India invites B’desh PM Tarique Rahman to Delhi India has invited Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September, officials in Dhaka said. If Rahman accepts the invitation, the summit could provide the first opportunity for a direct meeting between him and PM Narendra Modi. The Ministry of External Affairs was yet to confirm if an invitation was sent chennai l friday l july 24, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 38 l late city EDITION CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Rahul visits Gandhi Smriti to pay homage to students who allegedly died by suicide following NEET-UG mess 17 Delhi Metro stations to remain closed on Friday, Sonam Wangchuk urges protesters to remain peaceful CJP intensifies stir. Wangchuk fast off Filmmakers join stir, protesters block train in TN Pa r v e z S u lta n @ New Delhi The NEET paper leak controversy escalated into a wider political confrontation on Thursday as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called for nationwide protests on Friday, and the Opposition led by Rahul Gandhi staged a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti in solidarity with the agitating students. The developments came amid heightened security and heavy deployment of personnel across central Delhi, with several metro stations shut, mobile internet services suspended in parts of the city and businesses in Connaught Place advised to close early ahead of anticipated demonstrations. Adding to the momentum of the protests, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan and Ananya Panday expressed support for agitators through social media, calling for a fair, transparent and accountable exam system. Seeking to control the situation, the government shifted Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, appointing Naresh Kumar Gangwar as Joshi’s replacement in the higher education ministry And T K . Anil Kumar was brought in as the school education secretary . The Opposition, meanwhile, intensified its campaign against the Centre following the showdown in Parliament. Carrying copies of the Constitution and the Tricolour, INDIA bloc MPs led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi marched to Gandhi Smriti at Tees January Marg. At the memorial, the MPs switched on their mobile phone flashlights and observed a silent tribute to students who allegedly died by suicide in the wake of the examination controversy Sev. eral leaders also held placards demanding accountability and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. The MPs travelled from Rahul’s residence amid heavy police deployment and barricades. “In solidarity with the students, we wanted to take the Opposition MPs to India Gate, but we were not allowed. Then we decided to go to Gandhi Smriti, and even there our bus was stopped,” Rahul said. Rahul Gandhi and Oppn MPs after paying homage at the Gandhi Smriti; Sonam Wangchuk ending fast | PTI Students are on the streets, so we felt the Oppn should also be on the streets. We are with the students. The entire Oppn stands with them Rahul Gandhi Crowds pour in Despite restrictions and barricading at several major roads in Delhi, crowds continued to swell at the site amid heavy sloganeering Cabinet to meet today to discuss paper leak: Modi M U K E S H RAN J AN & RA J E S H K U M AR T H A K UR @ New Delhi AFTER a late-night message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring even stricter action at Friday’s Cabinet meeting, activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his fast at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, in the presence of Union Ministers J P Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh. “This was done after long negotiations on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country I will explain the . conditions in detail in a separate video very soon. Meanwhile, I urge you all to stay very vigilant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere,” Wangchuk posted on X after breaking fast. In vew of the latest development, the focus must now shift from agitation to implementation, ensuring justice for students and accountability for those responsible. Hours earlier, Modi had put out a video message saying Friday’s Cabinet meeting will discuss a draft legislation on fasttrack cour ts and stricter punishment for examination paper leak, and the draft bill will be introduced in Parliament soon. The bill is expected to be presented in Parliament next week. Chennai: The anti-NEET protests in TN intensified on Thursday as support grew for demands to scrap NEET, and secure the resignation of Pradhan. Across the state, 2,041 people took part in the protest, with 408 allegedly detained. Members of the SFI and DYFI staged rail and road blockades, while parties including the DMK, VCK and MNM extended support to the sit-in organised by CJP CPI and AISF at the CPI state , office, Balan Illam, in Chennai, where hundreds of students gathered on its fourth day At Rajarathi. nam Stadium in Egmore, the Neelam Student Movement held a demonstration led by filmmakers Pa Ranjith, Vetrimaaran and Ameer. Hindi words on the nameboard of Sholavandan post office were defaced, and slogans seeking the resignation of the PM and Pradhan were written on it.  Full coverage: P2 Protesters at the CPI state office, Balan Illam, in Chennai on Thursday | P Jawahar arrested in liquor case Youth dies in hosp, kin allege custodial torture e x p r e ss n e w s s e r v i c e @ Thoothukudi A 24-year-old youth arrested five days ago on the charge of illicit sale of liquor bottles, who was under treatment at the Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital (TMCH), died early on Thursday sparking allegations of death due , to custodial torture. After the family members of the victim, N Arunachalam of Amutha Nagar, held protests on the hospital premises on Thursday seeking the arrest of three police personnel allegedly involved in the attack, Thoothukudi Judicial Magistrate Vijayaraj visited the family and held an inquiry with them. According to police, Arunachalam, a waiter at a Tasmac liquor bar, was detained by the Thoothukudi South Police on July 17 (last Friday) for selling liquor bottles illegally at Third Mile, and 120 liquor bottles were allegedly seized from him.  P7 WITH THIS CHENNAI’S BEST ISSUE WEEKEND GUIDE 38 PAGES, INCLUDING 24 OF INDULGE (TABLOID)