CJP warns of fresh protests if govt fails to honour FIR withdrawal promise; Kapil Sibal announces legal support
Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday accused the Centre of violating its assurance that no punitive action would be taken against protesters, alleging that hundreds of students had been arrested or were facing police action in several states despite the agreement reached before the outfit suspended its nationwide agitation. CJP also said it was awaiting the government’s promised written agreement on the withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters and organisers, and warned that it would be forced to resume its agitation if the assurance was not received by Tuesday. Addressing a press conference, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the issue was discussed during the third round of talks with the government before the 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar was called off. “In the third round of talks, we had agreed that all FIRs filed against protesters and organisers across the country would be withdrawn and no new FIR would be filed against any organiser and protester in future,” Ranka said. He said the CJP had submitted a draft agreement to Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, and it was agreed that the government would share a written agreement by Tuesday after legal consultations. “We are waiting for the government to share the written agreement. We hope a senior Cabinet minister will honour the agreement and FIRs will be withdrawn, no protester or organiser would be harassed, and no cases would be filed in future,” he said. Ranka said if the written agreement was not received by Tuesday and protesters and organisers arrested in connection with the agitation were not released, the outfit would be “forced to protest again”. In a statement posted on X, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation was witnessing a “complete breach” of the understanding reached with the government regarding police action against protesters. “We are observing a complete breach of the agreement regarding no police action against the protestors. Hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar and Bengal, and hundreds are being surveilled/harrassed in Delhi and other states. Multiple reports are emerging in Delhi around detention of volunteers supporting protestors with logistics,” the statement said. In the statement issued Monday, the CJP said it had received “multiple reports” of students and other protesters being “targeted, detained, or arrested by various state agencies”, particularly in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar. “The Cockroach Janta Party had called off its nationwide protest only after the Government of India assured us that no punitive action would be taken against any protester, either now or in the future, in any BJP-ruled or NDA-ruled states. The reports emerging from these states are therefore a matter of grave concern,” it said. The outfit said its legal team is coordinating with lawyers in concerned states to secure the release of those detained and provide legal assistance. It also urged the Centre, particularly Nadda and Singh, to honour the assurance given during the negotiations by ensuring the release of those detained and preventing any “coercive or retaliatory action” against protesters anywhere in the country. “The FIRs registered ought to be withdrawn too,” the statement said. “Our decision to suspend the nationwide protest was taken in good faith and solely on the basis of the government’s assurance that it would stand by its word. Any departure from that assurance would not merely amount to a breach of trust with the Cockroach Janta Party but would also be a breach of public trust with lakhs of young Indians who chose dialogue over protests,” it said. Warning that any breach of the assurance would be “completely unacceptable to the youth”, the CJP demanded that all detainees be released and all FIRs withdrawn immediately, failing which it would “take further necessary steps”. Das also said the CJP had been providing legal and medical assistance to protesters across the country since the beginning of the movement. Adding to its concerns, the CJP flagged reports of Instagram accounts linked to student activists and volunteers being taken down, alleging that the crackdown extended to digital platforms alongside on-ground action. CJP member Ratna Singh also alleged intensified police action across states, citing FIRs in Assam, arrests in Kolkata and detentions in Bihar, with stringent charges invoked in some cases. The organisation also announced the launch of ‘Saakshi’, an online platform where protesters can upload videos and photographs allegedly showing police action against protesters on July 20. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who also addressed the press conference, said no action should be taken against students who participated in what he described as an organic protest. Backing the students, Kapil Sibal announced legal support for those facing police action and said he would contribute Rs 1 crore to establish a legal assistance platform. “We don’t want action to be taken against students who did a protest. It was an organic movement. Governments want no dissent,” Sibal said. “We have to make a website through which protesters can approach lawyers. I appeal to lawyers across the country to stand with these protesters,” he added. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
Rahul-Akhilesh’s ‘UP ke Ladke’ chemistry puts youth anger at centre of UP’s 2027 political battle
The spirit of “UP ke Ladke” resurfaced at Jantar Mantar, where Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav stood with protesting students instead of sharing an election stage. LUCKNOW: The camaraderie between Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP and national president Akhilesh Yadav seen at Jantar Mantar during the recent students’ protests was a reminder of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when the two had come together as “UP ke Ladke”, an expression allegedly coined by Prashant Kishore. While Rahul Gandhi brought the visibility of the Leader of the Opposition, Akhilesh Yadav carried the electoral weight of Uttar Pradesh, the state that plays a decisive role in national politics and is set to go to the Assembly polls early next year. Together, they reframed the protest as a question of governance and accountability. However, will the political chemistry between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, combined with the alleged youth anger against the dispensation, be able to deliver major political gains to the INDIA bloc in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections? That will be interesting to watch. The ethos of “UP ke Ladke” was palpable in a very different setting at Jantar Mantar. This time, there was no electoral pitch, no seat-sharing talks and no campaign rally. There were protesting students instead. The NEET agitation, initially focused on alleged irregularities in the examination process, expanded to include unemployment, recruitment delays and declining trust in public institutions after Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav joined the protest. They might not have initiated the agitation, but their presence amplified its political significance and visibility. While Rahul Gandhi said the protest was not just about NEET or one examination but about the future of the youth, which was at stake, Akhilesh Yadav added that students in Uttar Pradesh were angry over delays in recruitment. “This is a fight for their future,” he said. Perhaps it was their presence that transformed the protest from a student-led agitation into a national political issue. For the Opposition, the issue fits into a wider narrative of unemployment and institutional failure. For Akhilesh Yadav, it is even more politically immediate, given Uttar Pradesh’s large population of competitive examination aspirants. Though the “UP ke Ladke” slogan failed to make much impact among voters in the 2017 Assembly elections, when both leaders campaigned together as the young faces of the Congress-SP alliance, the political symbolism endured. It resurfaced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the Congress and Samajwadi Party jointly challenged the BJP in Uttar Pradesh under the INDIA bloc, changing the political landscape of the state. The Jantar Mantar appearance signals that this partnership is once again finding political space, this time around youth anger and examination-related distress. However, political experts believe the joint appearance of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav is politically significant and, if sustained, could shape the anti-incumbency mood among first-time voters in the 2027 Assembly elections. The camaraderie may strengthen Opposition unity in urban and semi-urban constituencies where examination-related frustration is most visible, political experts say. Though the BJP continues to maintain strong organisational dominance in Uttar Pradesh, youth anger operates on a different tangent, away from traditional caste-based politics. This makes the NEET controversy and broader issues surrounding the examination system potentially powerful political triggers. The real challenge for the ruling party is addressing the lived experience of aspirants who feel excluded from opportunities. “However, it is imperative for both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav to expand the issue from NEET to jobs, recruitment, and education reform besides maintaining unity when electoral negotiations begin in the earnest,” said Prof A K Mishra, a political scientist. If the sentiment that their future is at stake deepens among the youth, the defining question of the 2027 Assembly elections may not be about caste arithmetic or party machinery. It could instead be about who succeeds in owning the politics of student anxiety, youth anger and the aspirations of a new generation of women voters. Namita Bajpai Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav arrested in Patna NEET protest case, sent to 14-day judicial custody
PATNA: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a case registered over a protest at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during demonstrations against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His lawyer, Jagannath Singh, alleged irregularities in the arrest process and said a bail plea could be moved on Monday. “An FIR was filed on July 26, whereas the arrest took place on the July 25, at 7:30 pm, from the city centre mall. I just submitted an application to the judge for his release. He told me to process the bail demand on Monday. I reached Naubatpur police station at 10:30 am. There were 2 SPs there. I asked them the reason behind his arrest. His family members don’t even know that he was under arrest since 7.30 pm. We still haven’t gotten the copy of the FIR,” Singh told reporters. Yadav was detained by Bihar Police on Saturday after joining students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak during a Bihar Bandh in Patna. Reacting to the arrest, JJD’s Bankipur by-election candidate Veena Manvi questioned the timing of the police action and alleged that party leaders had faced repeated “torture” since the start of the election campaign. “I don’t want to say anything. We’ve been tortured since the 13th. First, they (police) picked me on nomination day, then they picked him today. It seems like the entire Bankipur district is now dependent on the Janshakti Janata Dal. What’s wrong if we protest a little?… What crime did he commit? If the national flag was shown once among the children, was that a crime? And even if there was a crime in your opinion, they should have taken him away right then and there. But what’s the point in picking him up when he was having family time in the evening, going shopping? I also do not know the reason behind this.” Before being taken into custody, Yadav expressed support for the protesting students and urged the government to address their demands. “The children’s demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth,” he told reporters. His arrest came after violence erupted in Patna during a statewide Bihar Bandh called by several opposition parties and social organisations over the alleged NEET paper leak and recent police action against student protesters. A traffic police booth was allegedly vandalised during the protest, while clashes broke out between protesters and police. Stone-pelting was reported and police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The demonstrations were held across Bihar, with students demanding reforms in the education system and action over alleged irregularities in the examination process. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and vandalised police vehicles in Patna, prompting heavy police deployment. Pradhan has since stepped down following nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces.” Following his resignation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
‘Modi govt fears truth and non-violence’: Rahul Gandhi on Ken-Betwa protest crackdown
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Narendra Modi government fears “both truth and non-violent resistance”, days after police dispersed tribal protests against the Ken-Betwa river linking project in BJP-led Madhya Pradesh.”The tribal brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh had sat on a water satyagraha and hunger strike because their land was taken away for the Ken-Betwa project, but they received neither fair compensation nor dignified rehabilitation,” the Lok Sabha leader of opposition wrote on X. Calling tribals the country’s “original owners”, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the first right over water, forests and land “belongs to them alone.” “And their ‘satyagraha’ is because that very right is being snatched from them today. In their unique way, their demand is simply this: provide a proper means of livelihood—or else life is no different from a funeral pyre. But even this is unacceptable to the BJP government. Instead of listening to them, their peaceful protest is being crushed with police force,” the Raebareli MP added. The former Congress chief expressed solidarity with the protesting tribal communities and asserted that his party would ensure justice, including fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for them. Rahul Gandhi also shared a video clip highlighting the protests in Madhya Pradesh. On July 19, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district removed protesters from the site, bringing their 15-day agitation to an end. The Rs 44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project is India’s first river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan. It aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares of land, provide drinking water to around 6.2 million people, and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
Parliament passes Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026 with Rajya Sabha approving it today
Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday by a voice vote amid an Opposition-led walkout. The bill seeks to redefine the category of transgender, removes the provision of self-perceived gender identity and excludes several socio-cultural identities as well as transmasculine individuals from its ambit. It also further defines transgender persons within a biological framework, based on intersex variations and differences in sexual development. Replying to the discussion on the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar said the government is compassionate towards the well-being of the transgender community. He said the Bill has provisions to empower the transgenders and give them dignity. The Minister said that the NDA government has taken several initiatives to bring transgender people to the mainstream and stop discrimination against them. Starting the discussion in the Upper House, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said this bill dilutes the privacy of an individual provided under the Constitution. Opposing the Bill, Ms Chowdhury said self-identification cannot be taken away through bureaucratic certification. Criticizing the government, she said that the proposed bill undermines the fundamental rights and dignity of transgender persons. Calling such a move wrong and illegal, she argued that forcing transgender persons to provide their identity through official certificates is against the spirit of equality and dignity guaranteed by the constitution. She also questioned the government’s approach for not properly consulting with the transgender community before bringing the Bill. She also referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgement of 2014, which recognized the right of transgender persons to self-identify their gender. Ms Chowdhury said the proposed Bill violates the principles laid down in that judgement and fails to respect an already established legal framework. DMK MP Tiruchi Shiva also opposed the Bill, saying that even if the Bill is passed in Parliament with a majority, it will be struck down by the Supreme Court. He further added that the Bill violates Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and it deprives the community of the right to freedom, dignity and self-determination. Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni said, ” This Bill ensures justice, dignity, protection from criminalisation and legal safeguards for transgender persons. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing this bill with certain amendments in order to ensure that the benefits reach the deserving people in a proper manner. She said there is a need for a law that brings justice to real transgender individuals and punishes fake ones. Mrs Kulkarni said the benefits should be extended to those who are transgender by birth. She said that the amendment to extend punishment will bring down the rate of crime and forced identities. TMC’s Saket Gokhale said that 31% of Transgender people in India have attempted suicide because of the discrimination that they are facing. He alleged that now the government is going to start discriminating against them as though social discrimination were not enough. He called it unacceptable. Mr Gokhale expressed concern that gender is going to be decided by the Chief Medical Officer and a District Magistrate, and the bill does not prescribe any qualifications for the Chief Medical Officer. Sanjay Singh of AAP said the Bill is a big let-down for the transgender community. He accused the government of not doing anything for the community. RJD’s Manoj Kr Jha said that prejudices against transgender people should stop, and they should be able to live with dignity. He added that self-determination of gender should not be taken away. CPI(M)’s John Brittas said it is a black-letter day and the Bill is taking India a century back. He pleaded with the government to either withdraw the Bill or refer it to a Select Committee. Jaya Bachchan of the Samajwadi Party also questioned the government over the legislation. She sought to know what the urgency was in bringing the Bill, without examining it with the depth and care that it deserved. Courtesy : NOA Note: This news is originally published on https:/newsonair.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP’s new strategy ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, attempts to garner the Dalit vote
BJP’s ‘Harmony Mission’ in Uttarakhand, using Saint Ravidas as a vehicle, new strategy for the 2027 Assembly elections, politics intensifies, report by Dheeraj Sajwan Dehradun: Ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the BJP has decided to embark on its most significant social and political mission. To expand its reach among the Dalit vote bank in Uttarakhand, the BJP has launched a “Harmony Resolution Campaign” centered on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The party aims to further strengthen its hold on the state’s approximately 17% Dalit vote bank. To achieve this, the Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan will be launched in Uttarakhand, along with the entire country, in February next year, centering on the 650th birth anniversary of Saint Ravidas. The BJP is describing this campaign as a program of social harmony and cultural awakening. However, the opposition is calling it an electoral strategy to garner Dalit votes. According to political analysts, this campaign is not merely a religious or social event, but also a major political exercise to shift social equations in its favor ahead of the 2027 elections. 107 Ravidas temples will be the focus of the campaign, with the BJP reaching the booth level: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently flagged off the Sant Ravidas Express from Jalandhar. Following this, the BJP is now launching a national-level “Samrasata Sankalp Abhiyan” leading up to the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas. The campaign will begin with the lighting of lamps on Guru Parva on July 29th, and various programs will be organized across the country until February 20, 2027. Crucially, election-bound states, including Uttarakhand, have been given special focus. 107 temples dedicated to Sant Ravidas in the state have been designated as the focus of the campaign. From Seer Govardhanpur in Varanasi, urns containing sacred soil from the birthplace of Sant Ravidas will be delivered to several states, including Uttarakhand. Following this, Kalash Yatras, social dialogues, seminars, and booth-level programs will be organized. The party’s objective is to spread the message of social harmony among the Dalit community while also strengthening its organizational base. BJP state spokesperson Mathura Dutt Joshi said, Congress attacks, saying, “The campaign is not about harmony, it’s an election stunt.” Congress has reacted sharply to the BJP’s campaign. Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh called it an election stunt to influence the Dalit community. She said, “How can a party that has been accused of ignoring the ideas of Constitution maker Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and weakening the spirit of the Constitution, talk about harmony?” Congress state spokesperson Pratima Singh said, “Large leaders like Lalu and Mulayam are the products of Lohia’s non-Congressism: Political analysts believe that the social and political structure of Uttarakhand is quite different from that of states like Uttar Pradesh. The Dalit community here has its own social history, local leadership, and distinct political behavior.” Senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that, Furthermore, senior political analyst Ravindra Nath Kaushik further adds that, Caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics: Ravindra Nath Kaushik explains that caste equations are nothing new in Indian politics. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s non-Congressism movement gave a new direction to backward class politics, which later led to the emergence of leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav. He says that the BJP has also been conveying political messages from time to time through social representation. The recent appointment of Babita Sahotra to the Child Welfare Committee can also be considered part of this broader social strategy. According to him, the purpose of starting the campaign now is to ensure that this message continues to resonate with the society until the elections. Haridwar and Terai are the most focused areas, with the Bhim Army and BSP also a challenge: Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma believes that the BJP’s entire strategy in Uttarakhand has been designed with Haridwar and the Terai region in mind. According to him, the BJP did not achieve the expected success in the Haridwar district in the last assembly elections. In the 2022 elections, out of the 11 assembly seats in the district, the BJP was able to win only three: Haridwar, Roorkee, and BHEL Ranipur. The remaining seats were won by Congress, BSP, and independent candidates. Dalit voters played a decisive role in most of these areas. Senior journalist Bhagirath Sharma says, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results in many assembly seats: According to Bhagirath Sharma, Dalit voters are in a position to influence election results not only in Haridwar, but also in several assembly seats in the Pachhadun region of Dehradun, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital districts. This is why the party is already developing a network of social dialogue down to the booth level. Political experts believe that an important aspect of Uttarakhand politics is that the Dalit community has been deeply connected not only to national symbols but also to its local social leaders. Devbhoomi has given birth to numerous Dalit leaders and social reformers like Jayanand Bharti, Hari Prasad Tamta, and Khushi Ram Arya, whose social acceptance remains intact in many areas. In such a situation, the biggest question will be whether the national-level harmony campaign in the name of Saint Ravidas will be able to influence Uttarakhand’s local social symbols, or will the state’s politics continue to revolve around local social identities. However, it is certain that political parties’ activism and social campaigns aimed at the Dalit vote bank will intensify in the coming months ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. The Dalit community can play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics: While the BJP is striving for social expansion through harmony, the Congress, BSP, and Bhim Army are facing the challenge of maintaining this same social base in their own ways. In such a situation, the Dalit community may once again play a decisive role in Uttarakhand’s electoral politics. Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman denied payment, subjected to casteist slurs: Casteist slurs and assault upon protest; FIR filed a month later
In Vidyarthipuram village, under the Bichhwan police station area of Mainpuri, a Dalit woman was denied payment after purchasing goods from a shop. When she protested, the accused used casteist slurs against her and assaulted her, leaving her injured. An FIR has been filed a month after the incident. Vidyarthipuram resident Sapna, wife of Mansingh Jatav, stated in her FIR that on June 21st, at 2 p.m., she was alone at her grocery store when Akash, son of Sukhpal, and Nitin Chauhan, son of Guddan, from the neighboring village of Garh Nagla Bhagat, came to her shop and purchased goods. When Sapna asked for money, the accused began abusing her. They used casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she complained. When Sapna asked for money, the accused also assaulted Sapna, leaving her injured. The woman filed a complaint with higher authorities. Subsequently, a case was registered on July 25th, and the woman underwent a medical examination on July 26th. Station House Officer Ashish Dubey stated that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint, and further action will be taken after the investigation. Shashikant | Orandh (Kurawali), Mainpuri Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit activists question DK district administration over not holding SC/ST grievance meet
Questioning the Dakshina Kannada district administration for not holding an SC/ST grievance redressal meeting for nearly two years, Dalit activists said the district administration should hold the meeting once every three months. Speaking at a SC/ST grievance redressal meeting on Sunday, held jointly by the Mangaluru City police and Dakshina Kannada district police at the office of the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, activist Jagadish Pandeshwar said many of the grievances raised during meetings held by the police related to revenue matters. “We cannot have unnecessary discussions about revenue matters in this meeting,” he said. He said that while the Udupi district administration held meetings once every three months, the Dakshina Kannada district administration had not held grievance redressal meetings for nearly two years. Mr. Pandeshwar said he had met Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara and apprised him of the issue. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.N. Mithun said he would convey the demand for a grievance redressal meeting by the district administration to Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju. When an activist spoke about a dispute related to land in Kunjathbail village, Mr. Mithun asked Dalit organisations to render legal assistance to Dalits in protecting their legal rights. The DCP appreciated the efforts of para legal volunteers from the District Legal Services Authority in participating in SC/ST grievance meetings at the Mulki police station and rendering legal assistance to affected parties. Dalit activist S.P. Anand said people were still facing issues in getting caste certificates as Adi Dravida. “Though the government has notified sub-castes under Adi Dravida, officials are still not issuing caste certificates,” Mr. Anand said. On the demand for deployment of home guards across the district, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar S. Bhoomraddi said that against the sanctioned strength of 800 home guards, only 640 were working, while the remaining 160 posts were vacant. He said only people keen on serving society for an honorarium could come forward to work as home guards. In the last 10 months, only 24 people had come forward to serve as home guards. A home guard is paid ₹800 per day by the police, while other departments pay ₹500 per day, Mr. Bhoomraddi said. A woman said the city police had so far not succeeded in tracing her husband, who had been missing with another woman for the past 26 days. The Bajpe police have registered the missing case of her husband, while Mangaluru Women’s Police have registered a case of the missing woman. A police inspector from Mangaluru South police station said a team had gone to a lodge in Kukke Subrahmanya a few days ago, but the two escaped from the lodge, he said. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Responsible for brutal assault on innocent students’: After Dharmendra Pradhan, opposition turns heat on Amit Shah, seeks resignation
NEW DELHI: The opposition is set to intensify its attack on the government in Parliament on Monday by demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Brittas said opposition parties would also raise the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, when Parliament resumes. The remarks come a day after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a 36-day agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with the government also accepting the protesters’ other key demands. “Last day, Shah said the government respected the youth who led the protest. Where was that respect for the last 36 days? When students were being beaten on the streets of the national capital, and their skulls were being cracked open, where was that respect?” Brittas said. “If there is even a grain of sincerity in those words, Amit Shah too should resign. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The home minister, who is responsible for this brutal assault on innocent students, must resign,” he added. Opposition prepares to corner government in Parliament Brittas said the opposition would support any move to strengthen laws against examination-related fraud but questioned the government’s decision to amend the existing legislation instead of ensuring its implementation. He noted that Parliament had enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in 2024 after the government claimed it would curb paper leaks. “Now the government is only proposing amendments to that law. The problem is not the absence of legislation but the lack of political will to enforce it and the authorities’ alleged compromise with vested interests,” he claimed. INDIA bloc parties are planning to seek an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting the NEET paper leak. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to home minister Amit Shah seeking accountability, while Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose has submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue. The opposition is expected to raise allegations regarding the use of pellet guns, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest, and injuries suffered by students. The government, meanwhile, is scheduled to introduce amendments to the anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks stricter penalties for paper leaks, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals involved, while organised crimes related to examination fraud could attract fines of up to Rs 10 crore. Questions over higher education secretary appointment Brittas also questioned the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, alleging that the officer had previously faced accusations of irregularities in the disbursal of central government subsidies. “Such an officer has now been appointed to head the department responsible for public examinations, where transparency and integrity are of utmost importance. All these issues will be raised during the discussion in Parliament,” he said. He further alleged that while authorities had released details of police personnel injured during the protests, no information had been made public about injured students. “The home ministry has released details of police personnel who were allegedly injured. But not a single detail has been made public about the protesters who were brutally assaulted. There is a complete veil of secrecy over their condition,” Brittas claimed. He said the identities and medical condition of injured students should be disclosed so that their families and organisations willing to assist them could provide support. Separately, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also blamed Amit Shah for the police action during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar. Raut alleged that students were attacked and women protesters were harassed, holding the home minister responsible for the incident. He also claimed Shah was responsible for “whatever bad and undemocratic is happening in the country.” The BJP rejected Raut’s remarks, with Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban asking the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader to focus on his “already depleted party”. The protests, which began on June 20 over the NEET paper leak, were called off on Saturday after the government accepted key demands of the protesters and Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister. The July 20 police action against protesters marching towards Parliament has since become a major flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging excessive use of force, including pellet guns. Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest, while the CRPF has not publicly responded to allegations involving its Rapid Action Force. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Will announce future strategy soon’: Abhijeet Dipke says Punjab ‘paper leak’ controversy also on CJP’s radar
NEW DELHI: A day after calling off its 36-day agitation at Jantar Mantar following Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said the organisation would soon announce its future strategy. Dipke indicated that the party would continue raising issues related to alleged examination irregularities. Dipke said the movement had only concluded a day ago and the organisation was taking time to decide its next steps. On the alleged paper leak in Punjab, he says, “We will address that too; we are currently planning… pic.twitter.com/GQUufQdpOD “We will announce the future strategy soon. It only just ended yesterday; please give us a little time,” he said. Responding to a question on the alleged paper leak controversy in Punjab, Dipke said the CJP was already planning its response. “We will address that too; we are currently planning for it,” he said, indicating that the organisation intends to expand its focus beyond the NEET issue. Dipke also said discussions with the Centre were continuing over criminal cases registered during the course of the nationwide protests. “Talks are underway concerning the cases that have been filed. No cases should be registered against any student,” he said. The remarks come a day after the CJP formally withdrew its agitation following a third round of talks with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club. The organisation had announced that it was ending the protest “in good faith” after the Centre accepted its principal demand with the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. It was also assured that the remaining issues would be addressed within an agreed timeline. During the 36-day protest, demonstrations spread across several cities, with clashes reported in Delhi and other parts of the country. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights