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204 retired bureaucrats, army officers, lawyers raise concerns about Rahul Gandhi’s conduct in Parliament

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New Delhi, March 17: Over 200 prominent senior citizens, including former ambassadors, retired army officers, bureaucrats and senior advocates, on Tuesday raised their voice against the alleged conduct and demeanour of Rahul Gandhi, the senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LOP), alleging that it weakens the dignity and effectiveness of the country’s Parliament.

The letter is signed by 204 prominent citizens, including 116 retired army officers, 84 former bureaucrats, four ambassadors and four advocates.

The letter addressed to citizens of the country, released by former Jammu and Kashmir DGP, S.P. Vaid, says, “The events witnessed on 12th March are deeply concerning. Parliament is the supreme forum of democratic deliberation where the collective will of the people is articulated. Parliament is rightly regarded as the temple of democracy where elected representatives come together to deliberate on matters of national importance. Unfortunately, Shri Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly contributed to lowering the level of public discourse and decorum through theatrics both inside and outside Parliament.”

The signatories said such actions suggest a pattern of conduct driven less by respect for democratic institutions and more by a sense of personal privilege that treats Parliament as a stage for provocation rather than a forum for serious deliberation.

“In the process, valuable public time and resources are lost. Parliamentary proceedings must not be disrupted or trivialised in ways that undermine the functioning of this vital democratic institution. In his efforts to question the government of the day, the actions of Shri Rahul Gandhi are damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy. The fact that such behaviour is being carried out by a person who occupies a position as responsible and important as the Leader of Opposition makes it even more disturbing,” the latter said.

“As custodians of a constitutional institution that embodies the democratic aspirations of over a billion people, Members of Parliament must remain conscious that their actions carry symbolic and institutional significance. The credibility of Parliament is reinforced when its Members uphold the traditions of propriety and restraint that have always defined parliamentary life,” the signatories said.

They said that as citizens who have served this nation for decades in public life, they are deeply pained to witness repeated attempts by Rahul Gandhi and his associates that risk weakening the effectiveness of this temple of democracy.

“As citizens committed to the preservation and strengthening of India’s democratic institutions, it is incumbent upon all of us to call out conduct that diminishes the dignity of Parliament, an institution that embodies the sovereign will of the people of India. The events witnessed reflect a troubling sense of hubris and privilege that has no place in a constitutional democracy, least of all in the conduct of the Leader of the Opposition. Shri Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for this behaviour and introspect. The Parliament of India occupies a unique and elevated position within the constitutional architecture of the country.

“The dignity of Parliament, therefore, is not a matter of mere convention but an essential element of the constitutional ethos that governs our democracy. The conduct of Members within the precincts of the Parliament House must, consequently, conform to the highest standards of propriety and institutional respect,” the letter mentioned.

“Shri Rahul Gandhi, along with several Members of Parliament, was seen sitting on the steps of Parliament having tea and biscuits in a manner that was wholly unbecoming of members of the nation’s highest legislative body. The steps of Parliament are not a venue for spectacle or political theatre. Such conduct within the precincts of Parliament represents a clear disregard for established norms of behaviour and decorum. It reflects an attitude of arrogance and entitlement, and a troubling lack of respect for an institution that embodies the democratic will of the people,” the letter pointed out.

“Parliamentary practice and long-standing conventions recognise that the sanctity attached to the Chambers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha extends equally to all areas within the parliamentary precincts, including its stairs, corridors and lobbies. These are not incidental spaces but integral parts of Parliament itself, and the conduct expected therein must reflect the dignity of the institution, so that the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of the Parliament remain fully preserved,” the letter added.

National News

FIR filed against Noida Authority as 4-year-old dies after falling into septic tank

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Noida, Aug 2: Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Noida Authority following the death of a four-year-old boy after he fell into an uncovered water tank and died, officials said on Sunday.

The child, identified as Firoz Alam, died after falling into an open pump tank in the Sector-122 green belt area. The incident, reported on Saturday, falls under the jurisdiction of the Sector-113 police station in Noida.

The accident reportedly occurred while the child had gone to drink water from the tank.

According to officials, no Noida Authority employee was stationed at the site when the accident took place, raising safety concerns.

Speaking to reporters a day before, pump operator Anil said: “I came to know about the incident this evening. The family has​ already taken the dead body to the village. The child died here.”

“As soon as I got to know (about the tragedy), I informed the authorities who then arrived at the spot. I don’t know anything more than this,” he added.

As authorities face questions over the incident, the staff of the Sector-113 Police Station have registered an FIR against the concerned employees of the Noida Authority following the tragic death of the four-year-old.

Moreover, the roles of the Horticulture and Water departments are also under police investigation.

In a similar incident reported in July, a six-year-old boy had lost his life after falling into a 15-foot-deep water-filled pit at Kala Dham Society in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The victim was identified as Avyaan Surya, the son of Siwan Yadav, Vice Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya.

According to police and local residents, the incident occurred in the Knowledge Park area of Greater Noida on Saturday. The pit, nearly 15 feet deep, had reportedly been dug by the Greater Noida Authority for boring work and had filled with rainwater following recent showers.

Residents alleged that the excavation site had neither barricades nor warning signs, making it hazardous for people, especially children. They said Avyaan was playing with other children near the site when he accidentally fell into the open pit.

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National News

FairPoint: When the protest became a mirror to society

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New Delhi, Aug 2: In Hindu philosophy, there is a belief that everything happens for a reason. If that thought holds, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has served a purpose far greater than drawing attention to examination paper leaks. It has exposed deep cracks in institutions, the erosion of civility, the weakening of family values and the ease with which sections of the youth could be drawn into outrage, abuse and manipulation.

Long after the slogans have faded, these are the questions that should concern the country the most.

It exposed an examination system that has been rotting for decades, corroded from within by those entrusted with protecting it. It exposed the erosion of the stature once enjoyed by teachers in Indian society. It exposed coaching institutes that increasingly view education as a business rather than a responsibility. It exposed sections of the political ecosystem that are quick to exploit emotions of young people. And perhaps most importantly, it exposed the gradual decline of family values and parenting, leaving many teenagers vulnerable to manipulation and the lure of instant fame.

The CJP protest, therefore, should be seen as a wake-up call — not just for governments, but for politicians, parents and the youth themselves.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to respond in a manner that went beyond politics. Through a series of social media videos, he attempted to engage directly with young people, projecting himself as the head of a large national family concerned about the direction in which a section of the younger generation is heading.

His first Instagram video on July 23, when the CJP-led protests were still underway, announced fast-track courts to hear paper leak cases and promised legislation prescribing stricter punishment for those involved. A day later, he thanked young people for sending thoughtful suggestions in response to the video, saying his relationship with them would only grow stronger.

On July 26, the Prime Minister announced that a task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani would study India’s examination system and recommend comprehensive reforms. He later followed it up with another video explaining the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

However, it was his July 31 message that stood apart.

Beginning with the words, “Hi friends, today I feel like talking only to you”, the Prime Minister adopted a deeply personal tone. Referring to the abusive language directed at him and his late mother during the protests, he said the words did not belong in a civilised society and that seeing “daughters” use such language came as a cultural shock.

Instead of demanding harsh punishment, he urged society to view the episode differently. Young people make mistakes, he said, and youth is also the stage when those mistakes can be corrected. Rather than dragging them through endless court proceedings or socially isolating them, society should embrace them and help them find the right path, he said.

To drive home the point, he used a simple analogy of tongue and teeth, saying that the teeth may bite the tongue and it might bleed. “But we do not break the teeth. Both the teeth and the tongue are ours. These youngsters are ours too, and guiding them is our responsibility, ” he said.

It was a message that combined firmness with compassion. The July 31 address demonstrated how a leader can respond to a sensitive issue involving young people without reducing it to a purely political contest.

The real test, however, does not lie with the government alone. It lies equally with the opposition and with society.

Throughout the paper leak controversy and the CJP agitation, the opposition failed to convert a genuine public concern into a meaningful national debate.

Instead of engaging seriously with examination reforms, institutional accountability and the future of India’s students, much of the discourse descended into political theatrics. Parliament, too, failed to rise to the occasion. Even Rahul Gandhi, who has consistently tried to position himself as a voice of students and the youth, could not offer a substantive agenda. A serious issue eventually got reduced to exchanges over who called whom an “idiot”.

But the biggest lesson from the CJP protest is for society itself.

Young people will question authority. They should. Curiosity, idealism, adventurous rebellion are natural characteristics of youth; there is nothing wrong with that. But the real concern arises when that energy is easily hijacked by vested interests pursuing political or personal agendas.

The protests also revealed an uncomfortable reality. Some participants appeared more interested in creating viral content than contributing to a meaningful movement. The abusive language directed at the Prime Minister and his late mother reflected a disturbing coarsening of public discourse. Equally troubling were reports that, in pursuit of better camera angles and social media engagement, some participants were even directing Sonam Wangchuk during his fast to change his position for better visuals.

Such incidents point to a deeper societal problem. Has the pursuit of online popularity begun to overshadow dignity, respect and purpose? Have likes, reels and followers become more important than values?

These are questions that deserve far greater attention than the political slugfest surrounding the protest.

The protest has ended. The protesters have gone home. But the fallout is immense, an eye-opener for society, politicians and the youth themselves.

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Crime

Delhi govt notifies compensation of up to Rs 7.5 lakh each for unnatural death of jail inmates

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New Delhi, Aug 2: The Delhi government has notified a compensation scheme – with relief amounts ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh – for the next of kin or legal heirs of prisoners who suffer an unnatural death during custody in city prisons, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme, notified in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), will ensure timely relief to affected families in specified cases while further strengthening administrative accountability.

According to the notification issued by the Home (General) Department of the Delhi Government, the scheme will be implemented as the Scheme for Payment of Compensation on Account of Death of Prisoners in Delhi Prison, 2025, said a statement.

It will apply only to cases involving the unnatural death of a prisoner in any Delhi prison on or after the date of notification of the scheme. As per the notification, compensation of Rs 7.5 lakh will be paid to the family of a deceased prisoner in cases where death occurs due to clashes between inmates or alleged torture or assault by prison personnel, it said.

A compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been prescribed in cases involving negligence by prison authorities or staff, negligence by medical or paramedical personnel, or suicide by a prisoner, it said.

The notification makes it clear that no compensation will be payable in cases of natural death or death caused by illness. It further states that deaths occurring while escaping from prison or from lawful custody, as well as deaths caused by disasters or calamities, will not be covered under the scheme, said the statement.

Under the scheme, the Jail Superintendent concerned will be required to submit the magisterial inquiry report, post-mortem report, final cause of death, the prisoner’s medical history, and details of the treatment provided before death to the Director General (Prisons), Delhi, in every case, it said.

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