Opposition leaders on Monday criticized the BJP-led union government over students protesting outside Parliament, with Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the country’s most “anti-youth” minister.
“This country has a youth majority, and Prime Minister Modi is the most anti-youth prime minister India has ever seen,” Gandhi said in a message after Parliament adjourned. “The boys and girls who walk on the streets of Delhi are not criminals. They are demanding their rights… There is absolutely nothing wrong with what they are doing, and what the government is doing and what the police are doing is disgusting.”
The Congress leader asserted that the demands of the protesters are legitimate and the Prime Minister must do something about it.
“They have legitimate demands. The Prime Minister should accept these demands and do something about it. Everyone is sick and tired of the way our education system is being run. Everyone is sick and tired of the way the RSS has taken over our education system, and how all our institutions are being run by one organisation,” Gandhi added, adding that the government believes in deception and violence.
In the Rajya Sabha, Lope Mallikarjun Kharge said, “This is a student matter, it is a student matter, which involves the future of thousands of children. I am talking about their future. That is why, today in Jantar Mantar, thousands of children gathered there, and the lathi charge took place there. The government is trying to beat them up, the government is trying to suppress them, the government is trying to crush them.”
Later, Karg told the media: “A large number of students are in distress, having left their homes and facing complete ruin. Who is responsible for ruining their lives? The Modi government and Prime Minister Modi himself. He is doing these things only to hide his weaknesses.”
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said, “What we saw there was the behavior of the government and the police… A large number of youth were injured… For years, the government has been playing with the future of students and youth. This intense anger is now evident; the call for revolution is rising, and the feeling of solidarity is palpable. That is why the youth of the country are here in such huge numbers.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress member from Wayanad, said that instead of using machines against students, the BJP government should review its policies and shortcomings. “First, the NEET paper was leaked and the exam was cancelled; now, there are reports of irregularities in the re-test as well. It was said that the Prime Minister will personally supervise the process; though, why and how is all this happening? How do so many paper leaks happen so frequently?”
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal alleged that the government is “totally insensitive to the concerns of the people. Parents across the country are deeply concerned about the future of their children. Our minimum demands are the resignation of the Education Minister and a discussion on the NEET and CBSE examination regimes…”
Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged incidents of stone-pelting during the protest. He said in a post on the website
