Section 2(k) Transgender Persons Amendment Act 2026: Supreme Court Issues Notice on Fresh Plea, Tags With Pending Batch
Petition by transgender advocate challenges the proviso to Section 2(k) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, alleging it violates the Supreme Court’s NALSA ruling and threatens legal recognition based on self-identification. The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union government on a fresh writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of the proviso to Section 2(k) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. The proviso to Section 2(k) of the Act provides that the term “transgender person” does not include, and has never included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana tagged the petition with the batch of pending cases challenging the 2026 amendment to the Act. The petition has been filed by Ankani Biswas, a transgender advocate practising before the Calcutta High Court. What does the petition challenge? The petition assails the proviso to Section 2(k) of the amended Act, which states that the definition of a transgender person “shall not include, nor shall ever have been so included, persons with different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities”. According to the petitioner, the provision is unconstitutional because it departs from the Supreme Court’s landmark 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India (2014), which recognised self-identification as the basis of legal gender recognition. Why has the petitioner approached the court? The petitioner, who was assigned female at birth but later identified as a trans-masculine person, obtained a Transgender Identity Card in 2023 recognising them as a third-gender person. The petition argues that the amended provision creates uncertainty by suggesting that the legislature never intended to include persons with self-perceived identities within the definition of transgender persons. As a result, it raises concerns over the continued legal recognition of individuals who have already been issued transgender identity cards under the earlier legal framework. Concerns over professional identity The petitioner has also highlighted the practical consequences of the amendment, stating that they are an empanelled legal services counsel and one of the few advocates in West Bengal who regularly assist members of the transgender community. According to the plea, any uncertainty over the petitioner’s legal identity could affect professional records, undermine dignity and restrict access to justice for members of the community who seek legal assistance. Reliefs sought Apart from seeking to strike down the proviso as unconstitutional, the petitioner has sought an alternative direction that the amendment should not affect the rights of persons already recognised under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. In the alternative, the plea seeks a clarification from the Central government on whether the amended provision has any impact on existing holders of transgender identity cards. The present petition comes amid a batch of constitutional challenges pending before the Supreme Court against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. On May 3, while issuing notice on the lead petitions, the top court declined to stay the operation of the amended law but agreed to examine the challenge, observing that the issues raised required consideration by a larger Bench. The matter was subsequently referred to a three-judge Bench. Subsequently, the Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of similar petitions pending before the Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan high courts. On June 15, the apex court stayed all proceedings before the high courts on challenges to the amendment and directed that the constitutional validity of the law be decided by the Supreme Court itself to avoid conflicting decisions. By – Salil Tiwari Courtesy : Law Beat Note: This news is originally published on https:/lawbeat.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
Farmers protest in Syana, serious allegations against accountant: Indefinite sit-in protest against indecency and illegal extortion of Dalit woman
On Monday, dozens of farmers, led by State Vice President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), Sunil Singh, staged a strong protest at the tehsil premises in Syana, Bulandshahr. They raised slogans and launched an indefinite sit-in, leveling serious allegations against a clerk posted at the tehsil. The farmers allege that the clerk misbehaved with a Dalit woman in Rukhi village. Furthermore, he is accused of illegally occupying the lands of dozens of farmers in the village and making illegal extortions from them on a daily basis. The protesters also alleged that the clerk is negligent in his official duties. Speaking to the media, State Vice President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu), Sunil Singh, said, “This accountant is involved in corruption. He is disrespecting women and encroaching on the lands of poor farmers. Our indefinite sit-in will continue until this accountant is immediately transferred and a case is filed against him and strict action is taken.” The protesting farmers raised slogans against the administration in the tehsil premises. Farmer leaders demanded that the administration conduct a high-level investigation into the matter, take departmental action against the guilty accountant, and provide justice to the victim. They warned that if their demands were not met soon, the agitation would be intensified and a demonstration would be held at the district headquarters. Aman Tyagi | Syana (Bulandshahr), Bulandshahr Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Youth Assaulted for Drinking Water From Public Pot in Rajasthan; FIR Registered After Court Order
Police in Rajasthan’s Balotra district have registered an FIR against a man accused of assaulting and abusing a Dalit youth with casteist slurs after he allegedly drank water from a public earthen pot outside a grocery shop. The case was registered at Gida Police Station following directions from an SC/ST court after the complainant alleged that police had failed to act on his earlier complaints. Victim alleges assault after drinking water According to the FIR, the incident took place on June 11 at around 7 pm near a bus stand in Khokhsar village under the Gida police station area. The complainant alleged that he was waiting for a bus to Chaba when, due to the heat, he drank water from a public earthen pot kept outside the grocery shop of the accused, identified as Rajuram Nai. He claimed the accused became angry, allegedly abused him using caste-based slurs and demanded money for drinking the water. When the complainant said he had no money, the accused allegedly slapped and punched him. The assault stopped only after local residents intervened, according to the complaint. The complainant further alleged that the accused later threatened to break his arms and legs and kill him if he pursued any action. Police registered case after court order The complainant said he reported the incident at Gida Police Station the following day and later sent a written complaint to the Balotra Superintendent of Police. However, alleging that no action was taken, he approached the SC/ST court. Following the court’s directions, Gida Police registered an FIR against the accused. Investigation underway Police said the case has been registered under Sections 115(2) and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
Special Court Decision: Five Convicts in Narsinghpur Murder of Dalit Middle-Aged Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 14, 2025. Nitesh Mehra, a resident of Umaria village in the Gotegaon area, was called by accused Kamlesh Prajapati and abused… Read More Special Court Decision. Naidunia Representative, Narsinghpur. The court of Special Judge (Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act) Manoj Kumar Ladhiya, delivering swift justice in a serious case of murder and caste-based atrocity, convicted five accused from the same family and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The Special Court convicted the accused, Kamlesh Prajapati (28), Annilal Prajapati (50), Akhilesh Prajapati (24), Chhotu alias Umesh (22), and Savita Bai (47) (all residents of Umaria village, Gotegaon police station) under sections 103(1)/190 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST Act and sentenced them to life imprisonment and a fine. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on March 14, 2025. Nitesh Mehra, a resident of Umaria village in the Gotegaon area, received a call from the accused, Kamlesh Prajapati, abusing him, and informing him that they were assaulting his father, Sukhlal Mehra. Nitesh immediately rushed to the scene (a gram field) and saw the accused brutally beating his father with sticks and kicks. Sukhlal suffered serious injuries due to a minor dispute (over leaving straw) and caste-based hatred. Sukhlal was later declared dead on the way to the hospital. Court Verdict and Sentence On behalf of the prosecution, ADPO Amit Kumar Rai presented strong evidence and oral arguments. The court agreed with the prosecution’s arguments and sentenced the five accused to life imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 rupees each under Section 103(1) of the IPC for murder. Kamlesh, Annilal, and Akhilesh were sentenced to 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 500 rupees each for rioting and other charges. Chhotu and Savita Bai were sentenced to 1 year’s rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 500 rupees each. BY VARIJ BAJPAIEDITED BY: NAVODIT SAKTAWAT Courtesy: Hindi News
Hathras Student Molested: Neighboring Youth Arrested, Police File Case
A case has been registered in Hathras Kotwali Sadar for the molestation of a Dalit girl. Police arrested the accused this afternoon. The incident occurred on the morning of July 20th, when a 17-year-old Dalit girl was on her way to computer coaching. In her complaint, the girl stated that Rizwan alias Nahna, son of Shamshad, who lived in a colony on Jalesar Road in the Kotwali Sadar area, stopped her on the way. The accused held her hand and made obscene remarks. The accused belongs to another community. When the girl protested, Rizwan abused her and used casteist slurs. As he left, he also threatened to kill her father. The girl returned home and informed her family about the incident. Acting on the complaint, the accused, Rizwan alias Nahna, has been arrested. Courtesy: Hindi News
CJP warns of fresh protests if govt fails to honour FIR withdrawal promise; Kapil Sibal announces legal support
Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday accused the Centre of violating its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against protesters, alleging that hundreds of students had been arrested or were facing police action in several states despite the agreement reached before the outfit suspended its nationwide agitation. CJP also said it was awaiting the government’s promised written agreement on the withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters and organisers, and warned that it would be forced to resume its agitation if the assurance was not received by Tuesday. Addressing a press conference, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the issue was discussed during the third round of talks with the government before the 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar was called off. “In the third round of talks, we had agreed that all FIRs filed against protesters and organisers across the country would be withdrawn and no new FIR would be filed against any organiser and protester in future,” Ranka said. He said the CJP had submitted a draft agreement to Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, and it was agreed that the government would share a written agreement by Tuesday after legal consultations. “We are waiting for the government to share the written agreement. We hope a senior Cabinet minister will honour the agreement and FIRs will be withdrawn, no protester or organiser would be harassed, and no cases would be filed in future,” he said. Ranka said if the written agreement was not received by Tuesday and protesters and organisers arrested in connection with the agitation were not released, the outfit would be “forced to protest again”. In a statement posted on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation was witnessing a “complete breach” of the understanding reached with the government regarding police action against protesters. “We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harrassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi around detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics,” the statement said. In the statement issued Monday, the CJP said it had received “multiple reports” of students and other protesters being “targeted, detained, or arrested by various state agencies”, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. “The Cockroach Janta Party had called off its nationwide protest only after the Government of India assured us that no punitive action would be taken against any protester, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. The reports emerging from these states are therefore a matter of grave concern,” it said. The outfit said its legal team is coordinating with lawyers in concerned states to secure the release of those detained and provide legal assistance. It also urged the Centre, particularly Nadda and Singh, to honour the assurance given during the negotiations by ensuring the release of those detained and preventing any “coercive or retaliatory action” against protesters anywhere in the country. “The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too,” the statement said. “Our decision to suspend the nationwide protest was taken in good faith and solely on the basis of the government’s assurance that it would stand by its word. Any departure from that assurance would not merely amount to a breach of trust with the Cockroach Janta Party but would also be a breach of public trust with lakhs of young Indians who chose dialogue over protests,” it said. Warning that any breach of the assurance would be “completely unacceptable to the youth”, the CJP demanded that all detainees be released and all FIRs withdrawn immediately, failing which it would “take further necessary steps”. Das also said the CJP had been providing legal and medical assistance to protesters across the country since the beginning of the movement. Adding to its concerns, the CJP flagged reports of Instagram accounts linked to student activists and volunteers being taken down, alleging that the crackdown extended to digital platforms alongside on-ground action. CJP member Ratna Singh also alleged intensified police action across states, citing FIRs in Assam, arrests in Kolkata and detentions in Bihar, with stringent charges invoked in some cases. The organisation also announced the launch of ‘Saakshi’, an online platform where protesters can upload videos and photographs allegedly showing police action against protesters on July 20. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who also addressed the press conference, said no action should be taken against students who participated in what he described as an organic protest. Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. “We don’t want action to be taken against students who did a protest. It was an organic movement. Governments want no dissent,” Sibal said. “We have to make a website through which protesters can approach lawyers. I appeal to lawyers across the country to stand with these protesters,” he added. 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 ri
Rahul-Akhilesh’s ‘UP ke Ladke’ chemistry puts youth anger at centre of UP’s 2027 political battle
The spirit of “UP ke Ladke” resurfaced at Jantar Mantar, where Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav stood with protesting students instead of sharing an election stage. LUCKNOW: The camaraderie between Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP and national president Akhilesh Yadav seen at Jantar Mantar during the recent students’ protests was a reminder of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when the two had come together as “UP ke Ladke”, an expression allegedly coined by Prashant Kishore. While Rahul Gandhi brought the visibility of the Leader of the Opposition, Akhilesh Yadav carried the electoral weight of Uttar Pradesh, the state that plays a decisive role in national politics and is set to go to the Assembly polls early next year. Together, they reframed the protest as a question of governance and accountability. However, will the political chemistry between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, combined with the alleged youth anger against the dispensation, be able to deliver major political gains to the INDIA bloc in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections? That will be interesting to watch. The ethos of “UP ke Ladke” was palpable in a very different setting at Jantar Mantar. This time, there was no electoral pitch, no seat-sharing talks and no campaign rally. There were protesting students instead. The NEET agitation, initially focused on alleged irregularities in the examination process, expanded to include unemployment, recruitment delays and declining trust in public institutions after Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav joined the protest. They might not have initiated the agitation, but their presence amplified its political significance and visibility. While Rahul Gandhi said the protest was not just about NEET or one examination but about the future of the youth, which was at stake, Akhilesh Yadav added that students in Uttar Pradesh were angry over delays in recruitment. “This is a fight for their future,” he said. Perhaps it was their presence that transformed the protest from a student-led agitation into a national political issue. For the Opposition, the issue fits into a wider narrative of unemployment and institutional failure. For Akhilesh Yadav, it is even more politically immediate, given Uttar Pradesh’s large population of competitive examination aspirants. Though the “UP ke Ladke” slogan failed to make much impact among voters in the 2017 Assembly elections, when both leaders campaigned together as the young faces of the Congress-SP alliance, the political symbolism endured. It resurfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress and Samajwadi Party jointly challenged the BJP in Uttar Pradesh under the INDIA bloc, changing the political landscape of the state. The Jantar Mantar appearance signals that this partnership is once again finding political space, this time around youth anger and examination-related distress. However, political experts believe the joint appearance of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav is politically significant and, if sustained, could shape the anti-incumbency mood among first-time voters in the 2027 Assembly elections. The camaraderie may strengthen Opposition unity in urban and semi-urban constituencies where examination-related frustration is most visible, political experts say. Though the BJP continues to maintain strong organisational dominance in Uttar Pradesh, youth anger operates on a different tangent, away from traditional caste-based politics. This makes the NEET controversy and broader issues surrounding the examination system potentially powerful political triggers. The real challenge for the ruling party is addressing the lived experience of aspirants who feel excluded from opportunities. “However, it is imperative for both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to expand the issue from NEET to jobs, recruitment, and education reform besides maintaining unity when electoral negotiations begin in the earnest,” said Prof A K Mishra, a political scientist. If the sentiment that their future is at stake deepens among the youth, the defining question of the 2027 Assembly elections may not be about caste arithmetic or party machinery. It could instead be about who succeeds in owning the politics of student anxiety, youth anger and the aspirations of a new generation of women voters. Namita Bajpai 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 ri
Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav arrested in Patna NEET protest case, sent to 14-day judicial custody
PATNA: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a case registered over a protest at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during demonstrations against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His lawyer, Jagannath Singh, alleged irregularities in the arrest process and said a bail plea could be moved on Monday. “An FIR was filed on July 26, whereas the arrest took place on the July 25, at 7:30 pm, from the city centre mall. I just submitted an application to the judge for his release. He told me to process the bail demand on Monday. I reached Naubatpur police station at 10:30 am. There were 2 SPs there. I asked them the reason behind his arrest. His family members don’t even know that he was under arrest since 7.30 pm. We still haven’t gotten the copy of the FIR,” Singh told reporters. Yadav was detained by Bihar Police on Saturday after joining students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak during a Bihar Bandh in Patna. Reacting to the arrest, JJD’s Bankipur by-election candidate Veena Manvi questioned the timing of the police action and alleged that party leaders had faced repeated “torture” since the start of the election campaign. “I don’t want to say anything. We’ve been tortured since the 13th. First, they (police) picked me on nomination day, then they picked him today. It seems like the entire Bankipur district is now dependent on the Janshakti Janata Dal. What’s wrong if we protest a little?… What crime did he commit? If the national flag was shown once among the children, was that a crime? And even if there was a crime in your opinion, they should have taken him away right then and there. But what’s the point in picking him up when he was having family time in the evening, going shopping? I also do not know the reason behind this.” Before being taken into custody, Yadav expressed support for the protesting students and urged the government to address their demands. “The children’s demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth,” he told reporters. His arrest came after violence erupted in Patna during a statewide Bihar Bandh called by several opposition parties and social organisations over the alleged NEET paper leak and recent police action against student protesters. A traffic police booth was allegedly vandalised during the protest, while clashes broke out between protesters and police. Stone-pelting was reported and police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The demonstrations were held across Bihar, with students demanding reforms in the education system and action over alleged irregularities in the examination process. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and vandalised police vehicles in Patna, prompting heavy police deployment. Pradhan has since stepped down following nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces.” Following his resignation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers. 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 ri
‘Modi govt fears truth and non-violence’: Rahul Gandhi on Ken-Betwa protest crackdown
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Narendra Modi government fears “both truth and non-violent resistance”, days after police dispersed tribal protests against the Ken-Betwa river linking project in BJP-led Madhya Pradesh.”The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh had sat on a water satyagraha and hunger strike because their land was taken away for the Ken-Betwa project, but they received neither fair compensation nor dignified rehabilitation,” the Lok Sabha leader of opposition wrote on X. Calling tribals the country’s “original owners”, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the first right over water, forests and land “belongs to them alone.” “And their ‘satyagraha’ is because that very right is being snatched from them today. In their unique way, their demand is simply this: provide a proper means of livelihood—or else life is no different from a funeral pyre. But even this is unacceptable to the BJP government. Instead of listening to them, their peaceful protest is being crushed with police force,” the Raebareli MP added. The former Congress chief expressed solidarity with the protesting tribal communities and asserted that his party would ensure justice, including fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for them. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video clip highlighting the protests in Madhya Pradesh. On July 19, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district removed protesters from the site, bringing their 15-day agitation to an end. The Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project is India’s first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. It aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares of land, provide drinking water to around 6.2 million people, and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 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 ri