Latest news with #non-Brahmin
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Residents ban entry of priests in Bihar village to protest Itawah Kathavachak assault incident
PATNA: Row over assault and misbehaviour with a non-Brahmin Kathavachak in Itawah district of Uttar Pradesh have reached poll-bound Bihar, too. Residents of Tikulia village in East Champaran district on June 30 imposed restrictions on the entry of Brahmins, especially priests following assault and misbehaviour with a non-Brahmin Kathavachak in Itawah district of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh on June 21. Residents put up banners on the entrance gate of the village, restricting the movement of Brahmins, especially priests. They also threatened to impose a penalty on anybody who dared to defy the ban order and perform puja. Electric pillars have also been painted with a similar ban order. Dharmendra Kumar, a local resident, said that a unanimous decision to impose ban on the entry of priests was taken at a meeting. 'We are protesting against those priests who don't have any knowledge of Vedas and 'dharma shashtras'. Yet they were doing the job of priests. Several priests have been found consuming alcohol, which can not be justified,' he added. The village under Adapur police station limits is dominated by people from the Yadav caste, which comes under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category. The priests come from nearby villages to perform puja and other religious rituals request of local residents. Another resident, Janardan Yadav, said that it hurt the sentiments of people when they came to know about Mukut Mani Singh Yadav, a kathavachak, being assaulted by residents in Itawa district of Uttar Pradesh recently, for being a non-Brahmin. 'Mukut Mani Yadav has been doing 'Kathavachan' for the past several years. But it never happened that he had to face a protest for being a non-Brahmin. But it happened in Itawa recently under Yogi Adityanath's regime. Similar incidents will come to light in days to come', he asserted. Dharmaveer Choudhary, Station House Officer (SHO) of Adapur police station, said that the posters and banners erected at the village have been removed. Police have identified one Sandeep Yadav, a Youtuber, behind the entire episode. Legal action will be initiated against him soon, he added. He also said that patrolling has been intensified in the village as a precautionary measure. 'We are keeping a close vigil on activities of anti-social elements who may try to vitiate the atmosphere in the village,' SHO Choudhary said.
NDTV
30-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"There Are Kathavachaks Who Charge Rs 50 Lakh": Akhilesh Yadav Jabs Dhirendra Shastri
Lucknow: Amid an ongoing controversy over the assault on a non-Brahmin ' kathavachak ' (religious storyteller) in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a jibe at religious leader Acharya Dhirendra Shastri and said there are many storytellers who charge Rs 50 lakh. "Many kathavachaks charge Rs 50 lakh for an event. Can anyone afford Dhirendra Shastri for a katha (religious ceremony) at their residence? He takes the money under the table," he told reporters in Hindi. Mr Yadav said he doesn't know how much Mr Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, charges for storytelling, but claimed "it is not free". There was no immediate response from Mr Shastri. 'Kathavachak' Row In UP Akhilesh Yadav's charge comes days after two Bhagwat Katha preachers, Mukut Mani Yadav, and his aide, Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and humiliated in a village in Etawah. The incident on June 22 allegedly took place when it was found that they belonged to the Yadav caste. The incident triggered widespread protests in the village and led to the arrest of four accused -- Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey -- all residents of the village. Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had shared a video of the incident, which showed the accused purportedly saying, "You are getting punished for coming to the village of Brahmins." He has attacked the ruling BJP over the alleged assault and said the incident was part of a larger conspiracy to divide Uttar Pradesh along caste lines by bringing in "planted elements" from neighbouring states.
News18
30-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Many Kathavachaks Charge Rs 50 Lakh': Akhilesh Yadav Takes Jibe At Dhirendra Shastri
Last Updated: Akhilesh Yadav criticized Dhirendra Shastri amid controversy over the assault on non-Brahmin preachers in Etawah, claiming many kathavachaks charge Rs 50 lakh for events. Following the ongoing controversy over the assault on a non-Brahmin 'kathavachak' (religious storyteller) in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a jibe at religious leader Acharya Dhirendra Shastri, saying that there are many storytellers who charge Rs 50 lakh. The SP Chief said he doesn't know how much Dhirendra Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Baba, charges for storytelling, but claimed 'it is not free". 'Many kathavachaks charge Rs 50 lakh for an event. Can anyone afford Dhirendra Shastri for a katha (religious ceremony) at their residence? He takes the money under the table," Yadav told reporters in Hindi. However, there was no immediate response from Dhirendra Shastri. This comes days after two Bhagwat Katha preachers identified as Mukut Mani Yadav and his aide, Sant Singh Yadav, were allegedly tonsured and humiliated in a village in Etawah. The June 22 incident allegedly took place after it was found that the preachers belonged to the Yadav caste. The incident caused widespread protests in the village, leading to the arrest of four accused — Ashish Tiwari, Uttam Kumar Awasthi, Nikki Awasthi and Manu Dubey — all residents of the village. Attacking the ruling BJP over the alleged assault, Yadav said that the incident was part of a larger conspiracy to divide Uttar Pradesh along caste lines by bringing in 'planted elements" from neighbouring states. First Published: June 30, 2025, 11:59 IST
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- The Hindu
‘Caste-based assault': U.P. police move case from Etawah to Jhansi
The Uttar Pradesh police on Friday (June 27, 2025) transferred the probe into two cases related to the alleged caste-based assault and tonsuring of a non-Brahmin preacher and his aide from Etawah to Jhansi, citing 'sensitivity' of the matter. The development comes a day after a violent faceoff between a group of protesters, who demanded that the case against the kathavachak (preacher) and his aide be taken back . Additional Director General of Police (Kanpur Zone) Alok Singh ordered the transfer of the cases. 'In view of the sensitivity of the incident related to Police Station Bakewar, Etawah, investigations are transferred by the Additional Director General of Police, Kanpur Zone, Kanpur to Jhansi Range, Jhansi with immediate effect,' the police posted on X.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Etawah incident ploy to divide UP along caste lines: Akhilesh
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the recent assault on a non-Brahmin katha vachak and his team in Etawah. He termed the incident part of a larger conspiracy to divide the state along caste lines. "The BJP is deploying its 'planted people' with strategic surnames from neighbouring states to carry out its infiltrative politics and disturb social harmony in the state. But the people of Uttar Pradesh are aware of the truth. Society here will not be divided by the actions of a few negative elements — it will emerge even stronger," he said. Questioning the BJP central leadership's 'lack of trust' in its UP unit, the former CM said: "Is there not even one BJP leader in UP whom those sitting in Delhi can trust? Is that why people from outside are being brought in to stage conspiracies and disrupt peace here?" Further aiming at the Yogi Adityanath govt, the former chief minister accused the BJP of opening the state's borders to "anarchic elements" who, he claimed, enter Uttar Pradesh, disturb peace, and leave unchallenged. Referring to the assault on the katha vachak and his team, including a visually impaired dholak player, Yadav said, "A handful of dominance-obsessed individuals didn't even spare the artist who 'sees the world through rhythm'. By snatching his dholak and levelling baseless accusations, such people have lost the sympathy of even their own community." He condemned the attackers as "inhuman and un-Indian", saying that those who truly revere India's cultural heritage are always compassionate and kind-hearted. Rallying support under the banner of PDA- his party's inclusive alliance for Pichhde (backward classes), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities) - Yadav said the incident has united marginalised communities. "
