‘PM Modi surrendered to Pakistan, using military to protect image’: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: Accusing PM Modi of using the defence forces to “protect his image”, leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said govt “surrendered” before Pakistan by telling it within moments of Operation Sindoor that it did not intend to escalate or attack military installations. He said Modi had “blood of people of Pahalgam” on his hands, and he sent the air force to “protect his image”. Rahul asked the PM to realise “the nation is above your image” and not to “sacrifice the armed forces and national interests for your own petty political gains”. Rahul said govt showed a lack of political will and did not give the forces “freedom of operation”, and cited US President Donald Trump claiming 29 times that he forced a “ceasefire” between India and Pakistan. More than once, he challenged the PM to announce that Trump is a liar and did not force “ceasefire” and India did not lose any planes, egging Modi to say this if “you have even 50% courage of Indira Gandhi”. Rahul said Modi govt avoided naming “China” in its remarks, but the reality is that India fought Pakistan fused with China militarily, reminding he was laughed at when he had warned about it earlier in LS. “Govt thought they were fighting Pakistan… but realised they were fighting China,” he said, quoting Lt Gen Rahul Singh’s recent revelations that Pakistan was getting live battlefield information from China. “If you had listened to me, you would not have lost five planes.” He said govt should not allow India to become a “battlefield for big powers”. He cited the revelations of CDS Anil Chauhan and defence attache in Indonesia Captain Shiv Kumar, even as he urged the CDS to come out with a statement that the forces were hobbled by the political brass. “May be Rajnath does not understand what he revealed… that DGMO was told by govt to ask for ceasefire at 1.35am on the day of operation… surrender in 30 minutes,” Rahul said. He said Rajnath’s comparison of the 1971 war and Operation Sindoor was jarring because then PM Indira Gandhi had rebuffed US President Richard Nixon and the US seventh fleet, and finished the job. He was severe on EAM S Jaishankar, whose claim of “new normal” and of govt having deterred Pakistan was picked apart with the argument that Pahalgam mastermind and Pakistan army chief Feild Marshal Asim Munir was hosted by Trump in the White House for lunch, while the US Central Command head is presently having a discussion with Munir on how to fight terrorism. 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.
Every day 7 Dalit-tribal women are raped in Madhya Pradesh, shocking figures placed in the assembly
Crime Against Women: The scale of a civilized society is the condition of the women living there. The figures placed in the assembly regarding violence and crime against Dalit and tribal women in Madhya Pradesh are horrifying, which are pointing towards the condition and plight of women living in the society. Rape Victim In MP: In response to the question of opposition MLA Arif Masood in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday, the Madhya Pradesh government presented shocking figures of sexual crimes against Dalit and tribal women in the state every day. These figures have once again brought to the fore the horrific truth of caste and gender violence present in the society. The scale of a civilized society is the condition of the women living there. The figures placed in the assembly regarding violence and crime against Dalit and tribal women in Madhya Pradesh are horrifying, which are pointing towards the condition and plight of women living in the society. A total of 7418 SC-ST women were raped between 2022 and 2024 According to the data presented in the house of the monsoon session of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, a total of 7418 incidents of rape of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) women occurred in the state between the last three years i.e. 2022 to 2024. In these, 558 women were murdered, and 338 women were gang-raped. On an average, 5 SC/ST women were victims of sexual violence every day in the state The data shows that on an average, 7 Dalit or tribal women were raped every day in the state. In this period, a total of 1906 women became victims of domestic violence. That is, every day two SC/ST women continued to face harassment in their own house. During this period, 5983 incidents of molestation of women were registered, that is, every day 5 SC/ST women were victims of sexual violence. In the last three years, a total of 44,978 crimes against Dalit and tribal women were reported in Madhya Pradesh, which shows that on an average every day in Madhya Pradesh, 41 Dalit or tribal women are subjected to some form of crime. Women from marginalized sections are still the most insecure It is worth noting that about 38 percent of the total population of Madhya Pradesh comes from SC/ST communities, in which 16 percent are SC and 22 percent are ST, despite this, crime on such a wide scale shows that women from the most marginalized sections of the society are still the most insecure. The horrifying government data presented in the assembly also revealed that tribal women became more victims of sexual and fatal crimes, while Dalit women had to face more domestic violence and molestation. Even after 76 years of independence, the safety of SC-ST women is not guaranteed? These figures presented in the assembly raise the question that are our laws, our system, and our thinking still unable to guarantee the safety of women from these sections? And the most serious question is, are these just statistics, or the cries of thousands of lives that never reached the court? Reported by: Akash Dwivedi Edited by: Shiv Om Gupta Courtesy : Hindi News
Upper caste members allegedly obstruct Dalit woman’s funeral in Maski, verbal spat ensues
Raichur – Tension prevailed in Anandagal village under Pamanakallur Gram Panchayat limits of Maski taluk after members of an upper caste community allegedly obstructed the funeral of a Dalit woman. The woman, identified as Rangamma Yallappa from the Dalit colony of Anandagal village, had passed away on Sunday. On Monday, when her family and villagers were preparing to perform the last rites at the public cremation ground, a man belonging to the Panchamasali Lingayat community, along with his family members, allegedly opposed the funeral. They reportedly claimed ownership of the land adjacent to the cremation ground and objected, stating, “The land belongs to us, we won’t allow a funeral here.” This led to a verbal altercation at the site. As the news reached authorities, police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and intervened. They warned the objectors and ensured that the funeral was allowed to proceed. A local resident named Siddu said, “Funerals have been conducted at this site for many years. This is a public cremation ground meant for everyone. But they only raise objections when someone from the SC community dies.” Authorities have not yet confirmed whether a formal complaint has been filed in the matter. Courtesy : Vartha Bharati Note: This news is originally published on https://varthabharati.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Kharge’s missed chance sparks Dalit chief minister debate
Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s admission that he was denied the chief minister’s post in 1999 has rekindled debate over Dalit representation in Karnataka politics, triggering sharp reactions from BJP and measured responses from Congress. At a public event in Vijayapura, Kharge revealed that despite leading Congress’ Legislature Party (CLP) during the 1999 assembly elections, the party chose SM Krishna as CM. His remark drew a swift and stinging response from opposition leader R Ashoka, who accused Congress brass — especially the Gandhi family — of sidelining Dalit functionaries. “Kharge spoke about not being made CM and has now demanded to be appointed to the post to clear a debt owed to him,” Ashoka said. “Minister (KN) Rajanna has already spoken about a revolution, and Kharge’s has nicely times his demand, like hitting a ripe mango with a stone.” He also pointed out that Siddaramaiah, who came from JD(S), was made CM while Kharge, a long-serving Congress loyalist, was overlooked. “I will not predict the future, but MLAs have confirmed that a deal has already been made in Congress,” Ashoka said. “Discussions about a CM change are ongoing across all districts in Congress.” BJP state president BY Vijayendra also weighed in, claiming Kharge had openly shared his “pain and disappointment” with people of the state. “Despite working for 40-50 years in the party and contributing to its organisation, Kharge revealed that he was denied the CM’s post. Kharge’s comments indirectly exposed how the Gandhi family, Congress party, and Siddaramaiah have been unjust to Scheduled Castes and Tribes,” he said. Meanwhile, Congress functionaries offered mixed reactions. NS Boseraju, science and technology minister, defended Kharge’s remarks, saying they were intended to inspire party workers. “Kharge had an opportunity, but Krishna became CM. We should understand the message. Kharge spoke with the intention that many such opportunities will come,” Boseraju said. Home minister G Parameshwara refused to comment. On Jagalur legislator B Devendrappa recently suggesting his name for the CM post, Parameshwara said it was “not the right time to discuss the issue”. 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.
Dalit teenager gangrape case: Case registered against four accused in Sant Kabir Nagar, action taken on the complaint of the victim’s mother
A case of gangrape and video recording of a Dalit teenager has come to light in Sant Kabir Nagar’s Kotwali Khalilabad area. The police have registered a case against four accused on the complaint of the victim’s mother. The incident took place on 27 July 2025 at around 4 pm. According to the victim’s mother, her minor daughter had gone to the pond outside the village to defecate. There, Ansh Kumar, Aryan, Rohan Kannaujiya and Shivam Singh of the same village surrounded her. It is alleged that Ansh pushed the teenager to the ground. Shivam and Aryan held both her hands. After this, Ansh raped the victim. Rohan made a video during this time. After the incident, all four accused started watching the video together. The victim reached home crying and told the whole incident to her mother. Inspector Kotwali Khalilabad Pankaj Kumar Pandey said that on the complaint of the victim’s mother, a case has been registered against the four accused and the matter is being investigated. Devilal Gupta Courtesy: Hindi News
Federation of backwards and dalit seers confronts Rambhapuri Peetha
Davanagere: The Federation of Backwards sates and Dalit seers requested Veerasomeshwara Swamiji of Rambhapuri Peetha to demonstrate the Peetha’s secular credentials and substantiate claims regarding caste-based monasteries’ societal influence. The federation expressed strong disapproval of Veerasomeshwara Swamiji’s remarks in Bhadravati about “caste-based monasteries have corrupted society.” They indicated potential protests if the statement remains unrestricted. During the press conference held in the city on Monday, Immadi Siddharameshwara Swamiji of Bhovi Gurupeeta explained that caste monasteries emerged due to the systematic exclusion of backwards and Dalit communities. These institutions, whilst bearing caste names, promote social unity rather than division. Purushottamanandapuri Swamiji of Bhageeratha Gurupeeta noted that caste-based monasteries wouldn’t exist if Panchapeetas properly integrated marginalised communities through education and values. He highlighted the current leadership’s reluctance to engage with Swamijis from marginalised communities. Basavamurthy Madara Channayya Swamiji criticised Rambhapuri Shri’s stance as contradicting human religious principles, noting that Panchapeethas should respect all communities. The federation demanded the immediate retraction of Rambhapuri mutt seer’ss statement, warning of unified opposition in Davanagere if clarification continues. Various pontiffs attended, including those from Kanaka, Valmiki, Yadav, Narayanaguru, Helava, Reddy, Kumbara, Hadapada, and Medara Gurupeetas. ‘Will you return the Rs 100 crore grant?’ “Over Rs 100 crore of govt grants were used under the name of Beda Jangama. Branch monasteries of the Panchapeetas received these grants. Prove that these are truly monasteries belonging to the scheduled castes. Otherwise, issue a white paper regarding the govt grants received,” challenged Immadi Siddharameshwara Swamiji. He questioned, “In 2003, the demands made by the Panchapeetas to the central govt regarding reservations did not remain secret. What is your contribution to communities other than your caste?” 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.
Dalit youth hacked to death over inter-caste love
Tirunelveli: A 27-year-old scheduled caste (SC) youth was hacked to death by his girlfriend’s brother in Palayamkottai on Sunday afternoon, in an alleged case of caste killing. The accused surrendered before police on Monday, while the girl’s mother and father, both police inspectors, are absconding. The deceased, C Kavin Selva Ganesh, of Eral in Tuticorin district, belonged to pallar community, and was working in an IT firm in Chennai after completing his BE. Police said Kavin was in a relationship with S Subhashini from KTC Nagar in Palayamkottai, who he was acquainted with from childhood. However, Subhashini’s family, who hailed from the maravar community, did not approve of the relationship, and had threatened him earlier. Kavin ignored it and told his younger brother, Praveen Selgar, also an IT employee, about it. Subhashini worked as a siddha practitioner at a clinic in KTC Nagar. On Tuesday afternoon, Kavin went to see Subhashini at the clinic to consult her for his grandfather’s treatment. At that time, her brother Surjith, 21, asked him to come outside, saying he would accompany him to talk to their parents. Instead, Surjith verbally abused Kavin with casteist slurs for talking to his sister. He then pulled out a sickle and attacked him. Though Kavin tried to get away, he was chased and hacked to death by Surjith before fleeing. Palayamkottai police registered a case under sections 296 (b), 103 (1), 49 BNS r/w 3 (1) (r), 3 (1) (s), 3 (2) (v) of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 2015, including for murder. The body of the deceased was sent for post-mortem examination. Sujith was arrested after he surrendered before police on Monday. Terming it a caste killing, Kavin’s parents alleged that the murder was instigated by Subhashini’s parents Krishnakumari and Saravanan. Further investigation was going on. 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.
17-year-old youth shot by police after he attacks scheduled caste youth, sub-inspector
The injured has been admitted to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. A 17-year-old teen was shot at and injured, by police at Paappaakudi in Tirunelveli, early on Tuesday (July 29, 2025), after he and his associate attacked a Dalit youth with a machete and attempted to attack the police personnel who tried to arrest them. According to police, two 17-year-old boys from Paappaakudi in the district, both belonging to most backward community and already facing a few cases, attacked Sakthi, 22, of Rastha near Paappakudi, with a machete around 1.30 a.m. He was injured in the attack. Paappaakudi police, led by Sub-Inspector Murugan, rushed to the spot. As the boys, carrying machetes, chased the police also, they scurried away for safety. Mr. Murugan entered a house nearby. The dwellers of the house locked the main door once the police officer entered. “The armed teens who followed Mr. Murugan landed multiple blows on the door with machetes. However, the Sub-Inspector of Police opened fire at one of the attackers, who was injured in the hip. On seeing his associate fall, the other fled the spot,” police said. The injured has been admitted to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. A few villagers said the problem started after a minor scuffle broke-out between two caste groups who left the spot after the police entered the village. “However, the two teens, carrying arms, tried to attack the police, which led to the firing,” the villagers said. The Paappaakudi police are on the hunt to nab the teen who escaped. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Tamil Nadu Horror: Dalit techie hacked to death with sickle by girlfriend’s brother in Tirunelveli
A 27-year-old IT engineer was murdered in Chennai over an inter-caste relationship. The accused, Surjith, was arrested, and his parents, both sub-inspectors, face charges under the SC/ST Act. The victim had visited a clinic to meet his former schoolmate, leading to a fatal confrontation. An IT employee belonging to a Scheduled Caste has been hacked to death by a youth, allegedly over an inter-caste relationship, police have said. An IT employee belonging to a Scheduled Caste has been hacked to death by a youth, allegedly over an inter-caste relationship, police have said. A 27-year-old Dalit software engineer was brutally hacked to death in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, allegedly over an inter-caste relationship, police said on Monday. The victim, Kavin Selva Ganesh, who was employed at a software firm in Chennai, belonged to the Devendra Kula Vellalar community, a Scheduled Caste group, according top PTI. The suspect, S Surjith, the brother of the woman Ganesh was reportedly in a relationship with, has been arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Shockingly, police confirmed that both of Surjith’s parents are serving as sub-inspectors, and a case has been registered against them as well. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, when Ganesh had gone to a Siddha clinic in Tirunelveli town to meet S Subhashini, a practitioner at the facility and his former schoolmate, reportedly to seek treatment for his ailing grandfather. An argument allegedly broke out between Ganesh and Surjith outside the clinic. Police say Surjith, enraged over the inter-caste relationship, attacked Ganesh with a sickle. His body was later discovered around 200 metres from the clinic. A post-mortem was conducted at the Tirunelveli Government Hospital. Subhashini’s family belongs to the Maravar community, a dominant caste group in southern Tamil Nadu. According to police, her family had long opposed her relationship with Ganesh due to caste differences. According to News18 report, the accused’s parents — both sub-inspectors attached to a battalion in Manimuthar — have also been named in the FIR following a complaint by Ganesh’s mother, S Tamilselvi, who alleged that they had issued repeated threats to her son. “My son is an innocent person. The woman asked him to come to the hospital. The accused took my son out, threw chilli powder on his face, and attacked him with a machete… The government should immediately expel his mother and father from service. We will not receive my son’s body unless action is taken,” News18 quoted the victim’s father, Chandrashekar. The news report also claimed that a police officer confirmed that Surjit and his parents have been booked under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Courtesy : Mint Note: This news is originally published on https://mint.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
What Happens When The Margins Are Marginalised? Mx. Yashika, Caste, And The Crisis Within India’s Trans Movement
The pain in Mx. Yashika’s voice isn’t just from this smear campaign. It’s from being betrayed by movements she’s worked tirelessly to uplift. Mx. Yashika’s story begins not with triumph, but with a tremor. One that cuts through the tattered jacket of solidarity in India’s trans rights movement. A Dalit trans scholar from Saharanpur, she recently became the target of public, casteist allegations by none other than a senior member of the Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board, per a January 2025 report by The Probe. The Hindu reports, Devika Devendra S. Manglamukhi, alleged that Yashika had fraudulently obtained her caste and transgender identity certificates. These are claims which Yashika vehemently denies and has legally contested. The notice served by Yashika (with pro bono help from Chambers For Justice, a New Delhi-based law firm) demands not just a retraction, but reparations for a betrayal that feels as institutional as it is personal. “Caste atrocities against Dalit trans and queer people were never even taken into consideration,” she says. At stake here is more than one person’s dignity. It’s the erasure of Dalit trans voices from movements that claim to speak for all trans people. It’s the reproduction of caste supremacy within LGBTQIA+ spaces that purport to be inclusive. And it’s the heartbreak of being ghosted (not just by dominant-caste-led queer institutions) but also by platforms dedicated to Dalit rights. As Yashika puts it, “[Most people] ignore Dalit trans issues.” What does the notice reveal? On July 6, 2025, Devika posted on Instagram, alleging that Mx. Yashika had forged her Scheduled Caste and Transgender ID certificates. These accusations were echoed in news platforms like UP Tak and TNF Today (the latter has since been deleted but was referenced in the legal notice served by Yashika), claiming NHRC intervention, which the legal notice debunks as entirely fabricated. The UP Tak report falsely stated: “Yashika (…) has violated the rules and fraudulently got two certificates made for herself. One of these is a Scheduled Caste certificate, and the other is a Transgender Identity Card issued by the District Magistrate.” The article further insisted that trans persons should only be recognised under the OBC category as per a 2014 decision, thus implying that caste-based reservations are illegitimate for trans individuals. Such assertions not only misrepresent the NALSA judgment but also overlook the lived realities of caste and gender-based oppression. SDM Ankur Verma, cited in the same report, clarified that his office had received no formal complaint. Despite this, Devika allegedly weaponised WhatsApp groups like ‘National Network of Trans’ and ‘Webline Transgender’ to circulate defamatory content, including urging others to shame Yashika. The notice also claims Devika “used and circulated photographs of [Yashika] without her consent, which constitutes a gross invasion of her privacy.” Over and above deadnaming her repeatedly, the screenshots from these groups reference Yashika’s caste identity, her father’s name, and calls to ostracise her. The legal notice that was issued was acted upon by Advocate Sourabh Rai of Chambers for Justice, who accused Devika of criminal defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and of violating provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the IT Act. Devika mangalmukhi message national network of trans Devika has previously publicly targeted another Dalit trans activist. An April 2025 report by The News Minute says she had also levelled similar accusations against activist Grace Banu, another fierce advocate of horizontal reservation, at the Talkatora Police Station. She alleged that Grace had robbed and threatened her on December 22, 2024. The parallels are impossible to ignore. Transgender activists who advocate for horizontal reservation are among the other complainants listed by Devikai in her formal complaint. Ritwick Das, an activist based in Lucknow and Delhi, and Jane Kaushik, an activist based in Delhi, are among them. A pattern of casteism within queer spaces Yashika is not new to exclusion. She tells FII that while pursuing an M.A. in Human Rights at Panjab University, Chandigarh, she was denied hostel access solely due to her gender identity. This was until a 2022 Punjab & Haryana High Court order forced the administration to comply. “My family never helps me. I experienced gender exclusion from Dalit spaces as well as caste oppression among trans or cis people in the upper caste,” she explains. The very institutions she turned to for protection replicate the same hierarchies she tried to escape. The current attack, she alleges, stems from a long-standing disagreement over reservation policy. While Yashika and several Dalit trans activists advocate for horizontal reservations (recognising caste and gender identity as overlapping systems of oppression), Devika has publicly argued that all trans persons should not be categorised under SC/ST/OBC on the WhatsApp group named National Network of Trans. Yashika believes this erases the unique oppression faced by Dalit trans individuals and flattens the community into a monolith. The structural vulnerability deepens these wounds. “I never had family support. I faced intentional and systematic exclusion,” Yashika says. Even in queer spaces, caste determines who gets platformed and who gets policed. In Uttar Pradesh, she adds, “Dalit trans persons are living in fear, which is why they don’t come out openly in Uttar Pradesh,” due to fear of harassment from both the state and dominant-caste queer groups. “I feel very unsafe due to casteism and misgendering.” Where is our media? The silence around Yashika’s case is deafening. Despite the clear legal record and digital evidence of defamation, several well-known platforms (including those focusing on Dalit rights) have refused to cover her story. “Some promised they would and ghosted me,” she says. The media’s silence only shows their underlying discomfort with intersectionality. Dalit trans persons often find themselves erased from both the Dalit movement (which tends to be cis-heteronormative) and the queer movement (dominated by upper-caste voices). “They ignored our visibility and alienated us,” Yashika says. “There is no Dalit liberation without the appropriation and inclusion of Dalit trans persons in the Dalit movement.” Dalit Queer India, a collective Yashika is in conversation, affirmed her experience.