Dalit leader’s exit reveals RJD’s internal differences
Gaya: The unexpected exclusion of Makhdumpur MLA Satish Das from the RJD’s candidate list for the Magadh division has stirred unease within the party’s regional ranks. Das, a former Marxist who joined the RJD to champion social justice, is believed to have faced consequences for not aligning with the region’s most influential RJD leader, according to his supporters. Political circles are abuzz with reports that following the denial of ticket, prominent Dalit leader and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad reached out to Das, offering him a ticket from his party. Dalit leader Ratan Lal also reportedly contacted Das to express solidarity, recognizing him as an emerging Dalit voice in the region. When asked about these developments, Das declined to confirm or deny the outreach. “What I can confirm is that I remain committed to the party and will continue advocating for the marginalised,” he stated. On speculation that Jehanabad MP Surendra Yadav played a role in his exclusion, Das refrained from naming persons but remarked that “neo-feudal” elements exist across parties and still struggle to accept Dalit assertiveness. Yadav did not respond to calls seeking his comment. Regarding whether he would campaign for Vishwanath Yadav, Surendra Yadav’s son and RJD candidate from Belaganj (a constituency bordering Makhdumpur), Das said he would follow the party leadership’s directives. Privately, several RJD leaders acknowledged that denying Das a ticket may have sent a negative message. Former MLA and senior RJD leader Vinod Kumar Yadavendu described the decision as unjustified. Although Subedar Das, the new RJD candidate for Makhdumpur, belongs to the same Dalit sub-caste, insiders believe the move signals a reluctance by mainstream parties to embrace Dalit empowerment. Adding to the concern is Satish Das’s broader appeal—he is also popular among minority communities and played a key role in the anti-CAA protests in Gaya during 2019–20, alongside Congress leader Omair Khan. While Khan has secured a ticket from Biharsharif, Das finds himself sidelined. 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 youth succumbs to injuries after being thrashed in Gr Noida
Greater Noida: A Dalit youth from Rabupura village in Greater Noida died on Friday after being badly beaten up eight days ago. He was under treatment at a hospital, but his condition worsened, and he could not survive. The incident took place on the night of October 15 when Aniket Kumar had gone with his friend Sumit to attend a birthday party at a nearby village. During the celebration, a man named Asif reached there with around 10–12 people. It is alleged that they attacked Aniket and Sumit with sticks and iron rods during an altercation. They also used caste-based Derogatory Remarks during the attack, the complainant alleged. Both youths were seriously injured and were first taken to a nearby hospital. Later, as Aniket’s condition became critical, he was referred to a hospital in Delhi. Despite several days of treatment, he passed away on Friday. Grief over Aniket’s death quickly turned into outrage as his family and villagers blocked the road near the town’s police station, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. Local MLA Thakur Dhirendra Singh came to meet the victim’s family. He spoke to them and promised strict action against the attackers. He also talked to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the phone about the incident. “The culprits in the Rabupura Aniket case will not be spared. My condolences are with the family,” the MLA said in a social media post. Police said that a case had already been registered on October 17 based on a complaint filed by the family. “Two accused Yuvaraj and Jeetu have been arrested so far, while others are still on the run. The police are conducting raids to find and arrest the remaining suspects,” said SHO Sujeet Upadhyay. Courtesy : Millennium Post Note: This news is originally published on https:/millenniumpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Mayawati damages Akhilesh’s formula:After Dalits, major OBC meeting convened; Muslim brotherhood Committee formed
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is going to hold the fourth major meeting within a month. On November 1, BSP has called a meeting of backward classes in Lucknow. Usually, this meeting was held on the 11th of every month. This meeting was conducted by State President Vishwanath Pal, Mewalal Gautam, and State Treasurer and National General Secretary Ram Avatar Mittal. But for the first time, the date of this meeting has been changed. The meeting notice has also been issued from Mayawati’s office. According to party sources, after Dalits, BSP is now focusing on backward classes. Along with this, Mayawati has also formed Muslim Brotherhood committees. Political experts view this move by BSP as a counter to SP’s PDA (Backward, Dalit, Minority) ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. What is BSP’s complete plan? What does BSP want to achieve by winning over OBCs and Muslims? The BSP meeting will include divisional in-charges of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee and district in-charges of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee. On October 9, along with a large number of Dalits, people from the OBC community also came to Lucknow. Now, Mayawati will call a meeting of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee to thank them for this success. Additionally, they will visit the OBC community in their respective areas to express gratitude and inform them about the party’s policies and practices. The OBC population in the state is more than 50 percent. While 8 percent Yadavs are SP’s core voters, regional parties and satraps under the names of Kurmi-Nishad and Rajbhar keep collecting votes from these sections in different parties. The remaining 30 percent OBC community is scattered. How important is OBC community for BSP? Mayawati’s focus is on uniting these OBC castes. This is why BSP has given the command of state president to Vishwanath Pal, who comes from the extremely backward Pal community, for the second consecutive time. Senior journalist Syed Kasim, who closely monitors BSP’s politics, says – Mayawati is focused on sharpening social engineering. The formation of Dalit, OBC, Muslim brotherhood committees and their meetings are indicating in this direction. In 2007, BSP had several faces from the OBC community like Babu Kushwaha, Swami Prasad Maurya, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Ram Achal Rajbhar, Ram Prasad Chaudhary, Daddu Prasad, Sukhdev Rajbhar, and Phagu Chauhan. Many of them were given positions in Mayawati’s cabinet. BSP also formed Muslim Brotherhood committees Bahujan Samaj Party has started forming Muslim Brotherhood Committees in the state. Mayawati has appointed Mohammad Asad as the coordinator of the Muslim Brotherhood Committee in the Ayodhya division. Similarly, this responsibility has been given to Sarwar Malik in the capital, Lucknow. Currently, Muslim Brotherhood Committees are being formed at the division level. After this, Muslim Brotherhood Committees will be formed at the district level and then at the assembly level. Mayawati has already made it clear in her previous meeting that the formation of Brotherhood Committees of various communities across the state should be completed before January 2026. Senior journalist Ratan Mani Lal says – When BSP became a partner in power with SP’s support, it only had a Dalit support base. But after this, to increase its public base, it started connecting with different castes through brotherhood conferences. At that time, a large number of Muslims joined BSP. There were many prominent Muslim faces in the number two position in BSP. Nasimuddin Siddiqui was one of BSP’s prominent Muslim faces How much damage to SP’s PDA from BSP’s strategy Political analysts say that SP is showing the most panic from BSP’s social engineering formula. After the October 9 event, the way SP leaders attacked BSP chief Mayawati makes it clear that SP fears damage from BSP’s strategy. SP benefited the most from the PDA slogan in 2024. Then SP had received support from large populations of Muslims, OBCs, and Dalits. BSP has been engaged in deflating SP’s PDA through 4 major events in the last month. BSP has appealed to Dalit (D) voters through the October 9 program. Meanwhile, it has tried to send a big message by holding UP-Uttarakhand and National Executive meetings in Lucknow on October 16 and 19. Now, by calling a meeting of the Backward Class Brotherhood Committee on November 1 and forming the Muslim Brotherhood Committee, Mayawati has targeted SP’s Backward (P) and Minority (A) voters. Know why BSP is eyeing OBCs? Courtesy : Bhaskar English Note: This news is originally published on https:/bhaskarenglish.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
MP: We pledge not to have any relations with the Jatav community! Video of caste-based oath taken at Brahmin Mahapanchayat goes viral, sparking outrage across the state
The Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to live a life free from discrimination. Bhopal. Another case of Dalit oppression and caste discrimination has surfaced from Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh, heating up the political and social atmosphere across the state. First, the inhuman and humiliating brutality against a Dalit truck driver, and now, in the same district, an oath allegedly taken by some members of the Brahmin community to socially boycott the Jatav (Dalit) community has sparked deep anger among the Dalit community in the state. A viral video on social media shows some members of the alleged Mahapanchayat being made to swear not to have any relations with members of the Jatav community. This video has further fueled the spark of caste tension in the entire matter. This incident is set against the backdrop of a tragic incident that occurred on Diwali, in which Dalit youth Gyan Singh Jatav, a truck driver, was brutally treated by arrogant casteists. According to the victim, “I was forced into a vehicle at gunpoint, tied with iron chains, and beaten relentlessly. To humiliate me, I was forced to drink urine from a bottle. This wasn’t just violence, it was punishment in the name of caste. This is caste terror.” Even after the incident came to light, the victim’s side alleges that arrests are being delayed, while the accused are roaming freely. Now, a Mahapanchayat and a pledge to boycott In the latest video, it is being said from the stage of a meeting of the alleged Brahmin community that relations, communication, transactions, social interactions, and kinship with members of the Jatav community will not be maintained at any level. Dalit organizations, social activists, and political parties have called this a direct attack on constitutional norms. Legal experts say this falls squarely under the ambit of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Section 153-A (promoting enmity between communities) and Section 505 (attempting to spread hatred through rumours and speeches) of the Indian Penal Code. Under these sections, inciting hatred against any community, calling for social boycott, making provocative statements in public, and organising meetings that promote caste hatred are punishable offenses. In a conversation with The Mooknayak, legal expert Advocate Mayank Singh said, “The manner in which the oath to boycott a community is allegedly being administered in the video is not only socially dangerous but also a direct attack on constitutional values. Article 14 of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality to all citizens, Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste, and Article 17 completely abolishes untouchability and related practices. Therefore, a public declaration of boycotting a community is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Constitution, law, and justice.” He further said, “The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act considers such acts a serious crime because they are a deliberate attempt to socially, mentally, and economically oppress an individual or community. Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code apply to statements and gatherings that promote hatred, tension, or division in society. In such cases, it is the duty of the police and administration to take immediate cognizance and take strict action so that the message of law, not hooliganism and caste frenzy, reaches society.” Azad Samaj Party’s Protest Azad Samaj Party National President Chandrashekhar Azad, in a post on X, described the entire incident as “an extreme form of caste terrorism.” He said, “Instead of punishing the perpetrators, a section of the upper caste society is holding mahapanchayats and vowing to boycott the Jatav community. This is a war against the Constitution, equality, and human dignity. If this is not terrorism, then what is it?” They have demanded from the government: – Immediate arrest of the accused and instigators. – An FIR should be filed against those organizing the Mahapanchayat under the SC/ST Act and sedition. – The victim’s family should be given security and respect. Bhind Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav, speaking to The Mooknayak on this matter, said that the police have taken cognizance of the viral video and an investigation is underway. He said, “The video has surfaced. The police are investigating the entire incident. Only after the investigation will necessary action be taken based on the facts. The case is currently under trial.” What does the Constitution say? The Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the fundamental right to live a life free from discrimination. It outlaws untouchability, caste exclusion, and social segregation, and also places an obligation on the state to ensure the safety and equal opportunities of the weaker sections of society. Therefore, insulting, harassing, or ostracizing any community is not only against human values but also a direct violation of constitutional provisions. This video is considered even more serious because it shows an attempt to legitimize mass boycotts—the same social system that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar described as the basis of social slavery. Ankit Pachauri Courtesy: Hindi News
Legal rights exist, but safe healthcare remains out of reach for Pakistan’s transgender people
Rachita ShingariDespite legal protections under the 2018 Transgender Persons Act, Pakistan’s trans community faces stigma, high costs, and a lack of trained surgeons, forcing many into secret, unsafe procedures. Bunty, a trans woman from Lahore, underwent a rare confidential breast augmentation, highlighting these risks. Over 70% of trans people still receive poor-quality care, with most hospitals failing to provide respectful, gender-sensitive services. A 2025 policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now mandates separate wards, washrooms, and counters for trans patients, signaling a crucial step toward safe, dignified healthcare — though social and institutional barriers remain. #TransRights #GenderAffirmation #InclusiveHealthcare #Pakistan #TransVisibility #HumanRights #KhyberPakhtunkhwa #HealthJustice #LGBTQ Rachita Shingari Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Kerala HC orders Bar Council to approve two seats for transgender students
Kochi, : The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to approve two seats for transgender students in all law colleges across the state. Justice V.G. Arun issued the interim order while hearing a petition seeking to expedite the decision on the proposal, which had been pending before the BCI. The court observed that the matter could not be kept waiting indefinitely for the Council to act. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that at an earlier session, the BCI had been directed to finalise a date for holding its General Council meeting to decide on the matter. However, the BCI’s standing counsel told the court that the proposal was placed before the Standing Committee for Legal Education, which, after deliberation, decided that the final call must be taken by the General Council. The standing counsel added that it was not possible to say when the next meeting of the General Council would be held. Taking note of this delay, Justice Arun remarked, “In my opinion, the issue cannot wait endlessly for the General Council of the Bar Council to meet.” Accordingly, the court issued an interim direction to the BCI to approve the Kerala Government’s request, communicated through a letter dated August 6, for the creation of two seats for transgender students across all law colleges in the state. The court also instructed that the approval should be given within ten days of receiving a copy of the order. The directive came while hearing a petition filed by a transgender woman who was denied admission to Government Law College, Kozhikode, despite qualifying in the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations’ Kerala Law Entrance Examination (KLEE) 2025. The petitioner also cited the landmark NALSA v. Union of India judgment and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, in support of her claim. Courtesy : AP7AM Note: This news is originally published on https:/ap7am.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Gandhi family ‘stole’ Sitaram Kesri’s Cong presidency: PM
NEW DELHI: PM Modi on Friday invoked the “insults” heaped on former Congress president Sitaram Kesri by the Gandhi family to accuse the party of denying rights to SCs and OBCs, as he launched his Bihar poll campaign attacking the opposition over backward-class welfare. Recalling Kesri’s controversial removal in 1998 to make way for Sonia Gandhi, Modi said country would never forget how the family insulted the “pride of Bihar”. “This family stole Kesri’s presidency of Congress,” he said at a rally in Begusarai – a pointed twist on Rahul’s charge of “vote theft”. The PM’s attack came on Kesri’s 25th death anniversary. Earlier in the day, Rahul, along with Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, paid tributes to Kesri at the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road – ironically, the venue of his ouster as party chief. Kesri, a freedom fighter from the OBC Bania community, headed Congress from 1996 to 1998 and earlier served as Bihar PCC chief and party treasurer. When many in the party sought Sonia’s elevation, veterans insisted Kesri be allowed to complete his term. But the Congress Working Committee appointed Sonia, claiming Kesri had resigned – a charge he denied. His removal under controversial circumstances reportedly saw his nameplate tossed away and the octogenarian forced out of AICC office. “This family locked Kesri inside a bathroom and threw him to footpath,” Modi alleged. Kesri had taken over from P V Narasimha Rao after Congress lost power in 1996, but as Sonia decided to enter active politics ahead of the 1998 polls, loyalists pushed him out in what many called a “coup”. Congress has denied any mistreatment of Kesri. TNN 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 forum protests seeking completion of Ambedkar Bhavan project
Madikeri: Dalit Sangarsh Samithi members protested in Kushalnagar on Thursday, demanding the completion of the Ambedkar Bhavan project work. The activists warned the authorities that they would intensify the protest if no action was taken. “Ambedkar Bhavan project was sanctioned in Kushalnagar over a decade ago. However, no work has been completed to extend its facilities,” alleged Raju KB, samithi’s district convener. He explained that the under-construction building has become a shelter for illegal activities, as locals have turned it into a poker and alcohol hub. “The infrastructure is depleting even before its completion. Every night, the building is used for alleged illegal activities. The windowpanes and doors have been broken, and weeds have engulfed the building,” he said. The protesters demanded the immediate completion of the project, or else they would protest in front of the DC office. 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
Remembering ‘Dalit’ Subbaiah: The Voice of Caste Struggles and North Chennai’s Hip-Hop Scene
If there is a source of inspiration common to hip-hop musicians from north Chennai, it is ‘Dalit’ Subbaiah, the poet-singer, who died in 2022, but who continues to be a symbol of caste struggles through his songs — more than 400 of them written in his lifetime. Arivu, one of the well-known anti-caste rappers from north Chennai, says he grew up listening to Subbaiah’s songs. “He was not a trained singer, but he became our voice. He sang about people’s pain, which is why he continues to inspire the city’s hip-hop scene,” says the rapper. Subbaiah’s songs also inspired a series of other vocalists such as playback singer Chinnaponnu. So, who was ‘Dalit’ Subbaiah? Born Karuppan Pichai in Sivagangai district in 1952, his primary school teacher named him Subbaiah, believing that the name, one of Murugan’s 12, would bring goodness in his life. But Subbaiah grew up witnessing caste discrimination, not even being allowed to use the same road as the dominant caste. Drawn to Marxist-Leninist movements in college, he left law school midway after his uncle’s death and began selling rationalist and Ambedkarite books at political rallies. Although he had started writing and singing songs when he was in school, it was when he worked with Samathuva Samudhaya Iyakkam (an activist group that protested against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant in the late 1980s) that he turned his music into his form of protest.Subbaiah founded Viduthalai Kalai Kural Kuzhu (VKKK) in 1995, by which time he had written hundreds of songs on caste, politics, organised and unorganised workers, Periyar, Ambedkar, communism, and the life of a villager, publishing them under his own Spartacus Publications. Subbaiah swore never to write about god or religion, only about social issues. He would say, ‘We sing about Periyar, never about Pillaiyar; we sing about Ambedkar, never about Ayyappan’,” says VKKK troupe member Karthikeyan R. “Subbaiah was a singer who never stopped fighting,” says filmmaker Giridharan M K P, whose award-winning documentary ‘Dalit Subbaiah: Voice of the Rebels’ released this year has been showcased at several international film festivals.“Subbaiah performed on the streets all his life but was not really recognised outside the community,” says Giridharan. His team had originally set out to interview Subbaiah in 2021, but before filming could begin, he fell ill, and what was meant to be a documentary about Subbaiah’s life turned into a record of his passing. “He refused film offers for his lyrics, insisting that his songs remain free for public use,” says Karthikeyan. “He never sang for fame or money. When he got paid, Subbaiah would distribute the money to the musicians and singers, and keep a little for himself.” At home, those choices translated into a life of struggle. His wife Subbalakshmi, who lives in a small TNHB flat in Puducherry, recalls that even in his final days, Subbaiah cared less for himself than for his 1,000 books that had got drenched in the rainwater that had entered their house. “He spent his last three days trying to dry them. He wanted people to make use of these books,” she says. Manimegalai K, lead singer in VKKK, says the band still begins every concert with ‘Vella mudiyathavar Ambedkar. Vengaiyay pol poradiya. Veeran yaar? Vera yaar’ (Ambedkar, the undefeated. The one who fought like a tiger. Who is that warrior? Who else), because that was the song he always led with. While the troupe continues to keep Subbaiah’s legacy alive, Manimegalai says young talent is hard to find. “We had a young girl join us for a performance. But hearing the lyrics, her parents got scared that she may get arrested and stopped her from coming. We want Subbaiah’s songs to reach the younger generation because he believed the day his songs are not relevant is the day we win as a society,” says Manimegalai. Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesofindia.com THE PEOPLE’S POET An admirer of Soviet literature, Subbaiah named his son Gorky (with no Tamil surname), after the Russian writer Maxim Gorky, which led to him being bullied at school. Gorky told his father he wanted his name changed, but Subbaiah accompanied him to school the next day and spoke about the life of Maxim Gorky. He was never bullied after that. Subbaiah never composed songs on the living but was so inspired by Ilaiyaraaja, who brought folk instruments into mainstream music that he broke his own rule and wrote a song in honour of the composer. During a 2015 meeting of the communist party Makkal Viduthalai in Chennai, in his speech Subbaiah said: ‘They call me ‘Dalit’ Subbaiah because I oppose caste atrocities. But I also fight for the working class and the oppressed. I think for all and fight for all, but I worry that I will be known as ‘Dalit’ Subbaiah as long as I live.” Aranga Gunasekaran, leader of Tamizhaga Makkal Puratchi Kazhagam got on stage and named him ‘Lenin’ Subbaiah. In his song ‘Tamizhaga Arasiyal’, Subbaiah mocked Tamil Nadu politics, writing about “wastrels from cinema dreaming of becoming chief ministers and evading taxes” at a time when politics was dominated by film icons such as M Karunanidhi, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. In 2020, Subbaiah sang: ‘Modi enbadhu ellam, verum mugamoodi dhaane. Valarchi enbadhu ellam verum vaarthai jaalam dhaane’ (Everything about Modi is as concealing as a mask. Development is nothing but lip service). 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
Govt-backed feudal forces behind Dalit atrocities: Akhilesh
Lucknow: Citing the mob lynching of a Dalit man in Rae Bareli and a case of Dalit elderly who was forced to lick his urine in Lucknow as examples, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said that “feudal forces enjoying protection of the BJP govt have added to atrocities, injustice and crime against Dalits in UP. The former UP CM described such incidents as attempts to humiliate the PDA community, comprising Pichde (backward classes), Dalits and slpsankhyaks (minorities) who have come together to further their struggle for social justice. “Criminals and those with feudal mindset are feeling emboldened as they are enjoying protection from the BJP govt. Discrimination is rampant at every level. Members of the PDA community are being blatantly deprived of their jobs, reservation and rights. Lynching of a Dalit man in Rae Bareli and humiliation meted out to a Dalit elderly in Lucknow are only two examples of how the deprived and the neglected Dalit community is being treated across the state,” Akhilesh said. “The police do not act against antisocial elements due to pressure from the powers that be. The arrogance of this govt is at its peak. The BJP is misusing state power and politicising the police,” he said, adding that such incidents were an indication that the BJP was shaken by the rapidly growing unity of the PDA community. The SP chief said Dalits, backward classes, women and minorities will get justice only when the BJP is voted out of govt. “People are waiting to vote for the 2027 Assembly polls. Once the BJP is voted out, discrimination will end and people will regain their rights, reservation and opportunities for development,” Akhilesh said. Senior party functionary Prof Sudhir Panwar said the Rae Bareli and Lucknow incidents have come as a shocker for the civilised society in the country. “Such incidents reflect how certain unscrupulous elements are feeling emboldened under the BJP govt. They are not afraid of the law of the land and this audacity comes only with some kind of assurances from the powers that be,” Panwar 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