Mumbai, July 27: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday claimed that the Centre became a “laughing stock” during the 35-day agitation by youth and student leaders at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

In a sharply worded editorial in its mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, the Thackeray faction stated that the sustained protests against the NEET exam paper leaks gave the Central government a “full-time reality check”, severely fracturing the narrative of PM Modi’s ‘invincibility’.

According to the editorial, the widespread anger among Indian youth made Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan its “first political casualty”. The party argued that despite initial government resistance — noting reports that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had declared resignations were not part of the NDA’s working style — escalating public outrage ultimately forced the government to seek Pradhan’s exit.

The editorial firmly rejected Pradhan’s official reason for stepping down, where he cited a desire to preserve national unity and prevent “anti-national forces” from exploiting the protest. “Which anti-national forces did he see at Jantar Mantar or in protests across the country?” it asked.

“Labelling student leaders and climate activists as ‘anti-national’ is an insult to the genuine outrage felt across the nation. Pradhan’s resignation has no connection to national unity –the country was united by the sacrifice of 20 young lives lost due to the NEET paper leak,” noted the editorial.

The editorial highlighted key figures who lent momentum to the 35-day movement, including US-returnee Abhijeet Dipke, who founded the “Cockroach Janata Party” to mobilise against paper leaks, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who went on a hunger strike, and student leader Neha Bora. The party noted the contradiction in the government’s stance, pointing out that while the BJP tried to brand Wangchuk as a foreign agent, its own ministers were seen visiting him to plead for the end of his fast.

The editorial asserted that the political fallout cannot end with Dharmendra Pradhan alone. Holding Home Minister Amit Shah directly accountable for ordering harsh police lathi charges on student demonstrators, the mouthpiece demanded an official apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Thackeray camp dismissed the government’s newly introduced anti-paper leak bill — which mandates up to 10 years in prison and a Rs 10 crore fine — as a mere “gimmick”. It alleged that the bill is simply rehashed old legislation with altered penalty figures designed to mislead students and parents.

The editorial claimed that the digital creativity, technology, and spontaneous organising of the protesting youth effectively rendered the BJP’s digital outreach and IT Cell inactive during the month-long demonstration.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) warned that unless the administration addresses the root causes of student discontent and administrative failures, the “blaze of discontent” will continue to grow across the country.

Mumbai, July 27: Mumbai Police arrested a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly travelling on a fraudulently obtained Indian passport.

The accused has been identified as Babu Biswas, alias Tapas Biswas. Immigration officials grew suspicious of his Indian passport after noticing that his accent closely resembled the dialect commonly spoken in Bangladesh.

According to the police, Biswas had illegally entered India through the West Bengal border along with his wife and family in 2016. He lived in the Nadia district of West Bengal and worked as a daily-wage labourer in Kolkata for nearly seven years.

Police said that after settling in India, the accused managed to obtain Indian identity documents, including an Aadhaar card and a PAN card. Using these documents, he allegedly secured an Indian passport from the Kolkata Passport Office in 2019. Investigators said he later used the passport to travel abroad, visiting the Maldives twice in 2023 and Colombo at least once without raising suspicion.

A police officer said the investigation is now focussed on identifying the agents who allegedly helped him procure forged Indian identity documents and the passport.

The accused was intercepted after arriving at Mumbai airport from Colombo. He approached the immigration counter to complete the mandatory immigration formalities and presented his Indian passport along with his boarding pass.

An Assistant Immigration Officer, who was on duty at Counter No. 23, said the passenger arrived in Mumbai on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL141 at around 3.30 a.m.

“While examining the Indian passport, I suspected that the passenger was from Bangladesh. I asked him a few questions, but he failed to provide satisfactory answers,” the officer said.

Following the initial interrogation, the passenger was produced before the officer incharge of the Immigration Wing and other duty officers for detailed questioning. During the enquiry, officials reportedly established that he hailed from Faridpur in Bangladesh.

Police said the suspicion was confirmed after Biswas contacted his wife in Bangladesh through WhatsApp and asked her to send documents establishing his identity. She subsequently sent photocopies of land ownership documents registered in Bangladesh in the name of Biswas’ father, confirming his Bangladeshi origin.

An official from Sahar Police Station said the accused admitted during questioning that he had entered India illegally with his family in 2016. He further confessed that while living in West Bengal, he had obtained an Aadhaar card and a PAN card with the help of a local resident before securing an Indian passport using those documents.

Police are now investigating the network that allegedly facilitated the preparation of forged identity documents and enabled his illegal stay and international travel.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch recently announced that it has initiated the process of deporting 53 illegal Bangladeshi nationals who were apprehended during separate operations across the city. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Mumbai, July 26: Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray held a ‘victory march’ at Vasant Desai Chowk near Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday, a day after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister following weeks of nationwide students’ agitation over exam irregularities.

Several NCP(SP) leaders also took part in the procession.

Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Arvind Sawant hit out at the NDA, saying, “There are two words in English that apply here — one is hatred, and the other is arrogance. Both describe them. They created an atmosphere of hatred in the country, and that has now been shattered.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Anil Desai said that the movement launched by students and the younger generation was “never just about seeking the resignation of a minister”.

“They highlighted the serious flaws in the education system and the need for reforms. These issues have persisted for a long time, and their impact is far-reaching. If the education system is weak, it contributes to problems like unemployment,” he told media.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said: “Gen Zs have taught the nation that you should not be afraid of the government, and that is the key takeaway from this agitation.”

NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who also took part in the procession, said: “Earlier, people were not united. But the injustice faced by students brought them and young people together. Youth from rural areas as well as cities came together, and their success has shown that if we stand united, we can win. This has sent a very important message to the people. It is an important lesson in protecting democracy and the Constitution.”

A youngster who had come to participate in the march said: “The students had been protesting for a long time because they felt the (examination) process was unfair. Now that the issue has reached its conclusion and they have achieved success, we have come here to celebrate.”

Another youth added that the movement showed that the government could be held “accountable” when citizens are not satisfied.

“The government was not answering questions…this movement has taught that people will hold the government accountable. We will continue to raise questions on every issue,” he told media.

Meanwhile, NCP(SP) leader Fahad Ahmad criticised the police action against protesters during the students’ agitation in Mumbai.

“It is very unfortunate how the police treated the students. We will meet the Police Commissioner tomorrow over this issue. The officer who allegedly threatened to plant cocaine has been suspended. But the policeman who allegedly touched a female student’s chest in Dadar should also be suspended, and all the cases registered against the students should be withdrawn,” he told media.