Rahul to join oppn protest in city today
Patna: Over 25 crore employees of banking, postal, mining, construction and transport sectors have called for a nationwide ‘chakka jam’ (Bharat bandh) on Wednesday. The strike, backed by trade unions and several social organisations, is being held over 44 demands, including opposition to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for Oct-Nov. The opposition INDIA bloc has thrown its weight behind the strike. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is set to join the protest in Patna. Congress state president Rajesh Ram said Rahul would participate in the ‘chakka jam’ foot march starting at 9.30am from the income-tax roundabout to the State Election Commission office via Shaheed Smarak. All senior leaders of the INDIA bloc, including RJD leader and alliance coordination committee chair Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, are expected to take part in the march, Ram added. A joint platform of 10 central trade unions, supported by workers’ and farmers’ groups, has called for the strike in protest against what they describe as the “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies of the central govt.” Several political parties and civil organisations have challenged the ongoing electoral roll revision in Bihar, filing petitions before the Supreme Court. The apex court is set to hear the matter on July 10. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Young Indian-AJL transaction a sham: ASG in Herald case
NEW DELHI: Additional solicitor general SV Raju claimed before a Delhi court Tuesday that transaction between Associated Journals Ltd and Young Indian Pvt Ltd was a sham transaction in an alleged money laundering case in the National Herald matter. “All India Congress Committee was given funds, which were to be used properly, but the way they used Rs 90 crore shows they committed criminal breach of trust,” the ASG argued. The ASG’s arguments will continue Saturday before the court of special judge Vishal Gogne, which is hearing arguments on the point of cognisance of chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, & others. Court posted the matter to July 12 for further proceedings. After rebuttal arguments by all seven accused in the case were completed Tuesday, the ASG submitted his rebuttals before the court. According to ED, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with others and Young Indian, conspired to launder money by fraudulent takeover of properties valued over at Rs 2,000 crore belonging to AJL. As per ED, the Gandhis held a majority 76% shares in Young Indian, which fraudulently usurped assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah to meet Rahul Gandhi today amid fresh push to change CM
Bengaluru/New Delhi: Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, are set to meet Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Wednesday night, amid fresh demands from Shivakumar’s supporters for a leadership transition in Karnataka. The meeting comes at a time when tensions within the Congress state unit have resurfaced, with several MLAs publicly backing Shivakumar to take over the chief minister’s post later this year. Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi Tuesday, “The CM, AICC general secretaries, and I will hold a meeting to discuss party-related matters.” Asked if the meeting would deliberate on making Siddaramaiah the chairman of the party’s OBC committee — seen by some as a possible soft exit strategy — he said: “Siddaramaiah is a prominent leader of the backward classes, and the party is making use of his leadership skills. The national-level OBC committee meeting scheduled for July 15 will be held under his leadership in Bengaluru.” He said that although Siddaramaiah may not formally head the committee, the meeting would be conducted under his leadership due to his stature and contribution to the OBC movement. “Congress is making use of his leadership and capabilities,” Shivakumar said. Asked about growing calls within the party for his elevation, Shivakumar said, “The CM post is not vacant. So, this is not the right time to talk about it.” The latest push for a change at the helm comes despite repeated denials from Congress’ high command and Siddaramaiah himself, who has asserted he will complete a full five-year term. Shivakumar, too, has previously said he has no choice but to support the CM. But several legislators, especially from Bengaluru south district, have reignited the debate. “All our district MLAs want Shivakumar to become CM. There’s no discrepancy about it. High command should decide,” Channapatna MLA CP Yogeeshwara said Tuesday. “We, the MLAs, are demanding it… I want Shivakumar to become CM.” HA Iqbal Hussain, Ramanagara MLA and a staunch Shivakumar supporter, even suggested a change could happen within months. “Yes, I’m saying it. Some functionaries are hinting at revolutionary political developments after Sept. A decision will be made within 2-3 months,” he said. He went on to say: “You all know what our strength was before this govt was formed… His (Shivakumar’s) strategy and programmes are history now. The high command is aware of the situation, and we are confident it will take an appropriate decision at the right time.” Senior Congress MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait, who is from Siddaramaiah’s home district Mysuru said the party must be open to transition. “I feel leadership can’t be stagnant. New leaders must come and grow. Whenever the opportunity is given, it’ll happen,” he said. Calls for a new CM come amid multiple meetings between Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, with Congress MLAs to quell dissent. “The KPCC chief and I have spoken about this… Everyone can have ambitions and desires. I don’t want to say anything more,” Surjewala said. Siddaramaiah will join Shivakumar in Delhi on Wednesday. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet defence minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the meeting with Rahul. It is unclear whether they will meet Singh jointly or separately. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul Gandhi to lead Bihar Mahagathbandhan protest: Tyres burnt, roads blocked; what the electoral roll row is about
NEW DELHI: The Mahagathbandhan alliance on Wednesday kicked off a “Bihar Bandh” protesting against the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission. Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, will lead a protest rally in Patna and plan to encircle the Chief Electoral Office in the state capital. Earlier, the former deputy chief minister said that the opposition had called for the Bihar Bandh to vent their ire against the ongoing voter list revision ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. “We will enforce a ‘chakka jam’ on July 9. Both the Election Commission and the government will be targeted by the Opposition. It is quite surprising that the EC is changing its orders every hour. As a result, BLOs and other officials engaged in the verification exercise are confused,” Tejashwi said. Why is the opposition protesting ? The Opposition has alleged that the Election Commission, through its special intensive revision of electoral rolls, is snatching voting rights from migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters, calling the campaign a “conspiracy to block votes” ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections, which are due in three months. Train halted, tyres Burnt Workers from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPM burnt tyres and blocked roads in support of the Bihar Bandh on NH-30 in Patna’s Maner. Party workers were seen raising banners and shouting slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Election Commission. Meanwhile, RJD’s student wing blocked train tracks and NH-82 in Jehanabad. RJD workers also stopped the Namo Bharat train in Darbhanga. “We have called this Bandh against the Election Commission, which is working as per someone’s agenda… The public is tired of the government. RJD and the entire INDIA alliance have called for the Bandh,” an RJD worker said. Supporters of Independent MP Pappu Yadav also stopped an express train in Narpatganj, Araria. Also read | Bharat Bandh today: Public services likely to be hit; 10 things to know about nationwide strike ‘SIR a normal exercise’ The poll body has claimed that the exercise is a standard procedure to update the voter list before every election as mandated by law. It has also undertaken a drive to weed out foreign illegal migrants from the electoral rolls in six states, starting with Bihar. The poll panel reminded the constitutional provision that says only Indian citizens can vote. “The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution,” EC said in a statement. The poll panel already has nearly 78,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations, it said. More than one lakh volunteers will be assisting genuine electors, particularly the old, sick, persons with disabilities, poor, and other vulnerable groups during the special intensive revision. Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of the Electoral Roll on January 1, 2003, have to “simply verify so, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it.” The enumeration form should be filled between 25 June and 26 July, after which the draft voter list will be published on 1 August 2025; the period for filing claims and objections will be from 1 August to 1 September, and the final voter list will be published on 30 September. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Punjab: Dalit youth brutalised on suspicion of helping lovers elope, paraded half naked, face shaved and blackened, video goes viral
A Dalit youth was brutally beaten up, paraded half naked with his face blackened on suspicion of helping a couple elope in Seeda village; police arrested one accused, search for others continues. New Delhi: A case of brutality against a Dalit youth has come to light in Seeda village on the border of Ludhiana. According to the police, the villagers not only beat the youth on suspicion of helping the lovers elope, but also forcibly shaved his head and beard-moustache, blackened his face and paraded him half naked in the village. According to a report in Telegraph India, the incident took place on Tuesday, but the matter gained momentum after its video went viral on social media. In the video of the incident, the accused can be clearly seen using casteist abuses and brutalising the victim. The police said that the victim has been identified as Harjot Singh. It is alleged that Harjot Singh had helped his friend and a young woman to elope and get married. Both of them got married on June 19, after which there was tension in the village. On Tuesday, Harjot was in a salon in the village when some people reached there and dragged him out. The accused beat him brutally, shaved off his beard and moustache, blackened his face, tore his clothes and paraded him around the village in a semi-nude state. According to the police, the accused also made a video of this entire act and shared it on social media. The accused have been identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjit Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer and Ramdeep alias Kaka. Meharban police station in-charge Inspector Paramdeep Singh said that Simranjit Singh has been arrested, while the search for the remaining accused is on. He said, “This is not just a physical assault, but a barbaric attack on human dignity. We are investigating the matter in depth and will arrest all the culprits soon.” The police on Saturday registered an FIR under sections 115(2), 127(2), 351 of the Indian Penal Code, besides the IT Act and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim’s family has demanded the strictest punishment for the accused and justice. Courtesy: Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Allegations of discrimination against Dalits in temple, priest refuses to give ‘vibhuti’
The Dalit community in Vadavalam village in Pudukottai district has made serious allegations of caste discrimination and barring from entry in the temple, demanding protection from the administration. Tamil Nadu: Dalit residents of Vadavalam panchayat in Pudukottai district have alleged that they were subjected to caste discrimination at the Kaliyuga Meyya Ayyanar temple under HR&CE. They say that the priests refused to give them holy vibhuti (ash) during a ritual held outside the temple ahead of the annual Rath Festival on July 6. According to a complaint lodged at the Sambattividuthi police station the same day, after Deeparadhana, the priest distributed vibhuti to other devotees but deliberately left out Dalits. When the Dalits questioned this, the priest reportedly said, “We cannot give vibhuti to people like you.” According to media reports, M. Paniswamy, a Dalit resident of Vadavalam, said, “This is not just a matter of one day. For generations, we have been prevented from entering the temple, participating in rituals or even sitting in the same shade.” In a letter to Collector M. Aruna on Monday, Dalits from Vadavalam and nearby villages — Echadi Annanagar, Kandangarapathi, Chinnaiya Sathiram, Chettiapathi and Kayampatti — demanded full entry into the temple. They say they are regularly prevented from carrying milk pots, performing ‘mandagapadi’ or joining processions. They are not even allowed to set up water stalls during festivals. They allege that “social distancing” is enforced if they go beyond a certain point near the temple. VCK’s Thanjavur-Pudukottai zonal secretary Thirumaravan, who accompanied the Dalit residents, appealed to the district administration to ensure their safe entry into the temple on the day of Rathyatra festival on July 8 and to permanently restore their rights. Meanwhile, the Dalits also demanded action against the priests under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and representation of Scheduled Caste people in the temple trustee board. Following the incident, a peace meeting was called by the Alangudi DSP and Pudukottai revenue officials on Monday. A senior revenue official said the Dalits were assured that they would be allowed to enter the temple during the upcoming festival and action would be taken against anyone who obstructed them. However, no decision has been taken yet on further action on the complaint lodged against priest Ganesh and Sambandham Gurukkal. Meanwhile, M. Anbuselvam, a member of the caste Hindu community who attended the peace meeting, denied any allegations. He said, “We did not stop anyone from entering. These allegations have been made for political purposes.” Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Dalit woman brutally murdered in Kanchipuram, body found among junk in factory
38-year-old woman working in a cardboard factory in Enathur, Tamil Nadu beaten to death with iron rod, jewellery robbery also suspected, Dalit organisations demand fair probe. Tamil Nadu: A 38-year-old Dalit woman working in a cardboard box manufacturing unit near Enathur in Kanchipuram district was found dead with serious head injuries on Saturday evening (July 5). The woman has been identified as Selvi alias Hepsi, who hailed from Andi Siruvallur village and had joined the factory just a week ago. According to the police, Selvi was killed by being beaten with an iron rod. Her jewellery weighing about six sovereigns – gold chain, earrings and thali (mangalsutra) – was found missing from the spot. Selvi left home for work on Saturday morning but did not return till late night. After this, her husband Suresh and other family members went to look for her. On reaching the factory premises, they found an employee Senthil lying outside in a highly intoxicated state. When they did not get any clear answer from him, the family members went inside the warehouse, where Selvi’s body was found hidden among the junk. After this, the Ponnerikkarai police was informed. The body was sent to Kanchipuram Government Hospital for postmortem. Initial investigation by the police has not found any clear signs of sexual assault. However, the police is investigating whether the motive behind the murder was only to loot the jewellery or there is some other reason behind it. Officials are also trying to find out whether the incident was committed by an insider or an outsider had entered the factory. Factory owner Praveen Kumar and another employee have been detained for questioning. At the same time, Senthil is reported to have absconded and his search is on. Since Selvi belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, Dalit organizations have demanded a fair and transparent investigation after this incident. CCTV footage of the area is being scanned to find out if any outsider was involved in the incident. At present, the investigation of the case is going on. Courtesy: Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
Tamil Nadu: Dalits refused ‘vibuthi’ at Pudukottai temple, submit plea
According to a complaint lodged at the Sambattividuthi police station, after performing the deeparadhanai, the temple priest distributed vibuthi to devotees but deliberately skipped Dalits. PUDUKOTTAI: Dalit residents of Vadavalam panchayat in Pudukottai district have alleged caste-based discrimination at HR&CE’s Kaliyuga Meyya Ayyanar Temple, claiming that priests refused to give them sacred ash during a ritual held outside the temple on July 6, ahead of the temple’s annual chariot festival. According to a complaint lodged at the Sambattividuthi police station on the same day, after performing the deeparadhanai, the temple priest distributed vibuthi to devotees but deliberately skipped Dalits. When questioned, the priest allegedly said, “We cannot give vibuthi to people like you.” “This is not just about one day,” M Paniswamy, a Dalit resident of Vadavalam told TNIE. “For generations, we have been excluded from entering the temple, taking part in rituals, or even sitting under the same shelter,” he added. In a letter to Collector M Aruna on Monday, Dalit residents from Vadavalam and neighbouring villages of Ichadi Annanagar, Kandangarapatti, Chinnaiya Sathiram, Chettiyappatti, and Kayampatti demanded that they be granted full access to the temple. They said they are routinely barred from carrying milk pots, performing ‘mandagapadi’ or joining processions. Even setting up water stalls during festivals is denied, they allege. A longstanding “social boundary” restricts them from crossing a certain point near the temple. Thirumaravan, VCK’s Thanjavur-Pudukkottai zonal secretary, who accompanied the Dalit residents, urged the district administration to escort them into the temple on July 8, the day of the temple car festival and ensure permanent access and protection. Meanwhile, the residents also sought action against the priests under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and demanded Scheduled Caste representation in the temple’s trustee board. Following the incident, a peace meeting was convened by Alangudi DSP and Pudukkottai revenue officials on Monday. A senior revenue official told TNIE that Dalits were assured they would be granted temple entry during the upcoming festival, and action would be taken against anyone obstructing it. However, no decision has been taken yet on whether to proceed with the complaint filed against priests Ganesh and Sambandham Gurukkal. However, M Anbuselvam, member of the caste Hindu community who was part of the peace meeting, denied any wrongdoing. “We did not stop anyone from entering. These allegations are politically motivated.” Courtesy : Pearson Lenekar SR, TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
VCK set to promote two non-Dalit MLAs as treasurer and general secretary
VCK is set to elevate two non-Dalit MLAs, Aloor J Mohamed Shanavas and S S Balaji, as the party’s one of the general secretaries and treasurer respectively. CHENNAI: In a move that underlines its stated intent of not getting pigeonholed as a ‘Dalit’ party, the VCK is set to elevate two non-Dalit MLAs, Aloor J Mohamed Shanavas and S S Balaji, as the party’s one of the general secretaries and treasurer respectively. According to party sources, Shanavas, currently a deputy general secretary and MLA representing Nagapattinam constituency, will fill a long-vacant slot of general secretary reserved for a non-Dalit in accordance with the party’s by-law. The post has remained unfilled since Kalaikottu Udhayam left the party to join NTK. Thiruporur MLA Balaji is expected to take over as treasurer, a position that has been vacant since the demise of former treasurer Yusuf. Party insiders said these appointments, expected to be made before the formal internal elections, are intended to signal the leadership’s commitment towards inclusivity and outreach. The elevation of a Muslim MLA as general secretary and a non-Dalit MLA as treasurer is seen as a strategic step to broaden the party’s support among religious minorities, OBCs, and other non-Dalits. The promotions are part of the party’s larger restructuring initiative by the VCK, which has expanded its district units from 144 to 234 to align with the number of Tamil Nadu’s assembly constituencies. The party – which has four MLAs – has appointed 83 senior functionaries to oversee the formation of new district teams, each comprising a district secretary, four deputy secretaries (including one woman and one non-Dalit), two executive members, and four additional office-bearers. The party has also committed to reserving 10% of district secretary posts for non-Dalits and women, and 25% for youth aged below 35. Courtesy : S Kumaresan, TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Sensitisation drive for hosp staff on transgender patients’ rights
Kolkata: Shahanawaz, a transgender (TG) woman, was taken to SSKM Hospital with acute abdominal pain caused by appendicitis. The Alipore resident alleged that even while she was in extreme pain, doctors at the emergency department kept whispering to each other and offered her only a painkiller. Unable to bear the excruciating pain, she went to a nursing home to get her appendix removed. “I could understand they were discussing my gender and where to admit me. I was then rushed to a nursing home as the treatment was delayed. This was five years ago. But nothing much has changed since then,” said Shahanawaz. Shahanawaz is not alone; the TG community at large faces multiple problems in accessing healthcare services. The fear of being rejected and the negative experiences they face force many to shun medical care unless it is an emergency situation. “There is no doubt that TG persons face a lot of hurdles while seeking medical attention due to a lack of sensitisation. It is a painful experience for them. This sensitisation has to percolate down to the lowest rung of healthcare providers from the top,” said Kaustav Nayak, director of the Institute of Health & Family Welfare Kolkata, during a sensitisation programme at Swasthya Bhawan. Organised by the department of psychiatric social work, Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) IPGMER, and National Institute of Social Defense (TG division), doctors, paramedics, and even security guards of govt hospitals attended the three-day-long programme. “From being bullied in school because of our gender identity, which does not fall into the binary, to discrimination at hospitals, life is tough for a TG person,” said Kajal Roy, who dropped out of school. Anuprabha Das Mazumder, another TG woman, said she was forced to get her dengue treatment done in a cabin of a private hospital in 2022, even though she would have opted for a ward as her condition was not serious. “Apart from two private hospitals – one with a TG clinic and the other reserving one or two beds for patients from the community, there is no structured policy that would ensure equitable healthcare access, especially in public healthcare systems,” said Bappaditya Mukherjee, of Prantakatha, an organisation that works on gender issues and also runs a clinic for the TG community. Mayank Kumar, assistant professor at IOP’s department of psychiatric social work, hopes that such sensitisation programmes will evoke acceptable behaviour from the healthcare community. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Manish Mukul Ghosh deliberated on the facts of sex reassignment surgery that many from the community undergo. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.