Rahul Gandhi’s 5 Demands After NEET Protest, Detention And Oppn’s Showdown With Centre
Hours of political confrontation, a march towards the prime minister’s residence, the detention of opposition leaders and a high-voltage protest over the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student agitation marked Tuesday’s events in the national capital.
By the end of the day, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had sharpened the Congress’s attack on the government, placing five demands before the Centre and signalling that the issue will continue to dominate Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several INDIA bloc MPs, was detained by Delhi Police after the Opposition marched to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in support of the protesting students. The leaders were later released.
While in detention, Rahul Gandhi released a video statement listing five demands from the government:
- PM Modi Should Apologise To Students: Rahul Gandhi said the prime minister must apologise for the police action against student protesters, alleging that peaceful demonstrators were subjected to excessive force.
- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah Should Resign: The Congress leader renewed his demand for Pradhan’s resignation, holding him responsible for the handling of the examination controversy and the government’s response to the protests. He also demanded Shah’s resignation, accusing the government of using police action to curb democratic protests.
- Hold A Full Discussion In Parliament: He said the government must allow a detailed debate in Parliament on the student protests and the alleged examination irregularities instead of avoiding the issue.
- Justice For Students: Rahul Gandhi called for accountability and transparency in addressing students’ grievances, saying those affected deserve justice rather than crackdowns. He also sought action against the cops who assaulted students on Monday and withdrawal of cases against students.
- Education And Exam Reforms At The Earliest.
The BJP has rejected the allegations, accusing the Congress of politicising the protests, while the Opposition has maintained that the government is refusing to answer questions over the controversy.
“Why is the Indian education system collapsing? Why are papers leaking? Why is education so expensive in India? Why do families have to destroy themselves financially to educate their children? These are legitimate questions, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking them,” Gandhi said on video.
Reaching out to supporters, he said: “To everyone fighting together for the cause of the students, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The LoP added that the entire Opposition wanted the issue debated in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
