25.01.25...Untouchablity News.....अछूत समाचार.தீண்டாமை செய்திகள்.by Team சிவாஜி. शिवाजी .Shivaji.asivaji1962@gmail.com.9444917060.
Know Dr. Shobhana Narlikar: The Dalit Prof from BHU Who Has Warned Satyagraha—Here Are Her Demands
Originally from Maharashtra and belonging to the Dalit community, Dr. Shobhna Narlikar accused the university's Rector Professor Sanjay Kumar, Registrar Arun Kumar Singh, Faculty Head Professor M.S. Pandey, and Professor Anurag Dave of systematic harassment, arbitrary fund allocation from the university's special fund, and securing promotions through fraudulent and manipulated documentation.
She demanded that her complete administrative rights as a departmental head be reinstated and that an investigation be conducted against the implicated individuals, warning that she would be compelled to launch a satyagraha (peaceful protest) if her demands were not met.
Dr. Narlikar elaborated, "Since becoming the departmental head, I have consistently attempted to prevent the systematic embezzlement of self-financed course funds. Periodically, former faculty heads, including Professors Shishir Vasu and Anurag Dave, have been complicit in misappropriating funds through fraudulent documents and circumventing established regulations. The most recent example involves the current Faculty Head, Professor M.S. Pandey, who, in collaboration with Professor Anurag Dave, arbitrarily allocated funds from the university's special fund."
She further stated, "I humbly request through this press conference to the Prime Minister and Varanasi MP, Narendra Modi, along with the Rector, Registrar, Faculty Head, and other officials: if my complete administrative rights are not restored and an investigation is not initiated against these fraudulent faculty members - specifically Professors Anurag Dave, Dr. Swarna Suman, Dr. Dheerendra Rai, and Dr. Amita - then within a week, as a Dalit woman who has been oppressed, I will be compelled to launch a satyagraha, for which the university administration and central government will bear full responsibility."
Key Controversies Surrounding Dr. Narlikar
It is noteworthy that Dr. Narlikar has previously leveled harassment allegations against university officials. In January 2021, she staged a demonstration in front of the central office, alleging systematic mental exploitation due to her Dalit identity. She claimed that administrative officers and departmental professors had been persistently harassing her since 2013, affecting her seniority by repeatedly placing her on leave without pay, despite performing regular duties.
Dr. Narlikar joined BHU's Journalism Department as an Assistant Professor on August 19, 2002, already holding a PhD. Two days later, Dr. Anurag Dave also joined the department as an Assistant Professor, though he was not a PhD holder at the time.
Approximately two years ago, in 2023, a video of Dr. Narlikar went viral showing her holding a slipper and speaking sternly to students. When The Mooknayak inquired about this, she responded, "The video was manipulated. It was edited and circulated by the very individuals against whom I had previously raised allegations."
Dr. Shobhana had filed a case under the SC/ST Act against Professor Pankaj Kumar. Angered by this, a group of 65 teachers approached the Vice-Chancellor with a complaint. At that time, the Vice-Chancellor had assured a judicial investigation of allegations from both sides. A committee led by retired Justice Kalimullah was also formed. Several students had also staged protests against her. However, regarding student protests, Dr. Shobhana states, "At that time, university's Bhumihar students were instigated to stage demonstrations against me."
Similarly, she had filed a case under the SC/ST Act against Professor Shishir Basu. However, a Varanasi court acquitted him nearly 10 years later in 2022. The court's order noted that while the victim had alleged harassment since 2003, she took a decade to file the complaint.
Discussing this with The Mooknayak, Dr. Shobhana explained, "In this case, I lacked witnesses, so the court dismissed it. My witness - my driver - was bought off by Basu. He is a local resident, while I'm from Maharashtra! When Basu sexually harassed me, my driver, peon, and others had witnessed it. But no one wanted to help a woman. In such cases, one must first approach BHU before going to court. I visited BHU, the SC-ST Commission, Women's Commission, UGC, Human Rights Commission. After these visits, I approached the High Court, which then sent my case to the lower court. This entire process took me six years."
She further stated, "Since becoming department head, all meetings have been held in the Dean's cabin. No files come to me for signature. Despite being department head, I have no administrative authority."
The Mooknayak attempted to contact BHU's Vice-Chancellor for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.
Commercial Taxes SC/ST Association to stage protest alleging discrimination
Say delay in issuance of promotion orders a clear case of disparity
HYDERABAD: The Commercial Taxes SC/ST Association has decided to stage ‘Lunch Hour demonstration’ on Tuesday in protest against the disparity in promotions to SC/ST employees in the Commercial Tax Department.
In a notice to the department Commissioner, the Association members said that the government had approved the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) recommendations for promoting officers to the posts of Assistant Commissioner.
Accordingly, in July the department Commissioner had also approved the names of six DCTOs for promotion to CTO cadre. However, there was a delay in issuance of orders, rendering the DPC held in July 2024 ineffective. All the six DCTOs, who were recommended for promotion belonging to SC / ST community, they said in the notice.
Of the six officers, two are set to retire in January 2025 and March 2025. The delay in issuance of promotion orders was a clear case of disparity and discrimination, they added.
Supreme Court Upholds Landmark Bombay HC Verdict: Dalit Researchers Win Intellectual Property Compensation in Caste Atrocity Case
The case originated with two Scheduled Caste researchers, Dr. Kshipra Kamlesh Uke and Dr. Shiv Shankar Das, both holding Ph.D. degrees from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Since 2014, they had been conducting a self-funded research project on socio-political awareness among youth in Nagpur, collecting over 500 survey samples from various educational institutions.
According to their narrative, while the researchers were out of the city, the son of their house owner (belonging to a higher caste), allegedly in connivance with the Bajajnagar Police Station, broke into their residence and stole their research laptops. This theft resulted in the complete loss of their raw research data, survey forms, and processed research materials.
The researchers filed a complaint, leading to an investigation. They approached the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) seeking action and recommendations. After the Commission's initial lack of progress, they filed a petition (No. 647/2021) seeking the High Court Intervention. The Court, by Judgment dated 11/3/2022, directed the NCSC to complete the inquiry on the Petitioners’ complaint.
In compliance with the directions of this Court, the Commission completed the inquiry. During the course of the inquiry, the petitioners submitted a Ten Point demand, seeking various reliefs/compensation for loss caused to them due to the damage to their intellectual property.
Upon recommendation by the Commission, the Nagpur District Magistrate granted relief to Shiv Shankar Das in terms of Rule 12(4) of ₹1.00 lakh, in terms of Clause No.35 of the Schedule to the said Rules, compensation/relief to Kshipra Uke of ₹1.00 lakh, in terms of Clause No.36E of the Schedule to the said Rules, Relief to the victims after adding new Section 3(2)(va) of the Atrocities Act to the Charge-sheet of ₹ 3.00 lakhs; this relief was partly transferred in terms of the said rules to the petitioners on various dates, the last of which was transferred on 12/5/2022. However, the respondents did not agree with the ten point demands by the petitioners and maintained that the loss to the intellectual property rights could not be quantified or claimed as a relief or compensation under the provisions of the Atrocities Act.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court delivered a landmark judgment on 10 November 2023, that critically expanded the interpretation of "property" in the Atrocities Act. The court held that intellectual property, digital materials, and research data are indeed forms of property capable of valuation and compensation. This interpretation directly challenged the narrow understanding previously maintained by government authorities.
The High Court's judgment explicitly noted that the term "property" should be interpreted broadly, encompassing both tangible and intangible assets. The court referenced legal definitions, including John Salmond's jurisprudential interpretation, which supports a comprehensive understanding of property rights that includes intellectual and incorporeal assets.
In its directive, the court mandated the District Magistrate to:
Thoroughly investigate the researchers' ten-point compensation demand
Assess and determine appropriate compensation for the intellectual property damage
Complete the compensation assessment within three months
Submit a detailed report to the Special Court
The Maharashtra government challenged this judgment through a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, arguing against the broad interpretation of property and compensation. However, the Supreme Court's dismissal of this petition effectively validates the High Court's progressive interpretation.
By dismissing the government's challenge, the Supreme Court has reinforced the High Court's stance, sending a strong message about the protection of intellectual property rights and the need to provide meaningful remedies under anti-atrocity legislation.
The judgment represents a significant step towards recognizing and protecting intellectual property rights, particularly for researchers from marginalized communities.
Delhi Elections: Can BJP Win Over Dalits From AAP? Full Story in 5 Charts
Dalits account for 16.5% of the population in Delhi. In 10 seats the population is above 25%.
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Rohini and Sultanpur Majra are two adjacent seats in Northwest Delhi. Despite their geographical proximity, the two seats have had completely contrasting political trajectories. Rohini is one of BJP's strongest seats in the city, it won the seat even amid the 2015 and 2020 Aam Aadmi Party waves. On the other hand, Sultanpur Majra is a seat that the BJP has never won till date ever since Assembly elections began in Delhi in 1993.
What explains this? The answer is - caste.
Rohini happens to be one of the most Upper Caste dominated seats in the city. The Dalit population in Rohini is just 5 percent, the lowest among all the Assembly constituencies in the city. The Dalit population in Sultanpur Majra is the highest in Delhi, at 44 percent.
Dalits account for 16.5 percent of Delhi's population as per the 2011 census, making it the second biggest voting bloc after Upper Castes taken as a consolidated category. The BJP has historically been weak among Dalits, who have consolidated behind first the Congress and then AAP.
Will BJP succeed in making inroads this time? Can the Congress regain some of its traditional votes? Or will AAP maintain its hold over this section once again?
Dalits in Delhi aren't homogenous. They are divided into different castes and differ in terms of geographical concentration as well.
Mapping the Dalit Vote in Delhi
What isn't often acknowledged is that Delhi is a very Upper Caste dominated city. About 40 percent of Delhi's population are Upper Castes (not including Jats).
For instance, East Patel Nagar and Ranjeet Nagar are heavily Upper Caste dominated, with a Dalit population of just about 10-12 percent. Barely 2-3 kilometers away lies Dev Nagar ward where Dalits account for 70 percent of the population.
Another aspect that has led to a higher concentration of Upper Castes than many other states is that fact that Upper Castes account for a major chunk of the migrants coming from areas like East UP and Bihar.
This map gives an idea of the concentration of Dalits across Assembly constituencies in Delhi.
Historically, the BJP has consistently underperformed in constituencies where Dalits are present in higher numbers. In 9 out of 10 seats where the Dalit population is over 25 percent, the BJP has one only once or never.
These seats have been the bulwark for first the Congress and then AAP in Delhi.
Even when the BJP won Delhi in 1993, it lost Dalit concentration seats like Sultanpur Majra, Mangolpuri, Trilokpuri and Ambedkar Nagar. In that election, even Muslims had deserted the Congress, which was reduced to just 14 seats. Six out of these 14 seats came from seats where Dalits are over 20 percent of the population.
BJP's Deficit Among Dalits
Unlike many other states in the Hindi heartland, BJP has historically failed to win over Dalits in Delhi at least at the Assembly election level. The reason for this isn't the BJP's weakness, rather it is the reverse - it is the fact that the BJP has always been strong in Delhi.
Right from the Jan Sangh days, it has always had a strong footprint in Delhi. Soon after Independence, the Jan Sangh acquired a strong base among Punjabi refugees and traders. During the Ram Jannmabhoomi agitation it expanded among Jats and Gujjars as well. These sections on their own gave BJP a stable base of 30-35 percent and it came to be seen as a party of dominant sections, which prevented any significant expansion among Dalits.
There is also the fact that Delhi has had some history of Dalit assertion.
In this article in Forward Press, Kusum Viyogi narrates how Shahdara in Northeast Delhi emerged as an important centre for Dalit writers and intellectuals in the 1980s and 1990s.
"The Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Manch and Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Academy were instituted in 1984. The Dalit Lekhak Sangh (DLS) was formed in Shahdara on 15 August 1997," Viyogi writes.
He writes that Dalit organisations in Delhi are able to "launch protests that reach and involve thousands at a go from Shahdara, partly because the hub of Dalit Literature today provides them with the vocabulary and the verve, as well as the ready audience, to do so".
This culture made it difficult for the BJP to co-opt Dalits into its fold as it had done in many parts of the country following the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation.
The BSP too, has, always had a presence in Delhi. But the default beneficiaries were the Congress and later AAP. Though led by Upper Caste leaders like Sheila Dikshit and Arvind Kejriwal, the pro-poor politics of these parties helped them establish rainbow coalitions in Delhi, of which Dalits were a central part.
The BJP has in the past two elections, succeeded in winning over Dalits at the Lok Sabha election level but it has somehow failed to do so at the Assembly level. Will it succeed this time on?
The party is basing its calculations on the divisions within Dalits.
Castes Within Dalits
The BJP's win in the Haryana elections in 2024 was possible, to a great extent, due to the increased divisions within Dalits due to the sub-classification issue. This enabled BJP to pitch smaller communities against the Jatav/Chamar Dalits that are more numerous and also are relatively better off in terms of educational attainment and representation in government jobs.
In Delhi, Jatav/Chamar Dalits account for 38 percent of the total Dalit population. This is followed by Balmikis at 21 percent. Khatiks, Kolis and Dhobis are about 6-7 percent each. The graph below would give a better idea (caste names are as per what is stated in the census).
Geographically, too, various castes within Dalits are concentrated differently across Delhi.
Jatavs are nearly 50 percent of the Dalit population in East and Northeast Delhi, areas where the BJP has performed poorly among Dalits. On the other hand, in New Delhi, South Delhi and South West Delhi, Balmikis account for a much higher share of the Dalit population.
The BJP's calculation is that communities like Balmikis and Khatiks have been much more amenable to coming into the Hindutva fold compared to Jatavs, among whom Ambedkarite politics has much stronger roots.
However, so far the BJP's outreach among Balmikis in Delhi hasn't proven to be successful mainly because many within the community say they benefited due to the Congress and now AAP's populist politics. "Indira Gandhi gave us houses" was a common refrain among Balmiki voters when they were loyal voters of the Congress till 2013.
So while the BJP is trying to woo this section in the name of Hindutva and what it calls "AAP's failures", the Congress too is staking claim to its traditional base.
What's Likely to Happen This Time?
Except in some pockets in East and Northeast Delhi, that too among non-Jatav Dalits, Hindutva and communal polarisation is unlikely to benefit the BJP much among Dalits.
In the end, it will boil down to two things:
How satisfied or dissatisfied are Dalits with AAP?
Are those who are dissatisfied willing to consider the BJP or Congress as options?
No doubt after 10 years of being in power in the Delhi and two years of controlling the MCD, there is some degree of dissatisfaction against AAP, especially on issues like roads, garbage disposal etc.
However, BJP has also been in power at the Centre since 2014, by extension controlling many aspects of governance in Delhi. Therefore, it is also finding it difficult to present itself as an agent of change in the city.
A lot would depend on which party does a better job of convincing voters in the last stages of the campaign.
24-year-old Dalit assaulted in Sri Sathya Sai district, family alleges custodial torture by police
The girl’s family tracked the couple to Utukuru village, Parigi mandal, and forcibly brought them back to Narsimpalli, where the violence unfolded on Thursday.
The girl’s relatives, along with villagers, attacked Anjaneyulu, stripped him, tied him to a vehicle, and paraded him through the streets. He was then tied to an electric pole, beaten with footwear, and doused with cow dung water, while caste-based slurs were hurled at him.
After intervention by leaders of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), a case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act was registered against seven persons. Meanwhile, the girl’s father filed a POCSO case against Anjaneyulu. “They attacked my brother while bringing him back in a vehicle and continued to beat him in the village.
Later, the police beat him again at the station and forced him to agree to a compromise. The police must be held accountable.” Anitha, victim’s sister said. Sri Sathya Sai SP, V Ratna said, “If custodial torture is proven, action will be taken against officers.”
ePaper BizzBuzz
> Karnataka > Bengaluru Meet on caste, income certificate challenges for SC/ST communities The Hans India Hans News Service | 24 Jan 2025 12:30 PM IST Bengaluru: The SCSA/TSA Jagruti Vedike organized a consultative meeting at Legislative House (LH) to address the present challenges faced by Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities across Bangalore and Karnataka in obtaining caste and income certificates. These certificates are crucial for accessing government schemes, education, and employment opportunities, yet systemic inefficiencies and discriminatory practices continue to create barriers. Also Read - Mangalore University to Host 35th IARP Conference on Radiation Protection The meeting brought together government officials, community leaders, and affected individuals to discuss the hurdles faced by 5000 SC/ST families, particularly those residing in the city’s 256 slums in accessing government benefits. The meeting was also graced by the presence of Captain Manivanan, Principal Secretary, Rakesh Kumar, Social Welfare Commissioner and officials from the Revenue Department, including Tahsildars. The meeting provided a platform for community members to share real-life case studies and discuss possible solutions with the authorities. Also Read - K’taka: Decision to promulgate ordinance to take Mysuru royal family’s property not out of enmity, says Siddaramaiah The key issues highlighted during the discussion included documentation challenges for single women, widows, and individuals without formal educational records. Omission of sub-castes in certificates, limiting access to targeted benefits. Discrimination based on names reflecting other religions, violating constitutional rights. Income certificate irregularities affecting children’s access to educational schemes. Delays and harassment in government offices leading to reliance on middlemen. Also Read - Roasted Arecanut import, CAMPCO Seeks Government Intervention Captain Manivanan, Principal Secretary, firmly instructed government officials, particularly Tahsildars, to prioritize respectful and transparent behaviour while addressing citizens’ grievances. He stated, “The attitude of officials must change. Public offices are meant to serve the people, not intimidate or harass them. It is unacceptable for citizens to feel disrespected or unheard when they approach government offices.” Also Read - D K Shivakumar: France to Start Issuing Visas in Bengaluru by 2026 He further added, “Officials must follow the law, conduct spot visits for verification, and ensure the process is smooth and efficient. Neglecting these responsibilities reflects poorly on the system. I am proposing a meeting with the Revenue Department Principal Secretary to address these issues and ensure accountability at all levels.” The Social Welfare Commissioner, Rakesh Kumar noted the difficulties faced by individuals migrating from other states and underscored the necessity of obtaining certificates from their home states for further processing. Also, shared the toll-free helpline number 9482300400 of the Social Welfare department among the community to raise grievances regarding caste certificate. The consultation meeting was also attended by hundreds of representatives from various women’s organizations, including Savitri Bai Phule Mahila Sanghatane, Daksha Samaja Mahila Sanghatane, and Slum Mahila Sanghatane. A former Rajya Sabha member, Dr. L Hanumanthaiah suggested that the government should consider issuing caste identity cards to streamline the process and ensure long-term solutions. He also emphasized the need for the appointment of a nodal officer within the Social Welfare Department to effectively address grievances faced by the SC/ST community. He also stressed the importance of conducting regular meetings to discuss caste certificate-related issues. “This is a very serious matter that has not received much attention in recent times. However, due to internal reservation policies, more people are now encountering challenges. I urge the Principal Secretary to take immediate action on this issue and ensure that regular follow-up meetings are held in the coming days,” she stated. The forum expects actionable outcomes, including administrative reforms, policy recommendations, and better awareness among officials and communities.
Punjab / Cong leaders hold protest against Shah
Cong leaders hold protest against Shah
District Congress leaders held a protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his alleged comments against Dr BR Ambedkar at Ambedkar Chowk here on Friday.
The leaders assembled under the programme Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan and lodged a protest against the Centre. Addressing a gathering, District Congress Committee chief Rajinder Beri said, “The remarks made by Amit Shah against the architect of the Constitution were uncalled for. The Union minister has insulted the messiah of the Dalit community. He must apologise to the nation and the community for what he has said. He must owe responsibilility and resign from his position in the Union Cabinet”.
Halka Incharge of the party from Jalandhar West Surinder Kaur said, “All leaders, including councillors, MLAs, MPs or ministers, owe their position to Dr Ambedkar who drafted the Constitution and gave everyone their rights. Ashwani Jangral, Rajesh Jindal, Deepak Sharma and other Congress leaders lodged the protest raising slogans in favour of Dr Ambedkar and the party and against Amit Shah and the BJP”.
'Ambedkar would feel let down': Congress levels big charge against EC day ahead of poll panel's 75th birthday
Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty claimed that the Election Commission registered 48 lakh people as new voters between the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly elections last year and pointed out that only 32 lakh new voters were enrolled in the 2019-2024 period.
Congress leaders Praveen Chakravarty and Shashi Tharoor
India’s founding leaders will feel let down by the Election Commission and not deem it to be a happy 75th birthday, said Praveen Chakravarty, chairman of Professionals’ Congress & Data Analytics wing of the Congress.
This Saturday, January 25, will mark 75 years since the establishment of the EC in 1950. It is also known as National Voters’ Day.
In an opinion piece in The Hindu, Chakravarty said BR Ambedkar was prescient in his warnings about electoral roll manipulation by the executive. “While he (Ambedkar) was more concerned about exclusion of voters through identity discrimination, government interference in electoral rolls can also be through a process of mass inclusion of voters to tilt an election — as seen in the recently held Maharashtra state elections,” he wrote.
Maharashtra assembly election
Chakravarty said the poll panel enrolled 9.7 crore voters for the Maharashtra election. The Ministry of Health report estimated the entire adult population of Maharashtra (18-plus years), in 2024, as 9.54 crore. The ECI registered 16 lakh more voters than the official estimate of the total adult population.
Tomorrow is the 75th birthday of the Election CommissionBut Dr. Ambedkar & other founding leaders would not want to wish EC a happy birthdayWhy?Even if ECs birthday is to be marked, what is the gift it needs?My article in @the_hindu explains https://t.co/EkQKIGrsat pic.twitter.com/irLkVcAH4b“Even if one were to accept that the government’s estimate is only a projection, and can vary, it still implies that nearly 100% or more of all the adults in Maharashtra were registered as voters for the state election. This is very strange because the ECI neither enrolled nearly all adults as voters for the Maharashtra Lok Sabha election held just six months earlier, nor ever before in any of the other large States. Then, how were more people than the entire estimated adult population of Maharashtra enrolled as voters only for the State election,” he questioned.
Praveen Chakravarty (@pravchak) January 24, 2025
In the 2024 Assembly election, the Mahayuti coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party won 235 of the 288 assembly seats, with the BJP securing 132 alone.
Chakravarty said 48 lakh people were registered as new voters in just six months between the Lok Sabha and the State elections. According to him, between 2019 to 2024, only 32 lakh new voters were enrolled. “In other words, 50% more people were enrolled as voters in just six months vis-à-vis the previous five-year period. What led to this sudden, and intriguing, rush by Maharashtrians to register and vote in the State election alone,” he wrote in The Hindu.
He said clues emerge upon careful analysis of the outcome. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance gained 72 lakh more votes in the State election compared to the Lok Sabha election. “One would logically presume that this gain by the BJP alliance was largely due to voters that voted for the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in the Lok Sabha election who then shifted allegiance to the BJP alliance for the state election. But that is not the case. Only 24 lakh such voters moved away from the Congress alliance between the two elections. So, where did the BJP alliance get its remaining 48 lakh (72 lakh – 24 lakh) votes from for the State election,” said Chakravarty.
He said the BJP alliance did not even get its remaining votes from other parties and independents, since this group too gained more votes in the State versus Lok Sabha election. Astonishingly, the ECI has confirmed officially that it enrolled the exact same number, i.e., 48 lakh people, as new voters for the Maharashtra election. Is this a miraculous coincidence, a case of divine intervention or executive interference, as Dr Ambedkar had warned 75 years ago?
“What explains the sudden rush of new voters in six months for the State election? Are they real voters? Or are they ghosts? Were their documents verified when they were enrolled as voters? How is it that all the new voters enrolled seem to have voted for just one alliance,” he wrote.
Chakravarty also said there is something amiss with the electoral rolls in the Maharashtra election. “Perhaps, there are sincere answers to these questions. If so, is it not logical to expect the ECI to release all the data in the public domain and issue clarifications in a transparent manner? But the ECI is conspicuously silent and arrogantly dismissive of these questions,” he said.
Chakravarty also stressed upon the importance of using Aadhaar to “unghost” and de-duplicate electoral rolls. “Aadhaar verification of electoral rolls and voting is the birthday cake that the ECI must be given to preserve and strengthen India’s electoral democracy. It is an idea that even Dr Ambedkar and other founding leaders may approve of,” he wrote in The Hindu.
Sheikh Abdullah’s land reforms exemplified Dr Ambedkar’s vision of equality in J&K: CM
* Inaugurates Dr BR Ambedkar Bhawan at Bari Brahmana
Excelsior Correspondent
BARI BRAHMANA (SAMBA), Jan 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasized the transformative vision of Dr B R Ambedkar and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in advancing equality and justice.
Speaking at the inauguration of Dr BR Ambedkar Bhawan, constructed by the Dr BR Ambedkar Educational Society in Bari Brahmana, he highlighted the significance of land reforms in Jammu and Kashmir as a step towards empowering the oppressed.
“Dr. Ambedkar gave India its constitution, enshrining equal rights without discrimination. He tirelessly fought for the rights of marginalized communities, giving them a voice, an identity, and a sense of dignity. In Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah complemented his vision by implementing land reforms that restored dignity and a future to the oppressed. Land is deeply tied to identity and preserving it is essential for safeguarding our heritage and future,” the Chief Minister said.
He praised Dr. Ambedkar’s emphasis on education as a catalyst for transformation.
“The establishment of this education society in Dr. Ambedkar’s name reflects his vision. This land has been dedicated to a library, study circle and community hall instead of commercial use. These facilities will enable the youth to study Dr. Ambedkar’s works and conduct research, while also providing a space for social gatherings, for those in need,” he stated.
Recalling Dr. Ambedkar’s role in framing India’s constitution, Omar Abdullah noted its revolutionary principles.
“Dr. Ambedkar ensured equality from the very beginning, granting women equal voting rights at a time when many nations denied such basic rights. His vision established a foundation of justice and equality, which remains unparalleled even today,” he said.
He acknowledged the gaps in representation and stressed the need for greater efforts to realize Dr. Ambedkar’s dream of true equality.
“If Dr. Ambedkar had foreseen the underrepresentation of women in Assemblies and Parliament in 2025, he might have introduced reservations for women from the start. While we have made progress, with women achieving milestones like becoming prime ministers and presidents, the journey toward equality continues,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to India’s achievements in gender equality, which surpasses those of many nations.
“In contrast to some countries that have yet to elect a woman leader, India’s strides in empowering women are a testament to Dr. Ambedkar’s vision,” he added.
Concluding his address, Omar Abdullah assured the audience that the Charter of Demands presented at the event would be given due attention.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Deputy Commissioner Samba Rajesh Sharma, president Dr BR Ambedkar Education Society Bari Brahmana Pooran Chand, General Secretary of the organisation Romesh Chand, senior officers and other staff bearers of the organisation were also present on the occasion.
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