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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

‘Tiger’ backs ‘Cockroach’

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) became the first political party to openly support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched by a Maharashtra youth Abhijeet Dipke who launched a huge protest in New Delhi on Saturday. In a strong statement, SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind the CJP as thousands of youngsters hit the streets of New Delhi in the scorching sun, not for politics but for their future. “Those whom we call the architects of the nation's future have come...

‘Tiger’ backs ‘Cockroach’

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) became the first political party to openly support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched by a Maharashtra youth Abhijeet Dipke who launched a huge protest in New Delhi on Saturday. In a strong statement, SS (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind the CJP as thousands of youngsters hit the streets of New Delhi in the scorching sun, not for politics but for their future. “Those whom we call the architects of the nation's future have come out carrying their pain, frustration and anxiety about their future. It is wrong to ridicule them as ‘cockroaches’ and deny them justice,” said the SS (UBT) Tiger. Thackeray said the recent NEET paper leak scandal had shattered the dreams of lakhs of students and their families, raising questions in the minds of youngsters whether merit still matters – as the movement which started on social media has spilled onto the streets across the country. “All these aggrieved young men and women are now raising their voices by becoming ‘cockroaches’. The government must listen to their demands. Do not underestimate the ‘cockroaches’ – this is the warning given by the agitation (today) at Jantar Mantar,” said Thackeray sharply. The SS (UBT)’s supportive stance came against the backdrop of mounting anger among students over the alleged irregularities in major public examinations like NEET, CBSE, CUET, and recruitment processes, which has shaken confidence in the country's education system. The Protest Around dawn, Dipke, 30 – who launched the online movement three weeks ago from the USA – reached India as thousands of supporters waited patiently and peacefully near the Parliament Street Police Station. Many waved the National Tricolour, copies of the Constitution or books of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, others carried flowers which they offered to the 1000-plus alert security personnel deployed there, and several sported symbolic cockroach masks. In a brief address, Dipke accused the government of focusing more on the CJP’s online presence than on the serious issues raised by the students. “You may be able to delete our posts, but you cannot erase us from this space,” he roared, amid loud cheers and thundering applause from the crowd. He said there must be accountability in the form of the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, failing which the CJP will continue its protests in New Delhi and also other parts of India. Anticipating detention after his homecoming, Dipke: “I was fully prepared to sacrifice my freedom for this cause.” In a warm gesture, environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk arrived from Ladakh to join the protest, declared himself as an ‘Honorary cockroach’ and expressed solidarity with Dipke. “People ask what is achieved through protests, sit-ins and marches. It proves that we are alive. The government may treat us like insects, but we are alive and capable of fighting for our rights,” mocked the CJP in a social media statement The CJP volunteers repeatedly urged the protestors to maintain decorum and make their impact in a democratic manner, which the crowds adhered to, but raised full-throated slogans intermittently, even as the protest ended without any untoward incidents. Incidentally, the Delhi Police granted permission for the demonstrations by allowing the crowds to gather directly at Jantar Mantar grounds as a ‘one-time exemption’. Demonstrations expressing solidarity to the cause were held in different parts of the country while tight security was deployed outside Dipke’s home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinar. Why are students forced to agitate?: Aaditya Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray said why the students are being compelled to agitate when they should be planning out academic future and career options. “The young students exposed the NEET leak scam, or the CBSE marks scandal. The minister should have resigned or should have been sacked, some officials have been transferred but not suspended. The government should be ashamed of the situation,” said Aditya.

A new fairway for Indian professional golf

Mumbai: The launch of the CIDCO Open 2025 presented by Larsen & Toubro marks a significant moment in the evolution of professional golf in India, not merely as a sporting event but as a statement of intent. Scheduled from December 16 to 19 at the Kharghar Valley Golf Course in Navi Mumbai, the tournament enters the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) calendar with a prize purse of Rs 1 crore, instantly positioning itself among the more consequential domestic events on the circuit. Its timing, scale and location collectively underline a growing ambition to broaden golf’s footprint beyond its traditional enclaves.


At its core, the CIDCO Open is about competitive golf of a high order. A field of 126 professionals will contest the tournament in a four-round stroke-play format, with the cut applied after 36 holes to the top 50 and ties. On a par-72 course designed to international standards, consistency across four days will be the defining test, rewarding not just power but course management, mental resilience and adaptability. Such formats mirror global professional norms, ensuring that Indian players gain exposure to conditions comparable to international tours.


Further Weight

The strength of the field adds further weight to the event’s sporting significance. Leading Indian professionals such as Yuvraj Sandhu, Manu Gandas, Angad Cheema, Arjun Prasad, Khalin Joshi and Om Prakash Chouhan bring with them pedigree, recent form and fan following. Their presence guarantees quality competition and provides a benchmark for younger professionals aspiring to climb the PGTI Order of Merit.


Equally important is the diverse international participation, with golfers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Europe, the United States and Africa. Players like N Thangaraja, Jamal Hossain and Stepan Danek introduce contrasting playing styles and experiences, enriching the competitive fabric of the tournament.


Deliberate Effort

Beyond the leaderboard, the CIDCO Open reflects a deliberate effort to decentralise elite golf in India. Hosting a PGTI event at the Kharghar Valley Golf Course for the first time signals confidence in newer infrastructure and emerging urban centres. Navi Mumbai, often associated with planned development and infrastructure-led growth, now finds itself on India’s professional golf map. This shift matters because the sustainability of golf as a sport depends on expanding access, audiences and aspirational pathways, rather than confining elite tournaments to a handful of legacy clubs.


The role of institutions in shaping this ecosystem is noteworthy. CIDCO’s position as organiser, with Larsen & Toubro as presenting partner, demonstrates how public-sector vision and private-sector execution can converge around sport. Large-scale sporting events require long-term thinking: course maintenance, logistics, sponsorship stability and player welfare. By anchoring the tournament within a robust institutional framework, the CIDCO Open creates the conditions necessary for continuity rather than one-off spectacle.


For Indian professional golfers, tournaments of this scale serve as critical career platforms. A Rs 1 crore purse not only enhances earning opportunities but also sharpens competitive intensity. Ranking points, visibility to sponsors and confidence gained from performing in strong fields all feed into a player’s progression, including aspirations to qualify for international tours. In that sense, the CIDCO Open functions as both a destination and a stepping stone.


Equally significant is the symbolic value of bringing top-tier golf to the financial capital region. Globally, golf and financial hubs share a symbiotic relationship, with corporate patronage sustaining professional circuits. By embedding a PGTI event in Navi Mumbai, the tournament aligns Indian golf with global sporting geography, potentially attracting new sponsors, corporate amateurs and future investors into the sport.

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