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Hard work of repairing our education and our democracy lies ahead Alok Tiwari It is difficult to be equanimous and write about events of last week. People, especially young people, rising against an authoritarian regime is always moving. When they succeed, which is rarer, it is even more so. Hence there is no belittling the importance of what India’s youngsters accomplished last week. The protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi that culminated into resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan struck a blow not just for reforming India’s corruption-ridden and moribund education sector but also for its democracy. True, NEET paper leak provided the immediate spark, but what the fed the fire was multiple frustrations of people with governance. When the adults in the room—the politicians, the bureaucrats, the judges, the media—began to see dysfunction as business as usual, it was left to the youth to jolt them. That is why it found resonance across the country. That is wh...

Govt and opposition are failing the youngsters by not engaging with them Alok Tiwari Like wars, protests and movements too can go in unpredictable ways. After the July 20 march to parliament and the brutal police response to it, this seems to be happening with the ‘cockroach movement’. What had appeared to start as a sarcastic riposte to an unfortunate comment from country’s chief justice now appears to be having a life of its own. It has certainly grown bigger than anyone thought possible only a few weeks ago. As already pointed out in this column, this is thanks in no small part to the ham-handed response of the government that began with shutting down its Instagram handle and continuing with police lathi charge on the marchers this week. Government acted on the pattern of contempt that Modi government has treated all the protests during its 12-year tenure. It follows a tired and largely ineffective playbook of first trying to discredit the protesters using its considerable, an...

Courts are not as helpless in protecting liberty as justices say they are Alok Tiwari At a time when democratic space for the citizens is inexorably shrinking, it was heartening to see chief justice of India, Justice Surya Kant Sharma at least acknowledge that completion of trials under the notorious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was a challenge. The CJI was responding to a query in a media interview on criticism about many accused under the act remaining in jail for prolonged periods, specifically the denial of bail to Delhi riots case accused Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Justice Sharma admitted this problem needed to be addressed on the judicial side. The two are in jail for over five years now with no sign of their trial beginning. But theirs is not the only case. There are many people facing prolonged incarceration, extending to months and even years with the prosecution showing no urgency to start the trial. The state has often used such laws to jail people who...

Blended auto fuel policy is causing trouble, it needs to change Alok Tiwari Social media these days is awash with stories of disasters allegedly caused by use of ethanol-blended petrol in vehicles. There are reports of vehicles breaking down mid-trip, refusing to start, showing rise in fuel consumption, videos of clogged injectors and corroded fuel tanks and exhaust pipes. Ethanol blending is now part of a growing list of embarrassments for the ruling BJP along with NEET question paper leak and Ram Mandir donations theft. There is little doubt that government has rushed through the ethanol blending. The original target for achieving blending of 20% ethanol in petrol was 2030. Thanks to a personal push by highways minister Nitin Gadkari, that was achieved five years earlier. Now most of the petrol sold across the country is E20. Government was ready to go for E25 and eventually to even E85 as it pressured automakers to come up with vehicles that can run on flex fuels. It wisely ha...

Ram Temple theft case undermines RSS claims of commitment and sanskar Alok Tiwari In Hindu mythology and culture, Ram occupies a special place. He may be one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, but his influence extends far beyond that. His name is part of dozens of Hindi language exclamations that extend from greeting to surprise to despair and even disgust. He is seen as epitome of what humanity ought to and can be. He is often called Maryada Purushottam, the very limit of what goodness in men can be. Ram set standards of behaviour for men in every role, be it a son, a brother, a ruler, or a warrior. Ramrajya is a synonym for an ideal state where peace, prosperity, and justice prevail. He is also known as dispenser of justice even if it meant bearing immeasurable personal pain. Probably that is why exploitation of his name for personal or political gains often does not end well. The faithful argue that Rajiv Gandhi learnt this when he allowed unlocking of the gates of what ...