Latest news with #anti-Dalit
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Battling caste in Tamil Nadu
The idea of social justice has shaped politics in Tamil Nadu for over a century. Political parties that subscribe to E V 'Periyar' Ramasamy's anti-caste ideology have had an uninterrupted run in office since 1967. Yet, caste violence, mostly targeting Dalits and perpetrated by members of castes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, continues to roil Tamil Nadu, highlighting not just the administrative failure of successive governments but also the ideological hypocrisy of parties subscribing to the Dravidian Movement that takes pride in its anti-caste roots. The latest incident comes from Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu that boasts 90% literacy, where a 27-year-old Dalit software engineer was killed for allegedly being in a relationship with a woman from the Most Backward Caste community. The woman's parents are police sub-inspectors, and the killer is her younger brother. The district was in the spotlight two years ago when a Dalit school boy and his sister were attacked by their schoolmates. The MK Stalin government had then appointed a retired judge to investigate the matter. The exhaustive Justice Chandru report found shocking evidence of not just deep-rooted caste prejudice in institutions but also a reluctance by heads of institutions to even recognise the malaise, let alone act against it. Anecdotal evidence too suggests large-scale use of caste markers among students in educational institutions, reflecting the polarisation in society. Dalits constitute close to 20% of the state's population and have become politically assertive in the past few decades. Improvement in educational standards and a shift towards service jobs have upset the traditional power relationship, triggering caste violence. Inter-caste marriages, especially when the girl is from a dominant caste, increasingly trigger a violent response, as witnessed in Dharmapuri (2012) and Udumalaipettai (2016). Unfortunately, the administrative apparatus, including the law enforcement system, has often failed to rise above caste associations and enforce the rule of law. Political parties that invoke caste pride covertly and overtly are equally to blame. For the Dravidian majors — the DMK and the AIADMK, primarily — the anti-Dalit violence suggests the failure to transcend their core vote bases, which are OBC communities, and usher in a politics that can enable the annihilation of caste. This task has been left incomplete by parties that now view politics entirely through the prism of economic development and ignore social fault lines that call for intense ideological engagement. Tamil Nadu's crisis is also the result of its economic advancement and improvement in human development indices, and its solution lies in political parties reinventing a paradigm of social justice.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BRS slams Congress manifesto as ‘Lie of the Century', alleges anti-Dalit stance
Hyderabad: The BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) working president, KT Rama Rao, on Friday launched a fierce attack on the Congress party, labelling its manifesto 'the biggest lie of the century' and accusing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's government of being blatantly anti-Dalit and anti-tribal. Speaking at the 'Dalit Atmagaurava Garjana Sabha' in Kamareddy on Friday, Rama Rao asserted that all sections of Telangana society had been deceived by the Revanth government. Rao credited BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao with realising the dream of Telangana state, drawing inspiration from Babasaheb Ambedkar. He highlighted KCR's mobilisation of millions, his teaching on the necessity of Telangana's formation, and his fourteen-year unwavering struggle. Telangana, he stated, was formed on the principles of Ambedkar's Constitution. KTR, who began his speech with slogans of 'Jai Telangana' and 'Jai Bhim,' pointed out that KCR is the only Chief Minister in India to have named the Secretariat after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. He then criticised Revanth Reddy, stating, 'Revanth Reddy, who spent Rs 1.35 lakh on a single plate of food during his visit to Vemulawada, is unable to provide good food to Dalit and Bahujan children in Gurukuls with Rs 100.' He tragically claimed that 'hundreds of students have already died after consuming the poison being given in Gurukuls by the Revanth government.' KTR then felicitated Sailu, who was allegedly humiliated by the police at the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar in Lingampeta on April 14, Ambedkar Jayanti. KTR declared that the humiliation faced by Sayilu was an 'insult to the entire Telangana society' and vowed to seek justice. 'Only by defeating the Congress in the upcoming local body elections can we humble Revanth Reddy and his arrogant cohort,' he asserted.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BRS alleges ‘shameless political nexus' between Cong, BJP
Hyderabad: In a scathing attack, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Friday accused both the Congress and BJP of operating a 'shameless political nexus' in Telangana. He alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's government was blatantly anti-Dalit and anti-tribal. Speaking at a student convention marking the merger of Telangana Rashtra Vidyarthi Sainik Parishad into the BRS student wing, Rama Rao questioned the silence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the alleged collusion between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and BJP MP CM Ramesh. Rao alleged that the Congress government in Telangana was awarding contracts worth thousands of crores to BJP leaders, specifically citing the Rs 1,600 crore 'Fourth City Road' contract given to CM Ramesh. 'While the Congress Chief Minister hands out massive contracts to BJP MPs, Rahul Gandhi chooses to remain silent. Is he unaware of this dangerous alliance?' he demanded. KTR also mocked Revanth Reddy for celebrating a letter from Sonia Gandhi, stating that Revanth had misinterpreted a polite message as high praise. 'He couldn't even read the letter properly. Instead of an Oscar, he deserves a 'Bhaskar Award',' KTR quipped. He further cast doubt on the authenticity of Revanth Reddy's educational qualifications, remarking, 'When he can't understand a simple letter, it raises legitimate suspicions about his degree.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong manifesto ‘biggest lie of the century': KTR
Hyderabad: Stating that development in Telangana came to a standstill after the Congress assumed power in 2023, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said that BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao should once again become chief minister to revive the state's progress. He also criticised the Congress govt for failing to fulfil its promises and described CM A Revanth Reddy as anti-Dalit and anti-Adivasi. Addressing a Dalit Maha Sabha meeting in Kamareddy on Friday, the BRS working president accused the Congress party of deceiving the public with its manifesto promises during the assembly elections, calling the manifesto "the biggest lie of the century". He claimed that all sections of society in the state were misled and betrayed. He further alleged that the Congress had failed to implement the Chevella SC-ST Declaration. "The Congress party promised to increase the Dalit Bandhu scheme to 12 lakh from 10 lakh. It also pledged to allocate 26% of govt contracts to SCs and STs, and to provide 6 lakh to Dalits and STs for house construction on their own land. None of these promises have been fulfilled," KTR said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad He went on to list other unfulfilled commitments, including enhanced pensions, the provision of one tola of gold for girls at the time of marriage, the filling of two lakh govt job vacancies, farm loan waivers, and the Rythu Bharosa scheme, all of which, he claimed, have seen no substantial progress in the past 18 months. KTR also criticised CM Revanth Reddy for his inability to generate revenue and for failing to ensure the provision of hygienic food and potable water to students in govt residential welfare institutions. During the event, KTR felicitated a man named Sailu from Lingampet, who was allegedly humiliated at the Ambedkar statue on April 14. MSID:: 122907245 413 |
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MCD session adjourned amid uproar; panel polls in August
NEW DELHI: A special session of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was adjourned within 10 minutes on Thursday following chaos by AAP councilors. The mayor, Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said that the leader of the House had moved a proposal to nominate three members to the education committee and three members to the ad-hoc committee on Scheduled Caste Welfare and Reservation Implementation. However, AAP councillors disrupted the session, raising slogans and creating a ruckus in the House over the reduction in the number of members in the SC Committee from 35 to 21. AAP councillors demanded that the SC Committee be restored to its original strength to ensure adequate representation of the Dalit community. Singh announced that elections for the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson of special and ad-hoc committees will be held on August 6 and 7. The last date for filing nominations is July 31, the mayor said during a press conference held after the session, adding that all nominations submitted so far have been declared valid. Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang said that BJP, driven by its hunger for power, had reduced the members in the SC committee just to ensure its own candidate becomes the chairperson. 'This is a direct attack on the rights of Dalits. Once again, BJP has proven that it is anti-Dalit and will go to the extent of even snatching away constitutional rights for political control,' he said.
