The Times Now Amazing Indians Awards, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 15 March, celebrated unsung national heroes and drew a crowd of over 5,000.
During his address, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju insisted that dissent is a cornerstone of democracy, arguing that citizens must be free to question the pace of India’s GDP growth and policy direction.
He warned that a segment of society will always feel sidelined, urging the government to reach out through a series of community forums and policy consultations over the next six months.
Opposition figures, including MP Arvind Kejriwal, responded by calling for tangible reforms, saying that free speech alone cannot resolve deep‑seeded grievances.
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced it will submit a draft amendment to the Public Consultation Act to Parliament by 30 April, setting a timetable for nationwide surveys on citizen inclusion.