August 22, 2026

NHRC takes cognisance of complaint against Bhagwant Mann’s wife NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday took cognisance of allegations that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife Gurpreet Kaur sought Rs 5 crore to “suppress” a rape case.The NHRC has directed the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) to inquire into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.Commission member Priyank Kanoongo noted the complainant in the matter is a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court.“We have received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 5 crore. ,” Kanoongo told ANI.Kanoongo further stated that the NHRC had also apprised the ministry of home affairs (MHA) of the allegations.“We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report from the Punjab chief secretary and DGP. Officials should exercise the powers granted to them by the Constitution for the welfare of the people. If they act under any kind of political pressure, action can be taken against them,” he added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis comes days after the NHRC, on August 19, took cognisance of a complaint concerning the alleged non-observance of Independence Day in government schools across Punjab and sought a detailed report from the Mann-led state government.The complaint raised specific concerns about government schools in rural, remote and border areas, where Independence Day celebrations were allegedly not held. This, the complaint argued, may have deprived students of an opportunity to participate in national celebrations.In this matter, the Punjab chief secretary has been directed to submit a detailed Action Taken/Compliance Report within four weeks. The commission has also sought relevant information from the Ministry of Education and apprised the Union home ministry for appropriate action.The NHRC is seeking to determine whether children in border areas were denied equal opportunities to participate in the observance of the national festival solely because of the geographical location of their schools.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
NHRC takes cognisance of complaint against Bhagwant Mann’s wife NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday took cognisance of allegations that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife Gurpreet Kaur sought Rs 5 crore to “suppress” a rape case.The NHRC has directed the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) to inquire into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.Commission member Priyank Kanoongo noted the complainant in the matter is a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court.“We have received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 5 crore. ,” Kanoongo told ANI.Kanoongo further stated that the NHRC had also apprised the ministry of home affairs (MHA) of the allegations.“We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report from the Punjab chief secretary and DGP. Officials should exercise the powers granted to them by the Constitution for the welfare of the people. If they act under any kind of political pressure, action can be taken against them,” he added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis comes days after the NHRC, on August 19, took cognisance of a complaint concerning the alleged non-observance of Independence Day in government schools across Punjab and sought a detailed report from the Mann-led state government.The complaint raised specific concerns about government schools in rural, remote and border areas, where Independence Day celebrations were allegedly not held. This, the complaint argued, may have deprived students of an opportunity to participate in national celebrations.In this matter, the Punjab chief secretary has been directed to submit a detailed Action Taken/Compliance Report within four weeks. The commission has also sought relevant information from the Ministry of Education and apprised the Union home ministry for appropriate action.The NHRC is seeking to determine whether children in border areas were denied equal opportunities to participate in the observance of the national festival solely because of the geographical location of their schools.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash


Rs 5 crore to suppress rape case? NHRC directs Punjab to probe allegations against CM Mann’s wife
NHRC takes cognisance of complaint against Bhagwant Mann’s wife

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday took cognisance of allegations that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife Gurpreet Kaur sought Rs 5 crore to “suppress” a rape case.The NHRC has directed the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) to inquire into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.Commission member Priyank Kanoongo noted the complainant in the matter is a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court.“We have received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 5 crore. ,” Kanoongo told ANI.Kanoongo further stated that the NHRC had also apprised the ministry of home affairs (MHA) of the allegations.“We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report from the Punjab chief secretary and DGP. Officials should exercise the powers granted to them by the Constitution for the welfare of the people. If they act under any kind of political pressure, action can be taken against them,” he added.

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In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines (Representative image) NEW DELHI: Four-year BSc (honours or honours with research) graduates may now seek admission to select ME and MTech programmes, with AICTE opening a new bridge from undergraduate science to postgraduate engineering. The move has, however, prompted calls for GATE-based admissions and limits on institutions allowed to use the route to prevent dilution of MTech standards and protect enrolment in MSc courses.In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines or specialisations in which MSc degree-holders are already eligible. It is, therefore, not a blanket opening for every BSc graduate or every MTech programme. 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AICTE’s decision extends that limited pathway to four-year BSc graduates without requiring them to first complete an MSc.S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA University, Thanjavur, called for tighter guardrails. “To balance PG degree enrolment in technology and science, this new policy should be implemented only in top 100 NIRF universities or top 50 engineering institutions, and admissions shall be through GATE scores only,” he said.The director of a govt engineering college, who did not wish to be named, said: “Everything is now happening under the NEP 2020 canvas and not all are correct. AICTE should also ensure that this new policy is not misused by private universities for whom AICTE approval is not necessary.”Under the framework, institutions may set minimum marks or CGPA, demand GATE or another entrance-test score, assess domain knowledge and prescribe prerequisite or bridge courses. Candidates must possess the subjects or credits required for the MTech specialisation concerned.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAICTE said that academic standards must not be diluted and said the new provision would “supplement and shall not replace” the existing BE/BTech pathway. Admissions must remain within the approved intake and comply with reservation policies and other statutory requirements.The council will separately publish a discipline-wise mapping linking eligible four-year BSc courses to corresponding ME and MTech programmes. The mapping will determine the actual scale and reach of the change. It has asked institutions, universities and state and UT admission authorities to incorporate the provision in admission notifications and prospectuses.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines (Representative image) NEW DELHI: Four-year BSc (honours or honours with research) graduates may now seek admission to select ME and MTech programmes, with AICTE opening a new bridge from undergraduate science to postgraduate engineering. The move has, however, prompted calls for GATE-based admissions and limits on institutions allowed to use the route to prevent dilution of MTech standards and protect enrolment in MSc courses.In a communication to technical institutions and admission authorities, AICTE said the graduates could be considered only for “relevant and closely aligned” disciplines or specialisations in which MSc degree-holders are already eligible. It is, therefore, not a blanket opening for every BSc graduate or every MTech programme. Three-year BSc degree-holders are not covered.The decision follows the UGC’s Minimum Standards of Instruction Regulations, 2025, notified on March 26 last year, which sought to enable greater academic mobility under NEP 2020. The regulations recognise a four-year undergraduate honours or honours-with-research degree carrying 160 credits and allow graduates in relevant subjects, including physics, biology and mathematics, to enter two-year ME or MTech programmes.Until now, BE and BTech degrees have been the principal route to postgraduate engineering. MSc graduates are also admitted to select programmes in areas such as computer science, biotechnology, mathematics and applied sciences. AICTE’s decision extends that limited pathway to four-year BSc graduates without requiring them to first complete an MSc.S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of SASTRA University, Thanjavur, called for tighter guardrails. “To balance PG degree enrolment in technology and science, this new policy should be implemented only in top 100 NIRF universities or top 50 engineering institutions, and admissions shall be through GATE scores only,” he said.The director of a govt engineering college, who did not wish to be named, said: “Everything is now happening under the NEP 2020 canvas and not all are correct. AICTE should also ensure that this new policy is not misused by private universities for whom AICTE approval is not necessary.”Under the framework, institutions may set minimum marks or CGPA, demand GATE or another entrance-test score, assess domain knowledge and prescribe prerequisite or bridge courses. Candidates must possess the subjects or credits required for the MTech specialisation concerned.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAICTE said that academic standards must not be diluted and said the new provision would “supplement and shall not replace” the existing BE/BTech pathway. Admissions must remain within the approved intake and comply with reservation policies and other statutory requirements.The council will separately publish a discipline-wise mapping linking eligible four-year BSc courses to corresponding ME and MTech programmes. The mapping will determine the actual scale and reach of the change. It has asked institutions, universities and state and UT admission authorities to incorporate the provision in admission notifications and prospectuses.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? 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AI image for representation The 2024 Lok Sabha election results came as a surprise to many politicians and seasoned poll watchers alike. BJP, which had won clear majorities in 2014 and 2019, finished with 240 seats, 32 short of the halfway mark. Narendra Modi needed the support of NDA partners to form a government for a third term.When it came to political donations, however, BJP was the clear leader. India’s national parties declared ₹6,648.56 crore from 11,343 contributions above ₹20,000 in FY2024-25, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms, or ADR. That was an increase of ₹4,104.29 crore, or 161%, over the previous financial year.BJP declared ₹6,074.02 crore from 5,522 contributions, up 171% from ₹2,243.95 crore a year earlier. Congress reported ₹517.39 crore from 2,501 contributions, an increase of 84% from ₹281.48 crore. AAP declared ₹38.11 crore, CPI(M) ₹16.96 crore and the National People’s Party ₹2.09 crore. BSP said it had received no donations above ₹20,000.Together, BJP and Congress accounted for 99.14% of the money declared by the six national parties covered by ADR. But buried inside that torrent of money was a curious crossover episode.A TOI examination of the signed FY2024-25 contribution reports submitted by BJP and Congress to the Election Commission has identified at least 19 direct donors whose Permanent Account Numbers, or PANs, appear in both filings.Together, these donors gave at least ₹258.73 crore to the two parties.The money was not divided evenly. BJP received ₹206.64 crore, or 79.87%, while Congress received ₹52.09 crore, or 20.13%. In simpler terms, of every ₹5 contributed by these common donors, roughly ₹4 went to BJP. However, the 19 donors accounted for only about 3.4% of BJP’s total declared contributions, while the corresponding figure for Congress was 10.1%.Business money dominatesADR classified ₹6,128.79 crore, or 92.18% of the contributions received by national parties, as coming from corporate or business sectors. Such contributions formed 94.13% of BJP’s declared total and 74.19% of Congress’s.The classification is broader than incorporated companies. It covers the corporate and business categories created by ADR from descriptions in the party filings. The biggest channel for political money was electoral trusts.ADR found that four trusts, Prudent, Progressive, AB General and New Democratic, gave national parties a combined ₹4,024.43 crore, equivalent to 60.53% of the contributions covered by its report. Prudent Electoral Trust alone gave ₹2,180.71 crore to BJP, ₹216.34 crore to Congress and ₹16.42 crore to AAP.These trust flows have been excluded from TOI’s common-donor calculation. An electoral trust pools contributions before distributing money to parties. Unless the records explicitly establish the link, a company contributing to a multi-donor trust cannot be described as having directly funded a particular party.This analysis therefore deals only with donors appearing directly in party contribution reports.How the number was talliedTOI counted a donor as common primarily when the same PAN appeared in both filings, with the name and address used as additional checks. Where the name and PAN did not line up clearly, the amount was left out. Similar company names, group relationships or common addresses were not considered sufficient.ADR found 205 contributions worth ₹3.47 crore without declared PAN details across national parties, besides 33 contributions worth ₹38.8 lakh carrying missing or incorrect PAN information.ADR also found that BJP and Congress had not declared payment dates for their contributions. The filings establish that the money was received during FY2024-25, but do not allow every contribution to be placed precisely on the election calendar.Five donors did the heavy liftingThe five largest common donors gave ₹208.5 crore, accounting for 80.59% of the ₹258.73-crore pool. The biggest was Derive Investments, a Mumbai-based investment firm. Its PAN appears against four BJP contributions adding up to ₹53 crore. Congress received another ₹5 crore from the same PAN.Next came ITC Infotech India Ltd, ITC’s wholly owned technology and digital-services subsidiary. It gave ₹33.5 crore to BJP and ₹11.5 crore to Congress, or ₹45 crore in all.ITC Ltd, the diversified conglomerate with businesses spanning FMCG, cigarettes, paperboards, packaging and agribusiness, gave another ₹39 crore to BJP and ₹4 crore to Congress. Its two-party total was ₹43 crore. ITC Ltd and ITC Infotech have been counted separately because they are separate legal entities carrying separate PANs.The fourth-largest common donor was an individual.Suresh Amritlal Kotak, a veteran cotton trader and industry figure often described by his peers as the “Cotton Man of India”, gave ₹30 crore to BJP and ₹7.5 crore to Congress, or ₹37.5 crore in all.Then came Hindustan Zinc Ltd, a Vedanta Group company and integrated producer of zinc, lead and silver. It gave ₹15 crore to BJP and ₹10 crore to Congress.How commons donors contributed to two major partiesTwo companies, a perfect 50:50 splitMost large common donors leaned heavily towards BJP. Two companies followed a strikingly different script.Century Plyboards (India) Ltd, the Kolkata-headquartered maker of plywood, laminates and other wood products, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹5 crore to Congress. Star Cement Ltd, a cement manufacturer with plants in Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal, gave ₹3 crore to each.Micro Labs Ltd, the Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company best known for the Dolo brand, came close to an even split, giving ₹2 crore to BJP and ₹2.05 crore to Congress.Others leaned sharply towards one party.Finolex Industries, a manufacturer of PVC pipes, fittings and resin, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. Mysore Projects gave ₹3.26 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Malabar Gold Ltd, the jewellery company subsequently renamed Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd, gave at least ₹10.0525 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Christy Friedgram Industry gave ₹1.90 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. The other verified common donors were Russell Credit, Peoples Education Society, Sri City, Muthoot Finance, T V Mohandas Pai, Josco Fashion Jewellers and H S Purewal.Not just BJP and CongressTiger Associates, a West Bengal partnership that describes itself as an area distributor for Nagaland, Sikkim and Punjab state lotteries, gave ₹60 crore to AIADMK, ₹50 crore to DMK and ₹50 crore to Trinamool Congress using the same PAN.That is ₹160 crore across three parties. Of this, ₹110 crore went to the two principal Tamil Nadu rivals, AIADMK and DMK.NATCO Pharma Ltd, a Hyderabad-headquartered pharmaceutical company focused on complex generic medicines and niche molecules, appears across five party filings.Its identified contributions total ₹35.55 crore: ₹16.5 crore to BJP, ₹10 crore to YSR Congress, ₹7 crore to TDP, ₹1.5 crore to Janasena and ₹55 lakh to CPI(M).How donors contributed to multiple partiesCentury Plyboards also gave ₹1 crore to YSR Congress and ₹50 lakh to TDP, taking its identified contribution across four parties to ₹11.5 crore.Vedanta Ltd, a diversified natural-resources company with operations spanning zinc, aluminium, iron ore, oil and gas, steel and power, identified political contributions of ₹67 crore to BJP, ₹25 crore to BJD and ₹20 crore to JMM in its audited standalone FY2024-25 financial statements. That was ₹112 crore across the three parties. Its broader standalone donation-expense line was ₹116 crore.Not every multi-party combination represents political rivals. BJP, TDP and Janasena contested the 2024 elections in Andhra Pradesh as NDA allies. TDP and YSR Congress, however, fought on opposite sides.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLikewise, DMK and AIADMK were direct rivals in Tamil Nadu. BJP and BJD contested against each other in Odisha, while BJP and the JMM-led alliance were the principal opposing camps in Jharkhand.Deng Xiaoping famously said it did not matter whether a cat was black or white, so long as it caught mice. India’s donation filings offer their own lesson in pragmatism. For at least 19 donors, choosing between saffron and Congress blue was apparently not an either-or proposition.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArghya Prasun RoychowdhuryInterested in politics, policy, data and cricket.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

AI image for representation The 2024 Lok Sabha election results came as a surprise to many politicians and seasoned poll watchers alike. BJP, which had won clear majorities in 2014 and 2019, finished with 240 seats, 32 short of the halfway mark. Narendra Modi needed the support of NDA partners to form a government for a third term.When it came to political donations, however, BJP was the clear leader. India’s national parties declared ₹6,648.56 crore from 11,343 contributions above ₹20,000 in FY2024-25, according to an analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms, or ADR. That was an increase of ₹4,104.29 crore, or 161%, over the previous financial year.BJP declared ₹6,074.02 crore from 5,522 contributions, up 171% from ₹2,243.95 crore a year earlier. Congress reported ₹517.39 crore from 2,501 contributions, an increase of 84% from ₹281.48 crore. AAP declared ₹38.11 crore, CPI(M) ₹16.96 crore and the National People’s Party ₹2.09 crore. BSP said it had received no donations above ₹20,000.Together, BJP and Congress accounted for 99.14% of the money declared by the six national parties covered by ADR. But buried inside that torrent of money was a curious crossover episode.A TOI examination of the signed FY2024-25 contribution reports submitted by BJP and Congress to the Election Commission has identified at least 19 direct donors whose Permanent Account Numbers, or PANs, appear in both filings.Together, these donors gave at least ₹258.73 crore to the two parties.The money was not divided evenly. BJP received ₹206.64 crore, or 79.87%, while Congress received ₹52.09 crore, or 20.13%. In simpler terms, of every ₹5 contributed by these common donors, roughly ₹4 went to BJP. However, the 19 donors accounted for only about 3.4% of BJP’s total declared contributions, while the corresponding figure for Congress was 10.1%.Business money dominatesADR classified ₹6,128.79 crore, or 92.18% of the contributions received by national parties, as coming from corporate or business sectors. Such contributions formed 94.13% of BJP’s declared total and 74.19% of Congress’s.The classification is broader than incorporated companies. It covers the corporate and business categories created by ADR from descriptions in the party filings. The biggest channel for political money was electoral trusts.ADR found that four trusts, Prudent, Progressive, AB General and New Democratic, gave national parties a combined ₹4,024.43 crore, equivalent to 60.53% of the contributions covered by its report. Prudent Electoral Trust alone gave ₹2,180.71 crore to BJP, ₹216.34 crore to Congress and ₹16.42 crore to AAP.These trust flows have been excluded from TOI’s common-donor calculation. An electoral trust pools contributions before distributing money to parties. Unless the records explicitly establish the link, a company contributing to a multi-donor trust cannot be described as having directly funded a particular party.This analysis therefore deals only with donors appearing directly in party contribution reports.How the number was talliedTOI counted a donor as common primarily when the same PAN appeared in both filings, with the name and address used as additional checks. Where the name and PAN did not line up clearly, the amount was left out. Similar company names, group relationships or common addresses were not considered sufficient.ADR found 205 contributions worth ₹3.47 crore without declared PAN details across national parties, besides 33 contributions worth ₹38.8 lakh carrying missing or incorrect PAN information.ADR also found that BJP and Congress had not declared payment dates for their contributions. The filings establish that the money was received during FY2024-25, but do not allow every contribution to be placed precisely on the election calendar.Five donors did the heavy liftingThe five largest common donors gave ₹208.5 crore, accounting for 80.59% of the ₹258.73-crore pool. The biggest was Derive Investments, a Mumbai-based investment firm. Its PAN appears against four BJP contributions adding up to ₹53 crore. Congress received another ₹5 crore from the same PAN.Next came ITC Infotech India Ltd, ITC’s wholly owned technology and digital-services subsidiary. It gave ₹33.5 crore to BJP and ₹11.5 crore to Congress, or ₹45 crore in all.ITC Ltd, the diversified conglomerate with businesses spanning FMCG, cigarettes, paperboards, packaging and agribusiness, gave another ₹39 crore to BJP and ₹4 crore to Congress. Its two-party total was ₹43 crore. ITC Ltd and ITC Infotech have been counted separately because they are separate legal entities carrying separate PANs.The fourth-largest common donor was an individual.Suresh Amritlal Kotak, a veteran cotton trader and industry figure often described by his peers as the “Cotton Man of India”, gave ₹30 crore to BJP and ₹7.5 crore to Congress, or ₹37.5 crore in all.Then came Hindustan Zinc Ltd, a Vedanta Group company and integrated producer of zinc, lead and silver. It gave ₹15 crore to BJP and ₹10 crore to Congress.How commons donors contributed to two major partiesTwo companies, a perfect 50:50 splitMost large common donors leaned heavily towards BJP. Two companies followed a strikingly different script.Century Plyboards (India) Ltd, the Kolkata-headquartered maker of plywood, laminates and other wood products, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹5 crore to Congress. Star Cement Ltd, a cement manufacturer with plants in Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal, gave ₹3 crore to each.Micro Labs Ltd, the Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company best known for the Dolo brand, came close to an even split, giving ₹2 crore to BJP and ₹2.05 crore to Congress.Others leaned sharply towards one party.Finolex Industries, a manufacturer of PVC pipes, fittings and resin, gave ₹5 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. Mysore Projects gave ₹3.26 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Malabar Gold Ltd, the jewellery company subsequently renamed Malabar Gold and Diamonds Ltd, gave at least ₹10.0525 crore to BJP and ₹25 lakh to Congress.Christy Friedgram Industry gave ₹1.90 crore to BJP and ₹1 crore to Congress. The other verified common donors were Russell Credit, Peoples Education Society, Sri City, Muthoot Finance, T V Mohandas Pai, Josco Fashion Jewellers and H S Purewal.Not just BJP and CongressTiger Associates, a West Bengal partnership that describes itself as an area distributor for Nagaland, Sikkim and Punjab state lotteries, gave ₹60 crore to AIADMK, ₹50 crore to DMK and ₹50 crore to Trinamool Congress using the same PAN.That is ₹160 crore across three parties. Of this, ₹110 crore went to the two principal Tamil Nadu rivals, AIADMK and DMK.NATCO Pharma Ltd, a Hyderabad-headquartered pharmaceutical company focused on complex generic medicines and niche molecules, appears across five party filings.Its identified contributions total ₹35.55 crore: ₹16.5 crore to BJP, ₹10 crore to YSR Congress, ₹7 crore to TDP, ₹1.5 crore to Janasena and ₹55 lakh to CPI(M).How donors contributed to multiple partiesCentury Plyboards also gave ₹1 crore to YSR Congress and ₹50 lakh to TDP, taking its identified contribution across four parties to ₹11.5 crore.Vedanta Ltd, a diversified natural-resources company with operations spanning zinc, aluminium, iron ore, oil and gas, steel and power, identified political contributions of ₹67 crore to BJP, ₹25 crore to BJD and ₹20 crore to JMM in its audited standalone FY2024-25 financial statements. That was ₹112 crore across the three parties. Its broader standalone donation-expense line was ₹116 crore.Not every multi-party combination represents political rivals. BJP, TDP and Janasena contested the 2024 elections in Andhra Pradesh as NDA allies. TDP and YSR Congress, however, fought on opposite sides.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLikewise, DMK and AIADMK were direct rivals in Tamil Nadu. BJP and BJD contested against each other in Odisha, while BJP and the JMM-led alliance were the principal opposing camps in Jharkhand.Deng Xiaoping famously said it did not matter whether a cat was black or white, so long as it caught mice. India’s donation filings offer their own lesson in pragmatism. For at least 19 donors, choosing between saffron and Congress blue was apparently not an either-or proposition.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorArghya Prasun RoychowdhuryInterested in politics, policy, data and cricket.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

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The National Medical Commission is putting forth a new proposal for mandatory re-registration of doctors across the nation. Fourteen years after the first attempt to update the national registry for doctors, the National Medical Commission has again proposed to make it mandatory for an estimated 11 lakh doctors in India to re-register through its web portal. This has been done through proposed amendments to the regulations governing registration and licensing. The last such attempt in August 2024 saw barely 32,000 doctors (3%) applying till December last year and just 1,800 (0.2%) being approved for registration.The Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations 2023 notified in May 2023 stated that all doctors enrolled in the Indian Medical Register or any state medical register “shall update in the web portal of the Ethics & Medical Registration Board within a period of three months of publishing of these Regulation” and obtain the registration number, and a licence to practice which would be valid for five months. A year later, it was clear that it had failed spectacularly. In August last year, in response to a question in Parliament, the health ministry claimed that “application for issuance of National Medical Register (NMR) Identification (ID) is voluntary” though the regulation had clearly mandated it. The proposed amendments have removed the three-month clause and said the period would be stipulated later.Over 13.8 lakh doctors were registered in India at the end of 2025 and it is assumed that 80% of this number (over 11 lakh) would be available as many would have moved out of India, died or stopped practising. “To weed out a fraction of those in the medical register, who might not be actively practising anymore, the NMC is asking all 11 lakh doctors to re-register. Instead, the commission could just take the updated state medical council registers, run a deduplication software and reach out only to those about whom there is any confusion. For the rest, they could issue a unique identification number. They are just repeating an experiment that has already failed,” said Dr KV Babu, an ophthalmologist, one of the 32,000 who had applied through the portal.Section 30 (7) of the NMC Act 2019 states: The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) shall ensure electronic synchronisation of the National Register and the State Register in such a manner that any change in one register is automatically reflected in the other register. Six years after the NMC was constituted in September 2020, the latest draft amendments to the 2023 regulation states that the synchronization will be done indicating that it has not been done till now.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines None of the fresh or updated entries in state medical registers in the past years were being automatically updated in the national medical registry.Timeline:Jul 2012- MCI Board of Governors initiate process for updating Indian Medical Register with unique numeric or alpha-numeric numberMar 2017- MCI announces proposal for all doctors to have Unique Permanent Registration Number (UPRN)May 2023- NMC’s new regulation mandating re-registration and mandating a Unique Identification (UID) Number to be generated centrally by EMRB of NMCAug 2026- Amendments to 2023 regulation- proposes making registration in national registry and new UID number valid for practice across India without having to re-register in each stateGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

The National Medical Commission is putting forth a new proposal for mandatory re-registration of doctors across the nation. Fourteen years after the first attempt to update the national registry for doctors, the National Medical Commission has again proposed to make it mandatory for an estimated 11 lakh doctors in India to re-register through its web portal. This has been done through proposed amendments to the regulations governing registration and licensing. The last such attempt in August 2024 saw barely 32,000 doctors (3%) applying till December last year and just 1,800 (0.2%) being approved for registration.The Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations 2023 notified in May 2023 stated that all doctors enrolled in the Indian Medical Register or any state medical register “shall update in the web portal of the Ethics & Medical Registration Board within a period of three months of publishing of these Regulation” and obtain the registration number, and a licence to practice which would be valid for five months. A year later, it was clear that it had failed spectacularly. In August last year, in response to a question in Parliament, the health ministry claimed that “application for issuance of National Medical Register (NMR) Identification (ID) is voluntary” though the regulation had clearly mandated it. The proposed amendments have removed the three-month clause and said the period would be stipulated later.Over 13.8 lakh doctors were registered in India at the end of 2025 and it is assumed that 80% of this number (over 11 lakh) would be available as many would have moved out of India, died or stopped practising. “To weed out a fraction of those in the medical register, who might not be actively practising anymore, the NMC is asking all 11 lakh doctors to re-register. Instead, the commission could just take the updated state medical council registers, run a deduplication software and reach out only to those about whom there is any confusion. For the rest, they could issue a unique identification number. They are just repeating an experiment that has already failed,” said Dr KV Babu, an ophthalmologist, one of the 32,000 who had applied through the portal.Section 30 (7) of the NMC Act 2019 states: The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) shall ensure electronic synchronisation of the National Register and the State Register in such a manner that any change in one register is automatically reflected in the other register. Six years after the NMC was constituted in September 2020, the latest draft amendments to the 2023 regulation states that the synchronization will be done indicating that it has not been done till now.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines None of the fresh or updated entries in state medical registers in the past years were being automatically updated in the national medical registry.Timeline:Jul 2012- MCI Board of Governors initiate process for updating Indian Medical Register with unique numeric or alpha-numeric numberMar 2017- MCI announces proposal for all doctors to have Unique Permanent Registration Number (UPRN)May 2023- NMC’s new regulation mandating re-registration and mandating a Unique Identification (UID) Number to be generated centrally by EMRB of NMCAug 2026- Amendments to 2023 regulation- proposes making registration in national registry and new UID number valid for practice across India without having to re-register in each stateGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesThe psychology of being genuinely charming: Why making people feel seen and heard matters more than confidenceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingMumbai Rape AirhostessReservation Hatao AndolanLucknow Double Murder SuicideMadhapur Road AccidentMaharashtra Hill TragedyAbhijeet DipkeJharkhand Factory FireRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoAston Martin Crash

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Jayant Chaudhary and Akhilesh Yadav’s parties are former allies NEW DELHI: Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Saturday hit back at former ally and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav over his “chavanni” remark, warning that “such arrogance only leads to downfall.””You could have taken my name if you wnated to use cheap words in this political battle; it wouldn’t have been an issue. Targeting the Jat community and saying ‘we taught them ABCD’? I’ve seen this arrogance up close, and I believe such behaviour only brings downfall,” he wrote in Hindi on X.Jayant Chaudhary’s post came days after Akhilesh Yadav, without naming anyone, said, “Hum logon ne chavanni ko rupaiya bana diya, phir bhi chhod ke chale gaye (We turned 25 paise into a rupee, and yet they left us).”The remark was widely seen as a reference to Jayant as he had himself used the term “chavanni” in January 2022, ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, when the RLD and SP were allies.”Main koi chavanni hoon jo palat jaunga (I am not as light as a 25-paise coin to flip),” he had said at the time. The remark was made in the context of changing political sides.The RLD joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March 2024. Jayant Chaudhary later became a Union minister after the NDA secured a third consecutive term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The Jat community is a politically influential group in western Uttar Pradesh. The state is scheduled to hold assembly elections early next year.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMeanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also waded into the controversy, demanding that Akhilesh Yadav apologise to the Jat community for “insulting” former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Jayant Chaudhary’s grandfather.”When in an alliance, the SP only knows how to get its work done, and once its work is done, it changes its colour like a chameleon and freely uses abusive language against the other party—this is the SP’s old behaviour. In such a situation, people from all sections of society should certainly remain cautious of the SP’s narrow-minded and casteist politics,” the former chief minister posted on X.”People from all sections of society should ensure in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections that this party (SP) does not come to power at all, which would be in their interest,” Mayawati added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. He also writes explainers to make these stories easier for readers to follow.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosH1N1 Cases Rise In Delhi: Health Minister Nadda Holds Meet, Reviews Swine Flu Situation‘Proportionate Response’: MEA Explains Bulldozer Action Outside Pakistan High Commission In Delhi4-Year-Old Viral Sensation Karga Tinkle EXCLUSIVE | “Don’t Call Me Chinese, I Am Indian”‘Making Provocative Remarks Against India For Years’: MEA Slams US Body Over RSS Sanctions CallRevanth Reddy’s US Trip Cancelled After MEA Denies Clearance, Telangana Delegation Goes AheadPellet-gun Row: Rahul Gandhi At Parliament Street Police Station To Lodge Complaint With DCP‘Don’t Politicise Our School’: Villagers Block CJP Visit As Party Alleges BJP Attack In RajasthanModi Pushes AI, Youth And Data Agenda, Tells Secretaries To Break Government Silos And InnovatePirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen And Somalia, Crew Safety Raises Concern‘NEET, Delimitation, Cauvery, Drugs’: Vijay’s Key Requests Before Amit Shah At Tamil Nadu Meeting123PhotostoriesTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi, Amit Bhatt to Munmun Dutta, here’s how much popular actors earn per episode10 baby boy names inspired by wisdom, knowledge and intelligenceOptical Illusion personality test: What you spot first reveals your secret dominant traitH1N1 is rising again: Doctors explain why swine flu cases are increasing and how to stay protectedWorking out in extreme heat? How dehydration can reduce kidney function and raise the risk of acute kidney injuryRoad to longevity: 7 simple habits that may help ‘super-agers’ stay healthy beyond 1008 foods you should never reheat in the microwave and why5 smart ways to protect yourself from office politics, according to entrepreneur Ankur WarikooThe 5 beauty trends dominating Instagram in 2026Ram Kapoor’s approximately Rs 20 crore Mumbai home: A coffin-shaped bar, private theatre room and stunning art collection123Hot PicksTCS laptop monitoring softwareTNEA counselling3 year practice ruleJEECUP counsellingAston Martin crashAbhijeet DipkeAnkur WarikooSIM card rulesManoj Mukund NaravaneTop TrendingHyderabad Aston Martin AccidentLadakh TouristMumbai Rape AirhostessMadhapur Road AccidentUKG Student DeathSalman Khan Gym FireAbhijeet DipkeRahul GandhiBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir

Jayant Chaudhary and Akhilesh Yadav’s parties are former allies NEW DELHI: Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Saturday hit back at former ally and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav over his “chavanni” remark, warning that “such arrogance only leads to downfall.””You could have taken my name if you wnated to use cheap words in this political battle; it wouldn’t have been an issue. Targeting the Jat community and saying ‘we taught them ABCD’? I’ve seen this arrogance up close, and I believe such behaviour only brings downfall,” he wrote in Hindi on X.Jayant Chaudhary’s post came days after Akhilesh Yadav, without naming anyone, said, “Hum logon ne chavanni ko rupaiya bana diya, phir bhi chhod ke chale gaye (We turned 25 paise into a rupee, and yet they left us).”The remark was widely seen as a reference to Jayant as he had himself used the term “chavanni” in January 2022, ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, when the RLD and SP were allies.”Main koi chavanni hoon jo palat jaunga (I am not as light as a 25-paise coin to flip),” he had said at the time. The remark was made in the context of changing political sides.The RLD joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in March 2024. Jayant Chaudhary later became a Union minister after the NDA secured a third consecutive term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The Jat community is a politically influential group in western Uttar Pradesh. The state is scheduled to hold assembly elections early next year.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMeanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also waded into the controversy, demanding that Akhilesh Yadav apologise to the Jat community for “insulting” former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Jayant Chaudhary’s grandfather.”When in an alliance, the SP only knows how to get its work done, and once its work is done, it changes its colour like a chameleon and freely uses abusive language against the other party—this is the SP’s old behaviour. In such a situation, people from all sections of society should certainly remain cautious of the SP’s narrow-minded and casteist politics,” the former chief minister posted on X.”People from all sections of society should ensure in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections that this party (SP) does not come to power at all, which would be in their interest,” Mayawati added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. 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