A 12-year-old Dalit boy was locked in a cowshed, then news of his death surfaced… Major questions raised about the silence of political parties!
The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch raised serious questions about the silence of the government and political parties, warning of a major movement if the culprits are not immediately arrested. Shimla: The tragic incident of caste-based harassment of a 12-year-old Dalit boy in Limbara village, Rohru, has spread like wildfire throughout the region. The boy was allegedly locked in a cowshed, after which he took his own life by consuming poison. The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch has expressed strong objection to this serious incident and demanded immediate and strict action against the culprits. The Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch strongly condemned the incident and said that the accused should be immediately arrested and the strictest possible action should be taken against them under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act). The Manch also expressed concern about the safety of the victim’s family. They demanded that the victim’s family be given adequate compensation and full protection, so that they are not pressured to withdraw the case or tamper with evidence. Questioning the government’s attitude, the forum stated that the government’s lack of will to effectively implement the SC/ST Act is contributing to the rise in incidents of caste-based atrocities in the state. The forum also expressed deep disappointment over the silence of major political parties like the Congress and BJP on this issue. The forum believes that these parties prioritize vote bank politics over social justice. Suggesting a concrete solution to prevent caste-based atrocities, the forum said that just as awareness campaigns are run against smoking, a comprehensive campaign needs to be launched about the provisions of the SC/ST Act. Jagat Ram, state convener of the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, said, “It is the need of the hour to protect the rights of Dalits and stop their exploitation. We want to ensure that those who commit caste-based atrocities are brought to justice.” He also announced that the Manch would launch a massive mass movement against the increasing caste-based incidents and to uphold the Constitution. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
“Gay grooming halftime show”: Jason Whitlock claims NFL is promoting demonic worship and pushing transgender agenda
The NFL’s announcement that Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show has triggered an explosive response from former sports columnist Jason Whitlock. Known for his outspoken conservative views, Whitlock accused commissioner Roger Goodell and the league of openly rejecting Christianity while pushing cultural agendas that clash with faith-based values. Jason Whitlock accuses NFL of targeting Christian fans with Bad Bunny choice Speaking on his show Fearless, Jason Whitlock didn’t hold back. “The National Football League despises Jesus, Christ and Christianity and Christian values,” he said, adding that the league was using the halftime stage as “a tool to promote demonic worship, demonic energy, gayness, transgenderism, anything that defiles Jesus Christ.” His fiery remarks came just hours after the NFL confirmed Bad Bunny would perform at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. For Whitlock, the decision was not simply about entertainment—it was, in his view, a calculated cultural signal. He questioned, “Need to ask Roger Goodell, how far is this going to go? Will Satan personally receive an invitation to perform at halftime next year?” The criticism taps into an ongoing clash between traditionalist fans and the NFL’s push toward diverse, globally minded halftime productions. With Roc Nation and Apple Music producing the show, the league has emphasized inclusion and cultural reach. But for critics like Whitlock, those choices represent a sharp break from the values they believe football once upheld. Call for boycott and church-led protests against the Super Bowl Whitlock went beyond criticism and called on Christian groups to take action. “We can make the NFL reverse course on this decision and or pay a price for this decision,” he said, urging churches to organize Sunday night worship services instead of tuning into the game. “There’s no way in heck I’m watching this Super Bowl not with this Bad Bunny gay grooming halftime show.” — PopBase (@PopBase) While Whitlock’s words reflect one end of the spectrum, others in the entertainment world have embraced the decision. Former halftime performers like Bruno Mars, Shakira, and Jennifer Lopez have voiced support for Bad Bunny, who is set to become the first solo Spanish-language artist to headline the event. The backlash highlights the cultural tug-of-war that continues to play out on one of the world’s biggest stages. For the NFL, the halftime show remains a chance to capture global audiences. For Whitlock and his followers, however, it’s another sign that the league is drifting away from the values they once held dear. 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
Why did Rahul Gandhi suddenly leave for South America before the Bihar elections? BJP questions secrecy
Bihar Election 2025: The BJP has questioned Rahul Gandhi’s sudden departure for a four-nation trip to South America and the secrecy surrounding his schedule. The opposition has dismissed the BJP’s allegations as baseless. Patna: With just days left for the announcement of the Bihar Assembly elections, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has embarked on a trip to South America. Why did Rahul Gandhi leave the heat of Bihar and head to South America just before the elections? On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned his trip, claiming that Rahul Gandhi was “missing.” The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of maintaining excessive secrecy regarding his trip. However, opposition parties have defended Rahul Gandhi, calling the BJP’s allegations politically motivated and baseless. According to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi will meet leaders, university students, and members of the business community in the four countries during his trip. BJP leader Tuhin Sinha questioned the purpose and secrecy of Rahul Gandhi’s visit. He said, “Rahul Gandhi is a strange leader. He travels to South America to celebrate Navratri instead of participating in the Navratri pujas taking place in the country. If this trip is indeed an official visit, as Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has claimed, then why the need for so much secrecy? Why hasn’t he shared his South America itinerary yet?” Calling Rahul Gandhi ‘missing’ will create a false impression The opposition immediately reacted to these comments by the BJP and defended the opposition leader. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi rejected the BJP’s claim that Rahul Gandhi is ‘missing.’ She said, “I think it’s wrong to say he’s missing. It’s not right to use the BJP’s narrative on this issue. The Congress has confirmed through its official spokesperson that he is meeting people in South America. Calling him missing will only create a false impression among the public.” Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also defended Rahul Gandhi’s visit. He compared his actions to those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rajesh Thakur said, “He is not shameless like the Prime Minister, who is always focused on elections. Rahul Gandhi goes abroad to meet students and citizens of the country. He engages in meaningful conversations. This is not like Modi, who rushes to election sites for photo ops. BJP leaders are nervous. Their own members, Dilip Jaiswal, Sanjay Jaiswal, and Ashok Chaudhary, are under investigation. Their secrets are being exposed. Therefore, they are trying to divert attention by targeting Rahul Gandhi.” CPI-M called BJP’s comments foolish CPI-M leader Hannan Mollah called the BJP’s comments “foolish.” He said, “Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip has nothing to do with the Bihar elections. He has been touring Bihar for a long time. He raised important issues like vote rigging and the Nitish Kumar government’s failures. I don’t think the BJP’s criticism should be taken seriously. Those comments are foolish.” Hannan Mollah completely rejected the BJP’s allegations. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RLD) leader Maluk Nagar also reacted to the issue. He said, “When elections are near and leaders travel abroad, they should consider how it affects the perception of the alliance. Congress is the largest party. Rahul Gandhi is its biggest leader. Therefore, these decisions should be carefully considered.” Maluk Nagar questioned the timing of Rahul Gandhi’s trip, but also acknowledged the importance of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi’s trip to South America was announced on Saturday by Pawan Khera, head of the Congress’s media and publicity department. However, he did not disclose the specific countries Rahul Gandhi will visit. Rahul will meet leaders, students, and business communities in four countries. Pawan Khera posted on X: “Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has embarked on a trip to South America. He will interact with leaders, university students, and members of the business community in four countries.” According to the Congress, this is Rahul Gandhi’s first foreign trip in September. The trip aims to deepen democratic, trade, and strategic ties. It builds on historic India-South America cooperation. It also strengthens solidarity among countries in the Global South. During his visit to Brazil and Colombia, Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet university students. He will also hold discussions with presidents and senior leaders to strengthen democratic and strategic ties. The party also stated that Gandhi will interact with business communities to explore new opportunities. This is especially important as India seeks to diversify trade and partnerships amid US tariffs. (Input from IANS) Curated by: Suryakant Pathak About the Author Suryakant Pathak is a consultant at Navbharat Times Online. He has been a journalist for 31 years. He writes news, analysis, and blogs on India’s international relations and political and social developments in India and the world. He began his career as a reporter at Dainik Bhaskar in 1995. Courtesy: Hindi News
After Rahul meeting, ex-BJP min Anil Joshi may join Cong today
Amritsar: Former Punjab minister Anil Joshi, once a senior BJP leader expelled over his opposition to the now-repealed farm laws, is expected to join the Congress on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he met with Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. Talk was rife of his shifting as Joshi met Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal in Delhi on Tuesday. After being removed from the BJP in 2021, Joshi had joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) that year. He had, however, resigned from the SAD in Nov 2024. If he joins the Congress, Joshi, who is among the most notable Hindu politicians from Punjab’s Majha region, could be fielded by the party for the Tarn Taran bypoll. While all parties have announced candidates for the bypoll, Congress is yet to name anyone. Joshi is expected to join the Congress in Chandigarh on Wednesday in the presence of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and in-charge of the party’s Punjab affairs. A native of Sangha village in Tarn Taran, Joshi joined BJP in 1998 and remained the party’s mandal president before being appointed district president. Known as an outspoken Hindu leader of the Majha region, Joshi was elected MLA for the first time in 2007 and then in 2012 from Amritsar North assembly constituency on a BJP ticket. He served as the minister for local government in the then SAD-BJP govt. He was expelled from BJP on July 10, 2021, for six years for alleged anti-party activities, especially his objections to the party’s decision on three farm bills. He later joined SAD. In Nov 2024, Joshi resigned from SAD, stating that the party lacked meaningful discussion on the core issues facing Punjab and had deviated from the spirit of communal harmony that had originally inspired him to join. Though Joshi has maintained a strong political presence in Amritsar, he has also demonstrated his influence in his native city of Tarn Taran by securing a victory for his younger brother, Rajesh Kumar Raja Joshi, in the municipal councillor elections. During the farmers’ protest in Delhi, Joshi openly rebelled against BJP over agrarian issues, ultimately leading to his expulsion from the party. In 2024, he unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha election on a SAD ticket from Amritsar constituency, which was won by Congress’s Gurjeet Singh Aujla. Despite a long list of contenders for the Tarn Taran assembly byelection, the Congress high command had been delaying the announcement of its official candidate. However, Joshi’s unexpected meeting with Rahul and Venugopal has stirred a significant political buzz in the Majha region, especially among Congress ticket hopefuls. “He has a strong presence in Amritsar North assembly constituency. if he joins Congress, only the senior leadership will decide from where to use his services,” said a Congress functionary, who did not wish to be named. Joshi couldn’t be contacted for comment, but his close associates maintained that he was not joining the Congress on the condition of contesting the Tarn Taran byelection or any other election. “Instead, he has been drawn by the Congress party’s secular ideology and Rahul Gandhi’s progressive vision,” said one of his associates. 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
26/11 attack: Chidambaram says foreign pressure blocked retaliation; BJP hits out
NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday launched a major onslaught on Congress over former Union minister P Chidambaram’s statement that foreign pressure restrained the Manmohan Singh govt from retaliating against Pakistan after the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, saying the country has “paid a heavy price” for sins committed by Congress. BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad said Chidambaram’s comments have raised a big question as to “how weak the govt headed by Singh was”. “P Chidamabram, home minister in the Manmohan Singh govt, has now admitted that after the 26/11 attacks, he favoured retaliatory action against Pakistan, but the external affairs department… did not agree, and Singh remained silent,” he said, seeking answers from Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as to what compulsions prevented them from acting on the home minister’s suggestions. “It took around 16–17 years for Chidambaram to acknowledge that they failed to give a decisive response to Pakistan for the 26/11 attacks. Why was this wisdom kept hidden for so long? It took years to arrive at this realisation; it’s shameful. The foreign ministry and other ministries overruled the matter, and Singh just watched as the country suffered. Hundreds were killed; the attacks were clearly linked to Pakistan-based terrorists.” Contrasting Congress’s response with the surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor conducted by India under PM Modi, Prasad asked, “Who was running the country then? Where was Sonia Gandhi?” In a TV interview, Chidambaram said India had considered military retaliation after the 26/11 attacks but chose not to do so, apparently under pressure from other countries. “The whole world was descending upon Delhi to tell us don’t start a war… For example, Condoleezza Rice, who was then (US) secretary of state, flew in two or three days after I took over to meet me and the PM and to say, please don’t react. I said this is a decision which the govt will take.” “Without disclosing any official secret, it did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution.” he added. Chidambaram said the PM had discussed this even when the attack was going on … and “the conclusion was largely influenced by the MEA and IFS (Indian Foreign Service) that the Indian govt should not physically react to the situation”. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said that instead of taking action against Pakistan after 26/11 attack, UPA govt just seven months later agreed to address Pakistan’s unsubstantiated accusation about India stoking trouble in Balochistan. 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
SC/ST court sentences 16 men to 7 years in jail for attacking Dalit settlement
Jodhpur: Jodhpur: A special court for SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases in Jodhpur sentenced 16 men to seven years’ imprisonment for assault, arson, firing and damaging properties and valuables at a Dalit settlement in Padasla village near Osian town more than 13 years ago. Police presented strong evidence against a total of 19 accused in their chargesheet, three of whom died during the trial. The other 16 accused were convicted and sentenced on Friday. Pronouncing the sentence, special judge Garima Sauda said punishment must always be handed in proportion to gravity of the crime, and must not be determined by religion, caste or socio-economic status of the victim or accused. The convicts had attacked the Dalit settlement on the night of Jan 31, 2012, accusing members of the community of encroaching on their lands. The victims alleged in their complaint that about two dozen persons arrived in three vehicles, vandalised and set ablaze their huts, assaulted them and opened fire. The SC/ST court noted that a case pertaining to the land dispute between the victims and the accused was pending in a civil court, but abstained from interfering in that matter and limited itself to the case at hand. 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
Dragged by her hair, verbally abused… Dalit engineering student assaulted at Garba event in Gujarat
Mahisagar District Superintendent of Police Safin Hasan stated that the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the SC/ST Cell is investigating the matter. Statements of the victim and the accused are being recorded. Mahisagar: A case of assault on a Dalit student at a Garba event has been reported from Mahisagar district, Gujarat. The incident occurred in Bharaudi village, Virpur taluka. Police have registered a case of assault, derogatory behavior, and casteist slurs against the Dalit girl. Police have filed a case against four women involved in the incident. The accused women include Loma Patel, Roshni Patel, Vrishti Patel, and Meena Patel. The matter came to light when 25-year-old female engineer Rinku Vankar filed an FIR. Rinku is a fourth-year student at the Government Engineering College (GEC) in Gandhinagar. What’s in the complaint? In her police complaint, Rinku stated that on Friday night, she had gone with a friend to attend a Garba event in the village. However, the women present there tried to stop them and used abusive language. Loma, Roshni, and Vrishti Patel first scolded her and then used casteist slurs. They allegedly said that these people were not equal to them and could not participate in Garba. Rinku then had the event’s sound system turned off and complained to Praveen Narsingh Thakor, who was present there. Meena Patel then arrived, and the four women attacked Rinku. Dragged by the hair The complaint states that the accused dragged Rinku out by her hair and when she tried to film the incident, she was stopped. Furthermore, she was hurled casteist slurs and threatened with dire consequences if she returned to Garba. Police have registered a case against the accused under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 54 (offence committed in presence of abettor), 351(1) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked. Curated by: Rahul Mahajan About the Author Rahul Mahajan is the Principal Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 12 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with organizations such as ETV and News18 (Digital) during his journalistic career. Courtesy: Hindi News
Major Decision by Pilibhit POCSO Court: 20 Years for Rapist of Dalit Minor, 10 Years for Conspirator
The special POCSO court in Pilibhit has delivered its verdict in a highly controversial 2018 case. The female accomplice who lured the minor to the scene has also been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Pilibhit/Uttar Pradesh: A special POCSO court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor Dalit girl in 2018. Additionally, a 35-year-old woman, a family friend of the victim, has also been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment under criminal conspiracy (Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code) for luring the girl to the scene. This significant verdict was delivered by Special Judge (POCSO) Geeta Singh on Tuesday evening. The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the convicted, Vipin, and ₹50,000 on his accomplice, Kaushalya Devi. What was the entire case? According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on May 18, 2018. At around 2 p.m., Kaushalya Devi took the 15-year-old victim out of her home in a village in Pilibhit district on the pretext of defecation and asked her to keep watch. Vipin, then 18, was already waiting in a sugarcane field. The court was told, “He dragged the girl inside the field and raped her.” The heinous crime came to light when the victim later narrated the entire ordeal to her mother. Subsequently, based on a written complaint from the victim’s father, the police initially registered an FIR under Section 354 (assault with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and the SC/ST Act. The Truth Revealed in the Investigation Government Prosecutor Anil Kumar Sharma explained, “The girl did not disclose the rape when filing her written complaint to protect her dignity. However, when the medical examination confirmed the crime, the police added Section 376 (rape) to the FIR. The girl later emphasized this in her court statement under Section 164 of the CrPC.” After collecting all the evidence and witness statements, the police filed a charge sheet on April 3, 2021. Both Vipin and Kaushalya Devi were arrested the day after the incident but were later released on bail. Court’s Final Verdict The judge also ruled that if the accused fail to pay the fine, Vipin’s sentence will be extended by six months and Kaushalya Devi’s sentence will be extended by three months. The court ordered that the entire fine amount be given to the victim. In addition, the District Legal Services Authority has been directed to provide additional financial assistance to the girl under Rule 7 of the POCSO Act. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Dalit children on their way to school stopped by elderly woman brandishing a stick, video sparks outrage
The video shows a shameful scene, Dalit children insulted by calling them “Eliya Sathi” (aliya sathi). Find out what the whole story is. Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu: A shocking and shameful case of caste discrimination, still deeply ingrained in society, has come to light in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. In Kollanagarai village, some Dalit children were allegedly stopped by an elderly woman brandishing a stick and walking on a dirt road. The video of the entire incident has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread anger. The viral video clearly shows a young man walking with some schoolchildren when an elderly woman, armed with a stick, blocks their path. Despite the young man’s efforts to move the stick aside, the woman repeatedly attempts to stop them from moving forward. Insulted by being called “Eliya Sathi” Reacting sharply to the incident, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front state president Chellakannu strongly condemned the act. He explained that the elderly woman used the term “Eliya Sathi” to stop the children, which is a highly derogatory term used for Dalits. What is the entire road dispute? Chellakannu, explaining the incident, explained that the road over which the dispute arose is a normal dirt road. It is listed in government records as “Vandi Pathai,” meaning the road is authorized for vehicular traffic. He further said, “Recently, some locals encroached upon this road by planting banana trees. This blocked the children’s direct route to school, forcing them to take a detour of approximately one and a half kilometers around a reservoir. This continued for 18 days, before some young men from the area intervened.” It is reported that this encroachment was reported to the authorities three months ago, after which the Tehsildar intervened and the road was reopened. Police launched an investigation After the video of the incident surfaced, the police administration swung into action. Police have launched a preliminary investigation into the matter, although no FIR has been filed as of the time of writing this report. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Case filed against woman and her family for obstructing Dalit students
An FIR has been filed against an elderly woman and her family for obstructing Dalit students from using a “public path” in Thanjavur; villagers were forced to walk 1.5 km. Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu: Local police have filed a case against an elderly woman and her family for obstructing Dalit students from using a “public path.” They are accused of allegedly preventing a group of students belonging to the Dalit community from using a nearby public path. The obstruction is visible in the video. The incident occurred on Friday morning in Kollangarai village in Thanjavur taluk. A video that surfaced on social media clearly shows some students wearing school uniforms and carrying school bags walking through a street. An elderly woman, holding a stick in her hand, steps in to stop them. She shouts, warning them not to use that path. Police launch investigation Given the seriousness of the matter, a senior Thanjavur taluk police official confirmed that an FIR has been registered. “An FIR has been registered against the woman and her family members. However, no arrests have been made so far. The investigation is ongoing,” the official told news agency PTI on Saturday. Dispute over ‘vehicle route’ Villagers complained that they were being prevented by family members from using the common path, locally known as ‘vandi pathai’ or ‘vehicle route’. Previously, villagers alleged that they were forced to take a longer route. They had to travel an additional distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers by circling a water body to reach their destination. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News