VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Microsoft walked away from $3 billion deal with Oracle: Here’s what happened as per Oracle ‘Bad Omen’: Ancient Mexican pyramid collapses after 1,100 years shocking archaeologists Tri-Series: How many runs did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi score against Afghanistan A? Blake Lively seeks extension in legal fees dispute with Justin Baldoni; Bryan Freedman explains Judge Liman’s ruling – WATCH Planet parade June 2026: How and when to see the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury dance across the night sky | Missile threats, remote runways, rapid logistics: United States Air Force’s next airlifter aims to survive Iran-style battlefields Sanjay Raut (Image source: ANI) MUMBAI: Amid reports of Operation Tiger being underway to split the Shiv Sena (UBT), and that 6 Sena (UBT) MPs reached Delhi on Wednesday, the Sena (UBT) held a press conference in Delhi with three Lok Sabha MPs Anil Desai, Arvind Sawant and Rajabhau Waze. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that ‘Operation tiger’ won’t be so easy. Raut said that Maharashtra MPs were being bought and sold and MPs had refused to sit in the chartered flights to Delhi unless they were paid Rs 15 crore as advance. Raut claimed that all MPs were elected on the Mashaal (flaming torch) and under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. Raut said in the meeting with Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, the MPs swore in the name of their children, wives and Saibaba, Tulja Bhavani and Balasaheb Thackeray and claimed that they were loyal to Uddhav Thackeray. Raut said if any of these MPs still defect, then the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent anymore. Raut said those who want to go must resign and leave the party.“Today, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Arvind Sawant, chief whip Anil Desai and Nashik MP Rajabhau Waze are with me. Since yesterday, such news or rumors have been spreading everywhere that ‘Operation Tiger’ is going on in Delhi. But it is not that easy to break the Shiv Sena (UBT). Basically, even those spreading these rumors have admitted that we are still ‘Tigers’. We have not received any official information about any such developments. We are seeing and hearing all this through you (the media),” Raut said.Raut said the party has also started a legal battle with the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and has issued a whip to all MPs for a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday.“I don’t know where exactly the MPs whose names are currently appearing in the media are. Some say they are in Delhi, some say they are in Mumbai, and some are in their constituency. All these MPs were elected on the ‘flaming torch’ symbol of Sena (UBT) and on the face of Uddhav Thackeray. Earlier, when there was a split in the party, it was said that it was an outburst of the people; because they were elected by seeking votes in the name of (Narendra) Modi. The legal battle in this regard is still going on in the Supreme Court. However, now the MPs who have been elected entirely from the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, on our symbol and on the hard work of Uddhav Thackeray, have no right to commit such dishonesty,” Raut said.“Last night around 10:30- 11 pm, I was told by a very important person that MPs from Maharashtra are being bought. He used the word ‘being bought’. When I asked him what the price was? He said that the price is the same – Rs 50 crores! By tonight, Rs 15 crores must be delivered to everyone, only after that those MPs will come to Delhi. Moreover, they are not even ready to board the plane. I have conveyed this information to the public through social media. If other parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) or TMC are going to be broken in this way, then there is no point in fighting elections in this country,” Raut said.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Foils Alleged ISI-Backed Terror Plot, Recovers Arms And Exposes Cross-Border NetworkSanjay Raut Alleges Cash Offers To MPs; Mahua Moitra’s Response Sparks Political StormAttack On RSS Office In Jharkhand Sparks Security Concerns; BJP Demands Tough ActionAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Holds Key Talks With UAE President, UK PM On Trade, Energy And SecurityTMC MLA Questions CID After Claiming Egg Attack Accused Entered Mamata’s House As WitnessAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Safe Sea Routes After Deaths Of Indian Seafarers’There Is Shortage of Trust’: PM Modi’s Sharp G7 Message Beside TrumpCelebi Claims India Erased $500 Million in Value After Security Clearance Revocation Post Op SindoorTop BJP Leaders Meet Amid Speculation Over National Team, Cabinet Reshuffle | Watch’Military-Grade Security’: Annamalai, BJP Clash Over NEET UG Re-Exam123PhotostoriesAfter 30 years, pink lotuses bloom again at this iconic lake in Kashmir8 desi savoury snacks we loved before packaged chips and namkeen took overSuccess quote of the day by Lionel Messi: “You can overcome anything, if and only if you…”Psychology explains why you remember embarrassing moments from 10 years ago, but forget why you walked into a room5 of the biggest dog breeds in the world that never fail to turn headsNot worksheets, these 6 things are what your preschool child should be doing, according to a speech therapistFrom Tom Holland and Zendaya to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor: 5 global co-stars who became life partners“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habitsFrom accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey7 new real estate hubs in Navi Mumbai worth watching123Hot PicksArgentina vs Algeria Live ScoreVaibhav SooryavanshiStock Market TodayFIFA World Cup Free Live StreamingSpaceX market valuePizza Hut SoldUGC NET admit cardStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportHormuz BlockadeSpaceXCBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Eknath ShindeWWE Star Bayley India vs Afghanistan Live Score: India aim to seal series against Afghanistan in Lucknow Perrie Edwards marries Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Little Mix bandmates reunite in Portugal; the singer shares their first pictures After 30 years, pink lotuses bloom again at this iconic lake in Kashmir Gold price prediction today: Why gold prices will continue to find support in near-term; check June 17, 2026 outlook Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde NEW DELHI: Is Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in line for another major blow?Four years after Eknath Shinde’s rebellion split the party, the Maharashtra deputy chief minister is reportedly in touch with a fresh group of Lok Sabha members from the Thackeray camp. Reports suggest that at least six of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs are in discussions with Shinde as part of “Operation Tiger”.According to reports, Shinde met members of the potential breakaway group in New Delhi before leaving for Jaipur, triggering speculation of yet another split in the Uddhav camp.According to news agency ANI, the number of rebel MPs could reach seven, one more than enough to cross the two-thirds threshold to dodge the anti-defection legalities.If successful, Shinde’s “Operation Tiger” would further strengthen his hold over the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena’s legacy. The development could mirror the 2022 rebellion that split the party and dealt a major blow to Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership.Amid growing speculation and insecurities, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader in the Lok Sabha Arvind Sawant has urged Speaker Om Birla to “not entertain any claim by defecting MPs seeking recognition as a separate group or merger with another political party.”Shiv Sena (UBT) presser on split buzzAmid growing speculation over a possible split in the Thackeray camp, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut addressed a press conference and issued a warning to potential defectors.”If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave. If such reports emerge about our MPs, then they should refute them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent,” Raut said.He also levelled serious allegations about attempts to engineer defections, claiming, “I have information that Rs 15 crore each was delivered to the MPs, after which they boarded charter flights from three places, including Nanded and Pune. We have issued a whip for the Parliamentary Party Meeting tomorrow. Arvind ji (Arvind Sawant) has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker.”Shiv Sena (UBT)’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Arvind Sawant, also addressed the media and said he had written to Speaker Om Birla over the issue.”I have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over safeguarding the Constitution. Until now, no party leader has told us that they are leaving,” Sawant said.Raut’s ‘Operation Wolf’ and attack on rebelsHowever, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Uddhav Thackeray loyalist Sanjay Raut has earlier dismissed reports of any rebellion among the party’s Lok Sabha MPs. He also responded to the reported move by dubbing it “Operation Wolf.”A possible merger of the rebels with the Shinde camp would strengthen the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while majorly reducing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s influence in Parliament.The renewed rebellion could emerge as one of the toughest tests yet for Uddhav Thackeray and the political relevance of his faction.’Chartered plane and 50 crore offer’Taking a swipe at the alleged attempts to engineer defections, Raut claimed that the “Minimum Support Price” of an MP had been fixed at Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore was “merely an advance amount”.Responding to an X post by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, Raut wrote, “Apna Sapna Money Money! No, no — Mahua ji, the Minimum Support Price is fixed at Rs 50 crore per MP. (pcaas khoke) Rs 15 crore is just the advance. Frankly, these people aren’t even worth Rs 50,000. Their price has only gone up because of the Shiv Sena and TMC brand label.”Mocking the reported rebellion, Raut wrote on X: “A chartered plane lands at Nanded Airport. Under the guise of Operation Tiger, it picks up two MPs and takes off. They didn’t have the means to even travel by rickshaw. Thanks to Thackeray’s name, their worth has risen to the level of flying in private jets.”‘Shiv Sena UBT will be finished’Meanwhile, the Shinde camp has made strong claims about the future of Shiv Sena (UBT).Backing “Operation Tiger”, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said, “The party called Ubatha is slowly dying. Their MLA and MP no longer have faith in Ubatha’s leadership. By 2029, the party will be finished. People are leaving Ubatha every day. As far as their MPs are concerned, we have nothing to do with it. This is an internal matter of their party. This party will slowly die, and people will leave,” Nirupam told ANI.Also read | ‘Operation Tiger’ in final stage: Amid TMC’s rebellion crisis, 7 MPs from Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena camp may switch to Shinde factionThe speculation has also drawn a sharp response from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who targeted the BJP over recent defections from opposition parties joining the NDA.”The BJP should not remain under the illusion that by assembling a gang of cobras, they will feed the snakes milk and they will only bite the opposition. Your time will also come because it is the nature of a snake to bite; if today is our turn, tomorrow could be yours too,” she wrote on X.Not the first INDIA bloc rebellionHowever, the developments in Shiv Sena (UBT) would not be the first instance of turmoil within an INDIA bloc constituent.Recently, following a major electoral setback in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress faced an internal rebellion, with a large section of MLAs expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee.The dissenting camp eventually rallied behind expelled TMC leader Ritabrata Banerjee, supporting him for leader of opposition and distancing itself from Didi.The rebellion soon spilled over to Delhi, where a group of 20 MPs led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar broke away from the TMC, formed a separate bloc in the Lok Sabha and offered support to the NDA.Weeks earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party witnessed a similar development in the Rajya Sabha. Raghav Chadha, once considered one of Arvind Kejriwal’s closest aides, emerged as a critic of the party leadership following AAP’s Delhi loss and led a rebellion against the top brass.Chadha, along with six other Rajya Sabha MPs, eventually merged his faction with the BJP, voicing strong differences with the AAP leadership and strengthening the NDA’s position in the Upper House.Boost for NDA’s numbers game?With the NDA continuing to attract opposition dissidents, the Narendra Modi-led alliance appears better placed to navigate key legislative battles, particularly after facing hurdles over issues such as the Delimitation Bills months ago.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Holds Key Talks With UAE President, UK PM On Trade, Energy And SecurityTMC MLA Questions CID After Claiming Egg Attack Accused Entered Mamata’s House As WitnessAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Safe Sea Routes After Deaths Of Indian Seafarers’There Is Shortage of Trust’: PM Modi’s Sharp G7 Message Beside TrumpCelebi Claims India Erased $500 Million in Value After Security Clearance Revocation Post Op SindoorTop BJP Leaders Meet Amid Speculation Over National Team, Cabinet Reshuffle | Watch’Military-Grade Security’: Annamalai, BJP Clash Over NEET UG Re-ExamKalyan Banerjee Rejects Misconduct Allegations Amid Escalating TMC Split BattleOperation Tiger Nears Final Stage: Shinde Camp Says 7 Sena UBT MPs May Switch Before Session’Not Scared’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke Blames RSS Over Jaipur protest assault123Photostories8 desi savoury snacks we loved before packaged chips and namkeen took overSuccess quote of the day by Lionel Messi: “You can overcome anything, if and only if you…”Psychology explains why you remember embarrassing moments from 10 years ago, but forget why you walked into a room5 of the biggest dog breeds in the world that never fail to turn headsNot worksheets, these 6 things are what your preschool child should be doing, according to a speech therapistFrom Tom Holland and Zendaya to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor: 5 global co-stars who became life partners“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habitsFrom accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey7 new real estate hubs in Navi Mumbai worth watchingWhy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali rose by 5% and 7% in the month of May123Hot PicksArgentina vs Algeria Live ScoreVaibhav SooryavanshiStock Market TodayFIFA World Cup Free Live Streamingilia TopuriaNEET UG RE ExamNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportHormuz BlockadeSpaceXCBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Eknath ShindeWWE Star Bayley Taking lessons from China: Why India may ask refiners to maintain significantly larger crude oil inventories MAHA TET admit card 2026 released at mahatet.in: Direct link to download hall tickets here Jeremy Clarkson reveals he has cancer in heartbreaking ‘Clarkson’s Farm moment: ‘I had a biopsy… it’s aggressive’ If you love animals, these 5 anime deserve a spot on your watchlist Telegram moves Delhi high court against Centre’s ban ahead of NEET-UG re-test Taiwan detects 6 Chinese naval vessels operating around its territory AI generated image In the Mahabharata’s Yaksha Prashna, Yudhishthira is asked what is heavier than the earth. His answer is the mother.It is one of those civilisational ideas India has carried for centuries that the mother is beyond measure. The woman who holds the home together is beyond ordinary value. She is maa, aai, grihalakshmi, Annapurna. However, in the process of deifying women, the value of their work has often gone under the radar.That is why the Supreme Court’s recent intervention is significant. In a motor accident compensation case, the court recognised “loss of domestic care” as a separate head of compensation for homemakers, pegging it at Rs 30,000 a month, with the amount to be revised upward by 10% cumulatively every three years. Where a homemaker had no conventional monetary income, this would function as a basic notional monthly income. Where she also had paid work, the domestic-care value would be added to her proved income. India’s Time Use Survey 2024 gives this labour a quantifiable measure. Female participants aged 15 to 59 who engaged in unpaid domestic services spent about 305 minutes a day on such work. In the same age group, 41% of women participated in caregiving for household members, against 21.4% of men. Women who did caregiving spent about 140 minutes a day on it, compared with 74 minutes for men.The GDP inside homesAn Economic and Political Weekly paper, “Valuation of Unpaid Household Activities in India”, puts a rupee value to that time. Using CMIE’s Consumer Pyramids Household Survey data from 2019-20 to 2022-23, the authors estimate unpaid household work through two methods.The gross opportunity cost method asks what income people give up when they spend time on household work instead of paid work. The replacement cost method asks what it would cost to hire someone from the market to do comparable tasks. Both methods are imperfect but revealing.For 2022-23, the paper estimates the value of unpaid household work in India at Rs 71.7 lakh crore under the gross opportunity cost method. Under the replacement cost method, it rises to Rs 99.5 lakh crore. As a share of nominal GDP, that is 26.3% in the first method and 36.5% in the second. These figures do not mean India can increase GDP by simply adding housework to it. The paper adds important caveats. Incorporating unpaid household labour into national accounting would require careful adjustments for wage assumptions, unemployment, labour force participation and demographic factors.Other Indian estimates point in the same direction, though at different scales. SBI Research placed the value of women’s unpaid domestic work at about Rs 22.7 lakh crore, or roughly 7.5% of GDP. A care economy policy brief estimated women’s unpaid domestic and care work at 15% to 17% of GDP. The spread is wide because the method adopted changes the answer.Stark gender gapIn 2022-23, household work performed by women alone was valued at 14.5% of GDP under the gross opportunity cost method and 21.5% under the replacement cost method. Men’s contribution was 11.9% and 15.1%. Women spent 4.6 hours a day on household work. Men spent 2.2 hours.This gap has survived modernity quite comfortably. The woman praised for working “like a man” outside is still expected to work “like a woman” inside the house.The pandemic briefly highlighted this thankless job. As men were forced to spend more time at home, unpaid household work entered social conversation more visibly. The EPW paper estimates that under the replacement cost method, the value of unpaid household work touched 42.3% of nominal GDP in 2020-21. By 2022-23, as the outside economy reopened, it came down to 36.5%. The gender gap cannot be explained away by income, education or demography. Research using India’s 2019 Time Use Survey has found that much of the gap lies in norms and expectations. Put bluntly, women do much of this work because society conditions them to do it. In many households, especially in rural settings, norms and bargaining limits make refusal difficult. UNICEF Innocenti’s work on Indian children and unpaid domestic services shows how older girls, especially in rural India, carry a heavier burden of domestic work. Time lost there is not just time lost to chores. It is time lost to learning, play, rest and possibility.The world has begun to count itThe International Labour Organization has estimated that unpaid care work globally amounts to 16.4 billion hours every day. If valued at hourly minimum wage, it would equal about 9% of global GDP. Women perform more than three-fourths of unpaid care work worldwide.Several countries already maintain household satellite accounts. The UK pegged unpaid household services at £1.7 trillion in 2023, equal to 61% of GDP. Canada calculated unpaid household work in 2019 at 25.2% to 37.2% of GDP. Mexico put unpaid domestic and caregiving work at 26.3% of GDP in 2023. Bangladesh estimated unpaid household and care work at 18.9% of GDP, with women contributing 85.37% of the total. From recognition to policyThis is why the Supreme Court’s Rs 30,000 figure remains significant. It is a reminder that domestic care is not a sentimental abstraction. It is labour. It has time, value and economic consequences.The larger task is to move from recognition to policy. Time-use data should start meaningfully shaping labour policy, welfare design, urban planning and public finance.The most difficult change, however, must happen inside the home. Indian men have become more comfortable with women as colleagues, bosses, anchors, athletes and entrepreneurs. They are still less comfortable with women as people entitled to rest at home.In the Mahabharata, the mother was heavier than the earth. Modern India has repeated the sentiment often enough. The court has now put a clearer benchmark in that blank column. After generations of calling women’s efforts priceless, India has at least begun to admit that priceless cannot continue to mean free.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Holds Key Talks With UAE President, UK PM On Trade, Energy And SecurityTMC MLA Questions CID After Claiming Egg Attack Accused Entered Mamata’s House As WitnessAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Safe Sea Routes After Deaths Of Indian Seafarers’There Is Shortage of Trust’: PM Modi’s Sharp G7 Message Beside TrumpCelebi Claims India Erased $500 Million in Value After Security Clearance Revocation Post Op SindoorTop BJP Leaders Meet Amid Speculation Over National Team, Cabinet Reshuffle | Watch’Military-Grade Security’: Annamalai, BJP Clash Over NEET UG Re-ExamKalyan Banerjee Rejects Misconduct Allegations Amid Escalating TMC Split BattleOperation Tiger Nears Final Stage: Shinde Camp Says 7 Sena UBT MPs May Switch Before Session’Not Scared’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke Blames RSS Over Jaipur protest assault123Photostories8 desi savoury snacks we loved before packaged chips and namkeen took overSuccess quote of the day by Lionel Messi: “You can overcome anything, if and only if you…”Psychology explains why you remember embarrassing moments from 10 years ago, but forget why you walked into a room5 of the biggest dog breeds in the world that never fail to turn headsNot worksheets, these 6 things are what your preschool child should be doing, according to a speech therapistFrom Tom Holland and Zendaya to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor: 5 global co-stars who became life partners“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habitsFrom accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey7 new real estate hubs in Navi Mumbai worth watchingWhy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali rose by 5% and 7% in the month of May123Hot PicksArgentina vs Algeria Live ScoreVaibhav SooryavanshiStock Market TodayFIFA World Cup Free Live Streamingilia TopuriaNEET UG RE ExamNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportHormuz BlockadeSpaceXCBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Iran FIFA World Cup CoachWWE Star Bayley IND vs AFG: Versatile KL Rahul key to India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans Rupee continues to rebound: Currency jumps 31 paise to 94.29 against US dollar Beautiful game, ugly World Cup: Several teams face brunt of US paranoia, oppressive security ‘Nothing to do with football’: Lionel Messi reveals why he cried after Argentina’s FIFA World Cup win over Algeria | Football News How US quietly kept Gulf crude moving despite Iran’s Hormuz blockade India’s defence production more than doubles in five years, hits record Rs 1.78 lakh crore US drops ‘Indo’ from Indo-Pacific Command name, cites ‘restoring legacy’ NEW DELHI: Petrol bombs were hurled at an RSS office in Jharkhand’s Ranchi in the early hours of Wednesday, with opposition leader Babulal Marandi cautioning that this was “preparation for a bigger incident”.Marandi said the matter had been brought to the notice of the district administration.”At around 12.36am, two men threw petrol bombs at the RSS office. They came by car with motorbikes accompanying them. This is a serious matter because. It was preparation for a bigger incident. We have spoken to the DC on it,” said leader of the opposition in Jharkhand assembly, Babulal Marandi.Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth, who visited the site, claimed a taxi with a yellow number plate and two motorcycles were involved in the incident. According to Seth, the attackers arrived on motorcycles, briefly stopped near the premises, and hurled two petrol bombs. He said one exploded in the air while the second fell to the ground and broke apart without detonating. Seth alleged that the intention was to trigger a fire, noting that several vehicles were parked nearby and RSS workers were present inside the office at the time.”There was a taxi with a yellow number plate parked a little distance away from here, along with two motorcycles. They came on the motorcycles…they came, said something, then tied it, and then threw a bomb that exploded in the air. Then they came again and threw another one, but this time it did not explode on the ground. It broke apart. It was a petrol bomb. What was the purpose of throwing a petrol bomb? To spread fire, because it contains petrol, which is highly inflammable,” he said.”Vehicles were parked there, and all our campaign workers and brothers were inside. What would have happened if the petrol had spread, exploded on the ground, and caused a fire? The entire area could have gone up in flames. There is a huge conspiracy to create unrest in Ranchi, a very big conspiracy. By God’s grace, that conspiracy has failed. But we will not allow any conspiracy to succeed. We will not let Ranchi become disturbed, and we will not let Jharkhand be disturbed,” he added.This comes days after a stone struck the Shatabdi Express near Firozabad while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was travelling from Kanpur to Delhi. The stone hit coach E1, where Bhagwat was reportedly seated, shattering a window pane. Railway officials confirmed that no injuries were reported and that Bhagwat and other passengers remained safe. The Government Railway Police and railway authorities launched an investigation, though officials have not yet determined whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTMC MLA Questions CID After Claiming Egg Attack Accused Entered Mamata’s House As WitnessAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Safe Sea Routes After Deaths Of Indian Seafarers’There Is Shortage of Trust’: PM Modi’s Sharp G7 Message Beside TrumpCelebi Claims India Erased $500 Million in Value After Security Clearance Revocation Post Op SindoorTop BJP Leaders Meet Amid Speculation Over National Team, Cabinet Reshuffle | Watch’Military-Grade Security’: Annamalai, BJP Clash Over NEET UG Re-ExamKalyan Banerjee Rejects Misconduct Allegations Amid Escalating TMC Split BattleOperation Tiger Nears Final Stage: Shinde Camp Says 7 Sena UBT MPs May Switch Before Session’Not Scared’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke Blames RSS Over Jaipur protest assaultAnti-Defection Law: Can Two-Thirds Of TMC MPs Override Their Party And Claim A Merger?123PhotostoriesPsychology explains why you remember embarrassing moments from 10 years ago, but forget why you walked into a room5 of the biggest dog breeds in the world that never fail to turn headsNot worksheets, these 6 things are what your preschool child should be doing, according to a speech therapistFrom Tom Holland and Zendaya to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor: 5 global co-stars who became life partners“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habitsFrom accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey7 new real estate hubs in Navi Mumbai worth watchingWhy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali rose by 5% and 7% in the month of May5 warning signs of stress are hijacking your decision-making ability, according to a psychologistIn photos: The timeless of beauty of Ladakh in summer season123Hot PicksArgentina vs Algeria Live ScoreVaibhav SooryavanshiStock Market TodayFIFA World Cup Free Live Streamingilia TopuriaNEET UG RE ExamNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportNagpur RapeITR Form 16CBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Iran FIFA World Cup CoachWWE Star Bayley Women’s T20 World Cup: India seek finishing touches against Netherlands before tougher tests | Cricket News Vaibhav Sooryavanshi survives on 0 amid third-umpire’s controversial call, Afghanistan A players left in disbelief ‘House of the Dragon Season 3’ early reviews: The series is hailed as ‘best so far’ Android 17 launched for Pixel smartphones: Key features and what is new in Google’s latest software The world has 193 countries, but only one is named after a real woman; story begins nearly 1,700 years ago | World News IPU to conduct MEd counselling on June 18; Merit-based seat allotment on same day: Check details here Shammy Thilakan joins ‘Chiyaan 63’; Vikram reunites with ‘Dhruvam’ co-star after three decades Blood on bed, urine on floor, liquor bottles nearby: Chilling details emerge in Gurgaon techie’s death at Mussoorie homestay Texas plane crash: Video captures rescuers trying to free people through cockpit window UGC NET June exam admit card 2026 released at ugcnet.nta.nic.in for June 22 to 30 exams: Check direct link to download hall tickets here Aamir Khan’s ex-wife Kiran Rao shares a laugh with bride-to-be Gauri Spratt during family night out, ahead of July wedding 7 interior design trends driving demand in residential properties ‘Martial arts don’t make women less feminine’: Kalaripayattu practitioner, Amrutha challenges a deep-rooted myth Image credit: rahulgandhi.in NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address a mega rally in Kota today, accusing the BJP government of “shattering millions of dreams” through paper leaks and exam mismanagement, even as a political row erupted over allegations that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s office tried to derail the event.Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot claimed on Tuesday that calls were being made from Birla’s office to Kota coaching centres and guest houses, warning them against allowing students to attend Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled interaction at Dussehra Maidan. Videos circulating on social media showed posters publicising Gandhi’s event being removed in Kota, triggering sharp reactions from the Congress.”LoP is visiting the constituency of the Lok Sabha Speaker and he should be welcomed. Instead, an atmosphere has been created where Birla ji himself is opposing the visit and wants to ensure no one attends the programme,” Gehlot said. “It does not befit the Speaker to create such circumstances that instill fear in the minds of educational institutions and ordinary people.”The BJP staged a counter-protest, with former minister Rajendra Rathore calling Gehlot’s allegations “extremely irresponsible and unfortunate.”Congress: Youth face ‘two examinations’Congress leader Pawan Khera asserted on Wednesday that Indian youth have to face “two examinations” — one at the examination center whose papers get leaked, and the other of “their patience, their courage, and their perseverance” for having to deal with dual struggles.”Our youth don’t face just one, but two examinations. One is the one that takes place in the examination center, whose papers get leaked. And the second is of their patience, their courage, and their perseverance,” Khera said in a post on X.He added that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party “will not remain silent on this injustice,” calling it “a major issue in our political agenda, because it is not just a question of the students, but of the entire society and the future of India.”Nationwide movement to expandAccording to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopal, the first phase of the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” campaign commences today from Kota and will continue with protests scheduled for Prayagraj, Patna and Delhi.According to the campaign website, rahulgandhi. in, “Chhatron Ki Goonj is a nationwide movement led by Rahul Gandhi, bringing together millions of students and young Indians whose hard work, dreams, and futures have been undermined by paper leaks, examination irregularities, and rising fees.” The site describes it as “a platform for young people to raise their voice, share their experiences, and demand accountability for repeated failures in India’s education system.”Rahul Gandhi’s message to students”My young and Gen Z comrades, one thing is clear in my mind, and you too should etch it in your heart: securing the future of every youth in India is the government’s responsibility. But responsibility and honesty — both are beyond the Modi government’s way of thinking,” Rahul Gandhi said in a social media post.He listed paper leaks, exam mismanagement, cancelled recruitments, skyrocketing fees, privatisation and scams as “tools” the government is using to destroy students’ futures.”Every paper leak, every canceled exam, every stalled recruitment – these aren’t just failures of the system, but blows struck against the dreams of millions,” he said.”I know you’re exhausted. You’re angry. But remember this – when the government refuses to listen, you have to raise your voice louder. That’s why I’m calling on all of you – June 17, Kota. Students’ Echo. Let’s come together and become a roar that can’t be ignored. Starting from Kota – then reaching every corner of the country,” he said.”This is a fight for your future. And I’m with you,” he added.NEET re-exam scheduled for June 21The rally comes just days before the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, from 2.00 pm to 5.15 pm. The National Testing Agency scheduled the retest following the cancellation of the May 3 exam due to paper leak controversies.The issue has also drawn attention to the temporary ban on Telegram imposed by the NTA ahead of the re-examination, which the agency said was necessary to prevent fraudsters from circulating fake question papers.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTMC MLA Questions CID After Claiming Egg Attack Accused Entered Mamata’s House As WitnessAt G7 Summit, PM Modi Calls For Safe Sea Routes After Deaths Of Indian Seafarers’There Is Shortage of Trust’: PM Modi’s Sharp G7 Message Beside TrumpCelebi Claims India Erased $500 Million in Value After Security Clearance Revocation Post Op SindoorTop BJP Leaders Meet Amid Speculation Over National Team, Cabinet Reshuffle | Watch’Military-Grade Security’: Annamalai, BJP Clash Over NEET UG Re-ExamKalyan Banerjee Rejects Misconduct Allegations Amid Escalating TMC Split BattleOperation Tiger Nears Final Stage: Shinde Camp Says 7 Sena UBT MPs May Switch Before Session’Not Scared’: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke Blames RSS Over Jaipur protest assaultAnti-Defection Law: Can Two-Thirds Of TMC MPs Override Their Party And Claim A Merger?123Photostories5 of the biggest dog breeds in the world that never fail to turn headsNot worksheets, these 6 things are what your preschool child should be doing, according to a speech therapistFrom Tom Holland and Zendaya to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor: 5 global co-stars who became life partners“I started drinking from Class 9…”: Premanand Maharaj shares the ‘one thing’ parents can do to keep children away from bad habitsFrom accepting the role of Champaklal, Jethalal’s father, at 35 to his bond with Dilip Joshi: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Amit Bhatt spoke about his journey7 new real estate hubs in Navi Mumbai worth watchingWhy both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali rose by 5% and 7% in the month of May5 warning signs of stress are hijacking your decision-making ability, according to a psychologistIn photos: The timeless of beauty of Ladakh in summer seasonAmeesha Patel’s ‘Gadar’ anniversary lehenga feels like a love letter to Bollywood’s golden era123Hot PicksArgentina vs Algeria Live ScoreVaibhav SooryavanshiStock Market TodayFIFA World Cup Free Live Streamingilia TopuriaNEET UG RE ExamNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportNagpur RapeITR Form 16CBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Iran FIFA World Cup CoachWWE Star Bayley India A vs Afghanistan A Live Score: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Open innings for India A against Afghanistan A Jelly Roll says 300lbs weight loss made him a whole different human: ‘I’m a better father. 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