News for 'backward class communities'

Modi visits Akshardham temple, reaches out to Patels

Modi visits Akshardham temple, reaches out to Patels

Rediff.com2 Nov 2017

Modi did not speak much about politics but made a reference to the agitation by the Patels for quotas.

Yogi faces panchayat poll test amid farmers' stir

Yogi faces panchayat poll test amid farmers' stir

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

The panchayat polls will be seen as a kind of verdict from the hinterland for Yogi Adityanath ahead of the crucial 2022 Uttar Pradesh elections.

NCB orders probe into extortion claim against Wankhede, others

NCB orders probe into extortion claim against Wankhede, others

Rediff.com25 Oct 2021

On legal front, Wankhede, who the NCB asserted has an impeccable service record, failed to get any relief related to an affidavit on the sensational extortion claims made by the independent witness, Prabhakar Sail, with a special court saying it cannot pass a blanket order barring courts from taking cognisance of the document.

The faces from Gujarat in new Modi Cabinet

The faces from Gujarat in new Modi Cabinet

Rediff.com7 Jul 2021

Influential Patel community leader Parshottam Rupala, minister in the first Narendra Modi government Mansukh Mandaviya and three-time MP Darshana Jardosh, all from Gujarat, were among those inducted in the Union cabinet on Wednesday.

'Not counting caste is as political an act as counting it'

'Not counting caste is as political an act as counting it'

Rediff.com31 Oct 2023

'The upper caste elite's belief that they are casteless is a belief that is available only to the upper castes. Because all the lower castes are reminded by society every day what their caste is.'

'Caste has become a beacon of democracy in India'

'Caste has become a beacon of democracy in India'

Rediff.com28 Sep 2018

'Every person has two identities in India, that of his caste and nation.' 'It is understandable in a multi-caste, multi-religious society and I don't mind this.' 'What I mind is the State has failed in doing enough to melt these two identities in such a way that everybody has access to citizenship which is more important than your caste.' 'That is why people remain in the narrow identities of his caste or religion.'

Why Pakistani Hindu migrants are denied vaccination

Why Pakistani Hindu migrants are denied vaccination

Rediff.com9 Jun 2021

Most of the migrants do not get access to any medical facilities in government-run hospitals or dispensaries as they do not have an Aadhaar card and are not Indian citizens.

Hardik Patel postpones 'reverse Dandi march' to Sept 13

Hardik Patel postpones 'reverse Dandi march' to Sept 13

Rediff.com6 Sep 2015

Hardik Patel, who has become the face of the Patel agitation, announced postponement till September 13 of the 'reverse Dandi yatra' over the quota issue, which was scheduled to be taken out on Sunday.

Why Prashant Kishor Is Eyeing Bihar

Why Prashant Kishor Is Eyeing Bihar

Rediff.com21 May 2022

The JD-U, may be the BJP's partner for now. But it is a party at all only because of Nitish Kumar. The day Nitish Kumar exits, the JD-U will split into hundreds of pieces. Obviously, Prashant Kishor is setting himself up as the vessel that will collect all the pieces and put them together in some sort of political instrument, explains Aditi Phadnis.

SC refuses to refer to larger bench pleas against HC's Vanniyar quota order

SC refuses to refer to larger bench pleas against HC's Vanniyar quota order

Rediff.com16 Feb 2022

A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai said it has perused the judgments submitted and was of the view that the issue does not need consideration by a larger bench.

PMO shifts to Kerala for 48 hours

PMO shifts to Kerala for 48 hours

Rediff.com23 Sep 2016

After terror attack, Mumbai red alert, a large posse of officials to fly down with PM, reports Archis Mohan.

'If Jats can get reservations, why can't Patels?'

'If Jats can get reservations, why can't Patels?'

Rediff.com18 Apr 2016

'People with vested interests in the BJP don't want the Patels to get reservation.'

Hardik Patel declares will on day 9 of hunger strike

Hardik Patel declares will on day 9 of hunger strike

Rediff.com3 Sep 2018

As per the will, Hardik has Rs 50,000 in his bank account, of which Rs 20,000 will go to his parents and the rest to a Panjrapole near his native village in Gujarat.

Jogi booked after panel rejects tribal status

Jogi booked after panel rejects tribal status

Rediff.com30 Aug 2019

The first chief minister of Chhattisgarh has been booked for allegedly fraudulently obtaining caste certificates, the police said.

New faces from UP to help BJP dent Mayawati's votebank

New faces from UP to help BJP dent Mayawati's votebank

Rediff.com5 Jul 2016

UP now has 16 ministers, the maximum from any state, in an apparent bid to keep the Dalit and other backward class votebank content.

What minority status will mean for Jains

What minority status will mean for Jains

Rediff.com22 Jan 2014

Community will now avail of exclusive schemes run by the ministry of minority affairs.

Why BJP keeps harping on Periyar legacy in Dravidian TN

Why BJP keeps harping on Periyar legacy in Dravidian TN

Rediff.com17 Apr 2021

The contemporary problem with the BJP in Tamil Nadu is that it has been trying hard to package the DMK especially as anti-god and anti-Hinduism, and seeking it to link to Periyar and M Karunanidhi, and by extension to Stalin, the latter's son and successor to the party mantle. Their hope was to consolidate the perceived 'pro-god, pro-religion votes', which they saw returning to the fold post-MGR, post-Jayalalithaa. But no such substantial vote-bank existed even in Periyar's time, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will anti-CAA protests help Mamata?

Will anti-CAA protests help Mamata?

Rediff.com14 Jan 2020

'When violence spread, it looked as if Mamata was losing control, but soon, she was able to contain the situation.' 'Now, the TMC stands to gain the most.'

Why BJP snagging Duraisamy from DMK is not a big thing

Why BJP snagging Duraisamy from DMK is not a big thing

Rediff.com23 May 2020

V P Duraisamy's exit will in no way upset the poll scene in western Tamil Nadu, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

BJP believes Maya is a soft target

BJP believes Maya is a soft target

Rediff.com1 Jul 2016

The logic behind the BJP targeting Mayawati's votes.

The logic of BJP targeting Mayawati's votes

The logic of BJP targeting Mayawati's votes

Rediff.com29 Jun 2016

She has been losing her party's core voters since the 2007 assembly polls, whereas the Samajwadi Party has managed to keep its flock together. The BJP believes she is a soft target.

Hardik detained ahead of Ekta March; internet banned in Gujarat

Hardik detained ahead of Ekta March; internet banned in Gujarat

Rediff.com19 Sep 2015

Hardik Patel, who is leading the Patel quota stir, was on Saturday detained by police along with 35 of his supporters ahead of his Ekta March in Surat with the Gujarat administration following it up by imposing a ban on mobile Internet services across the state.

Get ready to fight bypolls alone: Mayawati to BSP leaders

Get ready to fight bypolls alone: Mayawati to BSP leaders

Rediff.com3 Jun 2019

According to some of those present in the meeting, Mayawati also referred to the family feud in the Yadav clan, saying after Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's younger brother Shivpal decided to contest separately the community votes were not transferred to the BSP, and the SP could not even save its "family seats".

The new-age warrior behind the Maratha protests

The new-age warrior behind the Maratha protests

Rediff.com4 Aug 2018

Pravin Gaikwad, the state coordinator of Maratha Kranti Morcha, has two rare qualities: he has an unparalleled connect with people from his community and, at the same time, underpins his ideology on a strong analytical base.

Can Bommai emerge from Yediyurappa's shadow?

Can Bommai emerge from Yediyurappa's shadow?

Rediff.com5 Aug 2021

In the course of his various tenures, Yediyurappa made many adversaries. Bommai, by contrast, knows the Opposition well and has many friends, cutting across parties -- he is, after all, only a 2008 BJP entrant.

Can Dalits, Muslim unite? Questions from Ambedkar's time

Can Dalits, Muslim unite? Questions from Ambedkar's time

Rediff.com9 Apr 2019

In the light of the efforts being made to forge electoral unity between scheduled castes and Muslims, Mohammad Sajjad examines what the architect of our Constitution, B R Ambedkar, had to say about the Muslim community.

Ram Vilas Paswan: Kingmaker who outlasted many kings

Ram Vilas Paswan: Kingmaker who outlasted many kings

Rediff.com9 Oct 2020

It is an ode to his politics that believed in building bridges across social or political divides that he was one of the most liked state leaders among the upper castes even as he drew his support mostly from Dalits, a group which at times shared antagonistic relations with the more prosperous communities due to a number of social and political reasons.

'Rajputs feel their rights are being snatched'

'Rajputs feel their rights are being snatched'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2018

'The Rajputs feel they are being left behind.'

Former Union minister E Ahamed passes away after collapsing in Parliament

Former Union minister E Ahamed passes away after collapsing in Parliament

Rediff.com1 Feb 2017

The 78-year-old Ahamed died at 2:15 am at RML hospital where he was admitted on Tuesday and put on artificial life support.

You won't need reservation after 25 years if...

You won't need reservation after 25 years if...

Rediff.com8 Jan 2019

'Education in private and public schools should be in English and in one regional language; it will solve the entire reservation issue.'

'EWS reservations destroys social fabric of equality'

'EWS reservations destroys social fabric of equality'

Rediff.com15 Nov 2022

'If we want a stable society, then all groups must feel that they have a seat at the table of power.'

Who Says Gujarat Is A BJP Bastion?

Who Says Gujarat Is A BJP Bastion?

Rediff.com4 Nov 2022

The Congress won 77 seats or 42% of seats in the 2017 polls. How then can Gujarat be called a BJP bastion, asks Sanjeev Nayyar.

NRIs: Pop Nationalism To Identity Supremacy

NRIs: Pop Nationalism To Identity Supremacy

Rediff.com21 Oct 2023

Brand India's societal divisions and distortions have remained as much relevant in 'liberal' America and Europe as it still is in the structurally stratified Indian society of the 21st century, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Amid growing Patel agitation, RSS chief says review quota policy

Amid growing Patel agitation, RSS chief says review quota policy

Rediff.com21 Sep 2015

Amid the continuing Patel quota stir in Gujarat, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat pitched for a review of the reservation policy, contending it has been used for political ends and suggesting setting up of an apolitical committee to examine who needs the facility and for how long.

Jat quota stir begins on tepid note amid tight security

Jat quota stir begins on tepid note amid tight security

Rediff.com5 Jun 2016

Giving this information at Chandigarh, a government spokesman said that more companies of the paramilitary forces have been demanded by the state.

Has the Modi wave favoured Congress-NCP turncoats?

Has the Modi wave favoured Congress-NCP turncoats?

Rediff.com24 Oct 2019

Ahead of the elections, a lot had been spoken of the large number of leaders defecting from the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena. In fact, a month before the polls, more than two dozen Congress-NCP leaders quit and joined the BJP in hopes of riding high on the Narendra Modi wave. While for some the shift has brought in good fortune, for others it has brought loss. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com analyses how these defectors have fared.

'Abolish reservations and private education!'

'Abolish reservations and private education!'

Rediff.com19 Mar 2021

'Where should shudra-OBCs go because of whom the nation is surviving?'

Jailed INLD leader's son to contest from Haryana

Jailed INLD leader's son to contest from Haryana

Rediff.com14 Mar 2014

Jailed Indian National Lok Dal leader Ajay Chautala's elder son Dushyant figured in the list of candidates declared by the party for all the ten Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.

Bihar saves India again

Bihar saves India again

Rediff.com9 Nov 2015

'The BJP should realise that a very large number of people -- from the 'perfumed liberals' to the 'illiterate' masses of Bihar -- is trying to tell them that this is not the 'development' they wanted.' 'Stop telling people what to eat, what to wear, what to read, who to love and how not to show dissent.'

Centre directs implementation of quota in promotion to SC/ST staff

Centre directs implementation of quota in promotion to SC/ST staff

Rediff.com15 Jun 2018

The move comes following a recent verdict by the Supreme Court in this regard.