Rahul Gandhi's aggressive street politics is giving him a fresh political edge, but overplaying his role could hurt his credibility with the wider opposition, predicts M R Narayan Swamy.
While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive gangster Shariq Sata, the alleged mastermind behind the November 2024 violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, following a request from the Uttar Pradesh Police via the CBI.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted in Lok Sabha that the Opposition cannot dictate which minister responds to questions, amidst demands for Home Minister Amit Shah to address police action on protesting students. The House faced continuous disruptions, leading to adjournment.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a nationwide agitation, starting in Pune on June 11, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged failures in conducting examinations. The group has warned of an indefinite sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from June 20 if their demand is not met.
A fresh clash erupted between protesters from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji district, leading to police firing in the air, as an indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh entered its second day over land encroachment issues and an earlier firing incident.
The family of a 15-year-old girl, whose alleged abusive remarks against PM Modi went viral, is untraceable from their Noida residence. Local police deny receiving harassment complaints, while the family had previously appealed to the PM for forgiveness and claimed police visits.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), emphasised the importance of young or Gen Z voices leading dialogues with youth, ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's interaction with students in Mumbai. Dipke highlighted that youth protests, including those against the NEET paper leak, have compelled leaders to engage with Gen Z. He also expressed solidarity with students protesting alleged paper leaks in Jharkhand, criticising the government's handling of the issue.
A female doctor in Pakistan's Balochistan province suffered severe burns in an acid attack by a hospital employee, leading to widespread protests by medical professionals. The suspect was later killed in a police encounter while attempting to flee. The Young Doctors Association is demanding improved security and accountability from health officials.
The Assam government has decided to withdraw all police cases registered against individuals involved in protests concerning the NEET question paper leak and to release those arrested or detained during these demonstrations, citing the need for systemic reforms in the education ecosystem.
The Supreme Court has stressed the importance of law enforcement agencies exercising restraint during protests, advocating for the pacification and counselling of youngsters, even if some engage in stone-pelting, as it agreed to hear a plea regarding accountability for protest organisers.
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and seers have filed police complaints and FIRs against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav, and Awadhesh Prasad for a skit performed in Parliament, alleging it mocked Sanatan culture and ridiculed Indian traditions concerning Ram Temple donations.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised police action against CJP student protesters in the national capital, alleging lathi charge and tear gas use. He also claimed the Opposition was prevented from raising the issue in Parliament, demanding a discussion and a statement from the Home Minister. The protest, which turned violent, saw injuries to both police personnel and protesters, with FIRs registered for vandalism. Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, involved in the protest, continues to receive medical treatment.
Delhi Police detained six people at Jantar Mantar to prevent clashes during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest, involving hundreds of students and young professionals, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, including NEET and CUET. Heavy security was deployed to ensure peace.
The spiralling agitation over the NEET issue saw protests and counter-protests by Congress and BJP across the country on Wednesday, with clashes and tense face-offs at many places, a day after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were forcibly removed from a dharna outside the prime minister's residence.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The bill, which also covers other national symbols, was passed amidst protests from opposition parties regarding the NEET paper leak. Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticised the opposition's stance, emphasising the song's historical significance and its role in national unity.
Indian fast bowlers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar were on Friday appointed as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) by the Bihar government under its 'Medal Lao, Naukri Pao' policy, with Akash calling it a "big responsibility" and urging students to maintain peace amid the ongoing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh refuted Rahul Gandhi's allegations in Lok Sabha that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered firing on students protesting the NEET fiasco. Singh clarified that no bullets were fired, only tear gas was used, and the authority to order firing rests with a magistrate, not a minister. He also dismissed Gandhi's claims about Shah's cavalcade and foreign travel, criticising the opposition leader for making unsubstantiated remarks during a heated parliamentary debate.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has launched a nationwide protest from Pune, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities and delays. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is also participating in the peaceful demonstration.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the online movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), arrived in Delhi on Saturday ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, and urged supporters to maintain discipline and ensure that the protest remains peaceful.
'Instead of choosing dialogue, the government chose repression... Force ought to be the last resort, not the first.'
'Paper leak is a very serious issue, and I am glad to know and see that the kids of our country have come together for a better educational system, and their parents supported them.'
A protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi's Connaught Place and Janpath areas turned violent, with demonstrators allegedly pelting stones at security personnel and damaging vehicles. The 'Chalo Sansad' march led to significant disruption, traffic snarls, and the deployment of additional security forces.
Clashes erupted during the first phase of legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) claiming 14 deaths, a figure disputed by law enforcement. India condemned the elections as an attempt by Pakistan to legitimise its illegal occupation and human rights abuses in the region, while ongoing JAAC protests highlight deep-seated grievances.
Bhagwanrao Dipke, father of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, described Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union Education Minister as 'a very good step' to soothe the growing anger among protesting students and their families across the nation.
'We looked up and there was a man dressed as Mahatma Gandhi walking with the protesters under Minto Bridge. Everyone burst into laughter. Almost instinctively, we shouted, 'Bapu ki jai ho!' It's one of those moments I'll never forget.'
Fitch Ratings has affirmed India's sovereign credit rating at 'BBB-' with a stable outlook, acknowledging robust growth prospects and strong external finances. However, the agency highlighted concerns over elevated government debt, lagging structural metrics, and potential fiscal spending pressures due to rising youth unemployment.
Delhi Police has intensified security across the city, especially at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and border points, in anticipation of a protest called by the digital outfit Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Over 1,000 personnel have been deployed, and senior officers have reviewed arrangements to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.
The Delhi Police has confirmed that it has not yet received any official request for permission from the digital group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to deploy personnel to maintain law and order if necessary.
Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is significant because it punctures, however slightly, the perception that the Modi government never retreats under pressure. Every long-serving government eventually reaches a point where every institutional failure is identified with the leader himself. Removing the minister may have prevented that political burden from falling directly on Modi. Whether it also resolves the underlying crisis is another matter, notes Ramesh Menon.
Amit Malviya paid the price because he committed the cardinal mistake of himself 'becoming' the BJP's IT Cell and its social media. Malviya's removal contains a message to others -- never try to become bigger than the job that has been assigned, explains Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
Glimpses from the police action against the Cockroach Janta party' march to Parliament on Monday.
A 15-year-old girl, who appeared in a viral video abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has issued an apology, claiming she was "influenced" by a group at Jantar Mantar. She expressed embarrassment and shame, appealing for forgiveness. The apology follows a police complaint, and Delhi Police are investigating the matter, having also issued notices to social media platform X for content removal. PM Modi himself commented on the incident, advocating for forgiveness for "misguided children."
Police forces from several adjoining districts were requisitioned to man key junctions, sensitive locations and government buildings in the Lutyens' area ahead of the march.
Thousands of teaching job aspirants in Bihar have been booked and several arrested following protests over delays in the BPSC TRE-4 examination notification, leading to clashes with police and political accusations.
As the debate in Parliament over the use of excessive force and pellet guns against student protesters continues, experts have warned that injuries caused by pellet guns can result in irreversible damage, particularly when there is substantial soft-tissue loss, bone defects, or disruption of the continuity of nerves and blood vessels.
The Congress escalated its campaign against alleged examination irregularities by marching to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, transforming the issue into a direct challenge to his political authority and demanding the resignations of top government officials.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is holding a crisis meeting with top officials in Morocco to address the fallout from his failed attempt to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, a move that has led to widespread criticism and calls for his removal.
'Let the world know that India's Gen Z has now moved out of their social media world and is ready to face the lathis, the tear gas shells or the spiked-dandas of cops.'
Incessant overnight rainfall has triggered severe flash floods and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts, resulting in at least eight fatalities and six people missing, prompting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to cut short his Delhi visit to personally monitor the situation.
