Latest news with #JantarMantar
The Print
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Modi govt has ‘consistent policy of betrayal' for J&K: Cong
Also, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, along with Kharge, met and deliberated with party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir at Indira Bhawan here. His remarks came after Congress' Jammu and Kashmir unit staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here, demanding restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday alleged that the Modi government has a 'consistent policy of betrayal' for Jammu and Kashmir, and asserted that people of J&K deserve full statehood. The Congress is fully dedicated to protecting the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their interests, Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on Facebook after addressing the gathering. Posting pictures on X from the gathering, Kharge said the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve full statehood, and added that it is their constitutional right. 'We have written to the PM demanding the same. Modi Govt has a consistent policy of betrayal for Jammu and Kashmir,' he said. Kharge said the Pahalgam terror attack is a grim reminder of intelligence failure. 'We stand strongly with the people of J&K, demanding adequate compensation and protection for them, especially those families who have lost their loved ones in cross-border shelling. They are martyrs,' he said. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee is on the streets fighting for the people, he said. 'It is the duty of every Congress worker to strengthen the organisation. Your determination can go a long way in changing the lives of the people in this beautiful border region,' the party chief said. Congress general secretary (organisation), K C Venugopal, AICC in-charge of J&K Naseer Hussain and J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, among others, took part in the protest at Jantar Mantar. 'Jammu and Kashmir is the first instance of a state being downgraded into a Union Territory. Such democratic backsliding and insult to the people of a state is unacceptable,' Venugopal said in a post on X after the protest. 'J&KPCC is protesting at Jantar Mantar, to demand restoration of full statehood to J&K. I joined in the protest and spoke about the need to defend the Constitution and restore the dignity of the people of J&K. The promises made in Parliament must be fulfilled without delay,' he said. The Congress on Sunday said the party will raise the demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the Monsoon session of Parliament. Kharge and Gandhi had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press for a legislation in the Monsoon session to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. In their joint letter to Modi, Kharge and Gandhi had said that for the past five years, the people of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full statehood. This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights, they had said. PTI ASK KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India.com
14 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Kharge And Rahul Assure Full Support For Restoration Of Statehood To J&K
Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi told the J&K Congress leaders and workers that they completely support the restoration of statehood to J&K. J&K Congress said on X, 'Congress President Mr @kharge ji and Leader of Opposition Mr @RahulGandhi ji interact with JK Congress leaders and workers at Indira Bhawan today.' The Congress leadership has once again reiterated its demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and for including Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, stating that both issues will be raised in both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi extended their full support to the J&K Congress leaders and workers who had come to the national capital. The J&K Congress leaders and workers today staged a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, led by JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra, CLP Leader G.A. Mir, and AICC General Secretary in-charge of J&K and Ladakh Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain. The protest called for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and strongly condemned the BJP's undemocratic, authoritarian, and unconstitutional suppression of democratic rights in the region. A Congress spokesman said, A Congress spokesperson said, 'Over 500 Congress workers and leaders from across Jammu & Kashmir travelled to Delhi by buses, raising slogans such as 'Delhi Chalo' and 'Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq.' Braving long journeys and security restrictions, they came to amplify the voice of the people of the erstwhile state. Carrying placards that read 'Loktantra Bahal Karo', 'Statehood Wapas Karo', and 'Jammu Kashmir Ke Saath Nyaay Karo', the protest featured passionate speeches, patriotic slogans, and a united call to end bureaucratic rule and restore democracy. Addressing the protest at Jantar Mantar, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal said, 'When the Lt. Governor himself admits to grave security lapses in the Pahalgam terror attack, it vindicates our stand. 'Unelected, unaccountable administrators cannot replace a democratically elected government. Jammu & Kashmir deserves its dignity, its Assembly, and its voice. The Congress Party will not rest until democracy is fully restored.' This Delhi protest is part of the Congress party's sustained movement and follows two major demonstrations previously held in Jammu and Srinagar. On Sunday, the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) organised a major protest at the city centre in Jammu, where PCC president Tariq Hameed Karra and CLP Leader G.A. Mir were detained by police while peacefully demanding statehood, democratic elections, and restoration of constitutional rights. Despite the crackdown, hundreds of Congress workers continued their protest undeterred, reflecting the growing public anger against the BJP's repressive policies. 'On Saturday, the protest was held at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar, where senior leaders addressed a large gathering of grassroots workers who were cordoned off inside the premises by the state machinery,' the Congress spokesperson added.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
School fee hike sparks protest by parents in Delhi, demand reforms
Hundreds of parents gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 to protest against what they called arbitrary fee hikes and lack of transparency in private under the banner of United Parents' Voice (UPV), the protest comes after months of unacknowledged efforts to engage with authorities on the to UPV, this was not the first time parents had tried to reach out. On June 30, 2025, a group waited for over three hours to meet Delhi Chief Minister Rekha While a small delegation was granted a brief interaction and promised further discussion, no follow-up communication occurred despite formal part of the protest, parents submitted a detailed memorandum addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, and Education Minister, highlighting several key concerns. These included unauthorised fee hikes, alleged misuse of school funds, and violations of student memorandum also objected to the recently passed Fee Regulation Ordinance 2025, which protestors claimed was implemented without sufficient public DEMANDS RAISED BY PARENTSAmong the major demands listed were:Rollback of unratified fee increasesIndependent audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and forensic expertsGovernment-supervised parent-teacher association (PTA) elections for inclusive governanceAction against schools that shame or penalise students over unpaid fees, in violation of Article 21A of the ConstitutionParents also called for schools to shift to a monthly fee collection system, stating that lump-sum payments put undue financial pressure on advocated for all infrastructure purchases to be routed through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to ensure cost-effective and transparent significant demand was for public disclosure of approved fee structures by the Directorate of Education on both government and school CALLS FOR FAIRNESS AND DIALOGUEAccording to Rahul Gupta, a parent and UPV member, the protest reflected the community's frustration after exhausting all formal channels.'We have tried all channels, emails, meetings, even written representations to the highest offices. Today's gathering is a collective call for fairness and dignity in our children's education,' he reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful civic action and urged the government to initiate an open and transparent dialogue with concerned group also mentioned that earlier appeals had been sent via email and speed post to the President, Prime Minister, and Union Home Minister, seeking immediate parents continue to push for greater accountability in private education, they have vowed to persist with peaceful advocacy until meaningful reforms are achieved.(With inputs from PTI)- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Desperate cry for children's future': Parents demonstrate at Jantar Mantar amid fee hike row
'Parents Are Not ATMs', 'Don't Sell Education, Serve It', and 'Education, Not Exploitation' were among the slogans on placards as hundreds of parents of students from private schools across Delhi gathered at Jantar Mantar on Saturday morning. Alleging arbitrary fee hikes, opaque school finances, and harassment of students over unpaid dues, a memorandum was submitted to top Delhi officials with 10 key demands, said protesters. CAG audits, scrapping of the Delhi government's Fee Regulation Ordinance 2025, and monthly fee collection — instead of advance payment — were included in the key demands raised in the memorandum. Parents alleged that their demands have not been addressed despite holding meetings and writing to the authorities. Saturday's demonstration was held under the banner of United Parents' Voice (UPV). Other key demands highlighted in the memorandum are 'putting an end to harassment and discrimination against children in schools, fair and transparent elections to Parent-Teacher Associations, formal tenders for vendor services and school infrastructure, revocation of CA licences in fraudulent school audits, mandatory online display of fees,' said a protesting parent at the venue. 'This isn't just a protest …it is a desperate cry for our children's dignity, rights and future,' said a protester, adding that the parents were forced to take to the streets after 'trying everything'. The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Ordinance, 2025, on June 10 amid concerns over arbitrary fee hikes by the private schools. Since then, parents have protested at least twice in June, making Saturday's protest the third such outcry. According to Education Minister Ashish Sood's previous announcements, the Ordinance regulates fee hikes, allowing only one hike every three years, subject to approval by school-level committees. It also empowers oversight bodies with fines up to Rs 10 lakh. There has been a three-tier appeals structure that has been set up via school-level committees, district appellate body and state-level body. It also mandates refunds and penalties within defined timelines if excess fees are charged. However, senior AAP leaders have strongly opposed the move, stating that it is 'anti-parent' and alleging that the parents' voices were ignored as the Bill was drafted 'in secrecy'. Some parents,who have been protesting against the Ordinance, earlier claimed during a protest that no consultations were held to address their concerns in the Ordinance.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Parents protest at Jantar Mantar over private school fee hikes, seek reforms
New Delhi, Jul 19 (PTI) Hundreds of parents assembled at the Jantar Mantar here on Saturday under the banner of United Parents' Voice (UPV), protesting against alleged arbitrary fee hikes, demanding greater financial transparency and accountability in the private education sector. Parents said their repeated appeals to authorities had gone unanswered, compelling them to take to the streets once again, a statement from UPV (a parent group) said. The protest followed an earlier attempt to engage with the Delhi government on June 30 when a group of parents waited for more than three hours to meet Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. While a small delegation was granted a brief meeting and assured of further dialogue, they said no follow-up communication was received despite formal reminders, it added. Parents submitted a detailed memorandum addressed to the lieutenant governor, chief minister and education minister, reiterating concerns over unapproved fee hikes, alleged misuse of school funds and violations of student rights. They also expressed their opposition to the recently passed Fee Regulation Ordinance, 2025, which they claimed was enacted without adequate public consultation. The memorandum called for a rollback of unratified fee increases, independent audits by the comptroller and auditor general and forensic experts and government-supervised elections for parent-teacher associations to ensure more inclusive school governance, the statement said. It also urged authorities to act against schools that allegedly shame or penalise students over fee issues, a practice parents said violates the right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution. The protesting parents further demanded that schools be mandated to follow a monthly fee collection system, citing the financial strain caused by advance lump-sum payments. They also advocated for infrastructure procurement through the government e-marketplace (GeM) portal to ensure cost-effective and transparent spending. According to the statement, another key demand was the public disclosure of fee structures approved by the Directorate of Education on both government and school websites. Rahul Gupta, a parent and member of UPV said the protest was an outcome of continued silence from the administration. 'We have tried all channels, emails, meetings, even written representations to the highest offices. Today's gathering is a collective call for fairness and dignity in our children's education," he said. The group said that their concerns had also been communicated earlier through email and speed post to the president, prime minister, and union home minister, seeking urgent intervention. UPV reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful civic action and appealed to the government to initiate an open dialogue with parents. PTI SHB OZ OZ view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 22:15 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.
