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'Attempt was made to humbly explain': Minister on talks with Rahul Gandhi at dharna over CJP crackdown
Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi issued a big call, urging “patriotic Indians” to join his protest outside the official residence of PM Narendra Modi in Delhi.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Tuesday criticised the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, for his dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, accusing him of “backtracking on his word." Later, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, who were sitting outside the PM's residence, were detained by the Delhi Police.
“A request was made to Shri Rahul Gandhi to end his sit-in, as this site is not meant for protests, and holding a sit-in here is causing considerable inconvenience to the general public. Shri Rahul Gandhi put forward the demand that if the government agrees to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement, he would immediately end his sit-in. Within a few moments, after taking permission from the government's top leadership, Shri Rahul Gandhi was assured that his demand has been accepted, and the government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement,” Singh said in a post on X.
According to the minister, when this information was conveyed to Rahul Gandhi, he said he would not agree to this alone and also sought assurance on the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
“For a senior leader like Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Leader of the Opposition to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy. The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement. In contrast, the Congress Party has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter as per the rules. Shri Rahul Gandhi's behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy,” Singh added.
Rahul Gandhi's call
Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi issued a big call, urging “patriotic Indians” to join his protest outside the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
The call came a day after a Delhi police crackdown on a student protest march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged paper leaks.
“An attack on students is an attack on every Indian family. Prime Minister Modi thinks he can escape without giving answers, without facing any consequences - he won't be able to, not at all this time. I appeal to every patriotic Indian who believes that our students should get justice - join our dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.
Party MPs, including president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal, were at the protest, the first time Rahul has led such a demonstration outside the PM's house.
Rahul Gandhi decided to move to the PM's house because the Lok Sabha speaker didn't give the Opposition an opportunity to raise the issue in Parliament, a leader told HT.
“He told the MPs, 'let's go and wake the PM on this issue',” a person familiar with the matter said.
Government proposes a discussion
Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), met Rahul Gandhi soon after and said the government is ready to discuss the students' protest-related issue in Parliament on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter told HT.
However, it is learnt that the Congress is firm on its demand for resignations by PM Narendra Modi, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and home minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesters during the CJP march to Parliament a day earlier.
Before proceeding with the protest, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi accused the Centre of using police force to suppress students raising genuine concerns.
“The entire country knows the education system and testing system are broken; it has ceased to exist. The testing system has been hollowed out by termites. That is all they are saying. We have been saying it too. I have been giving presentation after presentation about this. Why is the Prime Minister silent?” Gandhi said.
“We went to the Speaker and said, 'Look, we want to discuss the student issue,' and the Speaker told us that to hold a discussion, he has to ask the government. Do you understand what this means? The Speaker is telling us that to debate in Parliament, he has to take permission from the government,” he said.
Calling the police response “un-Indian”, he said students deserved better treatment.
“The point is, this is no way to treat the young people of this country. The young people of this country do not have opportunities; all the doors are closed; one door is open for competitive exams, which is also destroyed. These students here are complaining not just about the education system but their future,” Gandhi said.
He further alleged that the country's education system had been taken over by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), parent body of the ruling BJP, and accused the Modi government of favouring industrialists over students.
“This is much bigger than education. This is students of India saying they have no future in India. This is legitimate. Dharmendra Pradhan, the home minister and the Prime Minister, should resign,” he said.
After addressing the media, Gandhi, accompanied by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, visited Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to meet protesters injured during Monday's clashes, and later went for the protest at Lok Kalyan Marg (earlier known as Race Course Road).
CJP leaders meet JP Nadda
Meanwhile, two CJP representatives, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, met Union health minister J P Nadda on Monday to submit the organisation's demands in writing following the protest.
The protest infrastructure at Jantar Mantar was dismantled after the clashes, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 remained in force in parts of central Delhi, restricting gatherings of five or more people.
However, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke continued his sit-in at Jantar Mantar, reiterating that the agitation would continue until Pradhan resigns.
Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk remained on hunger strike at Safdarjung Hospital, where he was admitted after being taken into custody by Delhi Police on July 18.
According to the latest hospital health bulletin, Wangchuk's serum potassium level was 3.2 mEq/L in a sample collected on Monday night. He is receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS) and oral potassium supplements, but continues to decline intravenous fluids and glucose administration.
