BJP Allies Voice Concerns Over Police Action Against Protesters as Government Opens Door for Talks
New Delhi: A day after thousands of students marched towards Parliament to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, leading to police using batons and tear gas to disperse them, disquiet has emerged among some allies of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding the handling of the protest. Meanwhile, the government has signalled willingness for further dialogue.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda visited injured protesters at RML and Lady Hardinge hospitals on Tuesday, in an outreach effort. Nadda had held an inconclusive meeting with leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday, the day of the march.
On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with senior Congress leaders, began a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding the PM's resignation over the police action. In response, the government sent Union Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to assure Gandhi that the NEET issue would be discussed in Parliament.
BJP insiders said the student protests, which some party leaders alleged were influenced by external forces, took an 'unexpected turn' and the government struggled to control the situation. They also admitted that Rahul Gandhi's move caught the ruling camp by surprise.
The Rahul-led demonstration was joined by other Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule. AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the government allowed the protest to weaken the CJP's demonstration.
Later, Jitendra Singh criticised Rahul Gandhi on social media for going back on his word, stating that the government is ready to discuss NEET in Parliament. A BJP leader said this was the first time Rahul Gandhi made a political move that put the ruling party on the back foot.
The government's agreement to a discussion was seen by some as a climbdown. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had cited PM Modi's remarks at an NDA meeting, where Modi called the NEET leak a 'grave offence' and said the government has acted against the culprits. Modi also warned that youth could be misled by 'several gangs' and asked ruling MPs to guide them.
The BJP has instructed its spokespersons to highlight that the Congress set a 'wrong and dangerous precedent' by protesting outside the PM's residence, calling it a security threat not seen in mature democracies. Party leaders also drew parallels with youth protests in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh that led to instability.
The political standoff has led to the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament being washed out for the second day.
