In a debate moderated by TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, panelists -- C R Kesavan, Spokesperson, Congress; Prof Kancha Illiah, Dalit Activist & Author; Sudhindra Bhadoria, Leader, BSP; Mohandas Pai, Fmr Director, HR, Infosys; Dr Sambit Patra, Nat Spokesperson, BJP; and Rahul Easwar, Social Activist -- discuss the issue of IIT-Madras in a controversy over derecognition of a students' body for allegedly criticising the PM, HRD ministry's letter diktat to IIT-Madras, and a twitter war between Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani as the controversy gets bigger.

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras was at the centre of controversy today over derecognition of a students group, many of whom are Dalits, following a complaint that it was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering protests from Congress and AAP. In Assam, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani backed IIT's action, saying the institution has clearly stated that some procedures by the students' organisation was not followed and it knew that Dean will derecognise it for violating norms. Scores of NSUI workers today protested outside Irani's official residence in Delhi over the issue. The protesters from Congress' students wing raised anti-government slogans and accused the HRD Ministry of being behind the action against the body. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and HRD Minister Smriti Irani were today locked in a spat after protests by NSUI workers outside her official residence over derecognition of a student group by IIT Madras. While Rahul said the derecognition was aimed at "crushing dissent" and he will fight such attempts, Irani shot back challenging him for a debate on the issue of governance, including education, and accused him of fighting his battles hiding behind NSUI.