BJP always anti-Dalit its supporters threatening SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav
Ballia (UP), Apr 30 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the BJP has always been anti-Dalit and accused the ruling party’s supporters of threatening SP leaders, including MP Ramji Lal Suman and himself. “Crimes against Dalits are at their peak in Uttar Pradesh. Supporters of the ruling dispensation have been threatening us with death and throwing tyres on the roads to intimidate us. But we are not afraid,” Yadav was quoted as saying in a statement issued in Lucknow. He addressed the media in Ballia after attending a wedding ceremony at the residence of party MP Sanatan Pandey. Yadav asserted that the attacks were not just on individuals but on the Constitution of Dr B R Ambedkar and the state’s law and order. “Those threatening us are, in fact, challenging Baba Saheb’s Constitution,” he said. He further alleged that elements creating unrest and lawlessness were receiving protection from the state under BJP rule. “There is open anarchy. Members of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community are being attacked. Swords are being waved on the streets, and the PDA community is witnessing this lawlessness,” Yadav said. On the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, Yadav demanded strict action by the Centre. “The government must take the toughest possible action and adopt concrete measures. The Samajwadi Party stands with the Centre on this issue,” he said. Offering condolences, Yadav urged the government to extend financial and institutional support to the victims’ families. “We demand that the families of the victims be provided with Rs 10 crore each, government jobs and that those killed be declared martyrs,” he added. Calling the attack a major security failure, Yadav questioned how terrorists could strike there. “The Pahalgam attack is unimaginable. There was a complete intelligence failure. While the government talks about ‘Amrit Kaal’, the injured were left without medical care for nearly 90 minutes,” he said. He also referred to the statements made by the victims’ families from Kanpur and Gujarat, saying the entire country has seen their pain and heard their concerns. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Courtesy: The Week Note: This news is originally published on https://www.theweek.in and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Dalits Facing Boycott in Andhra Village Get a ‘Peace Committee’ but No FIR
Members, allegedly from the upper caste Kapu community, imposed a social boycott against the entire Dalit community in the SC Colony of the village following the death of a Dalit youth whose family demanded justice. Visakhapatnam: Dalit residents faced a social boycott last week in a village in Andhra Pradesh, in deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan’s Pithapuram constituency, following the accidental death of an electrical worker. Human rights groups have sharply criticised officials for allegedly prioritising a hastily formed ‘peace committee’ over registering a legally mandated case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who enforced the boycott. The incident occurred in Mallam village, Kakinada district. Pallapu Suresh Babu (38), a Dalit electrical worker from the village’s SC Colony, was electrocuted and died on April 16 while working at the home of Elisetti Jellababu, who belongs to the dominant Kapu caste from Mallam Pedda Veedhi (Main Street). Suresh Babu is survived by his wife and two school-age children. Following the death, Suresh Babu’s community members demanded compensation from the house owner, Jellababu. An agreement was privately reached the next day for Rs 2.70 lakh. However, tensions rose when only Rs 70,000 was allegedly paid, because Jellababu, despite belonging to the politically and numerically dominant Kapu community, was not wealthy. “When only Rs 70,000 was paid as compensation, the issue flared up. The victim’s family and members of the Dalit community immediately protested near the village’s Ambedkar statue, demanding justice,” Namadi Sridhar, General Secretary of the Human Rights Forum (HRF), told The Wire. “We believe it was precisely this act of Dalits daring to demand justice publicly that led to the social boycott,” he said. On April 18 and 19, members allegedly from the Kapu community imposed a social boycott against the entire Dalit community in the SC Colony. An HRF fact-finding team visiting on April 22 reported that traders were pressured not to sell essentials to Dalits, and transport was denied. “We go to work to make paper plates daily. Ever since the youth from our colony died, they told us not to come to work. Our people demanded justice, so they are punishing us like this,” one Dalit woman told a news channel. Another elderly Dalit man, Chandra Rao, recounted to a news channel, “We belong to the Dalit caste. As usual, we went to have tea at 5 in the morning at a Kapu hotel… They told us, ‘Chandrarao, our elders told us not to give you people tea or tiffins, so you can leave.’ When they said that, I left.” Official response draws flak Local officials formed a ‘peace committee’ with members from both communities, ostensibly to prevent clashes. Many condemned this, arguing it prioritised a superficial truce over legal accountability. “In such situations, it is indeed necessary for officials to maintain law and order. Forming a peace committee as a precaution is also appropriate,” Sridhar said. “However, the first step should have been to register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who instigated and carried out the social boycott… Instead, to cover up the crime committed out of dominant caste arrogance, they hastily formed a peace committee.” Sridhar suggested the boycott was punitive. “The victim’s family protested for justice near the Ambedkar statue, which angered the Kapu community. Fearing that allowing Dalits to seek justice through public protest might set a precedent, the Kapus decided to ‘teach them a lesson,’ resulting in a social boycott,” he told The Wire. Social activist Thota Rambabu, also part of the fact-finding team, told The Wire that officials “deliberately bypassed the crucial, unavoidable, and legal step of registering a case.” He questioned using peace committees to resolve a crime. “Doesn’t ‘imposing an economic or social boycott or threatening to boycott a person, family, or group belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes’ fall under the purview of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act?” he asked. “Does reaching a compromise, announcing compensation, arranging apologies, and forming a peace committee negate the crime? Does it make the crime unpunishable? Does it erase the humiliation suffered by the Dalits?” Rambabu added, warning that this approach appeared “solely aimed at protecting the accused” and could make Mallam a “model” for circumventing justice. Pattern of discrimination Sridhar said Dalit residents reported longstanding discrimination. “Even now, Dalits cannot get a haircut or shave in the village. They must travel to Pithapuram town or Kakinada,” he told The Wire. “When young people mentioned this… even the elderly residents with white hair confirmed they faced the same discrimination since their youth.” A fact-finding team of the Human Rights Forum at Mallam village. This boycott follows previous violence. Activist Raajamani, who conducted a fact-finding in Mallam after a 2022 incident, shared details with The Wire. “Attacking, beating, and abusing SCs/STs is nothing new in Mallam,” Raajamani said, recounting events from April 14, 2022, when Dalits celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti were hurled abuses at. “When a Dalit youth posted photos of the celebration on Instagram, Karedla Tarun, a Kapu youth, responded with abusive comments,” she said. According to Raajamani, elders intervened, and Tarun performed a ‘Palabhishekam’ (milk ablution) on the Ambedkar statue on April 18, 2022. This act allegedly bred resentment. Weeks later, on April 29, 2022, during the Onumulamma Jatara (festival) in the village, violence erupted. “Five SC youths went to watch the Jatara. When they arrived, Kapu youths shouted, ‘Why did you come here?’, and beat an SC youth named Datla Arjun until he bled,” Raajamani recounted. She alleged that later that night, a Kapu mob attacked the Dalit colony (Mala Peta). “While they were hurling obscenities at women and tearing Dalit women’s blouses, a Dalit teacher named Kaditi Krishnarao objected. They dragged Krishnarao away and grievously injured him. He collapsed from severe bleeding. They also brutally beat Randa Ramasathyanarayana, his wife, and Datla Arjun’s mother.” Raajamani stated that while the injured were hospitalised, police under the then-YSR Congress Party government filed only a “nominal FIR.” “While that case remains pending,
Dalit woman raped in front of 4-year-old child in UP
The woman and her child were returning home when the men approached her and offered Rs 20,000 as financial help. A 40-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped by two upper caste men in front of her four-year-old son in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district. The Dalit family was suffering from financial hardship. According to her complaint, the crime took place on April 17. She and her son were returning home when the two accused approached her and offered Rs 20,000 as financial help. They convinced her to ride with them on the bike to receive the loan amount, and she agreed. However, the two men took her to an isolated place. She alleges in her police complaint that one of them held a gun to her son’s forehead and threatened to blow his head off if she resisted. Her horror did not end here. After raping her, they started harassing her with frequent phone calls. She finally gathered the courage to tell her husband, who filed a complaint. Speaking to the Times of India, Mainpuri SHO Anuj Kumar confirmed an FIR has been registered. “One of the accused has been identified as Ramji Yadav. He belongs to the same village. We have initiated an FIR under the SC/ST Act. The Dalit woman has been sent for medical tests. Investigations are on,” the police officer was quoted by TOI. Courtesy: Siasat Note: This news is originally published on https://www.siasat.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Chandigarh startup policy launched to support innovation, entrepreneurship
15 killed, including two children, in Kolkata hotel fire; several injured critical, SIT formed
Blaze breaks out at Mechuapatti hotel with 88 boarders; fire contained after hours, cause still under investigation. KOLKATA: Fifteen people, including a woman and two children, were killed in a devastating fire at a hotel in the Mechuapatti area of central Kolkata, police said on Wednesday. Thirteen others were also injured in the fire that broke out on Tuesday evening, a senior police officer said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the fire incident, and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Kolkata. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” the prime minister’s office said on X. According to the Kolkata Police officer, the deceased include 11 men, eight of whom have been identified so far. The condition of several of the injured is said to be critical, he said. “There were 88 guests in 42 rooms at the time of the incident. A boy, a girl and a woman are among the dead. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Our forensic team will examine the site, which has been cordoned off,” the officer said. The fire at the low-cost Rituraj Hotel was first reported around 7:30 PM on Tuesday. Ten fire tenders were pressed into service, and the blaze was brought under control, after nearly 10 hours, this morning on Wednesday, a fire and emergency services official said. “There were 15 fatalities in last night’s fire. Eight of the deceased have been identified,” state minister Sujit Bose told PTI. In the wake of the tragedy, the Kolkata Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar lashed out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of “insensitivity” for attending a day-long inauguration programme of Jagannath Dham in Digha while the fire tragedy was unfolding in the state capital. “Yesterday, a devastating fire in the Mechhua area of Burrabazar claimed the lives of more than 14 innocent people. Many more are battling for their lives. Yet, the chief minister chose to remain silent and continued with her religious event in Digha,” Majumdar said in a strongly worded statement. “This exposes her lack of empathy and the failure of her administration. While helpless citizens were trapped in flames and dying in pain, the CM was busy exploiting religion for political gain. Her year-round appeasement and election-time religious posturing have once again taken precedence over governance,” he alleged Majumdar called upon BJP workers across the state to immediately mobilise relief efforts and extend support to the victims’ families. “I will personally stand by the affected families and oversee our party’s involvement in the rescue and relief operations,” he said. Courtesy : 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.
President Murmu appoints Justice BR Gavai as next CJI; second dalit to hold the post
Justice Gavai will serve as the 52nd CJI for a period of about six months, as he is due to retire on November 23, 2025, after attaining 65 years of age. NEW DELHI: President of India Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday appointed Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI), with effect from May 14, 2025. He will be the 52nd CJI. The incumbent CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, is slated to retire on May 13. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal made this announcement by posting it on X (formerly known as Twitter). “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 14th May, 2025,” Meghwal posted on X. When Justice Gavai takes charge as the 52nd CJI on May 14, he will also be the second CJI belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who was elevated to the country’s top judicial post in 2007 and retired as CJI in 2010. Justice Gavai will retire on November 23, 2025. Justice Gavai has authored around 300 judgments—including Constitution Bench judgments—on various issues upholding the rule of law and equality, and safeguarding the fundamental rights, human rights, and legal rights of citizens. On April 16, the incumbent CJI, Justice Khanna, wrote a letter to the Centre, nominating the second senior-most judge, Justice Gavai, as his successor. Justice Gavai will serve as the 52nd CJI for a period of about six months, as he is due to retire on November 23, 2025, after attaining 65 years of age. Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. Born on November 24, 1960, at Amravati, Justice Gavai joined the Bar in 1985. He practiced independently at the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990 and focused on Constitutional Law and Administrative Law. He was the Standing Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. Justice Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 12, 2005. Justice Gavai worked as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor in the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench, from August 1992 to July 1993. He was appointed as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000. In the last six years, he has been a part of around 700 benches dealing with matters pertaining to a variety of subjects, including constitutional and administrative law, civil law, criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration law, electricity law, education matters, environmental law, etc. Justice Gavai has attended various international conferences in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), New York (U.S.A.), Cardiff (U.K.), and Nairobi (Kenya). He has also delivered lectures on many issues, including constitutional and environmental issues, at various universities and organizations, including Columbia University and Harvard University. Courtesy : Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty, 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.
Dalit settlements no longer colonies: Stalin
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday announced that the word ‘colony’ will be removed from all govt records and public usage. He described it as a symbol of discrimination against the indigenous people of the land and a term now associated with untouchability. Colonies refer to segregated residential areas in villages inhabited by dalits. The announcement came during Stalin’s speech during the debate on demand for grants for the home department in the assembly. He said the govt decided to act because the word was now being used in a derogatory sense. Stalin further stated that Sept 6 will be observed as ‘Police Day’ in Tamil Nadu. Responding to opposition criticism of the law-and-order situation in the state, Stalin issued a sharp rebuttal. “This is not Manipur, this is not Kashmir. There are no deaths like the UP Kumbh Mela. This is Tamil Nadu. Don’t forget that,” he said. Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s overall growth was rooted in its peaceful atmosphere, crediting the police force for maintaining law and order. He said while ministers and officials contribute to progress, the state’s development is built on the foundation of peace. “A peaceful state supports industrial growth, education, empowerment of women and youth, sports, and increased production,” Stalin said, commending the police for helping the state avoid major riots, violence, and unrest. He urged the police force not only to reduce crime but also to work towards preventing it. “Preventing crime is not the responsibility of the police alone. It requires the cooperation of the public,” he said. Calling on citizens to respect the law and practise self-discipline, Stalin said the public must avoid negligence and take active steps to prevent crime. He reminded police officers to treat people with respect and avoid letting personal biases affect their conduct. “Police and public must function as partners to maintain peace,” he said. Stalin went on to list several achievements of his govt, including the elimination of dropouts in middle schools and a 9.69% growth rate projected for 2024–25. Comparing govt’s challenges to a person trapped from all sides, the chief minister said, “Like a man with a snake above, foxes below, a moat if he jumps, and a wall if he runs, the state govt has achieved progress by overcoming Union govt on one side, governor on another and financial crunch on another side. “This is not the achievement of one person named Stalin. This is the result of the efforts of my cabinet and officials,” he said. “This is not a party’s govt. It is a govt based on a philosophy.” He ended his speech by saying, “Whatever achievement was witnessed so far is only Part-I of the Dravidian model govt. Version 2.0 is loading for 2026. We will create more records then,” he said. 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.
3 men dressed as trans for soliciting nabbed near Azadpur mandi
New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) The Delhi Police has apprehended three men for allegedly posing as transgender persons and soliciting in northwest Delhi’s Azadpur area, an officer said on Tuesday. Anil Kumar, 35, Prem Kumar Mahto, 30, and Sachin, 35, all residents of Jahangir Puri, were apprehended during an early morning operation near Fruit Mandi, Azadpur, on April 25, he said. The three had dressed as women, complete with makeup, to solicit near traffic signals in the area. “A specific input was received regarding certain male individuals masquerading as transgender persons and engaging in illegal activities, including begging and soliciting, in and around Fruit Mandi,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Bhisham Singh said. The three at first asserted they were transgender, but confessed to being male after sustained questioning, the DCP said. They were booked under sections 91, 92, and 97, related to behaving indecently and causing annoyance, of the Delhi Police Act, the officer said. PTI SSJ SSJ VN VN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Courtesy: The Print Note: This news is originally published on https://theprint.in/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Congress deletes ‘gayab’ post on PM Modi after backlash
NEW DELHI: The Congress party on Tuesday deleted the controversial post on PM Modi, which criticised the Prime Minister for “not taking the responsibility” for the “security lapse” that led to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The BJP had strongly objected to Congress’s “Gayab” (missing) jibe against the PM. Earlier today, the Congress shared a poster featuring the word ‘Gayab’ (missing) placed over an image of a kurta, pyjama, and black footwear. The outfit appeared to be worn by someone, but the figure had no visible face. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya accused the grand-old-party of using the “Sar Tan Se Juda” imagery and said that the “dog whistle” was aimed at its Muslim vote bank and a veiled incitement against the Prime Minister. “The Congress leaves little doubt with its use of “Sar Tan Se Juda” imagery. This is not merely a political statement; it is a dog whistle aimed at its Muslim vote bank and a veiled incitement against the Prime Minister,” Malviya said. “It is not the first time the Congress has resorted to such tactics. Rahul Gandhi, on multiple occasions, has both instigated and justified violence toward the Prime Minister. Yet the Congress will never succeed, for the Prime Minister enjoys the love and blessings of millions of Indians,” he added. Hours after the Congress uploaded the photo, a BJP spokesperson also posted an AI-generated photo of Rahul Gandhi, calling him “a friend of Pakistan”. — rpsinghkhalsa (@rpsinghkhalsa) This comes a day after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Prime Minister of putting party and politics above country by absenting himself from the all-party meeting convened to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, and choosing, instead, to attend an election rally in Bihar. “When our pride was hurt, the PM was delivering an election speech in Bihar…. He should bear in mind that the country is supreme; parties and religion come second. Everyone should be united for the country,” Kharge said, calling Modi’s absence a “misfortune” and a “shame.” 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.
OBC forum urges Rahul Gandhi to support caste census report
Mysuru: The Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum on Tuesday initiated a postal campaign requesting Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to address concerns regarding certain Congress MLAs who opposed the socio-educational report, commonly known as the caste census. The forum members sent letters to Rahul requesting his intervention in implementing the report. “For the first time in Karnataka, a comprehensive social, economic, educational, and political survey of all communities was conducted through the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes when Siddaramaiah was the CM for the first time in 2013. The primary objective of this survey was to understand the socio-economic and educational conditions of all communities, including the oppressed, with statistical data and to ensure social justice for these sections. This survey was conducted scientifically with a cost of approximately Rs180 crore. But now a few Congress MLAs are opposing it without any valid reasons,” they alleged. “The report has now been presented and discussed in the cabinet meeting. However, it is deeply saddening that senior Congress MLAs such as Shamanur Shivashankarappa and a few others are opposing this report. Moreover, these MLAs and some leaders have made extremely derogatory statements about the report and the AHINDA communities (minorities, backward classes, and Dalits). They are demanding that the report be discarded entirely, which has caused great distress among all AHINDA sections,” said forum president KS Shivaram. “The report consolidates statistical data not only on population but also on social, economic, and educational status of AHINDA communities. It has recommended reservation categorisation and an increase in reservation for various sections. Based on the statistics in this report, the govt will be able to provide political, social, and educational representation to AHINDA communities. However, it is truly unfortunate that some Congress MLAs themselves are opposing this,” he said. The forum requests Rahul’s immediate intervention to instruct Congress MLAs to avoid creating unnecessary confusion regarding the report. Raveenandan, president, District Madivala Association, S Yogeesh Uppar, president, District Uppar Association, and others were present. 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.