RJD

In this exclusive interview, T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, voices strong opposition to the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations aimed at addressing caste discrimination. Pai describes the norms as 'draconian, anti-constitution, anti-India and must be repealed,' arguing that they unfairly label one section of society as oppressors without sufficient data. He challenges activists to provide empirical evidence of widespread systemic subjugation in higher education, citing the All India Survey of Higher Education to suggest that student representation across communities is largely proportional to their population. Pai further highlights concerns regarding the potential misuse of these regulations for filing false cases, referencing social media reports and political statements. He advocates for a neutral legal framework where 'all students will have equal protection against caste discrimination' regardless of their background, rather than singling out specific categories. The discussion also touches upon the Rohit Vemula case and the constitutional balance between Article 14 equality and reservation policies.

In a significant political development in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav has officially named his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as the party's working president. While Lalu Prasad Yadav remains the national president, this appointment grants Tejashwi Yadav greater authority to make organizational decisions. The transition comes in the wake of a major poll debacle where the RJD was reduced to 25 seats, triggering internal friction. The move has drawn sharp criticism from within the family, with Rohini Acharya hitting out at the decision. She remarked, 'Puppet Shreya Dada got the crown,' and suggested that this appointment marks the end of Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'glorious innings' as a towering political figure. The report also highlights previous allegations of physical abuse and public rifts within the family following the election losses. This leadership shift signals a new era for the RJD as it attempts to navigate internal challenges and future electoral battles in Bihar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to announce its new national president tomorrow, with Nitin Nabin expected to be elected unopposed as J.P. Nadda's successor. The 45-year-old five-term MLA from Bihar's Bankipur constituency is poised to become the youngest leader to hold the position in the party's history. The transcript notes that 'Nitin Naveen, who was appointed BJP national working president last month, is expected to be elected unopposed' as he is reportedly the choice of Prime Minister Modi and backed by senior leaders like Amit Shah. The new president will lead the party through upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. Nabin, the son of veteran leader Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha, recently defeated RJD's Rekha Kumari in the 2025 elections by a margin of 52,000 votes. If no other nominations are filed at the party headquarters today, his appointment will be formalised tomorrow to lead the party's next generation.

In this report, India Today's Law Correspondent Srishti Ojha details a major setback for the Yadav family as a Delhi court orders the framing of charges in the Land for Jobs scam. The court, observing that the Ministry of Railways was used as a 'criminal enterprise' under Lalu Prasad Yadav, directed corruption and conspiracy charges against him, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav. Ojha explains that the court found prima facie evidence of a conspiracy where government jobs were exchanged for land parcels. The report notes that 41 accused face charges, with the next procedural step being their plea on guilt.

On this India Today debate, anchor Preeti Choudhry discusses the controversy surrounding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pulling the hijab of an AYUSH doctor, Nusrat Parveen, at a public event. Women Rights Activist Zakia Soman condemns the act as 'highly patriarchal' and 'inappropriate', arguing it violates the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 74 and 75-76 regarding outraging a woman's modesty. She demands a public apology and action from the National Commission for Women. Political Analyst Karan Varma agrees that the Chief Minister's action was wrong and invaded personal space but argues against giving the incident a 'religious color' or politicizing it as an attack on a specific community. The discussion explores the boundaries of personal space, the dignity of women in public life, and the political ramifications of the incident.

In this episode of Newstrack, the focus is on the outrage following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s controversial gesture of pulling a woman doctor’s hijab at an official event in Patna.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the outrage following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s controversial gesture of pulling a woman doctor’s hijab at an official event in Patna. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi defends the act, stating, ‘This is absolutely innocuous action... He just wanted the woman... to show her face to the world.’ In contrast, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemns it, asserting that ‘publicly humiliated like this is absolutely unforgivable.’ Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury calls the incident ‘criminal’ and questions the Chief Minister’s conduct. The programme explores the political backlash, with the opposition demanding accountability while the ruling JDO and BJP dismiss the criticism as politically motivated.

On this Special Report, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemns Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for physically pulling down a woman doctor’s hijab at a public event. Speaking to India Today’s Maria Shakil, Chaturvedi calls the act 'public harassment' and 'unforgivable,' rejecting claims of 'fatherly' intent. She draws parallels to the 'Bulli Bai' and 'Sulli Deals' controversies regarding the humiliation of women and expresses fear that the victim, Dr. Nusrat Parveen, may be 'pressurized' by the state administration to say she consented. The programme discusses the violation of constitutional rights and the silence around such misogyny in power.

The big talking point of this episode of To The Point is the controversy surrounding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was seen pulling the hijab of a doctor during a public event.

In this debate on India Today, anchor Preeti Choudhry discusses the controversy surrounding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was caught on camera pulling the hijab of a woman doctor, Dr. Nusrat Parveen, during an appointment letter distribution ceremony in Patna. The incident, which occurred on December 15, 2025, has sparked outrage. JDU leader Satya Prakash Mishra defends the act as a 'fatherly gesture' aimed at women's empowerment, claiming the CM's intent was 'pious'. However, RJD National Spokesperson Priyanka Bharti condemns the incident as a 'blot on democracy', asserting that 'authority must kneel before dignity'. Women's rights activist Saira Shah Halim argues that the act constitutes 'prima facie molestation' under Indian law and violates Article 21 and Article 25 of the Constitution. The panel debates the boundaries of public conduct and the necessity of a public apology from the Chief Minister.

In a controversial incident, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was caught on camera pulling down the hijab of a woman doctor while handing over an appointment letter to Ayush doctors in Patna. The video, which has gone viral, shows the CM gesturing at the woman's headscarf before removing it himself. The Opposition, including the Congress, has termed the act ‘despicable’ and ‘vulgar’, questioning the safety of women in the state. However, the BJP has defended the Chief Minister, suggesting there might be a valid reason for his actions. Reporter Shashi Bhushan provides details on the political storm, noting that this is not the first time Nitish Kumar has faced criticism for his public conduct, citing previous incidents involving an IAS officer and a garlanding controversy.

In a shocking incident reported by India Today’s Shashi Bhushan, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sparked a massive political row after pulling down the hijab of a woman Ayush doctor, identified as Nusrat Parveen, during an appointment letter distribution event at his 'Samvad' residence in Patna. The viral video shows the Chief Minister gesturing for the removal of the headscarf before pulling it down himself when the doctor hesitated. The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from the Opposition, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress calling it a 'vile act' and questioning the CM's mental state. Shashi Bhushan provides ground details on the fallout, noting that the event was telecast live by the CM's office. The Opposition has demanded Nitish Kumar's immediate resignation, terming the act an insult to women and a violation of personal dignity.

In a candid interview on India Today's UnPolitics, RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha addresses the party's recent defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. Jha defends Tejaswi Yadav's decision to take a European holiday amidst criticism from senior leader Shivanand Tiwari, stating, 'A leader knows what to pick up from where.' He dismisses claims of a succession battle and reflects on the need for civil dialogue in democracy, saying, 'I want Conversation here in our streets in our colleges in my parliament to remain as civil as it was.' Jha also reveals his dream dinner guests would include Leon Trotsky, Isaac Deutscher, and Jawaharlal Nehru.

In a candid conversation with India Today's Preeti Choudhry, RJD MP Manoj Jha discusses the changing landscape of Indian politics. Jha counters the 'Jungle Raj' narrative often associated with his party, terming it 'propaganda' by a section of the media. He responds to Prashant Kishore's remarks about his Rajya Sabha tenure, asserting that his identity as a teacher and activist exists beyond his parliamentary seat. The RJD leader also expresses concern over the declining quality of parliamentary debates and the 'adversarial' nature of political discourse today.

On this episode of UnPolitics, RJD MP Manoj Jha speaks to Preeti Choudhry about his party's recent electoral defeat in Bihar. Addressing the 'Jungle Raj' narrative, Jha argues that the RJD has been a 'victim of perception management' despite securing a significant vote share. He reflects on his role in politics, stating, 'I didn't come to Parliament to be a minister. I came to Parliament to convey a message.' The Rajya Sabha MP also discusses the emotional toll of political loss, remarking that 'when you lose an election, you become an orphan.' The conversation covers caste privilege, the Election Commission, and the challenges facing the opposition.

In a wide-ranging interview on India Today's 'UnPolitics' with Preeti Choudhry, RJD Rajya Sabha MP and National Spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha discusses his political career, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the future of the RJD.

The big talking point of this episode of To The Point is the big Dhurandhar divide.

In an exclusive interview, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha addresses the party's defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. Responding to senior leader Shivanand Tiwari's criticism of Tejaswi Yadav's foreign holiday, Jha argues the leader 'earned the holiday' after 18 months of campaigning. He dismisses rumors of a family rift involving Rohini Acharya and clarifies the 'grapevine' about cash transfer promises. Jha also shares a personal revelation about his absence during the polls due to his father's cancer treatment.

The top focus of this episode of India First is the showdown over electoral reforms. In a no-holds-barred attack, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of indulging in the "biggest anti-national act" by committing "vote chori".

A deadly fire at the ‘Burj by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa claimed 25 lives, including 20 staff and five tourists, prompting an investigation into the owners who reportedly fled the country. In response, authorities have begun demolishing illegal structures. This report also covers the political sphere, where Home Minister Amit Shah submitted a letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman detailing instances of alleged disrespect toward Vande Mataram. This action occurs amid fierce parliamentary debates on electoral reforms, with Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi leveling 'vote chori' (vote theft) allegations against the government and the Election Commission. Furthermore, following widespread flight cancellations, the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered IndiGo to reduce its winter schedule by 10%, a decision involving Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The program includes analysis of these events and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.