Rahul Gandhi said the opposition protested outside the Prime Minister’s House “to draw national attention to the issue of students… and what was done against them.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologize to those who were subjected to a police crackdown during the July 20 protests over exam paper leaks and student suicides. The Congress leader is now demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Opposition on Tuesday staged a sit-in outside Prime Minister Modi’s residence after the government allegedly showed “no interest” in the parliamentary debate on police actions against youth. The protesters were later arrested by Delhi Police.
In a video recorded during his detention at Chhatrasal Stadium, Gandhi said he met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to seek a discussion on the issue.
“I told him it was important that we were allowed to debate what happened to the students the day before,” Gandhi said. “The Speaker said he needed to get permission from the government, but it was clear to us… that there was no interest from the government in holding a debate.”
He said that the opposition decided to protest in front of the Prime Minister’s residence “to draw attention to the issue of the students… and what happened against them.”
Read also | Congress and allies take NEET protest to PM’s doorstep; Rahul Gandhi arrested: Modi will not be able to escape
He also demanded the resignation of the Education Union and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in the examination system and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the repression of student protesters.
Hezbollah said: “The necessary measures must be taken against those who attacked and insulted the students, and all lawsuits filed against the students must be withdrawn.”
Asked about the state of the education system, Gandhi said: “Why is the Indian education system collapsing? Why are papers leaking? Why is education so expensive in India? Why do families have to financially destroy themselves to educate their children? These are legitimate questions and there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking these questions.”
He repeated the opposition’s demand to discuss the matter in both houses of Parliament. Addressing Prime Minister Modi, Gandhi said: “What happened yesterday, what your government did, what your home minister did, so you must apologize to the students of the country and start reforming the examination system and education system as soon as possible.”
The video, released after his release, showed Gandhi wearing only one shoe and his other foot bare, likely following police actions during his detention.
Congress MPs Pawan Khera, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and other opposition leaders joined the sit-in near Lok Kalyan Marg.
The protest continued for more than three hours before Delhi Police removed and arrested the leaders. Gandhi was taken to Chhatrasal Stadium and released around 10 pm, while Priyanka Gandhi was taken to Mandir Marg police station and released around 9:45 pm, HT reported earlier.
Read also | AKP will not march to parliament, and Debke says ‘police will hurt young people again’
What happened at the AKP protest?
The Chalo Sansad protests, organized by the Sarsoor Janta Party on July 20, saw thousands of protesters march from Jantar Mantar towards the Parliament building in Delhi. Delhi Police stopped the march using multiple layers of barricades around central Delhi.
Tear gas canisters were fired at the demonstrators when the crowds tried to break through the barricades. Many people were charged by the police. Videos shared online showed people bleeding from their heads. Police told HT that the protesters pelted stones.
Officials at a government hospital confirmed to HT that “at least 100” protesters were being treated for injuries. Police said about 60 were injured. A 22-year-old woman was injured during the police suppression of the protest and remains in the ICU at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, her family told HT.
The Center was willing to hold talks with the students and CJP representatives but refused to commit to their demands or indicate when the next round of discussions would be held, people familiar with the matter said, as HT had reported earlier.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s first reaction
In his first reaction to the protest and newspaper leaks, Dharmendra Pradhan alleged that Congress was using students for political purposes.
“For Rahul Gandhi, it is not about the students. This is about manufacturing confrontation after opening every real avenue for discussion,” he said in X. The Union minister said the government was ready to discuss the NEET issue and address the concerns of students in Parliament.
“Our government remains 100% committed to debating ‘Work, Learn and Learn’ and addressing all the real concerns of our youth in the House. India’s students deserve much better than being treated as props in a political campaign. They deserve certainty rather than chaos, solutions rather than slogans, and responsibility rather than disruption,” Pradhan said.
He added: “We owe our students more than just anger. We owe them answers, reforms and accountability. And that is exactly what our government remains committed to achieving.”
The CBI has arrested 13 people in connection with NEET-UG papers leak this year.
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