Congress stages sit-in protests across three states over student issues

Several Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana held sit-in protests outside the Governor houses (Lok Bhawans) of their respective states on Tuesday, expressing solidarity with students. A few Haryana Congress leaders were detained by police while en route to the protest.

The party leaders accused the BJP-led central and state governments of failing to protect the interests of students, citing examination irregularities, administrative lapses, and an insensitive response that has eroded the confidence of millions of young aspirants and their families.

In Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led the protest. He demanded accountability from the central government and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Referring to an earlier protest in New Delhi, Sukhu said, 'When Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sat in protest supporting students, he and Priyanka Gandhi were forcibly taken away in a vehicle. Strict action must be taken against those who mistreated the two leaders.'

In Haryana, the protest was led by AICC in-charge Sanjay Dutt. Police detained several Congress leaders as they attempted to reach Lok Bhawan in Chandigarh. Dutt stated that the protest was in solidarity with a nationwide movement led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who had marched towards the Prime Minister's residence earlier.

'We extend our commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with the student community and to continue fighting, both inside and outside Parliament, for a transparent examination system, protection of democratic rights, and justice for every student,' Dutt said.

In Punjab, former Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and former Assembly Speaker Rana K.P. Singh led the protest outside Lok Bhawan in Chandigarh.