'Lashkar-E-Rahul': Anurag Thakur BLASTS Rahul Gandhi, Calls Him 'Poster Boy Of Pak Propaganda'
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Any insult to Tricolour will not be tolerated: Himachal CM
The Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday accused the BJP of insulting the national flag. Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (File) Sukhu said the government has taken a tough stance regarding the alleged misbehaviour with cabinet minister Jagat Singh Negi in Seraj and the insult to the national flag. 'Any insult to the Tricolour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. A final decision regarding the entire incident will be taken after a meeting with Negi,' he said. Sukhu said, 'This act of BJP workers is indecent. The government has taken strict cognizance of this.' On Friday, in Janjehli area of Seraj assembly, some people showed black flags to revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi in protest against shifting of Thunag Horticulture College and threw shoes and black flags on his tricolour-bearing vehicle. The Mandi police on Saturday registered a case under sections 126 (2), 189 (2), 190, 191 (2) of BNS. 'On the demand of the children studying in the horticulture college and their parents, the government shifted Thunag College not far away but to Gohar of Nachan adjoining Mandi district. The revenue minister was repeatedly telling the public that this is the government's decision. But the people of BJP misbehaved with him. The government condemns this,' Sukhu said. Case should be withdrawn immediately: BJP state spokesperson Calling Sukhu-led state government 'insensitive', BJP state spokesperson Ajay Rana said, 'We strongly condemn the Himachal government for the way a case was registered against more than 65 people in Thunag area. The case should be withdrawn immediately by the government. The government should also have seen against whom they are registering FIRs, we clearly want to convey this voice to the ears of the government that 90% of the people in that protest were those who have been devastated by this disaster. Is this an attempt to scare the innocent people of Himachal? The public got angry because Jagat Negi's language was not right,' said BJP spokesperson. 'How was the tricolour insulted,' questioned BJP leader, while pointing at some past similar incidents that happened with BJP leaders.


Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pahalgam victims' kin thank Army for eliminating three terrorists
Thane/Navi Mumbai: Families of tourists from Dombivli and Navi Mumbai who were killed or injured in the Pahalgam, J&K, massacre of April 22, thanked the Indian Army for eliminating three terrorists, including Suleiman Shah, who is believed to have led the attack, in Srinagar on Monday. Six tourists from Maharashtra were shot dead and six others injured when a group of assailants escaped after having shot dead 26 tourists in Baisaran meadow. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terror bases in Pakistan. Kamothe resident Subodh Patil (52), who survived after a bullet grazed his neck, said, "I saw Monday's news on television. It is indeed satisfactory and worth appreciating that the govt did not rest after Operation Sindoor, and ensured that the mastermind is eliminated." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele and Hemant Joshi, three cousins from Dombivli, near Mumbai, lost their lives that fateful day. Hemant and Atul were cousins of Sanjay's wife, Kavita, and lived within a kilometre of each other in Dombivli East. On Monday, Sanjay Lele's son Harshal congratulated the Indian Army. "It was my father's birthday on Sunday, July 27, and by coincidence, on Monday, July 28, the Army eliminated the mastermind. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo This is a true tribute to my father. I used to buy a cake on his birthday every year, but this year, Baba was not there." Harshal was happy that the Army was not resting on its laurels. "It often happens that after a few days of a furore, everything calms down. But the Army has continued its operation. I hope it will kill all the terrorists involved." He added, "I feel that the Indo-Pak cricket and hockey matches should not be held either. Earlier, I believed that sports should not be mixed with politics. But unless we completely boycott them, there will be no reformation," he said. Pune-based Nitin Desale, son of New Panvel resident Dilip Desale (64), who was killed, did not respond to calls and text messages for comment on Monday. After Operation Sindoor Nitin had said, "It feels good... This revenge shows that the govt cares about the lives of ordinary citizens. I have complete faith in our defence forces and govt." The Pahalgam terror strike that shook the safety perception of the nation had destroyed the lives of newly married couples, fledgling households, and families who were simply visiting the 'Paradise on Earth' to enjoy their summer break.


Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Student unions as laboratories of citizenship
The Karnataka government's proposal to reintroduce student elections in colleges and universities has reignited a long-dormant debate about campus politics and the kind of citizens our educational institutions are shaping. After over three decades of a ban, the move is being considered following a proposal from the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and a nudge from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who reportedly urged the government to cultivate leadership among students. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have signalled intent. However, university administrators remain wary, warning that the return of campus polls could bring back violence, groupism, and political interference. These concerns are not unfounded, but they also raise a deeper, more urgent question: What is lost when we silence student voices in the name of stability?.Student elections in Karnataka were banned in 1989, following a few violent incidents. But since then, the state has undergone massive political, social, and educational transformations. Today, the push for reintroducing student unions is not just nostalgic; it speaks to a growing recognition that student leadership is not a threat to academic life but potentially its most vital force. Many Indian states and cities, such as Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and particularly Delhi, have continued to hold student elections. Their experiences offer Karnataka both a cautionary tale and a case for reintroducing student elections rests on a foundational democratic principle: participation. A university is not merely a site for acquiring knowledge but also a space where students learn to negotiate power, voice dissent, and imagine a better society. Elections help institutionalise this spirit. In places like Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, student unions have historically played pivotal roles in defending academic freedom, improving student welfare, and demanding administrative accountability. For example, the JNU Students' Union has successfully intervened in policies around fee hikes, hostel allocations, and anti-discrimination measures. These student bodies often act as intermediaries between the administration and the student community, amplifying concerns, channelling grievances, and organising collective Student elections likely to return to campuses .Critics, however, highlight the risks and serious concerns: violence, politicisation, and academic disruption. In states like Rajasthan and Punjab, the return of student elections has sometimes led to aggressive factionalism, clashes, and even criminal allegations against candidates. In Delhi, the DU Students' Union elections have occasionally been marred by large-scale spending, mob clashes, and interference from major national parties. The 2015 DUSU elections saw such intense political rivalry that the university cancelled its presidential debates amid security does this mean we abandon campus democracy altogether? The challenge is not student politics per se, but its distortion. When student bodies become mere proxies for political parties, the educational purpose of their existence collapses. However, Karnataka can, and must, learn from these experiences to build a better, more accountable Lyngdoh Committee, set up by the Supreme Court in 2006, has already provided a robust framework to regulate student elections. It prescribes age limits, caps on campaign spending, and bans on candidates with criminal records, and insists on fair and peaceful campaigning. If effectively implemented and monitored, these guidelines can act as strong guardrails against the degeneration of student democracy into a power like West Bengal have gone further, experimenting with 'apolitical' student councils that ban political party names, symbols, and slogans. While such models have been critiqued for being over-sanitised or undemocratic, they offer one way to prevent external interference without silencing student representation. The key is not to depoliticise students but to allow them to develop their political consciousness organically, within ethical and civic bounds. After all, the purpose of education is not just to produce employable graduates but thinking citizens capable of engaging with democracy in all its complexities. .Today, campuses often feel colder. Many students express hesitation in raising their voices for fear of administrative reprisals. Activism is viewed with suspicion; leadership is seen as a disruption. The result is a generation of students who may be bright and qualified but less practiced in disagreement, negotiation, or civic this context, Karnataka's proposal can be seen not just as a political move but as an educational reform. With adequate safeguards, transparent monitoring, and a commitment to student welfare, campus elections could become training grounds for the next generation of India's democratic leaders. The goal is not to manufacture politicians but to cultivate informed, engaged citizens. To get there, universities must not act from fear but from vision. Vice chancellors and faculty have a critical role in regulating the process, mentoring student leaders, ensuring equity, and promoting a culture of dialogue over division. Faculty-guided debates, issue-based campaigns, and promoting civic values over party loyalty can help build a new grammar for student politics—one that is democratic, not the question is not whether student elections are risky; it is whether we believe our students can use voice over violence, ideas over ideology, and responsibility over rhetoric. The Karnataka government's rethink is a chance to trust students again—to let them participate, lead, and learn. In a democracy as young, noisy, and urgent as ours, that trust may be the best education we can offer..(The writer is a former professor and dean of a Bengaluru-based university)