Govt-Congress showdown in Lok Sabha during marathon anti-paper leak debate

Parliament witnessed intense debates during the Lok Sabha session on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill as Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi confronted the Union government and Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi over examination irregularities. Priyanka Gandhi cited 152 paper leak cases affecting 7.5 crore students over the past decade, demanding accountability for police actions against student protesters. Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh announced Special Fast Track Courts designed to resolve examination fraud within five months. Outside Parliament, student demonstrations organised by the CJP led state governments in Bihar, Assam, and Maharashtra to initiate the withdrawal of police FIRs against non-precedential student detainees following Supreme Court directives. Meanwhile, Pralhad Joshi met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla amid the escalating political confrontation.

In South India, a water sharing dispute over the Cauvery River and the Mekedatu reservoir project intensified, prompting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, violent clashes and civilian casualties occurred in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir during local election boycotts.