Rahul Gandhi Detained During Protest, Puts Forward Five Demands on NEET Scam
On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with several party members, was detained by Delhi Police during a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. The protest was against the government's handling of the NEET paper leak controversy, which has affected lakhs of students nationwide.
Following his detention, Gandhi released a video statement listing five demands for the government:
- Resignations of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- Action against police officers who allegedly assaulted students on Monday, and withdrawal of cases filed against student protesters.
- An apology from the Prime Minister for the crackdown on student protesters.
- A parliamentary debate on the issue.
- Immediate education and exam reforms.
Gandhi questioned the state of the education system, asking why papers are leaking, why education is so expensive, and why families must struggle financially to educate their children. He thanked all supporters who joined the protest.
The government, however, accused Gandhi of politicizing the issue. Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh met Gandhi at the protest site and listened to his demands, but later stated that Gandhi had backtracked from an earlier willingness to debate. Singh said the government is ready to discuss the NEET issue in Parliament, and that Gandhi's behavior does not align with democratic principles.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also criticized Gandhi, accusing the Congress of exploiting students for political headlines rather than seeking solutions. Pradhan noted that the government had already expressed readiness for a comprehensive discussion.
The confrontation highlights the deepening rift between the government and the opposition over the handling of competitive exam irregularities, an issue that has sparked widespread student protests.
