MENU

Congress stages nationwide protests over Rahul Gandhi’s detention, NEET paper leak; workers held in several states

Statesman News Service

Congress workers stage protests across several states over Rahul Gandhi's detention and the NEET paper leak, as the party launches a nationwide student outreach campaign. | ANI video grab


The Congress on Wednesday intensified its agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak row and the detention of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and party MP Priyanka Gandhi, holding coordinated protests across multiple states while launching a nationwide outreach programme targeting students.

Demonstrations were reported from Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Assam, with police detaining Congress workers at several locations as the party accused the Centre of suppressing protests over issues affecting students.

In Ahmedabad, Congress workers protested against the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and the NEET paper leak. Similar protests were held in Surat, where several workers were detained by police.

In Hyderabad, police personnel were deployed outside Lok Bhavan after the Telangana Congress called for a protest condemning Rahul Gandhi’s detention.

In Bengaluru, Congress workers staging a protest outside the BJP office were detained by police.

In Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Congress protested against the alleged police lathi charge on protesters in Delhi and the detention of Rahul Gandhi.

Congress legislators in Assam also staged a protest inside the State Assembly in Guwahati, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak issue.

Also Read | Explainer: Is AAP notching up CJP protest after Rahul Gandhi snatched anti-govt initiative with PM gherao?

The protests coincided with the Congress’ nationwide student engagement programme announced by party General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal.

In a letter to party leaders and workers, Venugopal urged them to engage with students in colleges, universities, coaching centres and hostels across the country, citing concerns over repeated paper leaks, examination delays, recruitment uncertainty, rising education costs and unemployment.

He said the programme builds on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign, launched in Kota on June 17 and continued in Dehradun on July 17, which seeks reforms in the education system.

Venugopal also criticised the police action during Monday’s protests in Delhi, alleging that senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, were manhandled during a demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence.

Separately, Rahul Gandhi defended the Opposition’s decision to stage a sit-in near the Prime Minister’s residence, saying it came after the government showed no willingness to allow a parliamentary debate on the treatment of students during recent protests.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker, Gandhi said he had sought a discussion in Parliament but was told the Speaker would need the government’s permission.

“The Speaker said he needed to take permission from the Government, but it was very clear to us… that there was no interest in the Government of having a debate,” Gandhi said.

Calling the education crisis one of the country’s biggest concerns, he questioned repeated examination paper leaks, the rising cost of education and the financial burden on families.

Gandhi demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah, action against those responsible for allegedly assaulting protesting students, and the withdrawal of cases registered against them.

He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students and initiate reforms in the examination and education system.

The Congress has maintained that the nationwide campaign aims to mobilise support among students over examination-related issues, while the latest protests underline the Opposition’s continued confrontation with the Centre over the NEET paper leak controversy.

(With inputs from ANI and IANS)

Also Read