‘Entire Opposition with students’: Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc MPs at Gandhi Smriti in solidarity with Jantar Mantar protestors

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with MPs and leaders of the INDIA bloc, is heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg in Delhi to express solidarity with student protesters beaten by the police during their July 20 march to Parliament.

“Right now, MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance are peacefully heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. We go to remember the students we lost – the children driven to take their own lives after the NEET paper leak. And we go to stand with the students who lie injured today – beaten for peacefully demanding justice and accountability,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

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He added: “India’s students are not alone. The entire Opposition stands with them and their demands.”

Speaking to reporters from the bus, Rahul said they had initially planned to visit India Gate but were denied permission.

The Opposition leaders then decided to proceed to Gandhi Smriti.

“The students of our country are on the streets, so we felt that the Opposition should also be on the streets. First, all of us Opposition MPs wanted to go to India Gate, but we were not allowed to go. Then we were heading to Gandhi Smriti, but our bus has been stopped,” he said.

The bus was later allowed to proceed and the MPs reached the memorial.

Rahul said the Opposition’s message was for the students protesting at Jantar Mantar. “The entire Opposition is with you, and we are completely against the atrocities being committed against you,” he said.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) MP John Brittas said that the Opposition MPs are going to Gandhi Smriti “as this government is going to launch a crackdown on students.”

Earlier in the day, top Congress sources told The Statesman that Rahul will lead Opposition MPs to Gandhi Smriti for an indefinite sit-in in solidarity with the Jantar Mantar protesters.

Amid the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party-led students’ protest at Jantar Mantar, Gandhi called a meeting of Opposition MPs from both Houses of Parliament at his residence.

Shortly after the arrival of Opposition MPs, Rahul Gandhi boarded a bus as he, along with other MPs, left for Gandhi Smriti from his residence.

Although the Opposition Congress has supported the Cockroach Janta Party-led students’ protest at Jantar Mantar, Rahul Gandhi has shied away from sharing the stage with CJP leaders.

However, after the police crackdown on CJP protesters during their march to Parliament, Rahul condemned the action and staged a dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.

In anticipation of Rahul Gandhi’s sit-in, the Delhi police heightened presence of its personnel outside his residence.

A bus carrying Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel also arrived outside Gandhi’s residence Gandhi in Delhi.

Earlier, leaders from other Opposition parties, including RJD MP Misa Bharti and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also arrivex at Rahul Gandhi’s residence for the meeting.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra were also among the attendees who arrived the LoP’s residence.

BJP sees theatrics to upstage Jantar Mantar protests

As MPs began to reach Rahul Gandhi’s residence, BJP leader B.L. Santosh said that the LoP is up to some theatrics to upstage the Jantar Mantar protests.

“Another competitive drama unfolding at @RahulGandhi‘s home . With buses arriving & @INCIndia MPs dropping in he is up to some theatrics to upstage Jantar Mantar protests,” Santosh said on X.

“Nation is a casualty for sometime in this theatrical competition,” he added.