TN Dalit scholar in Malaysia fears Rohith Vemula-like fate over funds
A Dalit PhD scholar from Tamil Nadu in Malaysia, Bharathidasan Raman, alleges a scholarship dispute is risking his academic future. He has invoked Rohith Vemula’s memory, fearing similar institutional pressure, a claim the TN government disputes. Dalit Scholar Alleges PhD at Risk Over Scholarship Row A Tamil Nadu Dalit research scholar pursuing his PhD in Malaysia invoked the memory of Rohith Vemula in an emotional appeal, alleging that a prolonged dispute over an overseas education scholarship has now put his research and academic future at risk. Bharathidasan Raman, a native of Usilampatti in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, and a PhD scholar at the National University of Malaysia, said in a tearful video that the delay in receiving financial assistance under the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship has left him struggling to continue his research and facing the possibility of losing his academic enrolment. The scholar alleged that, after he raised concerns over the non-release of scholarship funds, officials began questioning his research requirements and the materials he had sought funding to purchase. He said the situation had created pressure at a stage when his PhD itself was at risk. Invoking Rohith Vemula, whose death in 2016 became a national flashpoint over caste and the treatment of Dalit students in higher education, Bharathidasan said he feared facing similar institutional pressure. The comparison is being made by Bharathidasan himself; the circumstances of his case and Vemula’s case are not identical. Political Row Erupts, Govt Disputes Claims The allegations triggered a political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin backing the scholar and demanding that his education not be disrupted. DMK president MK Stalin also intervened and offered support for the continuation of Bharathidasan’s education. The Tamil Nadu government, however, disputes the scholar’s account of the scholarship issue. Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu said the government had approved Bharathidasan’s scholarship for three years and had already released financial assistance. According to the government’s version, further payments were linked to the submission and verification of expenditure records and supporting documents. Bharathidasan disputed that explanation and maintained that he submitted the required documents. ‘More Than Money’: Academic Future in Jeopardy The latest allegations of harassment have not been independently established, and the government has not accepted the student’s account. The controversy is significant because the Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship is intended to enable students from disadvantaged communities to pursue postgraduate and research education abroad. Bharathidasan said the consequences are already extending beyond finances and threatening his research career. For a Dalit student who says he fought his way into overseas research, the message in his latest appeal is stark: the scholarship dispute, he says, is no longer merely about money; it is about whether he can remain in the PhD programme he worked to reach. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asianet News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jaggareddy Welcomes Padayatra Supporting Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister
Hyderabad: A padayatra undertaken by AP high court advocate Venkateswarlu from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, with the objective of seeing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi become the Prime Minister of India, reached Sangareddy district headquarters on Thursday. On the occasion, TPCC Working President T. Jaggareddy welcomed the yatra, felicitated Venkateswarlu, and expressed solidarity by joining the march. Venkateswarlu has already covered around 1,590 kilometers across four states as part of his journey. Speaking on the occasion, Jaggareddy said that the aspiration for Rahul Gandhi to become PM is widely shared among ordinary people across the country and that the same sentiment is being reflected throughout the padayatra. Jaggareddy said that during the yatra, Venkateswarlu has been interacting with people from different walks of life, including those at hotels, roadside tea stalls, farms, and industrial establishments, gathering their views on national issues and leadership. The PCC working president said, Venkateswarlu has so far met nearly 30,000 people and shared his experiences from the journey. He said that many of those he interacted with expressed the belief that Rahul Gandhi should become the country’s PM. The padayatra, which began in Kanyakumari and will conclude in Kashmir, is expected to cover approximately 4,500 kilometers. During the journey, Venkateswarlu aims to meet more than two lakh people and collect their opinions. During his yatra, Venkateshwaralu wants to educate the public about the sacrifices made by Rahul Gandhi’s family for the nation and to highlight Rahul Gandhi’s efforts and campaigns for the people of the country. Venkateswarlu embarked on the extensive walk with the belief that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is essential for ensuring the welfare and prosperity of the people. Jaggreddy also promised that upon completion of the padayatra, he would personally take Venkateswarlu to meet Rahul Gandhi. A large number of Congress leaders, party workers, and supporters participated in the programme held in Sangareddy. 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
BJP must light a diya to atone for its sins: Congress
New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP over “malgovernance” and “lighting of diyas” during its lamp-lighting campaign for PM Narendra Modi’s birthday. “In Balaghat, more than 30 tribal children have died amid illness, malnutrition and a lack of basic health facilities. The extent of the callousness is such that innocent lives kept slipping away, yet the response remained sluggish, and the govt kept sleeping,” Rahul told MP CM Mohan Yadav. “Chief minister, if you have found time after lighting lamps and holding celebrations, take a look at the ground reality in the state,” he said, while citing spurious medicines and hooch deaths. Kharge cited Maharashtra govt findings of healthcare markups exceeding 2,000%, saying, “on World Patient Safety Day, Modi govt stands exposed for turning patients into prey. Hospitals are charging a staggering 2,841% markup on basic medical consumables like IVs, according to the Maharashtra FDA, exposing the brazen robbery of common patients, especially in private hospitals.” He added, “food, retail and wholesale inflation are already very high and burning the pockets of common people. Perhaps, the BJP should light a diya to atone for its pathetic misgovernance and sins.” 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
‘BJP and EC join forces’: Rahul Gandhi slams EC over TMC name, symbol freeze
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday slammed the Election Commission for barring TMC from using party name and symbol in the upcoming assembly bypolls in West Bengal, accusing the poll panel and Bharatiya Janata Party of joining forces to split a party. In a social media post on X, Rahul pointed towards the past examples of split in shiv Sena and NCP. “First Shiv Sena, then NCP, and now Trinamool Congress. Every time, the same pattern—BJP and the Election Commission join forces to split a party. Then its election symbol is snatched away,” the Congress leader said. “When an entire party can be stolen, it’s hardly surprising that the votes of millions of Indians can be stolen too,” he added. Rahul also said that “vote chori, sarkaar chori and now party chori have become the symbols of democratic decline” in the country. “Vote theft. Government theft. Now party theft—these have become symbols of our democratic decline. The ECI’s constitutional responsibility is to protect the mandate—but instead, it’s aiding those very forces that overturn the people’s verdict,” the Congress leader said. “This fight isn’t just Mamata Banerjee’s. It’s the fight of every political party, every voter who wants free and fair elections,” he added. Rahul’s remarks came after the poll panel, in its interim order, ruled that neither faction of TMC can use its name or “flowers and grass” symbol after acknowledging a split between factions led by Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy. Both groups will have to contest the bypolls under different names and with election symbols allotted by the Commission. This arrangement will continue until the dispute is finally settled. EC said two rival groups each claimed to be the “real” party, requiring substantive determination under Paragraph 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. It said the interim measure, based on precedents, would place them on an “even keel”. The poll panel has been hearing competing claims from the two factions over control of the party, its name and election symbol. Both sides have submitted documents and appeared before the Commission during the proceedings. The dispute reached the Election Commission in July after the rival factions staked competing claims to control of the TMC. The panel subsequently sought responses on issues including organisational control, authorised signatories, party assets, name and election symbol. 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
India’s transgender law change leaves many uncertain
Doctors face potential liability and lack clear protocols, while the online portal issuing transgender identity cards has shut down. Activists have challenged the law in the Supreme Court, arguing that mandatory medical verification violates constitutional rights to self-identification. Recent amendments to India’s transgender legislation have caused widespread disruptions in gender-affirming healthcare, leaving patients across the country without access to prescribed medications or safe medical supervision. The amendment introduced strict penalties for forcing individuals to assume a transgender identity through surgical, chemical, or hormonal procedures. While government authorities stated the changes aim to protect vulnerable groups from exploitation, forced identity, and trafficking, the lack of implementation guidelines has created severe uncertainty among healthcare providers. In Hyderabad, 23-year-old communications specialist and transgender activist Kali Sidharth Medepalli was forced to go 10 days without a prescribed testosterone blocker after her clinic abruptly halted treatment following the law’s passage. “Everything shut down,” Kali told AFP, describing how she experienced hot flushes and body aches before obtaining her medicine with an existing prescription to self-medicate. “Ideally, you should have a doctor doing this for you… I don’t know the future. I can’t plan it anymore.” Doctors face legal risks The regulatory ambiguity has placed medical professionals in a dilemma between potential legal liability and their professional duties. “How can I refuse care? I took an oath that above all do no harm,” said Sanjay Sharma, head of the Association for Transgender Health in India and a retired air force commodore. Sharma noted that while some private clinics continue to offer care, they are requiring extra paperwork, consent forms, and higher fees to protect themselves legally. This has created severe barriers for individuals without financial resources or strong support networks. Identity certification stalled The amendment has also disrupted the official process for updating legal identity documents. Applicants must now go through a designated medical board recommendation before a magistrate can issue a transgender identity certificate, but the government’s dedicated online portal has stopped functioning since the law took effect. Bhukya Ahalya, 21, who transitioned in 2025 and survives by begging at traffic signals, explained that she cannot secure regular employment without an updated identity card matching her gender identity. “Everyone wants me to move on from this life,” Ahalya told AFP. “But when I want to move on, when I want to earn a respectful life, I don’t get a TG (transgender) card.” The amendment is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, with petitioners citing constitutional protections covering dignity, personal autonomy, privacy, and the right to self-identification. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment did not respond to requests from AFP for clarification regarding the rules or the status of the identity card portal. Courtesy : Roya News Note: This news is originally published on https:/royanews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar family performs teen’s ‘last rites’ after she marries Dalit boyfriend
PATNA: In a shocking display of anger over an inter-caste marriage, a family in Purnia allegedly performed the symbolic funeral of their 18-year-old daughter after she eloped with her boyfriend and married him in court. The family prepared an effigy carrying her photograph, took out a funeral procession through the locality and performed symbolic last rites after the woman admitted in a local court that she had married the man of her choice. The incident took place at Chapay village in the Town police station area of Purnia on Tuesday. Riya, a Part-I college student allegedly eloped with 24-year-old Minal Kumar on September 8 and married him in a court. Her father, Manoj Kumar Goswami, had subsequently approached Maranga police and filed a missing complaint, fearing that his daughter had been abducted. According to villagers, Riya and Minal had been in a relationship for around three years. Their houses are reportedly only about 100metres apart. The two initially saw each other while Riya travelled to college and gradually began meeting and talking. Two days ago, police reportedly recovered Riya from Delhi and produced her before court, where her statement was recorded. When she reportedly spoke in favour of Minal and said she had married him voluntarily, her father was deeply upset. He then decided to symbolically end his relationship with his daughter through a funeral ceremony. By Monday night, preparations for the unusual ceremony had begun. According to the villagers, the family made an effigy of Riya and prepared a poster carrying her photograph. Villagers were invited the next morning to participate in the procession. The effigy was then carried out from the house on a bier in a funeral procession through the village. People reportedly raised the Hindu funeral chant “Ram Naam Satya Hai”, before Manoj performed the symbolic cremation. The family also said it intends to perform rituals associated with death, including shraddha and pind-daan between the 10th and 13th days. Manoj said the family had already arranged Riya’s marriage with a man from Bhagalpur who works as a government teacher. According to him, the match had been finalised for Rs 6 lakh and the wedding was scheduled for November. “We had started preparing for the marriage. In the meantime, my daughter ran away and married of her own choice. Now what will I tell the other family? How will I face them?” he said. Expressing his anguish, Manoj added, “I educated my daughter, brought her up and she has left us with our heads bowed. May God ensure that no one gets a daughter like this. We are no longer in a position to show our faces to anyone.” The family has now said that Riya is “dead” to them and that they will have no relationship with her. Villager Awadhesh Kumar said members of the community had previously attempted to resolve the dispute. Both sides were reportedly called to a meeting and asked to settle the matter socially. “We had held a meeting earlier and called both sides. We told them to come to a social-level solution. We asked them to live as they had earlier and separate the two, but that did not happen,” Awadhesh said. He added that the community wanted young girls to understand what could happen if they took such a step. 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
HC seeks status report in Dalit labourer suicide case, asks how can Cheema be implicated
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought a comprehensive status report from Punjab govt by Oct 6 in connection with the death of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh, who allegedly consumed poison after being “pressured“ to apologise for confronting state finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the spread of “chitta“ (synthetic drugs). A division bench gave the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Shiromani Akali Dal’s Scheduled Caste wing chief spokesperson seeking a CBI probe into the matter. The bench directed the state to conduct an exhaustive investigation but also questioned how Cheema could be implicated at this stage. The next hearing is on Oct 6. The PIL has sought transfer of the investigation of the FIR registered at Dirba police station in Sangrur from Punjab Police to CBI or another independent agency. The FIR, filed under Section 108 of BNS and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, named five locals, including village sarpanch. The petition claims Gulzar Singh confronted Cheema during his Sept 6 visit to Toorbanjara village in Sangrur to lay foundation stone for development works, questioning him about “chitta“ circulation while citing his son’s addiction. Police personnel allegedly visited Gulzar Singh’s home that evening to question him about his remarks. The petition alleges that panchayat members intimidated him and subjected him to caste-based slurs. Gulzar Singh allegedly consumed poison on Sept 7 after being summoned before the panchayat to tender an unconditional apology. He died at a Ludhiana hospital on Sept 8. His family alleged authorities hurriedly cremated him without their consent and demanded action against everyone named in his dying declaration. The petition says Gulzar Singh’s video-recorded dying declaration allegedly named minister Cheema and village sarpanch as responsible for driving him to take the extreme step. The case has led to a political storm, with Congress, BJP and SAD demanding Cheema’s resignation, a Congress protest march towards the minister’s Chandigarh residence meeting with police water cannons and National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Kishor Makwana visting Gulzar’s family in Sangrur. 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
SC/ST panel seeks probe into charges of discrimination against Dalit power engrs
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh SC/ST Commission chairman Baijnath Rawat has written to chief minister Yogi Adityanath seeking inquiry into allegations that Dalit engineers were subjected to discrimination in discoms. In his letter written on Wednesday, Rawat referred to a representation submitted by UP Power Officers Association president RP Ken and other office-bearers and said that the association had alleged that over the past several years, Dalit engineers faced discrimination and that service rules were selectively applied in certain cases. Though Rawat’s letter does not independently establish the allegations, it urges the CM to examine the facts mentioned in the association’s representation and issue orders for a high-level, impartial investigation. The letter also seeks appropriate action based on the findings of such an inquiry. According to a statement issued by the association, it had approached the commission with details concerning more than a dozen Dalit engineers working in different state power companies. The organisation claimed that different standards had been applied in their cases and said it had submitted documents in support of its allegations. Association president RP Ken, acting president Avadhesh Kumar Verma, vice-president PM Prabhakar and office-bearers Harishchandra Verma and Mukesh Babu said they expected an inquiry to establish the facts. The association said its objective was to seek protection of engineers’ rights under constitutional and legal provisions, rather than create confrontation. 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
TDP Internal Rift Exposed: Dalit leader alleges kidnap threat in Kurnool
Kurnool: Internal friction within the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) took a serious turn in Chippagiri mandal on Wednesday, following allegations by a grassroots Dalit party leader, Anand, that he was threatened with abuse and kidnapping by Teja, son-in-law of TDP mandal convenor Konda Purushotham. According to the complainant, Teja allegedly placed an abusive phone call warning him against interfering with Purushotham, reportedly stating, “You have crossed the limit. I will take you away,” while invoking his familial ties to the mandal convenor. An audio recording of the conversation has quickly circulated across social media platforms, intensifying ripples through local political circles. The episode has drawn sharp focus to the party’s internal treatment of Dalit leaders, particularly against the backdrop of earlier political clashes where cases had been registered against Dalit individuals. The controversy has placed intense pressure on the Chippagiri TDP leadership to address the growing factional friction. Anand and his supporters have formally sought the intervention of senior party leaders, demanding an impartial inquiry and appropriate disciplinary action. Local residents and party workers have expressed deep concern over how a party member could face such intimidation from within the same political organization, prompting local police to initiate inquiries into the matter as political tensions mount across the mandal. Narendra Kr Varikuntla Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Pregnant Dalit woman dies after alleged police assault in India
Anjali’s death after alleged police assault exposes vulnerability facing Dalit women at intersection of caste hierarchy, gender and state power NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A 28-year-old pregnant Dalit woman died after her family says a police officer kicked her in the abdomen during a late-night operation to detain her husband in northern India, triggering protests and demands for action against officers involved. Anjali was at her home in Labhaua village in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district when police arrived around 11:45 p.m. Sunday to take her husband, Gaurav, into custody in connection with a theft case. Her family alleges that when she pleaded with officers not to take him away, Sub-Inspector Dharmpal Singh kicked her in the abdomen, causing her to fall. Police took Gaurav, 32, into custody while Anjali’s condition subsequently deteriorated. She was taken to a hospital in Shikohabad, where she gave birth to a boy Monday morning. Her health worsened after delivery, and she was transferred to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared her dead. Her newborn son was reported to be in critical condition and was referred to a hospital in Agra for further treatment. Anjali belonged to India’s Dalit community, historically treated as “untouchable” and relegated to the bottom of the Hindu caste hierarchy. Dalit women remain particularly vulnerable to violence and discrimination because caste and gender inequalities often overlap, while rights campaigners have long raised concerns over barriers marginalized communities face when seeking protection and accountability from state institutions. India abolished the practice of untouchability under its Constitution and has specific laws intended to protect Dalits and other historically oppressed castes from discrimination and violence. But caste remains deeply embedded in parts of Indian society, with Dalits continuing to report violence, humiliation, segregation and other forms of discrimination despite those legal protections. Anjali’s death sparked protests by villagers outside Shikohabad police station. Her family said Gaurav was released from custody after police were informed that his wife had died. Firozabad Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe subsequently suspended six police personnel for negligence. Those suspended include Sub-Inspectors Dharmpal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar. Anjali underwent a post-mortem examination late Monday. Her last rites were performed later that night amid heavy police deployment. Her death also drew demands for an investigation from politicians representing constituencies where caste discrimination and Dalit rights are prominent concerns. Samajwadi Party national general secretary and lawmaker Ramjilal Suman visited Anjali’s family Tuesday before staging a sit-in with party workers at Shikohabad police station. He demanded an impartial investigation and strict action against anyone found responsible. Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad, a prominent Dalit political leader, also called for a fair investigation and action against police personnel found responsible. Courtesy : Muslim Network TV Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimnetwork.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights