The national capital witnessed escalating protests over the alleged NEET paper leak on Tuesday, the second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge led a march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding accountability from the Centre.
The demonstration came a day after violent clashes during a protest march to Parliament, in which police used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Delhi Police had said dozens of personnel were injured in the violence.
Congress leaders and workers assembled outside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence before marching towards 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister’s official residence. Security personnel prevented the protesters from proceeding further, following which Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the high-security zone.
Addressing the protest, Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of evading responsibility for the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and questioned the government’s refusal to hold a discussion in Parliament.
“We have marched to the Prime Minister’s house to demand answers for the brutalities against young students yesterday. The government neither wants to take responsibility nor allow a debate in Parliament,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
The protests unfolded even as Parliament remained paralysed for the second consecutive day, with repeated adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha amid Opposition demands for a discussion on the alleged paper leak.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court directed that activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike in support of the student agitation, be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram for further treatment.
Amid mounting political pressure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the strictest action against those responsible for the alleged paper leak. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, quoting the Prime Minister after the NDA Parliamentary Party’s “Mangal Milan” meeting, said Modi urged coalition partners to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament while appealing to the Opposition to cooperate in legislative business despite political differences.
In a parallel development, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said the government had initiated dialogue with representatives of the protesters. In a post on X, Nadda said the first round of discussions was held in a cordial atmosphere and that the protesters had submitted a written memorandum. He appealed to them to end their agitation while assuring that their concerns would be examined.
