
'Social Justice 2.0': Mallikarjun Kharge's photo 'blocks' Ambedkar portrait at Congress's meet; BJP calls it 'hypocrisy'
Mallikarjun Kharge
's photograph.
The meeting, ironically, was held to discuss the issues faced by SC, ST and OBC communities, and was attended by top party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, KC Venugopal and Revanth Reddy.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to call out the "hypocrisy" with its IT chief Amit Malviya saying, "Congress never misses a chance to preach about social justice, but their actions speak otherwise. Just look at how Baba Saheb Ambedkar's photo has been pushed to the corner and overshadowed, while Mallikarjun Kharge's picture takes centre stage.
So much for respecting icons of social empowerment. Hypocrisy has truly become Congress's second nature.
"
Congress, which gave the war cry of "Save the Constitution" and has always advocated for a caste-based census, is yet to comment on the matter.
The pictures of the meeting were also shared by the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who termed it "Congress party's Social Justice 2.0".
"Congress party's Social Justice 2.0 —a new movement for social justice, equity and empowerment of the weaker sections has begun in Telangana. Our unwavering fight, spearheaded by Shri @RahulGandhi
for justice is giving voice to the millions from SC, ST, OBC, EWS communities who have been sidelined for decades.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby
Donate For Health
Donate Now
Undo
Despite forming a vast majority of India's population, these communities are glaringly absent from top corporate boards, the judiciary, bureaucracy, and premier institutions," Kharge's X post said.
"Our demand was to conduct a nationwide Caste Census and remove the arbitrary 50% cap on reservations. This Govt has accepted to conduct the Caste Survey under huge public pressure, but without removing the cap. But the scientific manner in which Telangana has conducted its survey must be a role model for the entire nation. Based on this groundbreaking socio-economic survey, our Government in Telangana has recommended 42% reservations for OBCs in local body elections and educational institutions.
This significant bill is currently awaiting the assent of the Hon'ble President of India," it added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
After 'Dog Babu', ‘Donald Trump' applies for Bihar residence certificate amid voter list revision, Opposition reacts
A bizarre string of fake applications in Bihar amid electoral roll revision drive continues, with the latest being an online request for a residence certificate in the name of US President Donald Trump. A screengrab of the fake residence certificate application submitted in the name of US President Donald Trump from Bihar's Samastipur district, now under investigation.(Screengrab from X/@ANI) The application that was filed from Samastipur comes after similar prank entries in the names of 'Dog Babu', 'Dogesh Babu', and even 'Sonalika Tractor', which carried the photo of a Bhojpuri actor. Authorities have rejected all such applications and lodged FIRs. In Trump's case, the application submitted on July 29 claimed he was a resident of Hasanpur village in Mohiuddin Nagar block, with a passport-style photo and even his actual parents' names — Frederick Christ Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod — listed, reported news agency PTI. The district administration rejected the application on August 4 and called the act a 'diabolical attempt' to disrupt the ongoing SIR drive. 'It appears there is a diabolical attempt to negatively impact the special intensive revision of electoral rolls which is underway as per the instructions of the Election Commission,' the administration said in a statement, as cited by PTI. The Samastipur district administration confirmed that a case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station for appropriate investigation. 'In view of the seriousness of the offence, a case has been lodged at the Cyber police station, Samastipur, for appropriate investigation and action,' the statement added. Opposition leaders slam electoral roll revision The incident has drawn strong reactions from the Opposition. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala shared a news clip on social media that falsely claimed a certificate had been issued to the Trump application. 'This is the biggest proof that electoral roll revision in Bihar is a fraud, aimed at stealing votes. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi are fighting to thwart this design. Keeping quiet in such a situation is a crime. Let us all raise our voices and become watchdogs of democracy,' Surjewala said. The administration clarified, saying, 'The certificate has never been issued. Somebody has deliberately made such an application and it was rejected during scrutiny. An FIR has also been lodged. The guilty will not be spared,' the response read. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also criticised the Election Commission, mocking the process, she shared a video on 'X'. 'An exercise which the Election Commission has put its stamp on, which says it is comprehensive and it is accurate. Why don't you decide for yourself? We have in the district of Samastipur, an online application in the name of Donald Trump,' Moitra said. She further said the ongoing SIR was 'nothing but an exercise in mass disenfranchisement', claiming 65 lakh voters had been deleted without proper discussion. 'These forms are including mythical or animal photos and clearly made up names and addresses. The Lord Ram application lists Raja Dashrath and Maa Kaushalya as the parents... So this is the state of the SIR application,' Moitra added, referring to similar fake entries found in Khagaria district. (With PTI inputs)


Hindustan Times
20 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
End ‘inhuman' hand-pulled rickshaws in Matheran: SC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered immediate phasing out of hand-driven rickshaws in Maharashtra's hill town of Matheran within six months, observing that continuation of such an inhuman practice in a developing country like India violates human dignity and betrays the constitutional guarantee of social and economic justice to all citizens. End 'inhuman' hand-pulled rickshaws in Matheran: SC Dealing with an issue concerning plying of e-rickshaws in Matheran, one of the few towns in the country where vehicular traffic is prohibited, the top court was informed that to service the transportation needs of about 8 lakh tourists visiting the hill station annually and over 4,000 residents living in the town, hand-driven rickshaws are still in vogue. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai said, 'Continuing such practice even after 78 years of independence and after 75 years of the Constitution being enacted promising social and economic justice to its citizens, would be betraying the promise given by the people of India to themselves.' Granting six months for the state to phase out hand-rickshaw pullers and in the meantime, framing a scheme for their rehabilitation, the court further held, 'We direct the state to forthwith stop plying of hand-held rickshaws in a phased manner and in any case within six months.' The court noted that persons pulling hand-held rickshaws are victims of circumstances who have no alternate source of livelihood and such practices were held to be against the goal of social justice by the top court in a 1980 decision in Azad Rickshaw Pullers union v State of Punjab. 'It is really unfortunate that after 45 years of the decision of this court, the inhuman practice of a human being pulling another human being is still prevalent in the town of Matheran…Permitting such an inhuman practice which is against the basic concept of human dignity in a country like India, which is a developing country, belittles the constitutional promise of social and economic justice,' the bench held. The court was conscious that ending this practice will entail depriving them of their source of livelihood. The court noted that with advancement of technology, e-rickshaws are now available which are eco-friendly and operate on batteries. The court directed the Maharashtra government that while evolving a scheme for rehabilitating the hand-held drivers, the state must consider a novel scheme launched by Gujarat government in Kevadia, where e-rickshaw licenses on hire has been provided to local Adivasi women who ferry tourists visiting the town to witness the Statue of Unity - a massive 600-feet statue of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, and the Sardar Sarovar dam. The court asked the state to consider giving priority to hand-held rickshaw pullers in getting the licenses for e-rickshaws and also consider tribal women among other needy persons in and around Matheran. The court was assisted in passing the order by senior advocate K Parmeshwar assisting the court as amicus curiae who insisted that only 20 e-rickshaws should be permitted for now. The court further permitted laying of paver blocks on the main city road from Kasturi Naka to Shivaji Statue (4-km long stretch) without any concrete bedding to ensure the roads are motorable by rickshaws, horse carts even during monsoons. The hand-held rickshaw pullers and horse-cart pullers were represented by senior advocate Shyam Divan and advocate Nina Nariman who took the court through the adverse effects of concreting the roads. However, the court permitted no paver blocks on the internal town roads and the trekking route. The court allowed the state to consider sponsoring the e-rickshaw scheme through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative or any other scheme but clarified that non-availability of funds will not be treated as an excuse for not implementing the scheme. Matheran located in the Western Ghats was declared an eco-sensitive zone by the Centre in 2003 and is home to several species of flora and fauna including the bonnet macaque, Hanuman langur, Malabar giant squirrel, and barking deer among others.


United News of India
32 minutes ago
- United News of India
LS passes Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 by voice vote
New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Amid noisy protests by Congress and Opposition members, the Lok Sabha today passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, by voice vote after a brief discussion. When the House reconvened at 2 PM after second adjournment, presiding officer Sandhya Rai called for the proceedings of the House. However, the Opposition members had already entered the Well of the House raising slogans. Amid the din, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbanand Sonowal moved 'The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing. Despite the uproar, Sonowal said the Bill ensures greater safety at sea, robust protection of marine environment, faster response to emergencies and comprehensive welfare for the seafarers. It streamlines compliance, boosts tonnage under the Indian flag and enhances India's bankability as a maritime trade hub. He called the Bill as progressive, advanced and modern and said India has emerged as the largest supplier of Merchant Shipping Act 1958 presently governs merchant shipping in India and implements certain international maritime organisation convention. However, the present Act is outdated since it does not provide for some of the critical obligations under the international convention that have been adopted by India, he added. The Act is no longer adequate to realize the country's developmental vision and address the contemporary challenges of the maritime sector. He said that additionally the 1958 Act prioritises regulation over enablement and as a result does not adequately represent the bankability of India as a maritime trade hub aligning the domestic law with international best practices. "The focus of the Bill is increasing India's bankability in maritime sector." The Bill seeks to replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Bill provides for temporary registration to unregistered vessels which are to be recycled in India. The Bill instead requires all vessels to be registered regardless of type of propulsion or weight. It expands the definition of vessels to include types such as mobile offshore drilling units, submersibles, and non-displacement crafts. The Bill adds that a foreign vessel chartered by an Indian person may be registered as an Indian vessel. This will apply where the ownership is intended to be transferred to the charterer after a specified period. The Bill states that the central government may create a new body to regulate security of vessels and ports. Amid the din, Captain Brijesh Chowta while discussing on the Bill termed it as a "landmark bill". He said, the Bill will modernize the country's maritime, create jobs and encourage foreign investments. Moreover, Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal too supported the Bill. The Bill was passed even as the Opposition chaos continued. After the Bill was passed, Sandhya Rai adjourned the House for the day. UNI RBE RB