Rahul Gandhi reveals his favourite BJP leader in candid Gen Z ‘Ask Me Anything’ on Instagram
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched an “Ask Me Anything” session on Instagram as part of a fresh outreach to Gen Z, responding to questions on student protests, women’s education, politics and even lighter topics such as Batman. Sharing the initiative on X, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote, “Students, Gen-Z — I’m here to listen. Ask me anything on Instagram, and I’ll answer as many questions as I can.” The Congress later shared video clips of his responses. Responding to a question on the ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, Gandhi said the country’s education system had “collapsed” and urged governments across party lines to pay attention to students’ concerns. “The student protests that are happening in the country are against the education system. I have said it in Kota, Dehradun and will say it in Allahabad that our education system has collapsed. It is unaffordable and oppressive,” Gandhi said. “Every government, whether it is the Centre, a Congress government or the Jharkhand government, should listen to what students are saying and take action to change the education system,” he added. The protest in Jharkhand entered its 13th day on Thursday, with six demonstrators continuing an indefinite hunger strike. Student groups have formed an 11-member delegation for talks with the state government over their demands. Asked what message he had for young women fighting for their right to education, Gandhi said women deserved equal — if not greater — space in every sphere of life. “India’s women are our biggest strength. I do not appreciate the way women are treated in society, in our education system or in the corporate sector. You be confident, you be brave, you be powerful exactly as you are, and we are there to fully support you,” he said. In one of the lighter moments of the interaction, Gandhi was asked to name his favourite politician from the BJP. He named former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, saying they got along well and praising his knowledge of military history. On the state of education, Gandhi alleged that the system was “busy destroying thinkers” and claimed that after being “captured” by the RSS, its focus had shifted to discouraging independent thinking among young people. Asked if he was Batman, Gandhi joked, “Let’s just say that no one has ever seen me and Batman in the same room together.” Replying to a question on the philosophy that inspires him the most, Gandhi referred to the ideas of Lord Buddha, Guru Nanak Dev, Basavanna, Sankardev, Birsa Munda, Periyar, Mahatma Phule, Narayana Guru, B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, among others, saying these traditions had shaped India’s Constitution. The Instagram interaction came a day after Gandhi met students who had protested over the NEET paper leak and allegedly faced police action last month. On Wednesday, he accused Union home minister Amit Shah of being responsible for the violence against the protesters and claimed the government had failed to explain the incident in Parliament. Gandhi has increasingly been using Instagram to engage with students and young voters. The platform has emerged as a key battleground for political outreach, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and leaders across parties also stepping up their engagement with Gen Z audiences. 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
Jharkhand student protest Day 14: Hunger strike continues as BJP, Rahul Gandhi back students
NEW DELHI: The protest by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Jharkhand entered its 14th day on Thursday, with students demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, while political pressure on the Hemant Soren government intensified. The protest, launched on July 25 under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, has grown into one of Jharkhand’s largest student-led movements in recent years. Protesters are seeking cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, an independent probe into alleged irregularities, and comprehensive reforms in the JPSC and JSSC. Here are the top developments: BJP MLAs protest outside Assembly BJP MLAs on Thursday staged a protest outside the Jharkhand Assembly, on the first day of the Monsoon Session, over alleged irregularities in the state competitive examinations. Speaking to ANI, BJP MLA Alok Chaurasia said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party stands firmly and vocally with the students regarding the functioning of Jharkhand government agencies such as JPSC, JSSC, and CJL, as well as the widespread corruption across the state, particularly the fraud committed against students…” The legislators raised slogans against the government, with chief whip Naveen Jaiswal alleging it was “selling” Jharkhand’s youths’ future and demanding a CBI probe, saying, “nobody trusts your CID and committee.” Rahul Gandhi speaks to aspirants Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to JPSC-JSSC aspirants over the phone on Thursday. Student leader Piyush Kumar said the students raised their demand for cancellation of the examination, an investigation and reforms. “We told him of our demands, that exam should be cancelled, regarding investigation and reforms. He said that he stands with our demands, and that they will take it up with the Govt. He said that he stands with and supports students…We are yet to get any official information regarding the date and time of meeting (with the government),” Kumar said. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said Gandhi enquired about the situation at the protest site. “He asked us about the situation here. We told him about the irregularities in exams here. We told him that Congress is in the government in Jharkhand and they should help us. He told us that he stands with students,” Paswan said. 11-member delegation finalised According to JPSC JSSC Reform Manch, protesting students have finalised an 11-member delegation for talks with the state government. The group comprises eight student representatives, one lawyer and two technical experts. The eight student representatives are Piyush Kumar Singh, Ravindra Paswan, Rajesh Prasad, Neetu Kujur, Kartik Soren, Ravindra, Ankit Kumar and Shalu Singh. Students have also demanded that any dialogue with the government be held in the presence of the media. Officials reach protest site Ranchi Sadar SDO Rajat Kumar and ADM Dhananjay Kumar reached Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to hear the grievances of the protesting aspirants. “We came to speak with our younger brothers about how we can assist them in their preparations for the future,” Rajat Kumar said. A protester said there had been a suggestion that a four- or five-member delegation should participate in talks, but students insisted on a transparent process. ‘Assembly gherao’ on Monday Amid the continuing agitation, students announced a “Vidhan Sabha Gherao” on August 10 if their demands are not met. Protester Radhe Kumar said the decision was taken after the government initiated contact with the students. JMM MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato urged the government to immediately open talks, warning that “something untoward will happen” if the situation remains unresolved. Hunger strike continues Activist Sonam Wangchuk rejected reports that student leader Devendra Nath Mahato had ended his hunger strike after speaking with him. A total of six demonstrators are presently on a hunger strike. In a video message on X, Wangchuk said, “He consumed water, not food; I want to clarify this.” He added, “He was fasting without water and without food, which is, in a way, like suicide. So, I only urged him to consume water and salt now and continue his fast.” Mahato began his indefinite hunger strike on August 2 at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. He is now continuing the fast on water and salt. Minister claims 19 arrested Jharkhand minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey said on Thursday that the government was investigating the allegations and that 19 people had been arrested. 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
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities. TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Two days after getting doxed, Telugu Dalit content creator’s account suspended by Instagram
Following the doxing, Ajay approached the Panjagutta police station to register an FIR. While Ajay’s complaint petition has been noted, the FIR is yet to be lodged. A day after Telugu content creator Ajay Radha Kumar was doxed by a Hindutva digital creator, his account was suspended by Instagram on Wednesday, August 5 for not following Instagram’s “Terms of Use on intellectual property.” Ajay, a 23-year-old content creator who has amassed over 1 lakh followers, is well known in the Telugu media landscape for posting feminist, Ambedkarite content. Over the past few weeks, Ajay has been posting videos related to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protests and public dissatisfaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government. He has also posted videos criticising the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government’s push for data centres and the privatisation of medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh. Since Saturday, August 1, a Hindutva digital creator identified as TD Rakesh Sharma has made a series of videos criticising Ajay. “I can only assume this is in response to a video I did regarding posters at the CJP protest where PM Narendra Modi’s face was morphed and affixed on women’s bodies,” Ajay, a Dalit residing in Hyderabad, told TNM. In his video, Ajay is criticising the posters for the underlying sexism of correlating the Prime Minister’s inefficiency with womanhood. In response to that video, Rakesh Sharma posted another stating that Ajay could lodge a complaint against him to the police if he wanted to. “But then you also have to explain how you justified PM Modi being presented as a woman,” Rakesh said. It is unclear how Rakesh arrived at this conclusion, as Ajay’s video does not justify the posters in question. “He doesn’t seem to understand what I was saying. I spoke in Telugu, but still it was lost on him and other right-wing supporters,” Ajay said. In a second video published on Sunday, August 2, Rakesh can be seen abusing Ajay for criticising PM Modi and Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. Things, however, took a turn on Monday, August 3, when Rakesh put out a reel on Instagram accusing him of duping women. “He (Ajay) targeted women students at law colleges and converted one such Hindu woman in Badhrachalam into an atheist,” Rakesh can be seen saying. Ajay told TNM that the woman in question was a friend of his who had her own political views. Rakesh also accused Ajay of making ‘anti-Hindu videos’ and made casteist remarks against him. But without stopping there, Rakesh put Ajay’s phone number on the video. “On Monday evening alone between 6 pm and 12:30 am, I got at least 100-120 calls,” Ajay told TNM. “I started to block them because I kept getting calls and messages incessantly,” he said. TNM also saw a few screenshots sent to Ajay which included messages from strangers abusing Ajay, his family and making outright casteist and communal remarks. Addressing the doxing, Ajay added that Rakesh had put out a lot of information about his identity. “A lot of information about me is factually incorrect. For instance, he said my mother is a Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) member, which is untrue, and made misleading statements about my family,” Ajay added. Following the doxing, Ajay approached the Panjagutta police station to register an FIR. While Ajay’s complaint petition has been noted, the FIR is yet to be lodged. Rakesh also posted further videos accusing Ajay of “using women” and making further videos on Ajay’s caste location. At the time of writing this article, Rakesh has posted 11 videos targeting Ajay. Written by:Anjana Meenakshi Edited by:Nandini Chandrashekar Courtesy : TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsminute.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
DV Rao discussed the Dalit Panther movement of the 1970s and stressed the Agrarian Revolution
DV Rao, while dealing with politics of caste and casteism, commented on Dalit Panther movement (founded in 1972 May by Namdeo Dhasal, Raja Dhale, JV Pawar and others) and wrote on it way back in March 1974 issue of Proletarian Path, a journal published for sometime from Kolkata (then spelled as Calcutta) and edited jointly by DV Rao and Moni Guha. The article is of historic interest and importance at a time a new book (see cover page below) appeared 50 years after the dalit panthers appeared. In the context of assertions by some people that communists ignored the caste question, and in the background of some confessions made by some communists, including those of ML groups, this article draws attention to what com DV Rao wrote more than half a century ago, much before the subaltern and identity movements entered India. In fact, DV Rao discussed the related issues ever since his earliest available writings of 1946, during the Telangana struggle (1939-51 Oct) days. So did com T.Nagi Reddy (1917-1976 July 28), whose 50th death anniversary was observed in the two Telugu states recently. Several articles on these two comrades and their revolutionary contributions were published and archived by the countercurrents.org (See at the end of this article). The latest book is titled: Dalit Panther : The Truth Underlined by Arjun Dangle ( Translated from the original Marathi by Maya Pandit, Rs 990. Published by Orient Blackswan Private Limited, 2026… 3-6-752 Himayatnagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500 029, India. .. info@orientblackswan.com). The blurb of the book says: The Author Arjun Dangle is a major writer of the Dalit literary, socio-cultural and political movements in Maharashtra. He was a founder member of the the Dalit Panthers, and later was also the president of the State Unit of the Bharatiya Republican Party of India. His published works include Dalit Sahitya: Ek Abhyas (1978), his poetry collection Chhavani Halte Ahe, which won the Maharashtra State Award in 1978, and the edited volumes of translations from modern Marathi Dalit literature, Homeless in My Land (1992) and Poisoned Bread (2009). About the movement it says: Led by powerful writer-activists such as Namdev Dhasal, J. V. Pawar, Raja Dhale, Bhai Sangare, Avinash Mahatekar and Arjun Dangle, the Panther mounted a fierce challenge to the casteist political and literary establishment of Maharashtra, while sharing solidarity with the struggles of workers, women and farmers. In documenting this history, Dangle also revisits the enduring debate on the relationship between the Dalit movement and the Left, and between Ambedkarism and Marxism. A Review of the book by scholar-activist Dr Anand Teltumbde is cited toward the end of this article. DV Rao (1917 June -1984 July 12) discussed the caste question and dealt with atrocities against dalits from his earliest available writings of 1946. DV called for militant resistance against the same as an inseparable part of the agrarian revolution, which includes the struggle for abolition of landlordism and for distribution of land to the tiller. The dalit question is inseparable from the land question, without which it remains merely formal and verbal. Words such as ‘Harijans’ and ‘Negroes’, it may be noted, were common in the political literature of those days, including this article of 1974, replaced later by the words ‘dalit’ and ‘Blacks’. The full text of the article, with its title, is given below (all emphases added). *** *** Dalit Panther movement and atrocities of landlords against the down-trodden That the Indian society is stinking with caste divisions from time immemorial is a fact beyond dispute. That the religions and social reformist movements, which claimed and still claim preaching equality between one and all, failed to dismantle these divisions is also a fact which cannot be disputed. Therefore, a new approach is needed to solve the problem. That there is a need to carry out an intense ideological struggle against the caste system cannot be denied by any one, who is for abolition of the system. Casteism intensifies caste division. A social reformist movement has some form of casteism as its content, or else it reduced itself into an idealist talk. Therefore, a revolutionary ideology is needed to fight it to the finish. Caste system, a survival of slavery and feudalism, is linked with the present-day political system in India. Though the Constitution provides equality for all citizens, economic inequality (capitalist and labour, landlord and landless) i.e., legal and social inequality is practised.There is a law prohibiting untouchabi’ity, but it is practised. In the name of providing facilities, existence of scheduled and backward classes is legalised. All the parliamentary parties have their own share in encouraging casteism for the sake of votes, representation in parliament and legislatures, jobs and other facilities etc. To expect abolition of casteism from such parties is nothing sort of hoping against hope. On the other hand, a revolutionary power, which enforces the abolition of caste system with all the force at its command, can alone do away with it. Behind the ideological-political frame work, there is the economic foundation of semi-slavery and semi-feudal relations in our country. The overwhelming majority of rural and urban poor, in which agricultural labour, poor peasants and industrial labour are included, come from certain castes in which the so-called Harijans ( ‘untouchables’ ) constitute considerable number. The landlords and the urban rich come from certain castes, in which poor and middle classes form a major part, as the rich is always smaller in number. There are some rich persons, though small in number, from the former category of caste, which are legally called as backward and scheduled castes. The backbone of the casteism consists of this upper strata of society which is exploiting it for its ends, political as well as economic. Therefore abolition of landlordism is the first essential task to root out the caste division and untouchability. Hence the need of an agrarian revolution. Not a day passes when we do not see the news of a landlord or a group of landlords harassing, torturing and
Dalit youth in Tamil Nadu killed over horse grazing on an upper-caste man’s land
The organisation called for the immediate arrest of all the accused, statutory compensation for Ramar’s family, a government job for his wife, educational assistance for his two children, and advanced medical treatment for Prasanth. A 26-year-old Dalit man was allegedly hacked to death in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul district after being lured out of his home over a dispute involving a horse, with the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) describing the incident as a brutal caste-based murder and demanding the immediate arrest of all those involved, along with police protection for the surviving victim and his family. According to TNUEF, the deceased, Ramar (26), and Prasanth (20), both residents of Poombarai village in Kodaikanal taluk, earned a living by transporting vegetables from the hills using horses before loading them into vehicles, Maktoob Media reported. The organisation alleged that on the night of July 30, a man identified as Raghu, who belongs to a dominant caste community, came to Ramar’s house claiming that their horse had grazed on his land and took him to the location. TNUEF claimed that Ramar was then attacked by a group of five men armed with sickles, sustaining multiple cut injuries that proved fatal. It added that Prasanth, who had accompanied him, suffered serious injuries in the attack and is undergoing treatment at Theni Government Medical College Hospital. Police have registered a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, TNUEF said that only one accused has been arrested so far, while the remaining suspects are yet to be apprehended. The organisation called for the immediate arrest of all the accused, statutory compensation for Ramar’s family, a government job for his wife, educational assistance for his two children, and advanced medical treatment for Prasanth. According to TNUEF, Prasanth’s mother informed a delegation that the family continued to receive threats after the attack and feared for her son’s safety. TNUEF state president K. Sellakkannu urged the Tamil Nadu government to provide permanent police protection to Prasanth and his family, arrest all those allegedly involved in the murder and attempted murder without delay, and invoke stringent provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused. Meanwhile, TNUEF and the CPI(M) have been staging protests outside Dindigul Government Hospital, demanding the arrest of all the accused and justice for Ramar’s family. The organisations also alleged that district authorities attempted to pressure Ramar’s parents into accepting the body. Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
₹13,177 crore from SC-ST funds diverted to women’s scheme, Tamil Nadu government under scrutiny | TM Special
Social activists say that diverting special funds reserved for the development of SC-ST communities to any other general scheme violates the principles of social justice. Chennai – A major revelation has been made under the Right to Information Act. A total of ₹13,177.53 crore from the special component fund reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) has been used over the past three financial years for the Tamil Nadu government’s ambitious scheme, ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ (Women’s Monthly Assistance Scheme). This information was provided by the Commissionerate of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management in Chennai in response to an RTI application filed by S. Venkatesan, a resident of Chunampet in Chengalpattu district. Venkatesan is the state coordinator of the SC-ST Vimochana Morcha. The Assistant Commissioner-7 of the Commissionerate (who is also the Information Officer) provided a detailed breakdown of the allocation for the scheme and the amount utilized from the SC-ST Fund in his letter dated July 21, 2026. According to the RTI reply, a total of ₹18,509 crore (₹1,85,09,05,05,000) has been allocated for the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme for the financial year 2025-2026. However, the most shocking fact is that ₹6,191.67 crore (₹6,19,16,73,20,000) has been allocated for the scheme from the SC-ST Special Component Fund in the same year. According to the year-wise details provided by the Commissionerate: ₹2,568.81 crore (₹2,56,88,17,22,264) from the SC-ST Fund in the financial year 2023-2024 ₹4,417.04 crore (₹4,41,70,46,37,000) in the financial year 2024-2025 ₹6,191.67 crore (₹6,19,16,73,20,000) in the financial year 2025-2026 Thus, a total of ₹13,177.53 crore (₹13,17,75,36,79,64) has been spent on this scheme from the SC-ST Fund in three years. The RTI reply also mentioned the total annual allocation for the scheme: 2023-2024: ₹5,812 crore 2024-2025: ₹5,138 crore 2025-2026: ₹18,509 crore However, the Commissionerate clearly stated that details of the number of SC/ST women benefiting from the scheme are not available in their office. They refused to answer the applicant’s query seeking this information. Venkatesan filed this RTI application on February 14, 2026. After reference to the government letter dated June 19, the letter was received at the Commissionerate on July 1, and a reply was finally sent on July 21. This revelation has sparked strong reactions from social activists and social justice advocates. They say that diverting special funds reserved for the development of SC/ST communities to another general scheme violates the principles of social justice. This violates the constitutional mandate that ensures dedicated funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This revelation raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of the underprivileged. The Maharashtra government also diverted funds in this manner. In July, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) strongly protested the Maharashtra government’s approval of financial assistance of ₹2.80 crore from the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department’s budget for the Ashadhi Ekadashi festival through the Chief Minister’s Warkari Mahamandal. The party alleges that the budget allocated for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste community is being continuously diverted for other schemes, adversely affecting the rights and development of the Dalit community. Previously, on May 20, the Maharashtra government’s Social Justice and Special Assistance Department issued an executive order approving the use of funds allocated under the Scheduled Caste (SC) component scheme for the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana. Under this decision, a provision of ₹3,000 crore was made for the 2026-27 fiscal year, of which a total of ₹730.51 crore (₹365.2550 crore each month) was distributed to the Women and Child Development Department for March 2026 and April 2026. In February, Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat expressed dissatisfaction with his own government’s policy and reiterated that his department’s funds were being used for schemes like “Ladki Behen,” which was unacceptable. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Justice after 19 years: Five convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping a Dalit woman to prevent her from testifying; victim remains missing
A special court in Aligarh has sentenced five convicts to life imprisonment for kidnapping a Dalit woman in 2007 to prevent her from testifying in a rape case. However, even after 19 years, no trace of the abducted victim has been found. Uttar Pradesh: A special SC/ST court in Aligarh has sentenced five convicts to life imprisonment in a 2007 kidnapping case. These perpetrators abducted a 19-year-old Dalit woman solely to prevent her from testifying in a rape case. The court termed it a deliberate conspiracy to eliminate a key witness and derail the trial. However, the most tragic aspect is that despite nearly two decades of extensive search and investigation, the victim has still not been found. The perpetrators of this horrific crime are now between 40 and 50 years old. All of them were convicted and sentenced under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with kidnapping with intent to murder, and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Delivering the verdict in this important case on Thursday, Special Judge II (SC/ST Act) Pratibha Saxena made a sharp remark. She noted that even after 19 years, the abducted girl has not been recovered. The court clarified that any undue sympathy in such serious cases would embolden the criminals and discourage victims and witnesses from coming forward. This tragic incident began on September 28, 2007. That day, the victim’s father filed a police complaint, stating that the accused had entered their village home in Aligarh district armed with weapons. These men, armed with country-made pistols, included Amar Singh, Lekhraj, Babulal, Suresh, and Usha Devi, all from Hathras. According to the father, these men forcibly abducted his daughter so that she could not testify against the accused in her own rape case. During the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses. Government lawyers strongly argued in court that the accused deliberately targeted this Dalit family to intimidate them and obstruct the course of justice. On Friday, Special Public Prosecutor Chaman Kumar Sharma shared a shocking fact while providing information about the case. He explained that the accused had been acquitted in the rape case related to this kidnapping earlier this year. The main reason for this was that the victim never appeared in court and the remaining witnesses recanted their statements. The father filed this kidnapping case just six months after the rape case was filed. Now, in this kidnapping case, the court has sentenced each of the accused to life imprisonment under Section 364 of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act, along with a fine of ₹10,000 for each offense. Meanwhile, a co-accused named Satish Pandey was acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence. The accused pleaded for leniency in court, but the judge flatly rejected it. The court’s decision sent a strong message that the justice system must assure the vulnerable and vulnerable sections of society that crimes against them will result in the harshest punishment, no matter how influential the accused are. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
593 workers lost their lives in sewers, the government concealed 261 deaths: Safai Karmacharis took to the streets to protest false data and negligence.
The Safai Karmachari Andolan demanded that the government acknowledge the failure of the NAMASTE scheme and admit that despite the scheme, there has been an abnormal increase in deaths. New Delhi—On Tuesday, August 4, sanitation workers from more than 10 states, families of those killed in sewer and septic tank accidents, civil society members, writers, and students gathered in the capital to strongly condemn the illegal practice of forcibly pushing people to clean drains and septic tanks and the resulting deaths. The protest, organized by the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) at Jantar Mantar, focused on the huge discrepancies in official data. On July 21, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale told Parliament that 332 people died in sewer and septic tank accidents between January 2021 and June 2026. Meanwhile, according to the SKA’s own data, 593 people died during the same period. The organization alleges that the government concealed and underreported 261 deaths. According to the SKA, 113 people have died in sewers and septic tanks in the first 207 days of 2026, including 15 deaths in July alone. The organization stated, “The government’s brazen concealment of such a large number of deaths is criminal. Making 261 people and their families invisible is shameful.” The SKA has submitted these figures to MPs and urged them to raise the issue in Parliament. The organization calls the attempt to conceal the figures a national shame and an act of untouchability. It says that instead of preventing deaths, the government is focused on concealing the truth. The SKA has declared the practice illegal and linked the high mortality rate to caste-based work, despite the existence of laws prohibiting manual scavenging. The organization has made the following demands: The formation of a Parliamentary Standing Committee to investigate sewer and septic tank deaths, requiring the government to submit an annual report to Parliament on deaths, prosecutions, compensation, and rehabilitation. A time-bound national plan to immediately prevent sewer and septic tank deaths. Acknowledging the failure of the NAMASTE scheme and recognizing that despite this scheme, there has been an abnormal increase in deaths. National Convenor Bezwada Wilson said that the Prime Minister should acknowledge this failure and take immediate action. The protest ended with the slogan “#STOP KILLING US.” What is the NAMASTE scheme? The NAMASTE scheme is a central sector initiative to mechanize sewer and septic tank cleaning, eliminate hazardous cleaning tasks, and provide safety kits, skill training, and health insurance to Safai Mitras (sanitation workers). It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It was launched as a central sector scheme in 2022. Its primary objective was to reduce deaths related to sanitation/cleaning work in India to zero, ensure that all sanitation work is carried out by skilled workers, and ensure that no sanitation worker comes into direct contact with human excreta. The Namaste scheme has not been completely shut down or declared a failure on paper, but it has faced significant criticism due to serious implementation gaps, sluggishness on the ground, and persistent sewer deaths. Despite stringent laws and the scheme’s claims, deaths of workers from toxic gases while cleaning septic tanks and sewers have not been completely stopped. According to reports from Parliament and parliamentary committees, far fewer than the designated sanitation workers have actually received PPE kits and modern safety equipment. The procurement and operation of modern machinery and robotic cleaning equipment in urban local bodies remains sluggish, leading to private contractors continuing to employ hazardous manual work. The rate of effective legal action or punishment for contractors and bodies that engage workers in illegal manual scavenging or hazardous work is very low. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Rajasthan Dangavas massacre: 40 accused acquitted after 11 years, Dalit community shocked; ‘Who killed our five people?’
Speaking to The Mooknayak, Dalit thinker and writer Bhanwar Meghvanshi said, “The acquittal of all the accused in the Dangawas massacre case is not just the end of a case, but a serious question mark on the right to justice for Dalits.” Nagaur – The memory of the brutal incident that occurred on May 14, 2015, in Dangawas village of Nagaur district due to a land dispute, in which six people were brutally murdered by being crushed by a tractor and attacked with sharp weapons, still haunts the Dalit community. These included five members of the Dalit Meghwal family. On Wednesday, August 5, the SC-ST Special Court in Merta acquitted all 40 accused named by the CBI in this case. A large crowd gathered outside the court premises when the verdict was announced. While the faces of the accused were filled with joy, the families of the victims were clearly filled with despair. This decision has come as a shock to the Dalit community. There is a wave of deep despair and grief. The victim’s family is asking, “When all the accused were acquitted, who killed our five people? We will go to the High Court.” Judge Ashish Bijaranian of the Merta SC-ST Special Court delivered the verdict, acquitting all 40 accused. According to Advocate Mahipal Latiyal, the plaintiff presented eight witnesses, while the prosecution presented 82 witnesses. After a lengthy trial, the court acquitted the accused. What was the dispute? This case involved a nearly 40-year-old land dispute. A dispute was ongoing between Jat and Dalit (Meghwal) families over 3.77 hectares of land in Dangavas village. The Dalit family claimed that they had borrowed 1,500 rupees from a Jat family about 40 years ago, giving them the right to cultivate the land. When they returned the money, they were not given back the land. Under Section 42 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955, Scheduled Caste land cannot be sold or transferred to a non-SC person. The dispute reached a head when Ratnaram Meghwal began building a house on the same land in May 2015. May 14 In 2015, more than 200 members of the Jat community allegedly attacked with sticks, sharp weapons, and tractors. Dalit women were molested, men were severely beaten, and several were crushed by tractors. Ratanaram Meghwal, Pokharram Meghwal, Pancharam Meghwal, Khemaram Meghwal, Ganpatram Meghwal, and Rampal Gosain were killed in the attack. A total of six people, including five Dalits, were killed. Given the gravity of the case, the Rajasthan government first handed over the investigation to the CID and then to the CBI. The CBI filed a charge sheet. In 2019, the Rajasthan High Court took a tough stand and ordered a three-month stay on the trial to apprehend the absconding accused. Subsequently, special police teams raided the premises, arrested all 40 accused, and sent them to jail. The trial had been ongoing in the Merta court since January 2018. When six people were brutally murdered, the entire country witnessed the brutality. For years, the victim families ran from court to court, hoping for justice. But ultimately, if no one is convicted, it signals a failure not just of the prosecution, but of the entire judicial process. – Bhanwar Meghwanshi, Dalit thinker The victim’s family has expressed deep sorrow over the verdict. They ask, “If all the accused were acquitted, who killed our five people?” They are preparing to challenge the verdict in the High Court. Dalit thinker and writer Bhanwar Meghwanshi, speaking to The Mooknayak, said, “The acquittal of all the accused in the Dangavas massacre is not just the end of a trial, but a serious question mark on the right to justice for Dalits. The question is simple: were those six innocent people not killed by anyone? Did they die on their own? When six people were brutally murdered, the entire country witnessed that brutality. For years, the victim’s families ran to the courts, hoping for justice. But ultimately, if no one is convicted, it signals a failure not just of the prosecution, but of the entire judicial process.” If the accused in such cases are acquitted in the absence of a fair investigation, bold evidence, and a fair trial, the biggest message it sends is that justice is becoming increasingly difficult for Dalits. This undermines the trust of marginalized communities in the judiciary. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was intended to provide effective justice to victims, but if convictions fail even in such heinous cases, it raises serious questions about the implementation of the law. The victims of Dangavas did not receive justice. This is not only a defeat for the victim families, but also a defeat of the promise of Indian democracy that the law is equal for all. This verdict forces us to introspect: where does justice lie for Dalits? This verdict reminds us of the many cases where victims of caste violence are denied justice even after a long wait. The wound of Dangavas has now been reopened. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News