Claiming that “democracy is finished,” Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said whatever is happening in Parliament is “undemocratic” with no debate being allowed on students’ issues.
Dressed in black in solidarity with protesting students, the Congress leader said that the biggest thing in democracy is freedom of expression and right to peaceful protest, PTI reported.
Referring to the Congress’ protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence on Tuesday, she said, “There is nothing undemocratic about that. What is undemocratic is what is happening in Parliament and on the streets”.
Several of the Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, were dressed in black on Wednesday as they staged a protest outside Parliament against the alleged police brutality on protesting students.
“In Parliament, debate is not being allowed. The Leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak, and neither are other opposition leaders. Whenever they rise to speak, they are stopped,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
“The Speaker says he has to ask the government whether a debate can take place. What is this? Democracy is finished,” she added.
She further noted that what happened to Opposition leaders on Tuesday is “irrelevant”.
“We are standing with the students and raising their voice. What happened to the students, was it right or wrong? They are all young students,” she said.
She added, “They are protesting, and this is not just any protest. It is a genuine issue, a genuine problem. Every parent in this country knows it. Every student in this country knows it. Every teacher in this country knows it. Everyone knows this is a genuine issue”.
She asserted that the protesting students are only asking for their rights, adding that they study with immense dedication and struggle to build a future for themselves.