A hut belonging to Dalit family and a two-wheeler were allegedly set on fire by miscreants during a clash between two groups in Vadakadu village in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. Representational image. File | Photo Credit: PTI
A clash broke out between youth belonging to the Most Backward Classes (MBC) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in Vadakadu village near Alangudi in Pudukottai district on Monday (May 5, 2025) night during the ongoing Muthumariamman temple festival.
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The confrontation reportedly began over a dispute at a petrol pump and escalated when members from both communities confronted each other again in a nearby residential area. The altercation resulted in multiple injuries on both sides.
During the incident, a hut belonging to Dalit family and a two-wheeler were allegedly set on fire by miscreants. A video of the burning hut has since gone viral on social media.
Alangudi police have arrested 14 individuals from both communities in connection with the violence. The injured have been admitted to Alangudi Government Hospital for treatment.
Pudukkottai Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, and Tamil Nadu Law Minister S. Regupathy visited the spot late on Monday (May 5) night, following which the situation was brought under control. Police personnel have since been deployed in Vadakadu to prevent further tensions.
In a press release, the Pudukkottai police on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) said the clash began over a verbal dispute at a petrol station between intoxicated youth from both communities. A hut was set afire and a government bus window was damaged during the confrontation. An investigation is underway.
The police alleged misinformation was being spread on social media about the incident and warned legal action will be taken against those involved in doing so.
Madurai: ‘Rewriting History – Photographs Created with AI Technology', an evocative exhibition by social activist Re Mu Dhammadurai, was the centrepiece of the ‘Let's Embrace Equality' campaign organised by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare department. The event was held at the Government Museum in Madurai.The exhibition used AI-generated images to document the dark pages of history — from struggles for temple entry and access to public water bodies, to inter-caste marriages and the systemic denial of power to dalit panchayat leaders.Among the powerful visuals was the Melavalavu massacre of 1997, where dalit panchayat president Murugesan and six others were brutally killed by caste Hindus. Other striking images portrayed the honour killing of Kannagi Murugesan, the 1946 anti-caste conference at Victoria Hall in Madurai, the anti-Hindi agitations led by dalit leaders, and a rarely depicted image of the Parayar Regiment raised by the East India Company.Adding another dimension to the campaign was ‘The Chappal Story', a compelling photo series by documentary photographer Palanikumar. The collection featured close-up images of worn-out footwear, symbolising the lived experiences of the poor and marginalised.
Congress demands reservation in private educational institutions
ByDheer Chawla
May 05, 2025 05:39 PM IST
The Congress claimed the Centre was compelled to announce a caste census after the party raised the issue and said the government will also be compelled to implement Article 15(5)
New Delhi: The Congress on Monday demanded that the central government immediately pass a legislation to implement reservation for scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and other backward classes (OBCs) in private educational institutions.
Anil Jaihind, chairman of the OBC Department of the Congress.
Anil Jaihind, chairman of the OBC Department of the Congress, claimed the Centre was compelled to announce a caste census after the party raised the issue and said the government will also be compelled to implement Article 15(5), which seeks to allow reservations for SCs, STs, and socially and educationally backwards classes in educational institutions, including private unaided institutions, except minority institutions.
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He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of “sitting on” this constitutional provision for the past 11 years, depriving over 100 crore citizens of their access to education and said his party will push for this legislation in the upcoming Parliament session.
“Modi ji calls himself an OBC and talks of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, but for the last 11 years he has been sitting on it,” he said.
Congress also reiterated its demand that a timeline for the rollout of the caste census should be disclosed along with its entire format.
Congress OBC department chairperson Anil Jaihind. Photo: X/@DrJaihind
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New Delhi:The Congress on Monday (April 5) reiterated its demand for the implementation of reservations in private educational institutions under Article 15(5) of the Constitution, removal of the 50% cap on reservations, along with a timeline for the rollout of the caste census.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress OBC department chairperson Anil Jaihind said that the BJP-led Union government had put a lock on Article 15(5) for the last 11 years despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling himself an OBC leader.
Jaihind said that under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when Arjun Singh was the education minister, the 93rd Amendment of the Constitution was passed and Article 15(5) added to it.
“At that time, this reservation was implemented in government institutions like Delhi University, IIT, IIMs. But people of private institutions took it to the court, where the case continued,” he said.
He said that in 2014, it was settled that the government can give reservations to SC/ST and socially and educationally backward communities.
“This is part of our constitution for the last 11 years. A legislation is required for this. But the Modi government has still not brought this legislation. And in this way 100 crore people from SC/ST and OBC communities have not got this reservation in educational institutions,” he said.
“Modi calls himself an OBC but for the last 11 years he has put a lock on this and about 100 crore people from Dalit, tribal and backward communities are being deprived from this constitutional provision,” he added.
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In a statement, Congress MP and the party’s general secretary media and communications, Jairam Ramesh said that Article 15(4) which gives the state the constitutional powers for “making special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes” was brought because “on April 9, 1951, the Supreme Court had struck down reservations in the famous State of Madras vs Smt. Champakam Dorairajan case.”
“The First Amendment had also introduced the Ninth Schedule to protect land reform laws from judicial review. This had become necessary since the Courts were striking down Zamindari abolition laws.”
Ramesh said that the select committee on the bill was headed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and included B.R. Ambedkar but also Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who had given a dissent note.
“All this history is now forgotten. The Select Committee on the Bill had been chaired by none other than the-then PM himself and had included C. Rajagopalachari and Dr. Ambedkar. It also had Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee as a member but he submitted a dissent note,” he said.
At the press conference, the Congress’ SC department chairperson Rajesh Lilothia who was also at the press conference along with Jaihind and Vikrant Bhuria, Congress’ Adivasi department chief said that the party will continue its demand for the removal of the 50% ceiling on reservations.
“Congress Party wants the 50% limit on reservation should be abolished – this is the biggest obstacle to social justice. Just like Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party forced the government to conduct caste census, we will also get this 50% limit on reservation removed,” said Lilothia.
Lilothia said that the Modi government by bringing the 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) had shown that the 50% reservation can be removed as it had also been upheld by the Supreme Court.
“The Modi government has announced the caste census, but our demand is that its complete timeline should be disclosed. Along with this, the entire format of the caste census should be discussed,” he said.
‘Historical injustice’: Adivasi families in Nagarhole demand land under Forest Rights Act
At a press conference held on May 3 in Bengaluru, the Samithi spoke about how even claimants whose applications had been approved for four hectares of land had received only tiny parcels of land.
The protests by Adivasi groups in the Nagarahole forest area in Karnataka are set to intensify with tribal families set to occupy their traditional lands from Monday, May 5. For years now, the tribes of Jenu Kuruba, Betta Kuruba, Yarava and Paniya have been demanding implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) but have made no headway in being granted land in the area, in accordance with the Act.
“In 2018, the Forest Department were told to reconsider the applications they had rejected. There are more than 2,000 applications. It is 2025, and nothing has moved so far,” said Shiva JA, secretary of the Nagarahole Adivasi Jamma-Pale Hakku Sthaapana Samiti (Nagarahole Adivasi Forest Rights Establishment Committee).
Over the years, the Samithi members have met everyone from Chief Ministers to local legislators to numbers officials, but their applications have not moved forward.
The Adivasis have been fighting against their displacement for years, as they consider themselves to be the original inhabitants of the forest. The latest move of returning to their original places is expected to go on for the next few days. “For now, 52 families in Kardikallu will reoccupy their place,” Shiva said.
At a press conference held on May 3 in Bengaluru, the Samithi spoke about how even claimants whose applications had been approved for four hectares of land had received only tiny parcels of land.
The Samithi is also upset with former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests BK Singh, who recently wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asking him to stop the grant of three acres of land in hadlus (grasslands) to claimants in the area comprising Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve.
BK Singh argued that the Forest Rights Act was being violated and that it was only meant to recognise the rights of those who were in occupation as of December 13, 2005, and was not meant to be used as a means to grant land.
Saying that he had personally visited many hadlus in January 2011, he said that he did not find any signs of occupation of any family in the area. He warned that granting land in hadlus would exacerbate the human-animal conflict in the area and threaten the habitats of many herbivores, including elephants and gaurs.
President of the Samithi, Thimma JK, “BK Singh is misdirecting the government by telling them not to recognise our forest rights. This is the law guaranteed to us under the Constitution. Despite our demands for more than four years, they have withheld our rights and continued the historical injustice to our people. This continuous attempt to deliberately withhold rights by forest officials, ex-officers and conservators amounts to atrocities on our people. This is an offence punishable under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reinstates Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme in Andhra Pradesh
Reiterating the government’s commitment to the uplift and educational empowerment of Dalits, the Chief Minister says around 7,000 students benefited from the scheme in 2014-19
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu garlanding the statue of B.R. Ambedkar, at Ponnekallu village in Guntur district on Monday.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare and educational empowerment of Dalits.
Addressing a public meeting on the occasion of B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, at Ponnekallu of Tadikonda constituency in Guntur district on Monday, Mr. Naidu announced the revival of the Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme to support SC students to pursue higher education abroad.
Mr. Naidu said that quality education was the foundation of social equality and declared plans to establish more residential schools for SC students. Recalling the socio-political contributions of Dr. Ambedkar, the Chief Minister said, “Ambedkar was not just a leader for one community, he was a guiding light for all of India. His vision of equality is what we are committed to realising.”
Citing the TDP government’s success, Mr. Naidu mentioned that between 2014 and 2019, around 7,000 students benefited from the scheme, with ₹467 crore spent on it. He contrasted this with the previous YSRCP administration, which supported only 430 students, calling it a sign of its lack of concern for the poor.
The Chief Minister also spoke virtually with beneficiaries such as Korivi Ratnalatha, now a network engineer in Australia, and Anil, an engineer in Canada, both of whom expressed deep gratitude for the scheme.
“Your success is a symbol of our government’s commitment. Now, I urge you to adopt underprivileged families in your hometowns as part of our P4 initiative,” Mr. Naidu told them.
Supreme Court Reinstates Dalit Judge: Strong Remarks on Casteism, Read Full Report
Justice Suryakant stated that the judge was targeted solely because he belongs to a lower caste. Caste-based discrimination in the judiciary is a serious issue and must be eradicated.
New Delhi- The Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of Punjab judicial officer Prem Kumar, who was targeted for being from a lower caste and the son of a cobbler. Justice Suryakant stated that caste-based discrimination in the judiciary is a serious issue and must be eradicated. The court upheld the Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision to quash Prem Kumar’s dismissal.
Prem Kumar, hailing from Barnala, was appointed as an Additional District and Sessions Judge on April 26, 2014, and posted at the Amritsar District Court. His father was a cobbler, and his mother worked as a laborer. Justice Suryakant praised his perseverance, saying, “Despite coming from a marginalized community, he became a judge through hard work.”
The controversy began when a rape accused filed a complaint with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that Prem Kumar, during his time as a lawyer, facilitated a settlement for the victim, securing Rs 1.50 lakh.
Based on this, the High Court initiated a vigilance probe, and his integrity was marked as “doubtful” in his Annual Confidential Report (ACR). In 2022, the High Court dismissed him. Prem Kumar challenged this in the High Court, which, in January 2025, overturned the dismissal citing lack of evidence. The High Court then appealed this decision in the Supreme Court.
The bench of Justices Suryakant and N Kotiswar Singh noted that Prem Kumar’s ACR initially reflected good performance, but it suddenly deteriorated after the complaint. The court deemed this a result of discrimination. The Supreme Court ordered his immediate reinstatement, retention of seniority, payment of full salary arrears, and termination of the vigilance probe.
Justice Suryakant remarked, “How long will this continue? He was targeted solely because he belongs to a lower caste. The High Court must treat its officers fairly.” This verdict sends a strong message against caste-based discrimination in the judiciary.
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Congress also reiterated its demand that a timeline for the rollout of the caste census should be disclosed along with its entire format.
Congress OBC department chairperson Anil Jaihind. Photo: X/@DrJaihind
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