Officials ensure entry of Dalits into Chennakesava Swamy temple in AP
A video circulating on social media purportedly showed a Dalit devotee and his daughter being prevented from entering and subjected to caste-based abuse. KADAPA: Officials intervened in a controversy over alleged denial of temple entry to Dalits at the Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy temple in Erragudipadu village, Kamalapuram and facilitated their entry and darshan on Sunday. Reports said Chandra and his family visited the temple on Saturday to offer prayers, but former sarpanch Brahmananda Reddy allegedly objected, claiming Dalits were not permitted. The confrontation led to a complaint with Dalit organisations. Based on a complaint by Ramu, Kamalapuram police registered a case against Reddy. A video circulating on social media purportedly showed a Dalit devotee and his daughter being prevented from entering and subjected to caste-based abuse. The complainant alleged they were told to worship from outside the temple premises. The incident sparked widespread debate online. Responding on Sunday, DSP Balaswamy Reddy, Tahsildar Srinivasulu Reddy, CI Mohan and SI Srinivasulu visited the village, consulted locals and took steps to prevent tensions. Later, the affected family and Dalit leaders were allowed to enter the temple and have darshan. 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
Dalits Allegedly Served Separate Meal at Karnataka Temple Fair on Gandhi Jayanti, Case Filed
People from the Dalit community in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district were allegedly served a separate meal at a temple fair, triggering a controversy over alleged caste discrimination and untouchability. The incident was reported from Tamadaddi village in Teradal taluk, where a Lakshmi Devi temple fair was held on October 2. A complaint was filed at Teradal Police Station by Basappa Yaladagal, a Dalit resident of the village. According to his complaint, separate arrangements were allegedly made for members of the Dalit community during the fair. Dalits Allegedly Served Ganji Separately According to the complaint, members of upper caste communities were served a regular meal, while Dalit attendees were allegedly served only ganji separately. Ganji is a fermented rice-based dish consumed in several parts of India. IndianMinorities Reports A case was registered on October 3 based on Yaladagal’s complaint. Around 20 people have been named, including Sukumar Patil, Basavaraj Yadawad, Nandappa Nandappanavar, Bhimappa Konnur and Suresh Akkivatti. The allegations have raised concerns over possible caste-based discrimination at a public religious gathering. Article 17 Prohibits Untouchability Untouchability is prohibited under Article 17 of the Indian Constitution, which states that its practice in any form is abolished. Laws including the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, provide for penalties for enforcing disabilities arising from untouchability. The incident took place on October 2, which is observed as Gandhi Jayanti, marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi had opposed untouchability and advocated equal access to public spaces, including temples and schools. Similar Allegations Reported Earlier The incident has also raised concerns because similar allegations had reportedly surfaced earlier in Tamadaddi village during another religious event, the Panchakalyanotsava. 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
‘Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar are India’s soul, mind, backbone’: Dipke’s jibe at Centre
NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru represented three distinct pillars of India’s political and social legacy. In a video post, Dipke described Gandhi as the “SOUL of India”, Ambedkar as the “BACKBONE of India” and Nehru as the “MIND of India”, adding, “You can never become like them.” — abhijeet_dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) The development comes as the CJP, led by founder Dipke, organised a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the protest stage displayed quotations on non-violence and simplicity, alongside tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar. Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified persons in connection with the protest at Shivaji Park. The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act for unlawful assembly, wilful disobedience of a lawful order issued by a public servant and other offences, a Shivaji Park police station official said. The FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by a resident of the Shivaji Park area, the official added. Dipke on Friday night also announced a fresh protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did not resign. “If Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10,” he said in a post on X, adding that the protest would be peaceful and urging every citizen who wants free and fair elections to join it. 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
‘What has changed in 17 years?’: Rahul Gandhi hits out at BJP over Bihar flood crisis
NEW DELHI: Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday targeted the BJP-led government over Bihar’s recurring flood crisis, asking what had changed on the ground in the last 17 years and calling for a permanent solution instead of yearly relief and assurances. In a post on X, while offering his condolences Rahul said that floods had once again struck Bihar with “devastating force”, affecting millions, submerging hundreds of villages and leaving several people dead or missing. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) “The most heartbreaking thing is that this crisis in Bihar is not new,” Rahul said, pointing to the recurring cycle of floods, deaths, shattered families and migration. “The BJP’s double-engine government should tell us — what has it done in the last 17 years to address this annual tragedy? What has changed on the ground?” he asked. Rahul said people in Bihar did not need relief and assurances every year but a permanent solution to the recurring floods. Nearly 50 lakh affected The latest flood spell affected 49.67 lakh people across 15 districts, according to the Bihar disaster management department. The affected districts included Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea, Madhepura and Araria. The floods came amid heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring areas, with officials saying water levels in the Ganga, Sone and Gandak rose sharply after heavy rain in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, as well as rainfall in the catchment areas of rivers originating in Nepal. This year’s flooding also differed from the usual pattern. While the Kosi and Gandak were responsible for the first two flood spells, the prolonged third spell in September was mainly driven by the swollen Ganga, Sone and Punpun rivers. Government pushes relief, long-term measures The Bihar government has stepped up relief operations, with chief minister Samrat Choudhary saying the administration would ensure assistance reached affected families. The state also transferred Rs 579 crore to 8.27 lakh flood-affected families across 15 districts, with each eligible family receiving Rs 7,000. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also visited flood-hit areas and assured Bihar of the Centre’s support for rescue, relief and rehabilitation. He said the scale of damage and the state’s requirements would be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. The state government has also been looking beyond immediate relief. Choudhary later said surveys of the Kosi and Mahananda rivers were being conducted as part of a comprehensive study of recurring floods and efforts towards a permanent solution. The issue of embankments has also remained central to the flood response. Bihar’s water resources department said scientifically strengthened embankments had remained intact this season, while older ring and zamindari bunds had suffered breaches. 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
AAP holds protest after 3 women journalists allege sexual harassment by cops – key points
NEW DELHI: Three women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by police personnel while covering a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 3, with the complaints now transferred to the Crime Branch for a “fair and impartial enquiry”. The allegations have drawn criticism from journalists and opposition leaders, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) set to protest over the incident. AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and party workers staged protests in front of Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of an FIR. The complaints were received by the New Delhi district police following the protest, during which police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order. Delhi Police said the complaints against police officers were being transferred to the Crime Branch, Kamla Market, which will examine the allegations and record statements of the complainants and other people concerned. The allegations have also triggered wider questions over the treatment of journalists and protesters during the demonstrations. CJP has announced a protest following the allegations, while journalist Dipke hit out at Delhi Police on X, alleging that the force had also picked up people who had no connection with CJP and tried to link them to the organisation to establish a foreign-funding angle. What the journalists alleged One of the journalists told PTI that an assistant commissioner of police sexually assaulted her while she was covering the protest. She alleged that police personnel were detaining protesters and that no women police personnel were present at the spot. “Police personnel were detaining protesters, and there were no women police personnel present at the spot. I asked ACP Vivek Bhagat of the Delhi Police about the absence of women police personnel, following which he sexually assaulted me and pushed me back,” she alleged. The journalist said she and others subsequently went to a police station to lodge an FIR but alleged that no action had been taken so far. Delhi Police, however, said on Sunday that complaints had been received from three women journalists alleging sexual harassment by police personnel. “On 03-10-26, during the protest in New Delhi area, while being in law and order situation, allegations of sexual harassment were made by three female journalists against police officers. New Delhi District has received their complaints,” Delhi Police informed on X. Dipke’s allegations, Rahul Gandhi’s attack Dipke alleged that Delhi Police had also detained people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to establish a foreign-funding connection. “Delhi Police has also picked up a couple of people who had nothing to do with CJP and tried to forcibly link them to CJP to establish a foreign-funding angle. A friend just told me that one of them was brutally beaten by Delhi Police and has also lost his job because of the arrest,” Dipke wrote on X. The Press Council of India expressed “shock and dismay” over the treatment of journalists and urged Delhi Police to immediately act on the complaint. Rahul Gandhi also accused Delhi Police of misconduct at Jantar Mantar and questioned Union home minister Amit Shah over the alleged treatment of journalists and protesters. The protests were held against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid demonstrations over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Delhi Police detained several protesters, while at least three FIRs were registered in connection with the mass protest held near Jantar Mantar on October 2. 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
‘Good thing’: Union minister praises Rahul’s Satyagraha website, then takes swipe at opposition
NEW DELHI: Union minister Chirag Paswan on Sunday praised Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi for launching a digital platform named “Satyagraha” to gather information on various issue-based protests occurring across the country.The Union minister said that as many platforms as possible must be provided for the youth to express their views. “That is a good thing. I have always advocated for providing as many platforms as possible for the youth and for our Indian citizens to express their views,” Paswan said. “It was with that very mindset that Rahul Gandhi initiated the Satyagraha,” he added. He, however, also targeted the opposition and accused it of spreading lies and raising issues only to abandon them halfway. “The name is well-chosen, but the opposition has developed a habit of repeatedly spreading lies and confusion. Raising issues only to abandon them halfway, spreading confusion among the public about everything from EVMs to the SIR,” he said. “The reality is that the people are rejecting you; you won’t grasp this through Satyagraha, but rather through introspection,” he added. This comes a day after Rahul launched the “Satyagraha” website and said that protesters can submit details about their causes, find similar movements across the country through an interactive map and seek direct support. “People across the country are fighting for their rights and often fighting alone. Gen Z, students, farmers, tribals, Dalits, women – every struggle has its own story. But the voice that rises alone often gets suppressed. ‘Satyagraha’ is an initiative to bring these voices together on a map. Bapu taught us this; truth is the greatest weapon. But an even greater weapon is standing together with truth in unity. If you’re also fighting against any injustice, share your story. It will take two minutes,” the Congress leader said. “Your story will appear on the map. You’ll see who else is fighting like you. And I’ll do whatever I can, in Parliament, on the streets, by writing letters, standing with you wherever I’m needed, as the leader of the opposition; this is my responsibility,” he 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
Transgender men dressed as sari were extorting money from a BMW owner; police arrested four after scanning CCTV.
Four men, dressed as eunuchs, were threatening a BMW owner and demanding 5,000 rupees. After the video surfaced, police scanned CCTV footage and arrested the four men. Hyderabad: In India, you’re likely to encounter transgressors at red lights. They often appear in groups of 4-6. As soon as the light turns red, they approach stopped vehicles and demand money from people. Believing that a transgressor’s blessings will never go unanswered, people often give them money. Sometimes, they refuse to pay and move on. This often leads to a fight. However, it’s not necessary that the person you’re giving money to is a transgressor. Sometimes, men are also disguised as transgressors. One such case has come to light in Hyderabad, where police have arrested four men dressed as sari men disguised as transgressors. On August 21st, they demanded money and threatened a BMW owner. These four men are accused of dressing up as women and threatening a BMW owner, demanding ₹5,000 from him. Jubilee Hills police in Hyderabad have arrested four men. They are accused of stopping a BMW owner near True Black Coffee on Road No. 45 on August 21st and demanding ₹5,000 from him. The incident came to light after a video of the confrontation was posted on social media. Following instructions from senior police officers, investigators examined nearly 500 CCTV cameras and traced the suspects’ movements from Jubilee Hills to Boduppal. The four accused have been arrested. The accused have been identified as Ramesh (40), Satyanarayana (41), Ramesh (42), and Yadagiri (44); all residents of Boduppal, Hyderabad. Investigators allege that the four men would masquerade as transgender individuals and stop drivers and extort money. Police also reported that they would visit housewarming ceremonies and newly opened shops to demand money. With the help of a task force, the four were arrested and later remanded to judicial custody. The investigation is ongoing. Reported by: Ashish Pandey, Edited by: Prabhanshu Ranjan Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Woman Delivers Baby On Road After Being Denied Hospital Admission In UP; Doctor Sacked
UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the portfolio of the in-charge of the health department, took serious note of the issue after the video surfaced. The mother and the newborn were later admitted to the hospital. | Image for representation A 20-year-old woman from a Dalit community gave birth to a baby in a public place outside a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi after she was denied admission to the health centre. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, prompting action against the on-duty doctor and other staff. Family Helps Woman Deliver Baby By Roadside The incident took place outside Maharaja Chet Singh District Hospital in Gyanpur. Rani was taken to the hospital on Tuesday night after she went into labour. Her family alleged that hospital staff refused to admit her after identifying her as belonging to the Musahar community. As they were leaving the hospital, Rani’s condition deteriorated and her family helped her deliver the baby outside the facility. Following the incident, CMO Dr SK Chak ordered an inquiry and ensured that Rani and her newborn were admitted to the hospital. 4-Member Panel Formed A four-member panel subsequently found lapses in the handling of the case. EMO Dr Pankaj, who was on duty when Rani arrived, was sacked after the inquiry found that he referred her without examining her. Staff nurse Neelam Maurya was transferred, while the salary of obstetrician Dr Mukesh Prajapati was withheld. The inquiry also recommended state-level action against CMS Dr Ajay Tiwari and Dr Neelima Dhawan. The report said Dhawan had examined Rani a day earlier but referred her elsewhere despite her severe anaemia. The CMS was also held negligent. Dr Prajapati was away from the district and arrived about 90 minutes later. The nurse was also accused of refusing admission while referring to the family as Musahar. Published By : Manisha Roy About the Author Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international developments. Courtesy : News18 Note: This news is originally published on https:/news18.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
UP: SP Focuses on Dalit Votes! A Major Dalit Conference in Agra on November 15th, Akhilesh Yadav to Be Chief Guest
Agra News: Ahead of the 2027 Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party will hold a major Dalit conference in Western Uttar Pradesh on November 15th at the GIC Grounds in Agra. Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief guest. Sunil Saket, Agra: Ahead of the 2027 Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party has intensified its efforts to strengthen its political base among Dalit voters in Western Uttar Pradesh. As part of this strategy, a major Dalit conference in Western Uttar Pradesh is being held on November 15th at the GIC Grounds in Agra. SP National President Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief guest. The party is preparing to mobilize a large number of workers and supporters from various districts of Western Uttar Pradesh for the conference. Recent reports have also confirmed the Agra conference on November 15th and Akhilesh Yadav’s presence. SP National General Secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman held a press conference on Saturday regarding the preparations for the conference. He said that from Agra, a message will be sent to politically unite the Dalit community in western Uttar Pradesh. The SP’s strategy is to strengthen the PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) social equation. This effort by the party comes at a time when all major parties are busy balancing social equations for the 2027 assembly elections. “BJP is a communal party” Ramji Lal Suman, targeting the BJP and RSS, said that a large number of people in western Uttar Pradesh are opposed to the RSS’s ideology. Calling the BJP a communal party, he said that those who want to remove the BJP from power are joining the SP. He said that issues such as the rights, reservation, employment, and social respect of the Dalit community will be prominently raised through the conference. Suman accused the government of working towards weakening reservation. He also raised the issue of the lack of government jobs and recruitment through outsourcing. Referring to incidents of damage to statues of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, he claimed that 151 statues of Baba Saheb have been vandalized recently, but the government has not taken any action against them. This figure of 151 statues damaged was also recently claimed by the Samajwadi Party. A Look at the BSP’s Political Base The SP’s strategy also reflects an attempt to reach out to the BSP’s traditional Dalit base. Suman also launched a political attack on the BSP and Mayawati, and spoke of the SP’s increasing acceptance among Dalit voters. He said that the BSP’s vote share, which was 30 percent in the last two assembly elections, has now dropped to 9 percent. The choice of Agra for the conference also has a political message. The party is trying to reach out to Dalit voters in Western Uttar Pradesh and integrate the PDA equation into the election campaign. The November 15 conference will be a major public platform for this strategy. Recent reports have also described the conference as an attempt to expand the SP’s reach among Dalit voters. What did he say about the Deputy CM’s statement? Regarding the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement on Akhilesh Yadav, Suman said that he did not want to respond to the statements of smaller leaders. He said that the SP will contest the 2027 elections based on its strategy and organization, and that the Dalit conference to be held in Agra will prove to be historic. However, on the question of crowd gathering, he said that while he has not estimated the crowd size, a large influx of his workers from Western Uttar Pradesh will be expected. Edited by: Devesh Pandey About the Author Devesh Pandey works for Navbharat Times Online. He is a member of NBT’s Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand digital team. Devesh has 9 years of extensive experience in digital, web, and broadcast journalism. He joined Navbharat Times Online in May 2025. Courtesy: Hindi News
Sant Ravidas Yatra is part of BJP’s Dalit outreach program
Multi-state outreach seeks to deepen party connections among Dalit communities before key elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to strengthen its outreach among Dalit voters in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand through the Sant Ravidas Yatra, which was launched across eight states. The fourth phase of the yatra is also set to begin soon. The BJP launched the Sant Ravidas Yatra from Varanasi on July 29, the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, which coincided with Guru Purnima. The yatra has so far passed through states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. A key feature of the yatra is that it has received support not only from Dalit communities but also from people belonging to other sections of society. The Sant Ravidas Yatra will have a total of five phases. The first phase, the Kalash Vandan Abhiyan, was completed from July 29 to August 31 and received a strong response. The second phase was the Sant Sampark Abhiyan, under which the BJP connected around 80,000 saints, sadhus and maths across the country with the yatra. The third phase is the Samrasta Yatra, scheduled from October 5 to November 5. It will begin from Jalandhar in Punjab. The yatra is being viewed as being directly linked to the Punjab elections. The fourth phase will be the Chhatrawas Sampark Abhiyan, scheduled from November 26 to January 15. To prepare the plan for this phase, the yatra’s coordinator and BJP national vicepresident Lalsingh Arya has convened a meeting in Delhi on October 9. The fifth and final phase of the yatra will continue until February 20. Religious and cultural programmes will be organised during this period, with the yatra concluding in Varanasi on February 20. There is a possibility that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself may attend the concluding ceremony in Varanasi. Varanasi is also his parliamentary constituency. The objective of the Sant Ravidas Yatra was to connect Dalits with the BJP. Punjab has a 33 per cent Dalit population, the highest in the country, while Dalits account for around 22 per cent of the population in Uttar Pradesh. A large section of these votes has traditionally gone to Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The BJP is focusing on this Dalit vote. Sources said the BSP has continued to receive 12 to 14 per cent of the Dalit vote in Uttar Pradesh even in its weakest electoral phases. According to sources, the BJP initially planned the Sant Ravidas Yatra with Dalit voters in Punjab in mind. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were later included in the yatra’s programme. By: Sanjay Sharma Courtesy : TSG Note: This news is originally published on https:/thesundayguardian.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights