Moving Dharmendra Pradhan to another ministry will not end the student agitation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday after meeting protesters who had undertaken a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha backed three demands described by the students as non-negotiable. They include Pradhan’s removal as Union Education Minister, action against those responsible for the lathi-charge on protesters and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rahul Gandhi rejects possible transfer for Pradhan
Gandhi claimed there was discussion within the Union Cabinet about shifting Pradhan to another ministry. He said such a move would not be accepted by the protesters.
“There are three non-negotiable demands — first, the Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent, and misaligned, has to be sacked. There is some talk going on in Mr Modi’s Cabinet that the solution is to move Mr Dharmendra Pradhan to some other Ministry; this is not acceptable to the students of India or anybody,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said the minister had become a symbol of the damage caused to students’ prospects by examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities.
“There is going to be no conversation of Mr Dharmendra Pradhan being moved anywhere… Mr Dharmendra Pradhan has to be sacked. Period,” he said.
Rahul seeks accountability for lathi-charge
The Congress leader also demanded action against those who planned and carried out the police response to the demonstrations.
“There are thousands and thousands of youngsters who have had lathis break their heads and legs; pellets in their bodies. The organisers and implementors need to be punished and made accountable,” Gandhi said.
PM Modi must apologise to students, Rahul says
Gandhi placed responsibility for the government’s handling of the protests on the Prime Minister and demanded an apology.
“The third thing is the leader of the entire machinery who is doing this — Mr Narendra Modi — has to apologise for what he has done to the students and the future of this country,” he said.
He also criticised the Prime Minister’s video message seeking suggestions from young people. Gandhi said the protests were centred on specific demands rather than requests for suggestions.
‘The past cannot fight the future’
Gandhi told the protesters that detentions, administrative action and threats should not force them to withdraw.
“Do whatever you want; detain, threaten, but we will not back off. They will not back off. They are the future of India; no one can fight them. Narendra Modi is India’s past, and the past cannot fight the future,” he said.
He accused the government system of attempting to discourage students from continuing the agitation.
DU and JNU advisories draw criticism
Gandhi was responding in part to advisories issued by Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University over participation in the Jantar Mantar demonstrations.
The universities advised students against joining or visiting the gatherings. The notices cited safety concerns and warned of possible legal or disciplinary consequences.
Gandhi described the advisories as part of an attempt by the system to intimidate the protesters.
CJP says agitation will continue
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has separately said the agitation will continue until Pradhan steps down.
The statement came after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Friday. Wangchuk broke his fast after receiving a written assurance from the Union government concerning the NEET examination issue and proposed reforms to the competitive testing system.
CJP representatives said the government sought time until Saturday afternoon to consider their demand for Pradhan’s resignation after talks with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.