‘Development, jobs to be NDA’s poll plank in state’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother will not be a poll issue, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal tells TOI’s Jainarain Pandey in an exclusive interview. He says development and jobs under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar will be the main election plank in Bihar. Excerpts: Will BJP make the abusive language used for PM Modi’s mother an election issue in Bihar? No. The Darbhanga incident from the Congress-RJD stage during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in on Aug 27 has shamed the state. BJP and the NDA will go to the people with the development works and welfare schemes launched under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar. Then why was a Bihar bandh called? It was a spontaneous decision taken by the women’s wings of the NDA partners after the PM shared his agony with the Jeevika didis in Bihar. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav says the PM was laughing abroad but started crying in India over the Darbhanga incident Tejashwi can never say anything on his own. It’s all scripted and shameful. The controversy would have ended that very day if Rahul Gandhi or Tejashwi had condemned the incident. Which areas of the state, in your view, need more attention before the assembly polls? NDA partners are working together like never before. Even during the Bihar bandh, flags of all NDA partners were seen on the streets. Our assembly-wise workers’ meetings have been a great success. We will connect with every household in the state to highlight what has been done during the NDA regime for women’s empowerment, youth, jobs and employment. The steps taken by the NDA govt have been historic for Bihar. What success mantra did the Union home minister give Bihar BJP core committee members in the Delhi meeting? Every NDA worker should spend at least five days in each village to convey the works of the govt. How will GST rate cuts impact the Bihar polls? It is a slap on the face of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, who called the Indian economy ‘dead’. It is also a strong reply to the US 50% tariff, and PM Modi has shown how Bharat turns every challenge into an opportunity. That’s the beauty of quality leadership in a country like India. The PM is coming again on Sept 15. How are the preparations? He is coming to Bihar for the 10th time in the last one year — after Darbhanga, Jamui, Bhagalpur, Jhanjharpur, Bikramganj, Siwan, Motihari, Gayaji and now Purnia on Sept 15. Each time, he has gifted Bihar schemes and projects worth several crores for the benefit of the people. Over 3 lakh people are expected in Purnia, where 1.5 lakh chairs will be arranged for the audience. 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.
BJP: Marshals were signalled to assault MLAs
NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, of unleashing “anarchy” and turning the state assembly into a stage for “hooliganism”. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Banerjee had abused constitutional privilege to hurl “derogatory” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. Bhatia said the “language of indecency” in Indian politics was first set by Congress neta Rahul Gandhi and is now being carried forward by Banerjee. “Rahul Gandhi began with uncivil and indecent language… now Mamata Anarchist Banerjee is carrying that fire of anarchy forward in Bengal,” he told reporters. He alleged that BJP MLAs, the principal opposition in Bengal, were manhandled on the assembly floor at the chief minister’s behest. “Marshals were signalled to physically assault our legislators. BJP MLAs were beaten, some fainted, sustained injuries and had to be rushed to hospital in ambulances,” Bhatia claimed. The remarks come amid a heated political climate in Bengal. Bhatia demanded Banerjee’s resignation, saying, “She is no longer fit to be chief minister. The people of Bengal will teach her a lesson.” Calling Banerjee a “symbol of jungle raj”, he said, “The one who took oath to protect the Constitution is today tearing it to shreds on live television.” He further accused her of appeasement politics, alleging, “She loves Rohingyas but strikes at an honest Prime Minister. For her, their religion and future vote bank matter more than constitutional propriety.” 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.
‘Collecting taxes from common people …’: Kharge’s ‘one nation, 9 taxes’ jibe at Centre over GST revamp; questions delay
NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday took a swipe at the Centre, accusing it of “celebrating” the Goods and Services Tax “as if collecting taxes from the common people were some great achievement.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the government of turning the vision of “One Nation, One Tax” into “One Nation, 9 Taxes,” with multiple slabs. — kharge (@kharge) He said that Congress had advocated for GST 2.0 in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos, urging simplification of the complex GST compliance system that had severely affected MSMEs and small businesses. “The Congress Party, in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos, demanded GST 2.0 with a simple and rational tax system. We also called for simplifying the complex GST compliances, which had severely impacted MSMEs and small businesses,” Kharge said. “On 28 February 2005, the Congress-UPA government formally announced GST in the Lok Sabha. In 2011, when the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee introduced the GST Bill, the BJP opposed it. When Modi was Chief Minister, he vehemently opposed GST. Today, the same BJP government celebrates record GST collections, as if collecting taxes from the common people is some great achievement” he added. ‘They finally have to follow Rahul Gandhi’s advice’ Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that the government followed Rahul Gandhi’s advice after eight years. In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed to a series of tweets by Rahul, in which he had criticised the previous tax structure by labelling it as “Gabbar Singh tax.” “When they finally have to follow Rahul Gandhi’s advice, why do they take so much time doing that?” Khera asked. The posts, dating back to 2016 and 2017, show leader of opposition in Lok Sabha urging the GST Council to cap the rate at 18% to benefit both industry and consumers, especially the poor. “As the GST Council begins its deliberations today I want to stress again that an 18% cap on the GST rate is in everybody’s interest,” Gandhi had tweeted in 2016. In another post, he called for a simpler GST structure. “India doesn’t need a Gabbar Singh Tax, but a simple GST,” Gandhi tweeted in 2017, stressing Congress’ long-standing demand for a single-rate GST. ‘8 years too late’ Former finance minister P Chidambaram also reacted to the Centre’s latest GST rate cuts, describing them as “8 years too late.” In a post on X, he said the prevailing taxes should not have been introduced in the first place. “The GST rationalisation and the reduction in rates on a range of goods and services are WELCOME but 8 years too late. The current design of GST and the rates prevailing until today ought not to have been introduced in the first place,” Chidambaram said. GST council approves major rate revamp, introduces two-tier structure The latest GST revamp, announced after the 56th GST Council meeting, simplifies the previous four-tier tax system of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% into a two-rate structure of 5% and 18%. Certain high-end items, including vehicles, tobacco, and cigarettes, will attract a special 40% ‘sin tax.’ Several essential goods will now face 0% or nil tax, aiming to ease the burden on common consumers. The 10.5-hour Council meeting, attended by representatives from the Centre and states, deliberated on potential rate reductions and reclassification of numerous goods and services, marking one of the most comprehensive revisions in recent years. 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.
Society still struggling to accept humans who don’t fit into man-woman binary: NHRC chief V Ramasubramanian
The day-long national conference on the rights of transgender persons is being held at the India Habitat Centre by the NHRC. New Delhi: India is “far ahead” of several other nations in recognising the rights of transgender persons, and while the country “may not have reached an ideal level”, but it has certainly advanced to a great extent in this area, NHRC Chairperson, Justice (retd) V Ramasubramanian said on Thursday. In his address at a national conference here, he also said that there could be or that there are human beings who “do not fit into this binary of man or woman” — is something that the societies all over, are still grappling to accept. “The consequence of this, is that trans people experience widespread discrimination and stigma in the health sector, schools, employment and housing as well as in accessing bathrooms,” the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson said. The day-long national conference on the rights of transgender persons is being held at the India Habitat Centre here by the NHRC. Centered on the theme “Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices,” the event emphasises “the immediate need to tackle systemic discrimination, uplift lived experiences, and promote meaningful inclusion for transgender persons in all areas of life”, the NHRC said. The rights panel chief began his address by quoting some texts from the Upanishads, which underline that the God pervades in all humans, and all living and non-living beings. If India is a country where the discourse on equality was taken to such great heights by the Upanishads, and if it is the philosophy of the Upanishads that every unit of creation is God’s manifestation, “can some units of such creation be discriminated against by others,” the NHRC chief asked. Can one unit of creation be considered inferior to the others and can any of such creations be treated with contempt, Justice Ramasubramanian emphasised. He said these were the pivotal questions around which this conference has been designed. “Fortunately, India is far ahead of several other countries in recognising the rights of trans persons. We may not have reached an ideal level, but we have certainly advanced to a great extent,” he asserted. This is because for the first time in history that the three pillars of democracy in India, namely “the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary, have come together, to transform the philosophy of the Upanishads into a constitutional philosophy and then to translate the constitutional philosophy into a parliamentary enactment,” he said. In his address, he also cited some data drawn from Trans Murder Monitoring, a research project of TGEU (Trans Europe and Central Asia) that tracks the murders of trans and gender diverse people globally According to its report released in 2024, there were “350 reported murders during the period from October 1,2023 to September 30, 2024”, of which 12 had happened in india, the rights panel’s chairperson said. This report also recorded the 5,000th recorded case of anti-trans murders since the year 2008. This report was released on the occasion of the Trans day Remembrance which is observed annually on November 20 to memorialise those who have been “murdered as a result of transphobia,” he added. He also underlined the change in wordings of texts of global declarations pertaining to human rights, equality and justice, over the centuries. But the mere change of terminology from ‘man’ to ‘human beings’ has “not actually transformed our stereotypical thought processes, and the society continues to think that men and women alone constitute the human race,” the NHRC chief said. “That there could be and that there are human beings who do not fit into this binary of man or woman, is something that the societies all over, are still grappling to accept,” he added. The NHRC is privileged to host this national conference as “a huge segment of our population, estimated as per the 2011 census, to be around 4.88 lakh cannot be left out of the mainstream,” the chairperson said. A comprehensive report aimed at strengthening policies and frameworks to uphold the rights and dignity of transgender persons, was also released on the occasion. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk calls for ban on trans hormone drugs, citing concerns over ‘extreme violent’ behavior
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that drugs used for gender transition should be banned, arguing they are linked to violent behavior. The tech billionaire’s comment came in response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that described the arrest of a trans-identifying person accused of breaking into a home and sexually assaulting a toddler. The post named Daniel “Dani” Senecal, who uses she/her pronouns, as the suspect. According to reports, Senecal had previously been jailed for a child sex attack and was released early from prison before the latest arrest. Musk replied to the post saying, “Something is seriously wrong. Trans sex hormone drugs are driving extreme violence and should be banned.” His remark quickly drew wide attention and has added to the debate over transgender health care and criminal justice. What are Trans hormone drugs Trans hormone drugs, as the name implies, are medicines used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender people. Doctors prescribe these under medical supervision as part of gender-affirming care. The aim is to align a person’s physical characteristics with their gender identity. The issue of access to gender-affirming medical treatments, including hormone therapy, has been highly debated in several countries. Supporters of transgender rights argue such care is essential for well-being and is backed by major medical organizations, while critics raise concerns about safety, long-term effects, and access for minors. Musk’s comment is likely to fuel further discussion, as he has previously spoken out on social and cultural issues to his audience of over 180 million followers on X. Elon Musk has been vocal about his opinion on stance against the “woke” movement and has taken significant steps, including moving company headquarters, in response to policies he views as harmful to families and businesses. The world’s richest person once called puberty blockers as “sterilization drugs”. He then criticized the term “gender affirming care” as a “terrible euphemism.” Musk recounted his realization that he had “lost his son” (Vivian who came out as transgender in 2022) to what he calls the “woke mind virus,” a term he uses to describe the ideology he believes led to his child’s transition. 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.
Dues of flour mill demanded from Dalit youth in Shivrajpur: Two goons attacked with a rod, he has been visiting the police station for two days
Two goons attacked a Dalit youth in Shivrajpur town of Kanpur countryside. The victim Sudhir Kumar runs a flour mill. He had asked for the outstanding amount from his customers. The incident happened at 7 pm. Sudhir was going home from his mill. On the way, he met Manoj Singh and Mohit Singh Chandel. Sudhir asked them for Rs 6000 for grinding flour. Both the brothers got angry at this. They used caste-specific abusive language. Then attacked with an iron rod. Sudhir got injured in the attack. The victim has accused the sub-inspector of Shivrajpur police station, Shubham Pandey. He says that no action is being taken for two days. Sudhir is continuously visiting the police station. Even after giving the application, the police have not registered a case against the accused. SHO Varun Sharma says that the application has been received and legal action is being taken. Sunil Kumar Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit government employee falls at feet of DMK councillo
Villupuram: A controversy erupted after CCTV footage of a Dalit revenue assistant S Muniappan (30) falling at the feet of DMK councillor R Ramya, who belongs to the MBC community, and asking for “apology” at the Tindivanam Municipal Commissioner’s office in Villupuram on Wednesday went viral. The Tindivanam police have registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against five persons, including Ramya, her husband Marur Raja, Ravichandran (husband of the municipal chairperson), Kamaraj and Birla Selvam. In his complaint to the Tindivanam Deputy Superintendent of Police, Muniappan said, “On August 29, I was looking for a file sought by the Municipal Commissioner when Ward 20 councillor Ramya entered the room and spoke rudely to me when I could not find the file. During the argument that followed, Ramya threatened me for speaking against her.” Following this, Ramya complained to the commissioner about Muniappan’s “misbehaviour” and the commissioner sought a written complaint to take action against him. However, by 4 pm on the same day, Ramya, along with her husband Marur Raja, Ravichandran and others, called Muniappan to the commissioner’s chamber to resolve the matter, the complaint states. At the meeting, Ravichandran and Ramya allegedly threatened Muniappan with termination from his job and demanded that he apologise to Ramya. Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit youth found dead with throat slit in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur
His body was recovered behind a liquor shop in Kindipur market, creating panic in the locality, officials said. Sultanpur: A Dalit youth was found dead with his throat slit here on Thursday morning, police said. The victim, identified as Mahesh Kumar (35), a resident of Kindipur village, had been missing since Wednesday evening. His body was recovered behind a liquor shop in Kindipur market, creating panic in the locality, officials said. According to police, Kumar’s throat was slit with a sharp-edged weapon. Additional Superintendent of Police Akhand Pratap Singh also visited the spot and reviewed the situation. Courtesy : DH Note: This news is originally published on https:/deccanherald.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
NHRC to host national conference on rights of transgender persons
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it firmly believes that the integration of transgender persons into society is “not just a legal or institutional responsibility, but a moral imperative” India’s apex human rights body will host a national conference on the rights of transgenders on September 4, for a “transformative change”, ensuring that every member of that community lives with dignity and has access to equal opportunities, officials said on Tuesday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it firmly believes that the integration of transgender persons into society is “not just a legal or institutional responsibility, but a moral imperative”. NHRC Chairperson Justice (retd) V Ramasubramanian will be the chief guest at the National Conference on the Rights of Transgender Persons, to be held at the India Habitat Centre. By convening this conference, the commission seeks to pave the way for a transformative change, ensuring that every transgender person in India is able to live with dignity, access equal opportunities, and reclaim their rightful space in society, the NHRC said in a statement. A wide spectrum of participants, including government officials, judicial and legal experts, policymakers, representatives of civil society organisations, community leaders, law enforcement agencies, and media representatives, will gather for the conference. The NHRC said that deliberations and recommendations at this conference will contribute towards strengthening inclusive policies and practices, advancing the rights of transgender persons, and reaffirming India’s commitment to the principles of human rights, equality, and justice for all. Centred on the theme ‘Revamping Spaces, Reclaiming Voices’, the event emphasises “the immediate need to tackle systemic discrimination, uplift lived experiences, and promote meaningful inclusion for transgender persons in all areas of life”, the statement said. The conference aims to create a national platform for dialogue on the rights and welfare of transgender persons, review the implementation of legal provisions and welfare schemes, and recommend practical policy reforms to strengthen institutional care, reduce stigma, and enhance access to education, healthcare, and employment. It also seeks to ensure “greater accountability and sensitisation within law enforcement agencies”, while celebrating the voices and resilience of transgender persons and acknowledging their contribution to India’s social fabric. “In the decades following Independence, transgender persons in India continued to face neglect and marginalisation, despite explicit constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and non-discrimination,” the NHRC said. Recognising the community’s vulnerability and these challenges, the NHRC said it has undertaken visits to assess the ground realities in operating Garima Greh shelters to ensure the initiative meets its objectives comprehensively. This assessment is part of the commission’s broader commitment to uphold the rights and welfare of transgender persons through better implementation and monitoring of such rehabilitation programmes. Building upon the findings from these visits, the NHRC has prepared a comprehensive report aimed at strengthening policies and frameworks to uphold the rights and dignity of transgender individuals. By identifying gaps in existing guidelines and highlighting effective interventions, the research provides evidence-based recommendations for policy enhancement, the statement said. In continuation of this effort, the Commission is organising the national conference on the rights of transgender persons to discuss and advance these crucial issues, officials said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever Courtesy : Mid-Day Note: This news is originally published on https:/mid-day.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Who will be the next CM of Bihar, who will become the leader of the opposition? Modi’s minister made the announcement, said a wonderful Shayari on Rahul Gandhi
Ramdas Athawale: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale reached Raipur on Wednesday to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. During this, he said that our government will be formed again in Bihar and Nitish Kumar will be the CM. Raipur: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale reached the capital Raipur on Wednesday. He came here to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. While talking to the media, Ramdas Athawale fiercely targeted Rahul Gandhi and the opposition. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s hydrogen bomb statement, he said that if Rahul Gandhi has a hydrogen bomb, he will have to send it to Pakistan. There is no need for hydrogen bomb here. Made a big claim regarding Bihar elections ‘राहुल गांधी हमेशा करते हैं शोर इसलिए हैं चोर’, मंत्री रामदास अठावले का बयान Ramdas Athawale said that Rahul Gandhi is saying wrong on vote theft. There is no fact in Rahul Gandhi’s statement. Leaving the issue of the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi is taking out a rally on the issue of vote theft. He claimed that our government will come in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will become the Chief Minister again and Tejashwi Yadav will become the leader of the opposition. Called Rahul Gandhi a thief Ramdas Athawale called Rahul Gandhi a thief in a poetic style. He said that Rahul Gandhi always makes noise, that’s why he is a thief. I think Rahul Gandhi has been saying such things. The Election Commission believes that you should show your presentation of how votes are stolen. If the votes of the opposition have increased, then you should also increase your votes. The opposition is provoking people Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Narendra Modi is the strong Prime Minister of the country, an attempt was made to defeat him in the year 2024. Our party’s seats decreased, an attempt was made to create controversy. Work was done to provoke Dalit Muslims. That’s why our party’s seats were reduced. Our NDA government was formed, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for the third time. At the same time, Ramdas Athawale defended the Maharashtra government on Maratha reservation. He said that the demand of the Maratha community was that OBC SC ST get reservation, so Maratha community should also get reservation. Meeting with officials Ramdas Athawale held a meeting with senior officials of the Chhattisgarh government and reviewed in detail the progress of various schemes run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is making serious efforts towards social justice and equal opportunity. Edited by: Pawan Tiwari About the author Pawan Kumar Tiwari is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. I have 10 years of experience in journalism. I have a special interest in politics, crime, current affairs and off-beat news of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. I have done ground reporting in many important events along with elections. I have been associated with Navbharat Times Online since 2022. Courtesy: Hindi News