Bengaluru, July 21 (UNI)

BJP leader and Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Legislative Council N Ravikumar on Tuesday alleged that the recent NEET protest in New Delhi was hijacked by Left organisations and "anti-national" elements, claiming the agitation had gone far beyond students' concerns and turned into a "well-planned conspiracy" targeting Parliament and the Narendra Modi government.

Addressing reporters here, Ravikumar claimed that while students have every democratic right to protest, the demonstration near Parliament was infiltrated by activists affiliated with Left organisations such as the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Association (AISA), All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), and other political groups.

"The protest was no longer about students or the NEET examination. It was converted into a political campaign with a different agenda," he alleged.

Ravikumar claimed that more than 150 police personnel were injured in the clashes and several were hospitalised. Alleging that stones were hurled at Parliament and police vehicles overturned, he said the violence pointed to a deliberate attempt to breach Parliament premises.

He accused the Opposition of selectively targeting the Modi government over examination leaks while remaining silent when similar incidents occurred during the UPA regime. Citing alleged paper leak cases between 2006 and 2014, he questioned why no nationwide protests were organised then.

Highlighting the NDA government's education record, Ravikumar aid the number of MBBS seats had increased from 51,348 during the UPA government to 1,36,939 under the NDA, while postgraduate medical seats had more than tripled. He also said the number of medical colleges had risen from 387 to around 780, attributing the expansion to sustained investment in medical education.

Ravikumar further said the National Education Policy and the expansion of higher education institutions reflected the Modi government's commitment to students, alleging that Congress and Left parties opposed these reforms despite broad support from education experts.

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By Mathew Mattam

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare across the world. From analysing X-rays and CT scans to summarising medical records and identifying patterns in laboratory reports, AI is becoming an integral part of modern clinical practice. Yet, an important question remains: Should doctors rely on AI for diagnosis?

A recent survey highlighted in The Times of India raises both optimism and caution. According to the survey, 48% of Indian doctors use AI at work, but only 26% regularly use clinical-specific AI platforms. The majority continue to depend on generic AI chatbots rather than specialised medical AI systems. This trend has sparked concerns among healthcare experts because, while AI adoption is not the problem, choosing the right AI certainly is.

AI Adoption Is Not the Problem—Choosing the Right AI Is

Technology has always reshaped medicine. The stethoscope, X-ray machine, MRI scanner, robotic surgery, and telemedicine were all initially viewed with skepticism before becoming standard medical tools. AI represents the next stage in this evolution.

However, not all AI systems are designed for healthcare. Generic chatbots are trained on vast amounts of internet data and general knowledge. They can produce fluent, convincing answers, but they are not designed to make clinical decisions. In contrast, clinical AI platforms are developed using validated medical literature, clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and specialised healthcare datasets.

Using a generic chatbot to assist in diagnosis is comparable to asking a knowledgeable friend for medical advice rather than consulting a specialist physician. The response may sound convincing but could still be inaccurate.

Confidence Does Not Equal Accuracy

One of the greatest risks of generative AI is that it often delivers answers with remarkable confidence—even when those answers are wrong. Medical diagnosis is fundamentally different from writing an article, drafting an email, or proofreading a report. A minor factual mistake in an article may simply require correction. An incorrect medical diagnosis, however, can delay treatment, cause unnecessary interventions, or even threaten a patient's life.

Healthcare professionals therefore cannot judge AI responses based on how persuasive they sound. Every recommendation must be critically evaluated against clinical evidence, patient history, laboratory findings, imaging results, and established treatment guidelines. Medicine demands accuracy—not confidence.

Medical Education Still Matters

Some people have begun asking an uncomfortable question: If AI can diagnose diseases and recommend treatments, why spend years studying medicine?

The answer is simple. Medicine is far more than recognising symptoms and matching them with diseases. Doctors learn anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, surgery, ethics, psychology, communication, public health, and clinical reasoning over many years. More importantly, they develop judgment through direct patient care.

A patient is not merely a collection of symptoms. Two patients with identical medical reports may require completely different treatments because of age, pregnancy, allergies, financial limitations, mental health, cultural beliefs, family circumstances, or other existing illnesses. These complex decisions cannot be made by algorithms alone. Medical education trains doctors not just to identify diseases but to understand human beings.

The Doctor Remains Legally Responsible

Another important reality is legal accountability. Regardless of how sophisticated AI becomes, the responsibility for diagnosis and treatment remains with the treating physician. If an AI system recommends the wrong medication or misses a serious illness, it is not the software that appears before a medical council or a court—it is the doctor. This legal responsibility makes blind dependence on AI both professionally and ethically unacceptable. AI may support decision-making, but it cannot replace professional responsibility.

AI Should Be an Assistant, Not the Decision-Maker

The most sensible role for AI is as a clinical assistant. AI can rapidly search medical literature, identify possible diagnoses, detect abnormalities in imaging, summarise lengthy patient histories, suggest drug interactions, and reduce documentation time. These capabilities allow doctors to spend more time listening to patients and providing compassionate care.

However, the final diagnosis should always involve: Clinical examination, Medical history, Physical findings, Laboratory investigations, Imaging reports, Clinical experience, Professional judgment.  AI can assist with evidence, but wisdom still belongs to the physician.

Healthcare Is Different from Other AI Applications

Society has become comfortable using AI for many everyday tasks. Students use it to summarise textbooks. Writers use it to improve grammar. Businesses use it to draft reports. Investors even use AI to screen stock markets. These uses generally carry limited consequences if the AI makes occasional mistakes.

Healthcare is entirely different. An AI error in proofreading may change a sentence. An AI error in medicine may change a life. That is why medical AI requires much higher standards of validation, transparency, explainability, and regulatory oversight than general-purpose AI applications. Doctors should therefore exercise greater caution than professionals in many other sectors.

Clinical AI Must Be Transparent

Healthcare experts increasingly emphasise that trustworthy medical AI should possess several essential qualities. It should be trained using verified clinical evidence rather than random internet content. Its recommendations should cite reliable medical sources. The reasoning behind its suggestions should be transparent rather than functioning as a mysterious "black box." It should also be continuously updated to reflect new research, revised treatment protocols, and emerging diseases.

The Future Is Human-AI Collaboration

Rather than replacing doctors, AI is more likely to reshape their role. Routine administrative tasks, documentation, coding, literature searches, and preliminary image analysis will increasingly be automated. This will free physicians to focus on what only humans can truly provide—critical thinking, empathy, communication, ethical judgment, and personalised care. Future healthcare will therefore not be driven by AI alone.

It will be driven by doctors who know how to use AI wisely. Medical schools may also need to adapt by teaching future physicians how to critically evaluate AI-generated recommendations, recognise algorithmic bias, understand digital health technologies, and safely integrate AI into clinical practice.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly one of the most significant technological advances in healthcare. It has enormous potential to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burden, enhance diagnostic support, and expand access to quality medical knowledge.

Yet, medicine is ultimately a human profession built on trust, responsibility, compassion, and judgment.

The recent survey serves as an important reminder that AI adoption itself is not the concern—choosing the right AI is. Generic chatbots can produce confident but incorrect answers. Clinical AI platforms, when built on validated evidence and used responsibly, can significantly strengthen medical practice. Even then, the doctor must remain the final decision-maker.

The future of healthcare is not AI versus doctors. It is AI working alongside well-trained doctors, where technology enhances human expertise without replacing it. In medicine, the safest and most ethical model will always be artificial intelligence guided by human intelligence.

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New Delhi, July 18

Climate activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police early Saturday after completing 21 days of an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, triggering a major political controversy ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Wangchuk, who has been fasting since June 28 over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was removed from the protest site in the pre-dawn hours following concerns over his deteriorating health. Delhi Police said the action was taken on medical advice and in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court.

The move has sparked sharp criticism from Opposition parties, which accused the Centre of suppressing peaceful democratic protest instead of addressing the concerns of students over examination irregularities. The BJP-led government, however, maintained that the decision was taken solely to safeguard Wangchuk's health.

Health condition stable but dehydrated

According to a medical bulletin issued by Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday evening, the 59-year-old activist remains conscious and haemodynamically stable. His pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are within normal limits, but doctors have observed clear signs of dehydration resulting from the prolonged fast.

The hospital said an independent expert from AIIMS examined Wangchuk and agreed that immediate oral or intravenous fluids and electrolyte therapy were medically necessary. However, Wangchuk has declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and medications despite repeated counselling by doctors. His family has also not yet consented to the recommended treatment.

Doctors stated that he remains under close observation and that continuous efforts are being made to persuade both Wangchuk and his family to accept medical intervention before serious complications arise.

Medical reports released earlier had shown that Wangchuk had lost more than nine kilograms since beginning his fast, with his weight dropping to around 56.6 kg. Doctors monitoring him before his hospitalisation had warned that prolonged fasting could begin affecting vital organs if treatment was delayed.

Wife appeals for family consent

Following his admission, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, appealed through social media that no medicine or medical procedure be administered without the consent of his family and the doctors who had been monitoring his condition throughout the hunger strike.

She requested that all treatment decisions be taken only after consultation with family members, emphasising the trust they had placed in the medical team overseeing his fast.

Opposition mounts attack on Centre

The police action immediately triggered strong political reactions across Opposition parties, which accused the Narendra Modi government of choosing coercion over dialogue.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar termed the Centre's response "apathetic" and said the government had merely acted as a spectator while the protest intensified. He asserted that the movement would continue despite Wangchuk's removal and announced that the issue would be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 20.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of suppressing peaceful dissent and ignoring critical issues affecting students, including examination paper leaks, rising education costs and student suicides. He said no amount of force could prevent students and those supporting them from continuing to raise these concerns.

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleged that Wangchuk had been forcibly removed by police personnel in plain clothes and accused the government of attempting to crush a peaceful youth movement instead of reforming the education system. Comparing the incident with Mahatma Gandhi's hunger strikes during the freedom movement, Kejriwal claimed even the British had not treated Gandhi in such a manner. He appealed to citizens across the country to join the protest at Jantar Mantar.

West Bengal Ex Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over Wangchuk's health and urged the Centre to initiate dialogue instead of remaining silent. She argued that peaceful democratic dissent deserved engagement and transparency and suggested that Wangchuk be allowed to shift to a private hospital if necessary.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav condemned Wangchuk's removal as "highly condemnable" and demanded that his medical treatment be conducted under judicial supervision. He also sought disclosure of the identities of those involved in the operation and accused the BJP government of damaging India's democratic image internationally.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray questioned why Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued in office despite repeated controversies surrounding competitive examinations. He alleged that the government had failed both in conducting the NEET examination properly and in responding to the resulting public anger.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the Centre, calling it "the most insensitive government" and arguing that instead of engaging with protesters, it had used state power to suppress dissent.

Congress Legislature Party leader in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Satej Patil, alleged that the police action formed part of a larger conspiracy to weaken the movement before a planned protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. He reiterated the Opposition's demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Police defend action

Delhi Police maintained that Wangchuk's removal was carried out strictly on medical grounds after expert advice indicated that his health had significantly deteriorated. Authorities said the operation was conducted in compliance with court directions and emphasised that maximum restraint was exercised despite some protesters attempting to obstruct the transfer.

Police also appealed to demonstrators to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully, stating that ensuring Wangchuk received immediate medical care was their primary responsibility.

Political issue set for Parliament

With the Monsoon Session of Parliament scheduled to begin on July 20, Wangchuk's hospitalisation has emerged as a fresh flashpoint between the government and the Opposition. Opposition parties are expected to jointly raise questions over the handling of the protest, alleged examination irregularities and demands for greater accountability in the education system.

While the government continues to defend its intervention as a life-saving measure, the Opposition insists that the episode reflects an unwillingness to engage with peaceful protest and student concerns, ensuring that the controversy is likely to dominate political discourse in the days ahead.

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Pune, July 15

With job opportunities becoming increasingly hard to come by, students must complete skill-based courses and become self-sufficient, which will in turn help them achieve self-reliance, said Dr. Baban Jogdand, Head of the Skill Development Department at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI).

Jogdand was speaking on the occasion of the distribution of certificates in modern, technology-based courses to 180 Scheduled Caste youth from Pune city, organised jointly by BARTI and the Science and Technology Park (STP) to mark World Youth Skills Day. The programme, held at the STP's CIII Centre at the Laxmibai Bhaurao Patil Innovation Foundation on the S. M. Joshi College campus in Hadapsar, saw enthusiastic participation from students, trainees, industry representatives and several dignitaries.

The event was organised under the guidance of BARTI Director General Smt. Deepa Mudhol-Munde (IAS) and Dr. Rajendra P. Jagdale, Director General and CEO of the Science and Technology Park.

The programme was presided over by Dr. Eknath S. Mundhe, Principal of S. M. Joshi College. Guests of honour included Dr. Baban Jogdand, Head of BARTI's Skill Development Department; Dr. Sanjay Ahiwale, Coordinator of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell; Mahesh Gavai, Project Manager at BARTI; and Shrikant Kundan, CEO of the Laxmibai Bhaurao Patil Innovation Foundation.

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New Delhi, July 14

India on Tuesday said its position on the South China Sea issue remains “clear and well-known,” stressing the importance of freedom of navigation, overflight and peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with international law.

Responding to media queries during the weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the principles of international law reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should guide the resolution of maritime disputes.

“Regarding the issue concerning the South China Sea, our position is clear and well-known. We emphasise the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce, in accordance with international law as reflected in UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). This has always been our consistent position,” Jaiswal said.

“Maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS. The ruling delivered by the Arbitral Tribunal ten years ago is a significant milestone and a basis for the peaceful resolution of disputes among the concerned parties,” he added.

The comments came on the tenth anniversary of the July 12, 2016 ruling issued by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS in the South China Sea case.
The United States, the United Kingdom and a dozen other Western and Asian countries reasserted on Sunday that

China's expansive claims in the South China Sea are illegal based on a 2016 arbitration ruling. A joint statement issued by the 14 nations said they rejected "destabilizing" actions in the disputed waters that threaten regional stability. The 27-nation European union released a separate statement, reaffirming the ruling as a "landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes."

A group of 14 countries, including the United States and Japan, recently reaffirmed the 2016 arbitral award, stating that China’s broad claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis under international law.

The joint statement issued by Japan, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States reiterated support for a “free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and rules-based.”

The countries said the 2016 decision remains “final, legally binding and definitive” between China and the Philippines regarding the maritime claims and entitlements covered by the case. They also reaffirmed the tribunal’s conclusion that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims, including those based on alleged “historic rights.”

The countries called on all parties to respect the arbitral award and resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms consistent with international law.

The European union also urged parties involved in the South China Sea dispute to fully implement the 2016 ruling, describing it as final and legally binding on China and the Philippines.

China, however, has consistently rejected the tribunal’s decision and refused to recognise the ruling despite repeated calls from the Philippines and other international partners.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague issued a unanimous verdict in the case filed by the Philippines against China. It marked the first time an international tribunal ruled on the legal validity of competing maritime claims in the South China Sea.

A key aspect of the ruling involved China’s “Nine-Dash Line” claim, which covers a large portion of the South China Sea. Beijing had argued that it possessed historic rights over resources within the area.

The tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within areas covered by the Nine-Dash Line where such claims were incompatible with maritime zones established under UNCLOS.

In Beijing, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the arbitration tribunal and its ruling "seriously contravene the general practice of international arbitration" and "gravely infringe upon China's legitimate rights as a sovereign state and state party to UNCLOS and are unjust and unlawful."

"China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards," the Chinese foreign ministry said, adding that Beijing "does not accept any means of third-party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China."

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Mumbai, Jul 14

Terming the recent claims by former union Home Secretary R V S Mani regarding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as "deeply disturbing," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded a high-level, impartial investigation into the alleged ISI-Congress conspiracy.

Addressing a press conference following a marathon Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister pivoted from this grave national security concern to announce a massive development roadmap for the state. Among the key decisions, the government has cleared a landmark expansion of the 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana-2026,' which is set to benefit approximately 56 lakh farmers by removing previous eligibility barriers and offering new incentives for regular repayment.

Fadnavis also sought to settle the brewing controversy surrounding the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), categorically dismissing opposition allegations of land privatization. He clarified that MSRTC would retain full ownership of its assets, with surplus land slated for development under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure the long-term financial viability of the state’s transport network.

The Cabinet further approved a new "Monetization Policy" to boost the revenue of local self-governing bodies and sanctioned the implementation of the central "Urban Challenge Fund" to accelerate infrastructure projects in cities. Notable regional initiatives included a Rs 24.95 crore modernization package for the Beed District Sports Complex and the establishment of an international-grade agricultural market in Dahanu (Palghar), spanning 558.43 hectares.
Refuting political attacks from the opposition, the Chief Minister dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the state’s handling of paper leaks as "ill-informed" and labeled Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s recent political posturing as "hollow."

Other administrative decisions included doubling the rehabilitation grant for acquitted prisoners from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 and approving critical amendments to the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction Rules, 2013, to improve regulatory transparency.

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Mumbai, Jul 14

Amid speculation that the "Operation Tiger" strategy could now be replicated in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of the party's corporators from Nashik at his Matoshree residence on Wednesday, in an apparent bid to prevent a possible split. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 15 corporators in the Nashik civic body.

Political circles are abuzz with claims that around 10 to 12 of them are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and could switch sides at any time.  If that happens, it could significantly alter the political equations in the corporation. The development comes in the wake of the recent split in the party's Lok Sabha ranks, where six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs first formed a separate group before joining the Shinde faction.

Before that rebellion, Thackeray had called a meeting of the party MPs and issued a whip, but the six MPs skipped the meeting.

Following the parliamentary split, Thackeray held rallies and public meetings in the constituencies of the rebel MPs to retain the support of party workers and office-bearers.

He had also adopted an aggressive stand against the defectors.  Political observers will now be closely watching whether Thackeray's outreach succeeds in preventing a similar rebellion among the Nashik corporators.

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Mumbai, Jul 13

In a blistering attack on the union Government, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray has accused the administration of "apathy" toward the nation's youth, asserting that the government is more interested in "toppling political parties" than addressing the educational crisis caused by the NEET paper leak.

Thackeray expressed deep concern over the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, led by the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 15 days.
Thackeray did not mince words while criticizing union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "If a person is incapable of managing their responsibilities and their incompetence leads to the destruction of the future of millions, why should they remain in office? The government's refusal to replace the Education Minister shows a shocking lack of accountability," Thackeray declared.

He drew a grim parallel between the current situation and the death of GD Agarwal, who died during a 115-day fast for the Ganga river in 2018. "It seems the government is waiting for Sonam Wangchuk and these students to perish before it even considers taking notice," he added.

With the Monsoon Session of Parliament set to commence on July 20, Thackeray issued an emotional appeal to MPs across the political spectrum—including those from the BJP—to transcend party lines and support the students.
"I am not asking for a political stand; I am asking for insaniyat (humanity). This is a struggle for the nation's youth. I urge leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, MK Stalin, and Akhilesh Yadav to stand with these students. This is a non-partisan movement that needs our collective strength," Thackeray urged.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also condemned reports from CJP youth leader Abhijeet Dipke, who claimed that there were attempts to incite violence at the protest site to sabotage the agitation. "This is a sign of a cowardly and regressive mindset. Attempting to suppress a peaceful protest by students with violence is the lowest point a government can reach," he warned.

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Ambegaon (Pune), July 13: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Sunday firmly denied allegations linking him to the ongoing milk adulteration case in Ambegaon taluka, asserting that he is neither the "mastermind" behind the issue nor someone who would protect those involved in wrongdoing.

Speaking at the Jan Samvad programme organised by the Ambegaon-Shirur unit of the NCP at Shivgiri Mangal Karyalaya in Manchar, Walse Patil said that although one of the accused may be associated with him politically, he would never support anyone found guilty of milk adulteration.

"I am not the mastermind behind this case. In fact, there is no mastermind. I will never defend or shield anyone involved in milk adulteration," he said while responding to allegations made by political opponents.

Walse Patil said it would be inappropriate to comment further until the official investigation is completed and a chargesheet is filed against those responsible.

"The probe is still underway. Until the investigation is complete and charges are formally framed, it is not proper for me to make detailed comments on the matter," he said.

He accused the opposition of using the milk adulteration issue as a political tool rather than genuinely working for the welfare of farmers.

"You know whether this agitation is for farmers' interests or merely a conspiracy against me," he remarked.

The senior NCP leader also criticised the increasing use of fake social media accounts to defame political leaders and urged party workers to respond strongly to misinformation and propaganda.

Without directly naming local leader Devdatta Nikam, Walse Patil questioned his claims of working for farmers and raised issues regarding cooperative institutions and temple administration.

Several senior NCP leaders, including Pune MHADA Chairman Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, district president Rajendra Korekar, and other party office-bearers, were present at the event.

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