August 26, 2026

‘Politically motivated, highly malicious’: India denounces UN racial discrimination committee remarks NEW DELHI: India has rejected concerns raised by a UN committee over alleged racial discrimination and rights violations by law enforcement agencies, calling references in the panel’s report “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the observations were made after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed India’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Geneva on August 11-12.The ministry said India had participated in the review in a spirit of constructive engagement and remained firmly committed to combating racial discrimination.The MEA described the exercise as a routine treaty-body review in which India participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. It said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering, noting that India had played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the convention in the 1960s.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt said the Indian delegation had highlighted the country’s constitutional safeguards, legal framework, pluralistic character, affirmative action programmes, democratic accountability and judicial remedies.Statement posted by the MEA in regards to the report“While we will respond to the Committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-Ministerial delegation, which was led by the Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations, or tendency to exceed the Convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” the MEA said.“India rejects any politically motivated highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves,” it added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

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‘Politically motivated, highly malicious’: India denounces UN racial discrimination committee remarks NEW DELHI: India has rejected concerns raised by a UN committee over alleged racial discrimination and rights violations by law enforcement agencies, calling references in the panel’s report “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the observations were made after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed India’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Geneva on August 11-12.The ministry said India had participated in the review in a spirit of constructive engagement and remained firmly committed to combating racial discrimination.The MEA described the exercise as a routine treaty-body review in which India participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. It said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering, noting that India had played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the convention in the 1960s.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt said the Indian delegation had highlighted the country’s constitutional safeguards, legal framework, pluralistic character, affirmative action programmes, democratic accountability and judicial remedies.Statement posted by the MEA in regards to the report“While we will respond to the Committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-Ministerial delegation, which was led by the Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations, or tendency to exceed the Convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” the MEA said.“India rejects any politically motivated highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves,” it added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy


'Highly malicious': India rejects with 'contempt' UN report on racial discrimination
‘Politically motivated, highly malicious’: India denounces UN racial discrimination committee remarks

NEW DELHI: India has rejected concerns raised by a UN committee over alleged racial discrimination and rights violations by law enforcement agencies, calling references in the panel’s report “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the observations were made after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed India’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Geneva on August 11-12.The ministry said India had participated in the review in a spirit of constructive engagement and remained firmly committed to combating racial discrimination.The MEA described the exercise as a routine treaty-body review in which India participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. It said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering, noting that India had played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the convention in the 1960s.

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The Nishad community finds itself at the centre of the fish row in Ayodhya ahead of 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. At a time when many Hindu devotees traditionally give up non-vegetarian food during ‘Sawan’, fish has acquired an unlikely political importance in Uttar Pradesh.The row began earlier this month with Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad’s remark that fish cooked without garlic and onion could be considered vegetarian. It escalated on August 23, when a video purportedly showing fish being prepared at a Nishad community event in Ayodhya, attended by UP Congress president Ajay Rai, surfaced on social media.But behind the sparring over what was – or was not – on Rai’s plate lies a larger electoral calculation. The Nishad vote has shifted political loyalties before, and with the BJP seeking to retain its non-Yadav OBC coalition and the opposition trying to prise open that support, the community could once again become an important factor in the 2027 contest.The ‘fish on your plate’ rowThe controversy began earlier this month when Sanjay Nishad said at a programme: “Bina lahsun-pyaz ki bani machhli shakahari hai.”The remark came during Sawan, a month when many Hindu devotees observe dietary restrictions, and quickly attracted attention because of the community he represents. Nishads have historically depended on rivers and water bodies for fishing, fish-rearing, boating and related livelihoods, making food and fishing practices part of a broader social and economic identity.Then came Ayodhya.On August 23, UP Congress president Ajay Rai travelled to Tarun, around 30 km from Ayodhya, after visiting Hanumangarhi, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and offering prayers at the Ram temple. He attended a programme organised by members of the Nishad community. A video showing fish being prepared at the venue subsequently surfaced.Sanjay Nishad said fish preparation mattered. The timing and location gave the BJP an opening.BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary described the alleged fish feast as “highly condemnable and unforgivable”, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Rai of “duplicity” for visiting a temple and then attending a fish feast during Sawan.”You saw the conduct of the Congress state president yesterday. He goes to Hanumangarhi for darshan and, after coming out, enjoys a fish feast and then shouts ‘Ram-Ram’,” Adityanath said.Rai denied eating fish and challenged the CM to produce evidence. “If he can produce any pictures, I will be ready to resign immediately,” he said.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera defended the hosts, saying they belonged to the Nishad community and had their own traditions of eating and drinking.Later, cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar entered the controversy, backing Nishad’s earlier claim and asking Congress to clarify whether the fish allegedly served at the event had been cooked with garlic and onion.”Sanjay Nishad machhli ke mahir hain, unhe zyada jaankari hai, hum thode kam hain,” Rajbhar said.The political argument, however, goes well beyond the menu at one event. The larger story is the political importance of the community that hosted it.Ajay Rai dared CM Yogi Adityanath to provide evidence. Nishads — the ‘jal kisans’The Nishads are a cluster of riverine communities whose traditional livelihoods have been closely tied to rivers, ponds and other water bodies. Community organisations have increasingly used the term ‘jal kisan’, or water farmers, to describe this relationship.Fishing, fish-rearing, boating and the sale of fish have historically been central to these communities’ economic lives. Questions over access to water bodies, fishing rights, sand mining and regulation of traditional occupations therefore have a direct political resonance.The term Nishad is also used as an umbrella for several communities and sub-castes, including Mallah, Kewat, Bind, Kashyap, Dhimar, Batham, Kahar, Manjhi and Turaha. Not all of these communities necessarily identify themselves as Nishad in the same way.Organiser of the event defended the decision to keep fish in the menu. In Uttar Pradesh, Nishads are classified among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).Political estimates put the core Nishad population at around 4.5-5 per cent of the state’s electorate. Estimates that include a wider set of related riverine communities put their combined share considerably higher.There is no recent official caste census providing a definitive figure, but the community’s electoral importance comes less from its statewide percentage than from its concentration.Nishad voters have a significant presence across the Ganga-Yamuna belt and eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Prayagraj, besides parts of Sultanpur and Fatehpur.The community is considered electorally influential in more than 160 Assembly constituencies, with around 80 seats often identified as having a particularly substantial Nishad presence.That geographical concentration explains why a community accounting for a relatively small share of the state’s electorate can command such political attention.Estimated data based on reports. Nishadraj and Ekalavya: The epic roots of identityThe Nishad political identity is also deeply connected to stories from the Hindu epics.In the Ramayana, Nishadraj Guha, the boatman-king, is described as an ally of Ram during his exile. Guha receives Ram, Sita and Lakshman and helps them cross the Ganga.The 51-foot-high statue of Lord Ram and Nishadraj at Shringverpur Dham, 40 km from Prayagraj. For the Nishad community, the story has long been invoked as a marker of their place within the Ram narrative — not as an identity created by contemporary politics, but as an older cultural association that acquired renewed political meaning during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.The community also invokes Ekalavya from the Mahabharata, who is traditionally identified as belonging to the Nishad community. His story – of a skilled archer seeking to learn from Dronacharya and ultimately giving his thumb as guru dakshina – has come to represent a different strand of Nishad memory: talent, exclusion and the struggle for recognition.The two figures capture contrasting elements of the community’s epic imagination: Nishadraj represents proximity to and loyalty towards Ram, while Ekalavya represents ability denied recognition.These narratives have subsequently been woven into the community’s assertion of a distinct historical and social identity.The Ram Janmabhoomi movementSections of the community found their cultural resonance in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.As the campaign for a Ram temple in Ayodhya gathered momentum in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Nishad organisations and leaders participated in the wider mobilisation. The story of Nishadraj Guha gave the movement an immediate cultural connection for sections of the community, while the broader call for ‘Ram Rajya’ resonated with those who saw the temple campaign as a civilisational and cultural cause.The political landscape changed sharply after BJP leader LK Advani’s Ram Rath Yatra in 1990, which transformed the temple issue into a mass political movement. The demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, further entrenched Ayodhya as a defining issue in BJP politics.Source: Centre for Study of Developing Societies Lokniti. As the BJP expanded its support among non-Yadav OBC communities, sections of the Nishad community also moved towards the party.But that support did not become a permanent political contract.From support to sense of being left behindAmong sections of Nishad political opinion, a recurring grievance emerged: the community had supported the Ram movement but did not receive a commensurate political return.The complaint has, at various points, extended to BJP leaders associated with the Ram movement, including Advani and former UP CM Kalyan Singh, with Nishad voices arguing that their support for the Ram cause did not translate into adequate representation or resolution of longstanding demands regarding representation and farming on the riverside.In the coming years, the same community that participated in the Ram movement subsequently moved towards the Samajwadi Party, created its own political organisation and entered into an alliance with the BJP.That fluidity became particularly visible in the 1990s.Phoolan Devi and politics of representationBefore the emergence of the Nishad Party, the strongest political association for sections of the community came through the social-justice politics of the Samajwadi Party.Phoolan Devi became the most recognisable symbol of that phase.A Mallah woman from Uttar Pradesh, Phoolan Devi contested the Mirzapur Lok Sabha seat on an SP ticket in 1996 and won. She retained the seat in 1999.SP has given key post to Phoolan Devi’s sister ahead of 2027 polls.Her rise gave the community an unusually prominent political figure and turned caste identity into a language of representation.Her political legacy continues to be invoked in Uttar Pradesh.Nishad Party enters equationThe next major shift came in 2016, when Sanjay Nishad founded the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal, popularly known as the Nishad Party.The party sought to consolidate riverine communities and give political expression to demands involving reservation, representation, fishing rights and livelihoods.Its first major electoral breakthrough came in an unlikely place.In the March 2018 Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll, Praveen Nishad, Sanjay Nishad’s son, contested as an SP-backed candidate and defeated the BJP.The result was politically significant because Gorakhpur had been Yogi Adityanath’s parliamentary stronghold for five consecutive terms.The defeat demonstrated that the BJP’s support among non-Yadav OBC communities could be disrupted when Nishad mobilisation combined with the SP’s wider social coalition.But the equation soon changed again.Before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Nishad Party moved into the BJP-led NDA. Praveen Nishad joined the BJP and contested the Sant Kabir Nagar Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, winning the election.The BJP-Nishad Party alliance became an important part of the BJP’s strategy to consolidate non-Yadav OBC support in eastern Uttar Pradesh.2019 and 2022: Alliance and the unfinished bargainThe BJP and Nishad Party continued their alliance into the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election.The BJP won 255 seats, while the Nishad Party won six. The NDA retained power with 273 seats in the 403-member assembly.For the BJP, the alliance helped reinforce its eastern Uttar Pradesh coalition.For Sanjay Nishad, however, being part of the government brought a different problem: once an ally enters government, its demands are increasingly judged against what it can actually secure from that government.The biggest unresolved issue remained the demand for Scheduled Caste status for sections of the Nishad community.Sanjay Nishad has repeatedly pressed the BJP government on the demand.On August 18, 2026, just months before the 2027 elections, he escalated the issue again, saying he was prepared to give up his ministerial position if necessary.His friction with the BJP had also become visible after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when he blamed BJP leaders for his son Praveen Nishad’s defeat in Sant Kabir Nagar.Praveen, who contested the seat on a BJP ticket, lost to the Samajwadi Party’s Laxmikant Pappu Nishad.The result was another reminder that a BJP-Nishad Party alliance does not necessarily translate into a uniform Nishad vote.SP and Congress try to prise open BJP’s baseThat fluidity is what the opposition is trying to exploit ahead of 2027.In March 2026, it appointed Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti as chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission. The move came alongside the BJP’s continuing alliance with the Nishad Party.The SP responded by appointing Phoolan Devi’s sister, 67-year-old Rukmini Devi, as president of the party’s Uttar Pradesh women’s wing. The appointment was seen as part of Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA — Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — outreach ahead of the 2027 election.Rukmini Devi subsequently attacked Sanjay Nishad, questioning what he had delivered for the community while being part of the government.The appointments show that the competition for the Nishad vote is not merely about alliances. It is a contest over who represents the community’s political memory.Congress, on the other hand, has a more difficult task because its organisational presence among Nishads is weaker.Its August outreach in Tarun was therefore significant. Ajay Rai’s visit to the Nishad community programme was an attempt to establish a direct connection with the community.The party’s subsequent defence of the event, that the hosts were Nishads with their own food traditions, also allowed Congress to frame the controversy around community identity and traditional livelihoods rather than solely religious conduct.For the SP and Congress, the broader argument is that the Nishad vote is not synonymous with the Nishad Party.The VIP factorThe Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), led by Bihar-based Nishad leader Mukesh Sahani, adds another layer to this contest.VIP entered Uttar Pradesh politics in the 2022 assembly election, seeking support among Nishads and other Extremely Backward Classes, particularly in Purvanchal.The party did not emerge as a major electoral force, but its campaign showed how smaller caste-based parties can complicate a close contest.VIP contested more than 100 seats, primarily in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and said its candidates polled more votes than Congress candidates in 15 constituencies, including Bairia, Bansdih, Phephna, Alapur, Jalalpur, Ghanghata, Balha, Shahganj and Kerakat.Its relationship with the BJP has been politically fluid rather than a straightforward alliance in Uttar Pradesh.Sahani has been a vocal critic of the BJP at various points. However, in neighbouring Bihar where the Nishads remain relevant across the seats in the Ganga area, his political trajectory has repeatedly shifted. VIP contested as part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, switched to the NDA for the 2020 Bihar assembly election (winning 4 seats and entering the cabinet), but was dropped from the NDA in 2022 after contesting against the BJP in UP. In last year’s Bihar polls, his party failed to secure any seat.However, in upcoming polls in UP, a few thousand votes in its favour can alter the results in close constituencies.The 2027 questionThe fish controversy may fade, but the political question it has exposed is unlikely to disappear.The BJP has the advantage of a long association with the Ram movement, an established organisational network and an alliance with the Nishad Party.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe SP is seeking to revive the community’s social-justice connection through Phoolan Devi’s political legacy and the PDA framework.Congress is attempting to build a direct relationship with Nishad voters, while smaller parties such as VIP can potentially fragment the vote.For the Nishads themselves, however, the choice is unlikely to be framed around a single issue.Their political history has moved from the epic memory of Nishadraj and Ekalavya, to participation in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, to the social-justice politics associated with Phoolan Devi, to the rise of the Nishad Party, its alliance with the BJP and subsequent friction over representation and reservation.The lesson from that history is clear: the Nishad vote has never been permanently owned by one party.In 2027, the contest will be over whether Ram and the BJP’s organisational alliance can outweigh demands for reservation, representation and livelihoods – and whether the opposition can convert those demands into votes.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPallaviNews desk journalist, digital, at The Times of India, with a focus on Indian politics. Over a decade of chasing stories, taming headlines and arguing with commas like they’re part of the opposition. Tracks elections, policy pivots, party drama and the fine print of power, where every word can tilt the narrative. Believes good journalism is clarity under pressure, ideally filed before the next breaking alert crashes in. Powered by deadlines, context, sharp edits and a steady supply of strong tea.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous Production123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

The Nishad community finds itself at the centre of the fish row in Ayodhya ahead of 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. At a time when many Hindu devotees traditionally give up non-vegetarian food during ‘Sawan’, fish has acquired an unlikely political importance in Uttar Pradesh.The row began earlier this month with Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad’s remark that fish cooked without garlic and onion could be considered vegetarian. It escalated on August 23, when a video purportedly showing fish being prepared at a Nishad community event in Ayodhya, attended by UP Congress president Ajay Rai, surfaced on social media.But behind the sparring over what was – or was not – on Rai’s plate lies a larger electoral calculation. The Nishad vote has shifted political loyalties before, and with the BJP seeking to retain its non-Yadav OBC coalition and the opposition trying to prise open that support, the community could once again become an important factor in the 2027 contest.The ‘fish on your plate’ rowThe controversy began earlier this month when Sanjay Nishad said at a programme: “Bina lahsun-pyaz ki bani machhli shakahari hai.”The remark came during Sawan, a month when many Hindu devotees observe dietary restrictions, and quickly attracted attention because of the community he represents. Nishads have historically depended on rivers and water bodies for fishing, fish-rearing, boating and related livelihoods, making food and fishing practices part of a broader social and economic identity.Then came Ayodhya.On August 23, UP Congress president Ajay Rai travelled to Tarun, around 30 km from Ayodhya, after visiting Hanumangarhi, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and offering prayers at the Ram temple. He attended a programme organised by members of the Nishad community. A video showing fish being prepared at the venue subsequently surfaced.Sanjay Nishad said fish preparation mattered. The timing and location gave the BJP an opening.BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary described the alleged fish feast as “highly condemnable and unforgivable”, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused Rai of “duplicity” for visiting a temple and then attending a fish feast during Sawan.”You saw the conduct of the Congress state president yesterday. He goes to Hanumangarhi for darshan and, after coming out, enjoys a fish feast and then shouts ‘Ram-Ram’,” Adityanath said.Rai denied eating fish and challenged the CM to produce evidence. “If he can produce any pictures, I will be ready to resign immediately,” he said.Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera defended the hosts, saying they belonged to the Nishad community and had their own traditions of eating and drinking.Later, cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar entered the controversy, backing Nishad’s earlier claim and asking Congress to clarify whether the fish allegedly served at the event had been cooked with garlic and onion.”Sanjay Nishad machhli ke mahir hain, unhe zyada jaankari hai, hum thode kam hain,” Rajbhar said.The political argument, however, goes well beyond the menu at one event. The larger story is the political importance of the community that hosted it.Ajay Rai dared CM Yogi Adityanath to provide evidence. Nishads — the ‘jal kisans’The Nishads are a cluster of riverine communities whose traditional livelihoods have been closely tied to rivers, ponds and other water bodies. Community organisations have increasingly used the term ‘jal kisan’, or water farmers, to describe this relationship.Fishing, fish-rearing, boating and the sale of fish have historically been central to these communities’ economic lives. Questions over access to water bodies, fishing rights, sand mining and regulation of traditional occupations therefore have a direct political resonance.The term Nishad is also used as an umbrella for several communities and sub-castes, including Mallah, Kewat, Bind, Kashyap, Dhimar, Batham, Kahar, Manjhi and Turaha. Not all of these communities necessarily identify themselves as Nishad in the same way.Organiser of the event defended the decision to keep fish in the menu. In Uttar Pradesh, Nishads are classified among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).Political estimates put the core Nishad population at around 4.5-5 per cent of the state’s electorate. Estimates that include a wider set of related riverine communities put their combined share considerably higher.There is no recent official caste census providing a definitive figure, but the community’s electoral importance comes less from its statewide percentage than from its concentration.Nishad voters have a significant presence across the Ganga-Yamuna belt and eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Prayagraj, besides parts of Sultanpur and Fatehpur.The community is considered electorally influential in more than 160 Assembly constituencies, with around 80 seats often identified as having a particularly substantial Nishad presence.That geographical concentration explains why a community accounting for a relatively small share of the state’s electorate can command such political attention.Estimated data based on reports. Nishadraj and Ekalavya: The epic roots of identityThe Nishad political identity is also deeply connected to stories from the Hindu epics.In the Ramayana, Nishadraj Guha, the boatman-king, is described as an ally of Ram during his exile. Guha receives Ram, Sita and Lakshman and helps them cross the Ganga.The 51-foot-high statue of Lord Ram and Nishadraj at Shringverpur Dham, 40 km from Prayagraj. For the Nishad community, the story has long been invoked as a marker of their place within the Ram narrative — not as an identity created by contemporary politics, but as an older cultural association that acquired renewed political meaning during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.The community also invokes Ekalavya from the Mahabharata, who is traditionally identified as belonging to the Nishad community. His story – of a skilled archer seeking to learn from Dronacharya and ultimately giving his thumb as guru dakshina – has come to represent a different strand of Nishad memory: talent, exclusion and the struggle for recognition.The two figures capture contrasting elements of the community’s epic imagination: Nishadraj represents proximity to and loyalty towards Ram, while Ekalavya represents ability denied recognition.These narratives have subsequently been woven into the community’s assertion of a distinct historical and social identity.The Ram Janmabhoomi movementSections of the community found their cultural resonance in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.As the campaign for a Ram temple in Ayodhya gathered momentum in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Nishad organisations and leaders participated in the wider mobilisation. The story of Nishadraj Guha gave the movement an immediate cultural connection for sections of the community, while the broader call for ‘Ram Rajya’ resonated with those who saw the temple campaign as a civilisational and cultural cause.The political landscape changed sharply after BJP leader LK Advani’s Ram Rath Yatra in 1990, which transformed the temple issue into a mass political movement. The demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, further entrenched Ayodhya as a defining issue in BJP politics.Source: Centre for Study of Developing Societies Lokniti. As the BJP expanded its support among non-Yadav OBC communities, sections of the Nishad community also moved towards the party.But that support did not become a permanent political contract.From support to sense of being left behindAmong sections of Nishad political opinion, a recurring grievance emerged: the community had supported the Ram movement but did not receive a commensurate political return.The complaint has, at various points, extended to BJP leaders associated with the Ram movement, including Advani and former UP CM Kalyan Singh, with Nishad voices arguing that their support for the Ram cause did not translate into adequate representation or resolution of longstanding demands regarding representation and farming on the riverside.In the coming years, the same community that participated in the Ram movement subsequently moved towards the Samajwadi Party, created its own political organisation and entered into an alliance with the BJP.That fluidity became particularly visible in the 1990s.Phoolan Devi and politics of representationBefore the emergence of the Nishad Party, the strongest political association for sections of the community came through the social-justice politics of the Samajwadi Party.Phoolan Devi became the most recognisable symbol of that phase.A Mallah woman from Uttar Pradesh, Phoolan Devi contested the Mirzapur Lok Sabha seat on an SP ticket in 1996 and won. She retained the seat in 1999.SP has given key post to Phoolan Devi’s sister ahead of 2027 polls.Her rise gave the community an unusually prominent political figure and turned caste identity into a language of representation.Her political legacy continues to be invoked in Uttar Pradesh.Nishad Party enters equationThe next major shift came in 2016, when Sanjay Nishad founded the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal, popularly known as the Nishad Party.The party sought to consolidate riverine communities and give political expression to demands involving reservation, representation, fishing rights and livelihoods.Its first major electoral breakthrough came in an unlikely place.In the March 2018 Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll, Praveen Nishad, Sanjay Nishad’s son, contested as an SP-backed candidate and defeated the BJP.The result was politically significant because Gorakhpur had been Yogi Adityanath’s parliamentary stronghold for five consecutive terms.The defeat demonstrated that the BJP’s support among non-Yadav OBC communities could be disrupted when Nishad mobilisation combined with the SP’s wider social coalition.But the equation soon changed again.Before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Nishad Party moved into the BJP-led NDA. Praveen Nishad joined the BJP and contested the Sant Kabir Nagar Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket, winning the election.The BJP-Nishad Party alliance became an important part of the BJP’s strategy to consolidate non-Yadav OBC support in eastern Uttar Pradesh.2019 and 2022: Alliance and the unfinished bargainThe BJP and Nishad Party continued their alliance into the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly election.The BJP won 255 seats, while the Nishad Party won six. The NDA retained power with 273 seats in the 403-member assembly.For the BJP, the alliance helped reinforce its eastern Uttar Pradesh coalition.For Sanjay Nishad, however, being part of the government brought a different problem: once an ally enters government, its demands are increasingly judged against what it can actually secure from that government.The biggest unresolved issue remained the demand for Scheduled Caste status for sections of the Nishad community.Sanjay Nishad has repeatedly pressed the BJP government on the demand.On August 18, 2026, just months before the 2027 elections, he escalated the issue again, saying he was prepared to give up his ministerial position if necessary.His friction with the BJP had also become visible after the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when he blamed BJP leaders for his son Praveen Nishad’s defeat in Sant Kabir Nagar.Praveen, who contested the seat on a BJP ticket, lost to the Samajwadi Party’s Laxmikant Pappu Nishad.The result was another reminder that a BJP-Nishad Party alliance does not necessarily translate into a uniform Nishad vote.SP and Congress try to prise open BJP’s baseThat fluidity is what the opposition is trying to exploit ahead of 2027.In March 2026, it appointed Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti as chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission. The move came alongside the BJP’s continuing alliance with the Nishad Party.The SP responded by appointing Phoolan Devi’s sister, 67-year-old Rukmini Devi, as president of the party’s Uttar Pradesh women’s wing. The appointment was seen as part of Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA — Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — outreach ahead of the 2027 election.Rukmini Devi subsequently attacked Sanjay Nishad, questioning what he had delivered for the community while being part of the government.The appointments show that the competition for the Nishad vote is not merely about alliances. It is a contest over who represents the community’s political memory.Congress, on the other hand, has a more difficult task because its organisational presence among Nishads is weaker.Its August outreach in Tarun was therefore significant. Ajay Rai’s visit to the Nishad community programme was an attempt to establish a direct connection with the community.The party’s subsequent defence of the event, that the hosts were Nishads with their own food traditions, also allowed Congress to frame the controversy around community identity and traditional livelihoods rather than solely religious conduct.For the SP and Congress, the broader argument is that the Nishad vote is not synonymous with the Nishad Party.The VIP factorThe Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), led by Bihar-based Nishad leader Mukesh Sahani, adds another layer to this contest.VIP entered Uttar Pradesh politics in the 2022 assembly election, seeking support among Nishads and other Extremely Backward Classes, particularly in Purvanchal.The party did not emerge as a major electoral force, but its campaign showed how smaller caste-based parties can complicate a close contest.VIP contested more than 100 seats, primarily in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and said its candidates polled more votes than Congress candidates in 15 constituencies, including Bairia, Bansdih, Phephna, Alapur, Jalalpur, Ghanghata, Balha, Shahganj and Kerakat.Its relationship with the BJP has been politically fluid rather than a straightforward alliance in Uttar Pradesh.Sahani has been a vocal critic of the BJP at various points. However, in neighbouring Bihar where the Nishads remain relevant across the seats in the Ganga area, his political trajectory has repeatedly shifted. VIP contested as part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, switched to the NDA for the 2020 Bihar assembly election (winning 4 seats and entering the cabinet), but was dropped from the NDA in 2022 after contesting against the BJP in UP. In last year’s Bihar polls, his party failed to secure any seat.However, in upcoming polls in UP, a few thousand votes in its favour can alter the results in close constituencies.The 2027 questionThe fish controversy may fade, but the political question it has exposed is unlikely to disappear.The BJP has the advantage of a long association with the Ram movement, an established organisational network and an alliance with the Nishad Party.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe SP is seeking to revive the community’s social-justice connection through Phoolan Devi’s political legacy and the PDA framework.Congress is attempting to build a direct relationship with Nishad voters, while smaller parties such as VIP can potentially fragment the vote.For the Nishads themselves, however, the choice is unlikely to be framed around a single issue.Their political history has moved from the epic memory of Nishadraj and Ekalavya, to participation in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, to the social-justice politics associated with Phoolan Devi, to the rise of the Nishad Party, its alliance with the BJP and subsequent friction over representation and reservation.The lesson from that history is clear: the Nishad vote has never been permanently owned by one party.In 2027, the contest will be over whether Ram and the BJP’s organisational alliance can outweigh demands for reservation, representation and livelihoods – and whether the opposition can convert those demands into votes.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPallaviNews desk journalist, digital, at The Times of India, with a focus on Indian politics. Over a decade of chasing stories, taming headlines and arguing with commas like they’re part of the opposition. Tracks elections, policy pivots, party drama and the fine print of power, where every word can tilt the narrative. Believes good journalism is clarity under pressure, ideally filed before the next breaking alert crashes in. Powered by deadlines, context, sharp edits and a steady supply of strong tea.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos105 Indians Missing In Nepal Flash Floods; Tibet-Side Surge Leaves Eight Dead | Watch‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? 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Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

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‘Politically motivated, highly malicious’: India denounces UN racial discrimination committee remarks NEW DELHI: India has rejected concerns raised by a UN committee over alleged racial discrimination and rights violations by law enforcement agencies, calling references in the panel’s report “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the observations were made after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed India’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Geneva on August 11-12.The ministry said India had participated in the review in a spirit of constructive engagement and remained firmly committed to combating racial discrimination.The MEA described the exercise as a routine treaty-body review in which India participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. It said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering, noting that India had played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the convention in the 1960s.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt said the Indian delegation had highlighted the country’s constitutional safeguards, legal framework, pluralistic character, affirmative action programmes, democratic accountability and judicial remedies.Statement posted by the MEA in regards to the report“While we will respond to the Committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-Ministerial delegation, which was led by the Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations, or tendency to exceed the Convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” the MEA said.“India rejects any politically motivated highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves,” it added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

‘Politically motivated, highly malicious’: India denounces UN racial discrimination committee remarks NEW DELHI: India has rejected concerns raised by a UN committee over alleged racial discrimination and rights violations by law enforcement agencies, calling references in the panel’s report “politically motivated” and “highly malicious”.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the observations were made after the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reviewed India’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) in Geneva on August 11-12.The ministry said India had participated in the review in a spirit of constructive engagement and remained firmly committed to combating racial discrimination.The MEA described the exercise as a routine treaty-body review in which India participated in the spirit of constructive engagement. It said India’s commitment to combating racial discrimination remained unwavering, noting that India had played a leading role in negotiating and drafting the convention in the 1960s.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt said the Indian delegation had highlighted the country’s constitutional safeguards, legal framework, pluralistic character, affirmative action programmes, democratic accountability and judicial remedies.Statement posted by the MEA in regards to the report“While we will respond to the Committee’s observations through the established procedure, the inter-Ministerial delegation, which was led by the Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta, had already rejected the sweeping generalisations, unsubstantiated allegations, or tendency to exceed the Convention’s mandate during the review meeting,” the MEA said.“India rejects any politically motivated highly malicious references in the report with all the contempt that it deserves,” it added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentKangana RanautMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

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The impact of the increased flow was expected to reach the barrage after around 8 pm on Wednesday. LUCKNOW: The flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday is unlikely to cause major flooding in Uttar Pradesh, with the Gandak expected to remain below the danger level as the increased flow passes along Maharajganj and Kushinagar before moving into Bihar, a senior irrigation department official said.Speaking to TOI, Vikash Kumar Singh, Chief Engineer-II (Gandak), irrigation department, said there was no immediate reason to panic, though the local district administration and irrigation authorities had been put on alert and officials were deployed at vulnerable sites.“Last year, we successfully passed a discharge of around six lakh cusecs. There is no need to panic this time,” Singh said.Singh said the surge would reach the Valmiki Barrage near the Nepal-Bihar border and subsequently pass along Maharajganj and Kushinagar before proceeding into Bihar. Deoria will not fall in the path of this floodwater, he clarified.Advisory by Nepal tourism boardAccording to Singh, a sharp rise was recorded in the Trishuli river, a tributary of the Gandak, on Wednesday morning. At one stage, the water level was rising at around 20 cm per minute. However, the river subsequently began falling rapidly.The impact of the increased flow was expected to reach the barrage after around 8 pm on Wednesday. Singh said mountain rivers have steep gradients, resulting in both rapid rises and falls.As a precaution, canals have temporarily been closed because flash floods from the hills carry large quantities of silt. They will be reopened once the high-silt flow passes.Singh said officials currently do not expect the Gandak to cross the danger level or spill into agricultural fields in Uttar Pradesh. The affected river stretch along UP is roughly 30 km before the flow continues into Bihar.“There is no need to panic. Everyone is prepared, and all our officials are working on the ground,” Singh said.Meanwhile, at least 105 Indian nationals were among hundreds of tourists reported missing following the flash flood in Nepal.According to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board on Wednesday, 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, were reported missing from the affected areas. The board said the information was preliminary and was being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe list includes 59 Indians travelling with Samrat Tours & Travels and another 46 Indians with Leaf Holiday, taking the number of Indians identified in the preliminary missing list to 105. The nationalities of several other foreign travellers were yet to be confirmed.The Nepal Tourism Board said the flash flood struck the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa at around 8.30 am on Wednesday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArvind ChauhanWhen he’s not chasing stories, you’ll likely find him exploring food lanes, indulging in mutton delicacies and sundaes. He is a journalist with a can-do spirit and a flair for compelling storytelling. From railways and aviation to defence, infrastructure, social development and various other diverse beats, his reportage reflects depth. His work has earned him the Times Scribe Award four times.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? 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The impact of the increased flow was expected to reach the barrage after around 8 pm on Wednesday. LUCKNOW: The flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday is unlikely to cause major flooding in Uttar Pradesh, with the Gandak expected to remain below the danger level as the increased flow passes along Maharajganj and Kushinagar before moving into Bihar, a senior irrigation department official said.Speaking to TOI, Vikash Kumar Singh, Chief Engineer-II (Gandak), irrigation department, said there was no immediate reason to panic, though the local district administration and irrigation authorities had been put on alert and officials were deployed at vulnerable sites.“Last year, we successfully passed a discharge of around six lakh cusecs. There is no need to panic this time,” Singh said.Singh said the surge would reach the Valmiki Barrage near the Nepal-Bihar border and subsequently pass along Maharajganj and Kushinagar before proceeding into Bihar. Deoria will not fall in the path of this floodwater, he clarified.Advisory by Nepal tourism boardAccording to Singh, a sharp rise was recorded in the Trishuli river, a tributary of the Gandak, on Wednesday morning. At one stage, the water level was rising at around 20 cm per minute. However, the river subsequently began falling rapidly.The impact of the increased flow was expected to reach the barrage after around 8 pm on Wednesday. Singh said mountain rivers have steep gradients, resulting in both rapid rises and falls.As a precaution, canals have temporarily been closed because flash floods from the hills carry large quantities of silt. They will be reopened once the high-silt flow passes.Singh said officials currently do not expect the Gandak to cross the danger level or spill into agricultural fields in Uttar Pradesh. The affected river stretch along UP is roughly 30 km before the flow continues into Bihar.“There is no need to panic. Everyone is prepared, and all our officials are working on the ground,” Singh said.Meanwhile, at least 105 Indian nationals were among hundreds of tourists reported missing following the flash flood in Nepal.According to a preliminary situation update issued by the Nepal Tourism Board on Wednesday, 384 travellers, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, were reported missing from the affected areas. The board said the information was preliminary and was being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe list includes 59 Indians travelling with Samrat Tours & Travels and another 46 Indians with Leaf Holiday, taking the number of Indians identified in the preliminary missing list to 105. The nationalities of several other foreign travellers were yet to be confirmed.The Nepal Tourism Board said the flash flood struck the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa at around 8.30 am on Wednesday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArvind ChauhanWhen he’s not chasing stories, you’ll likely find him exploring food lanes, indulging in mutton delicacies and sundaes. He is a journalist with a can-do spirit and a flair for compelling storytelling. From railways and aviation to defence, infrastructure, social development and various other diverse beats, his reportage reflects depth. His work has earned him the Times Scribe Award four times.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? 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PM Modi added that India was prepared to support Nepal as the country dealt with the disaster. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed condolences over the loss of lives in devastating floods in Nepal and offered India’s assistance for rescue and relief efforts.“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal,” PM Modi wrote on X. “The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.”PM Modi added that India was prepared to support Nepal as the country dealt with the disaster. “India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe floods swept through northern Nepal on Wednesday morning after the Bhote Koshi River surged, reportedly from the direction of Tibet. Timure in Rasuwa district and nearby Syafrubesi suffered extensive damage, with vehicles, goods and other property washed away.Nepal authorities placed several downstream districts on high alert and urged people living near river banks to take precautions.The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been deployed for rescue operations, while army helicopters have been sent to affected areas. Details of the overall damage are still being assessed.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentDelhi Gurgaon RainMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

PM Modi added that India was prepared to support Nepal as the country dealt with the disaster. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed condolences over the loss of lives in devastating floods in Nepal and offered India’s assistance for rescue and relief efforts.“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah and conveyed condolences on the loss of lives due to the floods in Nepal,” PM Modi wrote on X. “The people of India stand in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in Nepal at this difficult time.”PM Modi added that India was prepared to support Nepal as the country dealt with the disaster. “India is ready to provide all possible humanitarian assistance to Nepal. Our teams are coordinating closely on rescue and relief efforts,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe floods swept through northern Nepal on Wednesday morning after the Bhote Koshi River surged, reportedly from the direction of Tibet. Timure in Rasuwa district and nearby Syafrubesi suffered extensive damage, with vehicles, goods and other property washed away.Nepal authorities placed several downstream districts on high alert and urged people living near river banks to take precautions.The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been deployed for rescue operations, while army helicopters have been sent to affected areas. Details of the overall damage are still being assessed.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVivek DubeyA digital news desk journalist at The Times of India with over two years of experience. Closely tracks foreign affairs and international politics. Fondness for precise language and clever headlines. When not editing news, he is usually refining a turn of phrase.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Big Reveal’ Or Big Scam? August 25 Insta Account Make Hype Sparks ₹8.5 Crore Scam Row’Hijab On Heads, Not Minds’: Owaisi Calls Allahabad High Court Ruling ‘Attack On Islam’‘Do We Need A 4th-Party Audit?’: PM Modi Raps Secretaries, Flags Quality Issues In Public ProjectsAhmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Cost Revised To Rs 2 Lakh Crore, Nearly 2x Of Original EstimateGovt Seeks 2 Years To Frame OBC Creamy Layer Criteria For PSU, Private Staff KidsPakistan Tried Chinese Satellites For Op Sindoor Evidence But Failed, Says Ex-CDS Anil ChauhanPak’s Nuke Storage Area Kirana Hills Hit In Op Sindoor? Ex-cds Anil Chauhan Reveals Shocking DetailsBihar BPSC Protest Explodes In Patna As Students Break Barricades, Police Use Water Cannons | WatchIndia Opens DRDO Missile Technologies To Defence Firms In Major Push For Indigenous ProductionXi-Modi Meeting In Delhi? China Prepares Massive Delegation As India-China Ties Show Fresh Thaw123PhotostoriesRaksha Bandhan 2026: 10 beautiful mehendi designs to elevate your Rakhi lookTired of lemons going dry or mouldy? Here’s how to store them the right wayFrom washing dishes for Rs 1,800 to being asked to return to work after a miscarriage and later being fired after pregnancy: When Smriti Irani opened up about her struggles5 jewellery gifts your sister will love showing off this Raksha BandhanWhat is skin cycling: Trend or science?What happens when you place tissue paper in an electric sandwich maker: 3 smart ways to clean itRaksha Bandhan 2026: Gift ideas for your sibling based on their birth numberPut aluminium foil in your freezer: The surprisingly useful kitchen hack people swear byFrom denying ex-GF Himanshi Khurana’s conversion allegations and calling her a ‘Fame Digger’ to referring to Paras Chhabra as a ‘fat Pig’: Asim Riaz hits backThese idols are often said to be unsuitable for a home temple, here’s what Hindu traditions and Vastu actually say123Hot PicksSchool holidays todayBank holiday todayBSE holiday todayKerala name changeICSI CS june resultNEET UG 2026Sridhar VembuVenkata Narasamamba VasamsettyNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Woman Deportation CaseSuresh GowdaHyderabad AccidentIIT Delhi Student DeathBihar Dolphin NewsMumbai Airport DemolitionRam RahimDelhi Women AccidentDelhi Gurgaon RainMaharashtra Hill Tragedy

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