logo
Sikkim University student arrested for insulting Nepali language

Sikkim University student arrested for insulting Nepali language

News189 hours ago
Gangtok, Aug 19 (PTI) A Sikkim University student, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly making insulting remarks against the Nepali language which is widely spoken in the Himalayan state, officials said.
Acting on a complaint lodged by some local students, a team from Rani Pool police station reached the university campus and took Raj Shekhar Yadav into custody for questioning, officials said.
Yadav, a resident of Varanasi, was later arrested.
The accused, a first-semester student of Master of Commerce, allegedly said in a WhatsApp post on August 15 that Nepali is a foreign language and those speaking it should go to Nepal.
Yadav, however, apologised in a video message and sought forgiveness from all for his comment.
The Sikkim University Students Association through its president Anup Regmi later reported the incident to the varsity authorities and the police.
The students' body also issued a press release condemning Yadav's remarks as 'divisive and harmful to peace and harmony within the university." It said that Nepali is widely spoken in Sikkim and is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Sikkim University officials are yet to respond to the development. PTI KDK NN
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments
First Published:
August 19, 2025, 21:45 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ICSSR to issue notice to CSDS over ‘manipulation' of Maharashtra poll data
ICSSR to issue notice to CSDS over ‘manipulation' of Maharashtra poll data

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

ICSSR to issue notice to CSDS over ‘manipulation' of Maharashtra poll data

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) on Tuesday said it will issue a show cause notice to the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies over an erroneous claim made by Sanjay Kumar — professor and co-director of Lokniti, a research programme at the CSDS — in a social media post that two constituencies in Maharashtra had shown a significant fall in the numbers of voters between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls last year. The ICSSR, which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, is the government's apex body for research in social and human sciences. The CSDS is supported by the ICSSR. On August 17, Kumar had posted on X that Ramtek and Devlali in Maharashtra had shown 36-38% decrease in number of voters between the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, he apologised for the post. 'I sincerely apologize for the tweets posted regarding Maharashtra elections. Error occurred while comparing data of 2024 LS and 2024 AS. The data in row was misread by our Data team. The tweet has since been removed. I had no intention of dispersing any form of misinformation,' Kumar said in a post on X. The Indian Express tried to contact Kumar for his comment but he could not be reached. The ICSSR accused CSDS of 'data manipulation' to create a 'narrative with the intention of undermining the sanctity of the Election Commission of India'. 'It has come to the notice of ICSSR that an individual holding responsible position at CSDS, an ICSSR-funded research institute, has made media statements that had to be retracted subsequently citing glitches in data analysis regarding elections in Maharashtra. Further, the institute has published media stories based on biased interpretation of the SIR exercise by the Election Commission of India. ICSSR holds the Indian Constitution in highest esteem. Election Commision of India is a high constitutional body which has been holding free and fair elections in the largest democracy of world for decades together. ICSSR takes serious cognizance of the data manipulation by CSDS and its attempt to create a narrative with the intention of undermining the sanctity of the Election Commision of India. This is a gross violation of the grant-in-aid rules of ICSSR, and ICSSR shall issue a show cause notice to the institute,' it said in a post on X. Earlier in the day, the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer also weighed in on the issue. 'CSDS Sanjay Kumar apologized for the tweet posted regarding Maharashtra Assembly elections. He said that error occurred while comparing data of 2024 LS and 2024 AS. His tweet is deleted now but a screenshot is attached. His data was quoted by many INC & Opposition leaders for questioning EC,' the CEO said on X. Addressing a press conference, the BJP alleged that Kumar's post on X was used as propaganda by the Congress to discredit the electoral process. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said Kumar deleted the post after 40 hours, during which the wrong data was used as 'propaganda' by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Rahul Gandhi. 'Congress leader Pawan Khera tweets on this and then deletes. Rahul Gandhi's baseless allegations are also based on CSDS data,' Bhatia said. He said 34,000 people viewed Kumar's post before it was deleted. 'They call themselves a survey agency but are puppets in the hands of leaders like Rahul Gandhi. They (Congress) want an agency to publicise fake data. This is a factory, a machine of dishing out lies,' he said. The BJP accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of making 'false and baseless allegations of vote chori' against the Election Commission, in collusion with the CSDS. Reacting to this, Khera said: 'This is called clutching at straws. The BJP ecosystem knows pretty well that they have been caught red-handed indulging in vote chori.'

Bill to ban online money gaming likely to be tabled in Parliament today
Bill to ban online money gaming likely to be tabled in Parliament today

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Bill to ban online money gaming likely to be tabled in Parliament today

The Union government is expected to introduce new legislation that will completely prohibit online money gaming, in what will close a legal vacuum that created inconsistent regulation across states and left millions of users — especially children and young adults -- vulnerable to predatory platforms and financial exploitation The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 is likely to be introduced in the ongoing session of parliament, people aware of the matter said.(PTI) The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 is likely to be introduced in the ongoing session of parliament, people aware of the matter said. The legislation proposes a ban on platforms or games where users pay money or stakes with expectations of monetary returns, according to a draft seen by HT. The proposed law explicitly excludes e-Sports from this definition. ALSO READ | Online gaming rules are not enforceable govt tells court 'The immersive and addictive nature of online games, particularly with monetary incentives, has led to significant mental health issues among users — especially children, adolescents and young adults,' MeitY stated in the proposed law. 'Clinical evidence and field studies have shown a rise in anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and behavioural problems linked to prolonged gaming.' Online gaming covers a broad spectrum, from casual mobile games and educational apps to money-based fantasy sports and poker platforms. Several states have targeted the latter category, citing their constitutional authority to regulate gambling and betting. ALSO READ | 50-year-old uncle held for murdering minor nephew over online gaming However, this piecemeal approach has created legal confusion over what constitutes games of skill versus chance. The regulatory gaps have allowed operators to relocate between states or move offshore. At present, India has no federal regulation on online gaming. But a patchwork of laws exists, with the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh banning online money gaming outright, while Sikkim and Nagaland require registration for operators, and others like Telangana restricting certain forms of online gambling The central bill also links online money gaming to wider risks including fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and, in extreme cases, terror financing. The bill seeks to draw a sharp line between e-Sports and social gaming on one hand, and gambling-style online money games on the other, according to the proposal formulated by the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity), seen by HT. ALSO READ | Allahabad HC asks UP govt to form panel over online gaming, betting regulation Anyone found offering or facilitating online money games could face up to three years imprisonment or fines reaching ₹1 crore, or both. Repeat offenders face harsher mandatory punishments. Advertising such platforms has also been criminalised, with penalties extending to two years imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh or both. 'The proposed framework has effectively erased the long-standing and judicially recognised distinction between games of skill and games of chance. Even though the IT Rules amendments in 2023 had moved away from this binary, it still had the provision for recognizing some online money games as 'permissible'. What we now see in the bill is a complete prohibition: the definition of online money games is so wide that it captures all forms of games involving money. In such a regime, it no longer matters whether a game is skill-based or chance-based. The distinction is irrelevant,' said Rahil Chatterjee, senior associate at Ikigai Law. Financial institutions have been barred from processing payments linked to money gaming, a move aimed at choking off both domestic and offshore operators that bypass state laws. If a company is found guilty of violating the law, not just the company but also the people in charge of running that part of the business will be held responsible and face punishment, the proposed law states. The legal greys have also involved money laundering concerns. The Enforcement Directorate investigation recently held a sweeping crackdown into celebrities promoting online gaming platforms that facilitate illegal betting. The agency has been questioning film stars, cricketers, influencers, and representatives of big tech companies as part of a broader crackdown on money laundering associated with betting apps. The ministry, in its note, added that a growing number of individuals have fallen victim to financial losses due to online money gaming, 'sometimes resulting in extreme outcomes such as suicide, as widely reported in national and regional media.' 'In many cases, players are lured into a cycle of gaming with little awareness of the risks or legal protections,' the ministry said. 'Such content not only undermines Indian cultural values but also creates long-term behavioural conditioning among impressionable users.' To enforce these provisions, the bill provides for creating a new authority on online gaming or designating an existing authority, which will categorise and register games, issue compliance directions, and respond to user complaints. It will also have power to recommend blocking illegal services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. ALSO READ | ₹18-crore 'online gaming' scam busted, 8 arrested in Kharar 'The authority to be set up under the bill has a very limited role. It can only determine whether a particular game qualifies as an online money game, but it has no power to permit or regulate such games once classified. And because all money games stand prohibited, the concept of a permissible real money game no longer exists. Importantly, the authority is designed merely to assist the central government, not to function as an independent regulator,' added Chatterjee. The law, once enacted, will extend across the country and apply even to services offered from outside India. Officials have been given wide powers to investigate, search, seize and block platforms in violation of the provisions. Popular fantasy sports platforms like Dream11, real-money rummy sites and cash-prize quiz apps could face prohibition under the legislation, while professional tournaments for games like BGMI and FIFA Mobile would be deemed legal. Officials at Meity did not respond to a request for comment.

FIR filed over attack on MCD staff capturing dogs in Rohini
FIR filed over attack on MCD staff capturing dogs in Rohini

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

FIR filed over attack on MCD staff capturing dogs in Rohini

A group of dog lovers allegedly manhandled Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials and damaged their vehicle on Monday afternoon when the civic staff attempted to capture a stray dog from a government school in Rohini's Sector 16, police said. Multiple protests have been held in the city after the SC order on stray dogs. (HT Photo) According to the police, a PCR call was received around 2.42pm, informing them about a scuffle between unidentified persons and MCD's veterinary department team at F Block. 'The officials had gone to Government Sarvodaya School to catch a stray dog when they were stopped by some residents, who forced them to release the animal. Subsequently, they assaulted the staff and broke the dog-catching vehicle,' a senior officer said. A complaint was filed by Dr Ravish Kasana, veterinary officer with MCD, following which an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at KNK Marg police station. Delhi Police have apprehended a 34-year-old man in connection with the incident. Police said that CCTV footage from the spot helped police identify the accused as Bhavik Wassan, a resident of Sector 3, Rohini. 'It was revealed that he was feeding four stray dogs near his shop and was a part of a WhatsApp group called 'Rohini Dog Lovers', created by Neha Nayyar. He had alerted other members on the group about the MCD's presence, following which several people gathered and confronted the officials,' a senior police officer said. Police said Wassan has been bound down in the case. The identities of two women seen in the footage have also been established, and teams have been dispatched to trace them and identify other suspects.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store