The big talking point of this episode of Democratic Newsroom is the NCERT's decision to introduce a section on the Emergency years in Class 9 social science textbook, which has sparked a political debate. The BJP has backed the NCERT's decision to introduce a section on the Emergency years in a Class 9 textbook, saying the "dark chapter" in India's constitutional history must be remembered to ensure it is never repeated. However, Opposition raised concerns over the Emergency chapter. So, the question we are raising on the show is, is the NCERT chapter on Emergency about a history lesson or a political message? Watch as India Today's editors share their perspective on this and more on the show.
In his conversation with India Today anchor Marya Shakil, former Home Minister P Chidambaram criticised what he described as the government’s current economic model, calling it a “default system” that lacks deep analysis and expert economic leadership.
In this India Today video, anchor Preeti Chaudhury reports on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s six-hour dharna outside the Sansad Marg Police Station in Delhi, following allegations of pellet gun injuries sustained by student Sahil Lochab during a paper leak protest. The protest ended after Delhi Police registered an FIR in the case.
At the India Today Tamil Nadu Roundtable, panel members debated the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Tamil Nadu. TVK spokesperson M. Sathiyakumar argued that the policy undermines federal principles, threatens the state's two-language formula, and centralises education authority in Delhi. He expressed concern over the backdoor imposition of Hindi and the withholding of central funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. BJP State Secretary Vinod Selvam defended NEP 2020, stating that it introduces modern curricular reforms, including vocational training and artificial intelligence, without imposing Hindi. He highlighted that opposition to the policy harms students in government schools while private institutions continue offering multi-language curricula. Educationist P.V. Prince Gajendra Babu criticised NEP 2020 for focusing on vocational skilling over fundamental education rights under the Constitution. He argued that schemes like PM Shri create disparities among schools rather than ensuring equitable access to quality education.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a six-hour dharna outside the Sansad Marg Police Station in Delhi alongside student Sahil Lochan, demanding an FIR over pellet gun injuries allegedly suffered by Lochan during a recent student protest. Following the prolonged demonstration, the Delhi Police relented and registered the FIR. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Rahul Gandhi of promoting anarchy and engaging in a political stunt, arguing that a Supreme Court-mandated high-powered committee and the Crime Branch were already probing police actions. Meanwhile, Congress leaders defended the agitation, arguing that it took the Leader of Opposition's intervention for the police to carry out basic statutory procedures after the victim's repeated attempts failed. Panelists on the debate discussed whether Rahul Gandhi's flash protest represented legitimate political resistance or political leverage, noting the optical impact of forcing police action while raising questions over the operational use of non-lethal weapons during crowd control.
