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TVK chief Vijay to appear before CBI in Karur stampede probe

TVK leader Vijay will appear before the CBI in Delhi as part of the probe into the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during a political rally in 2024.

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6 months ago

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Actor vijay

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay is set to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi on Monday in connection with the Karur stampede case that claimed 41 lives. The incident occurred on September 27 last year during a massive political rally addressed by Vijay, making it one of the deadliest crowd-related tragedies in Tamil Nadu’s recent political history.

Supreme Court handed probe to CBI

The investigation into the stampede has undergone multiple legal changes. Initially, the Madras High Court had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. However, the Supreme Court later transferred the case to the CBI, directing that the investigation be monitored by a panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The apex court also set aside a one-member commission earlier appointed by the Tamil Nadu government, observing that the matter required a more independent and credible inquiry. Notably, TVK itself had sought an independent probe into the tragedy.

A senior party source told media that Vijay would cooperate fully with the investigation and expressed hope that the truth would emerge through the CBI inquiry.

Police and Vijay trade blame

Following the stampede, the Tamil Nadu Police had attributed the chaos to Vijay’s alleged delay in reaching the venue, claiming the prolonged wait led to an uncontrollable surge of the crowd. Police officials had also pointed to inadequate arrangements such as food, drinking water and toilet facilities, stating that the situation worsened as the crowd grew restless.

Vijay rejected these allegations, calling them a conspiracy by the ruling DMK, a charge the party has denied. He, in turn, blamed the police for poor crowd management and failure to clear bottlenecks on approach roads leading to the rally venue.

Film certification issue adds political edge

Vijay’s appearance before the CBI comes amid a separate controversy over the delay in certification of his film Jana Nayagan, which was originally slated for release ahead of Pongal. While a single judge of the Madras High Court had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant certification, a division bench later stayed the order and adjourned the matter to January 21. Neither Vijay nor TVK has officially commented on the issue.

Opposition leaders, including those from the Congress, have alleged that central agencies are being used to exert pressure on TVK ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections due in a few months. Chief Minister MK Stalin recently remarked that the CBFC had “joined the list of central agencies being used as weapons by the Union government.”

The BJP has rejected these allegations. The party has also denied speculation that it is indirectly aiding TVK to split anti-DMK votes following its renewed alliance with the AIADMK.

Political stakes ahead of elections

Vijay has repeatedly described the upcoming Assembly election as a direct contest between the ruling DMK and TVK, referring to the DMK as his “political enemy” and the BJP as his “ideological enemy.”

Responding to questions on whether the ongoing CBI probe could make the party vulnerable to political pressure, a senior TVK leader said the party had faith in the investigation and would approach the courts if any undue pressure was applied.

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Dharmendra Pradhan submits resignation to PM Modi amid student protests

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hours before the third round of talks between the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party.

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6 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a major development amid the ongoing student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Pradhan announced the decision through a post on X, just hours before the Centre was scheduled to hold the third round of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading the agitation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

The resignation of the Education Minister had remained the primary demand of the protesters, who have been camping at Jantar Mantar for more than a month seeking accountability and reforms in the examination system.

The latest development comes at a crucial time as both sides prepare for another round of discussions aimed at resolving the prolonged standoff.

As of now, there has been no official announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office on whether Pradhan’s resignation has been accepted. Further details are awaited.

Resignation comes before key Centre-CJP meeting

The announcement was made only hours before representatives of the Centre and the Cockroach Janta Party were expected to meet for the third round of negotiations.

The talks are being closely watched as the government attempts to end the month-long protest, with the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan remaining one of the protesters’ central demands.

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CJP says Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation non-negotiable ahead of third round of talks

CJP has hardened its stand before the third round of talks with the Centre, insisting that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remains its primary and non-negotiable demand.

Published

10 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has reiterated that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains its top demand, just hours before the third round of discussions with the Centre on Saturday.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation would see little purpose in continuing negotiations if the government was unwilling to remove the minister.

In a post on X, Ranka said Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation was “non-negotiable” and added that there was no point in holding further discussions if the government rejected the demand.

The third round of talks is scheduled for Saturday afternoon after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met CJP representatives for nearly two hours during the second round of discussions on Friday.

According to the CJP, it has placed three key demands before the Centre:

  • Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
  • A guarantee that no legal action will be taken against protesting students.
  • Compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak.

During Friday’s meeting, the Centre agreed in principle to two of the demands — ensuring no legal action against protesting students and providing compensation. However, the demand for the Education Minister’s resignation remains unresolved.

Speaking after the meeting, JP Nadda said the protesters had also submitted five suggestions for reforms to the examination system. He said the government would hold internal discussions before responding during Saturday’s meeting.

Government sources, however, indicated that Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is not under consideration. According to the sources, the government believes resignation is not the appropriate course of action and continues to back the minister.

Meanwhile, the Centre has announced several measures aimed at tackling examination paper leaks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the establishment of fast-track courts to hear paper leak cases, while the government is preparing amendments to strengthen the law with stricter punishments and higher fines.

The Centre has also replaced the Education Secretary and removed 47 officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA), while promising broader reforms within the examination body.

Responding to the action against NTA officials, Ashutosh Ranka said the move alone was insufficient. He maintained that accountability ultimately rests with the Education Minister and reiterated that Dharmendra Pradhan must resign.

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PM Modi’s Instagram reel on exam paper leaks crosses record 303 million views amid Jantar Mantar protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct video address addressing exam paper leaks has crossed 303 million views on Instagram amid student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.

Published

11 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has crossed a global digital milestone, with a single Instagram reel gathering over 303 million views within a 24-hour period. The massive social media turnout eclipsed the previous global record of 300 million views. The digital milestone unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing demonstrations by thousands of youth and student protesters gathered at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding systemic reforms and accountability following examination malpractices.

Following the high engagement on his initial post, the Prime Minister released a follow-up video message titled “Thank you friends” to express gratitude to young citizens for their constructive suggestions and feedback.

Late-night message addresses student concerns

The record-breaking digital engagement began with a rare late-night selfie video posted by Prime Minister Modi. In the clip, he directly addressed public anxieties regarding examination paper leaks and promised strict executive action against offenders.

By utilizing a direct video format aimed at connecting with younger demographics, the Prime Minister emphasized that the administration treats competitive exam malpractices with extreme seriousness rather than as a minor issue.

Cabinet plans fast-track courts and strict penalties

Detailing actions undertaken over the preceding two and a half months, the Prime Minister stated that the primary objective of the administration has been protecting candidates from losing an academic year. He highlighted the extensive administrative coordination required to arrange re-examinations swiftly for affected candidates.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi announced that the Union Cabinet will move forward with a strict legal framework. The proposed measures include establishing fast-track courts and imposing harsh penalties on individuals or criminal syndicates involved in leaking examination papers.

The initial late-night communication generated a surge of approximately one million new followers on the Prime Minister’s profile overnight. In his follow-up statement, PM Modi appreciated the active dialogue created among the youth, remarking that citizen engagement helps strengthen governance.

“This love of yours will remain, and our bond will continue to connect with even more vibrancy,” the Prime Minister stated, thanking supporters for their active involvement.

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