June 14, 2026

Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar emphasized the Congress party’s indispensable role in effective opposition, urging it to introspect and address its shortcomings rather than blaming rivals. He cautioned against viewing the current government in absolute negative terms. Kumar also expressed his continued respect for Sonia Gandhi and the Congress leadership despite his departure. Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar on Friday said there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without the Congress, but added that the party has “somewhere lost ground” and must revive itself as a “national obligation”.Speaking at the launch of his book Guardians of the Republic, Kumar said the Congress still has a crucial role in Indian democracy but needs to introspect. “Congress is a great party, and there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without it. It still has its influence across the country. But yes, somewhere it has lost ground,” he said. ‘PM Not Always Wrong’: Ex-Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar, Calls Party Revival A National Obligation He said the party must focus on its own shortcomings instead of blaming rivals. “It must look inward for the weaknesses rather than finding fault with the opposition parties,” Kumar added.He also cautioned against viewing the present government in absolute terms. “The impression that this regime does everything wrong, that this prime minister does everything wrong, is also not correct,” Kumar said.Kumar also clarified his ideological position after leaving the Congress, saying he continues to respect the party and its leadership. “I may have left the party, but I have the highest personal respect for Sonia Gandhi for unfailingly maintaining civility and decency in public life. When there were so many people among whom she could choose to be a prime minister, she chose Manmohan Singh for his civility and dignity,” Kumar said.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 MediaVideos‘Namaste Trump’ Era Is Over As India–US Relations Turn Fragile Over Tariffs, Says Jairam RameshHouse Democrats Push To Scrap Donald Trump’s India Tariffs As Congress Challenges Emergency PowersMessi’s Kolkata Visit Turns Chaotic As Angry Fans Vandalise Banners At Salt Lake Stadium’PM Not Always Wrong’: Ex-Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar, Calls Party Revival A National ObligationAction Over Rhetoric: CDS Anil Chauhan Sends A Calm But Clear Signal To Pakistan Amid Op SindoorWhen Optics Fail: Top Five Global Moments That Turned Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Into A Meme’No Free Lift For India’: PM Modi’s Chief Economic Adviser Says China Won’t Repeat West’s MistakeMessi Lands In Kolkata At 2.26am, City Erupts As GOAT India Tour Sparks Midnight Frenzy Scenes Now!’No Place For Tukde Tukde Slogans’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Warns Against Divisive Language In IndiaIndia Speeds Up Visas For Chinese Businesses Amid Thaw In Ties; Beijing Calls It ‘Positive Move’123Photostories5 reasons why ‘Made-in-India’ sneakers are having a momentWhat your dad secretly taught you about lifeYour hidden spiritual gift revealed… based on your date of birthLonger locals, more relief: Western Railway begins work to extend 15-car locals up to Bandra7 Brilliant leftover rice recipes that are a must tryBanarasi beauty to modern touch: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ Tanya Mittal’s top 7 saree looksDelhi Metro begins construction on Golden Line’s Saket–Lajpat corridor – India’s 1st 3-coach routeLife Lessons You Can Learn From Lord Ganesha According To Your Birth DateThe unluckiest film title in Bollywood history: How one name triggered flops, career crashes, and chaosWhat your energy attracts when you’re tired, angry or hopeful123Hot PicksMukesh Ambani vs Gautam AdaniDonald TrumpAnurag ThakurGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingSherrone MooreKell MooreH1B Fee HikeWho is Mia SoretyWho is Jeff ShiverNick FuentesDaniel JonesMeghan MarkleShehbaz SharifPaige Shiver Net Worth

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar emphasized the Congress party’s indispensable role in effective opposition, urging it to introspect and address its shortcomings rather than blaming rivals. He cautioned against viewing the current government in absolute negative terms. Kumar also expressed his continued respect for Sonia Gandhi and the Congress leadership despite his departure. Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar on Friday said there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without the Congress, but added that the party has “somewhere lost ground” and must revive itself as a “national obligation”.Speaking at the launch of his book Guardians of the Republic, Kumar said the Congress still has a crucial role in Indian democracy but needs to introspect. “Congress is a great party, and there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without it. It still has its influence across the country. But yes, somewhere it has lost ground,” he said. ‘PM Not Always Wrong’: Ex-Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar, Calls Party Revival A National Obligation He said the party must focus on its own shortcomings instead of blaming rivals. “It must look inward for the weaknesses rather than finding fault with the opposition parties,” Kumar added.He also cautioned against viewing the present government in absolute terms. “The impression that this regime does everything wrong, that this prime minister does everything wrong, is also not correct,” Kumar said.Kumar also clarified his ideological position after leaving the Congress, saying he continues to respect the party and its leadership. “I may have left the party, but I have the highest personal respect for Sonia Gandhi for unfailingly maintaining civility and decency in public life. When there were so many people among whom she could choose to be a prime minister, she chose Manmohan Singh for his civility and dignity,” Kumar said.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 MediaVideos‘Namaste Trump’ Era Is Over As India–US Relations Turn Fragile Over Tariffs, Says Jairam RameshHouse Democrats Push To Scrap Donald Trump’s India Tariffs As Congress Challenges Emergency PowersMessi’s Kolkata Visit Turns Chaotic As Angry Fans Vandalise Banners At Salt Lake Stadium’PM Not Always Wrong’: Ex-Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar, Calls Party Revival A National ObligationAction Over Rhetoric: CDS Anil Chauhan Sends A Calm But Clear Signal To Pakistan Amid Op SindoorWhen Optics Fail: Top Five Global Moments That Turned Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Into A Meme’No Free Lift For India’: PM Modi’s Chief Economic Adviser Says China Won’t Repeat West’s MistakeMessi Lands In Kolkata At 2.26am, City Erupts As GOAT India Tour Sparks Midnight Frenzy Scenes Now!’No Place For Tukde Tukde Slogans’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Warns Against Divisive Language In IndiaIndia Speeds Up Visas For Chinese Businesses Amid Thaw In Ties; Beijing Calls It ‘Positive Move’123Photostories5 reasons why ‘Made-in-India’ sneakers are having a momentWhat your dad secretly taught you about lifeYour hidden spiritual gift revealed… based on your date of birthLonger locals, more relief: Western Railway begins work to extend 15-car locals up to Bandra7 Brilliant leftover rice recipes that are a must tryBanarasi beauty to modern touch: ‘Bigg Boss 19’ Tanya Mittal’s top 7 saree looksDelhi Metro begins construction on Golden Line’s Saket–Lajpat corridor – India’s 1st 3-coach routeLife Lessons You Can Learn From Lord Ganesha According To Your Birth DateThe unluckiest film title in Bollywood history: How one name triggered flops, career crashes, and chaosWhat your energy attracts when you’re tired, angry or hopeful123Hot PicksMukesh Ambani vs Gautam AdaniDonald TrumpAnurag ThakurGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingSherrone MooreKell MooreH1B Fee HikeWho is Mia SoretyWho is Jeff ShiverNick FuentesDaniel JonesMeghan MarkleShehbaz SharifPaige Shiver Net Worth


'Somewhere lost ground': Ex-minister Ashwani Kumar urges Congress to introspect, rebuild; backs PM Modi
Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Ashwani Kumar on Friday said there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without the Congress, but added that the party has “somewhere lost ground” and must revive itself as a “national obligation”.Speaking at the launch of his book Guardians of the Republic, Kumar said the Congress still has a crucial role in Indian democracy but needs to introspect. “Congress is a great party, and there cannot be an effective opposition in the country without it. It still has its influence across the country. But yes, somewhere it has lost ground,” he said.

‘PM Not Always Wrong’: Ex-Congress Leader Ashwani Kumar, Calls Party Revival A National Obligation

He said the party must focus on its own shortcomings instead of blaming rivals. “It must look inward for the weaknesses rather than finding fault with the opposition parties,” Kumar added.He also cautioned against viewing the present government in absolute terms. “The impression that this regime does everything wrong, that this prime minister does everything wrong, is also not correct,” Kumar said.Kumar also clarified his ideological position after leaving the Congress, saying he continues to respect the party and its leadership. “I may have left the party, but I have the highest personal respect for Sonia Gandhi for unfailingly maintaining civility and decency in public life. When there were so many people among whom she could choose to be a prime minister, she chose Manmohan Singh for his civility and dignity,” Kumar said.



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Image: AP For Yogi Adityanath, law and order was never merely governance. It has always been central to his political image. The imagery of a saffron-clad monk governing India’s most populous state with an iron administrative grip has remained one of the defining motifs of contemporary Uttar Pradesh politics.The “Bulldozer Baba” image, once used derisively by the opposition, has since been appropriated by the UP administration as a badge of honour. It carries a simple message: the state intends to project zero tolerance towards criminality and illegal activity. But political rhetoric often travels far ahead of official evidence.The politics of law and orderSo a TOI analysis of five selected categories from National Crime Records Bureau violent-crime tables was undertaken to examine how Uttar Pradesh has performed on some of the most sensitive crime indicators. The categories examined were murder, attempt to commit murder, rape, kidnapping and abduction, and rioting.The result is emphatic.The data shows UP outperformed the national trend in all five categories between 2022 and 2024. In four categories, the decline was sharp and consistent. In the fifth, attempt to murder, the decline was modest, though India as a whole recorded an increase during the same period.The NCRB caveatHowever, every NCRB dataset comes with an important caveat. NCRB numbers reflect police-recorded crime, not the total incidence of crime. Better registration can push numbers upward. Underreporting can pull them downward.There is also a 2024-specific caveat. NCRB notes that after the new criminal laws came into force from July 1, 2024, its data formats were revised to collect IPC and BNS cases separately, while police and court disposal were tabulated collectively for comparability. It also says some shifts in overall numbers may reflect legal reclassification. So the trend is useful, but it should not be read as a pure policing outcome without allowing for changes in reporting and classification.Even with those caveats, the broad direction of the UP trend is difficult to miss.Rioting sees the sharpest fallThe sharpest decline among the five categories comes in rioting. UP recorded 4,478 rioting cases in 2022. The number fell to 3,160 in 2023 and then further to 2,610 in 2024. That represents a 41.7% decline in two years. Nationally, rioting cases declined from 37,816 to 30,348, a smaller fall of roughly 19.8%.Few crime categories carry as much symbolic weight in Uttar Pradesh as rioting. Memories of communal violence in places like Muzaffarnagar in 2013 still shape political narrative in the state. Governments in UP have long been judged through the prism of curfews, communal flare-ups, caste clashes, street violence and administrative paralysis.Adityanath’s government has repeatedly projected itself as the regime that restored fear of the law. Critics, meanwhile, describe the same policing style as selective, aggressive and deeply intertwined with muscular majoritarian politics.Kidnapping and abduction, the largest category in this basket, also shows a steep decline. UP’s count rose slightly from 16,263 in 2022 to 16,663 in 2023 before falling sharply to 12,163 in 2024. That marks a 25.2% decline from 2022. Nationally, kidnapping and abduction cases fell 10.7% during the same period.The category itself is broader than its popular image. NCRB classifications include cases linked to elopement and marriage disputes, not merely violent abductions. Even so, the downward movement remains politically significant because kidnapping is among the crimes that shape public fear most directly.Decoding the rape numbers The rape figures tell a more layered story.UP recorded 3,690 rape cases in 2022, 3,516 in 2023 and 3,209 in 2024. That is a decline of 13%. Nationally, recorded rape cases fell 6.3%, from 31,516 to 29,536.At first glance, the numbers appear reassuring. But the deeper NCRB tables reveal a darker pattern that extends far beyond Uttar Pradesh..In 2024, of UP’s 3,209 recorded rape cases, the accused was known to the victim in 3,114 cases. Unknown or unidentified offenders accounted for only 95 cases. Nationally too, NCRB data shows the same pattern. Of India’s 29,536 rape cases, offenders were known to the victim in 28,597 cases.The dominant public image of sexual violence still revolves around the stranger lurking outside. NCRB’s tables tell a very different story. In most recorded cases, the violence comes not from strangers, but from familiarity.Which means a decline in recorded rape cases cannot automatically be read as a complete resolution of women’s safety concerns.The weak linkMurder presents a steadier pattern.UP recorded 3,491 murder cases in 2022, 3,206 in 2023 and 3,218 in 2024. The figure rose slightly last year, but still remained 7.8% below the 2022 count. Nationally, murder cases declined 5.2% during the same period. Murder data is often treated as relatively more reliable because homicide leaves behind physical evidence and is harder to conceal entirely from official records..Attempt to commit murder remains the state’s weakest category among the five examined.UP recorded 3,788 such cases in 2022, 3,312 in 2023 and 3,728 in 2024. That still leaves the state 1.6% below its 2022 count. India, meanwhile, recorded a 2.8% rise, from 57,256 to 58,844.So while UP still performs better than the national trend, the category does not show the same clean downward trajectory visible in rioting or kidnapping.Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state. Absolute numbers alone can distort perception. According to NCRB’s 2024 projections, UP had a population of roughly 2,388.8 lakh against India’s 14,049.1 lakh, or around 17% of the country’s total population.Yet in all five selected categories, UP’s share of national cases remained below that population share. UP accounted for 11.9% of murders, 6.3% of attempt-to-murder cases, 10.9% of rape cases, 12.7% of kidnapping and abduction cases, and 8.6% of rioting cases.The rate comparison also favours the state. In 2024, UP recorded 1.3 murders per lakh population against India’s 1.9. Attempt to murder stood at 1.6 against roughly 4.1 nationally. Kidnapping and abduction was 5.1 against India’s 6.8. Rioting stood at 1.1 against 2.2 nationally. Rape, calculated per lakh women population, stood at 2.8 against India’s 4.3.Politics versus perceptionDGP Rajeev Krishna has cited the 2024 NCRB figures as evidence that UP’s policing model is working. The government has increasingly leaned on NCRB statistics to counter the opposition’s attacks.The opposition remains unconvinced.Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly accused the BJP government of masking insecurity behind spectacle. His critique focuses less on NCRB trendlines and more on police encounters, selective enforcement, women’s safety and whether state power is applied evenly across communities and political affiliations.Both readings find resonance because crime data is not only about dry numbers. It is also about how a citizen feels.Yet one trend remains difficult to ignore. Across five major categories, UP’s recorded serious-crime trajectory has outperformed the national curve between 2022 and 2024. That gives the Yogi government substantial political ammunition.However, NCRB figures remain, ultimately, a measure of recorded crime, not the complete geography of fear. That gap between statistics and lived experience is where the political battle over law and order in Uttar Pradesh will continue to unfold.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories10 baby boy names symbolising fortune and good luck6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbest123Hot PicksStephen A SmithUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultNFL Trade RumorFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

Image: AP For Yogi Adityanath, law and order was never merely governance. It has always been central to his political image. The imagery of a saffron-clad monk governing India’s most populous state with an iron administrative grip has remained one of the defining motifs of contemporary Uttar Pradesh politics.The “Bulldozer Baba” image, once used derisively by the opposition, has since been appropriated by the UP administration as a badge of honour. It carries a simple message: the state intends to project zero tolerance towards criminality and illegal activity. But political rhetoric often travels far ahead of official evidence.The politics of law and orderSo a TOI analysis of five selected categories from National Crime Records Bureau violent-crime tables was undertaken to examine how Uttar Pradesh has performed on some of the most sensitive crime indicators. The categories examined were murder, attempt to commit murder, rape, kidnapping and abduction, and rioting.The result is emphatic.The data shows UP outperformed the national trend in all five categories between 2022 and 2024. In four categories, the decline was sharp and consistent. In the fifth, attempt to murder, the decline was modest, though India as a whole recorded an increase during the same period.The NCRB caveatHowever, every NCRB dataset comes with an important caveat. NCRB numbers reflect police-recorded crime, not the total incidence of crime. Better registration can push numbers upward. Underreporting can pull them downward.There is also a 2024-specific caveat. NCRB notes that after the new criminal laws came into force from July 1, 2024, its data formats were revised to collect IPC and BNS cases separately, while police and court disposal were tabulated collectively for comparability. It also says some shifts in overall numbers may reflect legal reclassification. So the trend is useful, but it should not be read as a pure policing outcome without allowing for changes in reporting and classification.Even with those caveats, the broad direction of the UP trend is difficult to miss.Rioting sees the sharpest fallThe sharpest decline among the five categories comes in rioting. UP recorded 4,478 rioting cases in 2022. The number fell to 3,160 in 2023 and then further to 2,610 in 2024. That represents a 41.7% decline in two years. Nationally, rioting cases declined from 37,816 to 30,348, a smaller fall of roughly 19.8%.Few crime categories carry as much symbolic weight in Uttar Pradesh as rioting. Memories of communal violence in places like Muzaffarnagar in 2013 still shape political narrative in the state. Governments in UP have long been judged through the prism of curfews, communal flare-ups, caste clashes, street violence and administrative paralysis.Adityanath’s government has repeatedly projected itself as the regime that restored fear of the law. Critics, meanwhile, describe the same policing style as selective, aggressive and deeply intertwined with muscular majoritarian politics.Kidnapping and abduction, the largest category in this basket, also shows a steep decline. UP’s count rose slightly from 16,263 in 2022 to 16,663 in 2023 before falling sharply to 12,163 in 2024. That marks a 25.2% decline from 2022. Nationally, kidnapping and abduction cases fell 10.7% during the same period.The category itself is broader than its popular image. NCRB classifications include cases linked to elopement and marriage disputes, not merely violent abductions. Even so, the downward movement remains politically significant because kidnapping is among the crimes that shape public fear most directly.Decoding the rape numbers The rape figures tell a more layered story.UP recorded 3,690 rape cases in 2022, 3,516 in 2023 and 3,209 in 2024. That is a decline of 13%. Nationally, recorded rape cases fell 6.3%, from 31,516 to 29,536.At first glance, the numbers appear reassuring. But the deeper NCRB tables reveal a darker pattern that extends far beyond Uttar Pradesh..In 2024, of UP’s 3,209 recorded rape cases, the accused was known to the victim in 3,114 cases. Unknown or unidentified offenders accounted for only 95 cases. Nationally too, NCRB data shows the same pattern. Of India’s 29,536 rape cases, offenders were known to the victim in 28,597 cases.The dominant public image of sexual violence still revolves around the stranger lurking outside. NCRB’s tables tell a very different story. In most recorded cases, the violence comes not from strangers, but from familiarity.Which means a decline in recorded rape cases cannot automatically be read as a complete resolution of women’s safety concerns.The weak linkMurder presents a steadier pattern.UP recorded 3,491 murder cases in 2022, 3,206 in 2023 and 3,218 in 2024. The figure rose slightly last year, but still remained 7.8% below the 2022 count. Nationally, murder cases declined 5.2% during the same period. Murder data is often treated as relatively more reliable because homicide leaves behind physical evidence and is harder to conceal entirely from official records..Attempt to commit murder remains the state’s weakest category among the five examined.UP recorded 3,788 such cases in 2022, 3,312 in 2023 and 3,728 in 2024. That still leaves the state 1.6% below its 2022 count. India, meanwhile, recorded a 2.8% rise, from 57,256 to 58,844.So while UP still performs better than the national trend, the category does not show the same clean downward trajectory visible in rioting or kidnapping.Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state. Absolute numbers alone can distort perception. According to NCRB’s 2024 projections, UP had a population of roughly 2,388.8 lakh against India’s 14,049.1 lakh, or around 17% of the country’s total population.Yet in all five selected categories, UP’s share of national cases remained below that population share. UP accounted for 11.9% of murders, 6.3% of attempt-to-murder cases, 10.9% of rape cases, 12.7% of kidnapping and abduction cases, and 8.6% of rioting cases.The rate comparison also favours the state. In 2024, UP recorded 1.3 murders per lakh population against India’s 1.9. Attempt to murder stood at 1.6 against roughly 4.1 nationally. Kidnapping and abduction was 5.1 against India’s 6.8. Rioting stood at 1.1 against 2.2 nationally. Rape, calculated per lakh women population, stood at 2.8 against India’s 4.3.Politics versus perceptionDGP Rajeev Krishna has cited the 2024 NCRB figures as evidence that UP’s policing model is working. The government has increasingly leaned on NCRB statistics to counter the opposition’s attacks.The opposition remains unconvinced.Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly accused the BJP government of masking insecurity behind spectacle. His critique focuses less on NCRB trendlines and more on police encounters, selective enforcement, women’s safety and whether state power is applied evenly across communities and political affiliations.Both readings find resonance because crime data is not only about dry numbers. It is also about how a citizen feels.Yet one trend remains difficult to ignore. Across five major categories, UP’s recorded serious-crime trajectory has outperformed the national curve between 2022 and 2024. That gives the Yogi government substantial political ammunition.However, NCRB figures remain, ultimately, a measure of recorded crime, not the complete geography of fear. That gap between statistics and lived experience is where the political battle over law and order in Uttar Pradesh will continue to unfold.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories10 baby boy names symbolising fortune and good luck6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for $1 a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbest123Hot PicksStephen A SmithUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultNFL Trade RumorFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

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PTI photo NEW DELHI: A high-level committee on demographic changes, constituted recently under Justice (retd) Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, will visit metropolitan areas and industrial towns, apart from border areas, as part of its assignment to examine the nature, causes and impact of demographic changes across the country, including due to illegal immigration. It will recommend policy, administrative and legal frameworks to address the issue in a time-bound manner.Home minister Amit Shah Saturday chaired a meeting with senior MHA officials to review arrangements for proper facilitation of the committee.The first meeting of the panel has already been convened and its agenda formulated. “MHA will provide logistical and other necessary support for proper functioning of the committee,” a ministry official said.According to a source, many illegal immigrants, particularly Bangladesh, have over the years travelled further to metropolitan areas and towns with a heavy concentration of industries. The onward journey usually takes place after securing identity documents like Aadhaar cards from tout networks and illegal agents.While notifying the panel last month, MHA had said demographic changes were visible in certain regions that were not attributable to normal fertility or mortality trends but emerging due to “external abnormal factors such as illegal immigration, irregular population mobility and administrative laxity”. It added that the demographic changes, though concentrated in border regions, now also affect urban centres, industrial corridors, tribal regions and other socially and economically sensitive areas. This, it said, was impacting public service delivery, local governance, resource distribution and social cohesion.The panel, tasked with recommending a permanent operational system for legal, fair and time-bound identification, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants, comes at a time when BJP is in office in the infiltration-prone states of Assam, Tripura and West Bengal. It has been given a year to submit its final report.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbestHave you done the “sun test” before investing in a house123Hot PicksHardeep SinghUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultSpaceX IPOFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

PTI photo NEW DELHI: A high-level committee on demographic changes, constituted recently under Justice (retd) Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, will visit metropolitan areas and industrial towns, apart from border areas, as part of its assignment to examine the nature, causes and impact of demographic changes across the country, including due to illegal immigration. It will recommend policy, administrative and legal frameworks to address the issue in a time-bound manner.Home minister Amit Shah Saturday chaired a meeting with senior MHA officials to review arrangements for proper facilitation of the committee.The first meeting of the panel has already been convened and its agenda formulated. “MHA will provide logistical and other necessary support for proper functioning of the committee,” a ministry official said.According to a source, many illegal immigrants, particularly Bangladesh, have over the years travelled further to metropolitan areas and towns with a heavy concentration of industries. The onward journey usually takes place after securing identity documents like Aadhaar cards from tout networks and illegal agents.While notifying the panel last month, MHA had said demographic changes were visible in certain regions that were not attributable to normal fertility or mortality trends but emerging due to “external abnormal factors such as illegal immigration, irregular population mobility and administrative laxity”. It added that the demographic changes, though concentrated in border regions, now also affect urban centres, industrial corridors, tribal regions and other socially and economically sensitive areas. This, it said, was impacting public service delivery, local governance, resource distribution and social cohesion.The panel, tasked with recommending a permanent operational system for legal, fair and time-bound identification, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants, comes at a time when BJP is in office in the infiltration-prone states of Assam, Tripura and West Bengal. It has been given a year to submit its final report.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for $1 a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbestHave you done the “sun test” before investing in a house123Hot PicksHardeep SinghUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultSpaceX IPOFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

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Generative AI NEW DELHI: India continued to remain second largest buyer of Russian crude in May, with purchases worth nearly 4.8 billion euros (about .6 billion), up by nearly 7% from 4.5 billion euros (.2 billion) in April, said Centre for Research in Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent think tank based in Finland, in a latest report.CREA said India imported Russian hydrocarbons worth a total of 5.8 billion euros (.7 billion) and crude oil constituted 83% of the purchase.China remained biggest importer of Russian energy with purchases totalling nearly 7 billion euros (.1 billion), the report said.CREA said India’s total crude import volumes recorded an 8% month-on-month increase in May, largely driven by unloaded volumes at the Vadinar and Jamnagar refineries, which increased by 36% and 14%, respectively. The state-owned refineries also saw a month-on-month increase of 13% and 42%, respectively. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbestHave you done the “sun test” before investing in a house123Hot PicksHardeep SinghUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultSpaceX IPOFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

Generative AI NEW DELHI: India continued to remain second largest buyer of Russian crude in May, with purchases worth nearly 4.8 billion euros (about $5.6 billion), up by nearly 7% from 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in April, said Centre for Research in Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent think tank based in Finland, in a latest report.CREA said India imported Russian hydrocarbons worth a total of 5.8 billion euros ($6.7 billion) and crude oil constituted 83% of the purchase.China remained biggest importer of Russian energy with purchases totalling nearly 7 billion euros ($8.1 billion), the report said.CREA said India’s total crude import volumes recorded an 8% month-on-month increase in May, largely driven by unloaded volumes at the Vadinar and Jamnagar refineries, which increased by 36% and 14%, respectively. The state-owned refineries also saw a month-on-month increase of 13% and 42%, respectively. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCong Leaders Demand Accountability, Apology From US After Three Indian Sailors Killed In StrikeRubio Tells EAM All Vessels Must Follow US Orders In Hormuz; India Protests Death Of 3 MarinersKalyan Banerjee Targets Rebel TMC Leaders: ‘If TMC Wins In 2029, Will They Resign?’Joint Tribes’ Council Accuses Kuki Cadres Of Killing Six Naga Captives, Seeks Immediate ArrestsCentre’s High-Level Committee On Demographic Changes Begins Work With Focus On Border RegionsYogi Orders FIR Over Remarks on Akhilesh’s Daughter, Says No Insult Against Women Is AcceptableHyderabad Cadet Nidhi Makes History With AIR 6, Fulfills Father’s Dream Of Serving The NationAssam Notifies New Excise Rules With Stricter Liquor Norms And Support For Indigenous BeveragesGovernment Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth As Next Army Chief, To Take Charge On June 30India, France Expected To Deepen Defence Cooperation With Focus On Submarines And Fighter Jets123Photostories6 most prestigious residential neighbourhoods in Thane for homebuyersNot every cancer begins with pain: Doctors reveal the everyday symptoms people often ignore for too longCrossover of Imtiaz Ali’s characters: Director says at a dinner table, ‘Geet will make bad order; Tara will help’ – Exclusive7 social skills that can help children become confident and make friends easily5 ancient temples in Karnataka that are architectural marvelsLong before becoming the world’s first trillionaire, Elon Musk survived on hot dogs and oranges for $1 a day in CanadaWhat people who stay healthy into their 80s do differently every day5 signs life’s hardest phase is finally behind you5 animals that are often called the world’s dumbestHave you done the “sun test” before investing in a house123Hot PicksHardeep SinghUS Trade DealBullet Train ProjectBeijing ProtestYogi AdityanathPM ModiSpaceX IPORohit SharmaFortnite Gold Sprite Power Hour Start TimingTop TrendingAsha Sharma Net WorthUPSC Prelims ResultSpaceX IPOFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupPune Techie SuicideAbhishek BanerjeeComedian PranitTMC Leader Kunal GhoshCBSE Class 10 Second Board Result

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