Bullying isn't harmless; it destroys lives: Rahul Gandhi on Kerala student suicide
New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the tragic loss of a student to suicide due to bullying in a Kerala school is heartbreaking and said those responsible -- both bullies and those who failed to act -- must be held accountable.
"The tragic loss of Mihir Ahammed to suicide due to bullying in a Kerala school is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to his family," Gandhi said in a post on X.
"No child should endure what Mihir faced. Schools must be safe havens for children yet he suffered relentless torment. Those responsible -- both bullies and those who failed to act -- must be held accountable," the former Congress chief said.
"Bullying isn't harmless; it destroys lives. Parents must teach kindness, love, empathy, and the courage to speak up. Believe your child if they say they're being bullied, and intervene if they are the bully," Gandhi said.
Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Friday directed the Director of General Education (DGE) to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged suicide of the boy on January 15, which his family claims was due to ragging at his school near Kochi.
The Director of General Education has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and recommend further action, Sivankutty said in a Facebook post.
"If any activities harmful to society are taking place in any school, regardless of the stream, they will be identified, stopped, and strict action will be taken against the institution. If necessary, an amendment to the law will be considered," he wrote.
Referring to the case, he said, "A mother has alleged that her son committed suicide after being brutally tortured at a CBSE school in Thiruvaniyoor, Ernakulam district. This incident is deeply saddening and shocking. The police will take immediate action."
The deceased, a ninth class student, took the extreme step by jumping from his flat at Tripunithura here. Subsequently, his mother lodged a complaint with the chief minister and the state police chief, alleging that ragging at the school led her son to take his own life.
According to her petition, as per the information received from the victim's friends and through social media messages, he was allegedly subjected to ragging and physical assault.
The tragic loss of Mihir Ahammed to suicide due to bullying in a Kerala school is heartbreaking. My deepest condolences to his family.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 2, 2025
No child should endure what Mihir faced. Schools must be safe havens for children yet he suffered relentless torment. Those responsible—both…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
