Congress Stages Protest Demanding Resignation of PM Modi and Amit Shah
Congress Protests Outside PM's Residence
Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders outside Prime Minister's office (Photo - @RahulGandhi / X)
New Delhi, July 21: On Tuesday, the Congress party organized a significant sit-in protest at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence located at Lok Kalyan Marg. The demonstration aimed to demand the resignation of both the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah due to police actions against students protesting the alleged NEET exam paper leak.
The protest was spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and saw participation from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and numerous senior party officials.
This protest followed a police crackdown on students who were marching towards Parliament under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), resulting in injuries to several demonstrators.
During a press briefing, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of shirking responsibility for the police's actions and avoiding discussions on the matter in Parliament. He stated, "We have come to the Prime Minister's residence to demand answers regarding the harsh treatment faced by young students yesterday. The government is neither accepting responsibility nor allowing a discussion in Parliament. The Prime Minister and Home Minister must resign for jeopardizing the future of India's youth."
Kharge condemned the police's actions as an assault on the nation's youth, asserting that the party would persist in its support for the students. He remarked, "The government has perpetrated a serious injustice against the youth of this country and must be held accountable."
Prior to their march to Lok Kalyan Marg, Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Congress leaders visited students who were injured and hospitalized at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi.
The Congress delegation conducted a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence for approximately 20 minutes, chanting slogans against the central government and accusing it of stifling the voices of students seeking accountability regarding the examination controversy.
The protest caught the attention of the Prime Minister's Office, leading to a meeting between Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Rahul Gandhi at the protest site, where they urged him to conclude the sit-in.
Singh informed reporters post-meeting that the government was open to discussing all matters related to NEET and the associated movement in Parliament. However, he noted that when the Home Secretary indicated that the location was unsuitable for a sit-in, Gandhi asserted his right to sit wherever he chose.
Singh further commented, "Gandhi's actions do not reflect the principles of democracy."
Numerous Congress Members of Parliament also claimed that police attempted to forcibly remove them from the protest area and used excessive force during the demonstration.