labourer at a construction site. Family members said he was extremely poor and is survived by his wife Lalita and two young sons, aged around eight and nine. Police said the incident occurred at Attappallam East in Walayar, where a group of residents allegedly assaulted Baghel with sticks, causing severe injuries. He was taken to Palakkad District Hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Before his death, Baghel reportedly told hospital staff that he had been attacked by a mob accusing him of theft. Preliminary postmortem findings revealed that Baghel died due to excessive bleeding caused by severe blunt-force injuries to the head and other parts of the body. The autopsy was conducted at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur. Kerala police have arrested five people in connection with the alleged lynching. Those arrested were identified as Attappallam residents Anu (38), Prasad (34), Murali (38), Anandan (55) and Bipin (30). They were produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody. Police said further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses. A case has been registered at the Walayar police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are examining CCTV footage, videos circulated on social media and witness statements to identify others involved in the attack. Following the incident, tension prevailed in the area, prompting police to step up security to prevent any escalation. Police confirmed Baghel’s identity through his Aadhaar card and informed authorities in Chhattisgarh. 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
Karnataka: Pregnant woman killed over her marriage to Dalit man, father among three arrested
Manya Dhoddamani’s husband and his relatives have also sustained injuries and are under treatment at a hospital. A 20-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly murdered by her father and relatives in Karnataka’s Dharwad district on Sunday over her inter-caste marriage to a Dalit man, nearly seven months after her wedding, The Indian Express reported. The woman, Manya Dhoddamani, was six months pregnant and had married Vivekananda Dhoddamani in May. She was allegedly attacked in Inam Veerapur village under the Hubballi Rural taluk. The Hubballi Rural Police said that three persons were arrested in connection with the killing – Manya Dhoddamani’s father, Prakashgouda Patil, and her relatives, Veeranagouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil, The Indian Express reported. Manya Dhoddamani belonged to the Lingayat community, The New Indian Express reported. The couple had married against the wishes of Manya Dhoddamani’s family and had been living in Haveri district. An unidentified police officer said that Manya Dhoddamani and Vivekananda Dhoddamani had been in a relationship for several years and married at a sub-registrar’s office in May after their families opposed the union, The Indian Express reported. After the marriage, Manya Dhoddamani’s parents threatened to torch Vivekananda Dhoddamani’s house, but the police warned them, the newspaper reported. “After they got married, they appeared before the police,” The Indian Express quoted the police officer as saying. “The local police officer convened a meeting between the families, and warned Manya’s parents not to trouble them after they said that they would not allow her to enter their house,” On December 8, the couple returned to Inam Veerapur village to collect documents such as Aadhaar cards and other credentials required for hospital admission during her delivery, the newspaper reported. On Sunday evening, while Manya Dhoddamani was working on a farm, her father and other family members allegedly assaulted her with iron pipes, Dharwad Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya told The Indian Express. Vivekananda Dhoddamani’s mother, Renavva, and a relative, Subhash, were also attacked when they attempted to intervene, she added. All of them were taken to a private hospital in Hubballi, where Manya Dhoddamani succumbed to her injuries later that night. Police said that another group of assailants also attempted to attack Vivekananda Dhoddamani, who managed to escape and reach a police station. He, along with his relatives, is under treatment at a hospital. A case of murder has been registered at the Hubballi Rural police station, and further investigation is underway. Courtesy : Scroll Note: This news is originally published on https:/scroll.in/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights