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NEW DELHI : Environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday voiced support for the online “cockroach” movement led by the self-styled “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), describing himself as an “honorary cockroach”, as he urged the government to engage with the concerns being raised by youngsters rather than suppressing their digital expression. The online campaign, which uses satire and the imagery of a cockroach as a symbol of resilience and dissent, has drawn attention in recent days amid claims by its founders of a crackdown on their social-media presence, including account suspensions and hacking allegations. The movement has framed itself around issues, such as unemployment, exam paper leaks and public accountability. Speaking on the controversy in an interview with PTI, Wangchuk said the campaign should be viewed as a form of democratic feedback and not as a threat. “First of all, I am very impressed,” Wangchuk told PTI. “Such creative expressions by our youth are nothing to worry about and nothing to be afraid of. The government should take the message — don’t kill the messenger. If we kill the messenger, the message will not end.” Asked whether he would formally join the movement, Wangchuk responded in a lighter vein, saying he does not qualify for membership but identifies himself with its message. “I have been asked from several quarters to speak on it. Some are saying I should also become a member,” he said. “I think I do not qualify — I am neither unemployed nor am I lazy. So sadly, I am not a member. But I consider myself an honorary cockroach,” he said. Drawing a comparison with political satire and caricatures published in newspapers, Wangchuk said dissent expressed through humour and symbolism is a legitimate democratic tool. “Like cartoonists in newspapers, you don’t shoot them because they made a caricature of the prime minister, the home minister or the defence minister. Similarly, this is also satire. See it as feedback,” he said. Wangchuk praised what he described as the movement’s non-violent and imaginative character, saying the youngsters of the country have chosen digital creativity over confrontation and it is things like these that make India a “Vishwaguru”. “I am very impressed that the youth of India wanted to bring out their frustration in such a creative way — not on the streets with stones, as has happened in other countries,” he said. “To respect it is the duty of the Indian government, to look at it lovingly and take its message.” He, however, warned that suppressing online spaces could aggravate frustrations among young people. Referring to reports that social-media accounts linked to the movement are being shut down, Wangchuk said authorities should avoid pushing dissent underground. “Otherwise, what will happen? I am hearing that their accounts are being closed. Then this anger can go anywhere,” he said. Drawing a parallel with political unrest in Nepal, Wangchuk argued that restricting creative expression online could have unintended consequences. “Violence did not happen just like that in Nepal. When they shut down the internet and stopped creative expressions online, youth came out on the streets and it became an ugly scene,” he said. He said the issues being raised by the “cockroach” movement, particularly alleged paper leaks and concerns over accountability, deserve attention rather than dismissal. “They are raising the issue of paper leak — there is nothing wrong with that,” he said. “In any country, ministers resign on such issues, so what is the big deal? Instead of suppressing them, their message should be taken.” He further said the movement reflects genuine anxiety among young people, who are trying to make themselves heard before frustrations deepen. “They are troubled, so they are expressing that they are worried — but not so much that they take to the streets. This could be the next step,” he said. “That is why, at this stage, their voices should be heard.” Wangchuk said the campaign has demonstrated a uniquely Indian form of protest and should be used as an opportunity to strengthen democracy. “It should be taken very positively and used to create a better India,” he said. “The creativity with which the youth of India have given this message — such things make us Vishwaguru. The youth of India do not take to the streets with stones, they present their point creatively.” He appealed to young people to remain peaceful, while urging the government not to corner them. “This is my message to the government — do not push them,” Wangchuk said. “And I request the youth to never go towards violence. Keep raising your voice, no matter how much you talk, never go towards violence. On the other hand, the government should not force them to take the path of violence,” he added. (Source: PTI)        

NEW DELHI : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the government will launch a “smart border” project in the next year to make the 6,000 km fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh impenetrable and ensure that the “conspiracy” to change the demography of the areas is defeated. Delivering the annual Rustamji Memorial lecture hosted by the Border Security Force (BSF) here, the minister also reiterated that the government will find each and every infiltrator from the country and send them outside India. K F Rustamji was the first director general of the BSF after it was raised in 1965. “I want to assure BSF troops that we will launch this smart border project in the 60th year of its raising and we will make the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders impenetrable,” Shah said.     The Modi government, Shah added, has decided to create a “strong security grid” along the Pakistan and Bangladesh fronts in the next one year. The “smart border” will be aided by technology, drones, radars and smart cameras which will help create an impenetrable border, he told the gathering. The minister also urged BSF troops to ensure that the conspiracy to artificially change the demography of India is defeated. He said current state governments in Tripura, West Bengal and Assam — all led by the BJP — believe in the policy that there should no infiltration from across Indian borders. His ministry, Shah added, will soon hold a meeting with the chief ministers of these states on the subject of border security. The minister added that a high-powered demography mission declared earlier will be announced soon by the Union government. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI : The Congress on Friday said it was shocked over claims made by top NTA officials that the NEET exam paper was “not leaked”, and said both the ‘Pradhan Mantri’ and the ‘Mantri Pradhan’ must be held accountable for this “cover-up”. The Congress also said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has become a “National Trauma Agency” and accused the government of colluding with the paper leak mafia to suppress the truth of irregularities and fraud. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said a “guess paper” featuring questions that appeared in the actual exam was circulating among students much before the exam date.   “Since the NTA was formed in 2018, the Modi Government and its ecosystem have been colluding with the paper leak mafia to suppress the truth of rampant irregularities and fraud in NTA-conducted exams,” he alleged in his post. “Today we have learnt from media reports that the NTA Director General claimed yesterday to a Parliamentary Committee that the NEET-UG 2026 exam was not leaked. If true, this is scandalous and shockingly dishonest – because it is clear that a ‘guess paper’ which featured dozens of questions that appeared in the actual exam was circulating among students much before the exam date. If that is not a leak, what is? Why is the Modi Government trying to deny it now?” Ramesh said. He alleged the Modi government had previously tried to “cover up” the widespread irregularities that had emerged in NEET-UG 2024 as well. “If it had faced up to the truth and taken action then, the NEET 2026 tragedy may have been avoided. The same hotspots of reported fraud which emerged in 2024 — like Rajasthan’s Sikar — have been implicated in the 2026 scandal as well,” he said. The Congress leader said in another episode of the same “disturbing series”, the CBI also filed a closure report alleging no irregularities in the UGC-NET exam of 2024 which had been cancelled by the NTA back then. When asked by a Delhi court to provide a written explanation for its closure report, the CBI has asked for more time, he said. “While the Court has thankfully pulled up the CBI for this delay, the CBI’s actions inspire no confidence in the agency’s motivation to do justice to its ongoing probes into NEET. “For the lakhs of aspiring youth of our country, the NTA has become the National Trauma Agency,” Ramesh said. The CBSE, NCERT, and other institutions of the Education Ministry (including Central Universities) are no better, he said. “The Education Minister is presiding over a system in which professional excellence is at a discount and where ideological affinity commands a premium,” he claimed. “Both the Pradhan Mantri and the Mantri Pradhan must be held accountable for this colossal tragedy and its ongoing cover-up,” Ramesh said. Several members of Parliament grilled top NTA officials on Thursday, with the agency’s director general telling them that the NEET-UG paper was not leaked through their system and the CBI is probing the matter, sources said. During a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, several MPs questioned the NTA officials on the steps taken by them to strengthen the exam system in order to prevent paper leaks in the future. (Source: PTI)          

NEW DELHI :  Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level meeting with central security and intelligence agencies on Wednesday to review preparations for the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination, officials said. He directed strict action against fake Telegram channels spreading misinformation related to the medical-entrance exam. The minister stressed the need for heightened vigilance and foolproof security arrangements to ensure the safe, secure and fair conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), according to officials. Senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the director general of the National Testing Agency (NTA) were also present at the meeting, where preparations were reviewed in detail to identify vulnerabilities in advance and ensure timely preventive and corrective measures. At a parallel meeting with representatives of major social media platforms — Meta, Google and Telegram — serious concerns were raised over the growing spread of misinformation related to competitive examinations, particularly through Telegram channels and anonymous online groups, the officials said. They said several such channels become highly active in the run-up to major examinations, circulating fake paper-leak claims, clickbait content and unverified information that create panic and confusion among students and parents. “It was highlighted that many such links redirect users to automated bots and fake groups designed to amplify misinformation,” an official said. According to inputs shared by intelligence agencies, multiple suspicious channels are being operated through a limited set of phone numbers, indicating coordinated and organised activity. Taking strong note of the issue, Pradhan directed a focussed crackdown on such networks, including proactive identification, blocking and takedown of channels spreading fake information and propaganda before examinations. The minister said social-media platforms must work in close coordination with the Ministry of Education, the NTA and law-enforcement agencies to curb misinformation swiftly and protect the integrity of the examination system. He reiterated that safeguarding students from misleading narratives and maintaining public confidence in the examination process is a top priority for the government. The NEET (UG) 2026 for admissions in undergraduate medical courses held on May 3 was cancelled by the NTA recently amid allegations of paper leak. The matter is being probed by the CBI, while the re-test is scheduled to be held on June 21. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : The Congress on Tuesday questioned why Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has not been removed even after the Supreme Court directed the CBI to begin a probe into charges of corruption against him. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this amounts to “gross travesty” of the Supreme Court order itself. Ramesh said it was on April 6, 2026, that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed the CBI to commence a preliminary inquiry into allegations that the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister’s family was awarded contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore over 10 years from January 2015 to December 2025 in a direct conflict of interest. “This is not an order of a lower court or a High Court. It is of the Supreme Court. Yet the CM continues in office. He is also the PWD Minister and controls the files that the CBI will need to conduct its inquiry. “Why is the man who once said ‘na khaoonga, na khaane doonga’ quiet and why has the Arunachal Pradesh CM not been asked to step down? This is a gross travesty of the Supreme Court’s verdict itself,” he said in his post. “There are other BJP CMs as well who fall in the category of the Arunachal Pradesh CM,” Ramesh added. The Supreme Court on April 6 directed the CBI to register within two weeks a preliminary inquiry into allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public work in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu. Observing that the State and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits according to the “whims of any political or administrative functionary”, the apex court said it was a fit case where an “independent investigation” was necessary. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said where a case concerns the integrity of public procurement and involves allegations of conflict of interest at the highest levels, an investigation must not only be fair but also must appear fair. (Source: PTI)

NEW DELHI : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik (Retd) on Tuesday stressed the need for greater augmentation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), saying the sector can emerge as a strong pillar of the state’s socio-economic development. During an interaction with Santanu Srivastava, Managing Director and CEO of Ishan International in New Delhi, the governor highlighted the immense potential of Arunachal Pradesh for entrepreneurship and local enterprise development owing to its rich natural resources, tribal crafts, organic farming potential, forest produce, tourism opportunities and unique cultural heritage. Parnaik said MSMEs can create sustainable livelihood opportunities for youths, women, artisans, farmers and self-help groups across the state, an official statement said here. He observed that sectors such as food processing, bamboo and cane products, handloom and handicrafts, eco-tourism, horticulture, herbal products, organic agriculture and small-scale manufacturing hold tremendous promise for Arunachal Pradesh. Parnaik added that MSMEs can strengthen self-reliance, reduce unemployment and discourage migration of youths to cities in search of jobs. He said that the sector also helps local entrepreneurs gain confidence and financial independence while preserving traditional skills and indigenous knowledge. Emphasising the importance of institutional support, the governor said better infrastructure, financial assistance, skill development, market connectivity and digital access are essential for MSMEs to drive inclusive growth, strengthen the rural economy and contribute towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Arunachal and Viksit Bharat. (Source: PTI)

ITANAGAR :  Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi on Monday reviewed the infrastructure and pending development works at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Itanagar campus, and assured speedy completion of the projects. Suresh Gopi, who is also president of the FTII and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) Itanagar Society, visited the institute to assess infrastructural gaps and review ongoing works that are to be taken up with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Union minister was received by Education Minister P D Sona, who accompanied him during the inspection. Lower Dibang Valley Deputy Commissioner Lobsang Tsering, Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul and Director of Information and Public Relations Gijum Tali were also present. During the visit, the minister held detailed discussions with officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and representatives of M/S Kenge Construction regarding the progress of ongoing projects and challenges affecting timely completion of infrastructure. He reviewed the status of buildings and facilities related to the acting and screenplay departments and expressed concern over the delay in completion of key infrastructure. Taking serious note of the issue, Suresh Gopi directed the CPWD to prioritise the pending works and execute them on a war footing. “The students have already suffered and faced difficulties in their curriculum due to the non-completion of vital buildings,” the minister said while assuring that all possible efforts would be made to expedite the works and strengthen the institute’s infrastructure. The FTII Itanagar campus currently offers three two-year postgraduate Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programmes in Screen Acting, Screenwriting and Documentary Cinema. Earlier this year, students of the institute had staged protests over inadequate infrastructure and lack of basic facilities, including sound studios and cathode ray tube (CRT) units, which affected their academic and practical training. Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister P D Sona expressed gratitude to the Union minister for personally reviewing the infrastructural requirements of the institute. The visit also boosted the morale of students, many of whom have been demanding timely completion of facilities essential for their academic and professional training. (DIPR)      

NEW DELHI : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) called on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan in New Delhi on Monday and discussed key national security issues concerning Arunachal Pradesh. The discussions focused on border security, the Vibrant Village Programme and implementation of goodwill projects in frontier areas of the State. Drawing from his recent visits to remote border regions, the Governor shared his observations on the prevailing security situation and preparedness along the international border. He also expressed concern over challenges posed by porous stretches along the eastern border and stressed the need for strengthening border management and infrastructure. Parnaik appreciated the role of the armed forces in maintaining close coordination with the State Government and said the strong civil-military partnership had significantly contributed to the development of frontier villages, ensuring that security and development progress together. The Governor also commended the III Corps and IV Corps for their continued efforts in strengthening civil-military relations through community outreach programmes, regular interactions and goodwill initiatives aimed at supporting people living in remote border areas.    

NEW DELHI : The Ministry of Education on Sunday dismissed concerns about On-Screen Marking (OSM) affecting students’ scores in CBSE class 12 exams and announced that the revaluation and answer sheet verification charges have been reduced to Rs 100 each. According to officials, the decision has been taken to ease the anxiety of students. They, however, maintained that the OSM is foolproof and a norm followed internationally to conduct transparent evaluation. At a press conference, School Education Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sanjay Kumar said, “98 lakh sheets scanned were for class 12, three levels of security were followed during the process. It was found that despite repeated scanning, there were still some legibility issues because the ink used in some answer sheets was of a very light colour. Even after scanning, those scripts could not be made fully legible.” “In such cases, the examiners were instructed to evaluate the scripts manually and award marks accordingly. More than 13,000 such answer sheets were separately identified and manually checked. After manual evaluation, the marks obtained were entered into the system. “Special attention was given to the security levels and related issues so that the marking carried out through on-screen evaluation remained accurate, completely transparent and fair,” he added. Kumar’s comments came amid concerns being raised by students and parents that the drop in pass percentage in class 12 and scores is due to the OSM, which was conducted for the first time for CBSE board exams. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has reduced the revaluation and answer sheet verification charges to help ease students’ anxiety. “The CBSE has decided this time that if students wish to view their answer sheets, they can do so by paying a fee of Rs 100 instead of Rs 700. If they want verification or validation of the answer sheet, that too will cost Rs 100 instead of Rs 500. If they want any particular answer rechecked, the fee will be Rs 25 per question,” Kumar said. “We have decided that if during re-evaluation, a student’s marks increase, then the amount paid for re-evaluation will be refunded to the student,” he said. (Source: PTI)