Will Pradhan be forced out? Opposition MPs to protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar shortly
New Delhi: Opposition Members of Parliament are set to stage a protest outside Parliament's Makar Dwar on Wednesday, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The demonstration, tentatively scheduled for 10.30 am, will see Opposition lawmakers highlighting alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination. In addition, they will voice opposition against the police action taken against student protesters on July 20.
Adjournment Motion moved in Lok Sabha
Congress MP Hibi Eden gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, seeking an immediate discussion on the police crackdown against students demonstrating near Parliament.
The MP from Ernakulam emphasised that the House cannot remain a “:silent spectator to the disturbing reports of thousands of students being subjected to lathicharge and tear gas while peacefully protesting against what they describe as deficiencies in the country's education and examination system”.
In his notice, Eden alleged that students pursuing justice through peaceful democratic means were subjected to excessive and illegal force by the Delhi Police.
“The reported actions raise serious concerns regarding the protection of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, including the freedoms of speech, peaceful assembly and expression. The manner in which the protest was handled has shocked the conscience of the nation and is inconsistent with the democratic values that Parliament is duty-bound to uphold,” he wrote.
Nationwide protests and Delhi Police clarification
Meanwhile, Congress workers and local leaders organised demonstrations across multiple states on Tuesday against the detention of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other senior leaders in Delhi. The demonstrations also targeted the police action against CJP activists during their rally on Monday.
Protests were held in cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Jabalpur and Bhubaneswar, where Congress workers raised slogans accusing the central government of stifling democratic dissent. In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress and Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists staged demonstrations over the detention of senior party figures in the national capital.
Conversely, the Delhi Police issued a clarification stating that violence erupted during the CJP march to Parliament on July 20. According to authorities, protesters hurled stones and other objects at police personnel, attempted to scale security barricades, vandalised government and private vehicles, damaged public property and created a severe law-and-order challenge.
Police officials stated that 118 security personnel, including senior officers, suffered injuries during the clash. They added that the violent mob damaged public property and vandalised around 15 to 20 government vehicles alongside other state assets.
ANI