June 6, 2026

File pics of Sourav, Mamata and Yusuf Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has dismissed reports claiming that he contacted Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and asked him to resign from his elected post to facilitate her contesting a by-election.In a statement, Ganguly said allegations that he had acted as an intermediary for Mamata were “untrue”. The report alleged that he had contacted Pathan on behalf of Banerjee and conveyed a message asking him to “step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative” of the constituency to enable Banerjee to contest a by-election from the seat.”It was alleged that I had contacted Mr Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and had carried her message that he should step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative of the aforesaid constituency in order to enable Ms Banerjee to contest the ensuing by-elections from the said constituency,” Ganguly said.Rejecting the claim, he added, “The aforesaid allegations are untrue.”Calling the rumours irresponsible, Ganguly said it was “extremely unfortunate” that no effort appeared to have been made to verify the allegations before publication. He added that the allegations concerning him were made “in reckless disregard of the truth.”Ganguly also categorically denied having acted as an intermediary for Banerjee. “It is thus necessary to place on record that I was never requested/asked by Ms Mamata Banerjee to convey any message from her to Mr. Yusuf Pathan,” he said.The former India captain reiterated that since no such communication took place, the question of Pathan responding in the manner described in the report “does not and cannot arise.”He also distanced himself from political affairs, stating, “I have never been involved in political matters at any stage with any one concerned.”The clarification comes amid speculation over the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat and reports suggesting efforts were being made to facilitate a by-election from the constituency to give Mamata a chance to get elected.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 MediaVideosBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish Line123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
File pics of Sourav, Mamata and Yusuf Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has dismissed reports claiming that he contacted Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and asked him to resign from his elected post to facilitate her contesting a by-election.In a statement, Ganguly said allegations that he had acted as an intermediary for Mamata were “untrue”. The report alleged that he had contacted Pathan on behalf of Banerjee and conveyed a message asking him to “step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative” of the constituency to enable Banerjee to contest a by-election from the seat.”It was alleged that I had contacted Mr Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and had carried her message that he should step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative of the aforesaid constituency in order to enable Ms Banerjee to contest the ensuing by-elections from the said constituency,” Ganguly said.Rejecting the claim, he added, “The aforesaid allegations are untrue.”Calling the rumours irresponsible, Ganguly said it was “extremely unfortunate” that no effort appeared to have been made to verify the allegations before publication. He added that the allegations concerning him were made “in reckless disregard of the truth.”Ganguly also categorically denied having acted as an intermediary for Banerjee. “It is thus necessary to place on record that I was never requested/asked by Ms Mamata Banerjee to convey any message from her to Mr. Yusuf Pathan,” he said.The former India captain reiterated that since no such communication took place, the question of Pathan responding in the manner described in the report “does not and cannot arise.”He also distanced himself from political affairs, stating, “I have never been involved in political matters at any stage with any one concerned.”The clarification comes amid speculation over the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat and reports suggesting efforts were being made to facilitate a by-election from the constituency to give Mamata a chance to get elected.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 MediaVideosBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish Line123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan


'Incorrect and untrue': Sourav Ganguly denies asking Yusuf Pathan to resign 'on behalf of' Mamata Banerjee
File pics of Sourav, Mamata and Yusuf

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has dismissed reports claiming that he contacted Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and asked him to resign from his elected post to facilitate her contesting a by-election.In a statement, Ganguly said allegations that he had acted as an intermediary for Mamata were “untrue”. The report alleged that he had contacted Pathan on behalf of Banerjee and conveyed a message asking him to “step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative” of the constituency to enable Banerjee to contest a by-election from the seat.“It was alleged that I had contacted Mr Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and had carried her message that he should step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative of the aforesaid constituency in order to enable Ms Banerjee to contest the ensuing by-elections from the said constituency,” Ganguly said.Rejecting the claim, he added, “The aforesaid allegations are untrue.”Calling the rumours irresponsible, Ganguly said it was “extremely unfortunate” that no effort appeared to have been made to verify the allegations before publication. He added that the allegations concerning him were made “in reckless disregard of the truth.”Ganguly also categorically denied having acted as an intermediary for Banerjee. “It is thus necessary to place on record that I was never requested/asked by Ms Mamata Banerjee to convey any message from her to Mr. Yusuf Pathan,” he said.The former India captain reiterated that since no such communication took place, the question of Pathan responding in the manner described in the report “does not and cannot arise.”He also distanced himself from political affairs, stating, “I have never been involved in political matters at any stage with any one concerned.”The clarification comes amid speculation over the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat and reports suggesting efforts were being made to facilitate a by-election from the constituency to give Mamata a chance to get elected.



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Cockroach Janta Party: Gen Z awakening or AAP 2.0? The sudden rise of the Cockroach Janta Party has led many to question whether it is Aam Aadmi Party 2.0. But there are issues that matter to the younger generation—the Gen Z—such as the recent NEET paper leak and the CBSE online marking mess. Many NEET aspirants died by suicide after the leak, and the concerned minister, Union education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, has not resigned.Author and political commentator Anand Ranganathan says there are three aspects of the Cockroach Janta Party that people are not looking at fully, with most discussions focusing on only one or two of them. He calls the Cockroach Janta Party “Aam Aadmi Party 2.0” and points to founder Abhijeet Dipke’s past association with Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal. Ranganathan says the movement is similar to the early days of the AAP. He is also critical of the Cockroach party’s leadership, describing its core members as anarchists and claiming that they are trying to create disruption and unrest.Here’s a breakdown by Anand RanganathanTwenty-two million followers, a movement born out of exam leaks, unemployment anger, and of course, a controversial cockroach remark. Supporters say this is India’s Gen Z political awakening. Critics say it’s nothing more than AAP 2.0 wrapped in a social media campaign.Joining us is author and political commentator Anand Ranganathan. Thank you. Anand, welcome to our show.Thank you.We’ve seen many online movements. Sorry, cockroach. It was a cockroach. I get the drift, but what is the larger picture that you see? Do you see this as a joke that went viral or a serious political phenomenon, the Cockroach Janata Party?First of all, thank you so much, Aditi. It’s always such a pleasure being here. I think there are three points that people haven’t looked at in their entirety. People are talking about either one of those points, or the second one, or two of those. So let’s break it down into what I believe is happening right now.Number one. Let’s be very honest. If Kejriwal had Anna Hazare, these guys have Kejriwal. It is Aam Aadmi Party 2.0. As the very famous first sentence of Metamorphosis by Kafka goes—“One morning…” Let me paraphrase it. One morning, Gregor Kejriwal woke up after an unsettled dream and found himself transformed into a giant cockroach.But don’t you think you’re being a little unfair? He’s worked with Kejriwal before, then he went abroad. From what I’ve heard him say, he obviously put this out as a joke or a sarcastic comment on what a judge said.Yes.And it acquired a life of its own.Right.He could not have predicted—and I’m talking about Abhijeet here—that this would become what it has become. So I’m talking of the expansion of the Cockroach Janata Party that has happened with the three spokespersons and others.They are a bunch of anarchists. I don’t want to use stronger words than that, but good luck to them, whatever they plan to do in life. But right now they’re just out there to create havoc and trouble, which is what anarchists do. Leftists, they’ve got all their views confused. There is a lot of Hindu phobia in there. There’s a lot of taking pride in doing things illegally.If you were to ask them, was Shaheen Bagh illegal, where they blocked a road for six months, none of them would say it was illegal. Were the farm protests illegal when they blocked the highways? No.So fundamentally, they are from the same fold as the Aam Aadmi Party—anarchists, leftists, rejects of society, dregs.But here is the thing. The first point is, it’s very clear who they are. The second point is, do they have a right to do what they’re doing?And the answer—not just because I’m a free speech absolutist, but even otherwise—is absolutely and emphatically yes. Of course, according to me, they have a right to say or do whatever they want, form a party, have a press conference, allege whatever they want.And this is where the government has got it wrong when they’re saying, “We’re blocking this for national security issues, sovereignty issues.” I mean, come on.Let’s remember what was happening during the UPA time. I think there was a cartoonist who basically changed the symbol of the Sarnath lions—Yeah, with wolves.And the UPA came down heavily on him. I forget his name. Aseem, I think his name was.Aseem.Some UAPA-type provisions were added on him. He was arrested. He was jailed. BJP was supporting that person.So when you’re in power, you suddenly feel that the nation is at threat. No. The nation is not at threat from whatever these bunch of no-hopers are doing. So I support them completely.Now I come to the final point, which is very important and which people are missing. This is why I feel the BJP has not just lost the plot but missed the bus, because each and every one of these issues are genuine issues.Please remember how Arvind Kejriwal gained popularity. He piggybacked on genuine grouses and genuine issues, which was corruption at that point in time, 15 years ago. It was only later, when people understood what he wanted to do and how things turned out, that people realized his real intentions.In this case, there is a big difference. They are piggybacking on genuine grouses. I’ll come to that in a minute. But here, people know who these guys are. We had no idea who Kejriwal was. We thought he was an honest guy, he was going to change society, and he was one of us.It’s only five or six years down the line that people got to know the real Kejriwal, and now we know he’s as despotic as any other politician, which is fine by me. Like Lalu, like Kejriwal, like anybody else.These guys, we know who they are. But this is how they start a movement. They piggyback on genuine grouses.And this is the third point very quickly, Aditi. Years before what CJP is doing, right-wing, meritorious Modi supporters have brought up exactly these issues. Exactly these issues.Corruption—I can name them. Anuradha Tiwari is one, Ajit Bharti is another. UGC issues, potholes on the road, the QR code thing, corruption, injustice, government malaise, examination leaks. More issues than what the CJP has brought in, the right-wingers have brought up.And what happened to them?The BJP went after them. BJP supporters called them all sorts of things. They were even equated with jihadis.So the chicken has come home to roost because the same people whose genuine grouses you ignored, and whom you should have supported, were pushed aside. Now somebody else has taken that mantle. And perhaps they are among those 22 million followers that the Cockroach Janata Party has.But I’m going to come down to each of these three issues one by one.Sure. And first, let me start with when you say they are the dregs and they are the anarchists. Who are you referring to? Because there are 22 million kids out there, youngsters out there. Not all of them can be anarchists. Many of them would be people who are actually hurt by what has happened in India, by mental health issues. There are people who committed suicide. Those are not issues that we can trifle with, and you’re right there. But when you’re saying dregs, who are you referring to?Everyone, each one of them can’t be dregs.Thank you for saying that. Of course, I don’t know who those 22 million people are. Followers are possibly not supporters. Whatever the case may be, my categorization is of the spokespersons and the people surrounding those spokespersons. They are the ones who are leftist anarchists.Okay.Not the followers. Thanks for the clarification.Of course.So now this has largely been an online movement.Just to clarify, Kejriwal was a dyed-in-the-wool leftist, right? But a lot of supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party at that point of time—That’s exactly what I mean. You piggyback on a genuine grouse, which is pan-India, ideology-agnostic, party-agnostic. That is how you build a movement, and then slowly the cover falls off.Even if several thousand of these online activists turn up at Jantar Mantar, do you believe that—It will be difficult to make the cockroaches back off. What they have done to begin with is antagonize the entire legal procedure. They haven’t got permission to be at Jantar Mantar.And this is what I mean. Anarchists and leftists—this is exactly what they do.But I think he clarified that he’s going to ask for permission after landing.So the guy lands just a few hours before the protest is supposed to happen. Tens of thousands are supposed to gather, and he goes and asks for permission.Now you know what happens. When you ask for permission, it is not granted immediately. The police have to do reconnaissance. They have to visit the place. They have to find out where the exits and entrances are. What if 10,000 people suddenly arrive?There is a procedure, and it takes days. After that, you are given clearance not just by the police but by the fire department and others. It’s a whole process.What are they expecting? You go to the police station, your protest is a few hours away, and you get permission instantly?Obviously, they planned this. Then they would hype it up by saying, “Look, this is an anti-democratic state. It didn’t give us permission to protest.”And not just that. Even if you say they cleverly planned it, look at what the spokesperson said. He said, “Why should we need permission?”So let me say this. This is classic The Man Who Was Thursday. This is classic anarchy. This is what they do. They have displayed their cards.So you’re saying that it’s headed toward a firestorm, a melee, when the ground event actually happens.Yes.But what options does the government have? Because it has to do something. If it refuses permission now, the perception and the narrative become, “The government is suppressing protest.”Which is exactly what they want.But if that happens, what are the options before the government, the police, or whoever the authorities are? Can they make this happen in some other way?So this is the nub of the issue, and this is where I believe the BJP, Modi, and everyone down the line have got it completely wrong.The government should have appropriated this movement because the fact remains, as Anuradha is saying, as Ajit is saying, and as many others are saying—we are cockroaches, yaar.Everything is hunky-dory in this country. Yes, there is no alternative to Modi. Modi is doing well. The country is doing well.But these are also issues that matter.Of course. And it affects Gen Z. It affects the generation. That’s it.Look at the 10 people who committed suicide. The minister is still there. CBSE came after that, UGC before that.The point is, the grouse is as serious as the anti-corruption grouse was serious.The BJP should have appropriated it. Maybe senior leaders might have, but younger BJP leaders should have come out and said, “We stand with this.”And if Modi tweeted, “I hear you,” Gen Z would feel heard. Right now, Gen Z feels nobody hears us.So let us follow CJP.That’s what they’re feeling.Anuradha has used the word “cockroaches” much before these people did. What does cockroach mean, and why are critics of the CJP using the word derogatorily?We are cockroaches. Cockroaches are meant to survive even a nuclear holocaust.The way Indians are surviving—contamination in water, contamination everywhere, injustice everywhere, corruption everywhere, government apathy.Two days ago, 20 people died. Someone had a permit for six hotel rooms and was operating with 25. Then he says, “I don’t know.”Today the headline says, “In Delhi, everything is fine.”This is the attitude.Obviously, there is corruption. Who allowed all of that?So we are surviving this holocaust of corruption, apathy, injustice, and indifference. We are cockroaches.The more you deny it, the more genuine people will come to this movement.And let me tell you, when the Aam Aadmi Party was against the UPA, BJP was also supporting it.Exactly.Why was it supporting it?Because it felt it was a genuine grouse.Do you feel that this time the opposition will take a note from that BJP playbook and support these kids?So I’ll tell you what has happened. Because, as you said, the issues are very, very relevant.And this is the problem these guys have created for themselves. They have chosen people with clear political backing or affiliations. Had they remained like Kejriwal did for one year, without any political support, then a lot of political parties would have joined them.Congress has already come out and said that this is AAP. If we follow them, we will lose ourselves. We will protest separately.They are protesting against and demanding exactly the same things that the Cockroach Janata Party is demanding. They are getting hit by water cannons and all that, but separately.I mean, we can say they are AAP, we can say they are anarchists, but their issues are relevant.There are 22 million youth in India who have at least online joined that party and said, “We’re with you.”That means there is a genuine grouse, which you admit, right?What is the lesson—or rather, what is the solution?Because those solutions are just the resignation of the education minister, which the CJP is demanding. That is not really going to solve the issue. Today they also demanded the resignation of the finance minister. It is the classic line they have taken.Absolutely okay. You have to ask for something.So you are asking for resignation.Yes. Because that is normally what we have seen in this country. If something happens, you ask for the highest heads to roll if no heads are rolling in between.Let me answer this.I am disappointed that there are only officially 22 million cockroaches. I want 100 million cockroaches. I want a billion cockroaches because that’s what we are.Unless we identify who we are, we are never going to solve it.And that is why I’m saying the BJP got it wrong.People from the BJP, people who are right-wingers, who were raising these issues and demanding accountability from the government, were shunned, abused, and ridiculed.Those are the people the BJP could have listened to and said, “Yes, we hear you. We are taking corrective steps.”Which corrective steps is the government taking now?A minor CBSE official was moved somewhere else. He wasn’t really punished. He may well be celebrating now.So the point is, this is not just an issue. It is a genuine issue, and all of us are cockroaches.I challenge anybody to say otherwise. Make Modi wait for half an hour and I’ll prove that he is also a cockroach.All of us are.Anybody surviving in today’s India—we may be better off than we were before, that’s fine. But compare us to any developed country.Should I tell you the statistics?Thirty-four percent of all infants under five are chronically malnourished and stunted. Twenty percent of Indian children have never been vaccinated.Look at health indices, water quality, take anything.We are survivors.We are cockroaches. Identify it. Solve the problem.So there you’re saying it yourself—that you are also a cockroach.One hundred percent.You are also subscribing to what CJP is talking about.Yes.But my problem is that CJP is raising this now. All these issues were raised before, but the BJP made a mistake by abusing those who raised them.Now what has it become?So if CJP keeps growing, who should be most worried?The cockroaches should be most worried.AAP grew, right? Who do you think was most worried?A simple question. Were politicians more worried by AAP or were common people?The common people were more worried. I was genuinely disappointed.Why would Modi be disappointed with Kejriwal? Kejriwal is just another politician. Lalu, Kejriwal, Mamata, Modi—what difference does it make to them? The more, the merrier among that group.We were the ones who felt betrayed.So tomorrow, if CJP grows on the back of genuine issues, good luck to them. But if later they show their true colours, we will be the ones who suffer, Aditi.Do you think they can spring a surprise and that their true colours might actually be the colours people want to see?Because, as you said, the issues they are raising are real. Their manner of speaking and the way they have gathered youth support could be an awakening for Gen Z.We always say Gen Z is absorbed in its own world—cell phones, laptops, social media.Do you think this could be a political awakening for Gen Z?It should be.I just hope Gen Z realizes who is at the vanguard.I don’t like the people at the vanguard, the top four or five people, because we know who they are.That I agree with you on.We know who they are. That is their problem. They displayed their cards too early.If they had done what Kejriwal did in the first year of the Aam Aadmi Party, many of us would have supported them.Why did we support Kejriwal?Because we didn’t know the real Kejriwal. We thought he was one of us. We thought he was standing up for us.Then we saw what happened.I just don’t want Gen Z to be disappointed.At the same time, I want the people at the vanguard to realize that one good thing about youth is that young people are more willing to admit when they are wrong.I hope so.Even people at the vanguard can say, “We were wrong.”But I doubt it. A leftist will never really admit being wrong.But clearly, whether it is CJP or not, what they have proven is that there is a space for this.Yes.And that the youth is disappointed by our politicians.Yes.And that disappointment is really sad in this day and age.We have seen such youth movements in neighbouring countries.It’s scary.In India, the situation will not come down to what has happened in Nepal and elsewhere.But here is the thing: when we say this is only about Gen Z, I take you back to what doctors are doing in emergency wards—working 36 hours without sleep, Aditi.During COVID, the health minister did not even know how many doctors had died. Seven hundred doctors died saving millions of people.And who respects them?Seventy percent of them get assaulted.So when you look at the data, everyone is a cockroach. Some just continue to work, survive, and serve the country despite everything.That is what worries me.So there is a huge lesson to be learned from the rise of the youth.Yes.And from what the Cockroach Janata Party represents.Yes.The name sounds funny, but it is really a serious matter.Yes.It is something we need to think about, and something policymakers need to think about as well.Need to.And with that, viewers, we will let Anand go. Thank you. He has another appointment.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi Chairs Economic Advisory Council Meet Amid West Asia CrisisStudents, Senior Citizens, Parents Join CJP Protest Against NEET Paper Leak Controversy | WatchBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity Row123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavBengaluru Girl DeathKerala Student HospitalisedIran AttackKhan SirAnnamalaiKaru Nagarajan ResignRoger GoodellAIADMKTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Cockroach Janta Party: Gen Z awakening or AAP 2.0? The sudden rise of the Cockroach Janta Party has led many to question whether it is Aam Aadmi Party 2.0. But there are issues that matter to the younger generation—the Gen Z—such as the recent NEET paper leak and the CBSE online marking mess. Many NEET aspirants died by suicide after the leak, and the concerned minister, Union education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, has not resigned.Author and political commentator Anand Ranganathan says there are three aspects of the Cockroach Janta Party that people are not looking at fully, with most discussions focusing on only one or two of them. He calls the Cockroach Janta Party “Aam Aadmi Party 2.0” and points to founder Abhijeet Dipke’s past association with Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal. Ranganathan says the movement is similar to the early days of the AAP. He is also critical of the Cockroach party’s leadership, describing its core members as anarchists and claiming that they are trying to create disruption and unrest.Here’s a breakdown by Anand RanganathanTwenty-two million followers, a movement born out of exam leaks, unemployment anger, and of course, a controversial cockroach remark. Supporters say this is India’s Gen Z political awakening. Critics say it’s nothing more than AAP 2.0 wrapped in a social media campaign.Joining us is author and political commentator Anand Ranganathan. Thank you. Anand, welcome to our show.Thank you.We’ve seen many online movements. Sorry, cockroach. It was a cockroach. I get the drift, but what is the larger picture that you see? Do you see this as a joke that went viral or a serious political phenomenon, the Cockroach Janata Party?First of all, thank you so much, Aditi. It’s always such a pleasure being here. I think there are three points that people haven’t looked at in their entirety. People are talking about either one of those points, or the second one, or two of those. So let’s break it down into what I believe is happening right now.Number one. Let’s be very honest. If Kejriwal had Anna Hazare, these guys have Kejriwal. It is Aam Aadmi Party 2.0. As the very famous first sentence of Metamorphosis by Kafka goes—“One morning…” Let me paraphrase it. One morning, Gregor Kejriwal woke up after an unsettled dream and found himself transformed into a giant cockroach.But don’t you think you’re being a little unfair? He’s worked with Kejriwal before, then he went abroad. From what I’ve heard him say, he obviously put this out as a joke or a sarcastic comment on what a judge said.Yes.And it acquired a life of its own.Right.He could not have predicted—and I’m talking about Abhijeet here—that this would become what it has become. So I’m talking of the expansion of the Cockroach Janata Party that has happened with the three spokespersons and others.They are a bunch of anarchists. I don’t want to use stronger words than that, but good luck to them, whatever they plan to do in life. But right now they’re just out there to create havoc and trouble, which is what anarchists do. Leftists, they’ve got all their views confused. There is a lot of Hindu phobia in there. There’s a lot of taking pride in doing things illegally.If you were to ask them, was Shaheen Bagh illegal, where they blocked a road for six months, none of them would say it was illegal. Were the farm protests illegal when they blocked the highways? No.So fundamentally, they are from the same fold as the Aam Aadmi Party—anarchists, leftists, rejects of society, dregs.But here is the thing. The first point is, it’s very clear who they are. The second point is, do they have a right to do what they’re doing?And the answer—not just because I’m a free speech absolutist, but even otherwise—is absolutely and emphatically yes. Of course, according to me, they have a right to say or do whatever they want, form a party, have a press conference, allege whatever they want.And this is where the government has got it wrong when they’re saying, “We’re blocking this for national security issues, sovereignty issues.” I mean, come on.Let’s remember what was happening during the UPA time. I think there was a cartoonist who basically changed the symbol of the Sarnath lions—Yeah, with wolves.And the UPA came down heavily on him. I forget his name. Aseem, I think his name was.Aseem.Some UAPA-type provisions were added on him. He was arrested. He was jailed. BJP was supporting that person.So when you’re in power, you suddenly feel that the nation is at threat. No. The nation is not at threat from whatever these bunch of no-hopers are doing. So I support them completely.Now I come to the final point, which is very important and which people are missing. This is why I feel the BJP has not just lost the plot but missed the bus, because each and every one of these issues are genuine issues.Please remember how Arvind Kejriwal gained popularity. He piggybacked on genuine grouses and genuine issues, which was corruption at that point in time, 15 years ago. It was only later, when people understood what he wanted to do and how things turned out, that people realized his real intentions.In this case, there is a big difference. They are piggybacking on genuine grouses. I’ll come to that in a minute. But here, people know who these guys are. We had no idea who Kejriwal was. We thought he was an honest guy, he was going to change society, and he was one of us.It’s only five or six years down the line that people got to know the real Kejriwal, and now we know he’s as despotic as any other politician, which is fine by me. Like Lalu, like Kejriwal, like anybody else.These guys, we know who they are. But this is how they start a movement. They piggyback on genuine grouses.And this is the third point very quickly, Aditi. Years before what CJP is doing, right-wing, meritorious Modi supporters have brought up exactly these issues. Exactly these issues.Corruption—I can name them. Anuradha Tiwari is one, Ajit Bharti is another. UGC issues, potholes on the road, the QR code thing, corruption, injustice, government malaise, examination leaks. More issues than what the CJP has brought in, the right-wingers have brought up.And what happened to them?The BJP went after them. BJP supporters called them all sorts of things. They were even equated with jihadis.So the chicken has come home to roost because the same people whose genuine grouses you ignored, and whom you should have supported, were pushed aside. Now somebody else has taken that mantle. And perhaps they are among those 22 million followers that the Cockroach Janata Party has.But I’m going to come down to each of these three issues one by one.Sure. And first, let me start with when you say they are the dregs and they are the anarchists. Who are you referring to? Because there are 22 million kids out there, youngsters out there. Not all of them can be anarchists. Many of them would be people who are actually hurt by what has happened in India, by mental health issues. There are people who committed suicide. Those are not issues that we can trifle with, and you’re right there. But when you’re saying dregs, who are you referring to?Everyone, each one of them can’t be dregs.Thank you for saying that. Of course, I don’t know who those 22 million people are. Followers are possibly not supporters. Whatever the case may be, my categorization is of the spokespersons and the people surrounding those spokespersons. They are the ones who are leftist anarchists.Okay.Not the followers. Thanks for the clarification.Of course.So now this has largely been an online movement.Just to clarify, Kejriwal was a dyed-in-the-wool leftist, right? But a lot of supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party at that point of time—That’s exactly what I mean. You piggyback on a genuine grouse, which is pan-India, ideology-agnostic, party-agnostic. That is how you build a movement, and then slowly the cover falls off.Even if several thousand of these online activists turn up at Jantar Mantar, do you believe that—It will be difficult to make the cockroaches back off. What they have done to begin with is antagonize the entire legal procedure. They haven’t got permission to be at Jantar Mantar.And this is what I mean. Anarchists and leftists—this is exactly what they do.But I think he clarified that he’s going to ask for permission after landing.So the guy lands just a few hours before the protest is supposed to happen. Tens of thousands are supposed to gather, and he goes and asks for permission.Now you know what happens. When you ask for permission, it is not granted immediately. The police have to do reconnaissance. They have to visit the place. They have to find out where the exits and entrances are. What if 10,000 people suddenly arrive?There is a procedure, and it takes days. After that, you are given clearance not just by the police but by the fire department and others. It’s a whole process.What are they expecting? You go to the police station, your protest is a few hours away, and you get permission instantly?Obviously, they planned this. Then they would hype it up by saying, “Look, this is an anti-democratic state. It didn’t give us permission to protest.”And not just that. Even if you say they cleverly planned it, look at what the spokesperson said. He said, “Why should we need permission?”So let me say this. This is classic The Man Who Was Thursday. This is classic anarchy. This is what they do. They have displayed their cards.So you’re saying that it’s headed toward a firestorm, a melee, when the ground event actually happens.Yes.But what options does the government have? Because it has to do something. If it refuses permission now, the perception and the narrative become, “The government is suppressing protest.”Which is exactly what they want.But if that happens, what are the options before the government, the police, or whoever the authorities are? Can they make this happen in some other way?So this is the nub of the issue, and this is where I believe the BJP, Modi, and everyone down the line have got it completely wrong.The government should have appropriated this movement because the fact remains, as Anuradha is saying, as Ajit is saying, and as many others are saying—we are cockroaches, yaar.Everything is hunky-dory in this country. Yes, there is no alternative to Modi. Modi is doing well. The country is doing well.But these are also issues that matter.Of course. And it affects Gen Z. It affects the generation. That’s it.Look at the 10 people who committed suicide. The minister is still there. CBSE came after that, UGC before that.The point is, the grouse is as serious as the anti-corruption grouse was serious.The BJP should have appropriated it. Maybe senior leaders might have, but younger BJP leaders should have come out and said, “We stand with this.”And if Modi tweeted, “I hear you,” Gen Z would feel heard. Right now, Gen Z feels nobody hears us.So let us follow CJP.That’s what they’re feeling.Anuradha has used the word “cockroaches” much before these people did. What does cockroach mean, and why are critics of the CJP using the word derogatorily?We are cockroaches. Cockroaches are meant to survive even a nuclear holocaust.The way Indians are surviving—contamination in water, contamination everywhere, injustice everywhere, corruption everywhere, government apathy.Two days ago, 20 people died. Someone had a permit for six hotel rooms and was operating with 25. Then he says, “I don’t know.”Today the headline says, “In Delhi, everything is fine.”This is the attitude.Obviously, there is corruption. Who allowed all of that?So we are surviving this holocaust of corruption, apathy, injustice, and indifference. We are cockroaches.The more you deny it, the more genuine people will come to this movement.And let me tell you, when the Aam Aadmi Party was against the UPA, BJP was also supporting it.Exactly.Why was it supporting it?Because it felt it was a genuine grouse.Do you feel that this time the opposition will take a note from that BJP playbook and support these kids?So I’ll tell you what has happened. Because, as you said, the issues are very, very relevant.And this is the problem these guys have created for themselves. They have chosen people with clear political backing or affiliations. Had they remained like Kejriwal did for one year, without any political support, then a lot of political parties would have joined them.Congress has already come out and said that this is AAP. If we follow them, we will lose ourselves. We will protest separately.They are protesting against and demanding exactly the same things that the Cockroach Janata Party is demanding. They are getting hit by water cannons and all that, but separately.I mean, we can say they are AAP, we can say they are anarchists, but their issues are relevant.There are 22 million youth in India who have at least online joined that party and said, “We’re with you.”That means there is a genuine grouse, which you admit, right?What is the lesson—or rather, what is the solution?Because those solutions are just the resignation of the education minister, which the CJP is demanding. That is not really going to solve the issue. Today they also demanded the resignation of the finance minister. It is the classic line they have taken.Absolutely okay. You have to ask for something.So you are asking for resignation.Yes. Because that is normally what we have seen in this country. If something happens, you ask for the highest heads to roll if no heads are rolling in between.Let me answer this.I am disappointed that there are only officially 22 million cockroaches. I want 100 million cockroaches. I want a billion cockroaches because that’s what we are.Unless we identify who we are, we are never going to solve it.And that is why I’m saying the BJP got it wrong.People from the BJP, people who are right-wingers, who were raising these issues and demanding accountability from the government, were shunned, abused, and ridiculed.Those are the people the BJP could have listened to and said, “Yes, we hear you. We are taking corrective steps.”Which corrective steps is the government taking now?A minor CBSE official was moved somewhere else. He wasn’t really punished. He may well be celebrating now.So the point is, this is not just an issue. It is a genuine issue, and all of us are cockroaches.I challenge anybody to say otherwise. Make Modi wait for half an hour and I’ll prove that he is also a cockroach.All of us are.Anybody surviving in today’s India—we may be better off than we were before, that’s fine. But compare us to any developed country.Should I tell you the statistics?Thirty-four percent of all infants under five are chronically malnourished and stunted. Twenty percent of Indian children have never been vaccinated.Look at health indices, water quality, take anything.We are survivors.We are cockroaches. Identify it. Solve the problem.So there you’re saying it yourself—that you are also a cockroach.One hundred percent.You are also subscribing to what CJP is talking about.Yes.But my problem is that CJP is raising this now. All these issues were raised before, but the BJP made a mistake by abusing those who raised them.Now what has it become?So if CJP keeps growing, who should be most worried?The cockroaches should be most worried.AAP grew, right? Who do you think was most worried?A simple question. Were politicians more worried by AAP or were common people?The common people were more worried. I was genuinely disappointed.Why would Modi be disappointed with Kejriwal? Kejriwal is just another politician. Lalu, Kejriwal, Mamata, Modi—what difference does it make to them? The more, the merrier among that group.We were the ones who felt betrayed.So tomorrow, if CJP grows on the back of genuine issues, good luck to them. But if later they show their true colours, we will be the ones who suffer, Aditi.Do you think they can spring a surprise and that their true colours might actually be the colours people want to see?Because, as you said, the issues they are raising are real. Their manner of speaking and the way they have gathered youth support could be an awakening for Gen Z.We always say Gen Z is absorbed in its own world—cell phones, laptops, social media.Do you think this could be a political awakening for Gen Z?It should be.I just hope Gen Z realizes who is at the vanguard.I don’t like the people at the vanguard, the top four or five people, because we know who they are.That I agree with you on.We know who they are. That is their problem. They displayed their cards too early.If they had done what Kejriwal did in the first year of the Aam Aadmi Party, many of us would have supported them.Why did we support Kejriwal?Because we didn’t know the real Kejriwal. We thought he was one of us. We thought he was standing up for us.Then we saw what happened.I just don’t want Gen Z to be disappointed.At the same time, I want the people at the vanguard to realize that one good thing about youth is that young people are more willing to admit when they are wrong.I hope so.Even people at the vanguard can say, “We were wrong.”But I doubt it. A leftist will never really admit being wrong.But clearly, whether it is CJP or not, what they have proven is that there is a space for this.Yes.And that the youth is disappointed by our politicians.Yes.And that disappointment is really sad in this day and age.We have seen such youth movements in neighbouring countries.It’s scary.In India, the situation will not come down to what has happened in Nepal and elsewhere.But here is the thing: when we say this is only about Gen Z, I take you back to what doctors are doing in emergency wards—working 36 hours without sleep, Aditi.During COVID, the health minister did not even know how many doctors had died. Seven hundred doctors died saving millions of people.And who respects them?Seventy percent of them get assaulted.So when you look at the data, everyone is a cockroach. Some just continue to work, survive, and serve the country despite everything.That is what worries me.So there is a huge lesson to be learned from the rise of the youth.Yes.And from what the Cockroach Janata Party represents.Yes.The name sounds funny, but it is really a serious matter.Yes.It is something we need to think about, and something policymakers need to think about as well.Need to.And with that, viewers, we will let Anand go. Thank you. He has another appointment.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi Chairs Economic Advisory Council Meet Amid West Asia CrisisStudents, Senior Citizens, Parents Join CJP Protest Against NEET Paper Leak Controversy | WatchBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity Row123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavBengaluru Girl DeathKerala Student HospitalisedIran AttackKhan SirAnnamalaiKaru Nagarajan ResignRoger GoodellAIADMKTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

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File photo NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran on Saturday appealed to party workers not to leave the BJP following former state chief K. Annamalai’s resignation and launch of a new political movement, asserting that the party would not be affected by the development.Addressing reporters in Chennai, Nagendran urged cadres to remain with the BJP and avoid joining any other party or movement.”My request to the BJP cadres – don’t go to any other party or any other movement. Please, be here. BJP is a huge party in the world. We have the number one leader in the world, PM Modi,” he said.Nagendran also dismissed suggestions that Annamalai’s departure would dent the BJP’s support base in Tamil Nadu.”There is no impact. The BJP is a huge party. So many leaders went out from the party, then joined again,” he said.Appeal comes amid resignations and new political movementNagendran’s remarks come a day after Annamalai formally quit the BJP and unveiled a new political initiative aimed at promoting what he described as “common man politics” and ending “cult” and dynastic politics in the state.Annamalai’s exit has already triggered a series of resignations within the Tamil Nadu BJP, including those of state vice-president Karu Nagarajan, state secretary Sumathi Venkatesh and several other office-bearers, fuelling speculation that more leaders could join his new political platform.Annamalai, a former IPS officer who led the BJP’s expansion efforts in Tamil Nadu, has said his political goals required a new and more inclusive platform.He has maintained that he left the BJP on amicable terms and continues to respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi.BJP dismisses concerns over cadre exodusDespite the resignations, Nagendran insisted the BJP remained strong and would continue to grow in the state.He maintained that the party’s future was not tied to any one individual and expressed confidence that workers would remain committed to the BJP’s ideology.His remarks echoed the party’s earlier position that the BJP is an ideology-driven organisation and would not suffer a setback because of a single leader’s departure.The appeal also comes as Annamalai’s newly launched movement, “We The Leaders”, has attracted significant attention.The initiative drew more than eight lakh volunteers within hours of its launch, signalling strong early interest in the former BJP leader’s new political venture.Annamalai has said the movement would focus on encouraging professionals, technocrats and ordinary citizens to participate in governance while promoting a “growth-oriented and culturally rooted” politics in Tamil Nadu.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 MediaVideosBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish Line123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavBengaluru Girl DeathKerala Student HospitalisedIran AttackKhan SirAnnamalaiKaru Nagarajan ResignRoger GoodellAIADMKTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

File photo NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran on Saturday appealed to party workers not to leave the BJP following former state chief K. Annamalai’s resignation and launch of a new political movement, asserting that the party would not be affected by the development.Addressing reporters in Chennai, Nagendran urged cadres to remain with the BJP and avoid joining any other party or movement.”My request to the BJP cadres – don’t go to any other party or any other movement. Please, be here. BJP is a huge party in the world. We have the number one leader in the world, PM Modi,” he said.Nagendran also dismissed suggestions that Annamalai’s departure would dent the BJP’s support base in Tamil Nadu.”There is no impact. The BJP is a huge party. So many leaders went out from the party, then joined again,” he said.Appeal comes amid resignations and new political movementNagendran’s remarks come a day after Annamalai formally quit the BJP and unveiled a new political initiative aimed at promoting what he described as “common man politics” and ending “cult” and dynastic politics in the state.Annamalai’s exit has already triggered a series of resignations within the Tamil Nadu BJP, including those of state vice-president Karu Nagarajan, state secretary Sumathi Venkatesh and several other office-bearers, fuelling speculation that more leaders could join his new political platform.Annamalai, a former IPS officer who led the BJP’s expansion efforts in Tamil Nadu, has said his political goals required a new and more inclusive platform.He has maintained that he left the BJP on amicable terms and continues to respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi.BJP dismisses concerns over cadre exodusDespite the resignations, Nagendran insisted the BJP remained strong and would continue to grow in the state.He maintained that the party’s future was not tied to any one individual and expressed confidence that workers would remain committed to the BJP’s ideology.His remarks echoed the party’s earlier position that the BJP is an ideology-driven organisation and would not suffer a setback because of a single leader’s departure.The appeal also comes as Annamalai’s newly launched movement, “We The Leaders”, has attracted significant attention.The initiative drew more than eight lakh volunteers within hours of its launch, signalling strong early interest in the former BJP leader’s new political venture.Annamalai has said the movement would focus on encouraging professionals, technocrats and ordinary citizens to participate in governance while promoting a “growth-oriented and culturally rooted” politics in Tamil Nadu.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 MediaVideosBengal STF Recovers Arms Cache From TMC Leader’s Pond In Sandeshkhali, CM Suvendu Adhikari ReactsRamalinga Reddy Row Resolved After Late-Night Talks, DK Shivakumar Says ‘Everything Is Settled’Lalu Family Returns Security Personnel As Bihar Security Review Sparks Major Political Row’Netas’ Children Should Study In Govt Schools’: Sonam Wangchuk At CJP’s Jantar Mantar ProtestAIADMK Exodus Deepens As 3 Former Ministers And 10 Ex-MLAs Join Ruling TVKQuestions On Dissent, ‘Cockroach’ Remark Spark Tense Scenes At CJI Surya Kant’s London LectureIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish Line123Photostories5 effective money habits that protect you from going brokeHow to respond to difficult people without getting triggered: 10 practical waysFrom Kedarnath to Kamakhya: 5 iconic hill temples in India to visit at least once in lifetimeInside Sunil Grover’s stunning two-storey dream home: A massive living room, artistic interiors and moreCan Jamun help control blood sugar? Expert explains its benefits for people with diabetesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth date123Hot PicksSuryakumar YadavBengaluru Girl DeathKerala Student HospitalisedIran AttackKhan SirAnnamalaiKaru Nagarajan ResignRoger GoodellAIADMKTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Vamsikrishna 0
Prashant Kishor (File photo) NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor on Saturday termed the by-poll to Bihar’s Bankipur assembly seat a “referendum” on the promises made by the BJP during last November’s assembly polls, as the state now has its first chief minister from the saffron party.In April, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary succeeded party ally Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar as chief minister. Kumar, who served in the top post for over two decades, has moved to the Rajya Sabha along with BJP chief Nitin Nabin, the previous representative of the Bankipur constituency – a fact highlighted by Kishor.Nabin moved to the Upper House after being appointed BJP’s national president.The date for the Bankipur assembly bypoll is yet to be announced.“Bankipur is the seat of the BJP’s national president. For the past 40 years, no party or leader has managed to defeat the BJP there,” Kishor told reporters in Patna.He added, “The (BJP-led) NDA won by giving the people of the state Rs 10,000 and by misleading them with false promises. For the first time, someone from the BJP is chief minister. So, the by-election will effectively serve as a referendum on the promises made in November 2025. The public will have the right to vote on those promises — whether it was the pledge to provide Rs 2 lakh, the promise to halt migration from Bihar, or the commitment to improve the education system and employment opportunities.”The former poll strategist further stated that it is for this reason that JSP should contest Bankipur with “full force”.The JSP, launched by Kishor in October 2024, made its electoral debut in the Bihar Assembly polls. However, it drew a blank despite contesting 238 of the 243 constituencies.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 MediaVideosIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish LinePatna Protest Case: Khan Sir Booked Under Attempted Murder ChargeTMC Reorganises Bengal Unit: Chandrima Bhattacharya Appointed PresidentWhat Training 5 Lakh Indian Army Personnel In Drone Operations Means For Future Wars?Indian Navy Invites Domestic Industry to Build 80-mm Aero Rockets for MiG-29K FleetDelhi Fire Horror: Owner’s Bangladesh-Linked Arrest Draws AttentionIndia Urges Faster Bangladesh Verification To Deport Illegal Migrants123PhotostoriesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth dateFrom Chaach to Papaya: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s daily diet at the age of 54Success quote of the day by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The only person you are destined to become is…”8 protein-rich chilla for weekend breakfast made under 10 minutes10 entrance foyer designs that create a premium first impression in modern apartmentsBefore saying ‘Yes’: 10 non-negotiables every woman should identify123Hot PicksH1B ProgramKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Prashant Kishor (File photo) NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor on Saturday termed the by-poll to Bihar’s Bankipur assembly seat a “referendum” on the promises made by the BJP during last November’s assembly polls, as the state now has its first chief minister from the saffron party.In April, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary succeeded party ally Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar as chief minister. Kumar, who served in the top post for over two decades, has moved to the Rajya Sabha along with BJP chief Nitin Nabin, the previous representative of the Bankipur constituency – a fact highlighted by Kishor.Nabin moved to the Upper House after being appointed BJP’s national president.The date for the Bankipur assembly bypoll is yet to be announced.“Bankipur is the seat of the BJP’s national president. For the past 40 years, no party or leader has managed to defeat the BJP there,” Kishor told reporters in Patna.He added, “The (BJP-led) NDA won by giving the people of the state Rs 10,000 and by misleading them with false promises. For the first time, someone from the BJP is chief minister. So, the by-election will effectively serve as a referendum on the promises made in November 2025. The public will have the right to vote on those promises — whether it was the pledge to provide Rs 2 lakh, the promise to halt migration from Bihar, or the commitment to improve the education system and employment opportunities.”The former poll strategist further stated that it is for this reason that JSP should contest Bankipur with “full force”.The JSP, launched by Kishor in October 2024, made its electoral debut in the Bihar Assembly polls. However, it drew a blank despite contesting 238 of the 243 constituencies.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 MediaVideosIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish LinePatna Protest Case: Khan Sir Booked Under Attempted Murder ChargeTMC Reorganises Bengal Unit: Chandrima Bhattacharya Appointed PresidentWhat Training 5 Lakh Indian Army Personnel In Drone Operations Means For Future Wars?Indian Navy Invites Domestic Industry to Build 80-mm Aero Rockets for MiG-29K FleetDelhi Fire Horror: Owner’s Bangladesh-Linked Arrest Draws AttentionIndia Urges Faster Bangladesh Verification To Deport Illegal Migrants123PhotostoriesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth dateFrom Chaach to Papaya: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s daily diet at the age of 54Success quote of the day by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The only person you are destined to become is…”8 protein-rich chilla for weekend breakfast made under 10 minutes10 entrance foyer designs that create a premium first impression in modern apartmentsBefore saying ‘Yes’: 10 non-negotiables every woman should identify123Hot PicksH1B ProgramKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Vamsikrishna 0
AI generated image The first sight of the new dawn rolls in with almost evocative sceneries. The morning dew sits fresh on the leaves. The temperature offers a brief respite from the waves of oven-like heat to come and the sky is a thousand different shades of yellow and orange.But something is not quite right.The song of the birds is no longer the soundtrack of dawn. Honking cars have seemingly replaced them in most urban metropolitan cities. Now that it is gone its absence leaves a loud reminder. The chirps you did not know you were listening to, the ambient sounds that were always there, suddenly went quiet.The house sparrow has not disappeared. It has simply been pushed out. From our balconies, our memories, our cities. And the places it has gone tell a story we do not want to hear.The decline in sparrows is a global issue with BirdLife International reporting that the population has decreased by nearly 64% in Europe since the 1970s. The British Trust for Ornithology estimated that the sparrow population in London alone had declined by 71 per cent between 1994 and 2002. The decline is also observed in North America and parts of Asia, with the maximum decline occurring in urban and suburban areas.India is also no stranger to this disappearance, and the reason behind it is not really a mystery. The sparrow population in Andhra Pradesh alone dropped by 80 per cent. In Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan, it dipped by 20 per cent. The decline in coastal areas was as sharp as 70 to 80 per cent. In parts of Thiruvananthapuram, where volunteers had noticed small flocks of six to eight sparrows until 1998, they had disappeared without a trace by 2003. The reason behind this loss is not really a mystery.The architecture of absenceWalk through the narrow lanes of old cities, you might find nooks and crannies that the sparrow still feels comfortable calling its home. Hidden in the parts of the old city which still respect the sanctity of its presence.As the city transforms and skyscrapers pollute the sky lines of metropolitans, trees and parks are uprooted for crowded infrastructure, the sparrow also exits. It leaves behind a home it no longer recognises.Bird researcher Sujan Chatterjee puts it bluntly: “Modern architecture plays a decisive role here. Older homes, with their ventilators, tiled roofs, and small gaps, offered natural nesting spaces. Today’s glass-and-concrete structures are sealed, smooth, and inhospitable.”Old, spacious buildings are being replaced by matchbox flats. Hedges are being replaced by wrought iron fences. Gardens are paved, leaving no mud for sparrows to bathe in. The criss-crossing cable wires and the flow of electromagnetic waves from cellphone towers injure the sparrows, causing irritation and reducing their reproductive capacity.The bird that once nested in every balcony, that woke generations of Indians with its insistent chirp, that was so common it was almost invisible — that bird is now a marker of class. Its presence or absence tells you more about a neighbourhood than any real estate brochure ever could.A sparrow needs three things: a place to nest, food to eat, and water to drink. It is a relatively sedentary bird, not travelling more than a kilometre or two in search of food. It prefers thatched houses and bungalows to concrete structures such as flats to build its nests.In old neighbourhoods, buildings provide nesting spaces naturally. In new neighbourhoods, buildings are sealed. Glass facades and smooth concrete, no eaves, no gaps and no crevices. Air conditioning units are installed in ways that block, rather than create, small spaces. Modern architecture is architecture that keeps birds out.Why Sparrows Leave Modern CitiesThe food question is equally telling. Sparrows feed on seeds, grains, and insects. On average, each sparrow eats about 1,000 caterpillars per year. As Chatterjee notes, “Increased pesticide use has reduced insect populations, which are critical for feeding sparrow chicks. Clean, sanitised cityscapes, while visually appealing, have removed the very resources that once sustained sparrows.” The reduction in the number of insects is a boon for your home but a bane for the sparrows.Even the water equation has changed. In old neighbourhoods, water is everywhere. Open drains, leaking pipes, uncovered buckets, birdbaths in courtyards. A sparrow never has to fly far to drink. In new neighbourhoods, drains are covered and pipes no longer leak as much. Water is contained, controlled, cleaned. This is good for hygiene but terrible for sparrows.The hidden killersThe introduction of unleaded petrol may also be playing a role. Denis Summers-Smith’s theory suggests that unleaded fuel, believed to be eco-friendly, has harmful byproducts. The fuel uses Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an anti-knocking agent. Along with byproducts of combustion, this kills small insects. Though adult sparrows can survive without insects in their diet, they need them to feed their young.Air pollution is another factor. Rising pollution levels in metropolitan cities indicate that the air is becoming dangerously toxic — for birds and humans alike. Since sparrows are mainly grain eaters, their decline could also mean that the grains we are consuming contain higher amounts of pesticides than before.Pigeons have become aggressive competitors. They occupy nesting spaces and often damage sparrow nests. Rising crow populations pose an additional threat. Unlike crows, which have adapted to thrive on human waste, sparrows cannot survive on garbage. They depend on specific ecological conditions: access to seeds, insects for their young, and safe nesting spaces. The world functions with the philosophy of survival of the fittest at every level.Invasive species such as starlings also compete with sparrows for food. These birds often have a more flexible diet, occupying urban niches more readily and outcompeting sparrows for habitats and resources.Increased predation by cats and competition for food by other species, including pigeons, crows and mynahs, has made survival even harder.The pattern is clear across India. In older, traditionally built, mixed-use neighbourhoods , where people live, work and trade in the same lanes, sparrows still survive. These are often the city’s poorer, more crowded, less “planned” areas. The ones that real estate developers are desperate to redevelop.In newer, wealthier, gated, sanitised neighbourhoods, where houses are set back from the road, where every building is sealed, where every open space is manicured, sparrows have vanished.Why sparrows matterSparrows are not just nice neighbours. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They consume insects, which controls pests and reduces the need for pesticides. A new study has indicated that the loss of birds may contribute to the spread of diseases among humans. High bird diversity appears to protect humans from exposure to the West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Where there are more birds to bite, mosquitoes will bite proportionately fewer people, partly reducing their chances of picking up or spreading the infection.The spread of diseases due to decline in sparrow population is an alarming danger.In Hyderabad, a grassroots effort has begun to show what targeted intervention can achieve. The ‘Bring Back Sparrow’ campaign, launched in 2016 by the Animal Warriors Conservation Society, set out with a simple idea: if natural nesting spaces are disappearing, why not create them?Over the past decade, the organisation has installed more than 1,600 nest boxes across areas such as Ameenpur, Gachibowli, Dilsukh Nagar, and Alwal. In addition, over 1,000 nest boxes are distributed each year to households, institutions, and community groups. Nearly 20,000 sparrows have returned to these areas.In Mumbai, Mohammed Dilaraw started the Box Initiative, putting up little wooden boxes on trees that sparrows could use as nests. He also kept little feeders with grains, insects and water to help the sparrows settle.In Chennai, the Koodugal Trust has involved school children in constructing nests for sparrows. Between 2020 and 2024, the trust constructed more than 10,000 nests. School children make small wooden houses that serve as shelter and provide food for sparrows. The effort has noticeably increased the number of sparrows in the area.In Mysuru, Karnataka, the ‘Early Bird’ initiative introduces children to birds through a library, activity kits, and excursions to villages to watch birds. These learning efforts are making children aware and knowledgeable about the role of sparrows and other birds in the ecosystem.Rajya Sabha member Brij Lal has installed 50 nests in his house. Every year, sparrows come to lay eggs in them. He takes care of them and provides them with food. His actions were appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted the role of such individual efforts in conservation.What needs to changeChatterjee believes the answer lies less in grand interventions and more in restraint.”We often say sparrows have disappeared. But instead of asking why, we should ask what kind of spaces we are creating,” he explains.The solution, he suggests, is to allow nature to return. “Keep parts of your garden unmanicured. Let it grow. Leave some spaces undisturbed. Animals are not difficult to bring back, but you have to leave space for them.””Beauty and habitat don’t always go hand in hand,” Chatterjee says. “If everything is trimmed, cleaned, and controlled, there’s nothing left for wildlife.”At a policy level, he suggests bird-friendly infrastructure. “It can begin with something as simple as rethinking our road boulevards, planting native bird-friendly shrubs, and reducing plastic use. Birds and butterflies need dense shrubs and undergrowth as hiding and nesting spaces. If we keep trimming, cleaning, and manicuring everything in the name of beautification, we risk erasing the very habitats they depend on.”You do not need a government scheme to save a sparrow. Leave out a bowl of water on your balcony, let a corner of your garden grow wild, plant something native instead of another exotic ornamental, put up a nest box where an air conditioner could have gone. Throw out some weed seeds now and then.The sparrow has not gone far. It is waiting for space.The dawn is still beautiful, the dew still settles, and the sky still burns orange and yellow. We cannot silence the honking, but we can make room for the chirping again.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish LinePatna Protest Case: Khan Sir Booked Under Attempted Murder ChargeTMC Reorganises Bengal Unit: Chandrima Bhattacharya Appointed PresidentWhat Training 5 Lakh Indian Army Personnel In Drone Operations Means For Future Wars?Indian Navy Invites Domestic Industry to Build 80-mm Aero Rockets for MiG-29K FleetDelhi Fire Horror: Owner’s Bangladesh-Linked Arrest Draws AttentionIndia Urges Faster Bangladesh Verification To Deport Illegal Migrants123PhotostoriesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth dateFrom Chaach to Papaya: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s daily diet at the age of 54Success quote of the day by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The only person you are destined to become is…”8 protein-rich chilla for weekend breakfast made under 10 minutes10 entrance foyer designs that create a premium first impression in modern apartmentsBefore saying ‘Yes’: 10 non-negotiables every woman should identify123Hot PicksH1B ProgramKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

AI generated image The first sight of the new dawn rolls in with almost evocative sceneries. The morning dew sits fresh on the leaves. The temperature offers a brief respite from the waves of oven-like heat to come and the sky is a thousand different shades of yellow and orange.But something is not quite right.The song of the birds is no longer the soundtrack of dawn. Honking cars have seemingly replaced them in most urban metropolitan cities. Now that it is gone its absence leaves a loud reminder. The chirps you did not know you were listening to, the ambient sounds that were always there, suddenly went quiet.The house sparrow has not disappeared. It has simply been pushed out. From our balconies, our memories, our cities. And the places it has gone tell a story we do not want to hear.The decline in sparrows is a global issue with BirdLife International reporting that the population has decreased by nearly 64% in Europe since the 1970s. The British Trust for Ornithology estimated that the sparrow population in London alone had declined by 71 per cent between 1994 and 2002. The decline is also observed in North America and parts of Asia, with the maximum decline occurring in urban and suburban areas.India is also no stranger to this disappearance, and the reason behind it is not really a mystery. The sparrow population in Andhra Pradesh alone dropped by 80 per cent. In Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan, it dipped by 20 per cent. The decline in coastal areas was as sharp as 70 to 80 per cent. In parts of Thiruvananthapuram, where volunteers had noticed small flocks of six to eight sparrows until 1998, they had disappeared without a trace by 2003. The reason behind this loss is not really a mystery.The architecture of absenceWalk through the narrow lanes of old cities, you might find nooks and crannies that the sparrow still feels comfortable calling its home. Hidden in the parts of the old city which still respect the sanctity of its presence.As the city transforms and skyscrapers pollute the sky lines of metropolitans, trees and parks are uprooted for crowded infrastructure, the sparrow also exits. It leaves behind a home it no longer recognises.Bird researcher Sujan Chatterjee puts it bluntly: “Modern architecture plays a decisive role here. Older homes, with their ventilators, tiled roofs, and small gaps, offered natural nesting spaces. Today’s glass-and-concrete structures are sealed, smooth, and inhospitable.”Old, spacious buildings are being replaced by matchbox flats. Hedges are being replaced by wrought iron fences. Gardens are paved, leaving no mud for sparrows to bathe in. The criss-crossing cable wires and the flow of electromagnetic waves from cellphone towers injure the sparrows, causing irritation and reducing their reproductive capacity.The bird that once nested in every balcony, that woke generations of Indians with its insistent chirp, that was so common it was almost invisible — that bird is now a marker of class. Its presence or absence tells you more about a neighbourhood than any real estate brochure ever could.A sparrow needs three things: a place to nest, food to eat, and water to drink. It is a relatively sedentary bird, not travelling more than a kilometre or two in search of food. It prefers thatched houses and bungalows to concrete structures such as flats to build its nests.In old neighbourhoods, buildings provide nesting spaces naturally. In new neighbourhoods, buildings are sealed. Glass facades and smooth concrete, no eaves, no gaps and no crevices. Air conditioning units are installed in ways that block, rather than create, small spaces. Modern architecture is architecture that keeps birds out.Why Sparrows Leave Modern CitiesThe food question is equally telling. Sparrows feed on seeds, grains, and insects. On average, each sparrow eats about 1,000 caterpillars per year. As Chatterjee notes, “Increased pesticide use has reduced insect populations, which are critical for feeding sparrow chicks. Clean, sanitised cityscapes, while visually appealing, have removed the very resources that once sustained sparrows.” The reduction in the number of insects is a boon for your home but a bane for the sparrows.Even the water equation has changed. In old neighbourhoods, water is everywhere. Open drains, leaking pipes, uncovered buckets, birdbaths in courtyards. A sparrow never has to fly far to drink. In new neighbourhoods, drains are covered and pipes no longer leak as much. Water is contained, controlled, cleaned. This is good for hygiene but terrible for sparrows.The hidden killersThe introduction of unleaded petrol may also be playing a role. Denis Summers-Smith’s theory suggests that unleaded fuel, believed to be eco-friendly, has harmful byproducts. The fuel uses Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) as an anti-knocking agent. Along with byproducts of combustion, this kills small insects. Though adult sparrows can survive without insects in their diet, they need them to feed their young.Air pollution is another factor. Rising pollution levels in metropolitan cities indicate that the air is becoming dangerously toxic — for birds and humans alike. Since sparrows are mainly grain eaters, their decline could also mean that the grains we are consuming contain higher amounts of pesticides than before.Pigeons have become aggressive competitors. They occupy nesting spaces and often damage sparrow nests. Rising crow populations pose an additional threat. Unlike crows, which have adapted to thrive on human waste, sparrows cannot survive on garbage. They depend on specific ecological conditions: access to seeds, insects for their young, and safe nesting spaces. The world functions with the philosophy of survival of the fittest at every level.Invasive species such as starlings also compete with sparrows for food. These birds often have a more flexible diet, occupying urban niches more readily and outcompeting sparrows for habitats and resources.Increased predation by cats and competition for food by other species, including pigeons, crows and mynahs, has made survival even harder.The pattern is clear across India. In older, traditionally built, mixed-use neighbourhoods , where people live, work and trade in the same lanes, sparrows still survive. These are often the city’s poorer, more crowded, less “planned” areas. The ones that real estate developers are desperate to redevelop.In newer, wealthier, gated, sanitised neighbourhoods, where houses are set back from the road, where every building is sealed, where every open space is manicured, sparrows have vanished.Why sparrows matterSparrows are not just nice neighbours. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They consume insects, which controls pests and reduces the need for pesticides. A new study has indicated that the loss of birds may contribute to the spread of diseases among humans. High bird diversity appears to protect humans from exposure to the West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Where there are more birds to bite, mosquitoes will bite proportionately fewer people, partly reducing their chances of picking up or spreading the infection.The spread of diseases due to decline in sparrow population is an alarming danger.In Hyderabad, a grassroots effort has begun to show what targeted intervention can achieve. The ‘Bring Back Sparrow’ campaign, launched in 2016 by the Animal Warriors Conservation Society, set out with a simple idea: if natural nesting spaces are disappearing, why not create them?Over the past decade, the organisation has installed more than 1,600 nest boxes across areas such as Ameenpur, Gachibowli, Dilsukh Nagar, and Alwal. In addition, over 1,000 nest boxes are distributed each year to households, institutions, and community groups. Nearly 20,000 sparrows have returned to these areas.In Mumbai, Mohammed Dilaraw started the Box Initiative, putting up little wooden boxes on trees that sparrows could use as nests. He also kept little feeders with grains, insects and water to help the sparrows settle.In Chennai, the Koodugal Trust has involved school children in constructing nests for sparrows. Between 2020 and 2024, the trust constructed more than 10,000 nests. School children make small wooden houses that serve as shelter and provide food for sparrows. The effort has noticeably increased the number of sparrows in the area.In Mysuru, Karnataka, the ‘Early Bird’ initiative introduces children to birds through a library, activity kits, and excursions to villages to watch birds. These learning efforts are making children aware and knowledgeable about the role of sparrows and other birds in the ecosystem.Rajya Sabha member Brij Lal has installed 50 nests in his house. Every year, sparrows come to lay eggs in them. He takes care of them and provides them with food. His actions were appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted the role of such individual efforts in conservation.What needs to changeChatterjee believes the answer lies less in grand interventions and more in restraint.”We often say sparrows have disappeared. But instead of asking why, we should ask what kind of spaces we are creating,” he explains.The solution, he suggests, is to allow nature to return. “Keep parts of your garden unmanicured. Let it grow. Leave some spaces undisturbed. Animals are not difficult to bring back, but you have to leave space for them.””Beauty and habitat don’t always go hand in hand,” Chatterjee says. “If everything is trimmed, cleaned, and controlled, there’s nothing left for wildlife.”At a policy level, he suggests bird-friendly infrastructure. “It can begin with something as simple as rethinking our road boulevards, planting native bird-friendly shrubs, and reducing plastic use. Birds and butterflies need dense shrubs and undergrowth as hiding and nesting spaces. If we keep trimming, cleaning, and manicuring everything in the name of beautification, we risk erasing the very habitats they depend on.”You do not need a government scheme to save a sparrow. Leave out a bowl of water on your balcony, let a corner of your garden grow wild, plant something native instead of another exotic ornamental, put up a nest box where an air conditioner could have gone. Throw out some weed seeds now and then.The sparrow has not gone far. It is waiting for space.The dawn is still beautiful, the dew still settles, and the sky still burns orange and yellow. We cannot silence the honking, but we can make room for the chirping again.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndus Waters Treaty To Stay Suspended Until Pakistan Ends Support For Terrorism, Says IndiaDelhi Police Clears Cockroach Janata Party Protest At Jantar Mantar Amid Exam Irregularity RowIndia Rebukes Pakistan At UN, Reasserts Jammu & Kashmir As Integral Part Of The CountryIndia-US Trade Pact Set For First Breakthrough As Initial Agreement Nears Mid-July Finish LinePatna Protest Case: Khan Sir Booked Under Attempted Murder ChargeTMC Reorganises Bengal Unit: Chandrima Bhattacharya Appointed PresidentWhat Training 5 Lakh Indian Army Personnel In Drone Operations Means For Future Wars?Indian Navy Invites Domestic Industry to Build 80-mm Aero Rockets for MiG-29K FleetDelhi Fire Horror: Owner’s Bangladesh-Linked Arrest Draws AttentionIndia Urges Faster Bangladesh Verification To Deport Illegal Migrants123PhotostoriesTop 7 Pune localities offering affordable rentals and excellent connectivityHow to make South Indian Raw Mango Rice for Saturday lunch at home7 cardiologist-recommended summer diet tips for a stronger, healthier heartAre you a frazzled parent? 4 ways to know it and what can help6/6 Portal: Manifest your desires according to your birth dateFrom Chaach to Papaya: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s daily diet at the age of 54Success quote of the day by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The only person you are destined to become is…”8 protein-rich chilla for weekend breakfast made under 10 minutes10 entrance foyer designs that create a premium first impression in modern apartmentsBefore saying ‘Yes’: 10 non-negotiables every woman should identify123Hot PicksH1B ProgramKS BharatCaitlin ClarkJoe BurrowKCET result 2026Cooper KuppCockroach Janta PartyDonald TrumpEarthquake NewsTop TrendingCJP ProtestKarnataka Constable RecruitmentTS Inter Supplementary ResultsIndia vs Afghanistan ScoreAnnamalai BJP exitE85 FuelDelhi hotel fireKhan sir coaching fireDelhi Plice HCM Result 2026Pawan Kalyan

Vamsikrishna 0