Rahul Gandhi reject Centre's outreach as Arvind Kejriwal joins CJP protest
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday rejected the Centre's outreach to end the ongoing protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, asserting that the agitation would continue until the government's key demands were met.
Congress leaders said talks between Gandhi and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were inconclusive, with the party refusing to call off the protest.
'They wanted us to withdraw the protest and we did not agree because our demands were not met. We want Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign and a discussion in Parliament on the paper leaks. More MPs, more Congress workers and more common people will join our protest,' Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said.
Meanwhile, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, along with Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, joined the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, where they interacted with protesters in the presence of CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke.
Earlier in the day, Rahul, along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge led a protest outside the Prime Minister's Lok Kalyan Marg residence, joined by party MPs and leaders.
The Congress accused the government of using excessive force against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak.
The CJP, which is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET and other examination paper leak cases, alleged that several protesters were injured and left bleeding in the police action.
The Delhi Police, however, maintained that protesters displayed 'unruly, aggressive and violent behaviour', alleging they pelted stones, vandalised police vehicles and engaged in large-scale violence. According to the police, 118 personnel, including senior officers, were injured during the clashes.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier accused the Centre of refusing accountability over the police action and demanded the resignation of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging they had 'destroyed the future of India's youth.'