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
BJP’s new strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, attempts to garner the Dalit vote
BJP’s ‘Harmony Mission’ in Uttarakhand, using Saint Ravidas as a vehicle, new strategy for the 2027 Assembly elections, politics intensifies, report by Dheeraj Sajwan Dehradun: Ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the BJP has decided to embark on its most significant social and political mission. To expand its reach among the Dalit vote bank in Uttarakhand, the BJP has launched a “Harmony Resolution Campaign” centered on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The party aims to further strengthen its hold on the state’s approximately 17% Dalit vote bank. To achieve this, the Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan will be launched in Uttarakhand, along with the entire country, in February next year, centering on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The BJP is describing this campaign as a program of social harmony and cultural awakening. However, the opposition is calling it an electoral strategy to garner Dalit votes. According to political analysts, this campaign is not merely a religious or social event, but also a major political exercise to shift social equations in its favor ahead of the 2027 elections. 107 Ravidas temples will be the focus of the campaign, with the BJP reaching the booth level: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express from Jalandhar. Following this, the BJP is now launching a national-level “Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan” leading up to the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. The campaign will begin with the lighting of lamps on Guru Parva on July 29th, and various programs will be organized across the country until February 20, 2027. Crucially, election-bound states, including Uttarakhand, have been given special focus. 107 temples dedicated to Sant Ravidas in the state have been designated as the focus of the campaign. From Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, urns containing sacred soil from the birthplace of Sant Ravidas will be delivered to several states, including Uttarakhand. Following this, Kalash Yatras, social dialogues, seminars, and booth-level programs will be organized. The party’s objective is to spread the message of social harmony among the Dalit community while also strengthening its organizational base. BJP state spokesperson Mathura Dutt Joshi said, Congress attacks, saying, “The campaign is not about harmony, it’s an election stunt.” Congress has reacted sharply to the BJP’s campaign. Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh called it an election stunt to influence the Dalit community. She said, “How can a party that has been accused of ignoring the ideas of Constitution maker Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and weakening the spirit of the Constitution, talk about harmony?” Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh said, “Large leaders like Lalu and Mulayam are the products of Lohia’s non-Congressism: Political analysts believe that the social and political structure of Uttarakhand is quite different from that of states like Uttar Pradesh. The Dalit community here has its own social history, local leadership, and distinct political behavior.” Senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that, Furthermore, senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik further adds that, Caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics: Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s non-Congressism movement gave a new direction to backward class politics, which later led to the emergence of leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav. He says that the BJP has also been conveying political messages from time to time through social representation. The recent appointment of Babita Sahotra to the Child Welfare Committee can also be considered part of this broader social strategy. According to him, the purpose of starting the campaign now is to ensure that this message continues to resonate with the society until the elections. Haridwar and Terai are the most focused areas, with the Bhim Army and BSP also a challenge: Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma believes that the BJP’s entire strategy in Uttarakhand has been designed with Haridwar and the Terai region in mind. According to him, the BJP did not achieve the expected success in the Haridwar district in the last assembly elections. In the 2022 elections, out of the 11 assembly seats in the district, the BJP was able to win only three: Haridwar, Roorkee, and BHEL Ranipur. The remaining seats were won by Congress, BSP, and independent candidates. Dalit voters played a decisive role in most of these areas. Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma says, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results in many assembly seats: According to Bhagirath Sharma, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results not only in Haridwar, but also in several assembly seats in the Pachhadun region of Dehradun, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital districts. This is why the party is already developing a network of social dialogue down to the booth level. Political experts believe that an important aspect of Uttarakhand politics is that the Dalit community has been deeply connected not only to national symbols but also to its local social leaders. Devbhoomi has given birth to numerous Dalit leaders and social reformers like Jayanand Bharti, Hari Prasad Tamta, and Khushi Ram Arya, whose social acceptance remains intact in many areas. In such a situation, the biggest question will be whether the national-level harmony campaign in the name of Saint Ravidas will be able to influence Uttarakhand’s local social symbols, or will the state’s politics continue to revolve around local social identities. However, it is certain that political parties’ activism and social campaigns aimed at the Dalit vote bank will intensify in the coming months ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The Dalit community can play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics: While the BJP is striving for social expansion through harmony, the Congress, BSP, and Bhim Army are facing the challenge of maintaining this same social base in their own ways. In such a situation, the Dalit community may once again play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman denied payment, subjected to casteist slurs: Casteist slurs and assault upon protest; FIR filed a month later
In Vidyarthipuram village, under the Bichhwan police station area of Mainpuri, a Dalit woman was denied payment after purchasing goods from a shop. When she protested, the accused used casteist slurs against her and assaulted her, leaving her injured. An FIR has been filed a month after the incident. Vidyarthipuram resident Sapna, wife of Mansingh Jatav, stated in her FIR that on June 21st, at 2 p.m., she was alone at her grocery store when Akash, son of Sukhpal, and Nitin Chauhan, son of Guddan, from the neighboring village of Garh Nagla Bhagat, came to her shop and purchased goods. When Sapna asked for money, the accused began abusing her. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she complained. When Sapna asked for money, the accused also assaulted Sapna, leaving her injured. The woman filed a complaint with higher authorities. Subsequently, a case was registered on July 25th, and the woman underwent a medical examination on July 26th. Station House Officer Ashish Dubey stated that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint, and further action will be taken after the investigation. Shashikant | Orandh (Kurawali), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit activists question DK district administration over not holding SC/ST grievance meet
Questioning the Dakshina Kannada district administration for not holding an SC/ST grievance redressal meeting for nearly two years, Dalit activists said the district administration should hold the meeting once every three months. Speaking at a SC/ST grievance redressal meeting on Sunday, held jointly by the Mangaluru City police and Dakshina Kannada district police at the office of the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, activist Jagadish Pandeshwar said many of the grievances raised during meetings held by the police related to revenue matters. “We cannot have unnecessary discussions about revenue matters in this meeting,” he said. He said that while the Udupi district administration held meetings once every three months, the Dakshina Kannada district administration had not held grievance redressal meetings for nearly two years. Mr. Pandeshwar said he had met Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara and apprised him of the issue. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.N. Mithun said he would convey the demand for a grievance redressal meeting by the district administration to Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju. When an activist spoke about a dispute related to land in Kunjathbail village, Mr. Mithun asked Dalit organisations to render legal assistance to Dalits in protecting their legal rights. The DCP appreciated the efforts of para legal volunteers from the District Legal Services Authority in participating in SC/ST grievance meetings at the Mulki police station and rendering legal assistance to affected parties. Dalit activist S.P. Anand said people were still facing issues in getting caste certificates as Adi Dravida. “Though the government has notified sub-castes under Adi Dravida, officials are still not issuing caste certificates,” Mr. Anand said. On the demand for deployment of home guards across the district, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar S. Bhoomraddi said that against the sanctioned strength of 800 home guards, only 640 were working, while the remaining 160 posts were vacant. He said only people keen on serving society for an honorarium could come forward to work as home guards. In the last 10 months, only 24 people had come forward to serve as home guards. A home guard is paid ₹800 per day by the police, while other departments pay ₹500 per day, Mr. Bhoomraddi said. A woman said the city police had so far not succeeded in tracing her husband, who had been missing with another woman for the past 26 days. The Bajpe police have registered the missing case of her husband, while Mangaluru Women’s Police have registered a case of the missing woman. A police inspector from Mangaluru South police station said a team had gone to a lodge in Kukke Subrahmanya a few days ago, but the two escaped from the lodge, he said. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Responsible for brutal assault on innocent students’: After Dharmendra Pradhan, opposition turns heat on Amit Shah, seeks resignation
NEW DELHI: The opposition is set to intensify its attack on the government in Parliament on Monday by demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Brittas said opposition parties would also raise the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, when Parliament resumes. The remarks come a day after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a 36-day agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with the government also accepting the protesters’ other key demands. “Last day, Shah said the government respected the youth who led the protest. Where was that respect for the last 36 days? When students were being beaten on the streets of the national capital, and their skulls were being cracked open, where was that respect?” Brittas said. “If there is even a grain of sincerity in those words, Amit Shah too should resign. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The home minister, who is responsible for this brutal assault on innocent students, must resign,” he added. Opposition prepares to corner government in Parliament Brittas said the opposition would support any move to strengthen laws against examination-related fraud but questioned the government’s decision to amend the existing legislation instead of ensuring its implementation. He noted that Parliament had enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in 2024 after the government claimed it would curb paper leaks. “Now the government is only proposing amendments to that law. The problem is not the absence of legislation but the lack of political will to enforce it and the authorities’ alleged compromise with vested interests,” he claimed. INDIA bloc parties are planning to seek an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting the NEET paper leak. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to home minister Amit Shah seeking accountability, while Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose has submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue. The opposition is expected to raise allegations regarding the use of pellet guns, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest, and injuries suffered by students. The government, meanwhile, is scheduled to introduce amendments to the anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks stricter penalties for paper leaks, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals involved, while organised crimes related to examination fraud could attract fines of up to Rs 10 crore. Questions over higher education secretary appointment Brittas also questioned the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, alleging that the officer had previously faced accusations of irregularities in the disbursal of central government subsidies. “Such an officer has now been appointed to head the department responsible for public examinations, where transparency and integrity are of utmost importance. All these issues will be raised during the discussion in Parliament,” he said. He further alleged that while authorities had released details of police personnel injured during the protests, no information had been made public about injured students. “The home ministry has released details of police personnel who were allegedly injured. But not a single detail has been made public about the protesters who were brutally assaulted. There is a complete veil of secrecy over their condition,” Brittas claimed. He said the identities and medical condition of injured students should be disclosed so that their families and organisations willing to assist them could provide support. Separately, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also blamed Amit Shah for the police action during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar. Raut alleged that students were attacked and women protesters were harassed, holding the home minister responsible for the incident. He also claimed Shah was responsible for “whatever bad and undemocratic is happening in the country.” The BJP rejected Raut’s remarks, with Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban asking the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader to focus on his “already depleted party”. The protests, which began on June 20 over the NEET paper leak, were called off on Saturday after the government accepted key demands of the protesters and Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister. The July 20 police action against protesters marching towards Parliament has since become a major flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging excessive use of force, including pellet guns. Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest, while the CRPF has not publicly responded to allegations involving its Rapid Action Force. 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
‘Will announce future strategy soon’: Abhijeet Dipke says Punjab ‘paper leak’ controversy also on CJP’s radar
NEW DELHI: A day after calling off its 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar following Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said the organisation would soon announce its future strategy. Dipke indicated that the party would continue raising issues related to alleged examination irregularities. Dipke said the movement had only concluded a day ago and the organisation was taking time to decide its next steps. On the alleged paper leak in Punjab, he says, “We will address that too; we are currently planning… pic.twitter.com/GQUufQdpOD “We will announce the future strategy soon. It only just ended yesterday; please give us a little time,” he said. Responding to a question on the alleged paper leak controversy in Punjab, Dipke said the CJP was already planning its response. “We will address that too; we are currently planning for it,” he said, indicating that the organisation intends to expand its focus beyond the NEET issue. Dipke also said discussions with the Centre were continuing over criminal cases registered during the course of the nationwide protests. “Talks are underway concerning the cases that have been filed. No cases should be registered against any student,” he said. The remarks come a day after the CJP formally withdrew its agitation following a third round of talks with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club. The organisation had announced that it was ending the protest “in good faith” after the Centre accepted its principal demand with the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. It was also assured that the remaining issues would be addressed within an agreed timeline. During the 36-day protest, demonstrations spread across several cities, with clashes reported in Delhi and other parts of the country. 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
Did you approve lethal force, pellet guns: Rahul Gandhi to Amit Shah; bill in Lok Sabha today
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi shot off a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for police’s alleged high-handedness against protesters at Jantar Mantar, signalling a fiery start to the second week of the Monsoon session, as govt is set to table in Lok Sabha on Monday a bill that enhances punishment in cases of paper leaks as part of its raft of measures to respond to the protest.Opposition MPs said they will finalise their stand at their strategy meeting before parliamentary proceedings begin. LS leader of the opposition Rahul’s letter to Shah gave an early indication. “As home minister, did you approve the use of lethal force including pellet guns against students? If not, who did? Are the people in plainclothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers? Youth and students, future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability,” he said, noting that security forces deployed in Delhi answer ultimately to Shah. Govt won’t like to be seen as making direct concessions to Cong, say NDA circles A day after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned to pacify Cockroach Janta Party and the opposition, PM Modi said in a message to students that govt will bring to Parliament the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill as he announced a taskforce for exam reforms. With govt determined to wrest back the initiative after making several concessions over the paper leak row and Congress and its allies keen to press home their advantage, both sides will need to come to an agreement for normal business to return to Parliament after the first week’s washout. The view within BJP-led NDA circles is that govt would not like to be seen making any direct concession to Congress, and instead point to the measures it has taken in the last few days. With Modi announcing the task force, Shah said this underlines govt’s principle of constant reform to safeguard future of the new generation. “The task force will ensure that no one can ever breach the sanctity of our exam system. We will impose exemplary punishment on culprits of paper leak and ensure no one ever dares commit this crime,” he said. Govt has said paper leaks have happened in different states irrespective of political affiliations of govt of the day. “Govt has shown a big heart and underscored its sincerity. We are hopeful opposition will now allow a debate to take place. But if they continue to play politics, we’ll hit back,” a govt functionary said. In his letter, Rahul accused police of “barbaric assault” on students during their march to Parliament on July 20. Congress’s Jairam Ramesh demanded an apology from Modi, with opposition MPs Sagarika Ghose of TMC and CPM’s John Brittas echoing the charge. The latter called for a judicial panel to inquire into the assault. 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
Rahul to visit TN on Aug 1, says K C Venugopal
Chennai: AICC general secretary (organization) K C Venugopal said on Sunday that Congress leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Tamil Nadu on Aug 1. Speaking to reporters in Chennai airport, Venugopal said Rahul was visiting TN to participate in the valedictory function of the ten day training program for the newly appointed Congress district presidents. Speaking about the training program, Venugopal said the district presidents are the backbone of Congress and they are the bridge between the people and the party’s senior leadership. TNCC president B Manickam Tagore, who received Venugopal in Chennai airport, said Rahul’s visit will infuse fresh blood in Tamil Nadu unit of Congress. “This visit by Rahul Gandhi, who has been relentlessly fighting to safeguard the Constitution, strengthen democracy, establish social justice, and secure the future of the youth, will infuse fresh enthusiasm and inspiration among the Congress cadres and people of Tamil Nadu. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Nadu Congress family, we extend our heartfelt welcome to him,” Tagore said in a statement on X. However, Congress leaders said the complete itinerary of Rahul’s visit was yet to be finalised. Earlier, Tagore condemned Union govt for insisting that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung after Vande Mataram and National Anthem in Manonmaniam Sundaranar university 33rd convocation scheduled for July 28. Tagore blamed Union home minister Amit Shah for the move, stating that he should `stop playing with Tamil people’s sentiments.’ 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
Amid Oppression, India’s Catholics Provide Sanctuary for Trans People
Against the backdrop of a fight for fundamental rights for transgender people in India, the Catholic Church is building a refuge for the local trans community. In Kadarkarai Sagaya Madha Church in Ennore, Chennai, church leaders have instituted a “Catholic Desk” that offers job placement assistance and professional counseling for transgender people. It is just one link in a chain that is forming across India. Just a few weeks after Kadarkarai Sagaya Madha Church unveiled this desk, the first ministry of its kind in the archdiocese, the Indian Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, according to a news article in Religion Unplugged. This act stripped away what fundamental rights transgender persons achieved in India with the 2014 Supreme Court ruling in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, which “guaranteed the right to self-identify one’s gender.” The news article reports that the new amendment undermines these rights in several ways: “The new amendment [requires] the approval of a government-appointed medical board…before the state will legally recognize a transgender person’s identity. The new law also narrows the legal definition of transgender so radically that trans men, non-binary people and many who did not fit into socio-culturally legible categories like hijra or aravani (terms meaning third-gender and usually referring to transgender women, intersex individuals or eunuchs) are no longer recognized under Indian law at all.” International and scientific communities condemn the amendment. Amnesty International calls it “a serious setback for human rights in India,” while medical groups call it “scientifically inaccurate, medically unsound, and incompatible with contemporary standards of transgender healthcare.” The church’s quiet push to aid members of the trans community seems a lot more intentional in the face of this new law. The church in Ennore isn’t the only place the Catholic Church is becoming a refuge for Indian transgender persons, either. In Northeast India, Sister Prema Chowallur of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod has been ministering to the Hijra community since 2016. According to Chowallur, this ministry began when she sat on a bus next to a transgender woman no one else would sit beside. This led her to open the Rainbow Home of the Seven Sisters, a shelter that also provides skills training and advocates for transgender children being admittedto the formal education system. The Archdiocese of Guwahati gave the home its backing. Chowullar’s approach to transgender ministry is “deliberately theological,” and uses the same language Pope Francis used when he stressed that the church must minister to those at the “peripheries.” Chowullar believes “this is the call of the Church today, to work for the rejected, discarded, and marginalized.” In Ennore, Father Leo Joseph leads the Catholic Desk initiative, with Inba Ignatius, founder of the Snegidhan Snegidhi Trust. The Trust has a long history providing shelter and support to transgender people in the region. Ignatius is from a Catholic family, but felt isolated from the church following her transition. She built the Snegidhan Snegidhi Trust “outside institutional structures.” With both Pope Leo and Pope Francis rpreaching kindness and care to all, Ignatius now sits on an eight-member committee that includes priests and religious sisters. Indian Church leaders are quick to emphasize they are helping to protect human dignity and providing spiritual accompaniment. Navigating the Hindu-nationalist political climate in India is complicated when offering shelter to a group that is also becoming more legally exposed. To trans Catholics in India, however, the rhetoric matters less than the existence of the Catholic Desk itself. Courtesy : NWM Note: This news is originally published on https:/newwaysministry.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
As Modi meets Sachkhand Ballan chief, why Punjab’s largest Dalit dera matters politically
Home to Punjab’s largest Ravidasia congregation, the dera has evolved into a symbol of Dalit assertion, religious identity and electoral significance. Chandigarh: Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Jalandhar to inaugurate a new railway station, one of the few persons he chose to specially meet was Sant Niranjan Dass, head of the influential Dalit Dera Sachkhand Ballan. The warmth between the PM and the Dalit dera appears mutual. In December last year, Sant Dass had first met Modi inviting him to the dera on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, and the PM visited the dera in February to participate in the ceremony. The dera chief was also honoured with the civilian award Padma Shri last month. Apart from the growing personal friendship, the PM’s open patronage of Punjab’s largest Dalit dera can also be read politically as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach to Dalit voters ahead of next year’s assembly polls. ThePrint explains the emergence of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located at Ballan in Jalandhar, and its political significance in Punjab. Three prominent deras Deras, widespread in Punjab, are socio-religious centres of various sects and organisations. Unlike Sikh gurdwaras, where the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living guru, deras are generally led by a living guru with a personal following. Dera Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Dera Sacha Sauda (headquartered in Sirsa) and Dera Sachkhand Ballan are the three most followed deras in Punjab, commanding a following running into several lakhs. Though the dera Beas, located in the Majha belt, is considered to be apolitical, the BJP has in the past few years made multiple efforts to cement the party’s bond with dera chief Baba Gurinder Singh. The outreach has included the PM meeting Baba Gurinder Singh on several occasions. The dera at Sirsa, which has a large following in Malwa, is headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim currently in jail serving multiple sentences for rape and murder. He is considered to be close to the BJP, with the administration allowing him breaks from jail several times in the year. Now, the bonhomie with a prominent Dalit dera in the heart of Doaba completes the picture. Dalits hold the key Dalits constitute almost 32 percent of Punjab’s population, the highest proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) population among all Indian states, according to the 2011 Census. They are divided among Sikh, Hindu and Christian faiths, and many flock to deras. Dalits also do not vote en bloc in Punjab. Among the Dalits, the Ravidasias, Ramdasias and Ad-Dharmis are the major sub-groups, concentrated in the Doaba region comprising the districts of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar and Phagwara. Ronki Ram, from the department of sociology, Panjab University Chandigarh, had in his seminal study on Punjab Dalits reported that the Ravidasias are the most prominent Dalit community in the state. “Out of the 39 SC castes in Punjab, the four major castes of Chamar (23.45 percent), Ad-dharmi (11.48 percent), Balmiki (9.78 percent) and Mazhabi (29.72 percent) constitute 74.44 percent of the total SC population,” he wrote in his research paper titled ‘Caste within Caste: Predicament of Political Solidarity among Scheduled Castes in Contemporary Punjab’. “Chamars are further divided into Ravidasias (leather workers) and Ramdasias (weavers). The Ravidasias have utilised the availability of reservation in education well, and are more upwardly mobile than Ramdasias,” he told ThePrint. The Ravidasias are followers of Guru Ravidas, a 15th-century Bhakti saint and social reformer of the Chamar caste whose egalitarian message resonated with Dalit communities. “Ravidas was born into the Chamar caste, also known as Kutbandhla, one of the Scheduled Castes (SC) in Uttar Pradesh. Chamars are known by their profession of leather and tanning. They were oppressed and their touch and sight were considered polluting by the upper castes. Ravidas revolted against this inhuman system of untouchability. He adopted bhakti as a mode of expression for his revolt,” reads Ronki Ram’s research paper. Guru Ravidas’s poetic hymns are also included in the holy text of the Guru Granth Sahib. Every year, trains full of devotees from Sachkhand Ballan head to Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan in Varanasi to mark the guru’s birth anniversary. During his visit to Jalandhar last week, the PM also flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express connecting Amritsar to Varanasi to facilitate devotees travelling from Punjab. The Sachkhand Ballan Dera is the largest dera of the Ravidasias in Punjab. According to Ronki Ram, the growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of the upward mobility of Ravidasias. “Many Ravidasias went abroad and have earned well and have invested in Guru Ravidas deras. They have built temples, gurdwaras, bhawans (memorial halls), educational institutions/chairs, cultural organisations and hospitals in his name all over Punjab. They are also networked and, as a community, enjoy political clout. The growth and expansion of Sachkhand Ballan is an example of this upward mobility of Ravidasias,” he said. A faultline among Ravidasias and radical Sikhs emerged in 2009 when six armed men attacked a Ravidasia congregation at Ravidas Gurdwara in Vienna in Austria, where Sant Ramanand, the then second in command of the dera, was fatally injured. Sant Niranjan Dass, who was heading the sect even then and was with Sant Ramanand, was injured. Sikh extremists saw some Ravidasia practises as divergent from orthodox Sikh canon. They objected to keeping the Guru Granth Sahib at the same level as a human guru. The 2009 attack triggered protests in Punjab, with clashes among Sikhs and Ravidasias reported in Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and other areas. Several vehicles were burnt in the riots that ensued. A passenger train was torched after passengers were asked to evacuate. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to appeal for peace. In September 2010, a Vienna court sentenced the main attacker to life in prison for murder and attempted murder, while four accomplices received 17 to 18-year sentences and a sixth received six months. Demand for separate identity The Vienna incident was pivotal in galvanising the community’s sense of a separate identity.