- 3 hours ago
In this episode of To The Point, a special report panel examines the aftermath of nationwide student protests concerning National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leaks and examination malpractices. Following continuous demonstrations, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi was removed, and 47 National Testing Agency (NTA) officials were terminated. The Union government introduced the Public Examination Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha to curb paper leaks, established fast-track courts, and formed a high-level review committee. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government demanding the complete withdrawal of First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against student protesters, threatening to resume nationwide agitation. Representatives from CJP, NSUI, ABVP, and Left student organizations discussed allegations of police brutality, including the usage of pellet guns in Delhi, a police officer firing an AK-47 in Siwan, Bihar, and ongoing student detentions. Additionally, the Supreme Court observed that peaceful protests cannot be brutalized and agitation does not justify lathi charges.
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NewsTranscript
00:1449 day protest forces out Pradhan
00:21But picture abhi baqi hai
00:30Police action under the scanner
00:36And now a government reset
00:41From protest to reform
00:46From anger to accountability
00:52What next for CJP?
00:56CJP Voices on India Today
01:27Public exam amendment bill tabled in Lok Sabha
01:30Meets ruckus discussion and voting on key bill tomorrow
01:34At least six hour discussion expected in Lok Sabha
01:37Bill aims to implement strict measures to curb paper leak
01:46Days after resigning as education minister of India
01:50Dharmendra Pradhan felicitated by NDMP's inside parliaments
01:55Opposition fields calls it BJP culture
02:04CJP gives 24 hour ultimatum to the government
02:07Cites breach of agreement demands withdrawal of all cases against protesters
02:12Or will be forced to sit on protest again
02:20Meet protest shocker from Bihar Siwan
02:23Constable fires AK-47 to disperse crowds on July 25th
02:28Cops suspended probe launched
02:29Siwan authorities distanced themselves from incidents
02:32Say no firing orders were given during the stir
02:41Big setback for Vijay government in Tamil Nadu
02:44Madras High Court cancels jobs for Karoor Stampede victims' kin
02:48Sources say Vijay government to challenge high court verdict in the Supreme Court
03:00Once again floods ravage Assam and Gujarat
03:03At least 68 people killed in Assam
03:06Laks displaced over 35 deaths in four days
03:09Across Gujarat due to floods
03:28All right viewers let's quickly take you to the latest news break
03:31That is coming in
03:32The Kokoro Janata Party after calling off their protest on Saturday
03:36Has once again issued a 24 hour ultimatum to the government
03:40The CJP alleges breach of agreement by the government
03:44Seeking withdrawal now of FIRs against protesters
03:48The CJP says it was one of their conditions
03:51That all FIRs against demonstrators will be withdrawn
03:55That hasn't happened
03:56We will give the government 24 hours to come good on the promise
04:01And the accepted demand that they had confirmed to us
04:05CJP says that they will protest again
04:08If these cases are not withdrawn within a window of 24 hours
04:13CJP leaders say that hundreds of students have been arrested in Bihar, in Bengal
04:19FIRs not withdrawn, protests will resume
04:23So that is what the CJP who conducted a press conference just a short while ago
04:28Confirmed saying that if the government does not honour its commitment
04:33And withdraw FIRs, then the government should be ready to face fresh protests
04:38Listen in
04:39And this is the question of the
04:41And this is what the official said
04:43We have to share this
04:49And this wholeringe agreement will report
04:53And this whole thing will be done
04:53We have to share this
04:53That return agreement will be finalized
04:56If the government doesn't get one agreement, then the government will honor the same way.
05:02If the FIRs are filed, they will withdraw.
05:06If the protesters or organizers will not be disappointed,
05:09if the government will not be accused of arrest,
05:11that the future will not be made.
05:18If tomorrow the written agreement will not be made,
05:38All right, so that is Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson of the Kaukroj Janta party.
05:44He and other leaders conducted a press conference alongside Kapil Sibyl, who has taken over
05:49many of the cases that have been filed against these students, saying that the government
05:53has 24 hours to come good on the commitment that was made by them, that no FIRs would be
05:58lodged against protesters, and the government is now backtracking.
06:02And if these FIRs aren't taken back, then the protest will resume.
06:07He gave examples of Bengal and Bihar, where lots of students, as per the Kaukroj Janta
06:12party, have been arrested and detained, along with FIRs being filed against them.
06:17Meanwhile, the debate continues over the use of pellet guns by the rapid action force
06:23of the National Capital Police action during student protest is under intense scrutiny.
06:29Now the latest.
06:30AK-47 visuals in Bihar have emerged.
06:33Allegations of pellet gun firing in Delhi continue.
06:37Questions are being raised over the use of force, excessive force.
06:41The opposition is demanding answers from the government, while the government is accusing
06:45the opposition of politicising the issue.
06:47Here's the full report.
06:53An AK-47.
06:57Laki charge.
07:00Allegations of pellet gun firing.
07:03Three images.
07:05One question.
07:06Have police excesses during student protest crossed the line?
07:13These visuals from Bihar Siwan are shocking.
07:16A police officer seen firing an AK-47 during a student protest.
07:23At least three rounds fired.
07:28The officer has now been suspended and Bihar police has distanced themselves from the officer.
07:53Police says Siwan witnessed violence with protesters clashing with security personnel and damaging
08:00government property.
08:03But the visuals have triggered a political storm.
08:06Congress has ceased on the issue, turning up the heat on the government.
08:12They have also affected the F.I.R.
08:15against students.
08:17Maybe tomorrow night or morning, in Bihar, in Bihar, in Bengal.
08:21They have not come back from their habits.
08:23Ballet guns, AK-47, are these terrorists?
08:26What is wrong with these people?
08:29The BGP has hit back, accusing the opposition of politicizing the issue.
08:35It's really a matter of great shame that the LOP has shown a great deal of irresponsibility
08:41today.
08:42While he tweeted and he spoke about police using AK-47 on the student protest.
08:48Solving is not the purpose of Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
08:51Trying to create furore, trying to create manufactured anger, trying to manufacture a protest and above
08:58all, trying to create anarchy.
09:01But the AK-47 visuals come amid another explosive pellet gun controversy.
09:06After days of allegations by victims, CJP spokespersons and opposition leaders, sources have now told
09:13India today that RAF personnel did fire pellet rounds during the July 20 Sansa Chalo protest
09:20in Delhi.
09:23The CRPF is preparing a detailed report on the incident with official CRPF-RAF investigation
09:30report, expected after a review and a probe is now underway.
09:36At least four protesters are believed to have suffered pellet injuries.
09:41That day, the visuals had already shown a brutal crackdown.
09:48Police lattes raining down.
09:50Protesters running for cover.
09:53Clashes breaking out during the march.
09:57Now the Supreme Court has stepped in.
10:00The message from the top court.
10:02Mere agitation can't justify Lati charge.
10:05Right to peaceful protest cannot be denied.
10:09Top court observed that peaceful protest can't be brutalized.
10:13And that every citizen should be protected.
10:16Youth must be given space to protest.
10:19Supreme Court stressed on the need for protocols and measures to keep anti-social elements out
10:26as policemen also deserve protection.
10:30But as the court weighs the crackdown in Delhi, the AK-47 visuals from Bihar and the pellet gun
10:39allegations have put the spotlight firmly back on one question.
10:43When protests turn violent, how much force is justified?
10:49Bureau Report, India Today.
10:55All right viewers, over the course of the next one hour, we are going to get multiple leaders of the
10:59Cockroach Janta Party as well.
11:00Leaders of the left who were there, some of them on a fast, who have now been travelling to other
11:06states
11:07because a lot of their colleagues have been arrested.
11:09The Cockroach Janta Party also brought up the names of various students who have been arrested and FIRs are against
11:18them.
11:18I want to cut across to Cockroach Janta Party, Chief Spokesperson.
11:22Saurav Das joins me this evening. We will also cut across to the others.
11:25But Mr Das, thank you for taking the time out.
11:28My first question, Mr Das, stems from the press conference that you addressed about an hour and a half ago.
11:33You have issued an ultimatum of 24 hours. You said a commitment was made to you which wasn't delivered upon,
11:40which is taking back of all FIRs against students and demonstrators.
11:44The government would turn around, Mr Das, and say that commitment was made on peaceful protestors
11:51and you agreed to that condition.
11:56See, Priti, in the press conference and even otherwise, we haven't said that the government hasn't come through with the
12:04guarantee.
12:05We have just said that the FIRs are continuing to be lodged.
12:09Protestors across the country are continuing to be detained.
12:12However, as said after the conclusion of third round of talks, during the press conference also,
12:21that, you know, the agreement was by Tuesday, the government would give us a written guarantee
12:30that the FIRs will be withdrawn and no future action, retaliatory action will be taken against any protestors.
12:38Now, what you are saying, Priti, about peaceful, quote-unquote, peaceful protestors,
12:44that will allow a great leeway to the government to actually go on a fishing and roving inquiry
12:49and rope in genuine students, genuine protestors.
12:53But then, Mr Das, why did you agree to it?
12:56No, we did not agree to it. If you look at that press conference, the words were very clear.
13:01It only mentioned protestors. And we stand by it. And I'm sure the government will also stand by that.
13:07So, Mr Das, let me, you know, paraphrase for you and you correct me if I'm wrong.
13:12So, you're saying the Cockroach Janata Party never committed to the government on the word of peaceful protestors.
13:18You want every FIR to be dropped against every demonstrator. Is that your demand?
13:24Absolutely, absolutely.
13:26Does that…
13:26Yes, make your point, sir.
13:28Because, because when you allow that leeway to the police to determine who is a peaceful protester, who is not,
13:35then you're actually giving the police a lot of power and, mind you, draconian power to decide whether even a
13:42genuine student is, you know, coming under their net.
13:46So, therefore, we don't want to leave that kind of scope to the police.
13:50However, that said, we are very clear that any anti-social elements who infiltrated our protest from the BJP, RSS
13:59side,
13:59these were the people who created ruckus, who did a lot of stone pelting, etc.
14:04Such people have to be identified later and they have to be acted against.
14:08You know, because there are images and documented evidence of certain protestors who are seen hurling stones.
14:15Now, you can say that they are from the BJP, you can say they are from whichever and they are
14:20not a part of your cohort.
14:22Having said that, is the Cockroach Janata Party going to defend those people,
14:27if those, only those who have been clearly documented as stone pelting or vandalizing public property,
14:34if names of those are out and FIRs are lodged against them?
14:39See, we are very clear that there is no space for violence in any of our protests or even for
14:45protests in general.
14:46So, we'll have to first study who is it that the police is acting against.
14:52They cannot, you know, simply file, for example, a conspiracy FIR and rope in anyone and anyone they dislike
14:59and just brand them as not peaceful, non-peaceful protesters.
15:04So, it is very important that we get the copies of the FIRs.
15:08Fair point.
15:09We study them, our legal team will study them and then we'll reach a conclusion and then we'll tell the
15:14police.
15:15So, Mr Das, is there an ultimatum or is there not an ultimatum?
15:17Is the Cockroach Janata Party going to sit and protest by tomorrow, 24 hours is what you've given to the
15:24government?
15:24Or in 24 hours, you are hoping you will get the records and the FIRs?
15:29See, the agreed upon timeline was that the government will share the written guarantee with us by Tuesday.
15:37So, we are hopeful that the government does, you know, share that copy with us in 24 hours time.
15:44If it fails to do so, then we will give a big call, a nationwide call for another round of
15:51protests here in Delhi.
15:52So, you are saying it could happen as soon as tomorrow?
15:55Yes, we are waiting for tomorrow to come.
15:58You know, the government should have been very proactive to give us that written guarantee and withdraw all the FIRs.
16:04Because you see, after the protests were over, the very next day, Janata Mantar was swept clean,
16:10all the graffities were removed, everything was sweeped up.
16:14Fair point. You guys cleaned up after yourselves, which is a heartening note and I think many viewers who are
16:21watching will be very glad to hear it.
16:23We did see those visuals.
16:24But I want to ask you the second question, which was also one of your demands.
16:28And, Mr. Das, one of your demands was that a public apology be given by the Rapid Action Force.
16:33As we speak right now, there are visuals that have come in of possible use of an AK-47,
16:39which wasn't just brandished but was also fired in Sivan on protesters.
16:45Where does the CJP stand on that demand?
16:48Because, till now, neither have we seen any more action other than a suspension in the case of Sivan.
16:54And neither have or nor has the Rapid Action Force come out and given a public apology for the use
16:59of pellet guns,
17:00leave alone accept that they were used.
17:03See, definitely, I mean, the use of AK-47 against protesters is highly, highly condemnable.
17:11I think there shouldn't even be a demand for an apology.
17:15It should have already been forthcoming from the administration, that it hasn't come.
17:19I think that speaks volumes about the state of our democracy.
17:24No matter what, wherever the police brutality is, I think there needs to be a public apology from the powers
17:32that be.
17:32And that includes the Delhi police and the RAF.
17:35Now, of course, there's some positive development that the RAF, the CRPF, on their own probe, have found that pellet
17:42guns have been used without orders.
17:45I hope that there's more action and that a public apology is forthcoming.
17:49So, the public apology is not a non-negotiable right now.
17:52What is a non-negotiable right now? Is all FIRs be taken back, correct?
17:58See, it's not about non-negotiable or negotiable.
18:01It is anyway a sign of statesmanship if the government comes out and apologizes for the police brutality and use
18:08of, you know, gun against protesters in any case.
18:13That should also be non-negotiable, but we've been very clear with our demands.
18:18As we, you know, during the three rounds of talks, we've made it very clear that our three main demands
18:23are Pradhan's resignation, the FIR withdrawal and a guarantee of no future action.
18:28And number three, the compensation for families. And we are sticking to that.
18:32All right. You know, Mr. Das, I'm going to ask you one question regarding on what is onsewing right now
18:37in parliament.
18:38Now, you have the government that has introduced a bill to safeguard the students' interest, which will lead to sweeping
18:45changes in India's education system.
18:48The opposition continues to ask for an apology of the Home Minister on the use of excessive force on students
18:54on the 20th.
18:55Where does your party, which is the Kokoro Janata Party, stand on that?
18:59Do you want the opposition to at least discuss the issue, especially where this bill, which could practically change, you
19:08know,
19:08for the dynamics of India's education system?
19:11See, the Kokoro Janata Party is all for discussion on any matter that affects the youth.
19:17And that includes any new measures or any new policy or law that can rein in this problem of paper
19:23leaks, larger reforms in education system,
19:26and also the police brutality, which, you know, discussion on police brutality and an answer from the Home Minister of
19:34India that the opposition has been pressing for.
19:36I think all these discussions should be happening. And we want the parliament to discuss this.
19:41It will send across a good message to the youth of this country that their issues, their problems are being
19:47discussed in parliament.
19:48Mr. Das, you know, does your other, because Kokoro Janata Party was one big arm that was spearheading, which is
19:55now clearly was a movement,
19:57and not just a protest, it turned into a movement, and it has borne fruit.
20:01There were various other facets of this protest as well. And you have always, as the CJP, acknowledged that there
20:08were others.
20:08There were the left parties, young student outfits there. I have with me Aishi Ghosh, who was on the stage
20:14with you lot when you were protesting.
20:17But I want to come back as we bring in our other guests and we'll introduce them. I want to
20:20ask Mr. Das one question.
20:22Mr. Das, you know, Gen Z has its own way of conducting its business. You guys fought hard. You clearly
20:29partied hard as well.
20:30And you do know the visuals that were beamed out from your own handle as well of celebrations haven't gone
20:39down so well with a certain set, some of them who protested alongside you.
20:45As per them, maybe you should have waited a while before, you know, you broke out into a dance and
20:50partied, some would say in a five star hotel.
20:53Nobody's once denying that you earned the right to celebrate. It was a hard fought battle. It was difficult to
20:58come and you won it.
20:59You deserved every inch of that celebration. What would you say to those? And possibly that's the way Gen Z
21:06works.
21:06You know, there's a work life balance, which maybe the boomers or millennials like us haven't been able to strike.
21:12But away from all that conversation, Mr. Das, what do you say to all the criticism that is coming in
21:17over these visuals?
21:18Some of them who worked with you saying, maybe you guys should have waited. There were people who were trying
21:23to get back home.
21:24There were logistical issues. Maybe you guys should have waited for a few days. There's a time and place for
21:28everything.
21:30See, Preeti, one thing I want to make clear whenever, you know, such visuals come, people tend to exaggerate a
21:36lot.
21:36It wasn't a five star hotel. It was two star or maybe three max, right?
21:41It was just, it was a basement hall where we wanted to meet all our hardworking volunteers.
21:48150, 200 of them, half of more than half of them are from other states who wanted to go back
21:54after, you know, spending 37 days on the road.
21:57So they wanted to go back. We wanted to honor them. You know, unfortunately, only the visuals of us enjoying
22:04and dancing came out.
22:05However, what preceded that was a heart to heart interaction with each one of those volunteers where we were sitting
22:12on the floor.
22:13We were, you know, hearing out their experience, taking feedback from them. All of that happened and it was very
22:19necessary to do that.
22:20Now, that doesn't mean that just because everybody was gathered there, there was nobody on the team taking care of
22:27all the other issues that we are facing.
22:29We've been firefighting from day one. Just because, for example, I'm not on the stage doesn't mean that I'm not
22:36working, right? Same logic applies here as well.
22:39I don't think there was any problem at the time. People wanted to go back home. We wanted to honor
22:43them. We wanted to listen to them.
22:45We wanted to thank them and we wanted to tell them that we are with them and they need to
22:49come back when the time comes again.
22:51And the time could be as soon as tomorrow is what you say. But Mr. Das, you know, I'm going
22:55to ask you two more questions and I hope you'll stay on with us.
22:57I'll bring in some of your colleagues who fought shoulder to shoulder with you. Aishi Ghosh is with us.
23:02And we have two other political guests. We'll also take them later. We have, I believe, Rahul Singh, Kajla spokesperson,
23:08NSUI.
23:09Anish Gawande with us, who was also on the stage, spokesperson, NCP. I think was more in charge, Anish, as
23:17somebody who was managing the social media strategy of the Cockroach Janata Party.
23:21Have you skipped roles, changed parties or still with the NCP?
23:25I was only, I was only doing my duty as a friend and supporting where I could. All credit goes
23:30to all the guys who put this movement together for more than a month.
23:33You know, I'm going to come right back to you, Anish. We also have Harish Atri, National Media Convener, ABVP.
23:38We've tried to get the lot, you know, faces of different facets of what the youth represents in this country.
23:46Aishi, do you agree with the bit of a celebration that the CJP had? I saw you on stage with
23:53them.
23:53A lot of your own colleagues, Varun Fast, you know, how do you see that celebration? Do you grudge them
24:00the celebration or what's wrong with it?
24:03You know, they worked really hard. They deserved it.
24:04We were even celebrating while we were protesting because we do believe that it's like protest.
24:15The idea of protests are not only that we will be sitting sadly and only talking about the negatives of
24:24it.
24:25We are human beings. We are positively putting out our issues and communicating. We are all humans.
24:33So I don't think so there is any problem. The exaggeration that issues are being neglected.
24:39Problems are being neglected. And what has been highlighted is not of importance.
24:44I dance, I sit, I sing or any of us do that. If this video would not have been uploaded,
24:50nobody would have cared.
24:52The problem is nobody is talking about the police brutality. Nobody is talking about the things happening.
24:56No, we just spoke, Aishi. We just spoke. We can switch the visuals if you want.
25:00We just spoke about the police brutality.
25:02I am very clear about it, that we will sing, we will dance, we will celebrate, we will also protest.
25:10Everything is part of our lives.
25:11You know, I'll tell you what. For a lot of us, you know, like I said, the boomers, the Gen
25:15X or the millennials,
25:17it's difficult to understand the language of a lot of the Gen Z. And it's not just a Gen Z
25:22protest.
25:22You know, there were people from all walks of life. But the sheer fact that grief can dance, that anger
25:27can sing,
25:28is difficult for a lot of people to comprehend. And it's a point that you're making, right?
25:33I just would like to ask a couple of more questions. Because, Aishi, you know, you represent the left. You
25:39were there.
25:39Anish Gawande comes in from the NCP. He was there on that stage. We have two other political guests.
25:45If you give me some patience, I'll come to the both of you, NSUI and ABVP. You know, apologies. Give
25:50us five minutes.
25:50And I want to, you know, bring in Saurav Das back into this conversation.
25:54How does this movement now come together from here on? Do you guys all go your separate ways,
25:59maybe to band again as a pressure group? Or is there a possibility of you guys coming together
26:04as something as more cohesive than just a political pressure group?
26:08Saurav, would you like to go first? And we'll cut across to Anish.
26:11Priti, I don't think we are going our separate ways, at least until tomorrow.
26:15Because it really depends on the government if we go our separate ways for a few days.
26:20Because ultimately we will regroup, we will, you know, come back after taking a few days of rest,
26:27you know, get back to our pending work, finish all of that and then regroup and take this movement forward.
26:33Because what we really want to do is to go to the grassroots, make people aware,
26:38listen to their problems, listen to the problems of the youth across the country
26:42and come out with a brilliant agenda for them, ultimately.
26:46That is what our goal is.
26:47Saurav, I'm going to ask you one question before we let you go
26:48and we'll be joined by Ashutosh Ranka on the other side, because I know you have a show,
26:53which is Mahesh Jait Malani and a lot of other people, it's not just him.
26:56They all want to know who funded you guys.
26:58Where's the money coming from to hold a protest at the scale that you did?
27:02See, to Mahesh Ji and others, I would say on a person, like me personally, I was funded,
27:09George Soros funded me 100 rupees to take a cab to Jantamanta Delhi,
27:13100 rupees was funded by Nepal for me to take a cab back home
27:17and 100 rupees from Bangladesh for my food needs every day.
27:22Oh, come on, don't give us an Instagram answer. This is a reel which will go viral.
27:27No, no, that's the funding that we've been receiving.
27:28Okay, no, Saurav, seriously, as a chief spokesperson, as a chief spokesperson of a responsible political pressure group, who funded
27:36you?
27:37Yeah, on a serious note, I'll tell you, see, everything has been funded by the goodwill of people.
27:45You know, a lot of people, Saurav, you would have seen our announcements from the stage and even online
27:49that food is literally overflowing at Jantamanta, so please stop sending food.
27:54So you're saying the goodwill of the people. People came in, volunteered of their own volition, kept it going, kept
28:01it together.
28:02Okay. Saurav, thank you for joining us. Let's bring in Ashutosh Ranka.
28:05But I want to go to our other guests who've been so very patient.
28:08Let me ask you, Anish, how does it work? Because NCP is going to ask you what really went on.
28:15You know, are you coming back to us? Are you joining the CJP? How does this work?
28:20You know, does this pressure group come together as a political unit in the days to come?
28:25You know, again, from the very first day that I joined the protest in New Delhi to when I joined
28:30it in Pune and Jaipur,
28:32it's been a conversation with the party leadership and the party leadership has been very firm in their support for
28:37a people's movement.
28:38And this is what people fail to grasp, right? What you've seen unfold on the streets of New Delhi,
28:45but also on streets in more than a hundred cities across the country, is a people's movement whose time has
28:52come.
28:52And so the people who join it, the people who come together with it, are people who believe in an
28:58idea of India that has been shut down for the last 12 years.
29:02And I think only more will keep joining it. All of us who have been involved will continue joining.
29:07And as these demands pick up…
29:09But Anish, you know, what if tomorrow you have Abhijit who decides, Abhijit Dipke, that I want to turn into
29:17a political party?
29:18Does an Anish Gawande and an Aishi who have very different political ideologies to the CJP, who are as much
29:24a part of this protest as the CJP?
29:28Where does that leave you, Anish?
29:30No, funnily enough, Preeti, this is a conversation that I've had with Abhijit many times.
29:34And he is adamant on not wanting a political party, but I remain adamant on him having to start a
29:39political party.
29:40We must welcome every new political party…
29:42Okay, so he's saying no political party, but you're saying start one, I'll fight you in elections.
29:46We must welcome every new political party.
29:49Aishi, what do you make of that?
29:51You have very strong left ideologies.
29:53A lot of you, like Neha, did not even share the stage with Abhijit Dipke.
29:58You had your own little corner, you did your own thing, I saw you on stage though.
30:02You know, where… and you are dyed in wool where it comes down to the left ideology.
30:08Tomorrow they decide to form a political outfit, then what happens, Aishi?
30:13So, we'll discuss it then. I think so, we are too much futuristic and discussing a lot.
30:18We are here and we were very clear from very first day, we are there with the CJP because of
30:24the shared common demands that we all are fighting at this moment.
30:28And we were absolutely clear till day that this movement is to bring back accountability in the education system.
30:34This movement was about giving justice to all those 22 lives lost due to the paper leaks that have happened.
30:41This movement was about demanding accountability from the education minister who has not been responding to the students.
30:49We should not have had to do such a large protest if the government would have answered and given justice
30:56to all the people seeking these questions.
30:58We had to come together because of the movement.
31:01Whether there is a political party one year down the lane, two years down the lane, I think so the
31:06debate should be back then.
31:08I come from a left organization, I stand by it. We were all together in the cause and we will
31:14stand by the cause.
31:15Fair point. You know, I am going to come right back to all of you and we will also get
31:17Ashutosh into this conversation because the government is seemingly walking the talk.
31:21They are not just, it is not just a token resignation of the education minister, the education, I know Anish
31:27you are shaking your head.
31:28But the education minister is gone, the education secretary is gone, sweeping changes have been made in the NDA.
31:34And then you have a full committee which has been set up under Mr. Neelkani who will be looking at
31:40India's education system.
31:42This is the government trying to connect with the youth.
31:44You have the prime minister who has completely changed his form of communication as well to try and filter through
31:51and speak to the youth of this country.
31:54Let's just look at what all the government has done and we will be back with Anish who is furiously
31:58shaking his head that the government hasn't done enough.
32:00And we will bring in our two guests who have been with us for a very long time.
32:11For 49 days, one demand echoed from the protest site. Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign.
32:24That demand was met, but this is not merely about symbolism.
32:28Because as the political chapter closes, the government is now pushing a wider overhaul of the examination system.
32:37The government today tabled the public examination bill which provides a legal framework to crack down on exam malpractice and
32:45paper leaks.
32:47Prime Minister announced fast track codes for paper leak cases.
32:54Government also formed six-member task force to look into how to improve India's examination systems.
33:02In a major overhaul at the National Testing Agency, 47 officials were terminated.
33:09And announced the recruitment of senior professionals and invited applications for young professionals.
33:17In a major action, government also sacked Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi and appointed Naresh Gangwar as the new Higher
33:25Education Secretary.
33:28The resignation may have been the immediate demand, but the government's response is now moving beyond one resignation.
33:35From tougher laws to faster investigations to a complete reset of the agency conducting the exams.
33:42The message from the centre is clear.
33:45The need controversy will not end with the Minister's resignation.
33:50It will end only when India's examination system is made more secure, more transparent and more accountable.
33:59Bureau Report, India Today.
34:04I want to cut across to Harish Shatri, National Media Convener, ABVP as well.
34:08And Mr. Khatri, there were a lot of people who supported the BJP.
34:12Students, the older generation, who were a little angry with the BJP for the manner in which the government had
34:18reacted.
34:19Do you think this quick course correction would rectify that?
34:24See, there's no wonder that no one talked about the solution.
34:31Someone was definitely looking through a political spectacle.
34:35Other organizations were looking for an immunity because they lost their relevance in the campuses.
34:42ABVP was one such organization and only organization that was definitely talking about the reforms from the day one.
34:48When the news were out of the paper leak, ABVP was the first organization to ask for the CBIA problem.
34:55Because this whole problem does not only rely on the institution.
34:59It definitely is a responsibility of an agency like NTA, but this problem is also there in the form of
35:08a nexus.
35:08And ABVP had fought for this in 2024 as well.
35:12ABVP led this protest in 2024 as well.
35:16But despite that, when this news comes, it is a very disheartening news.
35:20Thereafter ABVP decided to call for a dharna outside the NTA office.
35:26And even India today showed the nation that ABVP was very much there outside the NTA headquarters, demanding for the
35:35removal of ad hocism, demanding for a permanent structure and an educational reform.
35:39And after that, when re-init happened, there were talks about the resignation.
35:47CJP was demanding the resignation.
35:49But what after resignation?
35:51ABVP was thinking beyond resignation.
35:54ABVP was never talking about this from a political perspective.
35:58So you're saying what the government is doing is going to bear fruit, especially for those who were upset?
36:02Yeah, definitely. And ABVP has demanded that as well.
36:04ABVP had demanded a high-level committee.
36:06And the government came up with that.
36:08Rahul Singh, Kajla, you've been with the NSUI.
36:11You've been protesting neat paper leaks for some time now.
36:15What is it, what happened that the people didn't quite connect with your fight and your protest
36:21and they immediately connected with the CJP and other youth leaders?
36:26I mean, Priti, I don't really agree with the fact that people did not connect with us.
36:32People really did connect with us.
36:34It was only the mainstream media that did not show us on camera.
36:38Just the way I was ignored here for a very long time.
36:40We have been ignored by the mainstream media for 12 years now.
36:43I apologize.
36:43I apologize. I'm sorry.
36:45Because sometimes it's...
36:46I forgive you.
36:47I forgive you.
36:48I even ignored the ABVP.
36:50I apologized to you guys earlier.
36:52You know, Aishi and Anish will say we ignored them for 10 days before we started showing them.
36:57That's all right.
36:58We are used to it now.
36:59It's been 12 years.
36:59We are very used to it.
37:00But I'll come down to the point.
37:01It's a chasm.
37:02Go ahead.
37:02I think the pressing issue today is, which nobody is talking about, which I think needs to be brought in
37:09light is, where is the university president of Patna University?
37:12He is missing.
37:14He is taken to a hardcore jail by Bihar police.
37:16Where are 200-plus students today from Bihar?
37:19They are taken to hardcore jails.
37:21It doesn't matter if, in your view, the people connected with us or not.
37:25But today, the pressing issues are very different.
37:28What has happened has already happened.
37:29What will happen in future, we'll see when it happens.
37:32The issues today are 200-plus students in Bihar are missing.
37:38Multiple students in West Bengal are missing.
37:40Multiple students in Maharashtra are missing.
37:42The central government assured that they will take back the cases from these students.
37:47Who are they to assure?
37:48It is the purview of the state government to take back those cases.
37:52Even if a closure report on those FIRs are filed, it is the very judgment of the magistrate to decide
38:01whether or not he accepts the closure report.
38:03Now, whether or not the government will come out and take accountability of the actions is something which is yet
38:11to be seen.
38:13Anish, I'd like to bring you in because with what the NSUI spokesperson is also saying and possibly even the
38:20ABVP spokesperson,
38:22do you think the lines have blurred now where the politics of the youth is concerned?
38:25It's seemingly the same ideology because all four of you are talking about the same thing.
38:31You know, I think it's very obvious that protest is not a competitive sport.
38:35And I think there are several of us who joined both the NSUI protests and our own party's protests in
38:40addition to the Pokrojunta party protests.
38:43Right. And I think the reality is that unfortunately today, the government has acted in bad faith.
38:49While you negotiate on one hand and slap NIA cases on the other, that's not good faith negotiation.
38:55When you're ensuring that young people are being sent to jail, when you said no cases will be filed against
39:00them, that's not good faith negotiation.
39:02And we've seen this in the past, right? And this is a playbook that is played out in the JNU
39:07student organizing that happened in 2016, in the CA NRC protests in 2019, 2020.
39:13Suddenly, six months later, the courts are sort of approached, the police start filing FIs.
39:19Right. And so I think there's going to be a long fight ahead.
39:22I don't think that police intimidation will end tomorrow.
39:25And I think we're all going to have to be on our toes to ensure that the government is just
39:29a second.
39:30I'd like to give you, you know, I just want to bring in Ashutosh Ranka into this conversation as well.
39:34But before that, I'd like all of you to give you 30 seconds each.
39:38But, you know, to put your points forward, we have a spokesperson of the CJP, Ashutosh Ranka, who was also
39:45part of the press conference a short while ago.
39:47But 30 seconds to our panelists before Ashutosh to put their points forward.
39:54And to those, Harsh Atri from the ABVP and Mr. Kajla.
39:58You know, I apologize, less time, but sometimes it just the focus was on the CJP and the youth leaders.
40:05But, Mr. let's go with the ABVP spokesperson. 30 seconds. Can we quickly get him to say what he wants
40:10to say?
40:13From this platform, I would like to urge to the Genjis that their vision and their contribution in making India
40:20Aviksit Bharat in 2047 is still a vision.
40:24And Genji should definitely look forward to that.
40:27And we must not really be concerned about some of the visuals that we have seen in the protest, which
40:34were very disturbing as well.
40:36Because Genji was also celebrating the Kargil Vijay Divas. Lacks of students were celebrating that.
40:42So you're trying, you're trying, okay. There are two different analogies that you're giving.
40:46All right. Rahul Singh Kajla. 30 seconds, sir.
40:47This is the first thing that needs to happen today is all state police should issue the names of students
40:55that they have detained or arrested.
40:57Second thing, chief ministers of all the states should issue a collective statement that the FIRs against these students will
41:05be rolled back and the judiciary will comply to it.
41:08Third thing which needs to happen is Amit Shahji must apologize to the students.
41:13Fourth thing, AK-47 was fired. A suspension against that is a slap on the wrist.
41:19All right. I see 30 seconds.
41:21That officer should be thrown out of the forces.
41:24So we are very clear that not only the resignation of the education minister, we should now start talking about
41:30reform in education system with scrapping of bodies like NTA, which has led to this scam, which is continuously doing
41:37centralized examination.
41:38We have demanded decentralized examination. Along with that, if you give me time, is the kind of police brutality which
41:44has happened.
41:45I want to bring it back the attention. All the student activists, all the students who have been protesting across
41:51the country should be, should be released immediately.
41:54Right. They have been held unnecessarily.
41:56Fair point.
41:56And the police is targeting them.
41:57That's been one of your demands. 30 seconds, Anish. I'm short on time. I just want to bring in Mr.
42:01Ranka for a couple of questions after that. Anish, 30 seconds.
42:04Please release all students and stop negotiating in bad faith is all I have to say.
42:08Fair point. I thank all four of you for taking the time out and joining us in Saurav Das earlier.
42:13Mr. Ranka, I want to bring you into this conversation.
42:16Mr. Ranka, there was a gray area earlier as well, where it seemingly was said that you agreed to peaceful
42:23protestors, to take back FIRs of peaceful protestors.
42:26Mr. Das, your colleague a short while back told me that was something you never agreed to. Is that the
42:31case?
42:34No, I think we have been very clear in our discussion with the government and the same was also said
42:41in the press conference as well, that all forms of protests conducted either on 20th July and on the events
42:47leading up to 20th July and all across the country.
42:50The protesters and organizers should not be harmed. Any FIRs filed against them should be withdrawn and no such future
42:58FIRs or any such legal action be taken against them.
43:02What those FIRs look like, we don't know yet because the FIRs have not been shared with us.
43:07We had already mentioned this to Nadda Ji and Jitendra Singh Ji on the meeting on 20th July, that please
43:11share the copy of FIRs for us to be able to understand the nature of those FIRs.
43:16But that hasn't been done today. So I can't comment on the intricacies.
43:20But all I can say is that if the government of India and that to a senior cabinet minister is
43:26making a commitment, and if that commitment is not honored, who else do you even trust in this government anymore?
43:32You know, the government has taken a slew of measures, Mr. Ranka, then just removing the education minister. Do you
43:39have faith in the government? Because now a committee is being formed and multiple measures are being taken.
43:45No, I think faith is a big word critique. If you have had alignment on four very clear demands, and
43:52the government has made a commitment, you can also check Nadda Ji's Twitter handle or the press conference video.
43:57And if that agreement is not being honored, I don't know what kind of faith are we expected to have.
44:03We've asked for a written agreement by tomorrow, which is Tuesday. If we don't get that written agreement, I don't
44:08know what faith really looks like.
44:10So the ball is in the government's court. What Nadda Ji actually said, I'll just use the words as is,
44:15is let's agree to close this, let's agree to align in good faith. Right?
44:21If there is still that good faith remaining, the government should act.
44:24Mr. Ranka, a lot of people are looking at you. Are you moving beyond from being a political pressure group?
44:30I know it's just fresh and I know you need time.
44:32But it does seem Abhijeeb Dipke is very clear he does not want to enter politics. What's the opinion of
44:37the rest?
44:39Honestly, Priti, I don't know. We want to continue raising the issues of the youth. We want this to be
44:43a very strong platform where the youth feels comfortable in raising their voices and those concerns, the issues are actually
44:50addressed and not just raised.
44:53I think the immediate priority would be number one to just make sure that the agreements are honoured on. And
44:58then second, in times to come, we want to move national, we want to travel to different parts of the
45:03country, hear out students, address their concerns and become a very strong national organisation.
45:09As a political pressure group, not a political party.
45:12Honestly, Priti, I don't want to say anything about political party. In my short term, in public life, all I
45:20have learnt is never say no to anything.
45:23That's a political comment.
45:25Alright. When you talk about your short term and political life, you were also the spokesperson of the Aam Admi
45:30Party. Let's do a quick, you know, I don't know, rapid fire of sorts because I have less time. What's
45:34your view of the Aam Admi Party, Mr. Ranka?
45:37Again, I don't think that's a relevant question. My political affiliation with Aam Admi Party are well known. There's nothing
45:43to fight.
45:43Sure. And unlike some people in this country, I don't have anything to delete. I don't have my tweets to
45:49be deleted. I'm very open about my...
45:51But you're no longer associated with it? The CJP has no bearing of the Aam Admi Party?
45:55Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I've been clear about this from day one.
45:59Okay.
45:59That the moment I started working with CJP, all my professional, personal affiliations, commitments with Aam Admi Party ceased to
46:06end.
46:07That's what even Mr. Abhijit Dipke said. Let me ask you the second question. What about the Congress? The Congress
46:11right now is opposing a discussion at least today in Parliament on the bill of which the government says will
46:18clean the education system.
46:20But the Congress has also supported you through and through, maybe with a parallel protest, asking for the resignation of
46:26the education minister. Where does the CJP stand on the Congress?
46:30I think we have always been very clear that anyone and everyone who is raising student issues, they need to
46:34be appreciated.
46:35If we do it together, it will be more impactful. If you want to do it separately, use your own
46:40platform, go for it. This is not a competition, Preeti. We are not competing with Congress or for that matter,
46:45any opposition party.
46:46All of us need to come together.
46:48When we say that the system has really disappointed the youth, the system includes the government and the opposition as
46:55well.
46:56So now if opposition is acting, they are supporting the cause of these students, we definitely welcome them.
47:01Last question, Mr. Ranka. You know, Saurav Das said the little celebratory party that was held was a little, in
47:08a two- or a three-star hotel. It was a meet-up of sorts, not a party. Do you
47:12regret it? Some of the people who worked with you are seeing it in bad taste.
47:16Why regret it? These are 150 volunteers who spent the last one and a half months of their lives, left
47:21their jobs, were harassed by the police, the, you know, parts of the government.
47:27And we have achieved something almost, you know, which was being called impossible. We have done the impossible. The underdogs
47:33have done something impossible. We have been able to achieve something that no one in the last 10, 20 years
47:38could have.
47:38I don't think a small celebration is that big of a problem. But the question we should be asking is,
47:45why was Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed in the parliament the way he was?
47:49Will you guys be keeping your outfit together, Mr. Ranka? You have the left, you have the Bheem Army, you
47:54have so many other factions to this protest. How does it work? Or will it be the CJP separate? Last
47:59question.
47:59No, I think we are very clear. We support, we appreciate support from all student organizations, all political party. But
48:08the core CJP, if you are a part of the core CJP group, then you have to be politically neutral.
48:13You can't be a part of any political party or a political student organization. But apart from that, we have
48:20been working very openly with other student organizations across the country.
48:24Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Ranka. We have no time.
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