Kerala Opposition Leader Vijayan Condemns Rahul Gandhi's Arrest, Accuses Centre of Suppressing Protest

Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 (PTI) — Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, on Wednesday condemned the arrest of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, alleging that the central government is using force to suppress protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam.

Mr. Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other party leaders, was arrested on Tuesday while staging a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. They were demanding the Prime Minister's resignation over police action against student protesters.

In a Facebook post, Mr. Vijayan said the protest against alleged NEET exam irregularities is gaining momentum and public support. He noted that initially, Left student organisations had joined the agitation started weeks ago by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and education activist Sonam Wangchuk. Subsequently, other Opposition parties and MPs, including the Congress leadership, have also joined.

Mr. Vijayan claimed that as the protesters raised demands for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the central government is trying to suppress the agitation by using force. He cited news reports that described “a gang of thugs with lathis” attacking protesters along with the police.

“The more the Central government tries to suppress the protest, the more public support it gains,” Mr. Vijayan said.

Thousands of students and activists gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday for the CJP’s proposed march to Parliament, despite heavy security, multi-layered barricades and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Police used force, including lathicharge and tear gas, after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. Both sides blame each other for the violence.

The agitation, which began on June 20, seeks accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.