Bihar Transgender Welfare Board approves proposal to build temple in honour of PM Modi
Board member Rajan Singh said the state government will bear all expenses for the construction of the temple. PATNA: Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board has approved a proposal to build a temple in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his efforts to give respect and rights to the community. A decision to this effect was taken on Wednesday in the Board’s first meeting, held at the social welfare department in the Old Secretariat. The Board works under the state social welfare department. Board member Rajan Singh, who presented the proposal during the meeting, said that the transgender community wanted to express its gratitude to Prime Minister Modi by constructing a temple dedicated to him. He said that the temple would be built in Patna and the construction work would start after the state government identifies the land for the purpose. The state government will bear all expenses for the construction of the temple, he added. Singh said the transgender community in Bihar did not have a temple of its own, adding that the proposal was unanimously supported by the members and approved by the Board. Referring to the Board’s first meeting, Singh said it was the inaugural session following the implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which provided the transgender community with institutional representation within the state secretariat. The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board (Bihar Rajya Kinnar Kalyan Board) is a 28-member state panel under the Social Welfare Department, formed in August 2025 to protect community rights and drive social empowerment. Ramashankar 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
32% Dalit Vote In Play: Why Every Party In Punjab Is Racing To Own Guru Ravidas Jayanti
Since the Jayanti is on February 20, it will fall right in the middle of the election campaign, making it a major event for all the parties Ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, Guru Ravidas Jayanti has become more than just a religious occasion. With the Ravidasia community wielding considerable electoral influence, particularly in the Doaba region, every major party is using the celebrations to reinforce its outreach to Dalit voters. Guru Ravidas was a revered 14th-15th-century Bhakti movement saint, poet, and social reformer. He has a massive following among Scheduled Castes in Punjab. Punjab has the highest Dalit population in the country at around 32%, according to the 2011 Census. The community plays a decisive role in the electoral outcome of several assembly constituencies, making it a key political constituency for all major parties. Since the Jayanti is on February 20, it will fall right in the middle of the election campaign, making it a major event for all political stakeholders in the state. The Centre’s launch of a special train for Guru Ravidas Jayanti is also likely to add a political dimension to the festivities. The BJP is projecting the launch of the special train as part of the Narendra Modi government’s efforts to facilitate pilgrimage and honour the legacy of Guru Ravidas. The party is showcasing the initiative alongside its outreach to Ravidasia deras and religious institutions, seeking to strengthen its connect with SC voters. The BJP is also using the occasion to expand its social base beyond its traditional urban support. The BJP has already kickstarted seven-month-long celebrations from UP to Punjab under the banner of ‘Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’, coinciding with the 650th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. The ruling AAP government is highlighting the measures it has taken to mark Guru Ravidas Jayanti, including declaring it a public holiday, organising state-supported celebrations and facilitating devotees travelling to places associated with Guru Ravidas. The party is expected to present these initiatives as part of its broader commitment to respecting all faiths, while combining them with welfare and governance measures targeted at disadvantaged communities. The celebrations are likely to be used to reinforce AAP’s outreach to Dalit voters, who form a key pillar of its electoral support in Punjab. The Congress is expected to leverage its traditional support base among the Ravidasia community, particularly in the Doaba belt, by increasing the visibility of its senior Dalit leaders during the celebrations. The party is likely to argue that while symbolic gestures have their place, the place in Sikhism, with his hymns enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib, while projecting itself as a party rooted in Punjab’s religious and social ethos. The Akali Dal is also likely to step up its engagement with Ravidasia organisations as it seeks to rebuild its support base before the 2027 polls. Reported by: Gurpreet Singh Chhina Edited by: Mohd Asim Courtesy : NDTV Note: This news is originally published on https:/ndtv.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Shravasti News: LJP to hold Dalit Chaupal on August 1
Shravasti. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will organize a Dalit Chaupal program on August 1 in Sangampurwa village of Jamunaha tehsil. The chief guest at the program will be MP and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Arun Bharti. A divisional review meeting was held on Wednesday regarding the preparations for the program, chaired by District President Rahul Paswan. Program coordinator and State Vice President Manoj Pathak stated that the Chaupal is being organized to strengthen the party’s hold among Dalits. Officials from all districts of the division attended the meeting, and the program outline was prepared. Devipatan divisional president Jatashankar Valmiki, Ashwani Srivastava, Balrampur district president Gaurav Singh, and Bahraich district president Yunus Parvez, among others, were present. Courtesy: Hindi News
BJP flags off 6-month campaign to consolidate Dalit’s support
Lucknow: In a move aimed at strengthening its presence among Dalits ahead of key electoral battles in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the BJP on Tuesday launched its ambitious ‘Samrasta Yatra’ from Varanasi. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary flagged off 131 urns carrying soil from Dalit icon Sant Ravidas’s birthplace at Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, is being seen as an attempt to strengthen the party’s influence among Dalit communities in UP while making significant political inroads in Punjab. The yatra, which began on Guru Purnima, will continue for six months until February 20, 2027, making it one of the BJP’s longest social outreach campaigns. Although BJP national president Nitin Nabin was scheduled to attend the launch, his visit was cancelled at the last moment. Of the 131 urns, 75 will be distributed across villages and hamlets in UP, while the remaining will be sent to other states, with Punjab receiving special attention. Political observers believe the campaign’s impact could be more pronounced in Punjab than in UP. Sant Ravidas enjoys deep reverence among Jatavs, one of the largest Dalit communities, and Dalits constitute nearly 34% of Punjab’s population. In UP, Dalits account for around 21% of the population and hold significant electoral influence through 84 Assembly constituencies reserved for scheduled castes. However, the BJP faces challenges in attracting Jatav voters in UP. Despite its efforts and also by the SP-Congress alliance and Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party to consolidate their support, a large section of Jatavs continues to remain aligned with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Analysts say this leaves limited room for the BJP to make rapid gains among the community in the state. Punjab presents a different political landscape. Though BSP founder Kanshi Ram hailed from Punjab and began his political journey there, the party has struggled to establish itself as a major electoral force in the state. The vacuum has allowed national and regional parties to compete for Dalit support, making the BJP’s Sant Ravidas outreach politically significant. Within UP, party insiders say the campaign reflects a broader strategy to strengthen ties with Dalit communities. BJP leaders are reportedly working on literature and outreach programmes centred on Dalit icons as part of preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. The urgency stems from the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when sections of its traditionally supportive non-Jatav Dalit base, including Valmikis, Sonkers and Pasis, drifted away from the party. The SP-Congress alliance made significant gains, with the Samajwadi Party winning 37 seats and the Congress six, while the BJP’s tally dropped sharply from 62 to 33 seats in the state. Political observers attribute part of this shift to the Congress-SP alliance, while SP leaders argue that sustained grassroots engagement and the emergence of Dalit leaders within the party helped reduce long-standing mistrust among Dalit voters toward the SP. SP insiders say the party plans to further expand Dalit representation in the 2027 Assembly polls and may field Dalit candidates even from general seats where electoral conditions favour such a move. The political importance of Sant Ravidas’s birthplace has steadily grown over the years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Ravidas Jayanti celebrations in 2016 and 2019 and visited the temple again in 2023. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi have also paid visits in recent years. The site’s political symbolism dates back to 1997, when then chief minister Mayawati attempted to develop a grand park at Sant Ravidas’s birthplace. The proposal, however, faced local resistance and could not be completed. Nearly three decades later, the temple and Sant Ravidas’s legacy remain at the centre of competing political efforts to win over Dalit voters. 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
‘Answer now’: CJP’s Saurav Das cites Rahul Gandhi’s claims, targets Amit Shah over July 20 police action
NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday demanded ‘answers’ from Union home minister Amit Shah over the July 20 police action against student protesters, citing allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das shared on ‘X’ and wrote, “This raises serious concerns about the Home Minister’s role in July 20 Police Brutality case. He must be held accountable. Every life is precious. A student lost his vision for life at the Home Minister’s order! Answer now.” The remarks came after Rahul, speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak bill, alleged that Shah was responsible for the police action against students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak. “The home minister put the pellets into the blood of our students; he ordered the students of India to be shot,” Rahul claimed in the House. He also alleged that only the home minister or the Prime Minister “can authorise” such use of force. Rahul further questioned Shah’s absence from the debate, saying he had seen the home minister sitting in his car but that “he is not present in the Lok Sabha because he is scared.” Many of Rahul’s remarks in the Lok Sabha were later expunged by the Speaker. However, outside Parliament and later at a press conference, the Congress leader repeated the allegations and demanded Shah’s removal. “There can be just two options – the Home Minister gave the order for firing (at protesters), the other is that the Home Minister did not know that there will be firing,” Rahul told reporters. “In the first case, he is culpable. In the second case, he is incompetent, there can be no other option,” he said. At a press conference, Rahul alleged that Shah either “ordered that students be shot with pellet guns and beaten with lathis having nails” or was unaware of the action. “If he ordered it, he is culpable and if he did not know then he is incompetent,” he said, adding that pellet guns could not be used without the home minister’s permission. Claiming Shah was “guilty,” Rahul urged the government to remove him from office. “Our advice to the government is to sack Amit Shah and order an independent high-powered committee monitored by the Supreme Court” to investigate the matter, he said. “Shah must go, he has shot our students and he must be held accountable,” Rahul alleged. The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing Rahul of making false claims. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Rahul was attempting to mislead the House by claiming Shah had ordered police firing during the protests. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also denied the allegations. “Rahul Rahul said that bullets were fired at the students. He lied. No bullet was fired. He also lied that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the firing,” Patra said. The exchange comes amid continued political sparring over the July 20 CJP-led protest march to Parliament and the police action against demonstrators. 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
Lok Sabha passes anti-paper leak bill after row over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill making punishment in paper leak cases more stringent and trial speedier with a voice vote as the House was plunged into bedlam, as opposition members, including Rahul Gandhi, demanded a response from govt over the police crackdown on students during their Sansad Chalo march on July 20. An engaging and passionate discussion had unfolded in the House over the anti-paper leak bill as members from the opposition and the governing BJP-led NDA put forth their views and traded charges for over eight hours without any serious disruption. But fireworks flew when Rahul made the “firing” charge, the first by anyone, and repeatedly used an “unparliamentary” expression to target BJP leadership. Rahul had started off by accusing Shah of “putting pellets into the blood of our students” but soon amped up the attack to say that home minister had ordered firing. NEET protest row Minister for personnel Jitendra Singh, who piloted Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, said govt acted swiftly in the NEET paper leak case, and as many as 52 FIRs have been lodged since the anti-paper leak law came into force in 2024. He also criticised Gandhi, stating that he lacks knowledge of parliamentary norms and the functioning of government. Utmost restraint was exercised to prevent casualties: Minister Expressing disappointment over the ruckus during the passage of the bill, minister for personnel Jitendra Singh said, “Instead of debating it seriously and offering suggestions, attempts are being made to politicise it.” The 2024 law was brought in when govt faced raging paper leak controversies. Before this legislation, there was no specific substantive law to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by various entities involved in the conduct of public examinations by the central government and its agencies. According to Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, investigations into paper leak cases are to be completed within two months. The bill says that individuals involved in paper leaks or unfair means in exams will get jail terms for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years, and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. For organised crimes, the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. The Bill also allows state govts and UT administrations to designate special fast-track courts for cases registered under the law. Responding to Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s remarks alleging atrocities and oppression were inflicted on innocent children, Singh said, “Utmost restraint was exercised andit was made sure that casualties do not happen.” Countering the charge that the education sector has been in a decline under the NDA govt, Singh said the number of universities has risen to 1,293 from 760 and higher education institutions to 64,896 from 51,534. He questioned the source of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s claim of 152 incidents of paper leaks. He said the govt regrets any such death more than the opposition. Singh claimed that the rate of suicide due to paper leaks had reduced. 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
‘Kannadigas ashamed’: Siddaramaiah targets Pralhad Joshi, calls him ‘ideological twin’ of Dharmendra Pradhan
BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the Union education minister, alleging that the decision had left Kannadigas “ashamed” and demanding his immediate removal from the portfolio. In a post on X, Siddaramaiah wrote, “We should have been proud that a Member of Parliament from Karnataka had become the country’s education minister. Instead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Pralhad Joshi – an MP who defended those convicted of raping a woman – leaving Kannadigas ashamed.” He alleged that Joshi and outgoing Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were “ideological twins” and claimed that both had entered politics through the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).”Pralhad Joshi is no different from outgoing education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Ideologically, they are twins. Both entered politics through the RSS-affiliated ABVP and share the RSS’s outlook towards women, Dalits, the poor, backward communities, Muslims and Christians. That is why Joshi has been brought in to replace Pradhan. Only the face has changed; the direction remains the same. He, too, will act according to the instructions of the RSS,” he said. Siddaramaiah also referred to the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Bilkis Bano case, alleging that Joshi had defended the Gujarat government’s decision to release those convicted in the case. “During the Gujarat riots, Bilkis Bano was subjected to gang rape. Pralhad Joshi defended the Gujarat government’s decision to release those convicted in the case on the grounds of ‘good conduct’ and spoke in their support,” he added. Siddaramaiah said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had raised the issue in Parliament and demanded Joshi’s removal from the Education Ministry. “Our concern now is what will happen to the country’s education system under a person with such views. Leader of the opposition @RahulGandhi and MP @priyankagandhi have exposed Pralhad Joshi in the Lok Sabha and placed the truth before the country. Their voices may be silenced inside Parliament, but the voices of crores of people across the country cannot be suppressed. It may not be long before Joshi follows the same path as Dharmendra Pradhan,” he said. He further alleged that Joshi would “act according to the instructions of the RSS” and reiterated that “only the face has changed; the direction remains the same.” “If Prime Minister @narendramodi has even the slightest concern for teachers and students, he must immediately remove @JoshiPralhad from the Education Ministry and entrust this important portfolio to someone who is genuinely qualified,” Siddaramaiah added. 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
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘advice’ to PM Modi, and 3 guarantees to students over police action on protesters
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Centre of denying him an opportunity to speak in the Lok Sabha because he held Union home minister Amit Shah responsible for the alleged police brutality during the July 20 CJP march. Addressing a press conference after the proceedings, Rahul claimed he was assured he would be allowed to resume his speech if he apologised, but said he refused, declaring that he would “never ever apologise to the BJP, RSS, or any other person associated with them.” “As you saw today, the leader of the opposition was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. Multiple times, I asked the Speaker to bring order to the House so that I could speak. Multiple times, Rajnath Singh ji and others were allowed to speak, but I was not allowed to speak. The excuse was that I said something about Mr. Amit Shah. I said that Mr. Amit Shah was responsible for the brutality that was carried out,” Rahul said. “I was also given an assurance that if I apologise, I will be allowed to continue speaking. The first thing is, I will never ever apologise to the BJP, RSS, or any other person associated with them. The second thing is, it is my right as the Leader of the Opposition to raise issues that are important for this country. To me, the most important issue today is that our students, people who are open-minded and ask questions, were brutalised on the streets of Delhi,” he added. ‘Sack Shah, order probe’ During the conference, Rahul called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Amit Shah over the alleged crackdown on student protesters and demanded an independent probe into the incident, which is being monitored by the Supreme Court. He also claimed the Congress had gathered evidence showing that police used electric batons, pellet guns and lathis fitted with nails to disperse students. “They were shot with pellet guns. One boy who was shot with a pellet gun is most likely to lose his eye and may not be able to see. I have seen the AIIMS medical certificate, which shows that he was shot with pellet guns. Shock batons were used, not just normal lathis, lathis with nails. Where did the police get this idea from?” Rahul said. “Now there are two possibilities. Either Amit Shah gave the order to shoot people with pellet guns, beat people with lathis with nails, and use electric batons, or he did not know it was happening. If he did not know, he is incompetent. If he ordered it, he is culpable. In either case, he has to go. And every single child who has been beaten must know this,” he added. “We are not asking for anything that is out of the ordinary. At least have the decency to take responsibility for what you have done,” he further said. 3 promises to students During the press conference, Rahul Gandhi also made three promises to students affected by the alleged police action. He said the he would ensure justice for the injured students, punish those responsible for the alleged use of pellet guns, and hold those involved accountable. “We will ensure that the students who were beaten, maybe not today, maybe sometime from now, but we will ensure that every single one of those students who was beaten gets justice,” he said. “We will ensure that the people who shot our students with pellet guns will be punished. It’s very simple for us to do. We have the photographs. We’ve collected all the videos and all the photographs. We know the police officers who have done it,” Rahul said. “So, you might think you’re very smart, but accountability is going to come. This is our guarantee. This is our guarantee to the students,” 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
Tehri Dalit Teen Death Case: Fugitive Accused Arrested in POCSO Case
The people of Pratap Nagar had repeatedly appealed to the district administration to arrest the accused. Tehri: The death of a Dalit teen in the Lambgaon area is once again in the news. Based on the complaint filed by the minor victim’s mother, a case was registered at the Lambgaon police station under sections of the BNS and POCSO Acts. Following this, the Dalit teen’s friend was arrested today. During the investigation, based on the victim’s statements under sections 180 and 183 of the BNSS and other evidence, the absconding accused was arrested. The accused was produced in court today. The people of Pratap Nagar had repeatedly appealed to the district administration to arrest the accused. Following this, the police conducted raids at various locations to arrest the accused, and finally, the accused has been arrested. The Dalit teen was friends (or in a love affair) with a girl. On the night of June 7-8, after receiving a call from the girl, he and his friend went to meet her on a bike. The girl’s family members intercepted him there. They then took the Dalit teenager and his friend hostage. They reportedly assaulted them, resulting in serious injuries. The Dalit teenager died. After the Dalit teenager’s death, the case became a high-profile one. There was a huge uproar. Following this, Chandrashekhar Azad, MP from the Nagina parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, visited the Dalit teenager’s home. He met with the Dalit teenager’s family and assured them of his support. He also demanded a CBI investigation into the matter. Following this, several other revelations emerged regarding the case. The other party also demanded the arrest of the Dalit teenager’s friend, who was arrested today. Courtesy: Hindi News
Occupation of 72 Dalit Patta Lands: Women Beaten for Protesting, Appeal to DM
In Niloha village, Falavada, Sardhana tehsil, Meerut, 72 Dalit leased lands have been encroached upon by powerful people. When the women tenants arrived with their land documents, they were assaulted and threatened with dire consequences. The victims met with District Magistrate Dr. VK Singh and requested an investigation and action in the matter. Villagers of Niloha village, Sardhana tehsil, stated that these leased lands were allotted to Dalits during the BSP government. According to government records, the land measures approximately 750 bighas, and all the villagers have valid lease documents. However, despite the land being in their names on the documents, the village’s powerful people have occupied it. According to the villagers, when they go to cultivate their land, the powerful people destroy their crops with tractors. This has caused them losses worth lakhs of rupees and has created a financial crisis. The villagers have accused Satte Pradhan, Mukesh Pradhan, Ompal, Ajay Kumar, Devi Lal, Rajveer, and Vinod, among others, of encroaching the land. The victims stated that they had filed complaints in this regard at the relevant tehsil and police station. However, their complaints were dismissed as land disputes, and no action was taken. On Wednesday afternoon, a large number of villagers reached the District Magistrate’s office. They explained their problems to the administrative officer and alleged that the bullies do not spare even women and beat them with sticks. Administrative officials have investigated the matter and assured impartial action. Shubham | Meerut Courtesy: Hindi News