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UP govt disallows Congress march for justice to law student who accused Chinmayanand of rape

Congress leaders Jitin Prasada was detained ahead of a Nyay Yatra in support of the law student who had accused BJP leader Chinmayanand of raping her.

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6 years ago

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Chinmayanand

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress leaders Jitin Prasada and Kaushal Mishra said they were put under house arrest when they were about to take out a ‘Nyay Yatra’ (march for justice) today – Monday, Sep 30 – in support of the law student jailed on charge of extorting after she had accused BJP leader and former union minister Chinmayanand of raping her.

The 5-day 180-km rally was planned from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow. Senior leaders of the party were expected to take part in the march.

Besides former Union minister Prasada and district Congress president Mishra, Ajay Kumar Lallu, leader of Congress Legislative Party in the UP Assembly, and senior party leader Dheeraj Gurjar were arrested and kept at the Police Lines, police sources said, news agency PTI reported

“SDM Sadar and CO City told me that I and Jitin Prasada have been put under house arrest. When they were asked as to why a heavy police force was deployed outside the residence of Prasada, we were told that no one will be taking out any padyatra,” Mishra told PTI.

“UP is no Kashmir yet today I am in preventive custody for simply wanting to highlight the plight of the Shahjahnpur rape victim. This BJP govt has no qualms in quashing an individual’s fundamental rights,” tweeted Jitin Prasada soon after he was taken into custody.

Defending the government, City Magistrate, Shahjahanpur Vineeta Singh said permission was denied in writing to them (Congress leaders) yesterday. “To maintain the law and order during festival season, permission was denied,” she said.

Earlier, on Sep 27 as well, UP government had refused permission to Samajwadi Party (SP) workers to meet the jailed law student. On being denied permission to meet the woman, the delegation and party workers sat on dharna for hours and raised slogans against the government. They later visited her residence to meet her family members.

A local SP leader was reported to have alleged: Chinmayanand gets pictures clicked with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. He was the union minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. This is the reason why BJP is saving him.” 

The Congress has accused the BJP government of helping Chinmayanad in “every way possible”.  

“The Congress demands that the hearing of the rape case against Chinmayanand be taken up in a fast-track court,” said Aradhana Mishra, deputy leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, on Sunday. 

She told reporters “The BJP government is helping Swami Chinmayanand in every possible way. It has slapped extortion charges on the woman and arrested her, so as to weaken the case against Chinmayanand.” 

 “This fight will be fought by the party from the streets to the state Assembly. In order to ensure delivery of justice to the woman, the Congress will take out a 180-kilometre-long march from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow on Monday,” she had said, announcing the rally.

On Sunday, a Congress delegation met the family of the jailed Shahjahanpur woman. Her father had written a letter to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi requesting help. The party had decided to launch a ‘padayatra’ from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow on Monday.

In the letter addressed to Priyanka, the woman’s father said, “My daughter is being falsely implicated by the investigation agency due to the political clout of Chinmayanand. I request you to make the police book Chinmayanand for rape.”

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The Shahjahanpur court will hear the law student’s bail plea later today.

Chinmayanand, who was arrested by the SIT on September 20, is undergoing treatment at Lucknow’s Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences. He has not yet been charged for rape.

A spokesperson of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh unit had said on Wednesday that Chinmayanand was not in the party anymore.

Stepping up attack on the BJP, Priyanka Gandhi, in a tweet, said, “The arrest of accused BJP leader was deliberately delayed by the police. Arrested after public pressure. The accused has not even been charged with rape so far. Wah re BJP ka nyay.”

Chinamayanand, booked under IPC sections 354 D (stalking), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation), was arrested last week. He was reported to have confessed to taking massage from her and expressed shame at the act, but has not admitted to rape. 

Chinmayanand has, however, been charged not with rape but only with molestation, criminal intimidation and sexual exploitation through the use of his authority as law college head. He has been in hospital since Sunday after two days in prison. 

The complainant, a 23-year-old student at a law college Chinmayanand operates from his Shahjahanpur ashram, alleged the monk filmed her bathing in her hostel and blackmailed her into submitting to rape for over a year. She says he threatened to kill her when she decided to resist.

She has been charged with blackmailing the monk with sex videos, allegedly threatening to circulate them if he did not pay up Rs 5 crore. She was last week sent to 14 days judicial custody on charges of extortion. Three of her male college mates too have been arrested on the same charge.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Delhi air quality plunges to severe as thick smog blankets the capital

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply with AQI entering the ‘severe’ zone across several areas, prompting enforcement of GRAP stage-IV measures.

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48 mins ago

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December 23, 2025

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Delhi's air quality

Delhi woke up to hazardous air conditions on Tuesday as dense smog covered large parts of the national capital, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the ‘severe’ category across several locations. Poor visibility and rising health concerns marked yet another spell of extreme pollution in the city.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the overall AQI in Delhi touching 413 in the morning, placing it firmly in the ‘severe’ bracket. Several areas across the National Capital Region (NCR) reported alarming pollution levels, indicating a widespread deterioration in air quality.

Pollution hotspots report hazardous readings

Some of Delhi’s major pollution hotspots recorded extremely high AQI levels. Anand Vihar topped the list with an AQI of 466, followed by Ashok Vihar at 444 and Chandni Chowk at 425. These areas remained in the ‘severe’ category, posing serious health risks, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.

Even central parts of the city were not spared. India Gate, Kartavya Path and the Rashtrapati Bhavan area were shrouded in toxic smog, with AQI levels around 384, categorised as ‘very poor’.

GRAP stage-IV measures enforced across Delhi-NCR

In response to the worsening situation, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced all actions under GRAP Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR. As part of these emergency measures, truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed to suppress dust and reduce particulate matter in the air.

As per AQI standards, readings between 401 and 500 fall under the ‘severe’ category, while levels above 300 are considered ‘very poor’, highlighting the seriousness of the current conditions.

Delhi government reviews pollution control steps

The Delhi government has reiterated its commitment to tackling rising pollution levels with strict enforcement measures. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that a zero-tolerance policy will be followed against all sources contributing to air pollution in the capital.

A high-level review meeting was held at the Delhi Secretariat to assess existing measures and take further decisions. The meeting focused on enforcing Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms without any relaxation, exploring pooled and shared electric bus services across Delhi-NCR, issuing fresh guidelines for e-rickshaws, and rationalising Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus routes.

Senior officials from the Environment and Transport Departments, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Traffic Police, along with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, attended the meeting to finalise immediate and long-term steps to address the pollution crisis.

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Rahul Gandhi alleges institutional bias, questions electoral system during Berlin address

Rahul Gandhi alleged that India’s institutions and electoral system have been weaponised to favour the BJP, remarks that sparked a strong political response.

Published

2 hours ago

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December 23, 2025

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Rahul-Gandhi

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has said that India’s institutional framework is facing a serious challenge and has been used to favour the ruling BJP. Speaking during an interaction at the Hertie School in Berlin, Gandhi questioned the functioning of key institutions and the electoral machinery, remarks that triggered a sharp political response from the BJP.

Gandhi said the Congress believes there is a problem with the electoral system and alleged that several institutions have been captured. Referring to investigative agencies, he claimed that bodies such as the CBI and the ED have been used as political tools. According to him, cases filed by these agencies overwhelmingly target those opposing the BJP, while leaders from the ruling party face none.

He also pointed to what he described as a stark financial imbalance between the BJP and the opposition, claiming a funding ratio of 30:1. Gandhi said this disparity reflects how institutions are being used to consolidate political power.

Opposition strategy and INDIA alliance

The Congress leader said merely pointing out problems in elections is not enough and stressed the need for the opposition to build a system of resistance that can effectively counter the ruling party. He added that the challenge now goes beyond electoral contests and is about presenting an alternative vision for the country.

On the INDIA alliance, Gandhi said the unity among opposition parties is rooted in their rejection of the ideological position of the RSS. While acknowledging that tactical contests between alliance partners will continue, he said they remain united when it comes to opposing laws they disagree with and working together in Parliament.

BJP hits back at remarks abroad

Gandhi’s comments delivered overseas drew a strong reaction from the BJP. Party president and Union minister JP Nadda accused him of speaking against India while Parliament is in session and claimed that he was undermining the country’s image at a time when the Prime Minister is receiving global recognition.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Gandhi, alleging that he routinely travels abroad to defame India. He accused the Congress leader of making misleading claims about the country’s institutions and economic activity while praising China.

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DU VC Prof Yogesh Singh entrusted with additional charge of AICTE Chairman

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19 hours ago

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December 22, 2025

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Prof. Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Chairman, AICTE till the appointment of a Chairman of AICTE or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

It is noteworthy that AICTE Chairman Prof. TG Sitharam was relieved of his duties after his term ended on December 20, 2025. According to a letter issued by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, on Monday, Prof. Yogesh Singh’s appointment is until the appointment of a regular AICTE Chairman or until further orders whichever is earlier.

Prof. Yogesh Singh is a renowned academician with excellent administrative capabilities, who has been the Vice-Chancellor of University of Delhi since October 2021. He has also served as the Chairperson of the National Council for Teacher Education. In August 2023, he was also given the additional charge of Director of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA).

Prof. Yogesh Singh served as the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Technological University from 2015 to 2021; Director of Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Delhi from 2014 to 2017, and before that, he was the Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda (Gujarat) from 2011 to 2014. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra. He has a distinguished track record in quality teaching, innovation, and research in the field of software engineering.

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