India News

Raje govt orders SC, ST and OBC hostels to play national anthem to instill patriotism

Published

9 years ago

November 28, 2017

Raje govt orders SC, ST and OBC hostels to play national anthem to instill patriotism

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Vasundhara Raje government orders all 789 government-run hostels across Rajasthan to make students recite National Anthem at 7 am every morning

While the ongoing massive protests across Rajasthan by the state’s farmers or the vitriolic threats being issued to Deepika Padukone by the Karni Sena for her on-reel portrayal of Rani Padmavati have failed to draw chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s attention, her government has its mission clearly cut out – SC,ST and OBC students must be pumped up with patriotic fervor.

It appears that the Vasundhara Raje Scindia-led BJP government in Rajasthan believes that over 40000 students from the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backwards classes residing in its 789 state -run hostels and 22 residential schools do not match up to their counterparts from the ‘general’ category when it comes to their level of patriotism.

To ensure that patriotism – the trait in any individual that is most dear to the BJP – is drilled into these SC, ST and OBC category students, the Vasundhara Raje government’s department of social justice and empowerment has ordered all hostels and schools under its jurisdiction to make their inmates sing the national anthem – everyday at 7 am sharp.

This, at least according to the notions of the Raje government, will “instill patriotism” in the students at a time when Rajasthan is witnessing vitriolic protests to preserve the honour of a purportedly mythical woman – Rani Padmavati – albeit at the cost of the honour of a real-life, living woman – Hindi cinema’s Deepika Padukone.

Clearly, the Raje government which recently was under attack for a controversial legislation that sought to gag the media from writing against tainted bureaucrats till the chief minister decided that these babus could be tried for their alleged impropriety has identified its priorities.

The order, issued by Rajasthan’s department of social justice and empowerment on Monday, said that while the national anthem is recited in all residential schools, the tradition will now have to be followed in hostels too.

The department’s principal secretary Samit Sharma was quoted by Times of India as saying: “Hostel inmates gather for a daily prayer in the morning. The directive on national anthem was not being followed because of staff shortage. The directive has been issued to ensure national anthem is also sung on a daily basis.”

This, of course, isn’t the first time that Rajasthan has had its brush with the BJP trying to ensure that people in the state – from students to government employees – wear their patriotic fervor on their sleeves.

Recently, Ashok Lahoti – mayor of the BJP-controlled Jaipur Municipal Corporation – had made the singing of the national anthem and national song compulsory for all government employees at 9 am and 5pm daily. The Rajasthan Youth Board too had organised a ‘Vande Mataram’ event at Jaipur’s SMS stadium on November 8 – the first anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demonetisation decision – which was attended by over 50000 people and presided over by Vasundhara Raje as the chief guest.

Meanwhile, assessors and guarantors of patriotism in the other BJP-ruled state of Madhya Pradesh too have issued a diktat stating that students will need to respond with a “Jai Hind” instead of the banal and western import “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am”when their name is called out during the roll-call in class. Doing so, like singing the national anthem, will make the students patriotic.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

6 hours ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

18 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

19 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.