The BJP is destroying the future of youths through alleged irregularities in the examination system, but the Congress is committed to fighting for the rights of students, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday. His remarks came after two students protesting against alleged irregularities in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) exams were put in jail. "The BJP is cutting the thumb of the youth of India just like Ekalavya's, and destroying their future," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. "Failure in executing government recruitments is a big injustice. First, recruitment is not announced. And then even if it is announced, exams are not held in time. If exams are held, the question papers are leaked. And when the youths demand justice, their voice is ruthlessly crushed," he alleged. There were students' protest in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as well over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams. And, now two students protesting against the irregularities in MPP
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas on Friday said NCP leader Dhananjay Munde should remain in the Maharashtra cabinet as a minister without portfolio till a chargesheet is filed in the murder case of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. The opposition parties have been demanding that Munde, whose close associate Walmik Karad has been arrested in an extortion case related to the murder, be removed from the cabinet. However, Munde, who holds the food and civil supplies portfolio, on Thursday clarified that there would be no influence from his side as a minister in the probe into these cases. Addressing a press conference in Beed, Dhas questioned the inclusion of some members in the special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder and extortion cases. "There is a member who was transferred from Gadchiroli by one of the accused, Walmik Karad. This person should not show devotion to his 'master'. Some people have connections with him (Karad). I have no objection to senior officials, but I have issues with ..
Leaders from across the political spectrum will pay their tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at a prayer meeting on Friday. The 'Shabadv Kirtan and Antim Ardas' of Dr Singh would be held at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib at 3 pm. Before the prayer meet, the family of the former PM would also hold a 'bhog' of the 'Akhand Path' kept in the memory of Singh at their 3, Motilal Nehru Marg residence. Singh, who steered the country as prime minister from 2004 to 2014, was considered the architect of India's economic reforms in the 1990s. He died at AIIMS Delhi December 26. He was 92.
The BJP will take its Delhi Assembly poll campaign to the next level with the "Parivartan Rally" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rohini with "major announcements" for Delhi, party leaders said on Thursday. The rally is scheduled to be held Sunday at Japanese Park in Rohini in northwest Delhi. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in the run-up to Delhi Assembly polls next month has announced a Rs 2,100 monthly payment for women and an honorarium of Rs 18,000 per month for priests and granthis. "Some big-ticket announcements are expected to be made by Modi in the rally. These will have a course-changing impact on our campaign," said a top Delhi BJP functionary. The Delhi BJP has already claimed that the "free" schemes of the AAP government will be continued if the party comes to power in Delhi. They have also hinted that the BJP could offer more to Delhi residents through increased free electricity units per month as well as by matching the Rs 2,100 promised by Kejriwal under Mahila Samma
Latest news updates: Catch all the major news updates from around the world
Union Minister for Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi urged people on Thursday not to be dependent on the governments for freebies, but to produce their own solar power. Joshi attended a consultative meeting with the consumers, electricity supply company (ESCOM) officials, and people's representatives to discuss Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana here on Thursday. "I will not comment on what the motives were behind the distribution of free power generated using environmentally harmful core sector material. But sustainability in the power sector is going to be the key to a safer future for the country," said Joshi, who is also the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. According to Joshi, Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 15, 2024 aims to provide free electricity to households in India by providing a subsidy to install solar panels on their roofs. The subsidy will cover up to 40 percent of the cost of the solar panels.
The National Education Policy prioritises the country's interests as well as skill based-learning and has replaced the one introduced by British administrator Lord Macaulay, which aimed to uproot Indian culture and produce clerks, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade said on Thursday. Speaking after inaugurating the 59th Devgiri Regional Conference of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad here, Bagade also said students must become self-reliant, develop their intellectual and physical abilities and inculcate the spirit of service. "The education system introduced by Thomas Macaulay aimed to uproot Indian culture and produce clerks. This outdated system has been replaced by the NEP, which has been crafted by 1,400 experts. It prioritises national interests and skill based learning. It ensures those with talent will not go hungry," Bagade said. Macaulay's 'Minute on Indian Education' was primarily responsible for the introduction of Western institutional education in the
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accused the BJP on Wednesday of planning to demolish Hindu temples and a Buddhist site in various areas of the city, even as the saffron party refuted the charge, alleging that she is trying to "disturb" communal harmony by making such a statement. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva demanded that the chief minister withdraw her statement and warned that she would be held responsible if any untoward incident happens. The accusation comes amid an intense political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls due in February. Atishi wrote to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday, claiming that a "Religious Committee" under him, at its meeting on November 22, ordered for the demolition of six religious structures, including Hindu temples and a Buddhist worship place, in different parts of the city. The LG's office rebutted the charge, accusing Atishi of indulging in "cheap politics", a
The Congress will launch its 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan' in all blocks, districts and states on January 3. The campaign will culminate in a public rally at Mhow on January 26. The campaign was to be launched on December 27 but was suspended in view of the demise of former prime minister Manmohan Singh on December 26 and the announcement of a seven-day mourning in his honour. The decision to organise the campaign was taken at the last meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) at Belagavi on December 26. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the implementation of the CWC resolution of December 26 was suspended for a week as a mark of "deep respect' and reverence for Singh. "It will take more time to get used to the fact that he is no longer with us," he said. "Even so the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan will resume in blocks, districts and states, on January 3, 2025 leading up to rally in Dr. Ambedkar's 'janmabhoomi' Mhow on January 26, 2025 w
The BJP on Wednesday took a swipe at Arvind Kejriwal calling him a "bagula bhagat" (pretentious devotee) over his pre-poll promise of giving a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 to priests of temples and granthis of gurudwaras. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed that Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) exemplifies "unreliability" in Indian politics, adding that the people of Delhi have understood its "antics." He alleged that the AAP, which emerged with the promise of bringing change to the country's politics, has lost its "credibility" as it continues to pursue "the same old Congress politics." There was no immediate response from the AAP to the BJP's charge. Asked about Kejriwal's pre-poll promise of providing an honorarium of Rs 18,000 to priests of temples and granthis of gurudwaras, Trivedi wondered why he is making such an announcement instead of implementing it right away, when his party is still in power
The violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has provided a fillip to West Bengal BJP's membership drive, as the party struggles to meet its ambitious one crore target, while campaiging against the atrocities on minorities across the border to consolidate Hindu support in the state. Attacks on the minority community on the other side of the border has provided the party with a rallying point, as it seeks to counter challenges posed by organisational gaps, internal discord, and the ruling Trinamool Congress's (TMC) political dominance. Both TMC and BJP are leveraging the Bangladesh issue to shape the political narrative ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The Bangladesh turmoil, where Hindu minorities have been at the receiving end, has accelerated the membership drive, as people see the BJP as the only party capable of ensuring stability and are afraid of similar events under TMC's rule, which is known for its minority appeasement, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar told PTI. Top
Manipur CM Biren Singh apologised for the ongoing unrest, blaming Congress' past actions. He responded to Jairam Ramesh's criticism, citing political neglect by Congress leaders
Latest news updates: Catch all the major news updates from around the world
Although the talk about the New Year agenda within the government was subdued on December 31, the day started with promise of work in 2025
The Congress also denounced Rane's comments, linking them to past Communist Party of India CPI(M) statements about the victories of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad
Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that the Delhi government ignored concerns raised by the National Human Rights Commission
Stepping up heat on the ruling DMK over the student sexual assault case, the BJP's state unit on Monday announced that the party's women's wing will take out a rally from Madurai to Chennai, seeking justice for the victim. BJP state president K Annamalai, announcing the protest, alleged the accused belonged to the DMK and there were attempts to "conceal the truth," in the matter. Condemning this and the atrocity inflicted on the women, the BJP's state Mahila Morcha, under its chief Umarathi Rajan, will take out the "justice rally" from Madurai to Chennai and will set off from the southern city on January 3, he said in a post on 'X.' "It has been decided, that upon completion of the rally in Chennai, a memorandum will be presented to the Tamil Nadu Governor on demands by the women's wing," Annamalai added. Madurai is located about 450 km from here. A 19 year-old student was sexually assaulted inside the campus of Anna University, a premier technical varsity, prompting outrage from
The inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January was meant to deliver an unprecedented electoral harvest to the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. And when it lost its majority, many thought it was the beginning of reverses awaiting the BJP. The outgoing year followed anything but a predictable path for the party. However, as the year drew to its end, the BJP has stamped its authority on the country's political map once again with remarkably improbable wins in what were seen as difficult state elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. The BJP's vulnerabilities and as well as strengths were in full display in the year but what stood out is its ability to adapt its message and methods to the voices from the ground, underlining the full-spectrum of its campaign machine in which various components rise and fall in importance depending on its electoral needs. If the RSS was seen to be less than fully active during the national elections, its affiliates and sympathisers were in full force
Bansuri called it 'shameful' that the Anganwadi workers have not been paid for seven months and that the stipend of the Asha workers has not been increased
The Congress' Uttar Pradesh president Ajay Rai wrote to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, drawing his attention to the "open sale of intoxicants" and demanding strict action so that future generations can be saved from addiction. Rai said incidents of open sale and use of drugs and other intoxicants had been seen in the state's urban and remote rural areas in the past few years. Calling it "very shameful for any civilised society", he said such incidents pointed towards an administrative failure. "The youth and poor section of the state are becoming its biggest victims." The youth, who have to be part of the state's development, are ruining their and the state's future by falling into the grip of drugs, Rai said in the letter. "The poor section, which is somehow feeding their family in this period of inflation by working as labourers and toiling all day, is also ruining their family by falling into the grip of drug abuse," he added. The situation is such that the common pe