LUCKNOW: A woman allegedly stormed into a power house in Vikas Nagar and assaulted electricity department employees after her house reportedly faced power disconnection, triggering chaos inside the substation premises. A video of the incident has surfaced, showing the woman slapping staff members, while a youth accompanying her also allegedly joined in the assault.

The incident occurred on February 18 at the Sector-14 power house in the Vikas Nagar locality of Lucknow. According to officials, the woman, a resident of house number 14/115 in Sector-14, had called the control room around 2.10 pm complaining that electricity was not being supplied to her residence. Power house staff asked her to provide the connection number and details regarding payment of dues. Officials said that when asked for the information, the woman allegedly became agitated and abruptly disconnected the call. Shortly thereafter, she reportedly arrived at the power house along with a youth. Eyewitnesses said she entered the premises and began abusing electricity employee Anoop Kumar. She allegedly threatened staff with dire consequences and tore official documents kept inside the control room. When another employee attempted to record the commotion on his mobile phone, the woman and the accompanying youth allegedly snatched the device and assaulted him. Electricity worker Harish Yadav was reportedly slapped and strangled during the scuffle. Other staff members, including Akash Kannaujia and Rajneesh Yadav, also sustained minor injuries while trying to defuse the situation. The sudden attack led to panic at the substation, with employees seen running for safety. Police were alerted through Dial-112. Junior Engineer Sunil Kumar Verma stated that he was not present at the substation at the time of the incident but rushed to the spot upon receiving the information. A formal complaint has been filed at Vikas Nagar police station. Station house officer, Vikas Nagar, Alok Kumar Singh confirmed that an FIR has been registered on the complaint of Sunil against the woman, identified as Nidhi Sharma, and an unidentified youth. Further investigation is underway. The charges against Nidhi include BNS 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 121 (1) (causing hurt to a public servant), 351 (criminal intimidation), and others.

In a heartwarming moment amid the high-pressure T20 World Cup 2026, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya ensured his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma’s 25th birthday was truly unforgettable, hosting an intimate cake-cutting ceremony at the team hotel in Ahmedabad on Thursday, February 19. The celebration, which took place just days before India’s crucial Super 8 encounter against South Africa, offered a rare glimpse into the personal life of the star cricketer and has since gone viral across social media platforms .

Mahieka Sharma’s birthday celebration: Cake, candles and romance

A video from the private birthday celebration has now surfaced on social media, capturing the couple’s joyful evening at the team hotel. In the clip, Mahieka can be seen cutting her birthday cake while Hardik stands beside her, cheering her on with evident affection. The model looked stunning in an orange-and-pink outfit, perfectly complementing Pandya, who kept it stylish in a pink shirt .

After cutting the cake, Mahieka sweetly fed a piece to Hardik as others in attendance sang ‘Happy Birthday’ for her. The venue was beautifully decorated with red heart-shaped balloons and roses, adding a romantic touch to the celebration that took place shortly after India’s final group stage match against the Netherlands.

Here’s the video:

Hardik Pandya celebrates his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma’s birthday at the team hotel in Ahmedabad#HardikPandya #MahiekaSharma pic.twitter.com/tgBiGWvtj3

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 20, 2026

Ishan Kishan joins Mahieka Sharma’s birthday bash

The birthday celebration wasn’t just limited to the couple. Several Indian team members joined in to make Mahieka’s day special, creating memorable moments of camaraderie. Opening batter Abhishek Sharma’s sister, Komal Sharma, was seen dancing with Team India star Ishan Kishan during the celebrations at the team hotel in Ahmedabad .

A video showing Ishan Kishan and Komal Sharma dancing and vibing to music has also captured fans’ attention. The left-handed batter showcased his dance moves while dressed in classy all-black attire, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma’s sister Komal Sharma dancing together at Mahieka Sharma’s birthday 🔥

Loving this brother sister duo 😅❤️ #IshanKishan pic.twitter.com/6W9WXeaYax

— Ayush Cricket (@AyushCricket32) February 20, 2026

Also READ: Hardik Pandya’s romantic birthday wish for girlfriend Mahieka Sharma breaks the internet

Hardik’s performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026

Pandya’s romantic gestures have been complemented by stellar performances in the T20 World Cup 2026. He recently won the Player of the Match award against Namibia, scoring 52 runs and claiming two wickets to help India secure their place in the Super 8 stage with a perfect group-stage record .

Against the Netherlands, Pandya contributed a crucial 30 off 21 balls with three sixes at the Narendra Modi Stadium, helping India post a formidable total of 193 for 6. He also picked up a wicket in that match .

So far in the tournament, Hardik has made vital contributions for the team, scoring 87 runs from four games at a strike rate of 155.53 and claiming five wickets at an average of 22.20 and an economy rate of 7.92.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 – R Ashwin reflects on India’s form, highlights bright signs before Super 8

Union home minister Amit Shah (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday trained his guns on Congress over its years in power in Assam, blaming the party for infiltration and alleging that it had “left our borders open to infiltrators” in what he described as an “attempt to alter the demographics” of the state. He also drew a contrast with the current BJP government under chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, praising his “work to clear lakhs of acres of land occupied by infiltrators.”Addressing a gathering in poll-bound Assam, Shah strongly criticised the Congress’s record, saying, “Assam was beset by two problems: infiltrators were usurping the rights of the Assamese… These Congress governments left our borders open to infiltrators. Infiltrators continued to enter Assam. An attempt was made to alter the demographics of Assam by snatching away the jobs of Assam’s youth, the food grains of the poor, and the land of the villages.”Shah further praised the Sarma-led government, stating, “In the second five years, our CM Himanta Biswa Sarma worked to clear lakhs of acres of land occupied by infiltrators and remove them. Now, elections are coming for the third time. Form the BJP government here once again. I promise you that we will send back every single infiltrator who entered during the Congress regime.”He also highlighted infrastructure development under the BJP, saying, “Congress ruled for years, but it did nothing for the development of Assam. What Congress could not do in fifty years, we did in ten years. In the last five years, 14 kilometres of road have been built in Assam every day… Almost hundreds of bridges were built, including four major new bridges.”Notably, CM Himanta Sarma was previously part of the Congress government in Assam. After strained relations with the party, he joined the BJP in 2015 and later became chief minister, succeeding his BJP colleague Sarbananda Sonowal.Meanwhile, Shah also launched the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme in Assam, which will cover 1,954 border villages across 15 states and two Union Territories. The launch was held in Cachar district.Earlier in the day, the Union home minister arrived in the poll-bound state on a two-day visit to launch border infrastructure projects and address public gatherings.

(Photo credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: BJP-led central government on Friday slammed Congress and trained guns on leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after members of the party’s youth wing staged a shirtless “despicable act” at the ongoing AI Summit.These remarks came after around 10 Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers were detained after they briefly raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside Bharat Mandapam’s Exhibition Hall No. 5, police said.The “topless” protest triggered a political war of words, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of orchestrating the disruption.

‘Topless, brainless, shameless’

BJP MP Sambit Patra said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party are traitors of the highest order. The nation’s biggest traitors. Wherever the country progresses, wherever happiness prevails, they will surely spoil it. These are traitors…I have only three words for Congress: topless, brainless, shameless.”“Today, they went topless, brainless. Congress doesn’t have that much wisdom that this AI summit that is going on is not a BJP summit. This is an AI summit of the entire world,” he said.“The Gen-Z will never forgive the Congress Party. I request the Gen-Z to google Nehru, Edwina, and snake. You will see Pandit Nehru laughing calling India a country of snake charmers in front of Edwina Mountbatten and the Britishers. Rahul Gandhi today did exactly what Nehru did then…” he added.

‘Sabotaging India’s global image’

BJP IT department head Amit Malviya also criticised the protest, saying, “At a time when India is hosting a prestigious global AI Summit, showcasing its innovation and leadership in technology, the Congress party chose disruption over dignity.”He alleged that the act was “clearly designed to embarrass India on the world stage” and added, “Political opposition is a democratic right, but sabotaging India’s global image is not… India deserves better.”In another post, Malviya said, “Narsimha Yadav, one of the main organisers of today’s naked protest at the AI Summit, has pictures with Rahul Gandhi.” “This should leave no doubt that the disruption was not incidental, it was orchestrated. Such theatrics on an international stage only damage India’s image and undermine the very platform meant to showcase the country’s technological leadership. Political disagreements are part of democracy. Embarrassing India before the world is not,” he addedA photograph circulating on social media shows Rahul Gandhi walking alongside Narsimha Yadav, who is alleged to have organised the protest.

‘Congress is an anti-India party’

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also hit out at the party saying, “Congress Party has committed an anti-national act. This was the World AI Summit, led by India. It wasn’t a personal political forum. Just as an anti-national person feels uncomfortable, irritated, and jealous of the country’s prestige, the Gandhi-Vadra family instructed their Congress workers in the same way and committed this anti-national act...”In another post on X, he said Congress workers stormed the venue and raised “objectionable slogans on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi.” He further demanded that “Rahul Gandhi, Congress and Gandhi-Vadra family should apologise to the country and its youth.”

Congress arrogance & frustration on display

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to “humiliate India.” In a post on X, he wrote, “This is CONGRESS ARROGANCE & FRUSTRATION on display! So, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, humiliating India to target the Government is your idea of opposition!”“While you want to CHOKE India’s development by peddling lies about the recent trade deals, your foot soldiers are marching shirtless at the prestigious AI Summit, attempting to embarrass 140 crore Indians globally. This disruption strategy only exposes your and your party’s lack of vision for India,” he added.

‘Congress party chose the path of disruption’

Highlighting the same sentiment against the Congress party defence minister Rajnath Singh said, “While the entire world was watching India host the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and witnessing our growing global leadership in the fields of technology and innovation, the Congress party chose the path of disrupting the event instead of enhancing the nation’s honour.”“The shameful manner in which Youth Congress workers created a ruckus at the venue by indulging in inappropriate behaviour is not only unfortunate but also an attempt to tarnish India’s reputation on the international stage…” he added.

‘Despicable act’

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Today, the youth wing of the Congress party attempted a shameful incident at Bharat Mandapam. An attempt has been made to tarnish India’s image globally, and we condemn it… Strict action should be taken against those behind this.”Union minister Bhupender Yadav termed the protest “Absolute shamelessness from Congress!” and added, “At a time Bharat is taking strides positioning itself as a global technology powerhouse, Congress is going all out to embarrass the country. This is not political opposition, this is an attempt at sabotaging India’s global image. Despicable.”

What happened at the event?

The protesters had marched inside the venue wearing or holding white T-shirts bearing images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, along with slogans such as “India-US Trade Deal”, “Epstein Files” and “PM is compromised,” leading to heated exchanges with some attendees.In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress defended the protest, saying its workers were raising their voice against a “compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit.”“Indian Youth Congress workers raised their voice and protested against the compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the AI Summit,” the organisation said in an official post.“Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased,” it added.“The truth cannot be hidden behind the glittering stage of the AI Summit. When corporate interests are placed above the nation’s welfare and there is visible softness in foreign policy, protest becomes a duty,” the organisation said in a separate post.“That is why the fearless workers of the Indian Youth Congress arrived at Bharat Mandapam.. so that a voice can be raised against the “Compromised PM” and the Modi government is forced to answer for the compromises being made on the country’s honour!” it added.

Oman captain Jatinder Singh exuded confidence ahead of his side’s final group-stage clash against Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Speaking to ICC, Singh said, “It is the best time to crush” the struggling Australian side. The 2021 T20 World Cup champions, Australia, had been tipped as favourites before the tournament but have struggled to find form. After a narrow victory over Ireland in their opening match, the Mitchell Marsh-led team suffered back-to-back defeats, losing to Zimbabwe by 23 runs and co-host Sri Lanka by eight wickets. These results have already ruled them out of the Super 8 stage.

Oman, too, have been eliminated from the tournament and are yet to register a win. But Singh stressed that T20 cricket is all about momentum and making the most of key moments, which his team hopes to capitalise on against a faltering Australian side. “It is an opportunity. And our boys are looking forward to it. Because T20, it’s a game of momentum and the moments. If you, I think, play those moments right, you can do anything on that particular day. So Australia is not doing well at the moment,” Singh said. Despite their early exit, Singh emphasised that the Omani squad remains upbeat and determined to leave a mark in their last game. “Even they are also out of the tournament. So the mood in the camp is that the boys are really positive because we tried to play better cricket, but unfortunately, things were not in our favour. But I believe boys are looking forward to the next game against Australia and make a mark,” he added. Australia have now won just one of their three group matches and are already out of contention for the Super 8s.

NEW DELHI: Hours after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the organisation and global stature of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Youth Congress workers staged a shirtless protest at the venue on Friday against the India-US trade deal, forcing security personnel to intervene on the summit’s final day.According to officials, several Youth Congress members removed their shirts and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam before being swiftly detained and taken away to prevent disruption of the high-profile international event attended by government officials, industry leaders and foreign delegates.

The protesters were swiftly detained and taken away from the venue to prevent disruption of the high-profile international event attended by government officials, industry leaders and foreign delegates.Interestingly, this comes just hours after Congress MP heaped praises for the AI Summit, claiming that the event was organised “extremely well.”While talking to reporters, Thiruvananthapuram MP said, “These first couple of days have gone extremely well. There have been some glitches, but these things happen in a large event.”“What has been impressive is the attendance of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and world leaders, and they’ve come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in AI development, where the impact upon society would be the Principle. Preoccupation in India has clearly led the drive in this area,” Tharoor said.“As far as the French Rafale is concerned, parts of it are being manufactured in India, and that is a very important aspect of the deal because it is part of strengthening our defence, but also increasing our self-reliance in the defence sector. Defence is important for India not because we want to go to war, but because we don’t want others to think that we are so weak that they can be tempted to go to war. It is a defensive defence literally, and I support the government on that,” He further said.This is not the first time Shashi Tharoor has taken a contrasting stance from the party and commended the government.After India launched Operation Sindoor after Pahalgam attack, Tharoor participated in government’s diplomatic outreach to garner international support.

Justice comes with hidden costs that those already burdened by the perpetual cycle of poverty, a cycle that shackles every step each day, feel too acutely to ignore. Rights exist. Legal aid is free for them. However, they do not have the privilege of affording the costs, both literal and opportunity-related, associated with recurring court dates. Injustice in any form hits them harder. Some remain under the dark cloud of lack of awareness about their existing rights, while others fear the consequences that may follow if they assert them.Poverty not only strips away social standing, hinders growth, and erodes health, but also robs dignity, striking most brutally at the vulnerable.When poverty forces people from disadvantaged backgrounds to toil relentless hours under harsh conditions just to ensure their child sees a meal on his plate, even if not the future he dreams of but enough to keep hope alive, survival becomes the only priority.Poverty cements their feet and, at the same time, pushes them into legal vulnerability.And when such individuals are confronted with injustice of any sort, whether a wrongful accusation, workplace exploitation, eviction, domestic abuse, discrimination, or even a sudden legal summons, it takes far more than courage to access their own legal rights.

The constitutional promise vs ground reality

To ensure that no person is denied justice merely because they cannot afford legal representation, Article 39A of the Constitution of India, introduced through the 42nd Amendment in 1976, mandates the State to provide free legal aid and ensure equal justice for all.

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This constitutional vision was institutionalised through the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, under which the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) was established in 1995 as the central body to implement legal aid programs across the country.The legal aid system in India is structured as a nationwide network, from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) at the Centre, chaired by a Supreme Court judge with the Chief Justice of India as Patron-in-Chief, to State and District Legal Services Authorities, and local Taluka bodies. At the grassroots, paralegal volunteers, drawn from communities, including teachers, social workers, Anganwadi workers, law students, and marginalized groups serve as bridges between citizens and the justice system.

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The idea being simple yet ambitious, justice should reach the doorstep of the poor.Yet access remains low. Former Chief Justice of India, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, in an interview to Sansad TV, noted after reviewing nationwide data:“Statistics showed that people get legal aid in less than 1% of the cases where justice is required. If we look at how many people are below the poverty line, it is inconsistent that only 1% would need legal aid. Either they do not know it is their right, or they do not have confidence in the system.”That single statistic exposes a deep structural contradiction, a country with millions eligible for free legal assistance sees only a tiny fraction accessing it.Amid the daily struggles of poverty, many people remain unaware of their right to legal aid or free legal services. A roadside vendor narrated how police use court cases to intimidate them. When asked if he knew that legal aid is free, he expressed shock.“I had no idea that legal aid or free legal services existed. I faced a legal problem and couldn’t get the help I needed because I couldn’t afford it. That was the time I felt most helpless. I had to beg for help and money from others, not knowing if justice would ever come. For a poor person, respect is the most important thing. Even being associated with the court or the police scares us. You know what happens to poor people like us, they hardly get justice, and no one supports them, making it hard to trust the system. When we go to file a complaint, we are often intimidated, and we have to endure this. At that time, it feels like all doors are closed,” he told TOI.

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Poverty and legal vulnerability: A reinforcing cycle

According to the latest World Bank data, between 2011‑12 and 2022‑23, India lifted roughly 269 million people out of extreme poverty, reducing the poverty rate from 27.1% to 5.3%. Yet around 75 million people still live in extreme poverty, leaving them vulnerable not only to deprivation in food, healthcare, and education, but also to challenges in accessing legal protections and exercising their rights effectively.

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People living in deprivation often face:

For many, even receiving a legal notice or court summons can trigger panic rather than protection. Without awareness or guidance, such notices may be ignored, not out of defiance but confusion or fear, sometimes worsening legal consequences.Advocate Abhipriya Rai explained, “Poverty is not merely an economic condition, it is a legal disability. When a family cannot produce an Aadhaar card, a birth certificate, or a caste certificate, they become invisible to the very systems designed to protect them.”

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She added that legal vulnerability operates on three levels simultaneously. “Informational: they do not know their rights exist. Documentary: even if they do, they lack the paperwork that activates those rights. Representational: even if they reach a forum, they cannot sustain effective advocacy. Each barrier compounds the others.”Legal vulnerability therefore becomes not a separate condition, but a direct extension of economic vulnerability.

What grassroots organisations witness

NGO workers who interact daily with marginalised families consistently observe how poverty quietly erodes agency and confidence.According to Vikash Jha, founder of Bhavishya NGO, poverty often prevents families from even believing their grievances will be heard. Lack of access to nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, and quality education weakens both physical and psychological resilience. He noted that many children from such backgrounds begin working early to support their households, further reducing their chances of awareness about rights or legal remedies.

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TOI also spoke to Mahendra Singh Rawat, project coordinator at Bhumi NGO, Delhi, who has worked with underprivileged children in shelter homes and slum communities for over three years. He highlighted how poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life:“It is not only financial deprivation, but also limits awareness, opportunities, confidence, and aspirations. Many parents are daily wage workers with unstable incomes. Many children drop out early, and some are pushed into begging or work to support their families”. He further noted that there is lack of awareness about rights and government schemes, absence of proper documentation in some cases, and fear of approaching authorities that further perpetuates lack of access to justice among the poor even when the legal aid framework exists.

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A Delhi-based cleanliness worker who wished to remain anonymous added: “Demanding better conditions is a privilege daily wage workers like me cannot afford. Even if it badly affects our health, we cannot quit. Nobody cares. I may be useful to the system, but I am not treated as a dignified part of it and I don’t feel that my voice would be heard even if raised.”

Why free legal aid alone is not enough

India’s legal aid framework is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive in the world. Eligibility typically includes:

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Services may include legal advice, representation, drafting documents, and mediation, all free of cost.Yet access gaps persist because formal entitlement does not automatically translate into practical accessibility.

Common barriers include:

The Hidden Costs of Justice

Although legal representation may be free, justice still carries indirect expenses:

Reflecting on these hidden costs, Adv. Abhipriya observes:“A worker who cannot read the summons served to her, who has been told by police to ‘go home and settle,’ does not see the law as a resource. She sees it as a threat. That fear is rational.” On the broader framework, she notes, “India has one of the most elaborate statutory frameworks for protecting the poor in the developing world. But a right that cannot be exercised is not a right. It is a promise that was never kept.”For daily wage earners, a single missed workday can mean a missed meal. Multiple court dates can therefore translate into financial distress, discouraging people from pursuing even legitimate claims.

Can legal aid help alleviate poverty?

Adv. Abhipriya noted that legal aid, when delivered effectively, has immediate, tangible impacts. The mechanism is more direct than people assume:When a woman who has been illegally terminated recovers her wages through a legal aid lawyer, she has protected her family’s food security for months. Similarly, when a family obtains a stay against illegal demolition, children stay in school.She added that legal aid, when delivered well, is poverty alleviation, without a welfare scheme label attached.Between 2015 and 2025, over 1.61 crore citizens received legal aid, while over 40 crore cases were settled through National Lok Adalats, and the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System disposed of nearly 8 lakh criminal cases in three years.Government funding for NALSA for 2022‑23 was Rs. 190 crore, which was increased to Rs. 400 crore for 2023‑24, dropped to Rs. 200 crore in 2024‑25, and rose again by 25 percent to Rs. 250 crore in the Union Budget 2026‑27.However, structural challenges still persist:Awareness: Judges and legal experts have emphasised that many eligible people are unaware of free legal aid, with most assuming they cannot access assistance because it is unaffordable.Quality: Justice Nagarathna emphasized that “legal aid to the poor does not mean poor legal aid.” Panel lawyers are often junior, overloaded, and inadequately compensated. Wide disparities persist between legal aid representation and private representation. This is not a criticism of individual lawyers but a systemic design failure.Geography: Tribal families in remote areas often cannot reach District Legal Services Authorities, and the digital divide creates additional barriers for accessing online portals.Fund utilisation: Hon’ble Chief Justice Surya Kant disclosed at the Conference that by September 2025, only 16.93% of the Legal Aid and Advice budget had been utilised, while outreach expenditure had exceeded its allocation. Money meant for representation and aid delivery remained unspent, while funds for awareness were overspent, an inversion of priorities.

Why this conversation matters

On World Social Justice Day, observed annually on February 20 by the United Nations, the global spotlight turns to poverty, inequality, exclusion, and human rights. For India, it underscores the urgent challenge of bridging the gap between legal rights and actual access to justice.As harsh as it may sound, society often reserves dignity for those who are affluent and demands subservience from those who struggle simply to survive, educate, and aspire. Poverty does not only deprive, it silences. Understanding how poverty intersects with legal vulnerability is essential not merely for policy reform, but for safeguarding democracy itself. Because access to justice is not just another welfare benefit, it is the foundation that determines whether rights exist only on paper or in reality.

NEW DELHI: A man was detained by Rajasthan police in Kota on Thursday after he allegedly uploaded a video threatening to shoot Congress MP and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and 25 other MPs of the party.According to police, the man, who identified himself in the video as Raj Singh is a spokesperson of the right-wing group Karni Sena and had issued the threats over a recent incident in the Lok Sabha.He alleged that BJP and Karni Sena workers were angered by what he described as verbal abuse directed at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 25 Congress MPs during the recently concluded first part of the Budget session of Parliament, according to news agency PTI. In the purported video, Singh warned that if such an incident happened again, they would “enter the homes” of the MPs and vandalise them. He also directly threatened Gandhi, saying, “If such an incident occurs again, we will enter the homes of those MPs and vandalise them. I believe this incident occurred on Rahul Gandhi’s orders. Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully, if such an incident occurs again, we will barge into your home and shoot you,” Singh said in the video.He further said that if the 25 MPs were not arrested within 24 hours, “we will shoot them all one by one.”“If those MPs are arrested within 24 hours, it is fine. Otherwise, we will shoot them all one by one,” he said.After the video surfaced on social media, police in Kota took action and detained the accused. Superintendent of Police, Kota, Tejaswani Gautam, told news agency PTI that the man has been detained at the Borkheda police station and is being questioned in connection with the video.The video reportedly shows a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Om Birla shaking hands displayed on the wall behind the accused.Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Karni Sena have denied any association with the individual. BJP Kota city president Rakesh Jain said that the party has no connection with the person seen in the viral video. “I want to clarify that the person seen in the viral video has no connection with the BJP. The BJP is a disciplined party committed to nation-building. This type of language and conduct are completely contrary to our ideology and moral values,” he said.A senior Karni Sena leader also stated that the accused does not have any link with the organisation. Police said that further investigation is underway.Reacting to the alleged death threat issued to Rahul Gandhi by Karni Sena, Congress MP KC Venugopal said, “See the atmosphere which is created by the BJP ecosystem and the Sangh parivar ecosystem. They are not even allowing Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are not honouring the Leader of the Opposition… The Sangha Pariwar system is saying that they will go and kill Rahul Gandhi along with 25 MPs. No FIRs have been registered. This is a clear case of anarchy. We know how to protect our Leader of Opposition, we are not bothered about all these things. Rahul Gandhi also knows how to protect himself; he is not bothered about his life.”