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Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
No alliance with SP in forthcoming Panchayat polls: ASP chief
In his sixth public meeting in the state on Saturday, Nagina MP and president of the Azad Samaj Party (ASP), Chandrashekhar Azad 'Ravan', asserted that the upcoming Panchayat elections will demonstrate the strength of their party. 'Our fight is directly with the BJP, as no other party has been able to defeat them. The rural belt, where the majority of marginalized communities reside, is where we have consistently raised our voice. Therefore, it won't be surprising if we emerge as the strongest party after the Panchayat elections,' Azad told the media, also reaffirming his party's stance for the upcoming state legislative elections scheduled in 2027. When asked about the BSP and Mayawati's focus on the upliftment of Dalits, Azad responded, 'I have great respect for Behenjee, but her party has failed to effectively fight for the rights of the poor and underprivileged backward classes. They have been consistently defeated. We, on the other hand, will raise their voice with full force.' Addressing the possibility of an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), Azad firmly denied it, stating that the Panchayat elections will reveal the true strength of the ASP. On the topic of the privileges extended to backward classes during recruitment in state government services under Yogi Adityanath, Azad criticized the administration. 'The Yogi government is misleading the public about recruitment. Papers for all examinations are getting leaked, while the poor remain deprived of opportunities. People are so frustrated with the situation that they are calling for an early election in 2026,' he said. HTC
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ASP to prove strength in panchayat polls: Azad
Jhansi: Azad Samaj Party (ASP) chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad 'Ravan' held his sixth public meeting in Jhansi on Saturday, emphasizing that the upcoming Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh will reflect the growing strength of his party in the state's political landscape. Addressing the gathering, Azad said, "Our fight is directly with the BJP , as no other party has the strength to defeat them. The rural belt has a significant population of marginalized communities, whose issues we have continuously raised. It would not be a surprise if ASP emerges as the strongest force after these elections." He reiterated that the party would carry this momentum forward into the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. When questioned about the BSP's historical role in Dalit politics, Azad responded, "I have all the respect for Behanjee (Mayawati), but her party has failed to stand firm for the poor and backward communities in recent times. They have been consistently losing ground. We are here to raise their voice with full force. " Azad also rejected speculation about a potential alliance with the Samajwadi Party, clarifying that ASP would contest the elections independently. "These Panchayat elections will clearly establish our strength," he said. On the issue of job recruitment for backward classes under the Yogi Adityanath government, Azad alleged widespread irregularities. "The govt is making false claims. Examination papers are leaking, and the poor are being systematically denied opportunities," he said. Azad claimed that public frustration has reached such a level that there is growing demand for early state elections in 2026. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
New Indian Express
04-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Dalit youth thrashed in Rajasthan for drinking water from pot, three held
JAIPUR: In a shocking case of caste-based discrimination, a Dalit youth was allegedly abused and beaten in Rajasthan's Nagaur district for drinking water from a pot kept outside a grocery shop. The incident took place on Sunday evening in Kantia village under Khinvsar subdivision. The victim, Omprakash Meghwal, a resident of Aau village, had stopped near the shop with a friend while on his way to a relative's function. He used a metal tumbler (lota) to drink water from a pot placed outside the store. Soon after, the shop owner Kaluram Jat and two others — Narsiram and another man also named Omprakash had asked him his name and caste. When they found out that he belonged to a Scheduled Caste, they allegedly shouted casteist abuses, beat him up, and threatened to kill him. Omprakash said he tried to clean the pot with sand to calm them down, but the men continued to assault and humiliate him. Scared, he ran and took shelter at a relative's house. Later that night, around 11:30 p.m., the accused allegedly returned in a camper vehicle, circled the locality several times, and dragged the vehicle's tyres in an apparent attempt to intimidate the residents. The act reportedly caused panic among the largely poor Dalit families in the area. Omprakash filed a police complaint the next day. A team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Rampratap Vishnoi visited the village, but the accused had already fled. After searches, police detained all three. Nagaur SP Narayan Togas said they have been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other charges. A detailed probe is on. The victim's family claimed that police initially tried to ignore the case. Police officials remained tight-lipped even as the incident began gaining traction on social media. Even on Tuesday, local police avoided giving clear answers when asked by reporters. Action was taken only after mounting public pressure and the video went viral. The incident has triggered widespread outrage. Azad Samaj Party chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad strongly condemned the attack, calling it a grim reminder of entrenched caste discrimination in India. 'In Kantia village, Dalit youths were abused, humiliated, and forced to clean utensils just for drinking water. This isn't a mere dispute—it's a reflection of systemic, centuries-old hatred,' he said. 'Does a Dalit still not have the right to drink water?' This incident is similar to a 2022 case in Jalore, where a Dalit student was beaten to death by a schoolteacher for drinking water from a pot meant for upper castes.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Wedding procession pelted with stones in Amroha; 7 injured
Seven people were injured after a wedding procession taken out by members of the Dalit community was pelted with stones, in Amroha's Rahdra village in the wee hours of Tuesday. Police later registered an FIR against eight identified and 15-20 unidentified men at Gajraula police station of the district. The eight identified accused hail from the village where the incident was reported. It was the wedding of one Sonam Kumari, the elder daughter of one Ramgopal, and the wedding party had arrived from Shirkoi Bhur in Moradabad. The violence reportedly sparked by a dispute over a request to remove a vehicle. A video purportedly of the chaotic scene has surfaced on social media. Circle officer Shwetabh Bhaskar confirmed that the police had registered a case under relevant sections, including the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and were investigating the matter. Police had to resort to mild force to disperse the crowd and restore order. 'Considering the tension in the village, a police force has been deployed to maintain law and order,' Bhaskar stated, adding that teams had been tasked to arrest the accused. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Chandra Shekhar Azad took to X to criticise the incident: 'The stone-pelting and attack on the wedding procession of a Dalit woman in Rahdara village, located in the Gajraula police station area of Amroha, by goons driven by a casteist mindset is extremely painful and highly condemnable. Reports have emerged that several people were injured in this incident'. Also, teams from the Bhim Army and the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) reached the scene of the incident and stood in solidarity with the bride's family. The MP demanded the best possible treatment for the injured, prompt arrest of the culprits, provision of government protection and appropriate compensation to the bride's family.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Opportunists trying to weaken BSP, Bahujan unity: Mayawati after Azad jibe
Without naming Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Azad, BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday said 'opportunist' leaders are trying to weaken the BSP and 'Bahujan unity' by being in cahoots with Congress, BJP and SP. She defended her nephew, Akash Anand, whom she has removed and retained a few times as her successor in the party, saying Anand would now be fully committed to taking forward the legacy of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and BSP founder Kanshi Ram. Mayawati's statement comes a day after Chandra Shekhar Azad said that the flip-flops by her over Anand were because she had 'no choice'. On March 3, Mayawati had expelled Anand from the BSP and relieved him of all responsibilities, saying he 'lacked political maturity.' Before that, his father-in-law Ashok Sidharth, who once shared a close bond with Mayawati and was considered a power centre in the party even before his daughter's marriage to Anand, was expelled. Mayawati had then claimed that Anand was being 'tutored' by Sidharth. However, last month, Mayawati announced that she was inducting Anand back into the party, pointing out that he has apologised for his 'wrongdoings'. Mayawati wrote on X on Monday, '…ups and downs of Akash Anand and his appointment as chief national coordinator have left many people anxious, and this is very obvious. This is happening as the BSP is the only Ambedkarite party that works for 'Bahujan' welfare. Therefore, there is a tradition of initiating action against people in the party's interest and taking them back after they repent.' Azad is considered a strong political opponent of the BSP after he wrested the Nagina LS seat in the 2024 election from the BSP, which had won it in 2019. He is seen as an aggressive Dalit leader and is considered popular among youngsters in the community. Anand, who is much younger than Azad and found himself in the limelight during the 2024 poll campaign due to his firebrand speeches, was seen by some as an apt counter to Azad's clout. On Sunday at a meet of intellectuals, Azad Samaj Party chief took a jibe at the BSP over its decision to bring back Akash despite his expulsion from that party. While he praised Mayawati, he said he and his party would fulfill the BSP chief's 'incomplete tasks and dreams' 'as those dreams and tasks were of Kanshi Ram and Dr B R Ambedkar'. On Monday, Mayawati, in an apparent reference to Nagina MP's claims, said: 'Leaders who, for personal gain, may become MLAs, MPs or ministers by aligning with such parties will not bring any real benefit to the community.'
