Ambedkar Nagar News: Bodies of Dalit couple found under suspicious circumstances, suspicion of murder
Jalalpur. The bodies of a Dalit couple, Vishnu Lal and Draupadi, were found on the side of a road in Ajanpara village in the Malipur area on Monday morning under suspicious circumstances. The woman had severe injuries on her neck, back, and legs, while Vishnu had no visible injuries. Villagers who were out defecating saw the bodies and informed the family and the police. CO Jalalpur Anup Kumar Singh, a forensic team, and a dog squad investigated the scene. Police suspect the deaths were caused by a wild animal attack, while the forest department denies any animal attack. Meanwhile, family members and villagers suspect murder. Meanwhile, rumors of an illicit relationship are also rife. Vishnu Lal (45), a resident of Ajanpara village in the Malipur area, had gone to irrigate a paddy field with his wife, Draupadi (39), at around 9 pm on Sunday night. They returned after turning on the water and went back to the field at around 1 am. After this, the two did not return home all night. Around 6 a.m., a villager who went out to defecate found their bodies lying on the side of a road about 50 meters from the field. Upon receiving the information, the deceased Vishnu Lal’s father, Ramkewal, along with other family members and villagers, rushed to the scene. According to Ramkewal, Vishnu Lal’s body was free of any visible injuries. Draupadi had severe bleeding injuries on the back of her neck. Furthermore, the woman’s leg had been eaten by a wild animal. Family members and villagers suspect murder, but no complaint has been filed. Meanwhile, some people are also hushedly discussing the possibility of an illicit relationship. CO Anup Kumar Singh, Station House Officer Tanuj Pal, the forensic team, and the dog squad investigated the scene. Following the police’s suspicion of a wild animal attack, Ranger Mudit Singh, under the direction of DFO Jagdamba Prasad, conducted the investigation with his team. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, samples of which have been taken and sent for testing. The couple’s death is initially suspected to have been caused by a wild animal attack. The post-mortem report is awaited, based on which further action will be taken. – Anoop Kumar Singh, CO Jalalpur Judging by the visible wounds on the bodies, it does not appear that an animal attack was the cause of death. After death, the woman’s leg was devoured by a small animal. Jackal footprints were found some distance from the scene, which appear to be a few days old. No footprints were found at the scene. Courtesy: Hindi News
Marichjhapi massacre of Dalit refugees becomes Durga Puja theme in Kolkata pandal
The Kamardanga Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samiti members told ThePrint they are trying to pull the Marichjhapi massacre out of oblivion. The forgotten massacre of Dalit refugees on a faraway island in the Sundarbans during 1978-79 has become a Durga Puja pandal theme at Kamardanga Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samiti in Kolkata’s Entally area. It is part of the broader theme of ‘Bam Bodh’ (eradication of the Left) that the organising committee has worked on for this puja. “This year, we are organising Durga puja with the dream of establishing Sanatan Hindu Rashtra,” Suraj Kumar Singh, president of the 107-year-old Kamardanga Sadharan Durgotsav Samity, told ThePrint. He added that it is “important for the new generation to know the historical struggles of Bengali Hindus”, before and after India’s independence. “The biggest massacre of Bengali Dalits in independent India was done by the same political party that claims to stand up for their rights.” A forgotten massacre In 1978, around a lakh Dalit refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) had assembled at a tiny island named Marichjhapi in the Sunderbans. They hoped to turn it into a village of their own. These refugees had come to Marichjhapi from the Dandakaranya region, spread across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, where the government of India had sent them to be part of the Dandakaranya rehabilitation plan for Hindu refugees from East Pakistan in early 1956. Unable to adjust to their new surroundings, a band of women and men made their way to Marichjhapi island in the Sundarbans, the topography of which they were accustomed to. In the span of a few months, the refugees converted a shrub-filled, uninhabited island into a thriving village of their own with no help from the state or the central government. They built huts, a school, a bidi factory, a boat-manufacturing yard, even as the Left Front government wanted them to leave the island. The government designated it as a reserve forest and accused the refugees of violating the forest acts by destroying the existing and potential forest wealth and also creating ecological imbalance. “On January 26, 1979, India’s Republic Day, then Left Front chief minister Jyoti Basu announced an economic blockade of Marichjhapi. Thirty police launches surrounded the island; the refugees were tear-gassed, their huts, fisheries and tube-wells destroyed. Those who tried to cross the river in makeshift boats were shot at,” a report in The Wire said. The refugees, the report added, armed with carpentry tools and makeshift bows and arrows, were no match for the government’s armed forces. A conservative estimate put the death toll at several hundred men, women and children, who either starved to death or were shot, their bodies thrown into the Raimangal River. “Marichjhapi became out of bounds to visiting journalists, opposition politicians and even a Parliamentary Committee, who came to investigate police atrocities, faced harassment at the hands of the Forest Department officials,” the report said. Author and senior advocate of the Calcutta High Court Joydeep Sen told ThePrint the actual number of Dalit refugees killed by the police in Marichjhapi was much higher. “It was not in the hundreds but in thousands that the police, under express orders of the Left Front government, killed in Marichjhapi. That history was suppressed even during the Trinamool Congress regime under Mamata Banerjee,” Sen said. The Wire report said that when the Trinamool Congress was aspiring to power in Bengal, large hoardings about Marichjhapi had come up in Kolkata in 2009 promising justice to the survivors. “However, the lesson from the massacre seems to have been consigned to oblivion and the cycle of political violence continues in the state through different semblances,” the report said. The Kamardanga Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samiti members told ThePrint they are now trying to pull the Marichjhapi massacre out of that oblivion. ‘Left Front’s many misdeeds’ Suraj Kumar Singh said that he has not allowed Left parties to set up book stalls near his pandal this year. “Members of the Left parties, who publicly state that they do not believe in gods and are anti-religion, use the occasion of Durga puja to set up book stalls near pandals where they sell Marxist literature. I won’t allow it near my pandal,” Singh said. Instead, Singh and committee members of the Kamardanga Sarbojanin Durgotsav Samiti are using large 3D canvases in the pandal premises to tell the story of “many misdeeds of the Left regime from 1977 to 2011” through a four-and-a-half-minute documentary. “Leftists in West Bengal pulled out 17 Hindu monks of the Anandamargi sect from taxis, thrashed them, and burned them alive near Bijon Setu in the Ballygunge area, hacked to death members of the Sain family and made the matriarch of the family eat rice soaked in the blood of her slain relatives, and gangraped three female health officials who had gone to inspect lapses in a government-funded rural immunisation programme,” Singh alleged. He added the Left can not be allowed to take the moral high ground when their own political history is soaked in the blood of innocents. In the audio-visual presentation at the pandal, Abanindranath Tagore’s painting of Bharat Mata finds a prominent display. “This is the time to reclaim our narrative of a Sanatan Hindu Rashtra,” Singh said. “If you look closely at Tagore’s painting, Durga is Bharat Mata and Bharat Mata is Durga,” he said. Deep Halder (Edited by Ratan Priya) Courtesy : The Print Note: This news is originally published on https:/theprint.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
From Brahmins to Dalits to Adivasis, everyone has the same ancestors; BHU professor’s DNA research makes a major claim on castes.
Professor Choubey stated that it is clear that the caste system that has developed here is local and not imposed from outside. The caste system in India is frequently debated. Furthermore, there have been discussions about the Aryan and Dravidian theories. Concerns have often been raised about caste dominance and a sense of superiority. Meanwhile, research led by Professor Gyaneshwar Choubey of Banaras Hindu University has made significant claims. According to him, although Indian society is divided into various castes, everyone has the same ancestors. He claims that people of all castes, including Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Dalits, share the same ancestors. He has spent more than 10 years on this research. Recently, his research on the people of Northeast India has been published, rekindling discussions about his research. He told NDTV that the racial divisions in India, such as North and South, or Aryan and Dravidian, are incorrect. He said that the Aryan and Dravidian theory is completely misleading. He explained that through the Y chromosome, we have discovered that our ancestors were the same. He explained that we are studying the Y chromosome, which determines paternity. The father’s gene is passed on through the Y chromosome. Professor Gyaneshwar Choubey reported that a tribal and a Kshatriya have a common ancestry dating back 1,500 years. A similar connection was found with the Patels of Gujarat. Professor Choubey said that it is clear that the caste system that has developed here is local and not imposed from outside. He said that when some people gained socio-economic power, they decided on their caste, while others remained tribal. Thus, from Brahmins, Dalits, backward classes, and even tribal communities, everyone has the same ancestry. The professor said that they have now begun research on the Indian psyche. He stated that the “ANI” (Ancestral North Indian) and “ASI” (Ancestral South Indian) theories promoted by Harvard University never actually existed in India. Everyone in India, from Brahmins to Dalits, has a common ancestor. This has been proven through DNA research. Written by: Dr. Surya Prakash Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit hamlet attacked, houses set on fire after 20-year-old youth’s murder in Bihar
The SSP described the situation at the village as tense but under control. We are keeping a close vigil on the situation after the youth’s murder. The deceased and the suspects belonged to two different castes. PATNA: Tension is running high at a village in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district following the murder of a 20-year-old youth late on Saturday. The deceased, Navneet Kumar, a resident of Mohammadpur Khaje village under Karja police station limits, was attacked with a knife when he had gone to a local fair with his friend, Subhash Kumar. As the body of the deceased reached his native village after post-mortem, local residents attacked a neaby Dalit hamlet as one of the suspects belonged to the village. The attackers not only thrashed the inhabitants but also set several houses on fire. The suspects involved in Navneet’s killing were stated to be residents of Partapur village. Residents alleged that the attackers also opened fire in the air to terrorise them. Police, however, did not confirm the firing during the attack at Partapur village. Ganesh Ram, a resident of Partapur village, said that the deceased Navneet had an altercation with the son of Gajendra Ram, who is involved in an illicit liquor trade. “More than 50 people attacked the Dalit hamlet in retaliation of the murder,” he said. He confirmed that at least six houses belonging to Scheduled Caste were set on fire by the attackers. Inhabitants somehow managed to escape to save their lives, he told the police. According to Ganesh Ram, fire tenders rushed to the village to douse the flames. By the time, fire tenders reached the village, houses were badly damaged, he revealed. Senior SP, Kantesh Kumar Mishra, SP, rural, Rajesh Singh Prabhakar and City SP, Mohibullah Ansari later took stock of the situation. “Additional armed police force has been deployed at the village to ward off any untoward incident,” SSP Mishra said. The SSP described the situation at the village as tense but under control. “We are keeping a close vigil on the situation after the youth’s murder. The deceased and the suspects belonged to two different castes,” he added. He warned of stern action against those violating the law. “Local police station house officer has been asked to initiate action against the offenders,” he told the media. A police team led by SDPO, Saraiya, Abhijit Kaur is camping at the village. Ramashankar 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
Shah to visit Punjab on Oct 20; to meet families of anti-drug activist, Dalit suicide victim
Chandigarh: Union home minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab on Oct 20 to meet the families of victims and activists linked to the state’s drug crisis, escalating pressure on the governing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of 2027 state assembly elections. Shah announced the visit on X. “The AAP govt has left no stone unturned in pushing Punjab into the quagmire of drugs, as a result of which countless families have had to lose their children. I will meet the families of those individuals who, under the patronage of the AAP govt, have recently had to sacrifice their lives for raising their voices against the smugglers peddling white powder, on Tuesday (Oct 20) in Mansa, Sangrur, and Gurdaspur…” he wrote in a post in Punjabi. In Mansa, he will meet the family of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead on Oct 13 following an altercation with a chemist over the alleged illegal sale of synthetic drugs. Protesters in Mansa have refused to perform Jhota’s final rites, demanding a CBI investigation. The main accused, Ashwani Kumar, has been arrested. In Sangrur, Shah is scheduled to meet relatives of Gulzar Singh of Toor Banjara village, who died by suicide last month after alleging harassment for confronting officials over local drug sales. He is also scheduled to meet the family of Bikramjit Singh who was killed in Mari Panwan, Batala, Gurdaspur, on Oct 15, allegedly over drug matter. Shah promised the Centre would “selectively put the drug smugglers behind bars and will ensure the entire country, including Punjab, is freed from this black trade of drugs”. This will be Shah’s second visit in less than a month and comes four days after the MHA sought “a comprehensive factual report” from Punjab govt regarding the murder of Jhota. The same day, the MHA also sought reports from the Punjab govt on Gulzar Singh’s death and Bikramjit Singh’s killing. Police have denied any drug angle in Bikramjit’s death. During his previous visit on Sept 30, Shah had declared to make Punjab drug free by the end of Dec 2029 if the BJP was voted to power in the state. A senior Punjab govt functionary told TOI that arrangements were being made for advanced teams of officials, including CRPF, for Mansa, Sangrur and Batala. Shah, as per a party functionary, is scheduled to land in Bathinda on Oct 20. BJP functionary and former Union minister of state Ravneet Singh Bittu told TOI that Jhota’s father Bhim Singh had been continuously “expressing faith in Amit Shah ji”. Bittu said, “Punjab election is in Feb and it is for the people to decide then. But, today the people of Punjab need to extend support to Amit Shah. In wrestling, the only powerful wrestler who can defeat Bhagwant Mann is Amit Shah. He has the power to defeat Bhagwant Mann. We should get our problem (of drugs) resolved by expressing faith in him (Shah) by rising above party lines.” 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
SC/ST employees on strike at AIIMS Rishikesh: Bhim Army chief makes this demand regarding disregard of reservation rules in promotions
Chandrashekhar Azad writes letter to JP Nadda New Delhi – Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad has written to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda, alleging serious disregard of reservation rules in the promotion of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh. In the letter, he has demanded a review of the flawed DPC order issued on October 10, the holding of a review DPC, and accountability of the concerned officials. According to the letter, SC/ST employees working at AIIMS Rishikesh have complained about the blatant disregard of reservation rules, previous instructions of the Ministry, the ‘Own Merit’ principle, and the reservation roster in the promotion process. The employees have objected to the DPC order of October 10. On October 11th, they submitted a letter of dissent, but since the administration has not taken any positive action, the employees have been on a peaceful strike under the banner of the All SC/ST Employees Welfare Association since October 12th. Azad stated that on October 13th, he spoke to the employees via video conferencing and assured them of the protection of their constitutional rights. He stated that this type of strike by employees at a medical institution of national importance is an administrative failure and is impacting health services. Azad had previously intervened in the matter. On December 16th, 2025, he submitted a representation to the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Following this, the Lok Sabha Secretariat, through Office Memorandum No. 8 (2)/SCTC/2026 (dated January 22nd), directed the Ministry of Health and AIIMS Rishikesh to investigate the complaints and submit a report by January 30th, 2026. According to the employees, the Ministry also issued directives in this regard on March 10, but it is unclear what action the AIIMS administration has taken on them. The employees have also raised this issue with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). Azad requested the Minister to direct the concerned officials to ensure action on the following points: An impartial review of the October 10 DPC order should be conducted based on applicable rules and available records. The action taken by AIIMS Rishikesh and the status of compliance with the Ministry’s March 10 directives should be clarified and a compliance report should be sought. A review of the previous DPC and reservation roster should be conducted, as required, in accordance with DoPT guidelines. The correct application of the ‘Own Merit’ principle regarding reservation in promotions should be ensured, and its criteria and records should be examined. The complaints, responses, instructions, and compliance reports (ATRs) submitted before the Parliamentary Committee, NCSC, and NCST should be reviewed. The impact of relevant judicial orders and pending court cases should be examined before issuing the DPC order. The role of the current Director, Deputy Director, AO, and JAO in denying reservation in promotions despite clear instructions from the Ministry, alleged irregularities in the October 10 DPC, and secret joinings should be investigated. The role and responsibilities of the Liaison Officer in the reservation roster and DPC process should also be reviewed. The competent authority should provide a written, reasoned, and timely decision on the dissent representations submitted by employees on October 11. An immediate formal meeting should be held between the AIIMS administration and authorized representatives of the Association. A clear timeline should be set for resolving the matter, and the employees and the Association should be informed in writing of the action taken. Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad stated in the letter that, given the seriousness of this issue, necessary instructions should be issued to the concerned officials to ensure a fair and timely resolution of the current dispute, including the complaints raised earlier, and to ensure the protection of the constitutional and service rights of SC/ST employees. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
125 people have died in sewers and septic tanks so far in 2026, raising serious questions about the safety of Dalit and migrant workers.
At least 125 people have died in India so far in 2026 while performing hazardous cleaning and maintenance work in sewers, septic tanks, and other enclosed spaces. According to data released by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), these deaths were recorded in 20 states and union territories between January 1 and October 2, 2026. The organization describes these incidents as not merely accidents, but a serious crisis linked to caste discrimination, exploitation by contractors, lack of safety measures, and the failure of government systems. In a statement issued in New Delhi on October 5, DASAM said that workers are losing their lives while cleaning and maintaining sewers, septic tanks, manholes, drains, sewage treatment plants, underground water tanks, and other enclosed structures. The deaths include sanitation workers, contract laborers, construction workers, and migrant laborers. According to the organization, in several incidents, workers fainted or died from lack of oxygen due to toxic gases. In some cases, others who went inside to rescue a worker also died from exposure to the toxic gases. According to the organization’s data, July 2026 was the deadliest month, with 28 deaths recorded. March saw 25 deaths, June 20, May 19, February one, April 10, August 10, September nine, and October 2nd saw three deaths. State-wise figures show 14 deaths in Bihar, 12 in Tamil Nadu, 11 in Haryana, and 10 in Uttar Pradesh. Meghalaya and Odisha each reported nine deaths, Madhya Pradesh eight, Assam and Maharashtra seven each, and Chhattisgarh six. However, there are discrepancies in some figures in the organization’s document. The state-wise total is 126, while the total number of deaths is reported as 125. DASAM stated that caste-based labor systems and economic inequality play a significant role in these deaths. According to the organization, Dalit communities, particularly Valmiki and other marginalized castes, have historically been employed in the most dangerous and degrading jobs, such as sanitation. Meanwhile, migrant and economically disadvantaged workers employed through contractors are also forced to work in unsafe conditions. Many workers receive no written contracts, nor adequate training, safety equipment, insurance, or social security. The report cites several incidents in Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and other states. In June, three workers died after inhaling toxic gas from a factory septic tank in Delhi’s Mundka industrial area. According to the organization, the workers’ families alleged that they were not provided with adequate safety equipment, gas testing, and rescue systems. Similarly, in March, four members of a family died in an incident related to cleaning a household septic tank in Vaishali district, Bihar. Such incidents demonstrate that the danger is not limited to municipal sewers, but also exists in private homes, hospitals, factories, and residential complexes. DASAM also questioned the poor implementation of laws prohibiting manual scavenging and providing for rehabilitation. The organization demanded an impartial and timely investigation into every death occurring while working in sewers and septic tanks, and that responsible contractors, employers, property owners, and relevant officials be held accountable. The organization demanded a compensation of at least ₹30 lakh to the families of each deceased, government employment for eligible dependents, and education, health, housing, and livelihood support for the families. The organization demanded the promotion of the use of machines for cleaning sewers and septic tanks, the prohibition of entry of workers into enclosed spaces without gas testing and adequate safety measures, and the mandatory provision of trained rescue teams. According to DASAM, the primary employer or government agencies cannot escape responsibility by outsourcing work to contractors. The organization has appealed to the central and state governments to maintain a transparent record of such deaths across the country and implement an effective national strategy to prevent hazardous cleaning operations. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘My Joy’ by Shreeja Rao celebrates Dalit identity, childhood and self-expression
A new title for young readers offers a refreshing take on growing up as a Dalit girl in modern India There are storybooks written for children that are inspired by India’s rivers, its mountains, and its flora and fauna. And there are few others that mount a reality check about today’s times, and the challenges that come with growing up in a society dictated by caste. Fresh off the press is My Joy (HarperCollins India) by Shreeja Rao, aided by Shrujana N Shridhar’s striking illustrations that lead us to a positive, heartwarming story. Rao was clear about telling this story as clearly and transparently as possible. “All literature, old or new, depicts Dalit communities in endless pain. While it is vital to show the consequences of inequality, I have yearned to read stories that celebrate the full humanity of Dalit people,” she admits, sharing that the germ of this book emerged from growing up around and among incredibly brave individuals from the community who defied the odds to build joyous lives. “My Joy is the first and only book about a Dalit child’s identity and assertion. This assertion, whether quiet or loud, is joyful,” she reminds us. Flipping through the pages reveals layers of incisive storytelling, and a bold colour palate that pierces right through the heart of the little protagonist’s life. Rao is quick to inform us about the narrative, “The scenes [from the book] are from my childhood and aspirations. However, the little girl in the book is not one child but many at once. She has many names. She is not special or rare; she takes the freedom to simply exist.” It’s not surprising that women play key factors throughout the insightful trajectory. “I have learnt strength and ambition from women and women’s stories. This book pays homage to the women who have touched me most. It also tries to introduce inspiring figures like Savitrimai [Savitribai Phule] and Mukta Salve to readers. An illustration in the book depicting Mukta Salve Shridhar’s art acts like a primer – evocative, empathetic and yet, brushed with a certain playfulness that we yearn for, often by habit, in books for young readers. What clicked, we asked Rao. “I started writing this book when I was 20, to refute the popular notion that Dalit people are mere vessels of suffering. There was no other artist more fitting to illustrate this idea than the talented and hardworking Shrujana N Shridhar. Our chemistry lies in being two passionate and individualistic women who also happen to be friends. Her illustrations give life to the soul of my writing, and My Joy is our shared becoming. Shridhar echoes the sentiment. “The colour palette and style for this book came from my childhood experiences and those of [Shreeja] Rao, the author. I wanted the book’s visual language to evoke not just joy, but also the universe, solitude, friendships, and aspirations that came with it.” Going by the storyline’s honest intent at its core, we sense that it is bound to help break barriers, and engage young people, one word at a time. Fiona Fernandez Courtesy : Mid-Day Note: This news is originally published on https:/mid-day.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Chandrashekhar Azad vs. Akash Anand in UP: Who will support Dalit voters? BSP to hold a flurry of rallies starting October 28th
Uttar Pradesh has approximately 22% Dalit voters. The battle for Dalit voters in the state has become Azad Samaj Party vs. BSP. Akash Anand will begin his election rallies from October 28th, and Chandrashekhar Azad will begin his election rallies from October 18th. In response to the Azad Samaj Party’s proposed rallies, the BSP has also released its schedule. The BSP has fielded Akash Anand against Chandrashekhar Azad. Chandrashekhar Azad presents himself as a prominent Dalit leader in UP. Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in UP, the battle for Dalit politics has now become Chandrashekhar Azad vs. Akash Anand. Dalit voters are at the center of the political battle between the Azad Samaj Party and the BSP. Both parties’ politics revolve around Dalits. Mayawati has fielded Akash Anand against Chandrashekhar. Akash Anand faces the challenge of regaining the BSP’s lost base, while Chandrashekhar faces the challenge of political expansion. The most important question now is who will Dalit voters support in the upcoming state assembly elections. Akash Anand to Hold a Series of Rallies Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has made full preparations to field her nephew and party’s national convener, Akash Anand, in the electoral fray. A rally for Akash is scheduled for October 28th in Anupshahr, Bulandshahr. Following this, meetings are also scheduled in Saharanpur, Ayodhya, Agra, and Kanpur divisions. Through these rallies, the party will announce potential candidates and attempt to recapture its lost support base. Major Challenges Facing Akash Political analyst Vinod Shukla explains that Akash Anand faces more than just the challenge of holding election rallies. He must also demonstrate how active the BSP organization is at the booth level, how connected old workers are, and what the party is doing to bring its traditional supporters back to the polling booths. The campaign, which begins on October 28th, is crucial in this regard. After Anupshahr, meetings are scheduled in Nakur, Saharanpur, on November 2nd, Bikapur, Ayodhya, on November 20th, Agra, on November 22nd, and Bilhaur, Kanpur, on November 29th. Akash Anand’s programs have also been scheduled in Punjab and Uttarakhand. Assembly elections are due in these two states, along with Uttar Pradesh. Chandrashekhar’s path is not easy. Chandrashekhar Azad’s political career is rooted in Dalit rights, the Constitution, voices against social discrimination, and grassroots movements. After establishing his identity through the Bhim Army, he formed the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) and won the Nagina seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His victory demonstrated that there are political parties for Dalits in Uttar Pradesh beyond the BSP. According to political analysts, winning one Lok Sabha seat does not necessarily sway Dalit voters across the state. Chandrashekhar’s programs are scheduled for Amroha on October 18, Aligarh on October 19, and Muzaffarnagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Ghazipur from October 24 to 28. Chandrashekhar did not win due to the Dalit equation. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chandrashekhar Azad won the Nagina seat. Chandrashekhar received 512,552 votes, defeating BJP’s Om Kumar by 151,473 votes. BSP candidate Surendra Pal Singh received 13,272 votes. Political analysts say that Muslim voters voted for Chandrashekhar to defeat the BJP, which is why he won. The Dalit equation played no role in his victory. Will the Dalit vote be divided? Vinod Shukla says that Dalit voters in Uttar Pradesh have long been the BSP’s core support base and traditional vote bank. Azad’s victory in Nagina certainly saw a decline in the BSP’s old electoral base, but this result is specific to a specific Lok Sabha constituency. Therefore, this cannot be seen as a permanent shift in Dalit votes across Uttar Pradesh. He stated that Dalit voters will remain with the BSP. The likelihood of them switching to Azad is very low. There are approximately 22 percent Dalit voters in Uttar Pradesh, which is the BSP’s traditional vote bank. The role of Akash Anand and Chandrashekhar Azad will be in the spotlight for the 2027 UP Assembly elections regarding the support of Dalit voters. The BSP faces the challenge of re-establishing its old political base and organization. Chandrashekhar Azad faces the challenge of converting his victory in Nagina into a widespread electoral presence. Manoj Mishra Courtesy: Hindi News
Protest in Mandya over Kumaraswamy’s ‘anti-Dalit’ remark on Kharge
Congress workers and Dalit groups staged a protest in Mandya against Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s remarks targeting Home Minister Priyank Kharge. They blocked a highway, calling Kumaraswamy ‘anti-Dalit’ and threatening a statewide agitation. Congress, Dalit groups protest in Mandya Congress workers, along with Dalit and progressive organisations, staged a protest in Mandya condemning Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy for remarks against Home Minister Priyank Kharge. The protest was held at Sanjaya Circle in Mandya. Protesters blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and formed a human chain to express their outrage. They raised slogans holding posters of Kumaraswamy. “It is not right for a responsible Union Minister to speak like this. Learn how leaders from a big family should maintain dignity. You are anti-Dalit; it is not right to personally abuse a Dalit Home Minister,” protesters said. Kumaraswamy’s sharp attack on Priyank Kharge Earlier, Kumaraswamy launched a sharp attack on Priyank Kharge over the alleged defamatory sting operation linked to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, challenging the state government to summon and interrogate him directly instead of detaining Janata Dal (Secular) workers. “Does the Home Ministry belong to your father? Your father has not given you this department. It is not your father’s. If you are a Home Minister, work like one. Issue me a notice if you want, if you have guts,” Kumaraswamy said, taking a direct swipe at Kharge. The Union Minister also criticised Kharge’s conduct since taking charge as Home Minister and urged him to exercise restraint in his public statements. “Priyank Kharge should control his tongue. He should mind his words. It is not necessary to advise me how to behave in public. For the last three to four months, I am watching how he is behaving after becoming Home Minister. Continuously, he is attacking. First he should control his tongue and his attitude; then he can advise anybody,” he said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Courtesy : Asia Net News Note: This news is originally published on https:/asianetnews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights