Chirag Paswan Jitan Ram Manjhi: They don’t care about the entire Dalit community, Chirag and Manjhi are pursuing their own political interests.
Chirag Paswan Jitan Ram Manjhi: Bihar politics is currently witnessing a heated debate about reservation. Leaders are claiming their rights and constitutional privileges, but no one has seriously considered the welfare of the entire Dalit community. Everyone is busy pursuing their own political interests. Patna: These days, the buzzword “reservation, reservation” is echoing in Bihar’s political circles. Some are saying, “No one can abolish reservation.” Others say, “Reservation is our constitutional right.” But the sad truth is that no political party has considered the entire Dalit community’s thinking. Neither have the Dalit leaders who harp on Dalit politics and reservations suggested a formula for uplifting those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. One possibility was raised by Dr. Santosh Suman, National President of Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular, but he too has backed away from the campaign. When he said that the creamy layer should not be deprived of reservation, he did not mention it. What does LJP (R) National President Chirag Paswan want and what does Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular National President Dr. Santosh Suman want? Let’s expose these two leaders. What is Chhote Manjhi’s recent statement? Hindustan Awam Morcha Secular National President Dr. Santosh Suman Manjhi made it clear that he never talked about implementing a ‘creamy layer’ in SC-ST reservations or excluding anyone from reservations. I had said that his real issue was implementing a ‘quota within quota’ (sub-categorization) for the most disadvantaged and backward castes within the Scheduled Castes. He never said that the creamy layer should be deprived of reservations. Yes, I did say it, and I say it with full confidence, that there should be a sub-quota within the reservation quota. ‘Creamy layer’ and ‘sub-quota’ are two completely different concepts. Now, regarding resignations, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and I, Santosh Kumar Suman, will resign. However, we, the secular party, are a small party, while the LJP(R) is a large party. Chirag Paswan should resign his ministerial post first, and we too are ready to resign. I had said that his real issue is implementing a “quota within quota” (sub-categorization) for the most disadvantaged and backward castes within the Scheduled Castes. He has never talked about implementing a “creamy layer” within SC-ST reservations or excluding anyone from reservations. Why is Chirag Paswan in opposition? Actually, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) National President Chirag Paswan is not concerned with Dalit politics; he is concerned with the Paswan caste. He knows that as soon as he advocates for a creamy layer or a quota within a quota, the Paswan community will become angry. And this Paswan community is the main political base of his politics. It’s a different matter that this statement exposes his Dalit politics and Dalit thinking, revealing that his overall Dalit thinking is not concerned with the development of all Dalits. Why is Chirag Paswan shying away from population share? The truth is that Paswan’s total population is just over five percent. However, he is the number one beneficiary of reservation. Regarding government jobs, the situation is such that while his population is between 5 and 6 percent, his share in government jobs, i.e., Dusadhs, is 32.7%. In such a situation, if the government adopts a quota within quota or a policy that the share depends on the population, Chirag Paswan’s political position will be in jeopardy. Accordingly, Paswan’s share in jobs will be reduced to five percent, resulting in a direct loss of 27 to 28 percent of his reputation. What is the principle of Manjhi’s politics? If we talk about central minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his son, Dr. Santosh Suman Manjhi, a minister in the Bihar government, they play politics of approximately three percent. However, their percentage in government jobs is 0.26 percent, which is quite low. In such a situation, even if there is a quota within a quota, people of their caste will benefit. Even if we accept the existence of a creamy layer, the politics of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar Government Minister Dr. Santosh Suman will still be successful. In such a situation, the claim of 3 percent politics will increase, and so will its purpose. Written by: Ramakant Chandan • Edited by: Sunil Pandey About the Author Ramakant Chandan began his journalism career in 1988 as a freelancer with Navbharat Times and Dainik Hindustan. He formally joined Rashtriya Sahara in 1996, starting with Haatsapaksh, Noida. He became a special correspondent in 2012. In 2020, he became the local editor of Rashtriya Sahara Patna, and in 2022, he became the consulting editor of Rashtriya Sahara. Courtesy: Hindi News
Tamil Nadu Dalit Student Dies By Suicide After Alleged School Humiliation
A 16-year-old Dalit student in Class 11 has died by suicide in Usilampatti near Madurai, Tamil Nadu, following alleged caste-based discrimination and humiliation at a government school. The victim’s family alleged that the school’s headmistress, Vimala Devi, scolded and humiliated the student after she objected to her mother being forced to stand with folded hands in submission. The family claims the resulting severe mental trauma and distress led to the student taking the extreme step. A case has been registered against Headmistress Vimala Devi as the family demands legal action and her arrest, while police continue their investigation into the matter. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Lawyers urged to ensure justice for Dalit families
SC Morcha State president Panatala Suresh said the Legal Cell had been constituted to identify the social and legal problems faced by Dalits and extend support to them Vijayawada: BJP State Organisation general secretary Nookala Madhukar urged lawyers of the SC Morcha Legal Cell to work towards ensuring justice for every Dalit family facing discrimination and social inequality. Addressing the State-level meeting of the BJP SC Morcha Legal Cell at the party’s State headquarters in Vijayawada on Sunday, Madhukar said lawyers should identify Dalits who were caught in false or illegal cases and provide them with necessary legal assistance. He said Dr BR Ambedkar had faced numerous humiliations and hardships but overcame them and gave the country a Constitution that continues to guide society. He called for creating awareness among Dalits about their constitutional rights and encouraging them to exercise and safeguard those rights. Madhukar stressed the need to bridge the gap between words and actions in the fight against caste discrimination and called for taking Ambedkar’s ideals forward in society. SC Morcha State president Panatala Suresh said the Legal Cell had been constituted to identify the social and legal problems faced by Dalits and extend support to them. He said Dr Ashok had been appointed as the State-level convener and urged district-level conveners to strengthen legal assistance mechanisms. Andhra Pradesh Bar Council member and party office in-charge Uppalapati Srinivasa Raju, State spokesperson Shaik Baji, SC Morcha State general secretary Rakesh, vice-president Vulluri Gangadhar, zonal in-charge Mekala Laxman, district president Sarvasuddhi Raju, party Legal Cell member Ch Umamaheswara Reddy and others attended the meeting. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Implement legal rights of Dalits, says VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan
Responding to criticism over VCK general secretary Vanniarasu’s Assembly remarks that Dalit rights had been affected during the DMK regime, he said his remarks should not be distorted. TIRUCHY: VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Saturday urged the state to implement all statutory rights of Dalits during the five-year tenure of the TVK-led government. “More statutory rights of Dalits remain to be implemented, and the government must take the necessary legal measures for their welfare,” he told reporters at Tiruchy airport. Thirumavalavan, who arrived in Tiruchy from Chennai to attend weddings in Perambalur said several welfare measures were being held up because officials feared that full implementation of the SC/ST Act could lead to law and order problems. “Even when the rulers are willing to act, officials sometimes create obstacles,” he said. Responding to criticism over VCK general secretary Vanniarasu’s Assembly remarks that Dalit rights had been affected during the DMK regime, he said his remarks should not be distorted. He said it was true that Dalit candidates had been fielded and elected from general constituencies, but questioned whether they were given tickets based on merit or out of sympathy. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TRB to recruit 6k asst professors: Minister; Rahul will be next PM, says he
Trichy: State’s Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) will conduct examinations to fill around 6,000 assistant professor posts in govt colleges in three phases, said higher education minister P Viswanathan on Sunday. Talking to reporters at Trichy airport, the Congress minister also said in reply to questions that Rahul Gandhi will become the country’s next Prime Minister. Viswanathan said that in each phase, 2,000 candidates will be recruited as assistant professors. Under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), the long-pending demands of nearly 8,000–9,000 assistant professors have been addressed. About ₹19 crore is being spent every month, translating to nearly ₹250 crore annually, on salary revisions and other service benefits, he said. Asked as to how many prime ministerial candidates were there in the TVK-led alliance, Viswanathan said, “Rahul Gandhi is the sole prime ministerial candidate of Indian National Congress.” He further said people had grown resentful of BJP over the past 15 years and Rahul Gandhi would become the country’s next Prime Minister. On the omission of the names of B R Ambedkar, K Kamaraj and Periyar from a policy note of the backward classes welfare department, Viswanathan said there was no need to blow the issue out of proportion. “TVK has already announced Ambedkar, Kamaraj and Periyar as ideological leaders.” 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
Congress minister threatens to quit TVK cabinet if Rahul is not accepted as PM candidate in 2029
Kanyakumari: Amidst TVK propaganda projecting chief minister C Joseph Vijay as a prospective prime minister, Congress leader and Tamil Nadu tourism minister S Rajesh Kumar on Sunday said he would quit the cabinet if TVK refuses to accept Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. “Rahul Gandhi will be the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 parliamentary election. He will become the next PM. If at all TVK refuses to accept this, the two Congress ministers will walk out of the cabinet,” Rajesh Kumar said on Sunday at the swearing in ceremony of George Robinson as Congress party’s Kanyakumari West district unit president. “For us, party is above all other considerations. Our cadres want to see Rahul Gandhi as PM. Our goal is to achieve that,’’ he said. The remark comes against the backdrop of repeated attempts by TVK leaders to project chief minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial face from Tamil Nadu in 2029. The issue was first raised by PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna during a debate on delimitation exercise when he said a Prime Minister should emerge from Tamil Nadu. His remarks were followed by other TVK ministers, including D Sarathkumar, A Srinath and K Jagadeeswari, projecting Vijay as a possible prime ministerial candidate. The debate gained traction nationally after a private media house said their survey has found Vijay was the third most preferred prime ministerial choice in the country, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi. The statements by TVK leaders sparked unease among the Congress rank and file. When asked about the issue, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore took a swipe at TVK ministers, saying they were still functioning with a “fan club mindset.” Rajesh Kumar’s warning, however, marks an escalation of the disagreement. The support of five MLAs of Congress remains crucial for TVK to enjoy the majority mark in the state assembly. In return, TVK has given two ministerial berths to Congress leaders Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan, the higher education minister. Earlier in the day, when asked how many prime ministerial candidates were there in the TVK-led alliance, Viswanathan said at Trichy airport that Rahul Gandhi is the sole prime ministerial candidate of Indian National Congress, and there would be no change in the stand. 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
Kharge venue row: FIR against Rahul for ‘giving caste angle’
Dehradun: In a fresh development in the controversy over an alleged purification ritual at the venue of a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, a case was registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at Kotwali police station on Sunday night. The FIR — lodged under BNS sections 196 and 299, along with section 3(1)(q) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 — followed a complaint by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony in Haldwani and member of Shriram Sena Dharmarth Seva Samiti. Kumar, who belongs to the SC community, alleged that Gandhi gave a caste angle to routine cleaning work carried out at Ramlila Maidan on Aug 11, characterising the clean-up as an act of untouchability and a criminal offence during a news conference in Delhi. Kumar further alleged that caste sentiments were hurt by Gandhi’s statements. He asserted that Rahul Gandhi used “caste-indicative and insulting words against the Scheduled Caste” based on false and incomplete facts, thereby inciting hostility within the community. Nainital SSP T C Manjunath confirmed the development, saying, “Amit submitted all the required evidence to substantiate his allegations, following which an FIR has been registered. ASP Amit Saini will be heading the probe.” On August 8, Kharge addressed a public gathering at the Ramlila Maidan. Two days later, members of the right-wing group Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan performed a havan for the shuddhikaran (purification) of the grounds. Members of the organisation stated that they conducted the ritual to counter slogans raised by Congress members during the rally, as well as a previous statement by Kharge in which he had “compared the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake.” Kharge subsequently raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, demanding that cases be registered under laws prohibiting untouchability against those who “purified” the stage in Haldwani, and that the individuals involved be arrested and jailed. The opposition party has since staged a series of protests across Uttarakhand over 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
File FIR against those who did ‘purification’: Priyanka to PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Keeping up the pressure over the issue, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order an FIR against the persons who had committed the crime of “purification” of the rally venue in Haldwani where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had recently addressed a public meeting, reports Devbrat Chaudhary. The appeal to the PM came a day after Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference alleging the “purification” was the handiwork of BJP-RSS elements, and that a case should be lodged under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. Priyanka posted on X, “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani, after which people from BJP-RSS ‘purified’ his stage. This ‘purification’ is not only a symbol of an extremely reprehensible and shameful mindset but also a grave violation of our Constitution and the SC/ST Act, and is a crime.” Priyanka said no action has been taken even 20 days after the “crime” and sought from the Prime Minister and Modi govt reasons for their “indifference”. “If PM Modi truly respects the Constitution of our country, then he should ensure that an FIR is filed against those who committed this crime and that action is taken,” she said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
The high cost of being trans in India, and how a new law could add to it
Although the 2026 amendment does not explicitly make gender-affirming surgery mandatory for all applicants of the transgender identity card, the requirement for a medical board review has created confusion and concern within the transgender community. Illustration showing transgender people alongside a medical board certificate, hospital bill, medicines and transgender identity card, highlighting the costs of legal recognition and healthcare. Megha*, a transgender woman from northern Kerala, got her transgender ID card in 2020, five years before undergoing gender affirmation surgery. Esha Kishore, another trans activist based in Kerala, got hers in 2015, also before undergoing gender-affirming procedures. The card is the legal document that certifies an individual’s gender identity under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and neither had to undergo surgery to get it. They could apply based on their self-identification, with any medical procedures they choose to undergo coming later. Megha spent roughly Rs 3-4 lakh on her gender-affirming care, including surgery, hormone therapy, doctors’ fees, tests, travel, accommodation, food, and medication. She still spends over Rs 2,000 a month on medicines, a cost she will have to shell out for decades to come, since doctors advise most trans individuals to stay on hormone therapy until their 50s. Esha too spent a comparable amount on gender affirmation procedures, which she began a decade earlier than Megha. For many like them, legal recognition did not depend on whether, when, or how they chose to medically transition. But that has now changed. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, which came into force in May, removes statutory recognition of self-identification and requires a medical board to certify a person’s transgender identity. It also narrows the definition of who can be legally recognised as transgender, covering certain socio-cultural identities such as kinner, hijra, aravani, and jogta, as well as people with specified intersex variations. A heavily criticised provision also includes a separate category of people whom the law says have been compelled to adopt or present a transgender identity “by force, allurement, inducement, deceit or undue influence.” The amendment effectively excludes people whose identities are based solely on self-perception, including self-perceived trans-masculine, trans-feminine, and gender-non-binary identities. The change has left transgender persons, activists, and lawyers concerned about who will now be able to obtain legal recognition, and what the new medical-board process will require. For those who already have ID cards, however, there is some clarity. During a hearing on August 17, the Union government told the Supreme Court that transgender identity cards issued before the 2026 amendment would continue to remain operational, subject to the outcome of the petitions challenging the law. But for those seeking an ID card under the new system, the process could carry a significant medical and financial burden. Experts told TNM that requiring certification by a medical board could function as a surgery mandate in practice, even if the amendment does not explicitly say that surgery is compulsory. That could make expensive medical procedures and the costs of follow-up care a barrier to obtaining legal recognition, marking a significant departure from the earlier system, under which self-identification was enough to apply for a transgender ID card. What the amendment changed The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 13 and passed by the Lok Sabha on March 24 and the Rajya Sabha on March 25. It received presidential assent on March 30. The amendment makes three significant changes to the process of legal recognition. It removes the statutory right to self-identification, narrows the definition of a transgender person, and introduces a medical board as the authority responsible for certification. To understand why these changes matter, it helps to look at how the process worked earlier. Under the 2019 Act and the 2020 Rules, a person could apply to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity as a transgender person by submitting an affidavit declaring their gender identity. The Rules specifically said the application was to be processed without a medical or physical examination. Surgery was therefore not required to obtain an initial transgender certificate. Medical intervention came into play if a person who already had a transgender certificate subsequently underwent surgery to change their gender to male or female and sought a revised certificate under Section 7 of the 2019 Act. Rule 6 of the 2020 Rules used the broader term “medical intervention” for this process, defining it to include counselling, hormone therapy, and surgical intervention, if any. The 2026 amendment changes the process for obtaining the initial certificate. The District Magistrate must now examine the recommendation of a designated medical board before issuing a certificate, although the amendment itself does not specify what medical tests, examinations, or criteria the board must use. A Tamil Nadu-based lawyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, told TNM that the new system could function as a surgery mandate in practice, even if the law does not explicitly say that every applicant must undergo surgery. “Until we get the rules under the amendment, we won’t be sure. But so far, surgery is mandatory. The 2019 Act also said surgery is mandatory, but the rules watered it down to ‘medical intervention’. The 2020 rule said the same. But now, with the 2026 amendment, they’ve restored the language of surgery.” While the lawyer’s interpretation goes beyond what the amended law expressly states, it points to the central concern raised by activists: a process that once began with an individual’s own declaration of their gender identity will now involve medical scrutiny by a state-appointed body. “What this amendment essentially does is shift that power into the hands of the government,” the lawyer said. That shift is significant in light of the Supreme Court’s 2014 landmark National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) judgement, which recognised transgender people’s right to self-identify their gender without making medical or surgical intervention a prerequisite. The 2019 Act subsequently gave statutory recognition to this principle. Section 4 recognised a transgender person’s right to be recognised