August 28, 2026

Sonam Wangchuk SRINAGAR: Environmentalist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday likened his arrest to a “non-fiction thriller” that could be turned into a film but declared he was ready to move past his jail experience for a meaningful dialogue, as reflected in the Centre’s recent revocation of his detention under National Security Act (NSA).Three days after release from Jodhpur jail where he had been lodged following his arrest in Sept last year from Leh over violence during protests for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status, Wangchuk called for “constructive dialogue”. This, he said, could ensure a “win-win-win” situation not just for him but for Ladakh and the govt.Addressing a presser in Delhi alongside his lawyer Vivek Tankha, Wangchuk said the revocation of NSA, along with the Centre’s reference to a meaningful dialogue, reflected what he and the others had been striving for through prolonged protests. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran calls Israeli bombing of fuel depots ‘ecocide’; Trump warns Nato over war fallout’We don’t need help!’ Trump explodes after Nato, other nations refuse to take part in Iran warAudio Details Iran Strike Aftermath: Mojtaba survives ‘Blue Sparrow’ hit; family and commanders killedHe recalled that he had earlier walked from Leh to Delhi, undertook long hunger strikes and even went to jail for dialogue.PollDo you support the call for a meaningful dialogue regarding Ladakh's statehood and Sixth Schedule status?Yes, it’s essential for progressNo, I don’t believe it will yield results Wangchuk hoped Supreme Court, where his NSA detention was challenged, would still record a judgment despite the revocation so that it could guide future executive action, especially on use of such stringent laws.He stressed that public sentiment in Ladakh was for dialogue. “Even in yesterday’s (Monday’s) rallies (for statehood and Sixth Schedule), the demand was to resume talks. Where do you find such a place and such people? Normally you find people leaving the dialogue table and picking up guns. Here are people appealing to the govt asking it to come to the discussion table.”Wangchuk expressed hope that he would return to Ladakh soon to consult leaders in LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and have “positive developments to share in the coming days”. “Talks are a give-and-take process, and both sides must be considerate and flexible,” Wangchuk said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Maintain Exports Again’: Piyush Goyal Highlights India’s ‘Stable’ Trade Amid West Asia WarSupreme Court Strikes Down Three-Month Rule, Grants Equal Maternity Leave To Adoptive Mothers Too‘Culture Erased’ Claim Sparks Row Over Hindu Temple In Dallas Fort, Targets Indian Community OnlineIndia Urges UN Reform Amid Iran War, Seeks BRICS Unity As Conflict Divides Members’Bapu Wanted To…’: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Scathing Attack On Congress Over VB-G RAM G BillNo Petrol Or Diesel Price Hike For Now Says Centre Amid West Asia Oil Market Volatility Crisis’Bundled Up And Thrown Into Jail’: Sonam Wangchuk In First Remarks After Release From NSA DetentionLok Sabha Revokes Suspension Of 8 Oppn MPs, Warns Against Placards, AI PicturesCentre Confirms All Indian Sailors, Ships Are Safe As LPG Vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi Dock In IndiaDial PM Modi For Peace: Finland Backs India To Broker Ceasefire, Urges Trump To Call Delhi123Photostories11 iconic Maharashtrian street foods that define regional flavours5 signs your workout routine is stressing you out instead of helping youWaiting for ‘Dhurandhar 2’? Watch these 5 English spy thrillers ahead of the sequel releaseWhy your brain struggles to switch off at night: Neurologist explains the ‘wired-tired’ cycle9 strange objects floating in space that still exist5 weird and silly things people in love do, according to psychologyFrom B-2 bombers to F-35 stealth jets: US air force assets deployed near Iran – in pics‘Dune: Part Three’: Plot, cast, release date, and everything to know about Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Messiah’After LPG crisis, offices & schools encourage home tiffin: 11 low-gas dishes apt for lunch boxes10 best anime fighting games in 2026 that every fan can’t miss this year123Hot PicksDoha travel alertLadakh statehood ralliesRasgulla choking deathGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingMagic JohnsonIndia LPG TankerGreen Card HoldersTaylor SwiftTeam VenezuelaGreen Card HoldersAssembly election dateWWE Raw NewsCarlos Correa WifeEid ul fitr 2026

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Sonam Wangchuk SRINAGAR: Environmentalist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday likened his arrest to a “non-fiction thriller” that could be turned into a film but declared he was ready to move past his jail experience for a meaningful dialogue, as reflected in the Centre’s recent revocation of his detention under National Security Act (NSA).Three days after release from Jodhpur jail where he had been lodged following his arrest in Sept last year from Leh over violence during protests for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status, Wangchuk called for “constructive dialogue”. This, he said, could ensure a “win-win-win” situation not just for him but for Ladakh and the govt.Addressing a presser in Delhi alongside his lawyer Vivek Tankha, Wangchuk said the revocation of NSA, along with the Centre’s reference to a meaningful dialogue, reflected what he and the others had been striving for through prolonged protests. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran calls Israeli bombing of fuel depots ‘ecocide’; Trump warns Nato over war fallout’We don’t need help!’ Trump explodes after Nato, other nations refuse to take part in Iran warAudio Details Iran Strike Aftermath: Mojtaba survives ‘Blue Sparrow’ hit; family and commanders killedHe recalled that he had earlier walked from Leh to Delhi, undertook long hunger strikes and even went to jail for dialogue.PollDo you support the call for a meaningful dialogue regarding Ladakh's statehood and Sixth Schedule status?Yes, it’s essential for progressNo, I don’t believe it will yield results Wangchuk hoped Supreme Court, where his NSA detention was challenged, would still record a judgment despite the revocation so that it could guide future executive action, especially on use of such stringent laws.He stressed that public sentiment in Ladakh was for dialogue. “Even in yesterday’s (Monday’s) rallies (for statehood and Sixth Schedule), the demand was to resume talks. Where do you find such a place and such people? Normally you find people leaving the dialogue table and picking up guns. Here are people appealing to the govt asking it to come to the discussion table.”Wangchuk expressed hope that he would return to Ladakh soon to consult leaders in LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and have “positive developments to share in the coming days”. “Talks are a give-and-take process, and both sides must be considerate and flexible,” Wangchuk said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Maintain Exports Again’: Piyush Goyal Highlights India’s ‘Stable’ Trade Amid West Asia WarSupreme Court Strikes Down Three-Month Rule, Grants Equal Maternity Leave To Adoptive Mothers Too‘Culture Erased’ Claim Sparks Row Over Hindu Temple In Dallas Fort, Targets Indian Community OnlineIndia Urges UN Reform Amid Iran War, Seeks BRICS Unity As Conflict Divides Members’Bapu Wanted To…’: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Scathing Attack On Congress Over VB-G RAM G BillNo Petrol Or Diesel Price Hike For Now Says Centre Amid West Asia Oil Market Volatility Crisis’Bundled Up And Thrown Into Jail’: Sonam Wangchuk In First Remarks After Release From NSA DetentionLok Sabha Revokes Suspension Of 8 Oppn MPs, Warns Against Placards, AI PicturesCentre Confirms All Indian Sailors, Ships Are Safe As LPG Vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi Dock In IndiaDial PM Modi For Peace: Finland Backs India To Broker Ceasefire, Urges Trump To Call Delhi123Photostories11 iconic Maharashtrian street foods that define regional flavours5 signs your workout routine is stressing you out instead of helping youWaiting for ‘Dhurandhar 2’? Watch these 5 English spy thrillers ahead of the sequel releaseWhy your brain struggles to switch off at night: Neurologist explains the ‘wired-tired’ cycle9 strange objects floating in space that still exist5 weird and silly things people in love do, according to psychologyFrom B-2 bombers to F-35 stealth jets: US air force assets deployed near Iran – in pics‘Dune: Part Three’: Plot, cast, release date, and everything to know about Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Messiah’After LPG crisis, offices & schools encourage home tiffin: 11 low-gas dishes apt for lunch boxes10 best anime fighting games in 2026 that every fan can’t miss this year123Hot PicksDoha travel alertLadakh statehood ralliesRasgulla choking deathGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingMagic JohnsonIndia LPG TankerGreen Card HoldersTaylor SwiftTeam VenezuelaGreen Card HoldersAssembly election dateWWE Raw NewsCarlos Correa WifeEid ul fitr 2026


‘Thriller fit for a movie’: Sonam Wangchuk on NSA arrest

SRINAGAR: Environmentalist and Leh Apex Body (LAB) member Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday likened his arrest to a “non-fiction thriller” that could be turned into a film but declared he was ready to move past his jail experience for a meaningful dialogue, as reflected in the Centre’s recent revocation of his detention under National Security Act (NSA).Three days after release from Jodhpur jail where he had been lodged following his arrest in Sept last year from Leh over violence during protests for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status, Wangchuk called for “constructive dialogue”. This, he said, could ensure a “win-win-win” situation not just for him but for Ladakh and the govt.Addressing a presser in Delhi alongside his lawyer Vivek Tankha, Wangchuk said the revocation of NSA, along with the Centre’s reference to a meaningful dialogue, reflected what he and the others had been striving for through prolonged protests. He recalled that he had earlier walked from Leh to Delhi, undertook long hunger strikes and even went to jail for dialogue.

Poll

Do you support the call for a meaningful dialogue regarding Ladakh's statehood and Sixth Schedule status?

Wangchuk hoped Supreme Court, where his NSA detention was challenged, would still record a judgment despite the revocation so that it could guide future executive action, especially on use of such stringent laws.He stressed that public sentiment in Ladakh was for dialogue. “Even in yesterday’s (Monday’s) rallies (for statehood and Sixth Schedule), the demand was to resume talks. Where do you find such a place and such people? Normally you find people leaving the dialogue table and picking up guns. Here are people appealing to the govt asking it to come to the discussion table.”Wangchuk expressed hope that he would return to Ladakh soon to consult leaders in LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and have “positive developments to share in the coming days”. “Talks are a give-and-take process, and both sides must be considerate and flexible,” Wangchuk said.



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The Centre has brought in three senior officers, including an IPS officer at NTA NEW DELHI: The Centre has brought in three senior officers, including an IPS officer, at the National Testing Agency (NTA), giving the embattled examination body fresh administrative muscle as it undergoes one of its biggest personnel and security overhauls following controversies over NEET-UG and UGC-NET.IPS officer Ravi Kumar Singh and IAS officer Prasanna Venkatesh V have been appointed directors at NTA, while Amit Samdariya, a 2016-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer, will join as joint director. The appointments were cleared through separate personnel ministry orders dated August 27.The induction comes days after NTA began a wider revamp that includes removing around 600 experts from its examination panels, onboarding a fresh set of specialists and introducing a four-tier scrutiny mechanism for question papers.The agency is also strengthening examination security, recruiting additional officials and moving to new premises where security is proposed to be reinforced with CISF deployment. The measures were reviewed recently by Union education minister Pralhad Joshi as the government sought to tighten both the academic and operational ends of the examination process.NTA has been under sustained pressure since the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which triggered nationwide protests and intensified scrutiny of how high-stakes examinations are secured and administered. More recently, it was forced to order fresh UGC-NET examinations in English, commerce and sociology after multiple errors and repeated questions were detected in the June papers, adding a question-paper quality problem to its security challenges.Against this backdrop, the appointment of officers drawn from the police, administrative and revenue services marks another step in the attempt to strengthen NTA’s institutional capacity.The personnel ministry has directed all three officers to take charge within three weeks. The orders state that failure to join within the stipulated period would trigger the process of debarment from the Central Staffing Scheme.The staffing changes are unfolding alongside a broader examination-reform exercise. A high-powered task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has begun seeking suggestions from students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders on reforms to the public examination system, with the consultation open till September 13.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe task force is examining examination security, institutional processes, technology, infrastructure, accessibility and student well-being, while the changes within NTA are focused on immediately strengthening the agency responsible for conducting some of the country’s largest entrance and eligibility tests.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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The Centre has brought in three senior officers, including an IPS officer at NTA NEW DELHI: The Centre has brought in three senior officers, including an IPS officer, at the National Testing Agency (NTA), giving the embattled examination body fresh administrative muscle as it undergoes one of its biggest personnel and security overhauls following controversies over NEET-UG and UGC-NET.IPS officer Ravi Kumar Singh and IAS officer Prasanna Venkatesh V have been appointed directors at NTA, while Amit Samdariya, a 2016-batch Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) officer, will join as joint director. 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Evening news wrap MEA says 320 Indians remain missing after Nepal’s devastating floods.Penguin Random House India denies dropping Sonia Gandhi’s memoir over editorial changes.ICIMOD had warned of rising Himalayan glacier disaster risks months before the floods.Jio Platforms gets Sebi approval for its $3.8 billion IPO.Annamalai questions CBFC’s clearance of Yash’s Toxic over violence and portrayal of women.Here are the top news stories of the day:320 Indians still missing as Nepal flood death toll rises to 547The MEA said 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable after devastating flash floods in Nepal, while 21 stranded Indians have returned to Delhi and 63 workers at the Trishuli One hydropower project have been rescued. Another 96 Indians who were stranded on the Chinese side have crossed into Nepal. Meanwhile, Nepal’s flood death toll has risen to 547, with authorities warning of fresh flooding as water levels rise in the Bhotekoshi River. Follow live updatesPenguin Random House India clarifies it is not publishing Sonia Gandhi’s memoirPenguin Random House India said it is not the Indian publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India, rejecting reports that it dropped the book over editorial disagreements. The publisher said it remained willing to publish the memoir and that fact-checking and editorial recommendations are routine. Read full storyICIMOD warned of Himalayan glacier risks months before Nepal-Tibet floodsMonths before the devastating Nepal-Tibet floods, two ICIMOD reports warned that rapidly melting Hindu Kush Himalayan glaciers were increasing the risk of catastrophic floods and ice-related disasters. The reports found glacier ice loss had doubled since 2000, with HKH glaciers losing 12% of their area between 1990 and 2020. 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Amit Malviya takes dig at Sonia Gandhi’s memoir NEW DELHI: BJP leader Amit Malviya on Friday took a dig at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over Penguin Random House India’s decision to “fact-check her memoir”, questioning whether the exercise was meant to verify the author’s memories or address what he described as “the blurred line between fact and fiction”.Malviya said it was “rather amusing” that the publisher felt the need to fact-check a memoir written by Sonia Gandhi herself.”It is rather amusing that Penguin Random House India felt the need to fact-check Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, a book authored by Sonia Gandhi herself. The publisher says fact-checking is a normal part of the publishing process and that it remained “willing and keen” to publish the book. Fair enough,” Malviya said in a post on X.”But if a publisher has to fact-check a memoir written by its own author, perhaps the obvious question is: what exactly needed fact-checking – the author’s memories, or the blurred line between fact and fiction?” he added.The remarks came after Penguin Random House India clarified on Friday that it is not the publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love in India. The publishing house also rejected reports that it had decided against publishing the book because Sonia Gandhi declined to accept editorial changes.In a statement posted on X, the publishing house said it had remained “willing and keen to publish” the memoir and stressed that fact-checking and providing editorial recommendations are a routine part of the publishing process.The clarification comes weeks after US publisher Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced that Belonging would be released on November 10. However, the memoir’s publisher or distributor in India remains unclear.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAn e-commerce listing has shown an e-book edition of Belonging available for pre-order at Rs 2,615, with William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK, listed as the publisher.According to Alfred A Knopf, the memoir by 79-year-old Sonia Gandhi will offer a personal account of her life, spanning her childhood in post-war Italy, her marriage into the Nehru-Gandhi family and the assassination of her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.The book will also chronicle her entry into the “public world of politics” following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and her decision to decline the post of prime minister in 2004.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In FocusCM Suvendu Adhikari Urges Skilled Bengalis Abroad To Return, Promises Jobs Under Double-Engine Govt’Blind Pakistan Activated Spies To Locate India’s S-400′ During Op Sindoor, Ex-Air Marshal RevealsCamac Street Showdown: TMC Blocks Police During Billboard Removal, Banerjee Announces Court MoveNepal Floods: 288 Indians Uncontactable, 21 Rescued So Far, MEA Shares Key Updates | WatchFour Killed, One Missing In Manipur Ambush As Naga-Kuki Tensions Erupt Again, Probe Launch | WatchFake IAS Officer Tripti Rajput Under Probe, Police Recover CBI Cards And Government Documents123Photostories5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings5 habits that can quietly damage a marriageNepal flash flood: 7 glacial hotspots around the world facing rising climate risks123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

Amit Malviya takes dig at Sonia Gandhi’s memoir NEW DELHI: BJP leader Amit Malviya on Friday took a dig at Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over Penguin Random House India’s decision to “fact-check her memoir”, questioning whether the exercise was meant to verify the author’s memories or address what he described as “the blurred line between fact and fiction”.Malviya said it was “rather amusing” that the publisher felt the need to fact-check a memoir written by Sonia Gandhi herself.”It is rather amusing that Penguin Random House India felt the need to fact-check Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, a book authored by Sonia Gandhi herself. The publisher says fact-checking is a normal part of the publishing process and that it remained “willing and keen” to publish the book. Fair enough,” Malviya said in a post on X.”But if a publisher has to fact-check a memoir written by its own author, perhaps the obvious question is: what exactly needed fact-checking – the author’s memories, or the blurred line between fact and fiction?” he added.The remarks came after Penguin Random House India clarified on Friday that it is not the publisher of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love in India. The publishing house also rejected reports that it had decided against publishing the book because Sonia Gandhi declined to accept editorial changes.In a statement posted on X, the publishing house said it had remained “willing and keen to publish” the memoir and stressed that fact-checking and providing editorial recommendations are a routine part of the publishing process.The clarification comes weeks after US publisher Alfred A Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, announced that Belonging would be released on November 10. However, the memoir’s publisher or distributor in India remains unclear.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAn e-commerce listing has shown an e-book edition of Belonging available for pre-order at Rs 2,615, with William Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins UK, listed as the publisher.According to Alfred A Knopf, the memoir by 79-year-old Sonia Gandhi will offer a personal account of her life, spanning her childhood in post-war Italy, her marriage into the Nehru-Gandhi family and the assassination of her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.The book will also chronicle her entry into the “public world of politics” following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination and her decision to decline the post of prime minister in 2004.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.About the AuthorAadrita HalderWrites on social matters, geopolitics, and trending issues for the Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In FocusCM Suvendu Adhikari Urges Skilled Bengalis Abroad To Return, Promises Jobs Under Double-Engine Govt’Blind Pakistan Activated Spies To Locate India’s S-400′ During Op Sindoor, Ex-Air Marshal RevealsCamac Street Showdown: TMC Blocks Police During Billboard Removal, Banerjee Announces Court MoveNepal Floods: 288 Indians Uncontactable, 21 Rescued So Far, MEA Shares Key Updates | WatchFour Killed, One Missing In Manipur Ambush As Naga-Kuki Tensions Erupt Again, Probe Launch | WatchFake IAS Officer Tripti Rajput Under Probe, Police Recover CBI Cards And Government Documents123Photostories5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings5 habits that can quietly damage a marriageNepal flash flood: 7 glacial hotspots around the world facing rising climate risks123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

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NEW DELHI: From colleges to schools. From Gen Z to Gen Alpha. From Jantar Mantar to cities and villages in states. The students’ protest has continued; only the stage has shifted. The Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) “School Thik Karo” campaign has put the spotlight on the sorry condition of government schools in many states. Gen Z showed the way from Jantar Mantar when they forced the NDA government to make Dharmendra Pradhan resign over NEET paper leaks. Gen Alpha took the cue and brought the protests to villages and towns across states, demanding better school infrastructure and government accountability.The CJP campaign asking for school audits in villages got a huge response. The pictures and videos of schools uploaded on CJP’s X timeline exposed the sorry state of government schools across states. This was followed by ground inspections by CJP teams, which led to confrontation and a strong pushback by some state governments.Two days after the CJP launched its campaign and announced that schools in Rajasthan would be on its radar, the state education department issued new guidelines regulating the entry of outsiders, including media personnel, into government schools.Under the directives, photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming involving students or school activities on campus needed prior permission from the school principal or head of the institution. The Rajasthan order went on to threaten action under applicable laws in case of any breach.So, when a CJP team went to inspect a government school on August 21, it was attacked and forcibly pushed back, allegedly by the locals. Videos of the incident showed a large number of people engaging in a heated exchange with the CJP team, pushing and shoving its members as they tried to enter the village. Some clips also showed stone-pelting and smashed windows of cars. Locals said the village did not need outside political groups to intervene in the school’s affairs.This perhaps became the July 20 Jantar Mantar moment (when Delhi Police used force to stop Gen Z protesters from their Sansad march) of the CJP school campaign as the violent confrontation propelled the issue to the national centre stage.School students protest in UPMeanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, Gen Alpha students of a government school staged a protest twice, in a span of four days. over shortage of subject teachers. They briefly blocked traffic also.Students of a government school in Kannauj boycotted classes and held protests against the principal for alleged caste discrimination and ordering the felling of trees inside the school campus.The students of PM Shri Composite School in Gugarapur surrounded the vehicle of the in-charge principal at the school gate as he was leaving and raised slogans against him.Protests also happened in Fatehpur, Hamirpur against lack of facilities in schools. In Hamirpur, ‘Gen Alpha’ children laid siege to the collectorate to demand the construction of a paved road to their school.In Unnao, hundreds of students of a government-run residential school staged a protest over alleged poor-quality food, inadequate drinking water, shortage of teachers and the behaviour of the principal, briefly disrupting traffic at a city crossing.’Ministers’ dogs got better facilities than students’In Maharashtra, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke conducted a social audit of government-run and municipal schools in Latur district. He led a team at a Zilla Parishad school at Ujani village in Latur’s Ausa tehsil.After his audit, Dipke said schools in the state were in a pitiable condition, and even “ministers’ dogs got better facilities” than students. He sought the resignation of Maharashtra school education minister Dada Bhuse. Later, Maharashtra police registered a case against the CJP convenor and others for allegedly entering a government school without permission, disrupting official work and threatening teachers.The state governments cited rules to browbeat the CJP teams away from its schools. But at the same time, they were forced to act to nullify the impact of the CJP campaign. So, while some states announced new measures to improve the condition of schools, others increased the pace of work already underway to ensure that results were seen on the ground quickly.CJP claims creditThe CJP was quick to claim credit for govt actions and basked in glory.“The impact we’ve been able to make with such a small team in such a short span of time is just unreal. Multiple state governments have had to bow down. Authorities had to listen to Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids and give them their due,” it said in a post on X.“But this does not end here. We need to keep going until even the remotest regions of the nation, even the most deprived communities, have access to the highest standard of educational facilities. They may use force, they may file cases, they may do whatever they can to crush this, but we will remain committed to the same demand,” the post read.Politial parties take a cue from CJPWhile it can be debated whether or not the CJP campaign forced the governments into action, what can be said with certainty is that the CJP has managed to do what many political parties could not – inspire the youth to come to the streets and seek accountability from power.The two CJP campaigns also point to an interesting shift – which should be a learning lesson, especially for parties in the opposition space. We have seen the opposition parties raise the pitch against government on issues like caste and religion as these have greater potential for voter mobilisation. Rarely do we see campaigns by the opposition parties centred around health or education reforms. But that seems to have changed.Youth outreachThe Congress has taken a cue and is trying to stay focused on students’ connect and raise issues that concern the youth. In Rajasthan, the state Congress unit is also on the streets to highlight gaps in state government school infrastructure.And it’s not just the opposition that is course-correcting; the ruling BJP has also drawn a roadmap to engage with the youth and understand their concerns. In the middle of the Gen Z protest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi debuted on Instagram and tried to communicate directly with the youth who were on the streets. The BJP has in fact formed a dedicated team to spearhead its Gen Z outreach.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesNews agency ANI reported that this team includes BJP chief Nitin Nabin, national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Vinod Tawde, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi, Chhattisgarh minister OP Choudhary, along with several other leaders.Clearly, the CJP has managed to change the political discourse and has put the focus on the youth as potential game-changers in electoral politics. As we gear up for the next rounds of assembly elections in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha challenge, we may see youth outreach taking centre stage like never before.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In FocusCM Suvendu Adhikari Urges Skilled Bengalis Abroad To Return, Promises Jobs Under Double-Engine Govt’Blind Pakistan Activated Spies To Locate India’s S-400′ During Op Sindoor, Ex-Air Marshal RevealsCamac Street Showdown: TMC Blocks Police During Billboard Removal, Banerjee Announces Court MoveNepal Floods: 288 Indians Uncontactable, 21 Rescued So Far, MEA Shares Key Updates | WatchFour Killed, One Missing In Manipur Ambush As Naga-Kuki Tensions Erupt Again, Probe Launch | WatchFake IAS Officer Tripti Rajput Under Probe, Police Recover CBI Cards And Government Documents123Photostories5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings5 habits that can quietly damage a marriageNepal flash flood: 7 glacial hotspots around the world facing rising climate risks123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

NEW DELHI: From colleges to schools. From Gen Z to Gen Alpha. From Jantar Mantar to cities and villages in states. The students’ protest has continued; only the stage has shifted. The Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) “School Thik Karo” campaign has put the spotlight on the sorry condition of government schools in many states. Gen Z showed the way from Jantar Mantar when they forced the NDA government to make Dharmendra Pradhan resign over NEET paper leaks. Gen Alpha took the cue and brought the protests to villages and towns across states, demanding better school infrastructure and government accountability.The CJP campaign asking for school audits in villages got a huge response. The pictures and videos of schools uploaded on CJP’s X timeline exposed the sorry state of government schools across states. This was followed by ground inspections by CJP teams, which led to confrontation and a strong pushback by some state governments.Two days after the CJP launched its campaign and announced that schools in Rajasthan would be on its radar, the state education department issued new guidelines regulating the entry of outsiders, including media personnel, into government schools.Under the directives, photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming involving students or school activities on campus needed prior permission from the school principal or head of the institution. The Rajasthan order went on to threaten action under applicable laws in case of any breach.So, when a CJP team went to inspect a government school on August 21, it was attacked and forcibly pushed back, allegedly by the locals. Videos of the incident showed a large number of people engaging in a heated exchange with the CJP team, pushing and shoving its members as they tried to enter the village. Some clips also showed stone-pelting and smashed windows of cars. Locals said the village did not need outside political groups to intervene in the school’s affairs.This perhaps became the July 20 Jantar Mantar moment (when Delhi Police used force to stop Gen Z protesters from their Sansad march) of the CJP school campaign as the violent confrontation propelled the issue to the national centre stage.School students protest in UPMeanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, Gen Alpha students of a government school staged a protest twice, in a span of four days. over shortage of subject teachers. They briefly blocked traffic also.Students of a government school in Kannauj boycotted classes and held protests against the principal for alleged caste discrimination and ordering the felling of trees inside the school campus.The students of PM Shri Composite School in Gugarapur surrounded the vehicle of the in-charge principal at the school gate as he was leaving and raised slogans against him.Protests also happened in Fatehpur, Hamirpur against lack of facilities in schools. In Hamirpur, ‘Gen Alpha’ children laid siege to the collectorate to demand the construction of a paved road to their school.In Unnao, hundreds of students of a government-run residential school staged a protest over alleged poor-quality food, inadequate drinking water, shortage of teachers and the behaviour of the principal, briefly disrupting traffic at a city crossing.’Ministers’ dogs got better facilities than students’In Maharashtra, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke conducted a social audit of government-run and municipal schools in Latur district. He led a team at a Zilla Parishad school at Ujani village in Latur’s Ausa tehsil.After his audit, Dipke said schools in the state were in a pitiable condition, and even “ministers’ dogs got better facilities” than students. He sought the resignation of Maharashtra school education minister Dada Bhuse. Later, Maharashtra police registered a case against the CJP convenor and others for allegedly entering a government school without permission, disrupting official work and threatening teachers.The state governments cited rules to browbeat the CJP teams away from its schools. But at the same time, they were forced to act to nullify the impact of the CJP campaign. So, while some states announced new measures to improve the condition of schools, others increased the pace of work already underway to ensure that results were seen on the ground quickly.CJP claims creditThe CJP was quick to claim credit for govt actions and basked in glory.“The impact we’ve been able to make with such a small team in such a short span of time is just unreal. Multiple state governments have had to bow down. Authorities had to listen to Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids and give them their due,” it said in a post on X.“But this does not end here. We need to keep going until even the remotest regions of the nation, even the most deprived communities, have access to the highest standard of educational facilities. They may use force, they may file cases, they may do whatever they can to crush this, but we will remain committed to the same demand,” the post read.Politial parties take a cue from CJPWhile it can be debated whether or not the CJP campaign forced the governments into action, what can be said with certainty is that the CJP has managed to do what many political parties could not – inspire the youth to come to the streets and seek accountability from power.The two CJP campaigns also point to an interesting shift – which should be a learning lesson, especially for parties in the opposition space. We have seen the opposition parties raise the pitch against government on issues like caste and religion as these have greater potential for voter mobilisation. Rarely do we see campaigns by the opposition parties centred around health or education reforms. But that seems to have changed.Youth outreachThe Congress has taken a cue and is trying to stay focused on students’ connect and raise issues that concern the youth. In Rajasthan, the state Congress unit is also on the streets to highlight gaps in state government school infrastructure.And it’s not just the opposition that is course-correcting; the ruling BJP has also drawn a roadmap to engage with the youth and understand their concerns. In the middle of the Gen Z protest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi debuted on Instagram and tried to communicate directly with the youth who were on the streets. The BJP has in fact formed a dedicated team to spearhead its Gen Z outreach.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesNews agency ANI reported that this team includes BJP chief Nitin Nabin, national general secretaries Smriti Irani and Vinod Tawde, Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi, Chhattisgarh minister OP Choudhary, along with several other leaders.Clearly, the CJP has managed to change the political discourse and has put the focus on the youth as potential game-changers in electoral politics. As we gear up for the next rounds of assembly elections in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha challenge, we may see youth outreach taking centre stage like never before.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In FocusCM Suvendu Adhikari Urges Skilled Bengalis Abroad To Return, Promises Jobs Under Double-Engine Govt’Blind Pakistan Activated Spies To Locate India’s S-400′ During Op Sindoor, Ex-Air Marshal RevealsCamac Street Showdown: TMC Blocks Police During Billboard Removal, Banerjee Announces Court MoveNepal Floods: 288 Indians Uncontactable, 21 Rescued So Far, MEA Shares Key Updates | WatchFour Killed, One Missing In Manipur Ambush As Naga-Kuki Tensions Erupt Again, Probe Launch | WatchFake IAS Officer Tripti Rajput Under Probe, Police Recover CBI Cards And Government Documents123Photostories5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings5 habits that can quietly damage a marriageNepal flash flood: 7 glacial hotspots around the world facing rising climate risks123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

Vamsikrishna 0