Congress on Thursday extended their full support to the protesting students who has called a `Rail Roko Andolan’ against the Railway Ministry’s alleged irregularities in a recruitment exam.

While Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi spoke on a virtual mode to few aspirants and also those affected by the police lathicharge in Prayagraj, the Congress student’s wing workers held a demonstration in front of the Railway Bhawan against police brutality on job aspirants.

During the interaction, Priyanka assured the students that she would raise their voice from all forums. "Don’t get afraid. Ensure that elections are held on your issues of your employment. The Government did not give you job but commit atrocities on you and suppress you," said Priyanka, according to a statement, issued by the Congress. Priyanka also assured students she will visit them in Prayagraj.

"When leaders come to you for vote, fix their answerability. The solution to deal with recruitment processes that are held for years is preparation of a job calendar. We have talked about job calendar in our youth manifesto," she said.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on Wednesday arrested two people and lodged a case against around 1,000 unidentified persons in connection with the alleged rioting and blocking of the railway track by some job aspirants. Six policemen were also suspended with immediate effect for using “unnecessary force” during the incident, which took place on Tuesday.

President of the National Students' Union of India Neeraj Kundan led a protest march to the Railway Ministry, where an effigy of minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was burnt, the outfit said in a statement.

"The protesters who crossed the barricades erected by the police were detained and was taken to the Mandir Marg Police station," it stated. Kundan said that students were the worst sufferers of the Covid pandemic. "The government is completely ignoring the education sector. Before taking vital decisions the government doesn't consult the students concerned, instead of imposing unnecessary new rules on them. If they protest, they are beaten," he alleged. The NSUI national president claimed that over 1,40,000 posts are vacant in CBT 2 group D since 2019.

At a Press conference Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Modi government issued the notification of these jobs ahead of 2019 general elections which stated that there will be examination for Group-D railway posts.