Praveen Kumar alleges discrimination of students in gurukuls
BRS leader and former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar has accused the Congress Government of discriminating Dalit (Scheduled Caste) students of social welfare residential schools, and alleged that with the government support, IAS officer in-charge of those institutions Alugu Varshini had made disparaging remarks that there was nothing wrong if students cleaned their toilets.
Speaking to newspersons, along with a few parents whose wards are studying in the gurukuls, on Saturday, he recollected Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's comments that he was the 'pedda madiga and pedda mala' in the State (first Mala and Madiga, the sub-castes of SCs), Mr. Praveen Kumar, who functioned as the Secretary of residential educational institutions when in service, sought to know if Mr. Reddy was cleaning toilets in his home or his Cabinet colleagues were doing the same.
The officer reportedly said there was nothing wrong if students cleaned their toilets. If that is the government's policy, a GO should be issued, he said. He criticised the government for posting an officer who was reluctant to talk to the parents as the in-charge of gurukuls. He alleged that the Inter second-year students of Gowlidoddi residential school were being told to pursue education outside, and the government had also closed the Sainik School for girls.
He also sought to know why the Chief Minister had not announced a cash reward to Agasara Nandini for winning a medal in the Asian Athletic Championships.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
RSS reshuffles over 60 dist pracharaks in UP
Lucknow: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has made major organisational changes, reshuffling more than 60 district pracharaks in Uttar Pradesh. The development marks Sangh's strategic recalibration even as the BJP gears up to intensify the spadework for the next year's panchayat elections and 2027 assembly polls. Sources said the changes were made recently to reinvigorate the organisational machinery while ensuring better and more efficient coordination at the ground level. District pracharaks are pivotal in mobilising cadres and aligning ideological outreach at the grassroots. RSS sources said the duty areas of at least 10 to 15 pracharaks have been changed in every prant. The Sangh recognises six prants – west UP (including Uttarakhand), Braj, Awadh, Goraksh, Kashi and Bundelkhand. A senior RSS functionary in Awadh Prant said the changes were part of a routine process which the Sangh undertakes to ramp up efficiency of its functionaries. This year, it is important in the wake of Sangh's centenary year celebrations. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of the exercise being linked to forthcoming electoral battles in Uttar Pradesh. "The ideological alignment of RSS and BJP happens ahead of any electoral contest," the RSS functionary said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [속보]'한 달만에 5cm 성장!?' 2개월치 무료증정 압도적 키성장 1위! 아이클타임 더 알아보기 Undo Analysts said the RSS and BJP are trying to strengthen their presence in UP which contributes the highest number of Lok Sabha seats (80) and holds a central place in parties' electoral ambitions. RSS's organisational activity, sources said, has become significant in UP after 2024 LS elections, in which BJP faced a setback with its tally plummeting to 33 from 62 in 2019. Sources said that the Sangh sought to keep a close watch on BJP's poll activity and lend adequate support as and when needed. RSS's organisational network, experts said, could also help the BJP overcome electoral challenges posed by the Samajwadi Party and Congress. Analysts said Sangh's nationalist narrative may particularly arm the BJP to counter the opposition's caste card – primarily the Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) narrative, which is said to have dented the BJP in 2024. The RSS rejig also reflects on the performance evaluations and response to changing ground realities. Experts said that UP's political landscape is fluid, with growing caste-based and regional assertiveness of different political groups. Deploying pracharaks who understand these nuances may help the RSS regain lost ground or consolidate gains. Replacing older or underperforming functionaries with younger, more dynamic workers is consistent with RSS's organised efforts to modernise operations and connect with newer generations. It also prepares the cadre to be more tech-savvy and communication-efficient in an era of digital outreach.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Dalit outreach: Shinde Sena joins hands with Anandraj Ambedkar ahead of civic polls
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a bid to strengthen its ranks ahead of the civic body polls, the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has forged a pre-poll alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar 's Republican Sena . Anandraj, grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and younger brother of Prakash Ambedkar-who leads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA)-may not wield as much political clout as his elder brother but retains pockets of influence within the Dalit move is being closely watched as, despite its alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena has yet to formally announce a tie-up for the civic polls. It is seen as a signal to the BJP that the Sena could upset its plans if it goes solo, with the saffron-Dalit combination proving advantageous for Shinde's party."We have faith in each other. We are both grassroots workers, and there will be no issues unlike the Maha Vikas Aghadi. We have come together with a shared mindset-our alliance is meant to benefit the people," Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said at a joint press conference with Ambedkar on Wednesday.
The Print
7 hours ago
- The Print
Hedging bets or posturing? In 1st social engineering attempt, Shinde Sena ties up with Ambedkar grandson
Analysts, however, say, Shinde's 'Bhimshakti' alliance is mere posturing at a time when the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is facing power tussles with ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its image has suffered a beating due to back-to-back controversies stirred by its leaders. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Wednesday clinched an alliance with the Republican Sena, a political outfit led by Anandraj Ambedkar, Dr B.R. Ambedkar's grandson. Mumbai: In preparation for the local body polls expected to be held across Maharashtra this year or early next year, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken a leaf out of his mentor, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's book, by getting a 'Bhimshakti' in his corner. But whether it will yield any political advantage remains to be seen. Ahead of the 2012 civic polls, the undivided Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forged an alliance with Ramdas Athavale's Republican Party of India (RPI), despite the Shiv Sena's strained past with the Dalit community. The gambit had somewhat paid off at the ballot boxes. Political commentator Hemant Desai said, 'Eknath Shinde feels like his party's image has been getting maligned, and is looking for ways to give it a boost ahead of local body polls. He also wants to show that his party has a solid existence and can bring together leaders from diverse communities. But, politically, there will be no impact of this alliance. It just helps in posturing and spinning a narrative.' In the past month, leaders from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena such as Sanjay Gaikwad, Sanjay Shirsat and Sanjay Rathod have faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour or graft. On Monday, Deputy CM Shinde also warned his party cadre to not cause him any embarrassment. The BJP, meanwhile, has taken political advantage of these controversies, distancing itself from them in trying to win the perception battle. Also read: Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic 'Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls Shinde's first attempt at social engineering Dr Sanjay Patil, researcher at Mumbai University's politics and civics department, told ThePrint, 'The local body polls are still some time away. The alliance is unlikely to bring any political gains as such. Prakash Ambedkar's name and party still has some following in parts of Maharashtra, but Anandraj Ambedkar has not developed the same kind of following. He has hardly spoken convincingly on issues or made any dent during elections.' The significance of the tie-up, however, lies in the fact that this is Eknath Shinde's first concrete attempt at social engineering, Patil said. Prakash and Anadraj Ambedkars are both grandsons of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Anandraj Ambedkar had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Amravati constituency, getting just 1.6 percent of the total votes polled. Prakash Ambedkar had contested the same election from Akola and lost too, but had clinched 23.59 percent of total votes. A tie-up with the 'legacy of blood' Post the 2012 alliance when Athavale came to the BJP-Shiv Sena fold, Athavale has remained loyal to the BJP and has been a minister of state in all three cabinets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, while announcing his party's alliance with Anandraj Ambedkar's outfit, Shinde recalled Bal Thackeray's 'Bhim Shakti-Shiv Shakti' formula, but emphasised more on Anandraj Ambedkar's legacy of being Dr BR Ambedkar's grandson. He said, 'We are two armies. One is an army that runs on the legacy of the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, while the other is an army that runs on the legacy of the blood of Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. And that's why we will get along really well.' On his part, Anandraj Ambedkar said his outfit was allying with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena unconditionally. 'We have decided to go with him unconditionally. The only condition is that Eknathrao should include Ambedkarite karyakartas in power and he has given us this word,' Ambedkar said. In 2022, Uddhav Thackeray too had looked back on his father's 'Bhimshakti-Shiv Shakti' formula by allying with Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The alliance, however, did not work out within the broader Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance comprising the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Prakash Ambedkar's party ended up contesting independently, amid allegations of the VBA being the Mahayuti's B-team, and suffered a drubbing. The Mahayuti comprises the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Shinde said, the alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the VBA did not work out within the larger MVA because 'MVA was formed for selfish reasons'. 'We have faith in each other. Our karyakartas are in sync so there should be no such problem in the Mahayuti,' he said. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Ahead of BMC polls, Fadnavis doubles down on scandal-ridden Shinde Sena MLAs but stops short of action
