A remark by Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J. P. Nadda that student activists should be prepared to face police action triggered a storm in the Upper House on Wednesday, leading to heated exchanges, sloganeering by Opposition members, and the eventual adjournment of proceedings.

The controversy erupted after Opposition MPs raised concerns over the alleged entry of Delhi Police personnel into the national headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to arrest student leader Aishe Ghosh.

Opposition Raises Police Action Against Student Leader

The issue was raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who alleged that Delhi Police officials entered the CPI(M) office on Tuesday in an attempt to arrest Ghosh, the former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU).

According to Brittas, Ghosh's alleged offence was her participation in a student protest held at Jantar Mantar. He claimed that when questioned, police officials cited pending cases dating back to 2020–21.

"I have no problem with Delhi Police taking lawful action, but entering a national political party office without prior information is shocking," Brittas said, urging the government to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also questioned whether the action was intended to intimidate political activists and demanded a statement from the Union Home Ministry.

Kharge Calls Incident "Shameful"

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge backed the concerns raised by the CPI(M), describing the alleged police action as "very shameful."

Kharge said police should not enter the office of a recognised national political party to arrest a leader and demanded accountability, urging the government to take action against the officers involved if procedural norms had been violated.

Opposition members continued raising slogans inside the House as they pressed for a response from the government.

Nadda Defends Police Action

Responding to the Opposition's criticism, J.P. Nadda said police were carrying out their normal law-and-order responsibilities.

Recalling his own experience as a student activist during the Emergency, Nadda said he too had faced arrests while participating in protests.

"I was also a student leader. During the Emergency, I was arrested several times. It is normal law-and-order activity which the police have to undertake," he said.

He further remarked, "Any student who wants to do activism should face police; even I faced many times during the Emergency."

The statement immediately drew loud protests from Opposition benches, with members objecting to the remark and disrupting further proceedings.

House Adjourned Amid Uproar

As the commotion continued, BJP MP Rajib Bhattacharjee attempted to make a statement but was repeatedly interrupted by Opposition members.

Unable to restore order, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House until noon.

Other Parliamentary Business

Before the disruption, several ministers tabled official papers and reports in the House. These included submissions by Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education, Nityanand Rai for the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other ministers representing the Ministries of Fisheries, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Women and Child Development.

Members also tabled the Twenty-Seventh Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel concerning infrastructure development for washed coal production.

In addition, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved a motion seeking the Rajya Sabha's concurrence with the Lok Sabha's recommendation to elect two members to the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit following vacancies created by the retirement of two members.

However, the proceedings were largely overshadowed by the political confrontation over the Delhi Police action and Nadda's remarks on student activism, which became the focal point of the day's debate in the Upper House.

A brief restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post has escalated into a major regulatory issue, with the Centre summoning senior global executives from Meta and seeking a detailed explanation for what the social media giant has described as an AI moderation "glitch."

Although Meta restored the content within hours and issued an apology, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has made it clear that it considers the explanation inadequate. The incident has reignited questions about AI-driven content moderation, platform accountability, and the legal responsibilities of technology companies operating in India.

What Happened?

The controversy began after Prime Minister Modi uploaded his first direct selfie video on Instagram on July 23, which was subsequently shared on Facebook.

In the video, the Prime Minister addressed India's youth, promising strict action against examination paper leaks and announcing that the government would introduce stronger legislation to tackle the issue. Days later, the Lok Sabha passed the Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill amid protests from Opposition members.

However, the Facebook version of the post was briefly restricted before later being restored.

Meta acknowledged that the removal had occurred "in error" and apologised for the incident.

Meta's Explanation

According to government sources, Meta informed officials that the issue resulted from a malfunction in its AI-powered automated content moderation system.

The company reportedly explained that automated filters were reviewing multiple shared versions of the Prime Minister's post circulating across Facebook. During that process, the original post was mistakenly flagged and temporarily restricted.

Meta has reportedly:

• Apologised for the error.
• Admitted that the restriction was unintended.
• Maintained that the incident resulted from an automated system glitch.
• Offered to "ringfence" high-profile accounts to reduce the chances of similar incidents occurring again.

A Meta spokesperson stated that the content had been removed by mistake and was restored once the error was identified.

Why the Government Is Not Satisfied

Despite Meta's apology, the Centre believes the explanation raises more questions than it answers.

IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the government appreciates the company's admission but does not consider the explanation adequate.

Officials argue that simply attributing the incident to an AI malfunction is insufficient, particularly for a global technology company whose platforms rely extensively on automated moderation systems.

According to government sources, if artificial intelligence can mistakenly restrict content from the Prime Minister's verified account, Meta must clearly explain:

• Why the error occurred.
• What safeguards failed.
• How similar mistakes will be prevented in the future.
• Whether its moderation systems fully comply with Indian legal requirements.

The government has therefore summoned Meta's Global Head of Public Policy and other senior executives to engage directly with Indian authorities.

Why Summon Global Executives?

Officials say the issue extends beyond India's local operations.

By involving Meta's international leadership, the government wants to ensure that concerns raised in India receive attention at the highest levels of the company.

The move also reflects India's expectation that global technology firms remain accountable for how their AI systems operate in one of the world's largest digital markets.

Growing Questions Around AI Moderation

The incident has highlighted broader concerns about AI-driven content moderation.

As social media companies increasingly rely on automated systems to detect harmful or policy-violating content, questions have emerged about transparency, accuracy, and accountability when these systems make mistakes.

Cyber law expert Pavan Duggal argues that companies cannot simply invoke "technical glitches" when errors affect important public communications.

According to Duggal, platforms operating in India must be prepared to accept greater legal responsibility if AI moderation systems fail to comply with applicable laws.

Experts also note that governments worldwide are demanding greater transparency regarding how AI moderation systems function, how decisions are made, and what safeguards exist against significant errors.

Part of Broader Regulatory Scrutiny

The latest dispute is not an isolated incident.

In recent weeks, MeitY has taken several actions involving Meta-owned platforms, including:

• Issuing a notice to WhatsApp over its proposed username feature, citing concerns about phishing, impersonation, and digital fraud.
• Raising concerns over Instagram advertisements allegedly containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Separately, a parliamentary committee has summoned representatives of major social media companies, along with officials from MeitY and the Ministry of Home Affairs, for discussions on digital platform regulation.

Bigger Picture

The controversy reflects a broader global trend in which governments are demanding stronger oversight of major technology companies.

As artificial intelligence increasingly influences what users can view, share, or access online, regulators across countries are seeking greater transparency over algorithmic decision-making, stronger safeguards against automated errors, and clearer accountability when platform actions affect public discourse or democratic institutions.

For India, the episode underscores that AI-powered moderation systems cannot operate as opaque "black boxes." Instead, technology companies are expected to demonstrate that their automated systems are reliable, transparent, and fully compliant with Indian law.

The alleged irregularities in Punjab's pharmacy officer recruitment examination have sparked fresh political protests, with the Youth Akali Dal and the Students Organisation of India (SOI) staging a sit-in outside Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) in Faridkot. The protesters demanded the resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Health Minister Balbir Singh, alleging accountability for the controversy surrounding the July 19 recruitment examination.

The demonstration comes amid growing concerns over examination integrity and follows a police investigation into what authorities have described as a sophisticated cheating racket.

Protest targets ministers over exam controversy

During the protest at BFUHS, Youth Akali Dal leaders accused the Punjab government of failing to prevent alleged malpractice in the pharmacy officer recruitment examination.

The opposition also alleged inconsistency in the government's stand on examination transparency, claiming that while it had demanded accountability over national-level examination controversies, it had not taken similar action in cases reported within Punjab.

Protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the government failed to act on their demand for the resignation of the two ministers.

Police describe case as high-tech cheating network

According to investigators, the case involves an organised cheating network that allegedly used electronic devices to help candidates during the recruitment examination.

Police said the racket reportedly charged candidates between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 13 lakh for facilitating cheating during the test.

So far, authorities have arrested 28 candidates along with seven alleged gang members after recovering Bluetooth-enabled devices from examination centres in Faridkot, Kotkapura and Ferozepur.

The investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the alleged network and identify others who may have been involved.

Opposition raises concerns over examination integrity

Akali Dal leader Parambans Singh Bunty Romana criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, alleging repeated examination irregularities in the state over the past four years.

The opposition argued that recurring allegations of paper leaks and organised cheating have raised serious concerns about the credibility of recruitment examinations and called for stronger safeguards to protect merit-based selection.

Focus on transparent recruitment

The latest controversy has once again brought examination security and recruitment transparency into focus. With the police investigation underway, attention is now on whether further arrests or administrative action will follow.

The outcome of the probe is expected to influence future measures aimed at strengthening security during competitive examinations and restoring confidence among candidates appearing for government recruitment tests.

An assistant professor from Uttar Pradesh has alleged that he was dismissed from his teaching position shortly after participating in a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, raising questions about due process and academic freedom.

Dr. Mohit Bhardwaj, a 32-year-old Assistant Professor of Commerce at Ganna Utpadak PG College in Baheri, Bareilly, claims he was informed of his termination a day after returning from the demonstrations. The college has responded to the allegations through its principal, but a detailed official explanation for the dismissal is still awaited.

Professor links termination to protest participation

According to Dr. Bhardwaj, he travelled to Delhi to participate in the ongoing demonstrations in support of students and returned to campus only to learn that his services had been terminated.

He has publicly alleged that his participation in the protest was the reason behind the decision. Dr. Bhardwaj also stated that he faced police baton charges during the demonstrations before returning to Bareilly.

The professor has further alleged that the chairman of the college's managing society, Rajendra Kumar, has political affiliations that may have influenced the decision. These allegations have not been independently verified.

Questions raised over due process

Dr. Bhardwaj has written to the college administration seeking documents related to his dismissal.

In his representation, he has requested:

• Copies of any complaints filed against him.
• Details and reports of any departmental inquiry.
• Copies of any show-cause notice or charge sheet issued before termination.
• Minutes of the meeting in which the decision to terminate his services was taken.

He has also argued that since his appointment had received approval from the affiliating university, any termination should similarly require approval from the competent university authority or the Vice-Chancellor, which he claims was not obtained.

Additionally, Dr. Bhardwaj pointed to a character certificate issued by the college principal in May 2026 that reportedly praised his conduct and professional performance.

College yet to issue detailed explanation

The principal of Ganna Utpadak PG College has responded to the matter. However, the institution has not yet publicly released a detailed explanation outlining the reasons for the professor's termination or addressing the procedural issues raised by him.

As of now, the allegations made by Dr. Bhardwaj remain his claims, and the college has not publicly confirmed that his participation in the protest was linked to the decision.

Matter likely to attract scrutiny

The case comes amid wider discussions on academic autonomy, employee rights, and procedural safeguards in higher education institutions. With the professor seeking official records related to his dismissal, the issue could draw further attention if the matter is taken up before the affiliating university or other legal forums.

Until a detailed response is issued by the college or the relevant authorities, the circumstances surrounding the termination remain under scrutiny.

A coalition of Left student organisations in West Bengal and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded the immediate release of students and protesters arrested following the recent NEET-related demonstrations in Kolkata. The groups have also called for the withdrawal of cases filed against protesters and reiterated their demand for the scrapping of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The demands come after police action following a protest march over the alleged NEET paper leak, which led to multiple arrests and triggered criticism from several student organisations.

Student groups announce fresh protest march

Left student organisations have announced a protest march from Shyambazar to College Street on July 28 at 2:30 pm.

According to the organisers, the march will raise three key demands:

• Scrapping of the National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Withdrawal of cases registered against protesters across the country
• Opposition to the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

The demonstration is expected to bring together members of several student bodies and youth organisations.

CJP raises concerns over arrests

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das alleged that students and protesters were being targeted in multiple states following demonstrations over examination-related issues.

In a statement posted on social media, Das said the organisation had received reports of students being detained or arrested in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar, and urged authorities to drop what it described as "false cases" against protesters.

Student organisations criticise police action

Leaders of several student organisations expressed concern over the manner in which arrests were carried out.

AISA state president Ritam Majhi condemned attacks on journalists during the protests but also alleged that students and youth, particularly from minority communities, were being harassed in the aftermath of the demonstrations. He further criticised the reported barefoot parading of an accused during a police reconstruction exercise, describing it as a violation of human dignity.

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) said the movement would continue despite the resignation of the Union Education Minister, arguing that its central demand for the abolition of the NTA remained unresolved. The organisation also alleged that arrests were being carried out selectively.

Meanwhile, the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) criticised the use of the Anti-Goonda Act, alleging that a majority of those arrested belonged to the Muslim community. The organisation called for the repeal of the legislation and demanded that no criminal cases be filed against peaceful protesters.

Debate over protests continues

The arrests following the Kolkata protest have intensified the debate over the handling of student demonstrations and examination reforms. While student organisations have accused authorities of targeting protesters and curbing democratic dissent, officials have maintained that legal action has been taken in accordance with the law.

With another protest march planned, the controversy surrounding the NEET demonstrations and demands for examination reforms is expected to remain a prominent issue in West Bengal's political and educational landscape.

Haryana is set to introduce CM Shri Schools, a new initiative modelled on the Centre's PM Shri Schools, as part of its efforts to strengthen the state's school education system. The announcement was made by Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda during the Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

Responding to a question raised by a member in the Assembly, the minister said the upcoming CM Shri Schools would follow the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum and academic framework. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of education in government schools by aligning them with national academic standards.

While the government has not yet announced the number of schools, locations, or implementation timeline, the proposed CM Shri Schools are expected to complement the existing PM Shri Schools programme, which focuses on creating model schools equipped with modern infrastructure, technology-enabled classrooms, and competency-based learning in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

CM Shri Schools to follow CBSE pattern

According to the Education Minister, the new CM Shri Schools will adopt the CBSE pattern, providing students with a curriculum designed to strengthen conceptual learning, skill development, and holistic education.

The initiative is expected to improve access to quality education while offering government school students an academic environment comparable to leading CBSE-affiliated institutions.

Haryana continues 25% EWS reservation in private schools

During his statement in the Assembly, Mahipal Dhanda also highlighted the state's implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, under which 25% of entry-level seats in private schools are reserved for children belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Disadvantaged Groups (DG).

Sharing admission figures from the previous academic session, the minister said:

• 14,127 applications were received under the RTE admission process.
• 11,803 eligible students were allotted seats in private schools across Haryana.

The reservation aims to provide children from economically disadvantaged families with access to quality education in recognised private institutions.

Focus on improving school education

The proposed CM Shri Schools, along with continued implementation of the RTE quota, reflects Haryana's broader strategy to strengthen school education through improved infrastructure, quality teaching, and equitable access.

With the schools expected to follow the CBSE curriculum, the initiative could provide students with enhanced academic opportunities while supporting the state's efforts to modernise government education.

Further details regarding the rollout, eligibility, and operational framework of the CM Shri Schools are expected to be announced by the Haryana government in the coming months.