Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that Delhi Police personnel, who “dragged” him away from the opposition protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, asked him to “dismiss this government”.
At a press conference, Gandhi was asked about his detention on Tuesday, when opposition leaders staged a sit-in protest near Lok Kalyan Marg against the police crackdown on protesting students and NEET paper leaks.
“The police dragged me and took me away, but they were whispering in my ears to topple this government,” the opposition leader said in the Lok Sabha.
“I am from Rajasthan,” said one of them. Inko hatai (removed).’ “We only wear uniforms.” Another said: I am from Haryana, Inko hatai.“And that’s the feeling about (the government).” “People feel the truth,” Gandhi said at the press conference held at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
Read also | Rahul Gandhi sets ‘non-negotiable’ demands of PM Modi and Dharmendra Pradhan on NEET protests
‘Happy’ to take more punches: Gandhi
The Congress leader claimed that “punches” were not a problem for him. He added: “I’m supposed to draw attention to where we feel the pain. These are very small costs. These are not big costs. It is a great honor for me to be able to stand with the wishes of my people. So, a few punches and everything, this is not a problem at all. I am happy to take more.”
“We felt that if India’s students are on the streets, the opposition should also be on the streets,” he said. “This is a crime committed against the future of our country. This is a crime committed against the people we love.”
Demanding Pradhan’s resignation
Gandhi said the opposition demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination irregularities and also asked Prime Minister Modi to apologize for the police action against students.
The July 20 protest, launched by the Cockroach Janta Party over the NEET paper leak, gained momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike. The movement grew after Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar and hospitalized by police. The activist later described, in a handwritten note, what happened as “unlawful detention.”
Police also suppressed a student march to Parliament on Monday. HT earlier reported that Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel used machinery, tear gas and electric batons to disperse the crowd. A number of students and security personnel were injured. They also claimed that some protesters targeted media and security personnel during the march.
“It is a legitimate demand that Dharmendra Pradhan resign. He has shown the nation and the world that he cannot run an education system. He is also incompetent and perhaps complicit in this drama… This man must go,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He also called for the police who accused the student demonstrators to be held accountable. He said that these are “non-negotiable” steps towards resolving the crisis.
He said: “Everyone who attacked the students must be held accountable, and the Prime Minister must apologize.”
Read also | ‘Apology to students’: Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi after Lathi accusations during RJD protests, seeks Amit Shah’s resignation
“152 leak paper”
The Congress leader also claimed that since the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014, there have been 152 paper leaks affecting nearly 75 million students. “What we know is that 152 leaked papers have occurred over the past decade. If you do the math, that means roughly one leak every month,” Gandhi said at the press conference.
Responding to the allegations, Health Minister JP Nadda said: “This is a matter of investigation and the government, as a responsible government, will undoubtedly investigate and provide the truth to the public and the nation.” He also claimed that the government is ready to discuss the NEET paper leak.
