Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Centre over the police action against students during Monday's protest march in the national capital and demanded that Parliament hold a detailed discussion on the issue. He alleged that excessive force had been used against protesters and called for greater accountability over the examination controversy that triggered the demonstrations.
Ahead of the day's parliamentary proceedings, Rahul Gandhi, along with other Opposition Members of Parliament, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to press for a discussion on the police action. In a post on social media, Gandhi said the Opposition wanted Parliament to debate both the treatment of the protesters and the government's response to the examination crisis affecting students.
Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not publicly commented on the police action. He said the Prime Minister should address the concerns raised by students and respond to the events that unfolded during the protest. Gandhi also stated that the Opposition would continue to raise the issue both inside Parliament and through public campaigns.
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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also demanded a parliamentary discussion on the incident. He questioned the use of force against students seeking action over alleged examination irregularities and criticised the security measures imposed during the protest. Kharge further reiterated the Opposition's demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him politically responsible for the controversy.
The Opposition's remarks came a day after large-scale demonstrations in Delhi, where thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. The protest resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police, with authorities using tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd. According to official figures, more than 100 police personnel and over 60 protesters sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, said those responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak should face the strictest possible punishment. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Prime Minister emphasised that preventing examination paper leaks was a national responsibility and called for collective efforts to establish a foolproof examination system. The government has maintained that it is committed to strengthening the integrity and transparency of public examinations.
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