Modi Touts Youth as Thousands Protest India Education Crisis

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessModi Touts Youth as Thousands Protest India Education CrisisPrime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievements of India’s youth ahead of the parliament session on Monday, even as thousands of students gathered in New Delhi to protest the country’s education crisis.Author of the article:Atul Dev, Rajesh Roy and Ruchi Bhatia You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the achievements of India’s youth ahead of the parliament session on Monday, even as thousands of students gathered in New Delhi to protest the country’s education crisis.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account“India’s youth have embarked on a new journey into space. It is a tremendous success,” Modi said, referring to Skyroot Aerospace Pvt., which became the first private-sector company from India to launch a rocket to orbit this weekend. Speaking ahead of the new session of the parliament he said that the startup’s average employee is just 28 years old.“This is no coincidence; it is a message, a powerful message that the potential and aspirations of our country’s youth are as boundless as space itself,” Modi said. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe speech came as anger among young people over alleged exam paper leaks emerged as one of the biggest domestic challenges facing Modi’s government. Thousands of students and activists converged on the capital on Monday, led by the Cockroach Janta Party — a viral satirical online campaign that has since evolved into a protest movement — demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Modi made no mention of the demonstrations or the education crisis during his address. Before he began speaking, Indian television channels broadcast footage appearing to show police using batons to disperse some protesters. In a post on X, Delhi Police said there was no use of violence. The parliamentary session is also expected to revive a politically contentious debate over expanding the number of seats in the lower house. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, fresh off a landslide victory in recent state elections, is likely to push ahead with the proposal after failing to pass the bill in April. Opposition parties argue the plan would dilute their influence in parliament.Modi appealed for a constructive debate, saying, “where there are facts and reasoning, there is no space for a storm.” Once the Lower House convened, however, opposition lawmakers began sloganeering, prompting a brief adjournment of proceedings.Outside the parliament, students had begun gathering earlier in the morning at a designated protest site in New Delhi. Authorities said on Sunday that no permission had been granted for the protest.Parminder Singh, a 26-year-old graphic designer, said he told his boss he wouldn’t be coming to work. His boss agreed, he said, but cautioned him not to get arrested. As Singh handed out water bottles to protesters, he said he wanted India’s education system to improve. “We will protest. You can’t obstruct the flow of water,” he said. “I want our education system to upgrade. Why can’t the government provide a curriculum which prevents students going to costly private universities.”Opposition members are backing the students in their demands. They say they will also question Modi’s government over rising costs in the economy, and allegations of corruption at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a marquee project of the BJP.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.“There is a lot of anxiety and disenchantment and frustration among various sections in the country, which these protests in Delhi are bringing out,” said Yamini Aiyar, former president of the Center for Policy Research.The government’s published agenda says the 25-day monsoon session of the parliament, which runs until Aug. 13, will focus on tax changes, foreign funding rules, higher education reforms and support for small businesses.However, attention in New Delhi is focusing on whether Modi attempts to revive the so-called delimitation proposal to increase the number of seats in the parliament by about 50%. Opposition leaders have called on the BJP to hold a meeting with all political parties to discuss the proposed legislation before bringing it to the parliament.Union Minister Ramdas Athawale told reporters last week that the bill will “definitely” be passed this time as the government now has the required numbers. “We have confidence,” he said in Chennai. Key issues on the legislative agenda:The government plans to update the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which governs overseas funding for non-governmental organizations. The law has previously been used against groups critical of the Modi government, including Amnesty International and OxfamLawmakers will consider a bill that would reduce the autonomy of India’s top higher education institutions by bringing them under greater government oversightAnother bill proposes increasing the number of Supreme Court judges to 37 from 33 in an effort to ease a backlog of casesModi’s government is seeking to advance key economic and governance reforms as it navigates challenging global risks. The economy is heavily reliant on oil imports from the Middle East and surging crude prices and lower rainfall because of the weak monsoon this year have emerged as twin risks for inflation and the broader outlook.“The war in West Asia posed a major challenge for a country like India, which depends on imports to meet its energy needs,” Modi said in his speech. “Yet, despite the challenges, India continued to grow as the fastest-growing major economy in the world.”Opposition groups said they plan to question the government about inflation, the economy and foreign policy.They’re also backing the students in their protests against the government over the education crisis. On Saturday, police moved to quash the student movement by forcibly removing Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist who’s been on a hunger strike for three weeks, from a designated protest site in New Delhi and taking him to hospital. In a handwritten note posted on X, Wangchuk said he would end his fast on Monday if the government takes accountability for failures in the education system and recent exam paper leaks. Notably, his new demands do not include a demand for the education minister’s resignation.(Updates to add details from Modi’s speech. An earlier version of this story was corrected.)Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.