Yogi Adityanath: Previous Governments Tried To Undermine Ayodhya, No One Is Above Sanatan

On this Special Report, the focus is on the escalating political and bureaucratic storm in Uttar Pradesh following a controversy at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. Ayodhya GST Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh has resigned from his post, stating, 'In support of Mouni Yogi Adityanath, in support of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in support of Mouni Amit Shah, and in opposition to Swami Aumyukteshwaranand Shankaracharya.' Singh's resignation follows the departure of Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri, who cited the alleged mistreatment of the Shankaracharya's disciples. The Uttar Pradesh government has since suspended Agnihotri and ordered a departmental inquiry. The row began on January 18 during Mouni Amavasya when authorities reportedly blocked the movement of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, leading to a sit-in protest. The situation has triggered a sharp face-off between the BJP and opposition parties like the Congress and Samajwadi Party, who allege attempts to polarise the state.

On this India Today special report, reporter Dipesh Tripathi provides live updates on the 'Long March' as thousands of farmers trek from Nashik to Mumbai. Highlighting the gravity of the protest, Tripathi notes, 'The most important demand is that land acquisition, that is, saath baara, the land on which they irrigate or agriculture takes place, that land should belong to them totally.' The Padyatra, which covered 35 kilometres from Ghatandevi to Khadvi on its third day, aims to reach Mantralaya to press for fair crop prices, water access, and forest rights. Despite talks with ministers and administrative requests to halt, the farmers remain resolute, citing unfulfilled promises from a similar protest three years ago. Tripathi reports that while police permission for the large-scale entry into Mumbai has not been granted, the Nashik Range IG is coordinating with protesters as the government attempts to find a resolution to the escalating situation.

On this Special Report, former University Grants Commission (UGC) member Yogendra Yadav weighs in on the intensifying controversy surrounding the new UGC equity norms. As protests erupt across India over claims that the rules risk dividing students along caste lines, Yadav offers a sharp critique of the government's role. He stated, 'This instance is an instance of manufactured dissent, how a regime is trying to cultivate dissent against its own decision so that it can be diluted.' Yadav argues that the anti-discrimination framework has existed since 2012 and that the current changes are merely a result of a 2019 Supreme Court mandate rather than a proactive step by the government. The discussion also highlights the demands from the Congress party for a caste census and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's assurance that the law will not be misused. The programme explores whether the backlash is a genuine student grievance or a calculated political move to reconsider social justice regulations.

Speaking to India Today Global, EU Vice President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stressed the need to “build partnerships with those countries who believe in free trade,” underscoring the strategic message behind the newly concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement.