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Amritsar Dalit bodies protest attempt to vandalise Ambedkar statue
Police on Sunday arrested Moga resident Akash Singh for trying to damage the life-size statue on the street leading to the Golden Temple.
A statue of B R Ambedkar, a popular tourist spot in Amritsar was vandalised Sunday | By special arrangement
Amritsar/Chandigarh: Dalit bodies held massive protests in Amritsar on Monday against an attempt to vandalise a life-size statue of B R Ambedkar by a man on Republic Day, while Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserted that exemplary punishment will be ensured in the matter.
Police on Sunday arrested Akash Singh, a resident of Dharamkot in Punjab’s Moga district, for allegedly attempting to damage the Ambedkar statue at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple.
A video clip purportedly of the incident went viral on social media, in which the man is seen climbing atop the statue using a steel ladder and carrying a hammer. He is seen hitting the statue multiple times with the hammer.
The man also caused damage to the Constitution book, which is part of the statue. He was later apprehended and handed over to police.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said an FIR has been lodged under relevant legal provisions, including sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 324 (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Harmit Singh, who knows the family of Akash Singh, said he had gone to Dubai three years ago for work.
He was not in touch with his family, said Harmit Singh, who is also a resident of Dharamkot.
Akash Singh returned to India two-three months ago and started living in Amritsar, he said.
Meanwhile, members of Dalit communities held protests in Amritsar against the incident.
A complete “bandh” was observed in the city because of the protest call given by Dalit bodies. The protesters forced shopkeepers to down shutters. Educational institutions were also forced to shut.
The protests were organised by the Balmiki Samaj and supported by various political outfits.
Sant Baba Malkit Nath, leader of the Balmiki Samaj, requested the state government to ensure exemplary punishment for the accused.
A massive protest was held at the busy Bhandari Bridge area, where anti- government slogans were also raised.
Heavy police security was deployed in the city.
Mann said exemplary punishment will be ensured for the accused.
Describing the incident as unfortunate and tragic, the chief minister said it has bruised the psyche of everyone who respect Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution.
Requesting people to exercise restraint, he said no one will be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace in the state and that evil designs of anti-Punjab forces to cause communal strife will be nipped in the bud.
His government is fully vigilant and committed to crushing the nefarious designs of anti-social and anti-national elements who try to create unrest in Punjab, Mann said in a statement.
Bhullar said the mobile phone of the accused is under scrutiny.
Special police teams are questioning the man, the commissioner said, adding that the probe is being conducted in a scientific manner.
“I assure everyone that a fair investigation will be done,” he said.
Preliminary questioning of the accused has revealed that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, Bhullar said.
On the ladder used by the accused to climb up the statue, he said it was already lying there as the members of an organisation had held a programme.
The ladder was not removed after the programme and it was misused by the accused, the commissioner said, adding that this aspect would also be investigated.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Gurjit Singh Aujla and former state minister Raj Kumar Verma washed the statue with milk on Monday.
Aujla condemned the incident and claimed that the accused had even tried to set the statue on fire.
The incident took place when the entire country was celebrating the 76th Republic Day, he pointed out.
Aujla said the Punjab government should consider the seriousness of the incident and ensure exemplary punishment for the accused.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from all political parties.
“Strongly condemn the desecration of the architect of Indian Constitution Baba Sahib Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkarji’s statue at Heritage Street, Amritsar. We won’t let anyone disrupt Punjab’s communal harmony and perpetrators will face severe punishment,” the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit chief Aman Arora said in a post on X.
Opposition leaders condemned the incident as well, with some of them claiming that there could be a “deep-rooted” conspiracy behind it.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was among those who said there could be a “deep-rooted” conspiracy behind the incident.
“There should be a high-level probe,” the member of Parliament added.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tarun Chugh said the culprit should be given strict punishment and the conspiracy needs to be unearthed.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the incident and demanded a thorough inquiry to unravel the “conspiracy” behind it.
“Strongly condemn the attempt to desecrate Dr B R Ambedkarji’s statue at Heritage Street in Sri Amritsar Sahib on Republic Day. This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel the conspiracy behind this shameful incident. Let’s stand united against such vile attempts to create divisions in our society,” Badal said in a post on X. PTI JMS SUN CHS VSD RC
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Delhi Assembly election 2025: Congress vows free pilgrimage to Buddhist sites
In an recent election rally, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also raised the issue, asking AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to clarify his stand on conducting a caste census
Updated - January 26, 2025 01:10 am IST - NEW DELHI
Congress candidate from Delhi North West constituency Udit Raj speaks in a press conference in the presence of party leader Subhash Chopra, in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: ANI
The Congress on Saturday (January 25, 2025) announced that it would introduce free pilgrimages for the elderly to Buddhist places of worship if voted to power in the upcoming Delhi Assembly election.
At a press conference, former Congress MP and Dalit leader Udit Raj said Delhi government’s Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana provides free pilgrimages for the elderly to holy places like Tirupati, Ayodhya, and Vaishno Devi, but does not include Buddhist sites like Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Deekshaboomi, and Mhow.
BHEL Under Fire for Charging Fees from SC/ST Candidates, Violating Government Norms
In a strongly-worded letter addressed to BHEL’s Chairman and Managing Director, BANAE's National President, Nagsen Sonare, has termed this fee imposition as "illegal" and a violation of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) guidelines, which exempt SC/ST candidates from paying any fees for recruitment examinations or related processes.
The recruitment drive is for Engineer Trainees and Supervisor Trainees in various disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, civil, electronics, chemical, and metallurgy. The vacancies are distributed across key locations such as Trichy, Ranipet, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Vizag, Haridwar, and other power sector sites. Online applications are scheduled to open on February 1, 2025.
Sonare cited DoPT Office Memorandum (O.M.) No. 36011/3/84-Estt. (SCT) dated July 1, 1985, which explicitly states that SC/ST candidates are entitled to a full exemption of fees for admission to any recruitment examination or selection process. The guidelines were issued to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by SC/ST candidates and have been in effect for nearly four decades.
The letter highlighted that while BHEL's advertisement states "Examination Fees: ₹0" for SC/ST candidates, the adjacent column specifies a processing fee of ₹472. According to BANAE, this categorization of fees is a deliberate attempt to circumvent the fee exemption directive.
About the Fee Exemption Notification
The DoPT O.M. No. 36011/3/84-Estt. (SCT), dated July 1, 1985, outlines the government's decision to exempt SC/ST candidates from all fees related to recruitment examinations and selection processes.
The decision was based on a recommendation by the Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in its 1979-80 Annual Report, which called for full fee exemption to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by these communities.
The memorandum mandates that all ministries and departments adhere to these guidelines and ensure the exemption is uniformly implemented.
BANAE has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the processing fee for SC/ST candidates and urged BHEL to correct its advertisement to align with the DoPT guidelines. The letter stressed the urgency of the matter, as the online application process is set to begin shortly.
Sonare emphasized that the imposition of fees creates an unfair financial burden on candidates from marginalized communities, defeating the purpose of affirmative action policies aimed at fostering inclusivity in public sector employment.
This controversy highlights persistent gaps in the implementation of reservation policies and fee exemptions for marginalized communities in India. While public sector undertakings (PSUs) like BHEL are expected to lead by example, such instances reflect a lack of compliance with long-standing government directives.
As the February 1 application date approaches, all eyes are on BHEL to see if it will rectify this issue and reaffirm its commitment to social equity and justice.
Who Is Kerala's Tribal 'King' Who Attended Republic Day Parade In Delhi
Raman Rajamannan, the only tribal king in Kerala, and his wife Binumol are in Delhi to attend the 76th Republic Day celebrations.
Raman Rajamannan, the 'king' of Kerala's Mannan community, is among the guests invited to the 76th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi this morning. He is accompanied by his wife Binumol. OR Kelu, Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, had handed over the Republic Day invitation to Mr Rajamannan. This was the first time a tribal king attended the Republic Day parade in Delhi.
Mr Rajamannan, the only tribal king in Kerala, and his wife flew to Delhi on Wednesday. They will visit various places after the parade and return on February 2.
Minister Kelu said in a social media post that travel expenses will be borne by the Scheduled Caste Development Department. He was to wear headgear, called thalappavu locally, and traditional clothes, to mark the special occasion. He will be assisted by two ministers and soldiers during the functions.
Mr Rajamannan is the head of 300 families of Mannans, a tribal clan living in 48 settlements in the Idukki district. The King holds a special place in the rituals and festivities of the Mannan community.
He took the reins of his little kingdom, back in 2012, after the death of Aryan Rajamannan. An economics graduate, Rajamannan lives an ordinary life as a farmer. He doesn't have a royal palace or a chariot. Instead, he resides in a simple house and manages a local temple along with his family.
The king has no rights or duties in civil society, but oversees community matters with the help of four upa rajas (deputies), one ilayaraja (prince), and a 50-member council of ministers, known as kaanis, reported The Indian Express.
Reportedly, the Mannan community follows a matrilineal system, meaning women hold the inheritance rights.
Congress Hits Back After Himanta Sarma Claim On Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru
"Babasaheb Ambedkar's name was not there in the first list of members of Constituent assembly who were to draft the constitution," Chief Minister Himanta Sarma said
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his Republic Day address at Dibrugarh today, once again raised the issue of BR Ambedkar, claiming India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, kept him out of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the Constitution. Mr Sarma claimed this while emphasizing on the challenges Dr Ambedkar faced while drafting the Constitution.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar is the founder of our Constitution. His inclusion in the constituency assembly had many challenges. His name was not there in the first list of members of Constituent assembly who were to draft the constitution," the Chief Minister said.
A Dalit leader from East Bengal, Jogendranath Mondal, proposed Dr Ambedkar's name in his place and only after that he had the opportunity to be part of the historic work, he said.
"Today I remember a statement of Pandit Nehru about the inclusion of Ambedkar. Nehru had claimed that Ambedkar was a trouble-maker and wanted to keep him outside the constituent assembly," he said.
The Chief Minister further claimed that Ambedkar was included because Mahatma Gandhi recognised the merit in him and trusted his ability and took a stand against the position Nehru had taken.
"This decision of Gandhi was proved to be fruitful by the constituent assembly led by Ambedkar who gave us a constitution based on equality and brotherhood," he added.
The Chief Minister's statement has drawn sharp reactions from the Congress.
Leader of Opposition in Assam assembly Debabrata Saikia condemned the remarks and alleged it was an attempt to defame Babasaheb Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru by distorting the truth.
"Initially Ambedkar was elected to constituency assembly from Bengal. But after partition his constituency went to Pakistan and he has to vacate his seat. It was Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel who went to Gandhi-ji to discuss this. After this Ambedkar was offered a seat in the constituent assembly by vacating a seat from Pune," Mr Saikia told reporters.
6
- economy
How the Budget Can Be Sensitive to the Needs of Dalit, Adivasi Communities
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In the seventh episode of ‘Budget 2025: What’s at Stake?’, human rights activist and general secretary of the Dalit Arthik Adhikar Andolan Beena Pallical critiques the government’s approach to social justice, questioning whether reducing it to service delivery truly addresses systemic inequalities in India.
She examines the impact of recent budgets on those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and their access to resources.
This series is a collaboration between the Centre for Financial Accountability and The Wire.
Roasted notes of success.
Roasted notes of success
From empowering the local indigenous community to combating deforestation, this specialty coffee brand sets a high bar for sustainable production and impact
- Coffee cultivation provides year-round employment and better incomes for over 45,000 Adivasi families, marking the beginning of a sustainable livelihood. PHOTO: NAANDI FOUNDATION
THE opening of Araku Coffee’s cafe in Paris in 2017 marked India’s arrival on the world map of specialty coffee.
Internationally acclaimed for its quality, Araku Coffee has also reached more than 42 countries, including South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States.
This journey began in 2000, in the lush, biodiverse Araku Valley, located on the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Here, the Naandi Foundation, an India-based social enterprise that tackles poverty, started working with the local Adivasi tribal communities.
By 2005, the tribal farmers of Araku Valley were growing and improving the quality of their coffee crops with the support of the foundation. These farmers were provided with nutrient-rich compost, which made the fragile soil more fertile. The biodiverse terroir, combined with organic farming, resulted in coffee cherries with a natural sweetness and delicate fruity and floral aromas.
Coffee cultivation also provided year-round employment and better incomes for over 45,000 Adivasi families, marking the beginning of a sustainable livelihood.
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Becoming self-sustaining
Within 10 to 15 years, the valley transformed into the world’s largest tribal organic coffee farmers’ cooperative. The cooperative now has over 40,000 members, holds democratic elections, and has an executive body with 50 per cent women.
Massive annual forest festivals are held, which have resulted in the planting of 49 million trees, further enhancing the environmental benefits of shade-grown coffee. This type of coffee helps afforestation as it provides habitats for birds, which naturally prey on pests, reduces soil erosion and offers protection for the coffee trees.
Arakunomics, a sustainable economic model developed by Naandi Foundation, underpins this transformation. It focuses on empowering farmers, improving livelihoods, and protecting the environment. This model has been so impactful that it earned the Rockefeller Foundation’s Food System Vision Prize in 2020 and the Institute of Food Technologists’ Seeding the Future Prize in 2023.
Apart from coffee, the tribal farmers and their families are also growing other crops such as pepper, paddy, pulses and millets using the same organic regenerative agricultural methods.
Arakunomics is now being replicated in other parts of India with complex agrarian challenges, such as Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, Punjab’s groundwater-depleted districts, and forgotten border areas in northern Uttar Pradesh.
From humble bean to specialty cup
Today, Araku Coffee has consistently high scores of above 90 out of 100 on the industry-recognised specialty coffee scale. Specialty coffee scores 80 points or more on the scale.
In the Araku Valley, over 20,000 farmer families come together for the Gems of Araku, an annual harvest festival that celebrates that season’s coffee microlots and the farmers’ contributions to creating world-class specialty coffee. Each season, over 1,800 micro-lots are evaluated by professional coffee cuppers using international cupping protocols.
Since 2009, this event has consistently helped improve coffee quality, farm and processing practices. Farmers are continually learning about their coffee terroirs to improve coffee bush health, build soil organic carbon, and regenerate the Araku Coffee landscape.
And the proof is in the cup. As the soils get richer and the coffee produces more complex flavour notes, the coffee score becomes higher, with top micro-lots achieving scores as high as 94 out of 100.
Buoyed by the success of the Paris cafe, Araku opened a first-of-its-kind large-format cafe in Bengaluru, India, in 2021, serving as both a coffee haven and an interactive cultural space. A restaurant followed in south Mumbai in 2023.
Araku Coffee’s journey reflects the intersection of globalisation and grassroots innovation – how the smallest farmer in a remote part of the world can reap the benefits. From its roots in a remote tribal community to becoming a premium luxury social enterprise, Araku has demonstrated how India can grow globally across the value chain. This excellence was further recognised when Araku Coffee was included in the government of India’s gift hamper for visiting heads of state at the G20 summit in 2023.
With further growth in the works, Araku Coffee is looking at making its mark in either North America or the Middle East.
The writer is head – global partnerships and strategy at Naandi Foundation
Cops bar Vengaivayal Dalits from joining VCK’s protest in Pudukkottai
The charge sheet submitted by the agency in the Pudukkottai special court for trial of SC/ST cases stated three individuals from the same village were responsible for mixing faecal matter in the overhead tank supplying potable water in late December 2022. This was also mentioned in a report presented by the CB-CID to the Madras High Court during a hearing on Friday, sparking a protest wherein Dalit residents of Vengaivayal accused the authorities of framing them as culprits.
The protesters claimed that the accusations against the affected individuals are baseless and unjust.
The protest which started in the village on Saturday morning continued till evening, with the VCK extending its support and calling for participation in the stir on Sunday.
Police blocked seven entry points leading to Vengaivayal and neighbouring Eraiyur. Only local residents were allowed to enter. Media personnel were also denied entry.
However, eight VCK members entered the village and met the protesting residents. The police later escorted them out of the village and released them after a while.
Meanwhile, leaders of the VCK, Indian Communist People’s Liberation, Tamil Nadu People’s Democratic Party, Aam Aadmi Party and others submitted a petition to the district collector.
CPM leader K Balakrishnan demanded a re-investigation, citing “reasonable doubts” over the CB-CID probe and wanted the CBI to step in.
He also criticised the police for restricting the movement of villagers and preventing them from airing their views or meeting with officials.
Speaking in Tiruchy, Durai Vaiko, MP, however, expressed confidence in the CB-CID’s probe, stating that charges would not have been filed without proper evidence. He acknowledged that any procedural errors, however, could damage the reputation of the state government and police.
Meanwhile, in Chennai, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said the party is set to file a petition against the charge sheet filed by the CB-CID in the case.
The VCK leader also called upon the special court handling the case to reject the CB-CID’s charge sheet and said that his party’s legal team is preparing to file a petition opposing it.
(With inputs from Chennai)
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