Is Rahul Gandhi meeting ‘enemies of the nation’ in Germany? Why did the BJP make a serious allegation against the Congress leader?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Germany, is once again in the BJP’s crosshairs. This time, the BJP has accused him of meeting with enemies of the nation and conspiring against them. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has questioned Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with the President of the Berlin-based Hertie School. Is Rahul Gandhi meeting ‘enemies of the nation’ in Germany? Why did the BJP make a serious allegation against the Congress leader? New Delhi: The BJP has once again targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Germany. On Saturday, the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi met with ‘enemies of India’ during his visit to Germany. The BJP questioned the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha about what kind of ‘conspiracy’ he is hatching against the country by colluding with such forces. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with a professor. Claim of receiving funding from Jorge Soares At a press conference at BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia displayed an alleged photograph of Gandhi with Professor Cornelia Voll, President of the Berlin-based Hertie School. Bhatia called this “evidence” of the Congress leader’s meeting with “anti-India forces in Germany.” Bhatia claimed that Voll is one of the trustees of the Central European University, which receives funding from the Open Society Foundations of American billionaire investor George Soros. There was no immediate reaction from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party. Rahul had spoken on the decline in manufacturing. Earlier, on Wednesday (December 17), after visiting the BMW Welt and BMW Plant in Munich, Rahul Gandhi had said that manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies, but the sector is declining in India. In an Instagram post, the Congress leader said that India needs to build a meaningful manufacturing ecosystem to accelerate growth. The BJP had called Rahul’s claim anti-India. The BJP had termed this claim by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as “anti-India.” The BJP had claimed that production in the country was “constantly increasing.” BJP leader Sambit Patra alleged that Rahul Gandhi and responsibility cannot coexist. The BJP MP stated that Rahul Gandhi’s frequent foreign trips, his insults and anti-India statements from foreign soil, clearly demonstrate the sentiments of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party toward India. Edited by: Anil Kumar About the Author Anil Kumar is part of the home page team at Navbharat Times Digital. He has nearly 16 years of experience in both newspaper and digital media. He has been with Navbharat Times Online since January 2021. He writes news and analysis on politics and current affairs for the India and Delhi sections of the home page. He has previously reported on sports and education for Dainik Bhaskar in Haryana and Dainik Jagran in Chandigarh. He has worked on the central desks of Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur, and Amar Ujala, Noida. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University and a PG Diploma in Journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘2 years on, Congress is yet to fulfil Telangana pledges,’ says G Kishan Reddy
NEW DELHI: Union minister G Kishan Reddy Sunday urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to clarify the party’s position on the promises made to farmers and others in Telangana. In a letter, the BJP leader recalled that during the Telangana assembly poll campaign in 2023, Gandhi unveiled Congress’s poll manifesto titled “Abhayahastam” and personally assured people that the Congress’s guarantees would be implemented immediately upon it coming to office. “Congress subsequently won the poll and has now completed two full years in office. During this period, have you ever reviewed or enquired about the status of the manifesto that you, along with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Congress, promised to people of Telangana? Did you even raise this issue when the CM met you recently,” he asked. “Under guise of development, state govt has tried to introduce new narrative through a vision document, while earlier guarantees remain unaddressed. The party leadership seems content congratulating itself…” he 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
‘Mistaken for Bangladeshi national’: Dalit man beaten to death in Kerala
RAIPUR: A chilling case of mob violence has emerged from Kerala’s Palakkad district, where a Dalit migrant labourer from Chhattisgarh was allegedly beaten to death by a group of people after being mistaken for a Bangladeshi national, according to initial reports. The incident has sparked outrage and fear among migrant workers in the region. The deceased has been identified as Ramnarayan Baghel (31), a resident of Karhi village in Sakti district, Chhattisgarh. He had travelled to Palakkad on December 13 in search of work and was employed as a daily-wage labourer at a construction site. According to his relative Kishan Baghel, who lives in Karhi village, Ramnarayan had gone to Kerala at the request of Shashikant Baghel, a distant relative from the same village. “Ramnarayan was extremely poor and is survived by his wife Lalita and two young sons, aged around eight and nine,” Kishan told TOI. Other sources claimed that Ramnarayan was allegedly mistaken for a thief following a local theft incident and was brutally assaulted with sticks by a group of people, resulting in his death. Kishan said Ramnarayan’s wife left for Palakkad on Friday after receiving the news, though she had not reached the destination at the time of reporting. Following the incident, tension prevailed in the area, prompting police to step up security to prevent any escalation. Kerala police have arrested five people in connection with the lynching and said a detailed investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events and the motive behind the crime. The news of Ramnarayan’s death has devastated his family in Sakti, plunging the village into mourning. Police said that after completion of legal formalities, including the post-mortem examination, the body will be sent back to his native place for the last rites. A case has been registered at Walayar police station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police confirmed Ramnarayan’s identity through his Aadhaar card, following which Sakti police were informed about his death. 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
Moradabad: Dalit woman pressured to convert religion, threatened with abduction, victim’s brother in jail… the case is complicated
A young woman from Moradabad has accused some people of pressuring her to convert her religion. She has also alleged that the police are acting unfairly. The victim’s brother is also in jail on charges of molestation. In the Majhola police station area of Moradabad, a Dalit woman was molested by two young men. It is alleged that after the FIR was registered, the two accused are pressuring the woman to convert her religion. They are also threatening to abduct her, using offensive language. In this case, the woman has released a video demanding strict action against the accused from the district police. She alleged that the police released the accused after filing charges under minor sections. The woman, who lives in the Majhola area, had complained to the police, accusing two young men from her village of entering her house and molesting her. In this case, the police registered an FIR and filed charges against both the accused under sections 126 and 135. On Friday, the woman uploaded a video on a social media platform. The woman alleged that the perpetrators are constantly stopping her on the road and making obscene comments. She has been subjected to incidents of molestation. Due to the actions of these bullies, it has become difficult for her to leave her house. She is constantly living in an atmosphere of fear. The accused are trying to silence her by sending offensive and threatening messages on Instagram. In the viral video, the woman alleged that the accused are pressuring her to convert her religion. Earlier, she had filed an FIR against the accused, but the police registered the FIR under minor sections instead of serious ones and released both of them after filing charges. In this case, the police say that action was taken against the victim woman’s brother in June in a case of rape against the sister of the accused. He is currently in jail. Published by: Vimal Sharma Courtesy: Hindi News
VCK leader hails NGO’s contribution to Dalits’ struggle
VCK founder and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan along with CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam releasing a book written by A. Kathir, executive director, Evidence, in Madurai on Saturday. VCK founder and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan along with CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam releasing a book written by A. Kathir, executive director, Evidence, in Madurai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: R. ASHOK Appreciating Madurai-based NGO Evidence and its executive director A. Kathir for his sustained contributions for over two decades in fighting for the Dalit victims in the region, VCK leader and MP Thol Thirumavalavan said that he was delighted to release a book titled – Karuppu Rakshagan – authored by Mr Kathir on Saturday. Speaking after releasing the book, the MP said that the VCK as a political party fought for the downtrodden in the legislatur, while organisations like the Evidence too struggled for similar cause in the society. The role of whistle-blowers was not only complex, but challenging. Sometimes, they are also under threat from dominant forces, which had on a few occasions, turned fatal too. CPI (M) State secretary Shanmugam, who received the first copy, said that he was overwhelmed by Mr Kathir’s immense contribution. He urged the doctors in Tamil Nadu to read the novel and wished the book brought in the much needed change to the society. Publisher Marudan, in his introductory remarks, said that the novel, which has 496 pages and priced at ₹600, is a socially realistic book. Hailing the author of the NGO, now as a novelist for his maiden launch of the book, he hoped that the writings would go a long way and set a tone for transformation of the Dalits in the society. He appealed to the next generation to read the book without fail. Presiding over the event, writer Semmalar said that she was excited to read the novel and described it as interesting. Offering felicitations, professor Panneerselvam, writer Bava Chelladurai, journalist Vinod, cine directors Vetrimaran and Saravanan and actor Sasikumar hailed Mr. Kathir for his new role as a novelist. They also acknowledged the role of Evidence in bringing out the criminals before the law and giving relief to the victims. Kousalya, whose husband was a victim to caste killing, also spoke. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Kathir said that his journey as an NGO over the last two decades had inspired him to write the book and thanked his well-wishers for the support during challenging times. Earlier, Muthu from Evidence welcomed the gathering. Rani Meenakshi proposed a vote of thanks. Following an appeal from actor Mr. Sasikumar, the publisher announced a discount of ₹100 for each purchase at the venue. 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
Communist parties should come closer with Dalits at national level, says Thol Thirumavalavan
The Communist parties should come closer with Dalits and engage actively in the national politics, said Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan here on Saturday. Speaking at a book release function, he said that by not working closely with Dalits, this had in a way encouraged the right wing parties (BJP, RSS) to get closer that leaders like Mayawati and Ramdhas Athawale and the late leader Ram Vilas Paswan among others were at a distance from the secular outfits. It was dangerous to be on the wrong side (BJP, RSS) as ‘they had a hidden agenda to divide and rule the nation.’ The ideals for which stalwarts like Ambedkar lived should be carried forward and not buried abruptly somewhere due to the bad influence of the right wing groups. In the larger interest of the nation’s unity, there was an urgent need to come closer and fight the upper class denomination. The BJP, RSS and their allies were determined to create confusion among the different sects of people in the society. Explaining the need for joining hands with the Communists, which would facilitate in defeating their political opponents, Mr Thirumavalavan said that when the real struggle was to have a casteless society, the divisive forces (right wing) misled the masses by using caste and community as a tool, he cautioned. Be it at national level or in regional level, by remaining closer, the BJP and their allies can be isolated. “Take for instance, the recent incident in Madurai, where the Sanatana forces attempted to create confusion over the Karthigai deepam row. Because, the secular parties and the Dalits were united, the attempts were foisted. Else, it may have turned for worse.” Likewise, he also clarified that the VCK never kept silent on issues and raised its voice, even if they were against the administration. Admitting that there were compulsions due to alliance, but maintained that he never compromised on the issues. Be it on Vengaivayal or any honour killing crimes, the VCK stood like a rock with the victims and demanded action by the government. The VCK, he said, had risen from a small group of 20 people since its inception and had grown tall today that it was a major force in Tamil Nadu. Still, Mr Thirumavalavan said that he fought for the depressed class carrying the ideologies of Ambedkar and asserted that he would never fall prey to money or power. 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
“10,000 autopsies, never saw this violence; no part of body untouched”: Doctor on Dalit migrant lynching in Kerala; accused linked with BJP–RSS
The post-mortem examination of Ram Narayan, a Dalit migrant worker from Chhattisgarh who was lynched by a mob at Walayar in Kerala’s Palakkad district, has revealed the extreme brutality of the attack, with the doctor stating that there was not a single part of the body without injury. Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital doctor Hithesh Shankar, who conducted the autopsy, said Ram Narayan’s body bore injuries from head to toe. His ribs were shattered, his spine was broken, and most of the wounds were inflicted using sticks. The doctor said the assault continued even after death. “I have conducted more than 10,000 post-mortem examinations, but I have never seen a body subjected to such severe violence,” he said. According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was severe head injury. Ram Narayan is survived by his wife, two young children, and his mother. He had arrived in Walayar about a week earlier in search of work and to meet his cousin Sasikanth, a mason working in the area. Sasikanth said Ram Narayan was planning to return home as he was struggling to stay away from his family. “He left for the railway station on December 17. We came to know about his death only on December 18, when the Walayar police called me,” he told reporters, adding that the deceased had his name and address with him. Ram Narayan’s wife, mother, and children have since travelled from Chhattisgarh to Kerala. Human rights activists in Kerala have alleged that there is a deliberate attempt to trivialise the killing and demanded that the crime be officially registered as mob lynching. Addressing a protest meeting in Thrissur on Saturday, activists said Kerala’s collective conscience had been deeply scarred by the spread of hatred. Activists and family members have made it clear that they will not allow the body to be taken home unless the case is formally recorded as mob lynching and adequate compensation is announced. They said the State must take responsibility for ensuring justice and dignity in death. The activists pointed out that the victim was a Dalit youth who had come to Kerala in search of work from Chhattisgarh, where marginalised communities, including Adivasis, are often targeted. “The virus of communalism has entered Kerala’s public mind. This is a frightening reality,” they said. Referring to a video that showed the mob assaulting Ram Narayan and asking if he was from Bangladesh, writer and Gandhian thinker K. Aravindakshan said: “This is a clear case of Islamophobia spreading rapidly in Kerala and of religious intolerance propagated by the Sangh Parivar.” “That such a brutal killing could happen here, and that only a handful have spoken out against it, is deeply disturbing. Kerala today seems to be a place where dialogue itself has become impossible,” he added. Human rights activist I. Gopinath described the killing as “a Sangh Parivar-led act of mob violence that reflects the growing Islamophobia in Kerala.” He said, “When a man who does not even know the language is beaten to death, the most painful truth is that he may not have even understood why he was being killed. This shows how the politics of hatred operates.” Activists alleged that authorities were attempting to portray the Walayar incident as an ordinary crime. “This is unquestionably a mob lynching, and it must be recorded as such. Only then will Ram Narayan get justice,” they said, demanding the formation of a special investigation team. They also condemned the police for allegedly collecting ambulance charges from the victim’s relatives when the body was brought from Walayar to Thrissur for the post-mortem and for asking the family to bear the cost of transporting the body home. The activists demanded ₹25 lakh as compensation and that the government cover the expenses of taking the body to Chhattisgarh. On Thursday night, police arrested Anu (38), Prasad (34), Murali (38), Anandan (55), and Bipin (30), all locals engaged in various jobs. A court remanded them to judicial custody on Friday. Four of the accused are associated with the BJP and the RSS. Investigators also found that two of them, Murali and Anu, were earlier named in a violent attack case around 15 years ago involving assaults on workers linked to the DYFI and CITU. Murali is also an accused in another case related to an attack on Stephen, a CITU headload worker, which is currently pending before the Kerala High Court. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/mktoobmedia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CI suspended over custodial death of Dalit youth in Telangana
The police claimed Rajesh had respiratory issues and died during treatment in Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad. SURYAPET: Kodad rural Circle Inspector Pratap Lingam was suspended on Friday while Chilkur Sub-Inspector Suresh Reddy was attached to the SP office for their alleged negligence in ensuring timely medical treatment to a Dalit youth, Karla Rajesh, an accused in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) scam. The action comes in the wake of demand from the parents of Rajesh and Dalit organisations for stringent action against the police officials. The police claimed Rajesh had respiratory issues and died during treatment in Gandhi Hospital, Hyderabad. However, the parents and relatives of the victim alleged that he was arrested on November 4 and subjected to third degree torture in the custody resulting in his death on November 16. MRPS leader Manda Krishna Madiga even led a protest alleging that the youth died due to police torture and demanded an ex gratia of Rs 50 lakh. 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
Tamil Nadu SIR: Election Commission deprived 1857 Dalit people of voting rights in Mancholai
After the revision, out of a total of 1,906 voters, only 49 persons have been retained on the rolls. The remaining voters have been classified by election officials as having migrated out of the area. In Manjolai, a hill settlement falling under the Ambasamudram Assembly constituency in Tirunelveli district, the Election Commission of India has removed 1,857 voters from the electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. After the revision, out of a total of 1,906 voters, only 49 persons have been retained on the rolls. The remaining voters have been classified by election officials as having migrated out of the area. However, a field investigation by South First found that the permanent residence of the affected residents continues to be Manjolai. Residents told South First that while many of them have temporarily moved to the plains in search of work following the closure of the tea estate, they have not changed their permanent address and still consider Manjolai their home. Local residents have questioned how their voting rights can be taken away when their permanent address remains unchanged, arguing that temporary migration for livelihood cannot be treated as grounds for deletion from the electoral rolls. They have warned that the mass deletions effectively disenfranchise an entire community that has lived in Manjolai for generations Subash Chandra Bose Courtesy : TSF Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesouthfirst.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi Sidelined in Congress, Sonia Gives Command to Priyanka? 5 Big Signs
Since Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip, a major shift is visible in the Congress party’s approach. Priyanka Gandhi is leading the Congress and the INDIA bloc from the front. The Congress is doing everything that wouldn’t have happened while Rahul was in charge. Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament, which concluded on Friday, has signaled two major changes in Indian politics. First, if it was thought that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had weakened due to the expected reduction in BJP seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, this session has dispelled that illusion. The BJP is running the government almost exactly as it has in the previous two terms. The second change is being seen in the main opposition party, the Congress. Since the initial part of the session, Priyanka Gandhi has led the Congress and its allies from the front, and Rahul Gandhi appears to have been sidelined. Tea with PM Modi Since Narendra Modi entered active politics in 2002, the top leadership of the Congress has maintained a political distance from him that is rarely seen in any democracy in the world. But on December 19, 2025 (Friday), the day the winter session of Parliament concluded, the country and the world witnessed a major change. The enthusiasm Priyanka showed in fulfilling the parliamentary ritual at the Speaker’s invitation is historic. She comfortably participated in the meeting with PM Modi, his ministers and MPs, and MPs from opposition parties. During this time, she not only discussed her parliamentary constituency of Wayanad with PM Modi, but the leaders were also seen laughing together. This would never have been possible with Rahul Gandhi around. Meeting with Gadkari in his chamber Just a day earlier, on Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in his chamber in the Parliament House. She had expressed her desire to meet him in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, and Gadkari immediately agreed. It’s difficult to expect or imagine such behavior from Priyanka’s elder brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The way Priyanka has displayed a strong sense of being a prominent Indian politician and a leading Member of Parliament of the opposition party in just two days during his absence from India is not typical for the Congress party under Rahul’s leadership. This means that Priyanka is now making decisions on her own, or she has been instructed to do so! Central Minister’s Controversial Claim The fact is that while the Modi government was preparing to pass some very important bills in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, despite being the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, went on a trip to Germany. Regarding this, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu made a significant claim in a conversation with a reporter. Bittu, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party from Congress just a year and a half ago, said that “there is a big fight going on between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka gave some speeches in Parliament that led to comparisons with Rahul. Angered by this, Rahul went abroad. There are problems in his party and family because of this.” Rahul’s Allies Distance Themselves For some time now, Rahul Gandhi has been making “vote theft,” the possibility of EVM tampering, and the SIR (Special Investigation Report) a major issue. In the monsoon session, the opposition INDIA bloc also strongly supported him on these issues. In Bihar, Rahul made a tremendous effort to create a stir on these issues. He tried out all the leaders of the INDIA bloc by bringing them onto the streets of Bihar. However, not only was the Grand Alliance wiped out in the Bihar elections, but even the Congress party’s MLAs, who were few in number, failed to win. As a result, all the allies of the INDIA bloc started distancing themselves from him. Omar Abdullah called vote theft a Congress agenda, while Supriya Sule started praising the EVMs. Lalu Yadav was left with no reaction, and Mamata Banerjee started showing even more distance from Congress. The only one left was the DMK, which had no choice but to become a follower of Congress in Tamil Nadu. Previously, this situation was kept under wraps, but the Bihar elections exposed the weaknesses of the INDIA bloc. The letter addressed to Sonia During the winter session of Parliament, on December 8, a Congress leader from Odisha and former MLA, Mohammed Moquim, wrote a five-page letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding that the reins of the party be handed over to a young leader, and he even suggested the name of party MP and her daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He questioned the Congress party’s continuous defeats in state and national elections and suggested open-heart surgery within the party. In the letter, he mentioned how difficult it is for leaders like him to even meet Rahul Gandhi. Although the party expelled him, the glimpse of change seen in the Congress party’s attitude afterward suggests that Priyanka’s increased activity is not without reason. She seems to be preparing herself to play on the front lines, sidelining her brother. Authored by: Anjan Kumar About the Author Anjan Kumar is an Assistant Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 23 years of experience in electronic and digital media. He is interested in writing on topics related to politics, current affairs, judiciary, defense, foreign affairs, and business. Courtesy: Hindi News