Woman minister in Karnataka cabinet soon says, Randeep Surjewala
Surjewala pointed to previous governments, saying that during the JDS-BJP coalition government, then CM Kumaraswamy had himself held the Women and Child Development portfolio. BENGALURU: AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday said the Congress leadership would soon resolve the issue of inducting a woman minister in the Karnataka cabinet, which currently has no woman representative despite the DK Shivakumar government completing 100 days in office. Hitting back at Union minister HD Kumaraswamy who had jibed the Congress on this issue, he said, “I just want to remind those making a noise that they never had a Women and Child Development minister for a full tenure.” Surjewala told reporters that he was to blame for the controversy. “This is not Delhi’s fault. It is the fault of the General Secretary, AICC in-charge of Karnataka, who could not decide on account of certain political exigencies. We have many (aspirants)… so very soon we will sort out the issue after consulting with the Chief Minister, our PCC president who is very keen and hounds me every day on this, as also ex-CM (Siddaramaiah) and other state leaders,” he stated, adding that LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has also taken the lack of a woman minister very seriously. Surjewala pointed to previous governments, saying that during the JDS-BJP coalition government, then CM Kumaraswamy had himself held the Women and Child Development portfolio. Surjewala said the Congress government was committed to implementing the socio-economic and educational survey report in Karnataka, but would not take any step that violated court directions, as the matter is currently sub judice. He said social justice remained the party’s core commitment and was shared by Siddaramaiah, CM Shivakumar and party workers. The party would seek the court’s guidance on implementing the report at the earliest. Responding to BJP leaders’ criticism of the government’s stance on singing specific stanzas of Vande Mataram, Surjewala argued that those raising objections were unaware of the historical context and the freedom movement. He recounted that Vande Mataram was first sung at an Indian National Congress session in 1896, and formally adopted as the national song in 1930. He stated that leaders such as Dr BR Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had agreed on adopting two stanzas on the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore in the Constituent Assembly, which was accepted across the board. The Karnataka government will strictly adhere to Government of India protocols during visits by the President, Governor or Prime Minister, while otherwise respecting the traditions framed by Tagore and the Constituent Assembly, he added. GAYATRI SHANTEGOWDA HANDS RESUME TO SIDDU Bengaluru: The political drama surrounding Congress MLC Gayatri Shantegowda’s stalled entry into the Karnataka cabinet came to a head on Wednesday with the legislator personally approaching former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Multiple sources have pointed to Siddaramaiah as the driving force behind the exclusion, despite the Congress high command having reportedly cleared her name. On Wednesday, Gayatri handed Siddaramaiah a document. When he asked what it was, she reportedly told him it was her resume, which is seen as her continued claim to a cabinet berth. She also spoke to AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal at the Congress office, after KPCC president B K Hariprasad introduced her to him. The apparent contradiction — a leader cleared by the party’s central leadership still having to lobby for the post she was promised — has fuelled criticism that state-level factional politics are overriding decisions made at the national level. 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
Rift in Tamil Nadu Congress over TVK ties, Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate
Former TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai said the Congress should form an alliance only with parties that openly and honestly accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. CHENNAI: A war of words broke out between Tamil Nadu Congress leaders on Wednesday over the party’s alliance with the ruling TVK, with former TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai insisting the ally should publicly accept Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate, while Rajya Sabha MP Praveen Chakravarty sought to play down his remarks, prompting a fresh counter from Selvaperunthagai. The episode began with Selvaperunthagai, speaking to reporters in Guindy after paying floral tributes to freedom fighter Ramasamy Padayatchiar on his 109th birth anniversary, saying the Congress should form an alliance only with parties that openly and honestly accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. “If Rahul Gandhi is the PM, alliance partners should accept that. If not, what is the point of being in this alliance? It is only honest to have an alliance with those who openly and sincerely accept Rahul as the prime minister,” said Selvaperunthagai, who was in office during his party’s alliance with the DMK. Later in the day, MP Praveen Chakravarty, speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, responding to Selvaperunthagai’s comments, asked, “Who is he now? In the past he may have been whatever he was, but now that is not relevant.” He said the alliance had been strong before the government was formed and remains equally strong after the government came to power. Chakravarty said the alliance would also work together in the upcoming bypolls. He said TVK is contesting the Tamil Nadu bye-election, while Congress is fielding a candidate in Puducherry bypoll. Later in the day, responding to Chakravarty’s reference to the meeting with the chief minister, Selvaperunthagai took to social media, saying that a long and cordial conversation could not by itself constitute an assurance on the prime ministerial candidate. “Let the chief minister say it, or at least let any senior functionary of that party say that Rahul Gandhi is our Prime Ministerial candidate,” he said. Selvaperunthagai also asked Chakravarty to raise issues like why remarks criticising PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or the BJP were removed from the Assembly proceedings when they meet the next time. 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
UPI charges row: Chidambaram among 5 Congress MPs who had backed revenue framework
NEW DELHI: As Rahul Gandhi stepped up his criticism of the government over the MDR announcement and demanded its rollback, calling it a “UPI tax”, a Standing Committee on Finance report had earlier emphasised the need for a viable revenue mechanism to ensure the UPI ecosystem remains financially sustainable without placing a perpetual burden on the government exchequer. The report was prepared by a committee that included Congress leaders, including former finance minister P Chidambaram. The Standing Committee on Finance, which includes Congress MPs such as P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari, Gaurav Gogoi, Kishori Lal and K Gopinath, in its report presented to Parliament on August 12 this year, called for a tiered MDR or revenue framework for UPI. The panel also said the framework should be notified and operationalised without delay. In its report, the Committee noted the “massive Rs. 2000 crore budgetary allocation for 2026-27 designed to offset ecosystem costs caused by the zero-MDR policy on RuPay and low-value UPI transactions”. The Committee observed that while UPI is projected to process up to 150 billion transactions a month and add 600 million new users, the current government incentive covers only 11% of the industry’s actual costs and 14% of potential MDR collections. It said this creates a structural funding gap that could affect long-term investment in infrastructure. “The Committee would like to emphasize that establishing a viable revenue mechanism is critical to ensuring the UPI ecosystem achieves financial sustainability without perpetually straining the Government exchequer,” the report said, as cited by ANI. “In the view of the Committee, while statutory enablement now exists to permit calibrated MDR on high-value transactions, any delay in notifying and operationalizing this framework leaves payment service providers heavily dependent on inadequate subsidies, thereby threatening critical investments in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and network infrastructure,” it added. The report, headed by BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, was adopted by the panel, and no dissent was recorded in the published minutes, officials were quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The development comes as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, accusing the government of yielding to pressure from the United States and urging Modi to “have a spine”. In a video posted on X, Gandhi referred to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while comparing her stance with Modi’s approach to the new UPI measures. “Indiraji was once asked whether she leans left or right, and her response was, ‘I don’t lean left or right. I stand straight’,” Gandhi said. He then turned to the new UPI framework, alleging that PM Modi had adopted a different approach. Meanwhile, the Centre has ruled out any rollback of the proposed 0.4 per cent Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions above Rs 2,000, saying the decision has already been taken and will come into effect from October 15. The government has clarified that the new UPI framework will have no impact on person-to-person transactions, which will continue to remain completely free, irrespective of the amount transferred. Payments to merchants of up to Rs 2,000, along with transactions covered under the zero-MDR framework for small merchants, will also remain free. The government also clarified that MDR is neither a tax nor a charge collected by the government or NPCI. Instead, it is distributed among payment ecosystem participants, including banks and payment application providers, to support the operation and continued expansion of the UPI ecosystem. 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
UP: Man arrested for repeatedly raping a Dalit woman by making obscene videos and blackmailing her
Sigra Police take major action: Manoj Maurya, accused of repeatedly raping a Dalit woman by blackmailing her with obscene videos, arrested; case registered under SC/ST Act. Varanasi/UP: Sigra police on Tuesday arrested 28-year-old Manoj Maurya for repeatedly raping and blackmailing a 22-year-old Dalit woman. The accused faces serious charges, including making obscene videos and threatening her with dire consequences. Police have registered a case in this matter under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the SC/ST Act. Sigra Police Station in-charge Shivanand Mishra said on Tuesday that this significant arrest was made based on a tip-off. In fact, the accused Manoj had come under police radar since the victim’s complaint. In her complaint to the police, the woman stated that the accused had physical relations with her and deceitfully recorded an obscene video. According to the victim, the accused was continuously physically and mentally abusing her, threatening to make the video viral on the internet. Furthermore, he used casteist slurs against the victim and her family members. He also threatened to kill the rape victim and her entire family. Police officials stated that immediate action was taken due to the sensitivity of the case. After an FIR was registered under relevant sections of the BNS and SC/ST Acts, police teams immediately began action. Police raided several locations and finally arrested the accused, Manoj Maurya, a resident of Manduadih. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
TM Impact: Dalit woman cook receives pending salary, theft complaint withdrawn; both parties reach agreement
On published a report based on Sheetal’s complaint. The report highlighted Sheetal’s allegations against the cafe owner and a serving female constable of the Delhi Police. Sheetal made several allegations, including withholding of salary, caste-based harassment, and alleged use of police influence. New Delhi: The case of a Dalit woman cook in the Moti Nagar area of the capital, who was not paid her pending salary after complaining about the poor quality of food at a restaurant, and the cafe owner filing a police case against her, accusing her of theft, has been resolved. After published a report on the complaint and allegations made by Dalit woman cook Sheetal Singh, swift action was taken in the matter. According to Sheetal, a written agreement was reached between the two parties in the presence of police at the Moti Nagar police station on the evening of September 14. The cafe paid her pending salary, while the cafe owner gave written consent to withdraw the theft complaint against Sheetal. Sheetal has also withdrawn her complaint. Sheetal informed The Mooknayak of the entire incident. According to her, both parties have now agreed in writing that they will not pursue any further legal action or complaints against each other. This immediate resolution was possible only because of The Mooknayak’s prompt reporting and support. Sheetal stated that the immediate resolution of the matter was possible after the report was published and the incident was made public. She expressed gratitude to The Mooknayak, saying that the report helped her voice her concerns. Reported being called to the police station in the morning, but events changed after the report was published. Previously, Sheetal had told The Mooknayak that she was receiving repeated phone calls asking her to come to the police station in connection with a theft case. She claimed that she was demanding her pending salary, and that theft charges were filed against her. The Mooknayak had published a report based on Sheetal’s complaint in this same case. The report highlighted Sheetal’s allegations against the cafe owner and a serving female constable of the Delhi Police. Sheetal had made several allegations, including withholding of salary, caste-based harassment, and alleged use of influence by her police position. After the report was published, Sheetal stated that the case was closed with the consent of both parties in the presence of an SI at the Moti Nagar police station. According to Sheetal, the police took written statements from both parties. These statements stated that the outstanding amount of ₹17,741 had been paid and the dispute had been resolved. Sheetal told The Mooknayak that the cafe owner had agreed in writing to withdraw the theft complaint and settle the matter through a compromise. Following this settlement at the police station, both parties agreed not to file any further complaints or take any legal action against each other. Sheetal stated that she believes no proceedings are pending from either side. While providing details of the incident, Sheetal also mentioned that during the proceedings, a person from the local Dalit community had also reached the police station to intervene. According to Sheetal, when asked for CCTV footage from the cafe to verify the claims of theft and alleged cash payments, the management stated that the cameras were not working. Sheetal’s original complaint alleged that she worked at the cafe for a monthly salary of ₹22,000, withheld wages, caste discrimination, and alleged intimidation. The complaint also stated that after she demanded her salary, the cafe owner filed a complaint against her for stealing pulses, oil, and coffee pouches. Following the settlement, Sheetal told The Mooknayak that the immediate resolution of the case was possible after the publication of the report and the publicity of the matter. She expressed gratitude to The Mooknayak, saying that the report helped her voice her voice. Sheetal also said that her experience made her realize that workers from the Scheduled Caste community, even those with weaker economic backgrounds, can face pressure and police complaints for demanding their wages. What was the whole controversy? Sheetal Singh, a Scheduled Caste woman cook working at Vidhi Cafe in Moti Nagar, Delhi, made serious allegations against the cafe’s owner, Vijay Singh, and Divya, a female constable with the Delhi Police. According to Sheetal, she was hired as the head cook at a monthly salary of ₹22,000 and had objected to the alleged use of spoiled/stale food and palm oil in the cafe. She alleged that after her caste was revealed, her treatment changed, and she was forced to perform tasks such as sweeping, deep cleaning, and washing dirty utensils late into the night, in addition to cooking. Sheetal also alleged that her ₹22,000 salary was withheld, and when she quit her job to demand her dues, a complaint was filed against her for stealing pulses, oil, and coffee sachets, even though she was challenging her claim of alleged cash payment. She accused female constable Divya of being associated with the cafe and using her police position to threaten her. Sheetal demanded action, security, and payment of her pending salary from the police and administration. After the incident was published in The Mooknayak, according to Sheetal, the police brokered a settlement between the two parties at the Moti Nagar police station. She stated that the pending salary of ₹17,741 was paid, the cafe management confirmed in writing that they had withdrawn the theft complaint, and both parties gave written undertakings not to take any further legal action against each other. Sheetal also stated that she had previously received repeated calls to come to the police station regarding the theft, but after the news was published, the dispute was resolved that same day in the presence of the SI. She also raised questions about the CCTV footage, stating that when she asked for CCTV footage to verify the alleged theft and cash payments, the management claimed the cameras were out of order. All these allegations and events are based on Sheetal’s statement and the
“No matter how many garlands you wear, you will remain a bham$%”: FIR under SC/ST Act against Mundka MLA and others who assaulted and abused Dalit Mandal President in Delhi
Sunil Kumar stated in his statement that MLA Gajendra Dral assaulted him with pipes, belts, etc., and Amit Mathur also assaulted him. Deepak Mathur, his nephew, and Vivek held his hands and legs and kicked him in the genitals 8-10 times. The assault continued throughout the night. Sunil Kumar fell unconscious 2-3 times. On the complaint of BJP’s Kanjhawla Ward 32 Mandal President Sunil Kumar, a case of assault and caste-based insult has been registered at the Kanjhawla police station in Rohini district against Mundka MLA Gajendra Dral and his associates Deepak Mathur, Amit Mathur, and others. FIR No. 475/2026, dated September 15, was registered under sections 115(2), 127(2), 140(3), 351(2), 61(2), 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 2023, section 25 of the Arms Act, and section 3(1)(r)(c) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complainant is Sunil Kumar, son of Hari Prakash, age 42, resident of house number 103, village Tatesar, Kanjhawla, Rohini, Delhi. He is the BJP Mandal President from Kanjhawla Ward 32. According to him, the incident occurred on September 10 at around 7:50 pm at Deepak Mathur’s BJP office in Karala. “We are not your brothers, we are your fathers.” Sunil Kumar stated in his statement at the police station that on the same day, at around 7:50 pm, he received a call from Mundka MLA Gajendra Dral. The MLA said, “Come to Deepak Mathur’s office with the ward’s voting list and don’t hang up, as he has a meeting with the ARO tomorrow.” Sunil Kumar arrived at the office with his companion, Jai Bhagwan, around 8:15 am. Present there were Deepak Mathur, MLA Gajendra Dral, Vivek, Deepak Mathur’s nephew, and four or five other workers whose names he did not know. Deepak Mathur then called Amit Mathur at the MLA’s behest. After Amit Mathur’s arrival, the office shutters were closed. According to the complainant, Amit Mathur began assaulting him and hurling casteist slurs, saying, “You are a bham%$, we are not your brothers, we are your fathers.” MLA Gajendra Dral said, “No matter how many garlands you wear, you are a bham%$/and-a-half, you are a bham%$.” You will remain there.’ The statement further stated that MLA Gajendra Daral assaulted him with pipes, belts, and other equipment, and Amit Mathur also assaulted him. Deepak Mathur, his nephew, and Vivek held his hands and legs and kicked him in the genitals 8-10 times. The assault continued throughout the night. Sunil Kumar fainted 2-3 times. At night, at the office, Santosh Kaushik and Shalu Sharma were shown his wounds and injuries after removing his clothes. After they left, the people present assaulted him again and spat on him. After this, he fainted. He asked to go home, but was not allowed to. According to him, the accused had a sword and a belt, and he also saw a pistol. He was released around 5:15 am on September 11th. They threatened to kill him if he complained, and they would not even know where his body was. “For two days, Sunil Kumar was kept safe, away from the sight of MLA Gajendra Daral and his henchmen. The police swung into action after the Dalit and Valmiki communities announced a siege of the Delhi Police Commissioner’s office. On September 14-15, continuous discussions were held with police officers. The protest was postponed after the DCP’s office summoned them to file an FIR. Finally, on Tuesday, FIR number 475/26 was registered at the Kanjhawla police station. – Dr. Udit Raj, Congress spokesperson The complainant called a PCR call on September 11th and went to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Mangolpuri, to conduct an MLC. In the MLC, the doctor noted that the patient was brought to the emergency room at the BJP’s Karala Village Mandal office on September 10th at 8:30 pm with complaints of physical assault. The nature of the injuries was recorded as “OR.” Sunil Kumar says he is still experiencing blood in his urine and toilet and is unable to sit from his waist down. He alleged that the MLA’s relatives have come to his village and are threatening his family, saying they will have to attend appointments and will not allow them to stay in the village. The family faces a threat to their lives. In the FIR, ASI Tribhuvan Jha stated that on September 11th, upon receiving DD No. 47A, he went to the scene, but the complainant was not found. An MLC was obtained from the hospital. Attempts were also made to obtain a statement on September 12th, 13th, and 14th. The complainant initially cited his mental condition and said he would give his statement later. On September 15th, he came to the police station and recorded his full statement. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Police Kicked Her in Abdomen’: Pregnant Dalit Woman Dies in Firozabad, 6 Personnel Suspended
A 28-year-old pregnant Dalit woman died after she was allegedly kicked in the abdomen by a police officer who had gone to her home in Firozabad to arrest her husband in a theft case, according to her family. Six police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, have been suspended following the woman’s death. Woman Allegedly Kicked During Police Visit According to the family, Sub Inspector Dharmpal Singh arrived at the home of Anjali and her husband Gaurav in Labhaua village under the Shikohabad police station area at around 11:45 pm on Sunday. The family alleged that Anjali pleaded with the police not to take her husband. They claimed that Singh kicked her in the abdomen, causing her to fall. Police took Gaurav, 32, into custody. The family said Anjali’s condition then deteriorated. She was taken to a hospital in Shikohabad, where she delivered a baby boy on Monday morning. Her condition reportedly worsened after the delivery and she was later shifted to a private hospital in Firozabad, where doctors declared her dead. The newborn was also reported to be in critical condition and was referred to a hospital in Agra for treatment. Six Police Personnel Suspended Following Anjali’s death, villagers gathered outside the police station and protested over the alleged police action. The family said Gaurav was released after police were informed about his wife’s death. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ravi Shankar Prasad said Firozabad Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended six personnel with immediate effect for negligence. Those suspended are Sub Inspectors Dharmpal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar, and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar. Anjali’s post-mortem examination was conducted late Monday night. Her last rites were also performed the same night amid heavy police deployment. Political Leaders Demand Probe Samajwadi Party national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramjilal Suman visited Anjali’s family on Tuesday. He later spoke to the ADG Agra Zone and demanded an impartial investigation and strict action against those found responsible. Suman also reached the Shikohabad police station with party workers and staged a sit in. He alleged that police had detained two youths on suspicion of theft, including Anjali’s husband. Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad also questioned the incident in a social media post and called for a fair investigation and action against the police personnel found responsible. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Cong attacks state govt over education policy ahead of Rahul’s visit
Indore: Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore on Sept 19, Madhya Pradesh Congress media department head Mukesh Nayak on Tuesday criticised BJP govt in the state, alleging failures in higher education, recruitment, and employment generation. Nayak said that while global education systems prioritise emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing, Madhya Pradesh’s public universities struggle in national competitive rankings. Citing the NIRF 2025 overall rankings, he noted that IIT Indore stands at 27th, IISER Bhopal at 75th, and Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya at 49th. Nayak criticised the recurring delays, paper leaks, and cancellations in competitive examinations, asserting that while students spend years preparing for recruitment tests, systemic flaws deprive eligible youth of secure livelihoods. He said that Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming interaction in Indore will serve as a platform for students to demand accountability regarding exam integrity, timely recruitment, and educational reform. 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
Lal Topi, Blue T-Shirt: Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘PDA’ For Blue Has A Coded Message
The message is clear: the Samajwadi Party wants to talk to voters beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim support base, particularly to Dalits. For decades, the Samajwadi Party has been instantly recognisable by two colours — red and green. Its leaders in red caps, often riding the party’s bicycle symbol, became one of the defining visual signatures of Uttar Pradesh politics. Now, ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, party president Akhilesh Yadav is adding a new colour to that political palette: blue. Akhilesh Yadav has introduced blue T-shirt and jeans as the new uniform for members of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, the party’s student wing. The choice is anything but incidental. Yadav has explicitly linked blue with BR Ambedkar, the Constitution, the Bahujan movement, social justice and resistance to injustice. The message is clear: the SP wants to talk to voters beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim support base, particularly to Dalits. The Battle For The Dalit Vote Uttar Pradesh’s Dalit electorate has historically been at the heart of BSP chief Mayawati’s political power. The BSP transformed Dalit identity into an electoral force and, for years, the party’s blue flag and Mayawati’s politics were almost inseparable. But the BSP’s electoral decline has created a political vacuum in Dalit voter space. The 2024 Lok Sabha election was a particularly significant moment. The SP won 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the BSP failed to win a single seat. The result strengthened Akhilesh’s argument that his PDA — Pichhde (Backwards), Dalit, Alpsankhyak (Minorities) — coalition, where ‘P’ now also stands for Pandits, could become the alternative social coalition to the BJP’s electoral machinery. The challenge, however, is not simply to win Dalit votes. It is to persuade Dalit voters that the SP can represent their political aspirations without erasing their distinct social identity. That is where the colour blue becomes important. For a party that has historically worn red, adopting blue amounts to a symbolic attempt to enter a political space traditionally occupied by the BSP. Can PDA Give BSP And BJP The Blues? ‘PDA’ formulation has been central to Akhilesh Yadav’s post-2022 political strategy. It seeks to combine backward castes, Dalits and minorities into a broad social coalition. The idea is also an acknowledgement of a fundamental electoral reality: Yadav and Muslim votes alone cannot take the SP back to power in Uttar Pradesh. Yadavs are about 10% of the UP electorate, Muslims are a 20% strong bloc. Dalits are the next hefty bloc of 20%. Akhilesh Yadav has set his eyes there. The SP had already begun experimenting with Dalit outreach before the 2022 election, including the formation of its Baba Sahib Vahini aimed particularly at Dalits outside the Jatav community, which are Mayawati’s core base. At the time, Akhilesh also sought to bring together what he called the Samajwadi and Ambedkarwadi streams of politics. The blue uniform takes that strategy a step further. It attempts to give the ‘D’ in ‘PDA’ a visible identity. While Akhilesh Yadav is seen dressed traditionally in white kurta-pyjama with the red Samajwadi cap, for the youth wing he has presented the jeans-and-T-shirt combination as a symbol of younger generation. Apart from being caste arithmetic, it is also an attempt at political rebranding. That makes the symbolism even more interesting. Akhilesh is not abandoning the SP’s old identity; he is attempting to add one more layer to it. The red cap has a long association with socialist politics. The SP itself was founded by Mulayam Singh Yadav in 1992, but the party’s familiar red-and-green colours and the red cap evolved over time rather than appearing fully formed at the moment of its creation. Mulayam Singh suggested that the Yuvjan Sabha (SP’s youth wing) wear red caps in 1998. The red cap became increasingly prominent over the following years and, particularly after Akhilesh Yadav took control of the party, became a powerful visual marker of the SP. The party’s red has traditionally been associated with socialist politics and workers, while green has been linked to farmers. Under Akhilesh, however, the ‘lal topi’ became more than a party accessory. It became a political identity. And then Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned it into an election issue. When ‘Lal Topi’ Became A BJP Attack In December 2021, just before the last Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, PM Modi launched a sharp attack on the SP’s red caps during a rally in Gorakhpur. He called those wearing the ‘lal topi’ a “red alert” for Uttar Pradesh, linking the SP to corruption, crime, illegal occupation and what he alleged was leniency towards terrorists. The attack was meant to turn the SP’s strongest visual symbol into a warning sign. Akhilesh, however, tried to reverse the symbolism. He declared that the red cap was a “red alert” for the BJP, citing unemployment, inflation, farmers’ problems and other issues as the real warning signs for the ruling party. He also framed red as a colour of revolution and change. The SP even used the attack in its campaign music. One of its songs, “Ye Lal Rang Ki Topiya”, sought to turn PM Modi’s jibe into a socialist rallying cry, while another campaign song invoked the red cap and the bicycle as symbols of political change. So, in 2021-22, Akhilesh’s instinct was to embrace the red and fight over its meaning. Five years later, while he is keeping red, he is also adding blue to his electoral scheme. How Mayawati’s Decline Opens Up The Field The timing is significant because the decline of the BSP has altered the competitive landscape of Uttar Pradesh. For years, the SP and BSP occupied relatively distinct social and political spaces. The BSP was the principal vehicle of Dalit assertion; the SP was strongly identified with OBC, particularly Yadav, politics. A weakened BSP changes that equation. Further in the run-up to the upcoming elections, BSP is in the news for all the wrong reasons, struck by its own leadership blues thanks to Mayawati’s public chastising of her nephew, Akash Anand, once considered
Dalit youth mistreated in court for not paying ₹100: Special Judge issues directive to file case against three people, including a peon
A case of mistreatment of a Dalit youth has come to light in the court of SDM Bikapur in Ayodhya. The youth was abused using casteist slurs for not paying ₹100 and was pushed out of the court. A report will be filed against three people, including the peon. Special Judge under the SC/ST Act, Deepak Yadav, has ordered the Bikapur police to register a case and investigate. The accused include SDM peon Pankaj Mishra, his assistants Raju Tiwari and Prem Chand. Anil Kumar Rawat, a resident of Rahet village in the Bikapur Kotwali area, is facing a case in the court of SDM Bikapur. In his application to the court, Anil stated that on May 13, 2026, he arrived at the court at around 10:30 a.m. to plead his case. When he asked the peon about the file, he was allegedly asked for 100 rupees. When he refused, he was told to come back two hours later. According to Anil, he returned to the court around 12:35 p.m. This time, he was again asked for money. When he refused, the three accused allegedly abused him using casteist slurs. He was pushed out of the court, resulting in injuries. It is alleged that the accused also threatened to have the SDM dismiss the file if he did not pay the money. Anil had sought court action in this matter. After the hearing, the special judge ordered the police to register a case and investigate based on the allegations. Only after the police investigation will the truth of the allegations and further action be clear. Kaushal Kumar Shukla | Bikapur (Ayodhya), Ayodhya Courtesy : Hindi News