Rahul moves HC against Varanasi court’sorder on his US remark on Sikh community
Prayagraj: Congress MP and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has approached the Allahabad high court against the decision of the Varanasi MP-MLA court that had directed the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) court to hear afresh an application seeking registration of an FIR against him for his statement on Sikhs made during a 2024 US visit. The matter is listed before a single judge bench of Justice Sameer Jain, who will hear his criminal revision petition on September 1. One Nageshwar Mishra of Varanasi had filed an application before the court of ACJM, Varanasi, which after hearing the matter on November 28, 2024 rejected the application seeking the registration of FIR against Rahul, while observing that the speech was given in America, so this matter was outside its jurisdiction. However, the rejection order was challenged by Mishra before the Varanasi’s MP-MLA court, which had allowed his revision while directing the ACJM to hear the matter afresh. During a programme in America in Sept 2024, Gandhi had allegedly said that the environment in India was not good for Sikhs. There was protest against his statement, calling it provocative and divisive in the society. Varanasi resident Mishra had tried to register an FIR against this statement with Sarnath police station of Varanasi but when he did not succeed, he filed an application for registration of FIR against Rahul Gandhi before the district court. The ACJM dismissed his application on November 28, 2024, saying that the matter was related to the speech given in the USA and it is outside his jurisdiction. After this, Nageshwar Mishra filed a revision petition in the court of special judge (MP/MLA), which, on July 21 2025, accepted it and asked the ACJM court to hear the plea afresh Now, Rahul’s counsel has argued that the order of the Varanasi court was wrong, illegal and without jurisdiction. It has also been prayed by him that during the pendency of the case before the high court, as an interim measure, the order of the Varanasi court should remain stayed. 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.
Congress uses yatra to reclaim ground, leaving allies wary
PATNA: The ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ of the opposition INDIA bloc, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, will conclude with a padyatra in Patna on Monday. How far the bloc has succeeded in taking its ‘vote theft’ narrative to the people will only be reflected in this year’s Bihar assembly election results, but Congress has undeniably made a striking comeback on the ground. For the first time in nearly three decades, its flags have fluttered prominently across Bihar’s rural belt through an aggressive campaign. Rahul covered more than 110 assembly constituencies in Shahabad, Magadh, Ang, Seemanchal, Kosi, Mithila, Tirhut, Champaran and Saran. Is Congress preparing the ground to be in the driver’s seat in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and the 2030 state polls? Many observers believe so, pointing to the party’s unusually assertive strategy to step out of the shadow of allies such as Lalu Prasad’s RJD. Though the padyatra was, for all practical purposes, a united opposition show — the kind not seen since the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 — it carried several symbolic signals of Congress’s revival plan. That may not sit comfortably with the RJD. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav made his point with symbolism. On the first day in Sasaram, he posted a photograph showing himself at the wheel of a jeep with Rahul and others standing behind. Alluding to Lord Krishna, he captioned it, “Yatra agar yudhbhumi ki ho to yaad rakhna, sarthi hamesha koi ahir hoga…since Dwapar (if the journey is for a battlefield, remember that a Yadav will be the charioteer… since Dwapar).” Political analysts said apart from Congress, top leaders of other parties — Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and others — joined the yatra at Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi’s invitation. Priyanka herself spent two days in Bihar. The optics were intended to project Congress as ready to lead the opposition against PM Narendra Modi and the BJP. Rahul largely targeted PM Modi, leaving Tejashwi to take on CM Nitish Kumar. State Congress leaders admit Tejashwi, as Lalu’s son and INDIA bloc coordination committee chairman, is the natural choice for CM if the opposition forms govt in 2025. But the Congress top brass, including Rahul, have been careful not to endorse any name. At Ara, Tejashwi had to “declare” himself as the CM face. Asked directly at a press conference whether Tejashwi would be projected as CM face, Rahul sidestepped by saying that he was enjoying the way the coalition was working “like a well-oiled machine”. A senior Congress leader said the high command has realised the need to revive its old base at the grassroots by breaking free from RJD’s shadow. “The first step was to send Krishna Allavaru as Bihar in-charge, followed by replacing Akhilesh Prasad Singh with a Dalit face as state president. One must note that neither Krishna nor any central leader of Congress has named anyone as CM face. This yatra was largely planned and managed by Congress itself,” he said. Another party leader pointed to looming seat-sharing tensions. RJD wants to accommodate VIP leader Mukesh Sahani by carving out 20 seats from Congress’s last quota of 70 and five from its own. Congress wants RJD to spare 10 from its quota instead while also pressing for three deputy CM posts — one each for a Muslim or Dalit candidate, Congress and RJD. It is worth recalling the sharp words of Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya, who, while joining the yatra on Saturday, dismissed the CM face debate. “Abhi shadi ka thikana nahin aur suhag raat ki baat karte hain (when marriage is yet to be solemnised, what to talk about first night),” she 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.
Brutality with Dalit child in Alwar, Rajasthan: 11-year-old innocent beaten, made to lick spit and humiliated
Brutality with 11-year-old Dalit child in Alwar district, accused absconded as soon as villagers reached. A case of beating and humiliation of an 11-year-old Dalit child by village youths has come to light from Khedli police station area of Alwar district of Rajasthan. According to media reports, the incident took place on the evening of 29 August. According to the information, an 11-year-old child from Peepalkheda village had gone to the fields on his bicycle. On the way, two youths came on a bike and stopped him. Both the youths were drunk and started beating the child. Then the youths spit on the ground and forcibly made the child lick it. Not only this, they also abused him and forced him to apologize by falling at their feet. The child’s mother told the police that the accused took her son to a millet field by showing him a knife. There they removed his clothes and tried to do wrong things with him. Meanwhile, some villagers reached the spot. Seeing the villagers, the accused immediately fled from there. The frightened and crying child reached home and told the whole incident to the family. After this, the family lodged a report at Khedli police station. According to police officials, the accused have been identified as Vijendra son of Atar Singh Gurjar and Vikas son of Devi Meena, resident of Pipalkheda. A case has been registered on the complaint of the victim’s family. Now the search for the accused is on and strict action will be taken soon. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Odisha: Dalit woman paraded wearing garland of shoes for not repaying ₹2,000 loan, video goes viral
Dalit woman inhumanly treated for not repaying ₹2,000 loan, video goes viral on social media. A shocking incident has come to light from Odisha’s Angul district, where a Dalit woman had to face inhuman humiliation for not repaying a small loan of ₹2,000. In the video that went viral on social media, it can be seen that the woman’s face was smeared with soot and she was paraded around the village with a garland of slippers around her neck. According to local sources, the woman had borrowed this money from a village committee. But when she could not return it, some women of the village decided to punish her by allegedly setting up a “kangaroo court”. The victim had lodged a written complaint at the Handapa police station on August 14. However, the villagers allege that the police, local administration and some influential people of the community kept trying to suppress the matter. A villager said, “Despite such a serious crime, no immediate action was taken.” The woman has left the village and gone somewhere else due to the constant fear of danger. Some people say that she may have been pressured to keep quiet. This matter came to light when the video of the incident spread rapidly on social media. After this, civil society organizations and human rights activists have demanded strict action against the culprits. Also, questions are being raised on the role of the police. At present, the official response of the Angul district administration and police is awaited. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Accused arrested for gangraping a Dalit girl in Deoria: They took the girl on a bike while she was going to her aunt’s house
A case of gangrape of a Dalit girl has come to light in Salempur Kotwali area of Deoria. Police have arrested both the accused and sent them to jail. The incident took place on the night of 25 August. The victim had left for her aunt’s house at 8 pm. On the way, Tinku Yadav of Garhwa Mishra and Satish Yadav of Dhanauti Rai made her sit on the bike by luring her to drop her to her aunt’s house. Both the accused took the girl to a deserted house near Dhanauti Rai village. There they forcibly took her inside by gagging her mouth. Both of them raped her one by one. The victim later gathered courage and informed her family about the incident. The police immediately sent the girl to the hospital for medical examination. After the report came, both the accused were arrested. After getting their medical examination done at CHC Salempur, they were produced in the court. The court ordered to send both of them to jail. Police have registered a case under various sections including rape and SC-ST Act. CO Salempur Deepak Shukla said that action is being taken to provide security and justice to the victim. Anugrah Narayan Shahi Courtesy: Hindi News
Lack of basic facilities in Dalit colony: 50 families in Semra village of Basti troubled by waterlogging and dirt
More than 50 Dalit families living in Harijan colony of Semra alias Galwa Panchayat of Basti district are facing many problems. Broken drains and waterlogging situation persists in the colony. Local resident Ramdev said that the drains are completely blocked. Dirty water enters the houses due to the passing of vehicles on the road. According to resident Ramchet, he has to pass through dirty water daily. People often slip and fall. Village resident Savitri said that no sanitation worker has come here for years. The water from the drains fills the roads. The village head is not paying attention to the problems of this colony. The condition of drinking water is bad in Pidawal village of Bahadurpur development block. Dirty water accumulates in pits near the tap. Villagers say that neither the head nor any officer comes here. The number of mosquitoes is high in the colony. Residents are at risk of malaria and dengue. Even after 75 years of independence, the people of this colony are not able to get basic facilities. Karunesh Courtesy: Hindi News
“Protect kids from tr*ns”: Antonio Brown sparks outrage with controversial post targeting transgender community
Former NFL star Antonio Brown has never shied away from controversy, but his latest comments have taken things to a new level. Known for his outspoken nature and unpredictable social media behavior, Brown is now facing backlash after targeting the transgender community in a post that many consider harmful and inflammatory. His remarks have reignited the debate over athletes, fame, and the responsibility that comes with having a large platform. Antonio Brown’s post that sparked a wave of criticism On August 30, Antonio Brown posted on X (formerly Twitter): “‘Protect Tr*ns Kids’, how about protect kids from tr*ns?” The comment, which quickly went viral with nearly 250,000 views, struck a nerve across social media. While some of his followers showed support — with one user, Nate Wiggy, replying with a “💯” emoji — the majority of responses criticized Brown for spreading discriminatory rhetoric. — AB84 (@AB84) LGBTQ+ advocates have condemned the statement, pointing out the struggles that transgender children already face in schools and society. Many argue that high-profile athletes like Brown should use their influence to promote understanding, not amplify division. A history of controversy follows the former NFL receiver Brown’s post is not an isolated incident. Once one of the NFL’s brightest stars, the former wide receiver has often made headlines for reasons unrelated to football. From public spats with coaches to abrupt exits from teams, and more recently, frequent social media tirades, his career has been a rollercoaster of brilliance overshadowed by controversy. This latest episode adds to his reputation for using online platforms as a stage for provocative statements. Critics say that targeting an already vulnerable community goes far beyond being outspoken — it crosses into dangerous territory that can fuel stigma and hostility. As debates over transgender rights remain at the forefront of American politics, Brown’s comments highlight just how divisive the issue has become. Whether his latest outburst will bring consequences or fade into the cycle of online outrage, one thing is clear: Antonio Brown continues to thrive in the center of controversy. 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.
Two Virginia school districts sue US Education Department over transgender policies
In a bold legal move that could shape the national debate on transgender rights in schools, two Virginia school districts, Arlington and Fairfax counties, filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Education on Friday, seeking to block the federal agency from freezing millions in funding over policies that allow students to use bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity. The lawsuits come after the Education Department said such policies violate federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination. The department had urged the districts, along with three others in the D.C. suburbs, to rescind their policies or risk losing access to crucial federal dollars. Both districts refused, arguing that their policies comply with the law and provide a safe, welcoming environment for all students, according to The Washington Post. The stakes for students are high “Students are punished when federal funding, primarily used to provide free breakfast and lunch for over 8,000 students or counseling and education for special needs students, is ripped away,” Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said in a statement, according to The Washington Post. “We strongly disagree with the U.S. DOE’s assertion that our policy violates Title IX.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon responded sharply on social media, writing on X, “It’s disturbing that these Virginia school division leaders are fighting harder to keep boys in girls sports and bathrooms than they are to improve outcomes for students. The Trump Administration will proudly stand for commonsense and protect our young girls.” Investigations and complaints The federal agency began investigating the five Northern Virginia districts, including Alexandria, Loudoun, and Prince William counties—after a complaint by America First Legal, a conservative group founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The complaint alleged that districts were providing “greater rights to students whose ‘gender identity’ does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose ‘gender identity’ matches their biological sex,” according to The Washington Post. While no federal funds have yet been withheld, officials warn that the “high-risk” designation imposed by the Education Department could jeopardize up to $167 million for Fairfax, the state’s largest district, and $23 million for Arlington. The funding supports programs ranging from counseling and academics to free and reduced meals for students. Legal battleground: Title IX Legal experts say the fight centers on the interpretation of Title IX, the landmark federal law that bars discrimination based on sex in federally funded schools. Courts have split on whether the law protects transgender students, though LGBTQ+ advocates argue that failing to do so constitutes sex-based discrimination. The 4th Circuit Court ruling in Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board is often cited in support of policies allowing transgender students to access facilities that match their gender identity, The Washington Post reports. Trump administration pressures districts Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Education has repeatedly pressed districts to rescind such policies, framing them as examples of “gender ideology” that threaten the rights of girls. Some districts nationwide, including Maine, California, and Denver, have resisted, leading to ongoing litigation, according to The Washington Post. Northern Virginia districts stand firm In Northern Virginia, where liberal districts serve roughly a third of the state’s public school students, local officials have doubled down on policies they say comply with both state and federal law. Revoking them, the school boards argue, would put them in legal jeopardy. “We have a responsibility to ensure that every child has the support needed to achieve their full, unique, and limitless potential,” the Fairfax County School Board said in a statement reported by The Washington Post. “We will not abide attempts to pit one group of students against another.” Supreme Court looming The Supreme Court is expected to hear a case involving transgender athletes in federally funded schools this fall, a decision that could ultimately determine the fate of policies like those in Northern Virginia. For now, the legal battle underscores the tension between federal authority, local control, and the rights of transgender students — a fight playing out in school hallways, courtrooms, and public debate alike. 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.
25 years on, 2 get life term for shooting dead Dalit vendor over 2kg onions
AGRA: A special SC/ST court in Firozabad has sentenced two men to life in jail for shooting dead a 24-year-old Dalit man in the middle of a busy marketplace in 2000, after the latter asked for money for 2 kg of onions from the buyers. On Sept 14 that year, Lillu alias Riyazuddin and Kalam along with their aides were initially involved in a heated argument with Rakesh Kumar, a vegetable vendor, in Firozabad’s Nagla Bari area. Lillu, who fired upon Kumar, was 23 years old at that time. Kalam was 22. ADGC (crime) Narendra Singh Solaki said once the victim asked for money, the accused got into an ugly spat and then all of a sudden, Lillu took out a pistol and shot at Kumar, who died on the spot. And all of them fled. An FIR was registered the same day under IPC section 302 (murder) along with the SC/ST Act on a complaint by Kumar’s brother, Mukesh Kumar. Four men — Lillu, Kalam, Ikrar and Bobby alias Parvez — were arrested, and the cops also found the weapon used by Lillu to kill Kumar. The chargesheet was filed on April 19, 2008. During trial proceedings, Parvez and Ikrar died, while Lillu and Kalam got bail before they were sent back to prison last year. On bail, Lillu started working as a daily-wager in Delhi-NCR and remained there during the Covid-19 lockdown. In his plea, Lillu said that it was his first crime, and he was the family’s sole breadwinner and had health issues. He also cited his wife’s ill health and his daughter’s marriage. Kalam, in his defence, also put forward a similar plea. The court considered at least six witnesses in the case and technical evidence, including the postmortem report and other documents. Rejecting their leniency plea, judge Navneet Kumar Giri of the special SC/ST Act court found Lillu and Kalam guilty, and delivered the verdict on Friday evening along with fine of Rs 50,000 on each of the convicts. 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.
Attack on Dalit woman and daughters in Pratapgarh: Bullies beat them up in land dispute, police present on the spot did not help
Land dispute took a violent turn in Antu police station area of Pratapgarh. Dalit woman Manju Devi and her three minor daughters were attacked by bullies on Thursday evening in Gram Sabha Para Hamidpur. The incident took place when Manju Devi was cutting grass on the boundary of her field. Beat with sticks started Krishnakant Pandey, Ketan Pandey and others reached there. They started beating the woman with sticks, claiming their right over the land. Manju Devi suffered serious head injuries and fell on the ground. When her daughters Muskan (16), Mansi (14) and Reshma (15) came to save their mother, the bullies did not spare them either. The girls were pulled down by their hair and beaten up. One girl has suffered serious chest injuries. Dial 112 police was present at the spot, but did not take any action. With the help of villagers, the victims were rescued and taken to the district hospital by ambulance. Due to the absence of NCR in the hospital, the doctors refused to treat them. Allegation of the victim’s family Instead of registering the complaint of the victims, the police filed a case against them. The victim’s family alleges that the Antu police station and the area in-charge are in cahoots with the bullies. Earlier also, many fake cases have been registered against the family. This entire incident has once again raised questions on the working of the police. While the woman and girls were beaten in the presence of Dial 112 police, the doctors of the district hospital are also not ready to treat without police NCR. Saket Kumar Mishra Courtesy: Hindi News