‘Will eat 1 roti less’: Manish Tewari says India’s stand on US tariffs is about self-respect; slams Donald Trump, his aide Peter Navarro
NEW DELHI: Reacting to Donald Trump’s remark that the United States has “lost India to China” in the context of the US-India tariff dispute, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Saturday asserted that India is a nation that values dignity and self-respect above all. “What @realDonaldTrump and the likes of @RealPNavarro (Trump aide Peter Navarro) don’t quite get it is not about tariffs; it is about self-respect, dignity, and honour,” Tewari wrote on X. Drawing a parallel with the country’s historical struggle against the British Empire, he added, “We fought the Imperial British & vanquished them. India will eat one Roti less but never succumb to strong-arming.” Trump’s comments came a few days after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping met. On his social media platform, Truth Social, the US president posted: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” However, he later clarified he does not believe the US has “lost” India. Speaking to the media at the White House, he also expressed disappointment over India’s purchase of Russian oil despite Moscow’s war with Ukraine. “I don’t think we have (lost India to China). I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India- 50 per cent, very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi as you know. He was here couple of months ago (February), in fact we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference,” he said. The Trump administration – including aides like Navarro – has alleged that India’s Russian oil imports “fund” the war in Ukraine. The second half of the 50 per cent tariffs took effect on August 27, targeting India in response to these purchases. 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.
NDA slams Congress over Shrinate’s remarks
Patna: The state BJP on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Congress national spokeswoman Supriya Shrinate for her comments on the people of Bihar, accusing her of insulting ordinary citizens. Shrinate, speaking on a private channel, had praised Rahul Gandhi for mingling with the crowd during his recent Voter Adhikar Yatra, saying he hugged people who were “sweating” and “did not even wear clean clothes.” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya circulated a video clip on X in which Shrinate is heard saying, “People were sweating and their clothes didn’t look very clean. Still he (Rahul Gandhi) was hugging them and kissing their heads. Such a person can never show off or pretend. One can fear getting an infection, but he did not even wash his hands after shaking hands with people.” Malviya said the people of Bihar “deserve respect, not pity.” Bihar BJP minister Janak Ram said the remarks reflected Congress’s “feudal mindset”. Addressing a press conference in Patna, he alleged, “The people of Bihar have made their identity on the basis of their hard work. But these (opposition) people insult by calling the Dalit and poor people as dengue. The people of Bihar do not need the princes (read Rahul and RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav) of the two royal families. It is they who go among the people of Bihar for votes.” Labour resources minister Santosh Kumar Singh added, “The people of Bihar do not shake hands with the corrupt politicians. Congress leaders need not shake hands with Bihar people.” JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said, “From Telangana’s CM Revanth Reddy to Punjab’s Charanjit Singh Channi and, later, Kerala Congress comparing Bihar to a bidi. The latest example is Supriya Shrinate’s comments. They are upset because of their impending defeat in Bihar elections.” Janak also invoked the Lalu-Rabri Devi era, alleging Bihar had endured “goonda raj, jungle raj and lathi raj”, and said CM Nitish Kumar had rescued the state from fear. However, Congress state president Rajesh Ram countered, saying it was BJP-JD(U) leaders who demean women. He cited the “misbehaviour with a woman teacher during the NDA’s Bihar bandh on Sept 3”, when she was humiliated while trying to reach her school in Jehanabad. 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.
ED summons BJP man who alleges in court Rahul is a UK citizen
NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate has started gathering information related to a petition pending before Allahabad high court on the alleged UK citizenship of Congress functionary Rahul Gandhi. The agency has summoned petitioner Vignesh Shishir, a BJP member, who had approached the court demanding cancellation of Gandhi’s Indian citizenship on the alleged ground that the Lok Sabha LoP had acquired citizenship of the UK where he ran businesses. Sources said Shishir has been summoned by the agency to seek from him the details he claims to have, going by his petition before the high court, about Rahul Gandhi’s UK citizenship and the companies associated with him, as well as his foreign accounts, if any. On Saturday, petitioner Vignesh Shishir said he had received a summons from ED “with regards to Rahul Gandhi, MP, related to his British citizenship case”. He said he will appear before the agency to submit all information on Sept 9. ED is curious to know if “information” with Shishir represents any violation of the foreign exchange management act (FEMA), or if there were banking transactions and income abroad which were not declared. During the last hearing of case in May, Shishir had informed HC that UK govt has shared details with Centre on the UK citizenship of Rahul Gandhi and he, being the petitioner, was also notified by home ministry. In addition, during another review petition in July, Shishir claimed to have shared videos and documents related to Rahul Gandhi obtained from London, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. As reported earlier, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC had asked Centre to gather information from UK govt on the claims made by Vignesh and also provide security to the petitioner. Shishir’s PIL claims the petitioner has documents and e-mails of British govt establishing that Rahul had taken up UK citizenship. The petitioner argued that since dual citizenship is not allowed in India, the LS LoP must be barred from being a voter and disqualified from contesting any election. 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.
5 years sentence was given after 35 years in caste violence case, now all 32 convicts are out! What happened in the High Court?
Caste violence took place in 1990, the lower court had sentenced 5 years sentence this year. Now the High Court has given relief on the appeal of most of the convicts who are above 65 years of age. Prayagraj: In an important order, the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to 32 people convicted in the 35-year-old caste violence case of Agra. The lower court had sentenced all of them to five years in May this year, after which they were in jail. Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav gave this verdict on August 28 while hearing the criminal appeal filed by convict Jaidev and 31 others. According to media reports, this case is related to the caste violence that took place in Kagarol police station area of Agra district in 1990. After a long legal process, an Agra court convicted all the accused on May 28 this year and sentenced them to five years of imprisonment. In the High Court, the counsel for the appellants argued that his clients have been wrongly implicated in the case. He argued that there were serious contradictions in the statements of about 27 witnesses produced by the prosecution, which were ignored by the trial court. The counsel also said that the trial court did not properly evaluate the evidence and wrongly sentenced the convicts. The court was also told that most of the appellants are above 65 years of age and are suffering from various health problems. The counsel stressed that all the accused were on bail during the trial and never misused their liberty. They have been continuously in jail since May 28, 2025. Since there is no possibility of final hearing on their appeal in the near future, they should be released on bail till the appeal is pending. During the hearing, it also came to light that one of the appellants, 95-year-old Devi Singh (appellant no. 21), has already been granted short-term bail by the court vide an order dated August 4, 2025. After hearing all the parties, the court said, “Keeping in view the fact that final disposal of the appeal may take some time, the appellants are released on bail without making any comment on the merits of the case.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Meerut Court: Father murdered after attempting to rape Dalit minor, convict sentenced to life imprisonment
A special court in Meerut has sentenced the accused to life imprisonment and fine in the case of attempting to rape a minor and murder of a Dalit father. Uttar Pradesh: A special (POCSO Act) court in Meerut district has sentenced a 45-year-old man to rigorous life imprisonment for poisoning and killing a Dalit youth. The court gave this verdict in the context of the incident when the accused tried to rape the minor daughter of the deceased in 2011 and the father was killed when he lodged a case against him. According to the prosecution, the deceased was 35 years old and his body was found in a drain in Meerut city on 20 April 2011. This incident took place when a day before, on 19 April 2011, he had lodged a rape case against the accused. ADGC Amit Dhama said that the accused had tried to rape the minor daughter of the deceased that day by taking advantage of her being alone at home. The girl’s parents, who were labourers, were not present at home at that time. After the complaint was lodged, the accused had threatened the victim’s family to withdraw the case. But the very next day, the girl’s father left home for work and a few hours later his body was found in the drain. During the investigation, it became clear that the deceased was addicted to alcohol. The accused called him on the pretext of talking and made him drink alcohol mixed with poison. He died due to consumption of this poisonous liquor. There was no mention of any injury in the post-mortem report, due to which the cause of death could not be ascertained. The body parts were preserved and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that poison was present in the body. Earlier, the accused had been convicted in the rape case and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Now, on Wednesday, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Aslam Siddiqui convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 70,000. The court rejected the mercy plea and remarked that the crime was extremely heinous. The court said, “In such cases, it is the duty of the court to give a harsh punishment considering the gravity of the crime, so that the purpose of the law is fulfilled and the society gets a message that such crimes will not be tolerated.” Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy : Hindi News
Dispute over Dalit family’s land occupation in Meja: Victim family alleges – Police is pressuring for compromise, accused threatened
A land dispute has come to the fore in Bhuipara village of Meja police station area of Prayagraj. In this village of Vikaskhand Uruwa, the Dalit family has accused the neighbors of occupying the land. Kanhaiya Lal Harijan and Neeraj Harijan have lodged a complaint at Jevaniyaan police post. They have accused neighbors Gulshan Harijan and Satish Harijan of forcibly occupying the land. Neeraj said that the accused are threatening to kill them. The victim family says that the police is not taking action in the matter. Instead, they are pressuring for compromise. The victim woman has also accused the police personnel of threatening. Jevaniyaan police post in-charge Manoj Kumar said that the matter will be investigated and action will be taken against the culprits. Gulshan Harijan and Satish Harijan of the other side say that the neighbor’s allegations are baseless. They claim that this is the Bhumidhari land of the village and they already have possession of it. Rajesh Kumar Courtesy: Hindi News
Bihar Election Special: A safai karamchari became MLA 5 times, dalit daughters make their mark in politics
A silent revolution is going on in Bihar. The land which was once known for casteism and social discrimination is today writing a new story of dalit women leadership. This journey from soil to palace is not just a tale of individual achievements but a source of inspiration for the entire society. From Bhagirathi Devi who worked as a safai karamchari on a monthly salary of Rs. 800 to the country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the dalit daughters of Bihar have written a new chapter in politics. Bhagirathi Devi: From a safai karamchari to a five-time MLA Born in a Mahadalit family in Narkatiaganj of West Champaran, the story of Bhagirathi Devi is no less than a film story. Bhagirathi Devi who worked as a safai karamchari on a monthly salary of just Rs. 800 is today a five-time MLA. In 2019, she was also awarded the Padma Shri, which is proof that a person is identified by his work, not by caste or social status. Bhagirathi Devi, who raised her issues in Bhojpuri, has today become a strong voice of the poor-Dalit class. The country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Born on 31 March 1945 in Sasaram, Meira Kumar achieved a new milestone for the Dalit women of Bihar. Despite being the daughter of Dalit leader Jagjivan Ram, she created her own identity. First worked as an officer in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), then came into politics and became the country’s first woman Lok Sabha Speaker from 2009 to 2014. Meira Kumar’s political journey started in 1985 from Bijnor. After this, she never looked back and became an MP five times. Eight Dalit women became MLAs in 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 brought a historic turning point for Dalit women leadership. Out of the 40 reserved seats, eight Dalit women won, which is the highest record till date. The prominent names among them are… Bhagirathi Devi (Narkatiyaganj) Veena Bharti (Triveniganj) Kavita Devi (Kondha) Pratima Kumari (Rajpakad) Dr Nikki Hebram (Katoria) Rekha Devi (Masaurhi) Sangeeta Kumari (Mohania) Jyoti Devi (Barachatti) Deepa Manjhi (Imamganj, 2024 by-election) The journey from 1957 to 2020 In the 1957 Bihar assembly elections, only three Dalit women were elected, Shyama Kumari from Scindia, Shailwala from Deoghar and Saraswati Choudhary from Masaurhi. This number shows how weak the beginning was. This number increased in the subsequent elections, but after this the participation of Dalit women kept decreasing and the situation became even worse in 1972 and the 1980s, when no Dalit woman MLA was elected. This was the period when social and political challenges were at its peak. However, gradually the situation improved and a new chapter began in 2020 with the victory of a record eight Dalit women MLAs. Now what will happen in the 2025 assembly elections, only time will tell. Expectations of the new generation Shambhavi Chaudhary Shambhavi Chaudhary, who became the youngest MP from LJP (R) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, can become a new symbol of Dalit women leadership. Shambhavi has reached the Lok Sabha by winning the election from Samastipur constituency. She is the daughter of Aashiq Chaudhary, a minister close to CM Nitish Kumar, and daughter-in-law of social worker and former IPS officer late Kishore Kunal. Her success shows that Dalit women of the younger generation are more educated and politically aware. Dalit women face double discrimination Dalit women face double discrimination, that too on the basis of both caste and gender. In the traditional social structure, there have been attempts to suppress their voice. But with education and awareness, they are overcoming these obstacles. The irony is that till date in the political history of Bihar, no party has given its state president post to a woman. This shows that there is still a lot to be done. Success due to the increasing influence of education and awareness The education policies of the Bihar government, especially the bicycle distribution and incentive schemes for girls, have shown a positive impact. Educated Dalit women are coming to the political stage with more confidence. The number and participation of Dalit women candidates is expected to increase further in the upcoming assembly elections. Dalit women of the younger generation are more educated and politically aware. Anand Shekar ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anand Shekar has been working as a content writer in the field of digital journalism for 5 years. He has expertise in political news. He is currently working for Asianet News Hindi. He has experience of working in organizations like News4Nation, Prabhat Khabar and First Bihar Jharkhand. Anand has also been awarded the Best Content Editor Award in Prabhat Khabar. Courtesy : Hindi News
Odisha: Dalit man lynched on claims of killing a cow
Six persons have been arrested for beating the 35-year-old man to death. A 35-year-old Dalit man was lynched in Odisha’s Deogarh district after a mob accused him of killing a cow, PTI quoted the police as saying on Thursday. Six persons have been arrested in connection with the killing, which took place in Kundeijuri village under Riamal police station area on Wednesday. The man was identified as Kishore Chamar, a resident of neighbouring Kaunsidhipa village who worked as a cattle skinner. His coworker, Goutam Nayak also from the same village, was injured in the assault but managed to escape, Deogarh Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Mishra told PTI. According to Mishra, the mob that lynched Chamar had found both the victims cutting up a cow. The men told the mob that the cow had died naturally and they were only cutting it, but they were accused of killing the animal. The incident came more than two months after two Dalit men in the state’s Ganjam district were assaulted and tonsured by a mob that accused them of cow smuggling. The men, Babula Nayak (54) and Bulu Nayak (42), were transporting two cows and a calf in an auto when they were accosted by a group of cow vigilantes in Kharigumma village. The group allegedly accused the men of smuggling cattle and demanded Rs 30,000 from them. When they refused, they were assaulted, forced to crawl and consume grass. Courtesy : Scroll Note: This news is originally published on https:/scroll.in/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Trump admin backs parents against “woke” ideologies: Linda McMahon hosts roundtable as Virginia schools clash over transgender policies
In a bold move that puts federal education policy and local school governance on a collision course, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon hosted a roundtable on Wednesday with parents from Northern Virginia, many of whom are raising concerns about how schools handle transgender students. The session, attended by nine parents from Fairfax County and surrounding districts, comes after the department ordered five Northern Virginia school systems to revise policies that allow students to use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity rather than their biological sex. The department argued that the existing policies violated Title IX and warned that districts refusing to comply could be designated “high-risk,” a status that conditions federal funding. Parents voice conflicting views “We’ve been subjected for multiple years now to very invasive pronoun surveys,” said Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, a Fairfax mother, according to 7News. She and several others argued that students should use facilities based on sex rather than gender identity. The roundtable unfolded as Christina McCormick, another Fairfax parent and member of FCPS Pride, offered a counterpoint. “Really, everyone benefits, you know, from strong non-discrimination policies,” according to 7News. “It’s not just about trans students, but as a parent of trans students, I can say that the policies from Fairfax County Public Schools have made it possible for my kids to go to school happy at school. To have normalcy, just like any other student.” McMahon signals administration stance on X McMahon amplified the administration’s position in a tweet posted on X, writing, “The Trump Administration stands with parents who are fighting back against woke gender ideologies that are harming students. Taxpayer dollars will no longer support policies that allow grown men to share locker rooms with young girls.” The post included a clip from Wednesday’s roundtable, signaling the administration’s resolve to defend parents’ concerns at the federal level. — EDSecMcMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) Virginia districts push back with lawsuits The roundtable comes amid mounting legal tension in Northern Virginia. On Friday, Arlington and Fairfax counties filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Education, seeking to block the federal agency from freezing millions in funding over policies that allow students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. The lawsuits, underscore the stakes: Fairfax, the state’s largest district, could face up to $167 million in jeopardized funds, while Arlington could lose $23 million. These dollars support programs ranging from free and reduced meals to counseling and special education services. “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 Superintendent Francisco Durán said, according to The Washington Post. “We strongly disagree with the U.S. DOE’s assertion that our policy violates Title IX.” Legal context and Title IX debate Legal experts note that the fight hinges on the interpretation of Title IX, the landmark federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination. Courts remain split on whether it protects transgender students, with LGBTQ+ advocates citing cases like Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board in support of policies that allow students to access facilities matching their gender identity. Northern Virginia districts, many of which serve a third of the state’s public school students, have refused to revise their policies, arguing they comply with both state and federal law and provide a safe, inclusive environment for all children. “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 told The Washington Post. “We will not abide attempts to pit one group of students against another.” National implications loom With the Supreme Court expected to hear a case involving transgender athletes in federally funded schools later this fall, the outcomes in Northern Virginia could have nationwide implications. For now, McMahon’s roundtable and her firm stance on X signal the Trump administration’s continued focus on parental input and a rejection of policies it labels as “woke gender ideologies.” In school hallways and courtrooms alike, the debate over transgender rights, federal authority, and local control is far from over, and for parents in Northern Virginia, the conversation is only just beginning. 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.
Dedicated counselling centre for transgender community to come up in Kolhapur
Kolhapur: The district administration has decided to set up a dedicated counselling centre for the transgender community members on the Chhatrapati Pramilaraje District Hospital premises to provide support and address issues like social exclusion, discrimination and family rejection that often lead to mental health problems like stress, depression and anxiety among the members. Collector Amol Yedge on Thursday issued the directive to establishment the counselling centre, which will offer a safe and stigma-free space for individuals to express themselves. It will have specially trained counsellors focusing on mental health, social inclusion and professional empowerment According to the directives, transgender persons with valid ID cards will not be required to undergo repeated medical verification to avail of govt schemes. Coordinators have already been appointed in 27 of the district’s 42 key govt offices. “The ID card will serve as the primary proof for benefits, with no additional documents demanded. Publicity of the dedicated transgender welfare cell at the social welfare office was also emphasised. Colleges will be encouraged to conduct awareness programmes on Transgender Policy 2024, starting with workshops at Shivaji University. Separate washrooms for transgender people will be arranged at the collector’s office, police department, zilla parishad and Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, with future plans to extend such amenities at the taluka level,” Yedge said. At present, information on 190 transgender individuals with official ID cards in the district is being consolidated. “They will soon be provided with Aadhaar, ration and voter ID cards. A pilot project to deliver ration at their doorsteps, with support from philanthropic donors, is also under consideration. The stakeholders stressed the need for effective dissemination of details about all welfare measures and schemes under the policy,” an official 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.