‘PM also does it’: Omar Abdullah backs Rahul Gandhi on foreign visits; rejects BJP claim of ‘anti-India’ meetings
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday defended Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the BJP accused him of meeting “anti-Indian forces” during his visit to Germany. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said that travelling abroad, meeting people outside the country is not a crime and that the prime minister does it too. “When has Rahul Gandhi met any anti-Indian personality? Is it a crime to go abroad? He is free to go anywhere and talk (to anyone). Everyone does it. The prime minister does it. All ministers do it. Why should the BJP people object?” said Abdullah, as quoted by PTI. He was responding to remarks by BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, who accused Gandhi of meeting “enemies of India” during his visit to Germany. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia showed a photograph of Gandhi with Berlin-based Hertie School president and professor Cornellia Woll, calling it “proof” of the Congress leader meeting “anti-India forces in Germany.” He also claimed that Woll is a trustee of the Central European University, which he said is funded by US-based billionaire investor George Soros’s Open Society Foundation. Separately, Abdullah spoke about the dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the lack of rain or snowfall since November has raised concerns over water supply, air quality, and the winter tourism season. “We are waiting impatiently for snow. It has been dry since November. And we are feeling a little shortage of water everywhere. Pollution has also increased in both, Jammu and Kashmir regions. Whether it is rain or snow, the air will be cleaner. But the big thing is that our winter tourism season will start,” 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
Fought for MGNREGA earlier, will fight again: Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Amplifying the threat of agitation coming from Congress in recent days, Sonia Gandhi Saturday said she fought for MGNREGA two decades ago, and is as committed to fight for it again. The statement, as part of a video message criticising the repeal of MGNREGA and promulgation of “black law” ‘VB-G RAM G’, came a day after Rahul Gandhi said Congress will force the Modi govt to withdraw the new law. Sonia accused the Modi govt of “bulldozing” MGNREGA, and asserted that the “black law” that seeks to repeal it will be defied by lakhs of party workers across the country. She said BJP govt has attacked the interests of crores of farmers, labourers, and landless across the country, after the Centre has ignored interests of rural poor for last 11 years. Slamming the repeal of MGNREGA, she said, “We are all ready to counter this attack. Twenty years ago, I too fought to secure the right to employment for our poor brothers and sisters; today, I remain as committed to fighting against this black law.” 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
Dalit woman makes serious allegations against police in viral video, says she fears for her safety
In Moradabad, a Dalit woman has released a video alleging that some people are constantly pressuring her and trying to intimidate her by sending offensive messages through Instagram. The police say that the woman’s allegations will be investigated and action will be taken. Moradabad, A video from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, is rapidly going viral on social media. In this video, a Dalit woman is making serious allegations against some people of harassment, constant torment, and mental torture. The woman has appealed for justice through social media. She says that if anything happens to her, the police will be entirely responsible. Regarding the woman’s allegations, the police say that the allegations will be investigated and strict action will be taken against the culprits. What allegations has the Dalit woman made? The woman alleges that some people are constantly pressuring her and trying to intimidate her by sending offensive messages through Instagram. The woman claims that she complained to the police about this entire matter, and a case was also registered, but no strict action was taken against the accused. The woman also says that despite the serious allegations, the police released the accused after filing charges under minor sections. Because of this, she fears for her safety. The woman has clearly stated that if anything untoward happens to her, the police and administration will be responsible. In this matter, the police have called the allegations baseless and assured an impartial investigation. Moradabad SP City Ranvijay Singh said, “The woman whose video is going viral is the sister of a man against whom a case was previously registered, and he was sent to jail. She is related to the people involved in that case. On June 2nd, the woman submitted a written complaint. The police are reviewing the entire matter. Technical evidence and available proofs are being thoroughly investigated. No concrete basis has been found for the allegations made in the video so far, but despite this, the matter is being seriously investigated.” Further action will be taken based on the facts that emerge during the investigation. Reported by: Ranveer Singh Courtesy: Hindi News
MGNREGA dilution an attack on Dalits rural poor and federalism Bajwa
Chandigarh, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday said, with the VB-G RAM G Bill, Centre will have “another tool” to discriminate against Opposition-ruled states by cutting funds arbitrarily. He criticised the BJP-led Union government over the Bill — aiming to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) — calling the decision “ideologically driven”. Bajwa said the move was aimed at weakening the statutory right to work embedded in MGNREGA and dismantling one of the most important social security schemes in the country. He termed it an attack on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. The LoP opposed the proposal to change the funding structure with the new scheme — from 100 per cent central assistance to 60:40 cost-sharing between the Centre and the states — saying it would put an additional financial burden on the already-stressed states. “This will give the Centre another tool to discriminate against the Opposition-ruled states by cutting funds arbitrarily. It undermines cooperative federalism and threatens a crucial employment support system for rural India,” Bajwa said. Highlighting Punjab’s financial situation, the Congress leader said the Centre has repeatedly squeezed Opposition-ruled states by withholding the rural development fund and delaying GST compensation. Imposing extra financial responsibility would further weaken state finances, the LoP said. According to Bajwa, the policy shift would hit Dalits, landless labourers and marginalised rural workers the hardest. “This is not a reform but an attack on social justice,” he added. He said MGNREGA, enacted by the Congress-led UPA government under former prime minister Manmohan Singh, had gained global recognition for providing a rights-based framework to address rural unemployment. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit man dies in hospital days after ‘casteist’ attack in UP’s Mau SHO shunted
Mau (UP), A 35-year-old Dalit man who was injured in an assault in the Ramapur police station area of Mau district last month has died during treatment at Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University, police said on Friday. Following the death, additional police force has been deployed at the Ramapur police station as a precautionary measure. The deceased was identified as Sameer Kumar, a resident of Azad Nagar in the Ubhaon police station area of Ballia district, according to officials. Sameer’s brother Sumit Kumar alleged that on the evening of November 25, four named persons and two unidentified men travelling in a four-wheeler brutally assaulted Sameer near a canal close to Mayari village. He alleged that the attackers used caste-based slurs and left Sameer critically injured. On receiving information, family members rushed to the spot and admitted Sameer to the district hospital in Mau. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to a trauma centre in Varanasi and later shifted to King George’s Medical University in Lucknow for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. Police said a case was registered on December 7 — around 12 days after the incident — against four named and two unidentified accused under relevant sections, including provisions of the SC/ST Act, based on the complaint of the victim’s family. Additional Superintendent of Police Anoop Kumar said Sameer was allegedly attacked by Robin Singh and members of his gang. He also said complaints were received against the station house officer for not taking prompt action in the case. “Ramapur SHO Kanchan has been removed with immediate effect and a probe has been ordered against her. If she is found guilty during the inquiry, strict action will be taken,” the ASP said. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy : The Week Note: This news is originally published on https:/theweek.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit woman’s video goes viral in Moradabad, police make shocking claim regarding molestation allegations
Moradabad News: In the viral video, the woman alleges that the accused were let off with minor charges instead of serious ones, which has increased her fear. The woman has questioned the police. In Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit woman from the Majhola police station area has made sensational allegations of molestation and harassment by some influential men. She has also released a video, which is now viral on social media. In the initial investigation, the police have claimed that the woman’s brother is an accused in a rape case, and she made this video under pressure to save him. The matter is currently under investigation. In the viral video, the woman alleges that the accused were let off with minor charges instead of serious ones, which has increased her fear. The woman has clearly stated that if anything happens to her, the police and administration will be responsible. She has also questioned the working of the Majhola police. Currently, this matter has gained significant attention at the local level. What is the whole matter? The woman, a resident of the Majhola police station area, released this video on Thursday. In the viral video, the woman says that some people are forcibly pressuring her and trying to intimidate her by sending objectionable messages through Instagram. The woman claims that she complained to the police about the entire matter, and a case was registered, but no strict action was taken against the accused. She has demanded intervention from senior police officers. Claim of making the video to save her brother In this matter, SP City Ranvijay Singh says that a case was previously registered against the woman’s brother, in which he was sent to jail. Following this, the application given by the woman and the viral video are being investigated along with technical evidence. Further action will be taken based on the facts that emerge. By: Obaidur Rahman Courtesy: Hindi News
Kodad Rural CI Suspended in Dalit Youth’s Custodial Death
The police department has also taken a serious view of the incident and placed Pratap Lingam under suspension while transferring Suresh Reddy and attaching him to the district police headquarters Hyderabad: Kodad Rural Circle Inspector Pratap Lingam was placed under suspension while Chilukuru Sub-Inspector Suresh Reddy was transferred in connection with the alleged custodial death of one K Rajesh, a Dalit, recently. The Dalit associations alleged that Rajesh died while undergoing treatment due to harassment by the police. Rajesh bore the brunt of the police for lodging a complaint related to irregularities in CMRF cheque. The police took Rajesh into custody for four days and tortured him. He died while in police custody. Taking a serious note of the incident, several dalit organizations staged a protest alleging that Rajesh died because of the police torture. The police department has also taken a serious view of the incident and placed Pratap Lingam under suspension while transferring Suresh Reddy and attaching him to the district police headquarters. Courtesy : Deccan Chronicle Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanchronicle.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MGNREGA dilution assault on Dalits, poor, says Partap Singh Bajwa
Said the BJP’s policy shift would disproportionately hurt society’s most-vulnerable sections Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union Government over its move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the proposed “VB G RAM G” scheme, terming it a deliberate, ideologically driven attempt to dismantle the statutory right to work. Bajwa said the BJP’s policy shift would disproportionately hurt society’s most-vulnerable sections. “Dalits, landless labourers and marginalised rural workers will bear the brunt of this regressive decision. This is not reform — it is ideological vandalism and an unapologetic attack on social justice,” he stated. Bajwa said the move was not a routine policy adjustment but a direct assault on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and a calculated rollback of one of independent India’s most transformative social security legislations. He warned that shifting MGNREGA from 100 per cent central funding to a 60:40 Centre–state cost-sharing formula would place an unbearable fiscal burden on states already under severe financial stress. “This decision arms the Centre with yet another tool to discriminate against Opposition-ruled states by arbitrarily curtailing funds,” Bajwa asserted. — TNS 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
Citing lynching of Dalit youth, Party says law and order has collapsed in UP
Spokespersons: Shri Rajender Pal Gautam & Shri Imran Masood: Shri Rajinder Pal Gautam, and Shri Imran Masood, MP, alleged that with the complete collapse of law and order in UP, criminals are having a free run and they have no fear of law. Demanding the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the brutal lynching of a Dalit youth in Raebareli, the Congress Party today alleged total collapse of law and order in the state with rising atrocities on Dalits, women and Muslims. The Congress leaders also played a video recording of the lynching of a Dalit youth in Raebareli, who was beaten to death in front of the cameras. They said, when he mentioned Rahul Gandhi while dying, the attackers mocked him. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister, Shri Rajinder Pal Gautam sought Rs 1 crore each in compensation for the families of the victims of such incidents. Besides, he said, these cases should be tried in a fast-track court in a time-bound manner. Shri Rajinder Pal Gautam said that during the last ten years, there has been an alarming increase in the atrocities against Dalits in UP, with institutional discrimination having become the new normal. Quoting National Crime Records Bureau, he disclosed that in five BJP-ruled states, there has been an increase of 75 percent in cases of atrocities against the Dalits, with UP alone accounting for 26.2% of such incidents. Shri Imran Masood, MP, alleged that the Constitution of the country was under threat. He said, Yogi government had completely failed on the issues of law and order and corruption. He added that crimes against Dalits, women and Muslims were on the rise. He asserted that the Yogi government was blatantly violating the Supreme Court guidelines and continuing to carry out bulldozer justice in the state. He said, it is not the rule of the law that is prevailing in the country, but the rule of the BJP’s ideology. He alleged that the BJP is patronising and protecting those who are spreading hatred and violence. The Congress leaders disclosed that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke to the victim’s family over phone. Besides, Amethi MP KL Sharma and PCC President Ajay Rai visited the family. The Congress will soon constitute a fact-finding team to look into such incidents and will also release a report. Monday, October 6, 2025 Courtesy : INC Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiannationalcongress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi calls G RAM G bill anti-rural poor, vows to force government to withdraw it
NEW DELHI: Raising the battle stakes over MGNREGA with the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday said Congress will force the Modi govt to withdraw the disbanding of the job guarantee scheme, with the party warning that farmers’ protest forced the Centre to roll back the “three black farm laws”. ‘Congress also warned that after MGNREGA, the BJP will target the acts on forest rights, food security and land acquisition, while RTI has already been hollowed out. In comments issued while abroad, Rahul said MGNREGA provided the vulnerable sections with “leverage” and “bargaining power” which brought down “exploitation” and distress migration, while improving wages and working conditions.”That leverage is precisely what this govt wants to break … Prime Minister Modi’s targets are clear: weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and adivasis,” he said, adding the VB-G RAM G will enfeeble the job guarantee that was “rural poor’s last line of defence”, and is “anti-state and anti-village”. Rahul’s statement of intent – he did not participate in the LS debate as he is in Germany for an international political meeting – came as the Congress Working Committee is set to meet on Dec 27, likely to discuss an action plan for a nationwide stir. Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Manickam Tagore warned, “Farmers protested and forced the PM to roll back the three farm laws. The CWC will hopefully come out with an action plan on how to raise the issue.” The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha added, “We will stand with workers, panchayats and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn.” With a joint protest inside the Parliament chambers, the opposition believes the issue can serve as an important outreach to the weaker sections while papering over the divisions that mar the anti-BJP bloc. The opposition members have in recent days spoken about the protests against the land acquisition bill and the farm laws, to argue that weakening of the job scheme structure will have resonance with the poor who have come to depend on MGNREGA. Jairam Ramesh said, “Like the three black farm laws were to impact the farmers, this G Ram G law will hurt the vulnerable sections.” That advocacy groups and NGOs will complement their effort in taking the message to target groups has only bolstered their hope of an effective agitation. 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