August 5, 2026

Lok Sabha secretariat director found dead at Noida flat NEW DELHI: A director in the Lok Sabha Secretariat allegedly died by suicide at his flat in a Noida housing society, police said on Wednesday.The deceased, identified as Gaurav Gautam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment at Kendriya Vihar-II Society in Noida’s Sector 82 on Sunday, police said, as cited by PTI.Police said a purported suicide note recovered from the flat referred to a loan. Its contents are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.According to the Phase-2 police station, officers were alerted to the incident after receiving a memo from a hospital, where Gaurav Gautam had been taken. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPolice said Gautam’s wife had gone to her parental home. On returning, she found the flat locked and, sensing that something was wrong, entered the apartment with the assistance of a security guard.She found Gautam hanging and immediately rushed him to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said.A forensic team and local police later inspected the scene and collected evidence. After completing the inquest proceedings, the body was sent for a post-mortem examination.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinner123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

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Lok Sabha secretariat director found dead at Noida flat NEW DELHI: A director in the Lok Sabha Secretariat allegedly died by suicide at his flat in a Noida housing society, police said on Wednesday.The deceased, identified as Gaurav Gautam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment at Kendriya Vihar-II Society in Noida’s Sector 82 on Sunday, police said, as cited by PTI.Police said a purported suicide note recovered from the flat referred to a loan. Its contents are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.According to the Phase-2 police station, officers were alerted to the incident after receiving a memo from a hospital, where Gaurav Gautam had been taken. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPolice said Gautam’s wife had gone to her parental home. On returning, she found the flat locked and, sensing that something was wrong, entered the apartment with the assistance of a security guard.She found Gautam hanging and immediately rushed him to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead, police said.A forensic team and local police later inspected the scene and collected evidence. After completing the inquest proceedings, the body was sent for a post-mortem examination.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinner123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh


Lok Sabha secretariat director found hanging in Noida flat; suicide note recovered
Lok Sabha secretariat director found dead at Noida flat

NEW DELHI: A director in the Lok Sabha Secretariat allegedly died by suicide at his flat in a Noida housing society, police said on Wednesday.The deceased, identified as Gaurav Gautam, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment at Kendriya Vihar-II Society in Noida’s Sector 82 on Sunday, police said, as cited by PTI.Police said a purported suicide note recovered from the flat referred to a loan. Its contents are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.According to the Phase-2 police station, officers were alerted to the incident after receiving a memo from a hospital, where Gaurav Gautam had been taken. Doctors declared him dead on arrival.

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Listen to youth, read, learn, understand Parliament: PM Modi guides newly elected BJP MPs on grassroots connectivity Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting for newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha MPs and those who recently joined the party, during which he guided the parliamentarians on various issues and shared effective ways to connect with the youth.The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence, saw the participation of 37 parliamentarians, including those who recently switched to the BJP from parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC).Speaking to after the interaction, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney described the experience as “wonderful” and noted that the Prime Minister offered guidance rooted in his own decades of public service.”The Prime Minister hosted newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs and those who have recently joined the BJP for breakfast this morning…It was a wonderful experience…Drawing from his own public life and experience, he offered valuable guidance on how seriously we should take Parliament. He emphasised that Parliament must function smoothly…He further encouraged MPs to spend at least one or two hours each day in the Parliament Library…He also encouraged MPs to engage with the youth and actively implement the MP Sports Scheme in their respective constituencies,” Sahney said.Focusing on the younger generation, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal shared a specific piece of advice from the Prime Minister on building a rapport with Gen Z.”I asked the PM how to connect with youth. The PM said, ‘Listen to them carefully, understand them, and talk to them politely.’ It was a very good meeting where we got to seek guidance on personal, social, and political matters,” Mittal told ANI.BJP MP Rahul Sinha highlighted the inclusive nature of the interaction, noting that the Prime Minister took the time to listen to every individual present.”We are fortunate that our PM listened to each one of us and gave important guidance. MPs who came from AAP and TMC recently and joined BJP, and are presently Rajya Sabha MPs, also met Prime Minister Modi today,” Sinha said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting with 37 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at his residence as part of his ongoing interactions with parliamentarians during the monsoon session of Parliament.During the meeting, the Prime Minister is said to have shared personal experiences and held informal discussions with the MPs.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThose who attended included MPs associated with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) alliance, former AAP leaders who later joined the BJP, as well as senior party leaders Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde, and party president Nitin Nabin.The breakfast meeting was part of the Prime Minister’s practice of meeting different groups of BJP MPs during Parliament sessions to interact and exchange views.This comes amid the opposition’s protests demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi in Parliament, seeking their response on issues concerning the public.Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM today amid continued disruptions in the House.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesGhajini actor Pradeep Rawat died after blood cancer relapse: Doctors explain why the disease can return years after successful treatmentScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

Listen to youth, read, learn, understand Parliament: PM Modi guides newly elected BJP MPs on grassroots connectivity Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting for newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha MPs and those who recently joined the party, during which he guided the parliamentarians on various issues and shared effective ways to connect with the youth.The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence, saw the participation of 37 parliamentarians, including those who recently switched to the BJP from parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC).Speaking to after the interaction, Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney described the experience as “wonderful” and noted that the Prime Minister offered guidance rooted in his own decades of public service.”The Prime Minister hosted newly elected Rajya Sabha MPs and those who have recently joined the BJP for breakfast this morning…It was a wonderful experience…Drawing from his own public life and experience, he offered valuable guidance on how seriously we should take Parliament. He emphasised that Parliament must function smoothly…He further encouraged MPs to spend at least one or two hours each day in the Parliament Library…He also encouraged MPs to engage with the youth and actively implement the MP Sports Scheme in their respective constituencies,” Sahney said.Focusing on the younger generation, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal shared a specific piece of advice from the Prime Minister on building a rapport with Gen Z.”I asked the PM how to connect with youth. The PM said, ‘Listen to them carefully, understand them, and talk to them politely.’ It was a very good meeting where we got to seek guidance on personal, social, and political matters,” Mittal told ANI.BJP MP Rahul Sinha highlighted the inclusive nature of the interaction, noting that the Prime Minister took the time to listen to every individual present.”We are fortunate that our PM listened to each one of us and gave important guidance. MPs who came from AAP and TMC recently and joined BJP, and are presently Rajya Sabha MPs, also met Prime Minister Modi today,” Sinha said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hosted a breakfast meeting with 37 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at his residence as part of his ongoing interactions with parliamentarians during the monsoon session of Parliament.During the meeting, the Prime Minister is said to have shared personal experiences and held informal discussions with the MPs.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThose who attended included MPs associated with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) alliance, former AAP leaders who later joined the BJP, as well as senior party leaders Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde, and party president Nitin Nabin.The breakfast meeting was part of the Prime Minister’s practice of meeting different groups of BJP MPs during Parliament sessions to interact and exchange views.This comes amid the opposition’s protests demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi in Parliament, seeking their response on issues concerning the public.Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 PM today amid continued disruptions in the House.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesGhajini actor Pradeep Rawat died after blood cancer relapse: Doctors explain why the disease can return years after successful treatmentScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

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Taslima Nasrin For 19 years, Taslima Nasreen carried Kolkata in her memories, longing to return but unable to do so. The city that had become her “second home” after she left Bangladesh in 1994 remained out of reach. Forced to flee her country of birth and later compelled to leave the city where she had settled, Nasreen spent much of the past three decades moving from one place to another, not in search of adventure but of refuge, without quite recovering the sense of home she associated with Kolkata.That door finally opened nearly 19 years later.Nasreen set foot in the City of Joy on July 31 and received a civic felicitation at Rabindra Sadan on August 1. The visit was accompanied by a warm official welcome from West Bengal’s new government, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assuring the writer of security whenever she chose to visit.The author, who was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007, responded with gratitude. “It’s not just the city I return to; for me, it’s a homecoming to a lost chapter of my life,” she said.The change of government has given Nasreen fresh hope of spending more time in Kolkata, something that did not become possible under the previous two administrations. But it has also raised a more difficult question: Is her return merely a ceremonial visit, or could it be the first step towards once again making Kolkata her home?Homecoming: Delayed, but not deniedIn November 2007, Kolkata witnessed violent protests by groups opposed to Nasreen and her writings, including her memoir Dwikhandito. Amid concerns over her safety and the worsening law-and-order situation, the authorities moved her out of the city.She was taken first to Jaipur and later kept under security in New Delhi before eventually leaving India for Europe. Her repeated appeals to successive governments to let her return to Kolkata did not produce a result.Almost two decades and two changes of government later, her return became possible. “Taslima Nasreen’s return proves that Bengal is in good hands now. Threats and intimidation are in the past. Every pillar of the Constitution and fundamental rights are safe,” Adhikari said at the felicitation.“You can come to Kolkata whenever you want, as many times as you want, and stay as long as you want. As the chief minister and police minister of Bengal, I am personally responsible for your security.” Nasreen was equally effusive in her gratitude.“History remembers who shut the door. Now, history will also remember who reopened it,” she said. “The opening of this door proves injustice can feel like a long night, but it’s never permanent.” But the cordial exchange also opened a larger conversation.Can Kolkata become a sanctuary to which Nasreen returns not merely as a guest but as a long-term resident? The answer is not straightforward. The chief minister can assure her of security within the state, but any longer-term residential arrangement would also depend on her visa status and decisions by the appropriate immigration authorities. Visa extensions and residential permits for foreign nationals are handled through the FRRO/FRO system and, in some cases, the Union home ministry.Kolkata: Then and nowNineteen years is a long time, particularly in a period of rapid political and social change. The Kolkata Nasreen knew in the early 2000s is not the city to which she has returned.For the writer, “every year in banishment looked like a door heavily bolted”. Meanwhile, although the government that moved her out of the city is no longer in power, her return has acquired a new and complicated political context.Nasreen has not forgotten how abruptly she had to leave Kolkata while the Left Front governed Bengal. She remains sharply critical of the Left, accusing sections of it of failing to defend free-thinkers while claiming to stand for secularism and progressive values.But the Kolkata of 2026 is governed by the BJP, and Nasreen’s return unfolded amid the symbols and slogans associated with its politics. Chief Minister Adhikari was welcomed at Rabindra Sadan with chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, a religious invocation that has also become a prominent political slogan.Nasreen has consistently argued that religion and the state should remain separate.“Humanity has to be bigger than any doctrine,” she said during her homecoming address.She also sought to draw a clear line between gratitude and political endorsement. “I’m thankful to this government for letting me return. But my gratitude doesn’t warrant my allegiance to them. I haven’t come here for any political party,” she said.The question, therefore, is not whether she is grateful to the government that facilitated her return. She plainly is. The harder question is whether Kolkata can protect her right to disagree with the same establishment if her views become inconvenient to it.The cultural composition of the felicitation offered another indication of how much the city’s public life has changed. For a ceremony honouring one of the Bengali language’s most internationally recognised writers, relatively few prominent members of the literary fraternity were present.Novelist Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, who had been expected to attend, was absent. Poet Joy Goswami was present, but his appearance led to the most uncomfortable moment of the evening.When Nasreen invited Goswami to join her on the stage, a section of the audience erupted in protest, shouting slogans and objecting to his presence on the dais. Goswami, who had begun walking towards the stage, turned around and returned to his seat.The disruption continued for several minutes. Nasreen waited quietly before appealing to the audience to calm down and allow the programme to continue.The irony was difficult to miss. An event organised to celebrate a writer who had spent decades defending freedom of expression had briefly become a venue for preventing another poet from speaking.The hostility appeared to be connected to Goswami’s perceived proximity to the previous Trinamool Congress establishment and criticism that prominent cultural figures had not done enough to defend Nasreen when she was made to leave Kolkata. Whatever the political grievance, however, it could not justify denying him the opportunity to speak after Nasreen herself had invited him.Goswami did not confront the protesters and later left Rabindra Sadan without reading the poem he had written for Nasreen.“Everyone has the right to speak. When someone speaks about freedom of expression, people support it; but when a poet is invited to speak, they do not want to hear him. That is not right,” Nasreen said the following day.“It wasn’t just Joy who was insulted. I was also insulted because I had invited him.”The organisers also expressed regret over the incident. Nasreen subsequently spoke to Goswami by telephone after being unable to visit him during the trip.The episode showed how quickly cultural spaces can become arenas for political resentment. For all the celebration surrounding Nasreen’s homecoming, Kolkata is still negotiating the same difficult questions about dissent, ideological loyalty and the right to disagree that formed the background to her departure.The real test will not be how warmly the city welcomes her when her presence suits the political moment. It will be whether Kolkata continues to defend her when she says something those in power, or their supporters, do not wish to hear.Where to next?Kolkata has reopened its doors to Nasreen after nearly 19 years. Her own homeland, however, remains out of reach. After Lajja provoked widespread outrage among Islamist groups, Nasreen faced threats and criminal proceedings over her writings and public statements. Her Bangladeshi passport was revoked, and she left the country in 1994.Nearly 32 years later, she has still not been able to return permanently. Exile remains the defining condition of her life. “The number of years I’ve been away from home has already surpassed the sum of time I was allowed to live there,” said Nasreen, who will turn 64 later this month.And yet she has supported former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s right to return to the country, even though Nasreen has said that Hasina’s government opposed her own attempts to return to Bangladesh in 1999. “I’ve criticised Sheikh Hasina in the past,” Nasreen said. “The ban on the Awami League must be revoked since it’s undemocratic. Sheikh Hasina wants to return. I want her to return for the sake of democracy in Bangladesh.”Hasina, who has been living in India since her government fell in August 2024, has said she intends to return to Bangladesh by December despite a death sentence handed down in absentia, which she rejects as politically motivated. She was scheduled to make her first public appearance since her ouster through a virtual address in New Delhi on August 5.Nasreen’s defence of Hasina’s right to return is notable precisely because of their history. It is an argument that the right to go home should not depend on political sympathy or personal gratitude. “No one wants my return. Sheikh Hasina did not. Neither did Khaleda Zia nor those who came to power subsequently,” Nasreen said, her disappointment over the repeated refusals unmistakable.But she refuses to abandon hope. “It took me 19 years to be able to say, ‘Kolkata, I’ve come back to you’,” she said. “I have tears in my eyes, but I come with a heart full of love.”Her return to the City of Joy has renewed her belief that seemingly permanent barriers can eventually fall. “Nineteen years stand between my exile and return. But the opening of this door proves injustice can be long-standing but never permanent.”Perhaps that is why Nasreen continues to dream of a day “when no writer has to live in exile from her own country”. She hopes Bangladesh will one day separate religion from the state and become a country where women have equal rights, minorities can live with dignity and free-thinkers and non-believers are not threatened for their views.In India’s neighbouring country, that day may yet come. For now, Nasreen is grateful that she can at least return to Kolkata, revisit its familiar spaces and, she hopes, attend the Book Fair as she once did.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHer former address in the city no longer belongs to her. Kolkata has changed, and the pet that once helped make the city feel like home is no longer alive. But after nearly 19 years, Taslima Nasreen has returned, carrying with her hope, unfinished arguments and, perhaps, a few more lives in reserve.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? 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Taslima Nasrin For 19 years, Taslima Nasreen carried Kolkata in her memories, longing to return but unable to do so. The city that had become her “second home” after she left Bangladesh in 1994 remained out of reach. Forced to flee her country of birth and later compelled to leave the city where she had settled, Nasreen spent much of the past three decades moving from one place to another, not in search of adventure but of refuge, without quite recovering the sense of home she associated with Kolkata.That door finally opened nearly 19 years later.Nasreen set foot in the City of Joy on July 31 and received a civic felicitation at Rabindra Sadan on August 1. The visit was accompanied by a warm official welcome from West Bengal’s new government, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assuring the writer of security whenever she chose to visit.The author, who was forced to leave Kolkata in 2007, responded with gratitude. “It’s not just the city I return to; for me, it’s a homecoming to a lost chapter of my life,” she said.The change of government has given Nasreen fresh hope of spending more time in Kolkata, something that did not become possible under the previous two administrations. But it has also raised a more difficult question: Is her return merely a ceremonial visit, or could it be the first step towards once again making Kolkata her home?Homecoming: Delayed, but not deniedIn November 2007, Kolkata witnessed violent protests by groups opposed to Nasreen and her writings, including her memoir Dwikhandito. Amid concerns over her safety and the worsening law-and-order situation, the authorities moved her out of the city.She was taken first to Jaipur and later kept under security in New Delhi before eventually leaving India for Europe. Her repeated appeals to successive governments to let her return to Kolkata did not produce a result.Almost two decades and two changes of government later, her return became possible. “Taslima Nasreen’s return proves that Bengal is in good hands now. Threats and intimidation are in the past. Every pillar of the Constitution and fundamental rights are safe,” Adhikari said at the felicitation.“You can come to Kolkata whenever you want, as many times as you want, and stay as long as you want. As the chief minister and police minister of Bengal, I am personally responsible for your security.” Nasreen was equally effusive in her gratitude.“History remembers who shut the door. Now, history will also remember who reopened it,” she said. “The opening of this door proves injustice can feel like a long night, but it’s never permanent.” But the cordial exchange also opened a larger conversation.Can Kolkata become a sanctuary to which Nasreen returns not merely as a guest but as a long-term resident? The answer is not straightforward. The chief minister can assure her of security within the state, but any longer-term residential arrangement would also depend on her visa status and decisions by the appropriate immigration authorities. Visa extensions and residential permits for foreign nationals are handled through the FRRO/FRO system and, in some cases, the Union home ministry.Kolkata: Then and nowNineteen years is a long time, particularly in a period of rapid political and social change. The Kolkata Nasreen knew in the early 2000s is not the city to which she has returned.For the writer, “every year in banishment looked like a door heavily bolted”. Meanwhile, although the government that moved her out of the city is no longer in power, her return has acquired a new and complicated political context.Nasreen has not forgotten how abruptly she had to leave Kolkata while the Left Front governed Bengal. She remains sharply critical of the Left, accusing sections of it of failing to defend free-thinkers while claiming to stand for secularism and progressive values.But the Kolkata of 2026 is governed by the BJP, and Nasreen’s return unfolded amid the symbols and slogans associated with its politics. Chief Minister Adhikari was welcomed at Rabindra Sadan with chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, a religious invocation that has also become a prominent political slogan.Nasreen has consistently argued that religion and the state should remain separate.“Humanity has to be bigger than any doctrine,” she said during her homecoming address.She also sought to draw a clear line between gratitude and political endorsement. “I’m thankful to this government for letting me return. But my gratitude doesn’t warrant my allegiance to them. I haven’t come here for any political party,” she said.The question, therefore, is not whether she is grateful to the government that facilitated her return. She plainly is. The harder question is whether Kolkata can protect her right to disagree with the same establishment if her views become inconvenient to it.The cultural composition of the felicitation offered another indication of how much the city’s public life has changed. For a ceremony honouring one of the Bengali language’s most internationally recognised writers, relatively few prominent members of the literary fraternity were present.Novelist Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, who had been expected to attend, was absent. Poet Joy Goswami was present, but his appearance led to the most uncomfortable moment of the evening.When Nasreen invited Goswami to join her on the stage, a section of the audience erupted in protest, shouting slogans and objecting to his presence on the dais. Goswami, who had begun walking towards the stage, turned around and returned to his seat.The disruption continued for several minutes. Nasreen waited quietly before appealing to the audience to calm down and allow the programme to continue.The irony was difficult to miss. An event organised to celebrate a writer who had spent decades defending freedom of expression had briefly become a venue for preventing another poet from speaking.The hostility appeared to be connected to Goswami’s perceived proximity to the previous Trinamool Congress establishment and criticism that prominent cultural figures had not done enough to defend Nasreen when she was made to leave Kolkata. Whatever the political grievance, however, it could not justify denying him the opportunity to speak after Nasreen herself had invited him.Goswami did not confront the protesters and later left Rabindra Sadan without reading the poem he had written for Nasreen.“Everyone has the right to speak. When someone speaks about freedom of expression, people support it; but when a poet is invited to speak, they do not want to hear him. That is not right,” Nasreen said the following day.“It wasn’t just Joy who was insulted. I was also insulted because I had invited him.”The organisers also expressed regret over the incident. Nasreen subsequently spoke to Goswami by telephone after being unable to visit him during the trip.The episode showed how quickly cultural spaces can become arenas for political resentment. For all the celebration surrounding Nasreen’s homecoming, Kolkata is still negotiating the same difficult questions about dissent, ideological loyalty and the right to disagree that formed the background to her departure.The real test will not be how warmly the city welcomes her when her presence suits the political moment. It will be whether Kolkata continues to defend her when she says something those in power, or their supporters, do not wish to hear.Where to next?Kolkata has reopened its doors to Nasreen after nearly 19 years. Her own homeland, however, remains out of reach. After Lajja provoked widespread outrage among Islamist groups, Nasreen faced threats and criminal proceedings over her writings and public statements. Her Bangladeshi passport was revoked, and she left the country in 1994.Nearly 32 years later, she has still not been able to return permanently. Exile remains the defining condition of her life. “The number of years I’ve been away from home has already surpassed the sum of time I was allowed to live there,” said Nasreen, who will turn 64 later this month.And yet she has supported former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s right to return to the country, even though Nasreen has said that Hasina’s government opposed her own attempts to return to Bangladesh in 1999. “I’ve criticised Sheikh Hasina in the past,” Nasreen said. “The ban on the Awami League must be revoked since it’s undemocratic. Sheikh Hasina wants to return. I want her to return for the sake of democracy in Bangladesh.”Hasina, who has been living in India since her government fell in August 2024, has said she intends to return to Bangladesh by December despite a death sentence handed down in absentia, which she rejects as politically motivated. She was scheduled to make her first public appearance since her ouster through a virtual address in New Delhi on August 5.Nasreen’s defence of Hasina’s right to return is notable precisely because of their history. It is an argument that the right to go home should not depend on political sympathy or personal gratitude. “No one wants my return. Sheikh Hasina did not. Neither did Khaleda Zia nor those who came to power subsequently,” Nasreen said, her disappointment over the repeated refusals unmistakable.But she refuses to abandon hope. “It took me 19 years to be able to say, ‘Kolkata, I’ve come back to you’,” she said. “I have tears in my eyes, but I come with a heart full of love.”Her return to the City of Joy has renewed her belief that seemingly permanent barriers can eventually fall. “Nineteen years stand between my exile and return. But the opening of this door proves injustice can be long-standing but never permanent.”Perhaps that is why Nasreen continues to dream of a day “when no writer has to live in exile from her own country”. She hopes Bangladesh will one day separate religion from the state and become a country where women have equal rights, minorities can live with dignity and free-thinkers and non-believers are not threatened for their views.In India’s neighbouring country, that day may yet come. For now, Nasreen is grateful that she can at least return to Kolkata, revisit its familiar spaces and, she hopes, attend the Book Fair as she once did.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHer former address in the city no longer belongs to her. Kolkata has changed, and the pet that once helped make the city feel like home is no longer alive. But after nearly 19 years, Taslima Nasreen has returned, carrying with her hope, unfinished arguments and, perhaps, a few more lives in reserve.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJharkhand Mob Lynching: Rape Accused Beaten To Death, Police Probe POCSO Case And Mob ViolenceGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several Injured123PhotostoriesScientists have discovered 14,000-year-old flatbread, the earliest known evidence of bread-making at a dig site10 oldest soups in the world that are still eaten todayHow ‘Musafir Cafe’ actress Mahima Makwana turns pastels into her boldest fashion statementFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for love123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

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‘I’m M K Stalin’s son’: Udhayanidhi shares photo with father after release NEW DELHI: Senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday hit out at the ruling TVK government after being released from police custody, saying he was not intimidated by his arrest and would continue to fight for farmers and the people.Sharing a photograph with his father and former chief minister M K Stalin on X, Udhayanidhi invoked his political lineage and accused the government of trying to suppress the opposition.”I am the grandson of Kalaignar and the son of M K Stalin. I am a cadre of the DMK. We do not fear these tactics. If it means getting arrested while fighting for farmers, not just once – I will get arrested even 100 times. Your repression will never stop our service to the people for even a single day!” he wrote. ‘I’m M K Stalin’s son’: Udhayanidhi shares photo with father after releaseUdhayanidhi was briefly arrested on Tuesday morning, a day after his remarks during a protest in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka sparked a political controversy. During his speech, he was interrupted by chants of “Trisha, Trisha” from the audience. The ruling TVK alleged that his response carried a vulgar double meaning and accused him of lowering the standards of political discourse and insulting the dignity of women.After being questioned by the police, Udhayanidhi was released later in the day.Targeting the TVK government after his release, he alleged that the action against him was aimed at diverting attention from farmers’ issues.”The #SofaModel government, which is incapable of wiping away the sorrows of farmers, has arrested me to divert attention from the issues. Using the ruling party’s Abusive warriors, they spread defamation against me claiming that I used unnecessary words during the Thanjavur protest. They registered false cases, thinking they could harass me by dragging me from Chennai to Thanjavur, and tried to satisfy someone,” he said.”Even after arresting me, I looked at the media and said that I view this arrest as a comedy, and only then came along. I did not run away in fear after seeing the police,” he added.Udhayanidhi also referred to the Karur stampede in which 41 people died, accusing the chief minister of avoiding accountability.”The whole country knows that today’s Chief Minister, even when 41 people died in Karur, without meeting their families and without facing the media, fled head over heels in fear that he might be arrested.””Even after so many lives were lost in Karur – this is the same person who went to Malaysia within the next one month for a film promotion and danced around. The Chief Minister may fear arrest if he wants. I am not afraid of any of that,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe DMK leader also thanked party workers, alliance partners and other political leaders who condemned his arrest and participated in protests demanding his release.”I express my gratitude to the leaders of various political parties, including friendly movements, who condemned my arrest, and to the party comrades across Tamil Nadu who showed unity in support of me,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several InjuredNHAI Forced Into U-Turn After Posting Wrong Pic Of Rajasthan’s NH-25; Project Director Suspended123PhotostoriesVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinnerWant siblings who stay close for life? These everyday parenting habits can make all the difference10 baby boy names inspired by kings and royalty123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

‘I’m M K Stalin’s son’: Udhayanidhi shares photo with father after release NEW DELHI: Senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday hit out at the ruling TVK government after being released from police custody, saying he was not intimidated by his arrest and would continue to fight for farmers and the people.Sharing a photograph with his father and former chief minister M K Stalin on X, Udhayanidhi invoked his political lineage and accused the government of trying to suppress the opposition.”I am the grandson of Kalaignar and the son of M K Stalin. I am a cadre of the DMK. We do not fear these tactics. If it means getting arrested while fighting for farmers, not just once – I will get arrested even 100 times. Your repression will never stop our service to the people for even a single day!” he wrote. ‘I’m M K Stalin’s son’: Udhayanidhi shares photo with father after releaseUdhayanidhi was briefly arrested on Tuesday morning, a day after his remarks during a protest in Thanjavur over the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka sparked a political controversy. During his speech, he was interrupted by chants of “Trisha, Trisha” from the audience. The ruling TVK alleged that his response carried a vulgar double meaning and accused him of lowering the standards of political discourse and insulting the dignity of women.After being questioned by the police, Udhayanidhi was released later in the day.Targeting the TVK government after his release, he alleged that the action against him was aimed at diverting attention from farmers’ issues.”The #SofaModel government, which is incapable of wiping away the sorrows of farmers, has arrested me to divert attention from the issues. Using the ruling party’s Abusive warriors, they spread defamation against me claiming that I used unnecessary words during the Thanjavur protest. They registered false cases, thinking they could harass me by dragging me from Chennai to Thanjavur, and tried to satisfy someone,” he said.”Even after arresting me, I looked at the media and said that I view this arrest as a comedy, and only then came along. I did not run away in fear after seeing the police,” he added.Udhayanidhi also referred to the Karur stampede in which 41 people died, accusing the chief minister of avoiding accountability.”The whole country knows that today’s Chief Minister, even when 41 people died in Karur, without meeting their families and without facing the media, fled head over heels in fear that he might be arrested.””Even after so many lives were lost in Karur – this is the same person who went to Malaysia within the next one month for a film promotion and danced around. The Chief Minister may fear arrest if he wants. I am not afraid of any of that,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe DMK leader also thanked party workers, alliance partners and other political leaders who condemned his arrest and participated in protests demanding his release.”I express my gratitude to the leaders of various political parties, including friendly movements, who condemned my arrest, and to the party comrades across Tamil Nadu who showed unity in support of me,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several InjuredNHAI Forced Into U-Turn After Posting Wrong Pic Of Rajasthan’s NH-25; Project Director Suspended123PhotostoriesVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinnerWant siblings who stay close for life? These everyday parenting habits can make all the difference10 baby boy names inspired by kings and royalty123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUdhayanidhi StalinD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

Vamsikrishna 0
Mahto takes water after Sonam Wangchuk’s appeal (Photo: ANI) Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), consumed water on Wednesday, the fourth day of his fast. Mahto said he decided to take water after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk urged him to do so during a video call. He made it clear, however, that the hunger strike and the satyagraha would continue until the government responded to the students’ demands.Mahto began the indefinite hunger strike on Sunday night at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, where students have been protesting against alleged irregularities in several recruitment examinations. The agitation entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Mahto said the wider satyagraha began on July 25, while he started his indefinite hunger strike on August 2.According to Mahto, Wangchuk expressed support for the students’ movement, offered guidance and encouragement, and lauded their peaceful democratic protest. Mahto also invited Wangchuk to visit Ranchi and boost the morale of the agitating students. He said Wangchuk had assured continued support for the movement.Wangchuk asked Mahto about his health. Mahto replied, “We have been on Satyagraha since July 25th; I sat on the indefinite hunger strike on August 2nd. I was extremely exhausted–it was a critical time… Papers have been leaking here for 26 years… Yesterday, the doctor warned that if I didn’t take water, I would have to be admitted to the hospital…” Wangchuk then appealed to him to call off the strike, saying, “Please take some water; this is tantamount to suicide… You need some time, but it could be 2-3 weeks as well, and I hope that the government will understand and make the right decision.”Mahto told reporters that Wangchuk’s support had raised the protesters’ morale. He said he had given up both food and water for four days and that his condition was quite bad. “Sonam Wangchuk sir, by supporting our movement, has increased our morale. He has increased it so much that now we will definitely make the government back down. For the last four days, I had given up both water and food, and my condition was quite bad. He made a lot of pleas, requests, and appeals, saying, ‘Take water and salt, and everyone is always with you, and surely your movement will be successful.’ Many others had requested before for me to take water and salt, but I had refused everyone. However, with one condition, I have accepted water from Sonam sir,” Mahto said.Mahto said the condition was that Wangchuk should continue supporting the Jharkhand students until their protest succeeded. He said Wangchuk had agreed to remain in touch and participate through video calls. Mahto added that he would consume water and salt but would not eat until the Jharkhand government listened to the students’ demands. “The condition is that, just as you physically participated in the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar and made the movement of students across India successful while on a hunger strike, in the same way, for justice for all the students of Jharkhand, we will expect the same support from you until this movement is successful. And we should get your support. Sonam Wangchuk sir has accepted this condition, that until the students of Jharkhand get justice, until this protest is successful, Sonam Wangchuk sir will stay with us, always stay in touch, and also be on video calls. And from today onwards, I will consume water and salt, but I will not consume food until the Jharkhand government listens to our demands,” he said.Students demand cancellation of JPSC examination, CBI probeThe protests began after the results of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination were announced on July 5, with aspirants alleging irregularities in the recruitment process. Students have since been holding round-the-clock protests and an indefinite sit-in, demanding transparency and accountability. They are also seeking comprehensive reforms in Jharkhand’s recruitment agencies.Their key demands include the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination and a CBI investigation into alleged malpractice in recruitment tests, including the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations. They have also demanded the public release of OMR sheets and answer scripts from the main examinations. A faction of the protesters has warned that it will gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on August 6 if the government fails to take concrete steps on the demands.Soren says government committed to ensuring justiceAmid the growing protests, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren broke his silence on Tuesday and said his government was sensitive to the students’ concerns and committed to ensuring justice. He said the matter was being examined seriously and that an appropriate decision would be taken within the constitutional framework after reports from the investigating agencies were received. Soren said his government was determined to resolve the issue once and for all. “I have said this before as well, the government has eyes and ears; it is sensitive to the issue…the way the investigation team is working day and night, we are waiting for its answer and a conclusion…very soon we will make the students and the people of the state aware about it. All the necessities of the students will be met, and they will get justice,” the chief minister said.The state Criminal Investigation Department, which is probing the alleged examination irregularities, has conducted raids at several locations across Jharkhand. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents, carbon copies of OMR sheets and other materials deemed important to the investigation during the searches. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesExamination of the seized evidence is under way.The opposition has also intensified its attack on the state government over the issue. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi and several BJP leaders have demanded a CBI investigation. They have also sought strict action against officials found guilty of wrongdoing and the immediate acceptance of the students’ demands.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt May Allow Merchant Charges On UPI Payments Above Rs 2,000SC Proposes Fuel Ban For Uninsured Vehicles, Calls For Automatic E-ChallansWest Bengal Clears Fast-Track Land Acquisition For Strategic Rail Link Near DoklamSecurity On High Alert: Pak Drone Sighted In Jammu On Eve Of Article 370 Abrogation AnniversaryNot A Single Woman In Karnataka Cabinet? Congress Faces Tough QuestionsExplained: Why Jharkhand Students Are Distancing Their JPSC Protest From The Jantar Mantar AgitationGovernment Proposes V2V Technology To Enable Real-Time Vehicle Communication For Better Road Safety’Cannot Tear Open My Chest’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s First Reaction To JPSC Student Protest’Thought We Would Die’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Hit By Violent Turbulence, Several InjuredNHAI Forced Into U-Turn After Posting Wrong Pic Of Rajasthan’s NH-25; Project Director Suspended123PhotostoriesFrom rare forest owlets to powerful eagle owls: 10 stunning owl species found in IndiaVedika Pinto’s ‘Musafir Cafe’ style: 5 fashion statements worth recreating5 easy and simple hacks to accommodate nearly 50 plants in your small balcony garden4 ways Japanese cook rice and what makes each method unique9 spiritual rituals that can enhance your energy based on your birth dateWhy Indians have eaten curd and sugar before important occasions for generations5 subtle forms of manipulation people often mistake for loveThe first date was amazing. So why wasn’t there a second? 9 reasons it happens more often than you think12 dhaba-style potato dishes that are perfect for lunch and dinnerWant siblings who stay close for life? These everyday parenting habits can make all the difference123Hot PicksRBI MeetingGold Rate TodayStock Market TodayICMAI June 2026 toppers listTamil Nadu Budget SessionTN supplementary resultSpaceXUPI transactionsD Y PatilTop TrendingRBI MPC MeetingVande Matram StanzaUdhayanidhi StalinBritish ReturnsPM ModiTamil Nadu Budget Session 2026Air India FlightD Y Patil DeathTamil Nadu BudgetShradha Singh

Mahto takes water after Sonam Wangchuk’s appeal (Photo: ANI) Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), consumed water on Wednesday, the fourth day of his fast. Mahto said he decided to take water after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk urged him to do so during a video call. He made it clear, however, that the hunger strike and the satyagraha would continue until the government responded to the students’ demands.Mahto began the indefinite hunger strike on Sunday night at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, where students have been protesting against alleged irregularities in several recruitment examinations. The agitation entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Mahto said the wider satyagraha began on July 25, while he started his indefinite hunger strike on August 2.According to Mahto, Wangchuk expressed support for the students’ movement, offered guidance and encouragement, and lauded their peaceful democratic protest. Mahto also invited Wangchuk to visit Ranchi and boost the morale of the agitating students. He said Wangchuk had assured continued support for the movement.Wangchuk asked Mahto about his health. Mahto replied, “We have been on Satyagraha since July 25th; I sat on the indefinite hunger strike on August 2nd. I was extremely exhausted–it was a critical time… Papers have been leaking here for 26 years… Yesterday, the doctor warned that if I didn’t take water, I would have to be admitted to the hospital…” Wangchuk then appealed to him to call off the strike, saying, “Please take some water; this is tantamount to suicide… You need some time, but it could be 2-3 weeks as well, and I hope that the government will understand and make the right decision.”Mahto told reporters that Wangchuk’s support had raised the protesters’ morale. He said he had given up both food and water for four days and that his condition was quite bad. “Sonam Wangchuk sir, by supporting our movement, has increased our morale. He has increased it so much that now we will definitely make the government back down. For the last four days, I had given up both water and food, and my condition was quite bad. He made a lot of pleas, requests, and appeals, saying, ‘Take water and salt, and everyone is always with you, and surely your movement will be successful.’ Many others had requested before for me to take water and salt, but I had refused everyone. However, with one condition, I have accepted water from Sonam sir,” Mahto said.Mahto said the condition was that Wangchuk should continue supporting the Jharkhand students until their protest succeeded. He said Wangchuk had agreed to remain in touch and participate through video calls. Mahto added that he would consume water and salt but would not eat until the Jharkhand government listened to the students’ demands. “The condition is that, just as you physically participated in the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar and made the movement of students across India successful while on a hunger strike, in the same way, for justice for all the students of Jharkhand, we will expect the same support from you until this movement is successful. And we should get your support. Sonam Wangchuk sir has accepted this condition, that until the students of Jharkhand get justice, until this protest is successful, Sonam Wangchuk sir will stay with us, always stay in touch, and also be on video calls. And from today onwards, I will consume water and salt, but I will not consume food until the Jharkhand government listens to our demands,” he said.Students demand cancellation of JPSC examination, CBI probeThe protests began after the results of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination were announced on July 5, with aspirants alleging irregularities in the recruitment process. Students have since been holding round-the-clock protests and an indefinite sit-in, demanding transparency and accountability. They are also seeking comprehensive reforms in Jharkhand’s recruitment agencies.Their key demands include the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination and a CBI investigation into alleged malpractice in recruitment tests, including the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations. They have also demanded the public release of OMR sheets and answer scripts from the main examinations. A faction of the protesters has warned that it will gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on August 6 if the government fails to take concrete steps on the demands.Soren says government committed to ensuring justiceAmid the growing protests, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren broke his silence on Tuesday and said his government was sensitive to the students’ concerns and committed to ensuring justice. He said the matter was being examined seriously and that an appropriate decision would be taken within the constitutional framework after reports from the investigating agencies were received. Soren said his government was determined to resolve the issue once and for all. “I have said this before as well, the government has eyes and ears; it is sensitive to the issue…the way the investigation team is working day and night, we are waiting for its answer and a conclusion…very soon we will make the students and the people of the state aware about it. All the necessities of the students will be met, and they will get justice,” the chief minister said.The state Criminal Investigation Department, which is probing the alleged examination irregularities, has conducted raids at several locations across Jharkhand. Officials seized laptops, mobile phones, bank documents, carbon copies of OMR sheets and other materials deemed important to the investigation during the searches. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesExamination of the seized evidence is under way.The opposition has also intensified its attack on the state government over the issue. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi and several BJP leaders have demanded a CBI investigation. They have also sought strict action against officials found guilty of wrongdoing and the immediate acceptance of the students’ demands.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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