During the official Christmas celebrations in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister of Telangana, A. Revanth Reddy, expressed his appreciation for the Christian community's contributions to education and healthcare. He also announced several initiatives to support Dalit Christians and stressed upon the importance of religious equality in the state. The event concluded with the Chief Minister cutting a ceremonial Christmas cake and promoting unity among all religions in Telangana.
Delhi's ruling party, AAP, has announced a scholarship scheme for Dalit students hoping to pursue higher education abroad. With the upcoming assembly polls in mind, party chief Arvind Kejriwal presented this initiative at the party headquarters, with other party leaders in attendance. Meanwhile, the BJP gears up for the elections by shortlisting candidates and stating that the manifesto will be shaped based on the feedback received from the people of Delhi. Additionally, AAP's door-to-door campaign aims to register beneficiaries under two prominent welfare schemes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently sparked controversy by claiming that the Congress party, under the leadership of Jawahar Lal Nehru, conspired to defeat Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in the 1951-52 Lok Sabha elections. This accusation was made in defense of his political confidante, Home Minister Amit Shah, who had stated that the constant mention of Ambedkar's name has become a "fashion" in Indian politics. However, historical records show that Ambedkar lost the elections to the Congress candidate not once, but twice. How did Ambedkar's relationship with Nehru affect his political career, and was his defeat really a result of Nehru's actions?
Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has called for the release of CCTV footage showing the alleged physical altercation between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and a BJP MP in the Parliament complex. Baghel also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his 'inflammatory' comments regarding Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have refuted the accusations and retaliated with their own complaint. Baghel also expressed concerns over the law and order situation in Chhattisgarh under the BJP government.
After Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks in Parliament on Tuesday in which he appeared to insult and belittle Dr. B R Ambedkar, the opposition has come together to demand his removal from the Cabinet. In response to the two-day debate celebrating the 75 years of the Indian Constitution, Shah had said, "had you chanted God's name these many times, you would have been blessed with heaven in seven births." This has sparked outrage among opposition parties who see it as a continued disrespect for Ambedkar and the Dalit community as a whole. The opposition is calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action and remove Shah from his position, otherwise protests will be held across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress for denying a portrait of BR Ambedkar in the Parliament's Central Hall. Taking to Twitter, he listed the years of "sins" committed by the Congress against the Dalit leader. This comes after Amit Shah criticized the party for making it a trend to invoke Ambedkar's name, saying they would get a place in heaven if they took God's name as many times.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court granted bail to former Rajasthan MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga, who was accused of brutally attacking a Dalit engineer. Malinga, who was a Congress leader at the time of the incident but is now in the ruling BJP, surrendered following the SC's orders. The court has kept his Special Leave Petition pending and scheduled it for further hearing after his surrender. The accused had allegedly abused the engineer and caused him physical harm over a disagreement related to his constituency. The case has sparked controversy, with the state opposing Malinga's bail and the complainant citing concerns of intimidation and influence on public opinion.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the family of a Dalit woman who was allegedly gangraped and died in Uttar Pradesh's Bool Garhi village. This is Gandhi's second visit to the village after the incident in September 2020. While he spent 35 minutes with the family, UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak and Minister for Minorities Welfare Om Prakash Rajbhar criticized his visit, stating that the case has already been investigated by the CBI. Gandhi's supporter Chandragupt Vikramaditya argued that the Congress leaders are in touch with aggrieved people and will continue to fight for justice.
As India commemorates the 61st anniversary of the passing of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, he is remembered as a revered figure and a trailblazer in the fight against social injustice. After overcoming numerous barriers, Ambedkar rose to become the first law minister of independent India and was instrumental in crafting the country's now-famous constitution. His legacy continues to inspire millions as the driving force behind the Dalit Buddhist movement and his contributions to Indian society.
In a surprising move, Dalit leader Ashok Tanwar, a prominent figure in Haryana politics, has left the BJP and rejoined the Congress in a rally led by party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This unexpected defection to the opposition party has raised questions among analysts, as Tanwar was reportedly seen campaigning for the BJP earlier in the day. The Congress has welcomed Tanwar back into the party, citing his return as a boost in their fight for Dalit rights in the state. Tanwar himself has stated that he has buried the hatchet with his former party and is looking forward to the future with the Congress.