The ongoing students’ agitation regarding NEET paper leak has now taken a political turn. On Tuesday i.e. 21st July, this matter moved beyond Jantar Mantar and reached the Prime Minister’s residence. On July 20, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with two Chief Ministers and several MPs sat on a dharna near the PM’s residence (7 Lok Kalyan Marg) in protest against the lathi charge during the students’ march to Parliament. This protest by Rahul Gandhi lasted for more than two hours. During this time, senior government and police officials were seen trying to convince them.
Rahul Gandhi’s protest near the PM’s residence is also considered important because this area is very sensitive from security point of view. Apart from this, the Parliament session is going on at this time and Section 163 of BNS is applicable in the area around the PM residence. In such a situation, the question arose that how did Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders get permission to reach there.
How did Rahul Gandhi reach PM residence?
According to sources, after the adjournment of the Parliament proceedings, Rahul Gandhi had reached the residence of Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday. That day was also Kharge’s birthday, but he refused to celebrate his birthday. He refused to cut the cake in protest against the lathicharge on students.
Rahul Gandhi’s protest near the PM’s residence is considered very important for two reasons.
- PM’s residence is considered very important from security point of view.
- Parliament is currently in session. Section 163 of BNS is applicable in that entire area.
After this, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi asked Kharge to meet the Prime Minister. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi along with two Chief Ministers, VD Satheesan of Kerala and DK Shivakumar of Karnataka and several MPs marched towards the PM’s residence. It is being told that Rahul Gandhi had not informed many people about this program. The media was also not informed about this in advance, hence it was considered a sudden demonstration.
What is Rahul Gandhi’s demand?
Describing the NEET paper leak issue as an issue related to students, Congress has demanded discussion on it in Parliament. According to Congress General Secretary and media in-charge Jairam Ramesh, the Prime Minister should give a statement on this issue in both the Houses. Congress is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the NEET paper leak case.
Apart from this, there is also a demand to fix responsibility for the lathicharge on students. Rahul Gandhi also raised this issue on social media and said that the government does not want to discuss this matter in Parliament. Their demand is that there should be a debate in Parliament on NEET paper leak and issues related to students.
Which leaders participated in the protest?
Apart from Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, many big leaders including Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Kerala and Karnataka, Punjab Congress President Raja Vading, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Congress Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal participated in this dharna outside the PM residence.
AAP’s attack on Rahul Gandhi
Here, Aam Aadmi Party has targeted Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s protest outside the PM’s residence. AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh wrote on social media – To weaken CJP’s strike, PM Modi made Rahul Gandhi sit on strike at his residence. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal reached Jantar Mantar to meet the leaders of Cockroach Janata Party. Senior MP Sharad Pawar also reached Jantar Mantar to join the protest.
Political equation changed in the movement
Till now, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) was mainly leading the movement going on at Jantar Mantar against the NEET paper leak. It got the support of Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party. Now after Rahul Gandhi’s protest outside the PM’s residence, Congress has also come forward actively on this issue. After this whole incident, the issue of NEET paper leak is not limited only to the examination system and the demands of the students, but it has also become a big issue of political debate.
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