Rahul-lead Opposition protests over NEET paper leak row

Opposition MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, protested in the Parliament House complex on Monday over alleged “police brutality” against student protesters during the agitation on the NEET paper leak issue and demanded Home Minister Amit Shah’s apology.

Carrying placards and a large banner, several MPs protested in front of the steps of the Makar Dwar of Parliament. They raised slogans, demanding answers from the home minister over alleged police excesses against protesting students.

Besides Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC’s Mahua Moitra and JMM’s Mahua Maji, among others, participated in the protest.

Later, DMK MPs held a protest separately demanding a ban on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), which is conducted for admission to medical courses.

The Congress-led opposition is set to keep the pressure on the Government in Parliament over the issue, demanding action against those responsible for the assault on students and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Shah, seeking accountability for what he called “barbaric assault” on peacefully protesting students and asking the minister whether he approved the use of “lethal force”, including pellet guns.

In his letter, Gandhi said peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy and that it is the Government’s responsibility to protect protesters and resolve their grievances through dialogue.

“Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard,” the former Congress chief has said.

Youth Is India’s Greatest Strength: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday met Mohammad Irfan, who went viral for reciting the Preamble of the Constitution during the recent student protest at the Jantar Mantar, and said his perspective on the country demonstrates that India’s greatest strength lies in its youth.

Posting pictures with Irfan, Gandhi said in a post on Instagram, “I met Irfan – a young man from a Delhi neighbourhood whose mindset transcends his circumstances.” “His understanding of the Constitution, his perspective on the country, and his eagerness to learn demonstrate that India’s greatest strength lies in its youth,” the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said in his post in Hindi.

Millions of young people like Irfan represent the country’s true hope – inquisitive, sensitive and conscious of their rights and duties, Gandhi added. During the protest against the NEET paper leak at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Irfan became the centre of attention on social media because of his emotive and grounded statements. Coming from a slum settlement, Irfan raised important issues such as the struggles of working-class.