Education Conclave: Skilling students - ‘world ready instead of job ready’

Though NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar clarified that he has no intention of joining the BJP after his infamous “secret meeting” with his nephew Ajit Pawar, it continues to create uncertainty among his allies. While many have contended that Sharad Pawar needs to keep family and politics separate, many others said they trust him. Maharashtra Congress leader Nitin Raut told India Today that there’s scepticism among Pawar’s allies. “Sharad Pawar is one of the most senior leaders in the country, but because of how things have unfolded in the past few days, people are getting sceptical about him. Our party won’t be directly affected. Congress is in the nooks and corners, in all districts, all villages. But I know that Sharad Pawar will not leave the Maha Vikas Aghadi,” Raut said.

Members of the BJP on Thursday staged protests in front of the Jadavpur University in Kolkata against the death of a first-year undergraduate student a week ago. The student died after falling from the second-floor balcony of the hostel where he was allegedly ragged and sexually harassed. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari is likely to reach the varsity by evening to join the protests. India Today’s Suryagni Roy brings to you a ground report from the protest site.

Cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday, in connection with communal clashes that erupted in Haryana's Nuh district on July 31. A day ago, he was remanded in police custody for one day by a Nuh court, while the police had said his associates would also be arrested soon. Bajrangi alias Raj Kumar was arrested on Tuesday from Faridabad after a fresh FIR was registered against him at Nuh's Sadar police station based on a complaint by Assistant Superintendent of Police Usha Kundu, they said.

The smoke from these fires has dramatically altered the appearance of the sky.